Apparatus for controlling run of a car, and car using the apparatus

• US 20030149521A1
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Minowa, Toshimichi, Yoshikawa, Tokuji, Satou, Kazuhiko, Kuragaki, Satoru
• Granted Patent: US 6,980,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/00 Arrangements or mounting of propulsion unit control devices in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/042 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/17 with provision for special action when the preceding vehicle comes to a halt, e.g. stop and go
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18159 Traversing an intersection
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/04 Stops for limiting movement of members, e.g. adjustable stop G05G5/03, G05G5/05, G05G5/28 take precedence

Abstract

In a system of accelerating a car using a brake operating mechanism, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver. Therefore, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range are provided to an operating amount or an operating force of a pedal 13.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling run of a car, the apparatus comprising a pedal for controlling both of a braking force and a driving force of said car depending on an operating amount or an operating force, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range being provided in said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal, wherein

a footrest function is realized when said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal is within said footrest function range, and

run of said car is controlled by a braking force, said braking force being increased corresponding to said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal when said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal is within said braking force increasing function range.

3. An apparatus for controlling run of a car according to any one of claim 1 and claim 2, wherein a driving force is generated when said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal is within said footrest function range.

2. An apparatus for controlling run of a car, the apparatus comprising a pedal for controlling both of a braking force and a driving force of said car depending on an operating amount or an operating force, a footrest function range, a driving force decreasing function range and a braking force increasing function range being provided in said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal, wherein

a footrest function is realized when said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal is within said footrest function range, and

run of said car is controlled by:

a driving force, said driving force being decreased corresponding to said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal when said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal is within said driving force decreasing function range; and

a braking force, said braking force being increased corresponding to said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal when said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal is within said braking force increasing function range.

4. An apparatus for controlling run of a car, the apparatus comprising a pedal for controlling both of a braking force and a driving force of said car depending on an operating amount or an operating force;

and a braking mechanism for braking wheels corresponding to said operating amount and said operating force of said pedal, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range being provided in said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal, wherein

a footrest function is realized when said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal is within said footrest function range, and

said braking mechanism is controlled by a braking force, said braking force being increased corresponding to said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal when said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal is within said braking force increasing function range.

5. An apparatus for controlling run of a car, the apparatus comprising a pedal for controlling both of a braking force and a driving force of said car depending on an operating amount or an operating force;

a braking mechanism for braking wheels corresponding to said operating amount and said operating force of said pedal;

a following distance detector for detecting a following distance; and

a driving force control unit for controlling a driving force corresponding to a signal of said following distance detector, a footrest function range and a driving force decreasing function range being provided in said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal, wherein

a footrest function is realized when said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal is within said footrest function range, and

said braking mechanism is controlled by a braking force, said braking force being increased corresponding to said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal when said operating amount or said operating force of said pedal is within said braking force increasing function range.

6. An apparatus for controlling run of a car comprising a first pedal;

a second pedal;

a footrest apparatus for realizing a footrest function in said first pedal; and

a control unit for executing control of a one-pedal mode which controls both of a braking force and a driving force of said car corresponding to an operating amount or an operating force of said first pedal, wherein

means for realizing the footrest function in said footrest apparatus comprises a mechanical stopper mechanism.

7. An apparatus for controlling run of a car comprising a first pedal;

a second pedal;

a footrest apparatus for realizing a footrest function in said first pedal; and

a control unit for executing control of a one-pedal mode which controls both of a braking force and a driving force of said car corresponding to an operating amount or an operating force of said first pedal, wherein

means for realizing the footrest function in said footrest apparatus comprises a solenoid mechanism.

8. An apparatus for controlling run of a car comprising a first pedal;

a second pedal;

a footrest apparatus for realizing a footrest function in said first pedal; and

a control unit for executing control of a one-pedal mode which controls both of a braking force and a driving force of said car corresponding to an operating amount or an operating force of said first pedal, wherein

means for realizing the footrest function in said footrest apparatus comprises a combination of a plurality of springs and a plurality of cranks.

9. An apparatus for controlling run of a car comprising a first pedal;

a second pedal;

means for starting and stopping operation of a car power source; and

a control unit for selectively executing at least two modes of control of a one-pedal mode and a normal mode, said one-pedal mode control controlling both of a braking force and a driving force of said car corresponding to an operating amount or an operating force of said first pedal, said normal mode control controlling the braking force of said car based on said first pedal and the driving force of said car based on said second pedal, wherein

said means for executing starting and stopping of operation of the car power source executes starting of operation of the car power source at the normal mode control.

10. An apparatus for controlling run of a car comprising a first pedal;

a second pedal;

means for starting and stopping operation of a car power source; and

a control unit for selectively executing at least two modes of control of a one-pedal mode and a normal mode, said one-pedal mode control controlling both of a braking force and a driving force of said car corresponding to an operating amount or an operating force of said first pedal, said normal mode control controlling the braking force of said car based on said first pedal and the driving force of said car based on said second pedal, wherein

said control unit automatically switches the control from the one-pedal mode control to the normal mode control when operation of said car power source is stopped.

