DE102013211716A1 - Method and device for setting a recuperation behavior of a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for setting a recuperation behavior of a vehicle (1). The recuperation behavior can be set automatically, taking into account at least one environmental variable of the vehicle (1), and a vehicle occupant of the vehicle (1) receives feedback about the setting of the recuperation behavior. A configuration of the setting of the recuperation behavior and / or a configuration of the feedback is saved on an external memory and / or is loaded from an external memory.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for adjusting a recuperation behavior of a vehicle.

Vehicles with an electric drive usually have facilities for recuperation (energy recovery) to optimize energy efficiency during decelerations, such as braking. For this purpose, a regulation of recuperation behavior takes place with regard to duration and intensity, but typically not as a function of environmental variables. This is disadvantageous if a deceleration torque achieved via the recuperation is insufficient for a given driving situation and a driver of the vehicle must make an additional delay very early via a brake pedal actuation. This can be the case, for example, for a route with a steep gradient.

To optimally adjust the deceleration torque for a specific driving situation, various environmental variables, such as vehicle loads or map information, may be taken into account. In vehicles with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) or ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control System) said information is used and used to set the recuperation.

For example, the document discloses DE 10 2010 039 642 A1 a method for adjusting a drag torque of a drive train, wherein the drag torque is set in dependence on route information.

However, a disadvantage of the system known from the prior art is that the driver is not informed in an effective manner about a system-side adaptation of the path behavior and an adjustment of the recuperation behavior is carried out only by vehicle. If there is no feedback of a newly adapted deceleration torque, the driver is not able to anticipate the mode of action of the deceleration torque for the next deceleration process. Thus, the driver can be surprised by a stronger or weaker deceleration torque. Under certain circumstances, this means impairing safe and serviceable vehicle guidance.

The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a method and a device with which the stated disadvantages can be overcome, which thus allow a reliable and easily perceptible feedback regarding the adapted recuperation behavior and at the same time enables a simple transmission of the set recuperation properties.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and a device according to claim 10. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are contained in the dependent claims.

In a method for setting a recuperation behavior of a vehicle, the recuperation behavior is automatically adjustable taking into account at least one environment variable of the vehicle. A vehicle occupant of the motor vehicle receives feedback about a successful adjustment of the recuperation behavior. A configuration of the recuperation behavior setting and / or a configuration of the feedback is stored in an external memory and / or loaded from an external memory.

By using an external memory to secure the configuration, a configuration made by the vehicle occupant that meets his personal requirements for easy recognition of the feedback can be easily transferred from one vehicle to another. It is therefore unnecessary to re-set the configuration on each new vehicle. This facilitates the acquisition of rental cars, because the configurations do not have to be set again in every new car. Due to the fact that the recuperation behavior is automatically adjustable, a vehicle occupant, such as a driver of the vehicle, if he so desires, does not actively intervene in adapting the recuperation behavior, but instead merely receives feedback about an adjustment of the recuperation behavior on the basis of which he can adapt his driving style. In this case, a "configuration" is understood to mean an adjustment of at least one device and / or at least one function of a device. Preferably, several devices or multiple functions are set as a configuration.

The method is typically applied to a vehicle having an electric drive such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. In these vehicles, an adaptation of the recuperation behavior under energy usage aspects is particularly efficient. If an automatic adaptation, i. If automatic adjustment of the recuperation behavior is not possible, the recuperation behavior is set manually by the vehicle occupant.

The external storage can include a mobile electronic device to quickly and easily to backup and transfer the configuration. Preferably, the external memory is semiconductor-based storage element, an optically readable storage element or a magnetic storage element such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a laptop, a USB stick (Universal Serial Bus), a CD (compact disc) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). The devices mentioned are usually handy and easy to transport, so that an exchange of data stored on these devices data is easily possible. Alternatively or additionally, the external memory may also include a memory space in a data network to enable location-independent storage. The data network is preferably a wireless data network, and more preferably part of a cloud computing environment. By storing the data in the so-called "cloud", the data is available anywhere, as long as a connection to the wireless data communication is possible. This makes it easy to transfer the settings from one vehicle to another, for example, in rental cars or "car sharing".

