DE102009029365A1 - Device for controlling operation of internal combustion engine in motor vehicle, has determining device for meeting determination relative to presence or absence of driver in motor vehicle based on criteria of multiple criterion - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a determining device for meeting a determination relative to the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle based on criteria of multiple predetermined criterions. A control device is provided for controlling the operation of the motor vehicle based on the determination encountered by the determining device. A calibrating device is provided, by which the criteria is selected from a user from the multiple predetermined criterion. An independent claim is also included for a method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, which is equipped with a stop-start device.

In hybrid electric vehicles with stop-start facility, u. a. for fuel saving, an automatic shutdown of the internal combustion engine take place when no driving force is needed, for example during stopping at a traffic light. In addition, the internal combustion engine is restarted at the instigation of the driver or an on-board subsystem (eg, a compressor of an air conditioning system). This restart takes place solely via the vehicle control and without the need for a renewed actuation of the ignition key, whereby triggering the restart both driver-induced events (such as an operation of the gas or clutch pedal) and system-induced events (eg., To reach a state of low charge the vehicle battery) may be responsible.

While the presence of the driver in the vehicle is naturally given in the driver-induced events, the system-induced events in the operation of the stop-start device is to ensure separately that a restart of the internal combustion engine induced by the vehicle system or an in-vehicle subsystem is only triggered when the presence of a driver in the vehicle is ensured.

From the DE 102 11 463 B3 Among other things, a method for automatically switching off and starting an internal combustion engine by means of a stop-start device is known, wherein for an automatic starting of the internal combustion engine certain starting conditions must be fulfilled, which includes in particular a predetermined closed state of the hood. The internal combustion engine can thus no longer be started automatically, if this closed state is not given. Furthermore, it may be required that all motor vehicle doors are closed, so that an automatic starting of the internal combustion engine is omitted if at least one motor vehicle door is open.

From the EP 1 416 142 A1 Among other things, a control device for an engine is known, wherein an actuator operates the engine in accordance with an electronic key system, and wherein a controller is programmed to control the actuator to restart the engine during idle stop, when one of a plurality of restart conditions met is.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine, which allow a safe and flexible use of a start-stop function in different operating situations.

This object is achieved by a device according to the features of independent patent claim 1 and a method according to the features of independent claim 11.

• – eine Entscheidungseinrichtung zum Treffen einer Entscheidung bezüglich Anwesenheit oder Nichtanwesenheit eines Fahrers in dem Kraftfahrzeug auf Basis wenigstens eines Kriteriums von einer Mehrzahl vorbestimmter Kriterien; und
• – eine Steuereinrichtung zum Steuern des Betriebs des Kraftfahrzeuges auf Basis der von der Entscheidungseinrichtung getroffenen Entscheidung,
• – wobei eine Kalibrierungseinrichtung vorgesehen ist, über welche das wenigstens eine, der Entscheidungseinrichtung als Entscheidungsbasis dienende Kriterium aus der Mehrzahl vorbestimmter Kriterien auswählbar ist.

An inventive device for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, which is equipped with a stop-start device, comprises:

• A decision device for making a decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle based on at least one of a plurality of predetermined criteria; and
• A control device for controlling the operation of the motor vehicle on the basis of the decision made by the decision-making device,
• - Wherein a calibration device is provided, via which the at least one, the decision means serving as a decision basis criterion of the plurality of predetermined criteria is selectable.

The invention is based in particular on the recognition that, depending on the operating situation or depending on the specific application, different criteria or different combinations of several criteria may be suitable for the assessment of the presence of a driver in the vehicle.

By virtue of the fact that the at least one criterion serving as a basis for decision-making can now be selected by the user from the plurality of predetermined criteria by means of the calibration device, the user is flexibly and with regard to the respective specific application situation (for example, on the vehicle type or purpose, for example as a normal private car, van or taxi) allows a configurable procedure for detecting the presence of a driver in the motor vehicle as a basis for the operation of the stop-start device. According to the invention can thus z. B. by performing a calibration person during the vehicle calibration or by the driver himself a suitable depending on the specific application situation logical combination of criteria are selected so that in a flexible manner a meaningful assessment of the presence of a driver as a basis for the proper operation of Stop-start facility can be done.

According to one embodiment, the decision device is configured to make the decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle in response to a driver-independent request of an automatic starting of the internal combustion engine by the stop-start device.

According to one embodiment, the decision device is configured to make the decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle based on an assignment rule indicating a decision to each combination of input states each indicating the fulfillment or non-fulfillment of a criterion of the plurality of predetermined criteria concerning the presence or absence of a driver.

