KR-20260065414-A - APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE AND METHOD THEREOF

KR20260065414AKR 20260065414 AKR20260065414 AKR 20260065414AKR-20260065414-A

Abstract

A vehicle control device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a sensor unit, a heater unit, a memory storing at least one instruction, and a control unit operatively connected to the sensor unit, the heater unit, and the memory. For example, the vehicle control device may be configured to determine whether the operating conditions of the heater unit, which is configured to perform a heating function for a vehicle, are satisfied based on sensing information obtained using the sensor unit, and if it is determined that the operating conditions are satisfied, to operate the heater unit to raise the temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant pipe.

Inventors

최승호
임은채
이기욱
성병준
노효석

Assignees

현대자동차주식회사
기아 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date: 20260508
Application Date: 20241101

Claims (20)

In a vehicle control device, Sensor section; A heater section including a cooling water pipe and a heating element; Memory for storing at least one instruction; and It includes the sensor unit, the heater unit, and a control unit operatively connected to the memory; When the above instructions are executed by the control unit, the vehicle control device: Based on sensing information obtained using the sensor unit, determining whether the operating conditions of the heater unit configured to perform a heating function for the vehicle are satisfied, and When it is determined that the above operating conditions are satisfied, the heater unit is operated to raise the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the cooling water pipe, configured to Vehicle control unit.
In claim 1, The above heating element is, A graphene heater inserted inside the above cooling water pipe, Vehicle control unit.
In claim 1, When the above instructions are executed by the control unit, the vehicle control device: A heat pump mounted on the vehicle and configured to perform cooling and heating functions is in operation, and a coolant heater mounted on the vehicle and configured to perform the heating function is not in operation, configured to determine that the operating condition is satisfied. Vehicle control unit.
In claim 3, When the above instructions are executed by the control unit, the vehicle control device: A configuration configured to determine that the operating condition is satisfied when the external temperature of the vehicle obtained using the sensor unit is less than a first temperature, the temperature of the coolant exceeds a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and the internal temperature of the vehicle is less than a set temperature. Vehicle control unit.
In claim 1, When the above instructions are executed by the control unit, the vehicle control device: A heater unit configured to turn OFF when a termination condition regarding at least one of the temperature of the coolant, the operating time of the heater unit, the internal temperature of the vehicle, whether a termination input is received, or any combination thereof is satisfied. Vehicle control unit.
In claim 5, When the above instructions are executed by the control unit, the vehicle control device: A configuration configured to determine that the termination condition is satisfied when the temperature of the coolant identified using the sensor unit exceeds a critical temperature, when the operating time of the heater unit exceeds a specified time, or when the internal temperature of the vehicle exceeds a set temperature. Vehicle control unit.
In claim 5, In addition to the input section, When the above instructions are executed by the control unit, the vehicle control device: When the termination input regarding the termination of operation of the heater unit is received through the input unit, the termination condition is determined to be satisfied. Vehicle control unit.
In claim 5, When the above instructions are executed by the control unit, the vehicle control device: A configuration configured to turn off the heater unit and, after a specified idle time has elapsed, determine whether the operating conditions are satisfied again to determine whether to operate the heater unit. Vehicle control unit.
In claim 1, The above heating element, battery, and relay electrically connected to the control unit; further comprising When the above instructions are executed by the control unit, the vehicle control device: When it is determined that the above operating conditions are satisfied, the relay is turned ON and the power is applied to the heating element through the battery to operate the heater unit, configured to Vehicle control unit.
In claim 9, The above battery includes a low-voltage battery of a specified voltage, Vehicle control unit.
In a vehicle control method, A step in which a control unit determines whether the operating conditions of a heater unit configured to perform a heating function for a vehicle are satisfied based on sensing information obtained using a sensor unit; and The control unit, when it determines that the operating condition is satisfied, operates the heater unit to raise the temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant pipe included in the heater unit; comprising the step of Vehicle control method.
In claim 11, The above heating element is, A graphene heater inserted inside the above cooling water pipe, Vehicle control method.
In claim 11, The above vehicle control method is, The above control unit further comprises the step of determining that the operating condition is satisfied when a heat pump mounted on the vehicle and configured to perform cooling and heating functions is operating, and a coolant heater mounted on the vehicle and configured to perform the heating function is not operating. Vehicle control method.
In claim 13, The above vehicle control method is, The control unit further comprises the step of determining that the operating condition is satisfied if it is further identified that the external temperature of the vehicle obtained using the sensor unit is less than a first temperature, the temperature of the coolant exceeds a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and the internal temperature of the vehicle is less than a set temperature. Vehicle control method.
In claim 11, The above vehicle control method is, The control unit further comprises the step of turning off the heater unit when a termination condition regarding at least one of the temperature of the coolant, the operating time of the heater unit, the internal temperature of the vehicle, whether a termination input is received, or any combination thereof is satisfied. Vehicle control method.
In claim 15, The above vehicle control method is, The control unit further comprises the step of determining that the termination condition is satisfied when the temperature of the coolant identified using the sensor unit exceeds a critical temperature, when the operating time of the heater unit exceeds a specified time, or when the internal temperature of the vehicle exceeds a set temperature. Vehicle control method.
In claim 15, The above vehicle control method is, The above control unit further comprises the step of determining that the termination condition is satisfied when it receives the termination input regarding the termination of operation of the heater unit through the input unit. Vehicle control method.
In claim 15, The above vehicle control method is, The above control unit further comprises the step of determining whether to operate the heater unit by determining whether the operating condition is satisfied again after turning off the heater unit and after a specified idle time has elapsed. Vehicle control method.
In claim 11, The above vehicle control method is, The method further comprises the step of, when the control unit determines that the operating condition is satisfied, turning ON a heating element, a battery, and a relay electrically connected to the control unit, and applying power to the heating element through the battery to operate the heater unit. Vehicle control method.
In claim 19, The above battery includes a low-voltage battery of a specified voltage, Vehicle control method.

