US-12623553-B2 - Method and device for operating an electrically driven vehicle in preparation for a start-up process

Abstract

A device for operating an electric drive machine of a vehicle in preparation for a start-up process of the vehicle is configured to determine that a preparation mode of the vehicle for preparing for the start-up process is active, and in response, operate the electric drive machine with a time-modulated target drive torque in a preparation phase for the start-up process in order to create vibrations of the vehicle by the drive machine as haptic feedback for a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is stationary.

Inventors

• Oiher Aspe
• Patrick Schaedler

Assignees

• BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20220601

Priority Date

20210629

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A device for operating an electric drive machine of a vehicle in preparation for a starting process of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a first electric drive machine for a first axle, and a second electric drive machine for a second axle of the vehicle, and wherein the device is configured to: determine that a preparation mode of the vehicle in preparation for the starting process is active; responsively operate the first electric drive machine in a preparation phase for the starting process with a first time-modulated target drive torque, and operate the second drive machine with a second modulated target drive torque in the preparation phase, in order to, when at a standstill, bring about vibrations of the vehicle by the drive machine as haptic feedback for a driver of the vehicle; and change the first modulated target drive torque and the second modulated target drive torque in relation to one another over time.
2. 2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to: detect that, when the vehicle is at a standstill, a brake controller configured to control one or more brakes of the vehicle and a drive controller configured to control the first and second drive machines are actuated simultaneously; and determine on a basis of this detection that the preparation mode of the vehicle is active.
3. 3 . The device according to claim 2 , wherein the device is configured to: detect that a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal are actuated simultaneously.
4. 4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to: detect that it has been set by way of a user interface of the vehicle that the preparation mode is to be used in preparation for starting processes of the vehicle; and determine on a basis of this detection that the preparation mode of the vehicle is active.
5. 5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the time-modulated target drive torque comprises; an average target drive torque component of the target drive torque; and a variation or oscillation component of the target drive torque about the average target drive torque.
6. 6 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the device is configured to: change an amplitude of the variation or oscillation component over time; change a frequency and/or a period duration of the variation or oscillation component over time; and/or vary a speed at which the amplitude of the variation or oscillation component is changed over time.
7. 7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to: determine braking information with respect to a brake torque brought about by one or more brakes of the vehicle; and determine the time-modulated target drive torque to be delivered by the first and/or second drive machine in dependence on the braking information in such a way that the time-modulated target drive torque does not exceed the brake torque in the preparation phase.
8. 8 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to: determine actuating information with respect to an extent of actuation of a brake pedal configured to control one or more brakes of the vehicle, wherein the actuating information indicates a brake torque requested by the driver; and determine an average target drive torque component of the time-modulated target drive torque to be delivered by the first and/or second drive machine in dependence on the actuating information in such a way that the average target drive torque component of the time-modulated target drive torque increases as the requested brake torque increases.
9. 9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to: determine actuating information with respect to an extent of actuation of an accelerator pedal for controlling the drive machine, wherein the actuating information indicates a drive torque requested by the driver; and determine a variation or oscillation component of the time-modulated target drive torque about an average target drive torque to be delivered by the first and/or second drive machine in dependence on the actuating information in such a way that an extent of the vibrations of the vehicle brought about by the first and/or second drive machine increases as the requested drive torque increases.
10. 10 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises at least one active oscillation damper configured to damp a transmission of oscillations of the first and/or second drive machine to a driver's position of the vehicle, and wherein the device is configured to: deactivate the active oscillation damper in the preparation phase; and/or operate the active oscillation damper in the preparation phase in such a way that transmission of oscillations of the first and/or second drive machine to the driver's position of the vehicle is not damped and/or is intensified.
11. 11 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises a steering wheel for steering the vehicle; and wherein the device is configured to make a steering wheel actuator bring about vibrations of the steering wheel as haptic feedback for the driver of the vehicle in the preparation mode.
12. 12 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to: determine that the preparation phase has ended and/or the starting process is beginning; and responsively end the time-modulation of the target drive torque to be delivered by the first and/or second electric drive machine and to operate the first and/or second drive machine according to a drive torque predetermined by the driver by way of a drive controller.
13. 13 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein a drive shaft of the first and/or second electric drive machine does not rotate in the preparation phase; and/or a position of the drive shaft of the first and/or second electric drive machine oscillates about an intermediate position on a basis of the modulated target drive torque to be delivered.
14. 14 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein a variation or oscillation component of the time-modulated target drive torque about an average target drive torque depends on a resonant frequency of a body of the vehicle.
15. 15 . A method for operating an electric drive machine of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a first electric drive machine for a first axle, and a second electric drive machine for a second axle of the vehicle, the method comprising: determining that a preparation mode of the vehicle in preparation for a starting process is active; responsively operating the first electric drive machine in a preparation phase for the starting process with a first time-modulated target drive torque, and operating the second drive machine with a second modulated target drive torque in the preparation phase, in order to, when at a standstill, bring about vibrations of the vehicle by the drive machine as haptic feedback for a driver of the vehicle; and changing the first modulated target drive torque and the second modulated target drive torque in relation to one another over time.
