DE102009029365B4 - Apparatus and method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, which is equipped with a stop-start device, comprising: a decision device for making a decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle on the basis of at least one criterion from a plurality of predetermined criteria; anda control device for controlling the operation of the motor vehicle on the basis of the decision made by the decision device, characterized by a calibration device by means of which the at least one criterion serving as the decision basis for the decision device can be selected by a user from the plurality of predetermined criteria.

Description

The invention relates to a device 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 a stop-start device, the internal combustion engine can be switched off automatically to save fuel if no driving force is required, for example while stopping at a traffic light. In addition, the internal combustion engine is restarted at the request of the driver or one of the vehicle's own subsystems (e.g. a compressor in an air conditioning system). This restart takes place solely via the vehicle control and without the need to actuate the ignition key again, whereby both driver-induced events (e.g. actuation of the accelerator or clutch pedal) and system-induced events (e.g. reaching a state with a low charge of the vehicle battery) are used to trigger the restart. can be responsible.

While the driver-induced events naturally involve the presence of the driver in the vehicle, in the case of system-induced events when the stop-start device is in operation, special care must be taken to ensure that a restart of the internal combustion engine induced by the vehicle system or a vehicle's own subsystem is only triggered when the presence of a driver in the vehicle is ensured.

From the DE 102 11 463 B3 a method for automatically switching off and starting an internal combustion engine by means of a stop-start device is known, with certain starting conditions having to be met for automatic starting of the internal combustion engine, including in particular a predetermined closed state of the engine hood. The internal combustion engine can therefore no longer be started automatically if this closed state is not given. Furthermore, it can be required that all motor vehicle doors are closed so that the internal combustion engine is not started automatically when at least one motor vehicle door is open.

From the EP 1 416 142 A1 is known inter alia a control device for an engine, wherein an actuator actuates the engine according to an electronic key system, and wherein a control device is programmed to control the actuator to restart the engine during idle stop if one of a plurality of restart conditions is met is.

One object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine, which enable 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 patent 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.

A device according to the invention for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, which is equipped with a stop-start device, has:

• a decision device for making a decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle on the basis of at least one criterion from 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 device,
• - With a calibration device being provided, by means of which the at least one criterion serving as a decision basis for the decision device can be selected from the plurality of predetermined criteria.

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

The fact that the at least one criterion used by the decision-making device as a basis for decision-making can now be selected by a user from the plurality of predetermined criteria by means of the calibration device, is flexible and with regard to the respective special application situation (e.g. the vehicle type or the purpose, for example as a normal private car, delivery van or taxi) enables a configurable procedure when 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, for example, a person performing the calibration during the vehicle calibration or the driver himself can select a suitable logical combination of criteria depending on the specific application situation, so that a meaningful assessment of the presence of a driver can be made in a flexible manner can be used as a basis for the proper operation of the stop-start device.

According to one embodiment, the decision device is designed to make the decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle in response to a driver-independent request or a request triggered by the vehicle system for the internal combustion engine to be automatically started by the stop-start device.

According to one embodiment, the decision device is designed to make the decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle on the basis of an assignment rule which makes a decision for each combination of input states, each of which indicates whether a criterion of the plurality of predetermined criteria has been met or not related to the presence or absence of a driver.

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

According to one embodiment, the input states and / or the matrix or table entries are specified as Boolean variables. The respective input states can be interpreted as logical variables ("TRUE" or "FALSE") or bits of a number in the binary system, from which an index or characteristic value related to a Boolean matrix can be generated. The relevant matrix or table can then also specify the appropriate response (i.e. "driver present" or "driver not present") as a Boolean variable for every 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 the predetermined criteria.

wobei N die Anzahl der vorbestimmten Kriterien bezeichnet und wobei X₁ 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.At least one matrix or table entry can be read off, in particular, by calculating an index value, this index value being given by $$\text{Index value}={\displaystyle \sum _{\text{i}=1}^{\text{N}}{\text{X}}_{\text{i}}\ast 2^{\text{i}-1}},$$

where N denotes the number of predetermined criteria and where X ₁ for the i-th criterion has either the value one or the value zero, depending on whether the relevant i-th criterion is met or not.