According to one embodiment, the assignment rule is constructed in the form of a matrix or table, wherein the decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle is made by reading at least one matrix or table entry. The calibration or configuration can take place in different ways insofar as no input state, one input state or several of the input states, in each case combined by logical AND or OR links, lead to the result "driver present" or a corresponding positive entry in result in the driver presence matrix. A user performing the calibration can now define the actual input conditions by constructing the matrix or table accordingly.

According to one embodiment, the input states and / or the matrix or table entries are indicated as Boolean variables. In this case, the respective input states can be interpreted as logical variables ("TRUE" or "FALSE") or bits of a number in the binary system, from which in turn an index or characteristic value related to a Boolean matrix can be generated. The respective matrix or table may then also indicate the appropriate response (i.e., "driver present" or "driver not present") as a Boolean variable for each possible combination of input states.

According to one embodiment, the number of entries in the matrix or table is given by 2 ^N , where N denotes the number of predetermined criteria.

wobei N die Anzahl der vorbestimmten Kriterien bezeichnet und wobei X_i für das i-te Kriterium entweder den Wert Eins oder den Wert Null in Abhängigkeit davon besitzt, ob das betreffende i-te Kriterium erfüllt ist oder nicht.The reading of at least one matrix or table entry can be carried out in particular by calculating an index value, this index value being given by

where N denotes the number of predetermined criteria and where X _i for the i-th criterion has either the value one or the value zero depending on whether the i-th criterion concerned is satisfied or not.

According to one embodiment, in the case of a positive decision regarding the presence of a driver in the motor vehicle, the device allows an automatic starting of the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, in the event of a negative decision regarding the presence of a driver, the device may inhibit automatic starting of the internal combustion engine or release it only after a predetermined action has been taken by a driver (such as the operation of a pedal).

According to one embodiment, a display device is also provided, which outputs a corresponding message in the event of a negative decision regarding the presence of a driver in the motor vehicle.

The invention further relates to a method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle. For preferred embodiments and advantages of the method, reference is made to the above statements in connection with the device according to the invention.

Further embodiments of the invention are described in the description and the dependent claims.

The invention will be explained below with reference to a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Show it:

1 a diagram for explaining the structure of a driver presence matrix according to a first embodiment of the invention;

2 a diagram for explaining a possible use of the driver presence matrix from 1 calculating an index value as a function of certain input states;

3 - 6 Diagrams for constructing a driver presence matrix according to further embodiments of the invention;

7 a diagram for explaining a possible use of the driver presence matrix from 6 calculating an index value as a function of certain input states; and

8th a flowchart for explaining the application of the method according to the invention to the initiation of system-induced starts in the operation of a stop-start device.

(1)

Fahrersicherheitsgurt angelegt

(2)

Fahrertür geschlossen

(3)

Fahrersitz nicht unbesetzt

(4)

Bremspedal betätigt

(5)

Sicherheitsgurt wurde nicht gelöst, nachdem das Kupplungspedal losgelassen worden ist

(6)

Sicherheitsgurt wurde nicht gelöst, seitdem sämtliche Pedale losgelassen worden sind

(7)

Fahrertür ist nicht geöffnet worden, seitdem das Kupplungspedal losgelassen worden ist

(8)

Fahrertür ist nicht geöffnet worden, seitdem sämtliche Pedale losgelassen worden sind

(9)

Fahrersitz nicht unbesetzt, seitdem sämtliche Pedale losgelassen worden sind

(10)

Zündschlüssel oder Sender für ein schlüsselloses Schließsystem befindet sich im Fahrzeuginneren

(11)

Kupplungspedal wird betätigt

(12)

Gaspedal wird betätigt

(13)

Beliebiges Pedal wird betätigt.

As criteria for the presence of a driver in the vehicle z. For example:

(1)

Driver seat belt applied

(2)

Driver's door closed

(3)

Driver's seat not unoccupied

(4)

Brake pedal actuated

(5)

Seat belt was not released after the clutch pedal was released

(6)

Safety belt has not been released since all pedals have been released

(7)

Driver's door has not been opened since the clutch pedal has been released

(8th)

Driver's door has not been opened since all pedals have been released

(9)

Driver's seat not unoccupied, since all pedals have been released

(10)

Ignition key or transmitter for a keyless locking system is located inside the vehicle

(11)

Clutch pedal is pressed

(12)

Accelerator pedal is pressed

(13)

Any pedal is pressed.

To ensure proper operation of a stop-start device even in the case of a malfunction in one of the above to determine the o. States used sensors, it may be useful to use two or more of the above. To combine criteria (ie to require the fulfillment of at least two criteria before it is assumed that the presence of a driver in the vehicle).

This can be z. B. (5) (= "Safety belt has not been released after the clutch pedal has been released") and (7) ("Driver's door has not been opened since the clutch pedal has been released").

