Virtual Shifting Control for Electric Vehicle Torque Sensitivity

Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicles without multi-range transmissions lack the driving sensitivity and enjoyment typically experienced in vehicles with manual transmissions, leading to a disconnect between drivers and their vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A control method that generates a virtual shifting sense by collecting vehicle-driving information, determining virtual gear stages, and adjusting torque to simulate the shifting experience, including visual and auditory effects, thereby enhancing driver engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a multi-range transmission is installed in an electric vehicle, then driving sensitivity and enjoyment are improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving sensitivityVSAvoidtransmission structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the shifting experience through software simulation. The control unit generates virtual engine speed and virtual gear stage information that replicates the sensory experience of a multi-range transmission without requiring actual mechanical transmission components. This copying approach provides the desired driving sensitivity while avoiding the complexity of physical transmission systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical transmission system with an electronic control system. Instead of using physical gears and shafts to achieve shifting effects, the system uses a control unit to process vehicle driving information and generate virtual shifting signals that act on the motor, thereby substituting mechanical complexity with electronic control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If a multi-range transmission is installed in an electric vehicle, then driving enjoyment is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving enjoymentVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the shifting experience through software simulation. The control unit generates virtual engine speed and virtual gear stage information that replicates the sensory experience of a multi-range transmission without requiring actual mechanical transmission components. This copying approach provides the desired driving sensitivity while avoiding the complexity of physical transmission systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical transmission system with an electronic control system. Instead of using physical gears and shafts to achieve shifting effects, the system uses a control unit to process vehicle driving information and generate virtual shifting signals that act on the motor, thereby substituting mechanical complexity with electronic control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If a reducer with fixed gear ratio is used, then device complexity is reduced, but driving sensitivity is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission structureVSAvoiddriving sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic virtual gear stage information that changes based on vehicle driving conditions. The control unit continuously processes vehicle driving information to generate varying virtual gear stage values, transforming the static fixed gear ratio system into a dynamic virtual shifting system that adapts to different driving scenarios, thereby restoring driving sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit continuously monitors vehicle driving information and adjusts virtual gear stage information accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that the virtual shifting experience responds appropriately to driver inputs and vehicle conditions, maintaining driving sensitivity despite the absence of physical transmission components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20230249703A1Control method for generating virtual shifting sense of electric vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.08.10 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A control method for generating a virtual shifting sense of an electric vehicle is proposed. The objective of the control method is to enable a driver to feel differentiated driving sensitivity and various types of enjoyment of driving by generating and implementing a shifting sense in an electric vehicle without a multi-range transmission like a vehicle with a multi-range transmission. In order to achieve the objective, a control method of an electric vehicle that determines a torque range for controlling a motor and virtual shift intervention torque for implementing a virtual shifting sense from virtual variable information, determines driver request torque corresponding to a driving input value by a driver within the determined torque range, and then controls motor torque using the determined driver request torque and virtual shift intervention torque.