According to one embodiment, in the event of a positive decision regarding the presence of a driver in the motor vehicle, the device allows the internal combustion engine to be started automatically. Furthermore, in the event of a negative decision with regard to the presence of a driver, the device can block automatic starting of the internal combustion engine or only enable it after a predetermined action has been taken by a driver (e.g. actuation 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 also relates to a method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle. For preferred configurations and advantages of the method, reference is made to the above statements in connection with the device according to the invention.

Further refinements of the invention can be found in the description and in the subclaims.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• 1 ein Diagramm zur Erläuterung des Aufbaus einer Fahreranwesenheits-Matrix gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 2 ein Diagramm zur Erläuterung einer möglichen Verwendung der Fahreranwesenheits-Matrix aus 1 unter Berechnung eines Indexwertes in Abhängigkeit von bestimmten Eingangszuständen;
• 3-6 Diagramme zum Aufbau einer Fahreranwesenheits-Matrix gemäß weiteren Ausführungsbeispielen der Erfindung;
• 7 ein Diagramm zur Erläuterung einer möglichen Verwendung der Fahreranwesenheits-Matrix aus 6 unter Berechnung eines Indexwertes in Abhängigkeit von bestimmten Eingangszuständen; und
• 8 ein Flussdiagramm zur Erläuterung der Anwendung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens auf die Auslösung systeminduzierter Starts im Betrieb einer Stopp-Start-Einrichtung.

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 to explain a possible use of the driver presence matrix 1 by calculating an index value as a function of certain input states;
• 3-6 Diagrams for the structure of a driver presence matrix according to further exemplary embodiments of the invention;
• 7th a diagram to explain a possible use of the driver presence matrix 6th by calculating an index value as a function of certain input states; and
• 8th a flowchart to explain the application of the method according to the invention to the triggering 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.

The following criteria can be assumed for the presence of a driver in the vehicle, for example:

• (1) Driver seat belt fastened
• (2) Driver's door closed
• (3) Driver's seat not unoccupied
• (4) Brake pedal depressed
• (5) Seat belt was not released after releasing the clutch pedal
• (6) Seat belt has not been released since all pedals were released
• (7) Driver's door has not been opened since the clutch pedal was released
• (8) Driver's door has not been opened since all pedals were released
• (9) Driver's seat not unoccupied since all pedals have been released
• (10) The ignition key or transmitter for a keyless entry system is located inside the vehicle
• (11) The clutch pedal is depressed
• (12) The accelerator pedal is pressed
• (13) Any pedal is operated.

To ensure proper operation of a stop-start device even in the event of a malfunction in one of the sensors used to determine the above-mentioned conditions, it can be useful to combine two or more of the above-mentioned criteria (i.e. to require that at least two criteria be met before the presence of a driver in the vehicle is assumed).

This can be useful e.g. with regard to the conditions (5) (= "Seat belt was not released after the clutch pedal was released") and (7) ("Driver's door has not been opened since the clutch pedal was released").

On the other hand, a single criterion can also be regarded as sufficient if certain controls or checks or cross-checks with regard to the relevant criterion or signal are carried out anyway, such as in the case of criterion (13) the actuation of any pedal.

• Kriterien ((5) UND (7)) ODER (13).

As a result, the following logical link can be used as a basis for the above example for a conventional car:

• Criteria ((5) AND (7)) OR (13).

On the other hand, a delivery van (in which the driver may often get in and out without having to deactivate the stop-start device every time) or in a taxi (in which the driver may not wear the seat belt at any time) may be different logical link should be meaningful or more meaningful.

• Kriterien ((2) UND (3)) ODER (13).

d.h. die UND-Kombination der Kriterien „Fahrertür geschlossen“ (= (2)) und „Fahrersitz nicht unbesetzt“ (= (3) alternativ zu dem Kriterium (13) der Betätigung irgendeines Pedals.In the case of a delivery van or a taxi, for example, the following configuration is possible:

• Criteria ((2) AND (3)) OR (13).

ie the AND combination of the criteria “driver's door closed” (= (2)) and “driver's seat not unoccupied” (= (3) as an alternative to the criterion (13) of actuating any pedal.