It can be provided that the configuration of the feedback comprises a display representation defined by the vehicle occupant before the feedback. In this way, the vehicle occupant can decide for himself how he wishes to present information, for which he advantageously selects an advertisement which he can perceive particularly well. Alternatively or additionally, the configuration of the feedback may include at least one information to be displayed for the feedback. Such a personalization of the feedback allows the vehicle occupant to select which information is actually output to him as feedback and easily hide irrelevant information for him.

Typically, the configuration of adjusting the recuperation behavior includes setting a drag torque. Due to the drag torque of a drive train of the vehicle, a very efficient adaptation of the recuperation behavior is performed and reproduced by the method this to the vehicle occupant. The drag torque may be adjusted by changing a gear ratio or adjusting a decelerating torque that an electrical device applies to a powertrain. In the latter case, the decelerating torque is also referred to as recuperation.

In a method step, the vehicle occupant can select whether the recuperation behavior is to be adjusted automatically. If the vehicle occupant selects this, the adaptation of the recuperation behavior is automatically carried out without his intervention. This can be done for example by a control unit such as the ECU (Engine Control Unit). If the driver does not want this automatic adaptation, he can manually adjust the recuperation behavior through various inputs via an input unit of the vehicle.

It can also be provided that the vehicle occupant adjusts an indication of possible adjustments of the recuperation behavior. As a result, the vehicle occupant can determine that not all possible or actual adaptations of the recuperation behavior are displayed to him, but rather only a selection preselected by him appears on an output unit of the vehicle. A personalized display allows the driver to accurately get the information he wants.

The configuration of the feedback typically includes a haptic type of feedback, an optical type of feedback, and / or an acoustic type of feedback. As a result, different senses of a person are addressed and a reliable perceptible feedback ensured. Preferably, at least two of said feedback types are used simultaneously to ensure that the vehicle occupant also perceives the feedback. Most preferably, a combination of haptic feedback and optical, i. used a visually perceptible feedback, as this represents a particularly ergonomic way of feedback for the vehicle occupants.

Accordingly, the haptic nature of the feedback can be done via a pedal of the vehicle or a seat of the vehicle on which the vehicle occupant sits. The optical feedback may be via a text, a picture element and / or a color change of a vehicle information system, wherein the vehicle information system comprises the output unit, on which the optical feedback is reproduced. Alternatively or additionally, the acoustic type of feedback about a single tone or a tone sequence can also take place via the vehicle information system and the output unit of the vehicle information system.

An adjustment of the recuperation behavior is to be understood as an adaptation to an environment variable. The environment variable may include information of a navigation system of the vehicle, information of a vehicle environment obtained from a sensor of the vehicle, and / or a vehicle characteristic. Preferably, the information of the Navigation system traffic information or map information. This makes it possible, the driving environment, such as closed roads, gradients or traffic jams, a driving style of the driver based on, for example, speeds or accelerations and a current traffic situation and vehicle data, such as load, wheel speeds, inclination angle or tire pressure, and to adjust of recuperation behavior.

An apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising a control unit for setting the recuperation behavior in a display for indicating a successful recuperation behavior adjustment for a vehicle occupant has an interface for securing a configuration of setting the recuperation behavior and / or a configuration of setting the recuperation behavior. Alternatively, the interface can also be set up to load the configuration of the setting of the recuperation behavior and / or the configuration of the adjustment of the recuperation behavior from an external memory.

This makes it possible to make an individual adjustment of the Rekuperationsverhaltens and secure on an external storage unit. The external storage unit is detachable from the vehicle and can thus be easily installed in other vehicles.

The interface is typically a bus or a device for data communication, such as an antenna. Typically, the interface faces a vehicle interior of the vehicle so that the external memory can be quickly connected by the vehicle occupant to the interface. The device described is set up to carry out the said method.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are described below with reference to the 1 and 2 described. Show it:

1 a schematic view of a vehicle with a device for adjusting a Rekuperationsverhaltens and

2 a flowchart of a method for adjusting the Rekuperationsverhaltens of in 1 shown vehicle.

