Vehicle Utility Mode Control for Quiet, Low-Energy Driver Breaks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In environment-friendly vehicles like electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles, drivers face challenges with noise, vibration, and energy wastage when trying to take a long break inside the vehicle, especially due to the continuous operation of air conditioning and heating systems which can discharge the battery.
Innovation Solution
A break mode control method and system that allows drivers to enter a utility mode by setting electric components involved in driving to an off mode and the air conditioning device to a driving mode, maintaining a comfortable indoor environment while reducing noise, vibration, and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle's starting is maintained in an ON state to operate electric devices during driver rest, then the driver can use air conditioner and heater for comfortable rest, but various electronic components related to vehicle driving remain in idle state generating vibration and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the vehicle's operational state into distinct modes: a driving mode for normal operation and a utility mode for driver rest. This segmentation allows the vehicle to transition between states, enabling electronic components to be turned off during rest periods while maintaining comfort through the fuel cell stack operation, thereby eliminating vibration and noise during driver rest.
2Ease of operation
If the vehicle's starting is maintained in an ON state to operate electric devices during driver rest, then the driver can use air conditioner and heater for comfortable rest, but energy is wasted to maintain various electric and electronic components in idle state
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between operational modes based on driver needs. During utility mode, the vehicle controller turns off electronic components that would otherwise consume energy in idle state, while the fuel cell stack continues to operate to power comfort devices. This dynamic state change eliminates unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining driver comfort.
3Loss of energy
If the air conditioner, heater, and air conditioning device are continuously operated in the starting OFF state, then energy consumption is reduced, but there is a risk of the battery being discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel cell stack operates continuously during utility mode to provide power for the air conditioner and heater, ensuring uninterrupted useful action. This continuous operation of the fuel cell stack prevents battery discharge while maintaining comfortable indoor environment, as the stack supplements power supply specifically during rest periods when comfort devices are needed.
4Ease of operation
If the air conditioner, heater, air conditioning device, and other devices are operated in the starting ON state, then driver comfort is improved, but it interferes with the driver's rest due to vibration and noise caused by operation of various electronic components
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the source of disturbance (electronic components) from the operational configuration during utility mode. By turning off electronic components while maintaining fuel cell stack operation, the system separates the power generation function from the comfort provision function, eliminating vibration and noise interference while preserving indoor environment comfort through selective component operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces noise and vibration, conserves energy, and maintains a comfortable indoor environment for the driver, addressing the issues of battery discharge and discomfort associated with traditional break modes.
Implementation Method 1
a stack generating power required in the utility mode
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system is directed to providing a driver with a utility mode, which is an indoor environment condition of a vehicle where it may be rested, and includes: a vehicle communication portion that is configured to receive a first request message requesting execution of the utility mode by communicating with a service terminal provided in the vehicle or a driver terminal possessed by the driver; and a vehicle controller that is configured to set electric components and controllers involved in driving of the vehicle to an off mode when an entry condition for the execution of the utility mode is satisfied and the vehicle's starting is in an on-state, and sets an air conditioning device controlling an indoor air condition of the vehicle and a stack generating power required in the utility mode to a driving mode to execute the utility mode.