• Kriterien ((8) UND (10)) ODER (13),

d.h. die UND-Kombination der Kriterien „Fahrertür ist nicht geöffnet worden, seitdem sämtliche Pedale losgelassen worden sind“ (= (8)) und „Zündschlüssel oder Sender für ein schlüsselloses Schließsystem befindet sich im Fahrzeuginneren“ (= (10)) alternativ zu dem Kriterium (13) der Betätigung irgendeines Pedals.Furthermore, in the case of a delivery van or a taxi, the following logical link is also possible:

• Criteria ((8) AND (10)) OR (13),

ie the AND combination of the criteria "Driver's door has not been opened since all pedals were released" (= (8)) and "Ignition key or transmitter for a keyless locking system is in the vehicle interior" (= (10)) as an alternative to that Criterion (13) of the operation of any pedal.

According to the invention, for example, a person performing the calibration during the vehicle calibration or the driver himself can select a logical combination of criteria that is suitable for the specific application situation, so that a meaningful assessment of the presence of a driver can be used as the basis for the proper Operation of the stop-start device can be done.

Furthermore, according to the invention, an index value related to a Boolean matrix can now be generated by, for example, interpreting the above-mentioned individual criteria as bits of a number in the binary system. This (hereinafter referred to as " The matrix called “driver presence matrix” now gives the required response (ie “driver present” or “driver not present”) for each combination of input values for the individual states or criteria.

For N states, said matrix comprises 2 ^N elements, that is to say 8192 elements for the above example of 13 states. In order to reduce this number of elements, a restriction is now made in a sensible manner to those states or criteria which are particularly meaningful in the application in question.

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

The configuration can be done in different ways insofar as no input status, one input status or several of the input statuses, each combined by logical AND or OR links, lead to the result “driver present”.

2 shows a graphic illustration to explain the determination of an index value in the driver presence matrix. For example, the number 1 is assigned to the Boolean value TRUE and the number 0 is assigned to the Boolean value FALSE as an input signal. The first input signal is multiplied by 2 ° = 1, the second input signal is multiplied by 2 ¹ = 2, and the third input signal is multiplied by 2 ² = 4. Generally the i-th input signal is multiplied by 2 ^l-1 . The values obtained in this way are then added, and the calculated index value is used to read the relevant entry in the driver presence matrix.

3 to 6th show diagrams for the structure of a driver presence matrix according to further exemplary embodiments of the invention. The ones in the 3 to 6th The driver presence matrices shown are based on the selection of five of the above criteria, namely 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 this criterion in the driver presence matrix must be TRUE. In 3 this is the case for criterion (8).

• Kriterien ((1) UND (8))

angegeben, d.h. die UND-Kombination der Kriterien „Fahrersicherheitsgurt angelegt) (= (1)) und „Fahrertür ist nicht geöffnet worden, seitdem sämtliche Pedale losgelassen worden sind“ (= (8)). Wenn somit beide Kriterien (1) und (8) erfüllt sind, lautet der betreffende Eintrag in der Fahreranwesenheits-Matrix auf WAHR (wobei die übrigen drei Kriterien ignoriert werden).In the case of an AND combination of two criteria, the value of the driver presence matrix must always be TRUE if the relevant conditions or criteria are met (ie their Boolean value is TRUE in each case). In 4th 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 fastened) (= (1)) and“ Driver's door has not been opened since all pedals were released ”(= (8)). Thus, if both criteria (1) and (8) are met, the relevant entry in the driver presence matrix reads TRUE (the remaining three criteria being ignored).

• Kriterien ((3) ODER (8))

angegeben, d.h. die ODER-Kombination der Kriterien „Fahrersitz nicht unbesetzt“ (= (3)) und „Fahrertür ist nicht geöffnet worden, seitdem sämtliche Pedale losgelassen worden sind“ (= (8)). Wenn somit eines der Kriterien (1) und (8) erfüllt ist, lautet der betreffende Eintrag in der Fahreranwesenheits-Matrix auf WAHR (wobei die übrigen drei Kriterien ignoriert werden).In the case of an OR combination of 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))

indicated, ie the OR combination of the criteria “driver's seat not unoccupied” (= (3)) and “driver's door has not been opened since all pedals were released” (= (8)). If one of the criteria (1) and (8) is met, the relevant entry in the driver presence matrix reads TRUE (the remaining three criteria being ignored).