In 1 is a schematic side view of a vehicle 1 with an electric drive 3 shown. The vehicle 1 however, in other embodiments, it may be a pure electric vehicle without a conventional internal combustion engine. The vehicle 1 has a control unit 2 in the form of an ECU (Engine Control Unit). The control unit 2 is part of a device for adjusting a recuperation behavior of the vehicle 1 , The electric drive 3 is in terms of a possible energy recovery, so the recuperation of the control unit 2 controlled, the control unit 2 with the electric drive 3 is connected, but can also be spatially separated from it. Likewise, it is of course possible that the control unit 2 directly on the electric drive 3 is arranged.

In a vehicle interior of the vehicle 1 is an input unit 4 and an output unit 5 arranged. The input unit 4 is in the in 1 illustrated embodiment, a joystick with multiple buttons, but in other embodiments, only a plurality of buttons, only a joystick or a touch-sensitive surface, such as a touch screen, include. About the input unit 4 For example, a vehicle occupant, such as a driver, may be prompted for control of the control unit 2 do. The control unit 2 then fits according to the information given, the recuperation of the electric drive 3 automatically and gives on the output device 5 a feedback on the adjustments made. The output unit 5 is in the in 1 illustrated embodiment, a screen and a microphone, so that on the screen a visual representation of the successful adaptation can be done via a text output and simultaneous visual representations, while the microphone in a successful adaptation a short tone sequence in the form of a jingle, ie a particular tone sequence or even a single chord, or an earcon is presented to the driver. In further embodiments, alternatively or additionally, a haptic feedback can be supplied to the driver, for example via a vibration of a driver's seat on which the driver sits or via a haptic feedback on one or more of the pedals in the form of an AFFP (Active Force Feedback Pedal). in which, for example, an accelerator pedal after the successful adjustment of Rekuperationsverhaltens when accelerating harder or easier to push through.

In an automatic adjustment of Rekuperationsverhaltens the output unit 5 also be set up to reflect only the adjustment made. On a previous input via the input unit 4 can be waived in this case.

The adaptation of recuperation properties of the vehicle 1 takes place depending on environmental data, such as a road, a route type, a gradient or a slope. The corresponding environment information will be found in the 1 illustrated embodiment, the driver of a navigation system 6 delivered. The navigation system 6 includes an antenna for receiving a satellite-based location-determining signal, such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) signal, and also via the input unit 4 operable. In further exemplary embodiments, alternatively or additionally, vehicle data, such as a load, one or more wheel speeds or an angle of inclination as well as surroundings data received by sensors, can be based on radar, lidar or by a camera of the vehicle 1 recorded camera data of the control unit 2 be added and taken into account in the adjustment of Rekuperationsverhaltens. Likewise, it is possible through the antenna of the navigation system 6 Also, other data can be transmitted, such as environment data obtained by C2X (Car to X) or Internet service, such as so-called "location based data". Furthermore, a driving style of the driver can be taken into account in the adaptation of the recuperation behavior and, finally, the recuperation behavior adapted to the respective driving context can be reported back to the driver in an ergonomically optimized manner. Thus, the driver is finally able to anticipate the impact of the adaptation in good time. The recuperation behavior is in the in 1 illustrated embodiment on the setting of a drag torque of a drive train of the electric drive 3 set by changing a gear ratio. By the feedback, the driver can thus estimate a magnitude of the drag torque in the next deceleration process and react accordingly. Overall, this results in an HMI (Human Machine Interface) concept for driver-optimized feedback of system-adapted recuperation properties in electric vehicles.

