Vehicle Stop-Start Controller Mode Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stop-start systems in motor vehicles often compromise cabin comfort for fuel efficiency, leading to sub-optimal user experience due to the trade-off between engine idling and fuel consumption, as they lack user-adjustable settings to balance these factors.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and system with multiple engine stop-start modes, allowing users to select between comfort and economy settings through a user input device, which adjusts engine stop and start conditions to prioritize either driver comfort or fuel economy by modifying the restrictive criteria for engine operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the stop-start system operates with default settings to maximize fuel efficiency, then fuel consumption is reduced, but cabin comfort deteriorates due to restricted climate control performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the stop-start behavior based on user-selected mode (comfort mode or economy mode). In comfort mode, the system applies more restrictive stop conditions and less restrictive start conditions to maintain climate control performance. In economy mode, the system applies less restrictive stop conditions to maximize fuel savings. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for either comfort or economy depending on user preference.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (stop conditions and start conditions) based on the selected mode. The control unit stores multiple sets of stop and start conditions and selectively applies them. This parameter change allows the system to transition between maximizing fuel efficiency and maintaining cabin comfort, resolving the technical contradiction through configurable operational states.
2Ease of operation
If the stop-start system uses restrictive stop conditions to maintain cabin comfort, then climate control performance is improved, but fuel efficiency deteriorates due to reduced engine stop opportunities
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between comfort-oriented and economy-oriented operation modes. When comfort mode is selected, the system uses restrictive stop conditions to ensure climate control requirements are met. When economy mode is selected, the system relaxes stop conditions to maximize fuel savings. This dynamic behavior allows the system to prioritize either comfort or fuel efficiency based on user selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit stores multiple configurations of stop and start conditions and selectively applies them based on the selected mode. This parameter switching mechanism enables the system to resolve the contradiction by changing operational parameters to match user preferences for either comfort or economy.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the engine is stopped frequently to maximize fuel savings, then fuel consumption is reduced, but user satisfaction deteriorates due to noticeable loss of power for ancillaries
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts its stop-start behavior based on user-selected priorities. In economy mode, the system allows more frequent engine stops to maximize fuel savings. In comfort mode, the system reduces stop frequency and applies less restrictive start conditions to maintain power availability for ancillaries, thereby maintaining user satisfaction. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between fuel savings and user satisfaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit changes operational parameters (stop conditions and start conditions) based on the selected mode, allowing the system to balance fuel efficiency and user satisfaction according to user preference.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle start-stop system includes an engine and a controller. The controller is programmed to operate the system in a first mode when a first input is selected, and in a second mode when a second input is selected. The controller is further programmed to inhibit engine stop in response to being in the first mode and an evaporator temperature having a first value, and stop the engine in response to being in the second mode and the evaporator temperature having the first value.