On the other hand, even a single criterion may be considered sufficient if certain checks or checks or cross-checks are carried out on the criterion or signal in question anyway, such as criterion (13) for the operation of any pedal.

As a result, the following logical link can therefore be used in the above example for a standard car:
Criteria ((5) AND (7)) OR (13).

On the other hand, in a van (where the driver may frequently get on and off without the stop-start device being deactivated each time) or in a taxi (in which the driver may not at any time put on the seatbelt), another Logical link meaningful or meaningful.

For example, in the case of a delivery van or a taxi, the following configuration is available:
Criteria ((2) AND (3)) OR (13).
ie the AND combination of the criteria "driver's door closed" (= (2)) and "driver's seat not occupied" (= (3) as an alternative to the criterion (13) of the operation of any pedal.

Furthermore, in the case of a delivery van or a taxi, the following logical link is also available:
Criteria ((8) AND (10)) OR (13),
that is, the AND combination of criteria "driver's door has not been opened since all pedals have been released" (= (8)) and "ignition key or sender for a keyless entry system is located in the vehicle interior" (= (10)) as an alternative Criterion (13) of the operation of any pedal.

According to the invention can now z. B. by performing a calibration person during the vehicle calibration or by the driver himself a suitable depending on the specific application situation logical combination of criteria are selected so that in a flexible manner a meaningful assessment of the presence of a driver as a basis for the proper operation of Stop-start facility can be done.

Furthermore, according to the invention, an index value related to a Boolean matrix can now be generated by B. the above individual criteria are interpreted as bits of a number in the binary system. This matrix (hereinafter referred to as "driver presence matrix") now gives for each combination of input values for the individual Conditions or criteria the required answer (ie "driver present" or "driver not present").

For N states, the said matrix comprises 2 ^N elements, for the above example of 13 states therefore 8192 elements. To reduce this number of elements, a restriction to such states or criteria is now made in a meaningful way, which are particularly meaningful in the application in question.

1 shows in a first embodiment a driver presence matrix, each filled or closed symbol for the logical variable "TRUE" and each open symbol for the logical variable "FALSE". In the 1 represented driver presence matrix based on the selection of only three of the above criteria, namely the criteria (6), (8) and (13). The driver presence matrix therefore comprises 2 ³ = 8 elements.

The configuration may be different in that no input state, one input state or multiple input states, each combined by logical AND or OR operations, result in the result "driver present".

2 shows a graphical representation for explaining the determination of an index value in the driver presence matrix. By way of example, the number 0 is assigned to the Boolean value TRUE, and the number 0 to the Boolean value FALSE is assigned as the input signal. The first input signal is multiplied by 2 ⁰ = 1, the second input signal is multiplied by 2 ¹ = 2, and the third input signal is multiplied by 2 ² = 4. Generally, the ith input signal is multiplied by 2 ^i-1 . Then the values thus obtained are added together and the calculated index value is used to read the relevant entry in the driver presence matrix.

3 to 6 show diagrams for constructing a driver presence matrix according to further embodiments of the invention. The in the 3 to 6 represented driver presence matrices based on the selection of five of the above criteria, namely the criteria (1), (3), (8), (9) and (13). The driver presence matrix therefore comprises 2 ⁵ = 32 elements.

If a single one of the criteria is to be considered sufficient to assume the presence of a driver in the motor vehicle, all entries for that criterion in the driver presence matrix must be TRUE. In 3 this is given for the criterion (8).

When ANDing two criteria together, the value of the driver presence matrix must always be TRUE if the respective states or criteria are satisfied (ie their Boolean value is TRUE). In 4 are the values of the driver presence matrix for the link
Criteria ((1) AND (8))
specified, ie the AND combination of the criteria "driver seat belt applied" (= (1)) and "driver's door has not been opened since all pedals have been released" (= (8)). Thus, if both criteria (1) and (8) are met, the entry in the driver presence matrix is TRUE (ignoring the remaining three criteria).

When ORing two criteria, the value of the driver presence matrix must always be TRUE if one of the relevant criteria is met. In 5 are the values of the driver presence matrix for the link
Criteria ((3) OR (8))
, ie the OR combination of the criteria "driver's seat not occupied" (= (3)) and "driver's door has not been opened since all pedals have been released" (= (8)). Thus, if one of the criteria (1) and (8) is satisfied, the entry in the driver presence matrix is TRUE (ignoring the remaining three criteria).

6 shows a more complicated combination, namely the driver presence matrix values for the link
Criteria ((1) AND (9)) OR (13).

The entry in the driver presence matrix is TRUE if criterion (13) is satisfied (i.e., the relevant Boolean value is TRUE), as well as if both criteria (1) and criterion (9) are met.

