APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE

• US 20100121549A1
• Filed: 11/09/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advics Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: Advics Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: MORI, Yukio, FUKUDA, Shotaro, UMAKOSHI, Motoaki, NIWA, Satoshi, KUMABE, Hajime, NAKAI, Yasuhiro, TAKEDA, Masayoshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,335,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 Wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/16 Driving resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for controlling acceleration of a vehicle to a target acceleration. In the apparatus, a target acceleration calculator calculates the target acceleration. A provisional acceleration setting unit sets a provisional target acceleration such that a change rate of the provisional target acceleration is limited to a target limitation value. The provisional target acceleration is used during a step during which the acceleration of the vehicle is changed to the target acceleration. A drive power calculator calculates a drive power to obtain the provisional target acceleration. In the provisional acceleration setting unit, an initial value of the provisional target acceleration depends on a running state of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling acceleration of a vehicle to a target acceleration, comprising:

a target acceleration calculator that calculates the target acceleration;

a provisional acceleration setting unit that sets a provisional target acceleration such that a change rate of the provisional target acceleration is limited to a target limitation value, the provisional target acceleration being used during a step during which the acceleration of the vehicle is changed to the target acceleration calculated by the target acceleration calculator; and

a drive power calculator that calculates a drive power to obtain the provisional target acceleration set by the provisional acceleration setting unit,

wherein the provisional acceleration setting unit includes means for setting an initial value of the provisional target acceleration depending on a running state of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising an estimating unit that estimates an acceleration demanded by a driver of the vehicle,

wherein the provisional acceleration setting unit is configured to set the initial value of the provisional target acceleration depending on a vehicle acceleration obtained at a timing when controlling the acceleration is started and the demanded acceleration estimated by the estimating unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the provisional acceleration setting unit is configured to set the initial value of the provisional target acceleration depending on, of the vehicle acceleration and the demanded acceleration, either one whose difference from the target acceleration is smaller than a difference of the other from the target acceleration.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a detector that detects that the vehicle starts to travel from a stopped state thereof;

the provisional acceleration setting unit is configured to set the initial value of the provisional target acceleration to zero in cases where the detector detects the vehicle starts to travel.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, comprising a detector that detects that the vehicle starts to travel from a stopped state thereof;

the provisional acceleration setting unit is configured to set the initial value of the provisional target acceleration to zero in cases where the detector detects the vehicle starts to travel.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising a detector that detects that the vehicle starts to travel from a stopped state thereof;

the provisional acceleration setting unit is configured to set the initial value of the provisional target acceleration to zero in cases where the detector detects the vehicle starts to travel.

7. An apparatus for controlling acceleration of a vehicle to a target acceleration, comprising:

target acceleration calculating means for calculating the target acceleration;

provisional acceleration setting means for setting a provisional target acceleration such that a change rate of the provisional target acceleration is limited to a target limitation value, the provisional target acceleration being used during a step during which the acceleration of the vehicle is changed to the target acceleration calculated by the target acceleration calculating means; and

drive power calculating means for calculating a drive power to obtain the provisional target acceleration set by the provisional acceleration setting means,

wherein the provisional acceleration setting means includes means for setting an initial value of the provisional target acceleration depending on a running state of the vehicle.

8. A program stored in a memory and configured to be readable by a computer, the computer operating based on the program for an apparatus for controlling acceleration of a vehicle to a target acceleration, the program allowing the computer to functionally perform of:

a provisional acceleration setting unit that sets a provisional target acceleration such that a change rate of the provisional target acceleration is limited to a target limitation value, the provisional target acceleration being used during a step during which the acceleration of the vehicle is changed to the target acceleration; and

a drive power calculator that calculates a drive power to obtain the provisional target acceleration set by the provisional acceleration setting unit,

wherein the provisional acceleration setting unit includes means for setting an initial value of the provisional target acceleration depending on a running state of the vehicle.