• Kriterien ((1) UND (9)) ODER (13).

6th shows a more complicated combination, namely the values of the driver presence matrix for the link

• Criteria ((1) AND (9)) OR (13).

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

7th shows a graphic illustration to explain the determination of an index value in the driver presence matrix. For example, the number 1 is assigned to the Boolean value TRUE and the number 0 is assigned to the Boolean value FALSE as an input signal. The first input signal is multiplied by 2 ° = 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. In general, the i-th input signal is multiplied by 2 ^l-1 . The values obtained in this way are then added, 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, 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 results accordingly to $$\text{Index value}={\displaystyle \sum _{\text{i}=1}^{\text{N}}{\text{X}}_{\text{i}}\ast 2^{\text{i}-1}},$$

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

The relevant value of the entry in the driver presence matrix (TRUE or FALSE) is used to decide whether the driver is present in the motor vehicle or not.

The person performing the calibration is now able to select the combination of criteria which should be decisive for the decision regarding the presence of the driver, in that the person fills out the driver presence matrix accordingly, which can be done with any calibration device for calibrating the electronic control unit (ECU) can be done. Furthermore, a recalibration can take place without changing the corresponding code of the ECU.

Using the in 8th The flow chart shown explains how the method according to the invention is applied to the triggering of system-induced starts in the operation of a stop-start device. In this case, for example, from the calibration 6th can be assumed.

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

In step S30 a check is then carried out to determine whether a driver is present. If the presence of the driver is confirmed in step 30 (for example because the seat belt is fastened and the driver's seat has not been loaded since the last time any pedal was pressed), the internal combustion engine is started (= step S40 ). Otherwise it takes place via a suitable user interface in step S50 a message to the driver, for example in the form of a request to press the accelerator pedal. Since the criterion (13) (= “any pedal is operated”) is one of the decisive criteria or is included in the detection algorithm, the driver's reaction to this message can be checked by returning to step 30. As soon as the driver actuates any pedal, the result of the query in step 30 is TRUE, and the automatic start of the internal combustion engine via the stop-start device can be enabled or the internal combustion engine can be started.

Claims (11)

Apparatus for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, which is equipped with a stop-start device, comprising: a decision device for making a decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle on the basis of at least one criterion from 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 device, characterized by a calibration device by means of which the at least one criterion serving as a decision basis for the decision device can be selected by a user from the plurality of predetermined criteria. Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the decision device is designed to make the decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle in response to a driver-independent or triggered by the vehicle system request for automatic starting of the internal combustion engine by the stop-start device. Device according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the decision device is designed to make the decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle on the basis of an assignment rule which specifies each combination of input states, each of which indicates whether a criterion of the plurality of predetermined criteria has been met or not, associates a decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver. Device according to Claim 3 , characterized in that this assignment rule is structured in the form of a matrix or table, the decision regarding the presence or absence of a driver in the motor vehicle being made by reading at least one matrix or table entry. Device according to Claim 4 , characterized in that the input states and / or the matrix or table entries are specified as Boolean variables. Device 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 the predetermined criteria. Device according to one of the Claims 4 to 6th , characterized in that at least one matrix or table entry is read off with the calculation of an index value, this index value being given by $$\text{Index value}={\displaystyle \sum _{\text{i}=1}^{\text{N}}{\text{X}}_{\text{i}}\ast 2^{\text{i}-1}},$$

where N denotes the number of predetermined criteria and where X, for the i-th criterion has either the value one or the value zero, depending on whether the relevant i-th criterion is met or not. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device enables or allows automatic starting of the internal combustion engine in the event of a positive decision regarding the presence of a driver in the motor vehicle. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the event of a negative decision regarding the presence of a driver, the device blocks automatic starting of the internal combustion engine or only enables it after a predetermined action has been taken by a driver. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that 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. A 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 on the basis of at least one criterion from a plurality of predetermined ones Criteria; and controlling the operation of the motor vehicle on the basis of the decision made by the decision device, characterized in that the at least one criterion serving as a decision basis for the decision device is selected by a user from the plurality of predetermined criteria.

Images