11. An apparatus for controlling run of a car comprising a first pedal;

a second pedal;

means for starting and stopping operation of a car power source; and

a control unit for selectively executing at least two modes of control of a one-pedal mode and a normal mode, said one-pedal mode control controlling both of a braking force and a driving force of said car corresponding to an operating amount or an operating force of said first pedal, said normal mode control controlling the braking force of said car based on said first pedal and the driving force of said car based on said second pedal, wherein

said control unit operates said first pedal and executes starting of operation of said car power source at the one-pedal mode control.

12. An apparatus for controlling run of a car comprising a first pedal;

a second pedal; and

a control unit for executing control of a one-pedal mode which controls both of a braking force and a driving force of said car corresponding to an operating amount or an operating force of said first pedal, wherein

said control unit changes a set acceleration from an acceleration for straight running to another preset acceleration when the car running under said one-pedal mode control on an ordinary road in a country or an area where a navigable lane for cars on the road is regulated on the left with respect to traffic flow is turned to the right or turned around the right, or when the car running under said one-pedal mode control on an ordinary road in a country or an area where a navigable lane for cars on the road is regulated on the right with respect to traffic flow is turned to the left or turned around the left.

13. An apparatus for controlling run of a car according to claim 12, wherein said control unit changes a set acceleration from an acceleration for straight running to another preset acceleration when the car running under said one-pedal mode control on an ordinary road is turned to the right or turned around the right or when the car is turned to the left or turned around the left.

14. An apparatus for controlling run of a car according to any one of claim 12 and claim 13, wherein the timing of said control unit changing the set acceleration is the time when a switch of a blinker is switched on to each of said turning directions.

15. An apparatus for controlling run of a car comprising a first pedal;

a second pedal; and

a control unit for executing control of a one-pedal mode which controls both of a braking force and a driving force of said car corresponding to an operating amount or an operating force of said first pedal, wherein

in a case where said control unit judges during running that braking operation of the self-car is necessary due to occurrence of some event, said control unit automatically operates a braking mechanism so as to generate a magnitude of deceleration larger than a minimum necessary magnitude of deceleration within a range not affecting health of passengers of the car if a driver does not make any braking operation within a preset time period from occurrence of the judgment.

16. An apparatus for controlling run of a car comprising a first pedal;

a second pedal; and

a control unit for executing control of a one-pedal mode which controls both of a braking force and a driving force of said car corresponding to an operating amount or an operating force of said first pedal, said apparatus further comprising;

a remaining fuel quantity measuring means for measuring a quantity of remaining fuel; and

a road inclination measuring means for measuring an inclination of a road based on a difference between a measured result of said remaining fuel quantity measuring means measured at a position of horizontal road and a measured result of said remaining fuel quantity measuring means at present time.

17. An apparatus for controlling run of a car comprising a first pedal;

a second pedal; and

a control unit for executing control of a one-pedal mode which controls both of a braking force and a driving force of said car corresponding to an operating amount or an operating force of said first pedal, said apparatus further comprising;

an inclination measuring means for measuring an inclination of a road;

a gear position calculating means for calculating a gear position at braking using an auxiliary baking means based on the inclination of the road measured by said inclination measuring means, and a speed, characteristic data of a power source, a present gear position and an acceleration of said car; and

an auxiliary brake braking force calculating means for calculating a braking force by an auxiliary brake means based on a calculated result of said gear position calculating means, wherein

when a braking force is generated corresponding to an operating amount or an operating force of said first pedal, a shortage quantity of braking force of only said auxiliary brake means is generated using a main brake means after the time when a target braking force becomes larger than a calculated result of said auxiliary brake braking force calculating means.

18. An apparatus for controlling run of a car comprising a first pedal;

a second pedal; and

a control unit for executing control of a one-pedal mode which controls both of a braking force and a driving force of said car corresponding to an operating amount or an operating force of said first pedal, said apparatus further comprising;

a road inclination measuring means for measuring an inclination of a road; and

a braking force holding means for holding a braking force, wherein

braking force held at stopping the car is increased larger as an absolute value of the inclination of road is larger when the car is stopped, and the braking force is held by said braking force holding means even if said operating amount or said operating force of said first pedal is decreased until the car is restarted.

19. An apparatus for controlling run of a car according to claim 18, wherein said braking force holding means eliminates the held braking force when a speed-change mode selecting means is changed from a driving mode to a parking mode.

20. An apparatus for controlling run of a car according to claim 18, wherein said braking force holding means eliminates the held braking force when a speed-change mode selecting means is changed to a driving mode.

21. An apparatus for controlling run of a car according to any one of claim 19 and claim 20, wherein the speed-change mode selecting means is changed to the driving mode in order to starting the car, a driving force is generated so that the car is moved down backward if it is judged from a measured result of said inclination measuring means that the car is stopped on an ascending road.

22. An apparatus for controlling run of a car comprising a first pedal;

a second pedal; and

a control unit for executing control of a one-pedal mode which controls both of a braking force and a driving force of said car corresponding to an operating amount or an operating force of said first pedal, said apparatus further comprising;

a friction member temperature measuring means for measuring a temperature of a friction member of a main brake means; and

a target braking force modifying means for modifying a target braking force based on the temperature of the friction member measured by said friction member temperature measuring means.