Operating characteristics control device for a vehicle

• US 20030139863A1
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Yasui, Yoshiyuki, Toda, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,799,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0273 taking into account user data, e.g. knee height or physical state
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/06 Disposition of pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/007 adjustable by the driver, e.g. sport mode

Abstract

An operating characteristics control device for a vehicle includes a physical constitution detecting device for detecting a physical constitution of a passenger, an operation device operated by the passenger, a condition changing device operated by the operation device and changing the condition of the vehicle and an operating characteristic setting device for setting a characteristic showing a relationship between an operating force applied to the operation device and the condition of the vehicle changed by the operation of the condition changing device in response to the physical constitution of the passenger detected by the physical constitution detecting device.

Claims

1. An operating characteristics control device for a vehicle comprising;

a physical constitution detecting means for detecting a physical constitution of a passenger;

an operation means operated by the passenger;

a condition changing means operated by the operation means and changing the condition of the vehicle; and

an operating characteristic setting means for setting a characteristic showing a relationship between an operating force applied to the operation means and the condition of the vehicle changed by the operation of the condition changing means in response to the physical constitution of the passenger detected by the physical constitution detecting means.

2. An operating characteristics control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating characteristic setting means sets the magnitude of the operational force required for operating the operation means with a predetermined amount in response to the physical constitution of the passenger for setting the characteristic.

3. An operating characteristics control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating characteristic setting means sets the characteristic so that the rate of the change of the condition of the vehicle with respect to the operational force applied to the operation means gets smaller in proportion as the increase of the physical constitution of the passenger detected by the physical constitution detecting means.

4. An operating characteristics control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the physical constitution detecting means is constituted by one of a weight sensor which detects a weight of the passenger, a sitting position sensor which detects a sitting position of the driver, a supersonic sensor which detects the physical constitution of the passenger by supersonic or an image recognition sensor which recognizes the physical constitution by an image.

5. An operating characteristics control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operation means is constituted by a steering wheel, the condition changing means is constituted by wheels of the vehicle which is steered on the basis of the steering angle of the steering wheel and the operating characteristic setting means sets the steering force required for steering the wheels of the vehicle with a predetermined angle in response to the physical constitution of the passenger.

6. An operating characteristics control device for a vehicle according to claim 5 further comprising a power steering device which generates a steering force for steering the wheels in accordance with the operation of the steering wheel, and wherein the operating characteristic setting means sets the steering force generated by the power steering device in response to the physical constitution of the passenger.

7. An operating characteristics control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operation means is constituted by a brake pedal, the condition changing means is constituted by a brake device and the operating characteristic setting means sets a braking force generated by the brake device with respect to a depressing force of the brake pedal by a driver in response to the physical constitution of the driver.

8. An operating characteristics control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operation means is constituted by an accelerator pedal, the condition changing means is constituted by a driving force generating device and the operating characteristic setting means sets a driving force generated by the driving force generating device with respect to a depressing force of the accelerator pedal by a driver in response to the physical constitution of the driver.

9. An operating characteristics control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operation means is constituted by a change-over switch, the condition changing means is constituted by a operation member operated by the operation of the change-over switch the operating characteristic setting means sets an operational force required for operating the change-over switch in response to the physical constitution of the driver.