16. 16 . The method according to claim 15 , comprising: detecting that a brake pedal configured to control one or more brakes of the vehicle and an accelerator pedal configured to control the first and/or second drive machine are actuated simultaneously; and determining on a basis of this detection that the preparation mode of the vehicle is active.
17. 17 . The method according to claim 15 , comprising: changing an amplitude of a variation or oscillation component of the target drive torque about an average target drive torque over time; changing a frequency and/or a period duration of the variation or oscillation component over time; and/or varying a speed at which the amplitude of the variation or oscillation component is changed over time.
18. 18 . The method according to claim 15 , comprising: determining actuating information with respect to an extent of actuation of a brake pedal configured to control one or more brakes of the vehicle, wherein the actuating information indicates a brake torque requested by the driver; and determining an average target drive torque component of the time-modulated target drive torque to be delivered by the first and/or second drive machine in dependence on the actuating information in such a way that the average target drive torque component of the time-modulated target drive torque increases as the requested brake torque increases.
19. 19 . The method according to claim 15 , comprising: determining actuating information with respect to an extent of actuation of an accelerator pedal for controlling the first and/or second drive machine, wherein the actuating information indicates a drive torque requested by the driver; and determining a variation or oscillation component of the time-modulated target drive torque about an average target drive torque to be delivered by the drive machine in dependence on the actuating information in such a way that an extent of the vibrations of the vehicle brought about by the first and/or second drive machine increases as the requested drive torque increases.
20. 20 . A device for operating an electric drive machine of a vehicle in preparation for a starting process of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a first electric drive machine for a first axle, and a second electric drive machine for a second axle of the vehicle, and wherein the device is configured to: determine that a preparation mode of the vehicle in preparation for the starting process is active; responsively operate the first drive machine with a first modulated target drive torque in a preparation phase for the starting process, and operate the second drive machine with a second modulated target drive torque in the preparation phase, in order to, when at a standstill, bring about vibrations of the vehicle by the drive machine as haptic feedback for a driver of the vehicle; and change the first modulated target drive torque and the second modulated target drive torque in relation to one another over time in such a way that the vibrations of the vehicle shift locationally over time.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY The invention relates to a method and a corresponding device which make it possible to operate an electrically driven vehicle in a preparation mode for a starting process, by which in particular a shortening of the starting time of the vehicle can be brought about. A vehicle with an internal combustion engine can be operated by the driver of the vehicle when it is stationary, for example before starting a vehicle race, in such a way that the engine has an increased drive torque, which can be used for increased acceleration of the vehicle at the moment of starting. For this purpose, the driver actuates the brake, in particular the brake pedal, of the vehicle in order to keep the vehicle at a standstill. Furthermore, the driver actuates a drive controller of the vehicle, for example the gas pedal or accelerator pedal of the vehicle, in order to bring about the effect that an increased drive torque (as compared with idling speed) is provided by the engine of the vehicle. For starting the vehicle, the driver can release the vehicle brake, so that the increased drive torque is immediately available for increased acceleration of the vehicle. During the aforementioned preparation phase for an accelerated starting process of the vehicle, the driver of the vehicle receives haptic feedback with respect to the increased drive torque of the engine brought about by the driver by way of vibrations of the vehicle that are brought about by the engine. This haptic feedback makes it possible for the driver to set in a precise way the increased drive torque set by actuating the drive controller. This haptic feedback is also often experienced by drivers as a positive emotion and as a driving experience. The present document is concerned with a technical object of efficiently providing a preparation phase in preparation for a starting process of an electrically driven vehicle, in particular in order to make a starting process possible with an increased drive torque and/or with enhanced driving fun for the driver of the vehicle. The object is achieved by the present disclosure. Advantageous embodiments are also described, inter alia, in the present disclosure. It is pointed out that additional features of a patent claim dependent on an independent patent claim can form a separate invention, which is independent of the combination of all features of the independent patent claim and can be made the subject matter of an independent claim, a divisional application or a subsequent application, without the features of the independent patent claim or only in combination with a subset of the features of the independent patent claim. This applies in the same way to technical teachings which are described in the description and can form an invention that is independent of the features of the independent patent claims. According to one aspect, a device for operating an electric drive machine of a vehicle in preparation for a starting process of the vehicle is described. The vehicle may be a battery electric vehicle (BEV). In particular, the vehicle may be designed to be driven just by one or more electric drive machines. The device is set up to determine that the preparation mode of the vehicle in preparation for the starting process is active. The preparation mode may in this case be activated by the driver of the vehicle. In particular, the device may be set up to detect that, when the vehicle is at a standstill, the brake controller, in particular the brake pedal, for controlling one or more (friction) brakes of the vehicle and the drive controller, in particular the accelerator pedal, for controlling the drive machine are actuated simultaneously (by the driver). It can then be determined on the basis of this information that the preparation mode of the vehicle is active. It can in this way be made possible, in preparation for a starting process (while the vehicle is at a standstill), for the driver of the vehicle to actuate the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal simultaneously in order to activate the preparation mode of the vehicle. The vehicle may comprise a user interface (for example with an operating element), which makes it possible for the driver of the vehicle to set whether or not the preparation mode of the vehicle is to be used in starting processes. For example, it can be made possible for the driver to activate a sporty mode of the vehicle, in which the use of the preparation mode in starting processes is enabled. On the other hand, if applicable, use of the preparation mode may be disabled. The device can consequently be set up to detect that it has been set by way of the user interface (for example by way of an operating element) of the vehicle that the preparation mode is to be used in preparation for starting processes of the vehicle. It can then be determined on the basis of the setting that the preparation mode of the vehicle is active. By enabling or blocking the preparation mode by way of