7 shows a graphical representation for explaining the determination of an index value in the driver presence matrix. By way of example, the number 0 is assigned to the Boolean value TRUE, and the number 0 to the Boolean value FALSE is assigned as the input signal. The first input signal is multiplied by 2 ⁰ = 1, the second input signal is multiplied by 2 ¹ = 2, the third input signal is multiplied by 2 ² = 4, the fourth input signal is multiplied by 2 ³ = 8 and the fifth input signal is multiplied by 2 ⁴ = 16. Generally, the ith input signal is multiplied by 2 ^i-1 . Then the values thus obtained are added together and the calculated index value is used to read the relevant entry in the driver presence matrix.

wobei N die Anzahl der vorbestimmten Kriterien bezeichnet und wobei X_i für das i-te Kriterium entweder den Wert Eins oder den Wert Null in Abhängigkeit davon besitzt, ob das betreffende i-te Kriterium erfüllt ist oder nicht.This index value is therefore too

where N denotes the number of predetermined criteria and where X _i for the i-th criterion has either the value one or the value zero depending on whether the i-th criterion concerned is satisfied or not.

Based on the relevant value of the entry in the driver presence matrix (TRUE or FALSE), it is decided whether the driver is present in the vehicle or not.

The person carrying out the calibration is now able to select the combination of criteria which are to be decisive for the decision as to the presence of the driver by filling the driver presence matrix accordingly, using any calibration device for calibrating the electronic control unit (ECU). Furthermore, a recalibration can be done without changing the corresponding code of the ECU.

Based on the in 8th The flowchart shown illustrates how the method according to the invention is applied to the triggering of system-induced starts in the operation of a stop-start device. It can, for example, from the calibration 6 be assumed.

In a first step S10, the internal combustion engine is automatically switched off via the stop-start device. After a certain period of time, in step S20, a system-induced triggering of a start takes place (for example, by the operation of the air-conditioning system, when, for example, the compressor in the air-conditioning system requires energy).

In step S30, then, the check is made as to whether a driver is present. If the driver's presence in step 30 is confirmed (ie, because the seat belt is applied and the driver's seat was not loaded since the last operation of any pedal), the engine is started (= step S40). Otherwise, a message is sent to the driver via a suitable user interface in step S50, for example in the form of a request to actuate the accelerator pedal. Since the criterion (13) (= "Any pedal is pressed") belongs to the decisive criteria or is included in the detection algorithm, the driver's reaction to this message can be checked by a return to step 30 he follows. As soon as the driver presses any pedal, the result of the query is in step 30 to TRUE, and the automatic start of the internal combustion engine via the stop-start device can be released or the internal combustion engine can be started.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10211463 B3 [0004]
• EP 1416142 A1 [0005]

Claims (11)

Device for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, which is equipped with a stop-start device, comprising: decision means for making a decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle based on at least one of a plurality of predetermined criteria; and a control device for controlling the operation of the motor vehicle on the basis of the decision made by the decision-making device, marked by a calibration device, by means of which the at least one criterion serving as decision basis for the decision device can be selected by a user from the plurality of predetermined criteria. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the decision means is adapted to the decision on presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle in response to a driver-independent or by the vehicle system triggered request of an automatic starting of the internal combustion engine by the stop-start device hold true. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the decision means is adapted to make the decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle based on an assignment rule, which of each combination of input states, each of the fulfillment or Nichterfüllungsein of a criterion indicate the plurality of predetermined criteria, assigns a decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that this assignment rule is constructed in the form of a matrix or table, wherein the decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle by reading at least one matrix or table entry takes place. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the input states and / or the matrix or table entries are specified as Boolean variables. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the number of entries in the matrix or table is given by 2 ^N , where N denotes the number of predetermined criteria. Device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the reading of at least one matrix or table entry takes place with calculation of an index value, this index value being given by

where N denotes the number of predetermined criteria and where X _i for the i-th criterion has either the value one or the value zero depending on whether the i-th criterion concerned is satisfied or not. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device, in the case of a positive decision regarding the presence of a driver in the motor vehicle, enables or permits automatic starting of the internal combustion engine. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device in the case of a negative decision regarding the presence of a driver blocks an automatic starting of the internal combustion engine or only after a predetermined action by a driver releases. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is further provided a display device which outputs a corresponding message in the event of a negative decision regarding the presence of a driver in the motor vehicle. Method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, which is equipped with a stop-start device, the method comprising the following steps: Making a decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle based on at least one of a plurality of predetermined criteria; and Controlling the operation of the motor vehicle on the basis of the decision made by the decision-making body, characterized in that the at least one criterion serving as decision basis for the decision device is selected by a user from the plurality of predetermined criteria.

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