At the output unit 5 or the input unit 4 , which can also be combined in a housing, is also an interface 7 provided with an external memory can be connected. The external memory is in the in 1 shown embodiment, a USB stick, by the driver in the vehicle interior with the interface 7 , a USB port on the output device 5 , can be connected. About the input unit 4 Before adjusting the recuperation behavior, the driver makes a number of settings, for example, how the recuperation behavior is to be adjusted or how feedback should be reported. By thus personalizing the configuration of the Rekuperationsverhaltens and feedback is optimized to the respective driver configuration provided that can be backed up to the external memory. If the driver now changes the vehicle, he can easily import the personalized settings made via the external memory via a corresponding interface of the new vehicle and does not have to make the setting again. Accordingly, also over the interface 7 of the vehicle 1 from an external memory already made configuration in a memory of the control unit 2 loaded.

Instead of a USB stick as an external memory, of course, other memory elements can be used. Typically, other mobile electronic devices, such as semiconductor memory elements or magnetic or optically readable memory elements, are used. For example, ordinary mobile phones but also smartphones, tablet computers, laptops or CDs or DVDs can be used for this purpose. Furthermore, the configuration can also be stored in a data network. For this purpose, it makes sense to use a wireless data network, in which a data communication via the antenna of the navigation system 6 or another antenna of the vehicle 1 takes place. In particular, it makes sense to make use of so-called cloud computing, ie to load the configuration of the recuperation behavior and / or the manner of the feedback in the so-called "cloud" in order to be independent of location and without physical memory on or in the cloud vehicle 1 to be able to access the mentioned data.

2 FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the method used by the in 1 shown device can be executed. Recurring features are provided with identical reference numerals. In a first process step 8th A start of the procedure, ie a module for the automatic adaptation of the Rekuperationsverhaltens in electric vehicles is initialized. in a configuration step 9 of the method opens a configuration menu in which a user of the method, such as the driver, decides whether an automatic adjustment of Rekuperationsverhaltens should be made or not. If the driver decides that no automatic adjustment of the recuperation behavior takes place, the module ends the automatic adjustment of the recuperation behavior with a final step 10 and on the output unit 5 a corresponding feedback is issued to the driver. If the module is terminated, an adjustment of the recuperation behavior can be done manually, the driver also in this case in each case a feedback on the output unit 5 about the adjustment made.

The driver chooses in the process step 9 an automatic adjustment of the energy recovery of the vehicle 1 out, so he can in one Rekuperationseinstellungsschritt 11 determine the manner in which an automatic adjustment of the Rekuperationsverhaltens should take place. Typically, for this purpose, the drag torque of the drive train of the vehicle drive is adjusted in a corresponding manner. The setting is made via the input unit 4 and a feedback on the made adjustments and adjustments via the output unit 5 ,

In a next feedback configuration step 12 a setting of the way of the feedback is selected.

In principle, the driver can choose between an optical, an acoustic and a haptic type of feedback. In the in 2 illustrated embodiment, at least two types of feedback are selected so that the driver perceives the feedback done in each case. The in the process steps 11 and 12 The settings made are in a backup step 13 stored on an external memory, which is detachably connected to the device for adjusting the Rekuperationsverhaltens. Alternatively, it can also be provided in further exemplary embodiments that in the method steps 11 and 12 no adjustment is made by the driver, but in an upstream process step, an already stored configuration is loaded from the external memory and the method is performed with this charged configuration.

In a modeling step 14 If the modeling of the driving context begins, ie taking into account different environmental variables, such as road type, route type or traffic situation, the recuperation behavior is adjusted and the adaptation is reported back to the driver in an ergonomically optimized manner. By means of environment sensors, a modeling of a driving environment takes place. For this purpose, a priori stored location-related data, such as a route type or a road type, as well as current data, such as the traffic situation, play a central role. In addition, the following input information can serve as a basis for modeling: navigation concepts with map data which can identify inclines, gradients or curve radii, location-based information, ie from map information of the navigation system 6 information obtained, car-to-car information, ie information from other vehicles, information retrieved online, vehicle data such as speed or position, current load state of the vehicle 1 and its weight and a selected driving profile, eg a maximum economic driving style.

A result of the modeling represents a classification of those variables that may have an influence on a temporarily adapted recuperation strategy. Examples include downhill gradients or uphill gradients, narrow curve radii, traffic lights, crosswalks, intersections, a road type (e.g., freeway or highway), and traffic jams or jams.

