Driving Force Control Device and Driving Force Control Method

• US 20080312802A1
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaigawa, Masato, Kuwahara, Seiji
• Application Number:
  US11/886,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20080312802A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/10 related to vehicle motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands

Abstract

In a driving force control device and driving force control method according to the invention, a first target driving force is calculated based on an operation amount of an accelerator pedal by a driver, a second target driving force, which is necessary for a vehicle to maintain a constant vehicle speed or maintain a predetermined relative distance or relative speed relationship with a target object near the vehicle, is calculated, an intention of a driver to increase or reduce the vehicle speed is determined, the first target driving force and the second target driving force are coordinated with each other, using a unit of driving force, in consideration of the intention of the driver, and driving force is controlled based on a target driving force derived through a coordination process.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A driving force control device, comprising:

a first target driving force calculation device that calculates a first target driving force based on an operation amount of an accelerator pedal by a driver;

a second target driving force calculation device that calculates a second target driving force that is necessary for a vehicle to maintain a constant vehicle speed or maintain a predetermined relative distance or relative speed relationship with a target object near the vehicle;

a driver'"'"'s intention determining device that determines whether a driver intends to increase or reduce the vehicle speed;

a coordination device that coordinates the first target driving force and the second target driving force with each other, using a unit of driving force, in consideration of the intention of the driver which is determined by the driver'"'"'s intention determining device; and

a driving force control device that controls a driving force generation device based on a target driving force derived through a coordination process performed by the coordination device, wherein

when the driver'"'"'s intention determining device determines that the driver intends to increase the vehicle speed, the coordination device selects a greater value from among the first target driving force and the second target driving force; and

when the driver'"'"'s intention determining device determines that the driver intends to reduce the vehicle speed, the coordination device selects a lesser value from among the first target driving force and the second target driving force.

8. A driving force control method, comprising:

calculating a first target driving force based on an operation amount of an accelerator pedal by a driver;

calculating a second target driving force that is necessary for a vehicle to maintain a constant vehicle speed or maintain a predetermined relative distance or relative speed relationship with a target object near the vehicle;

determining whether a driver intends to increase or reduce the vehicle speed;

coordinating the first target driving force and the second target driving force with each other, using a unit of driving force, in consideration of the determined intention of the driver; and

controlling driving force based on a target driving force derived through a coordination process, wherein

when it is determined that the driver intends to reduce the vehicle'"'"'s speed, a lesser value is selected from among the first target driving force and the second target driving force; and

when it is determined that the driver intends to reduce the vehicle speed, a lesser value is selected from among the first target driving force and the second target driving force.