Description

Apparatus for Controlling Vehicle and Method Thereof The present invention relates to a vehicle control device and a method thereof, and more specifically, to a technology for efficiently operating a heater unit of a vehicle. With the advancement of technology, the adoption of electric vehicles is gradually increasing. Unlike vehicles using internal combustion engines, electric vehicles utilize electrical energy to provide cooling and heating functions; therefore, active development is underway regarding power control algorithms to regulate power consumption efficiently. For example, since the operating efficiency of electric vehicles relatively decreases in cold weather, technologies are being developed to efficiently utilize energy through waste heat recovery, which recovers heat generated from electrical systems (or automotive electrical and electronic equipment) or power electronics (PE) modules. Furthermore, by utilizing configurations such as coolant heaters (or water heating heaters) and/or heat pumps, heating functions to raise the interior temperature of the vehicle in cold weather can be performed efficiently. However, since the power consumed to operate the coolant heater is relatively high, there is a problem where the fuel efficiency of electric vehicles deteriorates further in cold weather. Additionally, because the temperature of the coolant drops during the waste heat recovery process, there is a problem with inadequate insulation of the coolant. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the components of a vehicle control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a cross-section of a heater part according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the components of a vehicle control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a vehicle control method according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a vehicle control method according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a vehicle control method according to one embodiment of the present invention. In relation to the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals may be used for identical or similar components. Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. It should be noted that in assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing, the same components are given the same reference numeral whenever possible, even if they are shown in different drawings. Furthermore, in describing the embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known components or functions would hinder understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, such detailed description is omitted. In describing the components of the embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc., may be used. These terms are intended merely to distinguish the components from other components, and the essence, order, or sequence of the components is not limited by the terms. Furthermore, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this application. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the components of a vehicle control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to one embodiment, the vehicle control device (100) may include at least one of a memory (110), a sensor unit (120), a heater unit (130), a control unit (140), an input unit (150), or any combination thereof. The configuration of the vehicle control device (100) illustrated in FIG. 1 is exemplary and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. For example, the vehicle control device (100) may further include components not illustrated in FIG. 1 (e.g., an interface unit, a communication unit, a display unit, or at least one combination thereof). According to one embodiment, the memory (110) may store commands or data. For example, the memory (110) may store one or more instructions that cause the vehicle control device (100) to perform various operations when executed by the control unit (140). For example, the memory (110) may be implemented as a single chipset with the control unit (140). The control unit (140) may include at least one of a communication processor or a mod