Within the procedure is in one step 15 decided whether an adjustment of the Rekuperationsverhaltens is required. If this is not the case, the method continues with the modeling step 14 continued. This query as to whether an adjustment is necessary takes place until the method is aborted externally by the user or an adaptation of the recuperation behavior appears necessary. In the latter case, in a feedback step 16 adapted the recuperation as a control behavior according to the current situation. The driver keeps a feedback on this. This completes the control loop and a new modeling of the driving context in the method step 13 starts.

The recuperation strategy adapted to each driving situation increases the energy efficiency of electric vehicles. An adapted recuperation strategy also contributes to an increase in a positive driving experience. The ergonomically optimized feedback and display via the system adapted recuperation strategy, the driver is able to anticipate the mode of action of the drag torque or the deceleration torque for the next deceleration process. This means that the driver is not surprised by a stronger or weaker drag torque. Also, the intensity or type of drag torque in other embodiments may be determined by one of the output channels, i. be indicated by an optical, acoustic or haptic way of feedback to the driver. Thus, e.g. be issued at an increased drag torque in his higher frequency acoustic sound. Moreover, a different coloration, a strength of the set drag torque can be identified as a visual feedback. A user-side modification of the recuperation strategy thus comprises that the user selects whether an automatic adaptation of the recuperation behavior should take place or not. the user configures a preset based on which context-sensitive further adjustments are made and the user defines a preferred indication of the adjusted recuperation behavior, i. For example, a combination of haptic and visual feedback. The term "context-sensitive" is intended to indicate that the driving environment, the driving style and the traffic situation are taken into account.

Only features disclosed in the embodiments of the various embodiments can be combined and claimed individually.

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 102010039642 A1 [0004]

Claims (10)

Method for setting a recuperation behavior of a vehicle ( 1 ), the recuperation behavior taking into account at least one environment variable of the vehicle ( 1 ) is automatically adjustable and a vehicle occupant of the vehicle ( 1 ) receives feedback on a successful adjustment of the Rekuperationsverhaltens, wherein a configuration of the setting of Rekuperationsverhaltens and / or a configuration of the feedback is saved on an external memory and / or is loaded from an external memory. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the external memory comprises a mobile electronic device, preferably a semiconductor-based memory element, an optically readable memory element or a magnetic memory element, or a memory space in a data network, wherein the data network is preferably a wireless data network and particularly preferably is part of a cloud computing environment. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the configuration of the feedback comprises a specified by the vehicle occupant prior to the feedback display display and / or at least one information to be reproduced for feedback. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the configuration of setting the Rekuperationsverhaltens includes adjusting a drag torque. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicle occupant selects whether the recuperation behavior is adjusted automatically. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicle occupant adjusts an indication of possible adjustments of the Rekuperationsverhaltens. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the configuration of the feedback comprises a haptic, optical and / or acoustic type of feedback, wherein preferably at least two of the feedback types are used simultaneously, particularly preferably a haptic and an optical type of feedback. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the haptic type of feedback via a pedal of the vehicle ( 1 ) or a seat of the vehicle ( 1 ), the optical nature of the feedback on a text, a picture element and / or a color change and / or the acoustic nature of the feedback on a single tone or a tone sequence of a display unit. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the environment variable contains information of a navigation system ( 6 ), preferably traffic information or map information, vehicle environment information obtained from a sensor, and / or a vehicle characteristic. Device, in particular for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims, for setting a recuperation behavior for a vehicle ( 1 ), which is a control unit ( 2 ) for setting the Rekuperationsverhaltens and a display unit ( 5 ) for indicating a successful adjustment of the recuperation behavior for a vehicle occupant, characterized in that an interface ( 7 ) is provided for securing a configuration of adjustment of the recuperation behavior and / or a configuration of adjusting the recuperation behavior to or loading the configuration of setting the recuperation behavior and / or configuring the adjustment of recuperation behavior from an external memory.

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