# US 10,865,720 B2 · Method and device for operating a drive device, and drive device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,720 B2 - Document ID: US10865720B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/064,111 - Filed: 2017-02-02 - Published: 2019-01-03 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-06 - Assignees: Audi AG - Applicants: Audi AG - Inventors: Sebastian Ernst; Michael Kiszkiel; Yinyue Feng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865720B2 ## CPC - F02D 41/0085: {Balancing of cylinder outputs, e.g. speed, torque or air-fuel ratio} - F02D 41/0087: {Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation (deceleration cut-off F02D41/123)} - F02D 41/0225: {in relation with the gear ratio or shift lever position} - F02D 41/023: {in relation with the gear ratio shifting (conjoint control for improving gear change B60W30/19)} - F02D 2041/1412: {using a predictive controller} - F02D 2200/0625: Fuel consumption, e.g. measured in fuel liters per 100 kms or miles per gallon - F02D 2200/606: Driving style, e.g. sporty or economic driving - F02D 2200/701: Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal - F02D 2250/21: during a transition between engine operation modes or states - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) ## Abstract A method for operating a drive device of a motor vehicle, having an internal combustion engine and at least one switchable mechanism. The mechanism can be switched to change an operating state influencing a fuel consumption and switching causes an increased fuel consumption. It is proposed that a torque and a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine are predicted depending on a current operating situation, that a dwell time of the mechanism in a switching state is predicted depending on the torque and the rotational speed, and that the mechanism for changing the operating state is actuated depending on the dwell time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating a drive device of a motor vehicle, having an internal combustion engine and at least one switchable mechanism, the at least one switchable mechanism comprising at least one of a shift transmission having several transmission stages and a valve stroke adjustment device of a variable valve train of the internal combustion engine, wherein the mechanism can be switched to change an operating state influencing a fuel consumption, and a process of switching the at least one switchable mechanism causes an increased fuel consumption, wherein a torque and a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine are predicted depending on a current operating situation, and a predicted dwell time of the mechanism in a switching state is determined depending on the torque and the rotational speed, wherein the current operating situation includes: a driver type identification based on a gas pedal position, a brake pedal position, and a steering wheel angle; a current travel route based on a navigation system determining one or more of hills, slopes, stops or speed-reducing restricted zones; and traffic information along the current travel route from a traffic control system, wherein a minimum dwell time is determined based on a probable fuel consumption which is predicted based on the current operating situation, and compared to the increased fuel consumption caused by the process of switching the at least one switchable mechanism, and if the predicted dwell time is longer than the minimum dwell time, the mechanism for changing the operating state is actuated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an ignition angle and/or a fuel supply of the internal combustion engine is/are varied upon switching in such a way that a driving torque of the drive device remains the same or almost the same during the switching. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanism is actuated depending on a dwell time-dependent fuel consumption. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the probable fuel consumption is determined depending on an operating range of the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the probable fuel consumption is determined depending on the determined rotational speed and the determined torque. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A device for operating a drive device of a motor vehicle, comprising: an internal combustion engine and at least one switchable mechanism, wherein the mechanism can be switched to change an operating state influencing a fuel consumption and a process of switching the at least one switchable mechanism causes an increased fuel consumption, wherein a specially designed control unit, which, when used as intended, carries out the method as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A drive device for a motor vehicle, comprising: an internal combustion engine having at least one switchable mechanism and a device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one switchable mechanism can be switched to change an operating state influencing a fuel consumption and a process of switching the at least one switchable mechanism causes an increased fuel consumption.