REACTION FORCE APPARATUS

• US 20100274459A1
• Filed: 04/15/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: TAKIGUCHI, Hirotaka, SUZAKI, Go
• Granted Patent: US 8,306,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/021 with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator

Abstract

When a target vehicle speed setting unit switches from a target vehicle speed to a higher target vehicle speed, a reaction force controller of a reaction force apparatus lowers, at the same ratio, a reaction force applying characteristic, which corresponds to the target vehicle speed before being switched to the higher target vehicle speed.

Claims

1. A reaction force apparatus comprising:

an actuator for applying a reaction force to an accelerator pedal of a vehicle;

a target vehicle speed setting unit for setting target vehicle speeds for the vehicle; and

a reaction force controller for setting, for each of respective target vehicle speeds, reaction force applying characteristics according to which the actuator applies reaction forces to the accelerator pedal, and controlling a reaction force to be applied from the actuator to the accelerator pedal depending on an amount of depression of the accelerator pedal or a vehicle speed of the vehicle,

wherein, when the target vehicle speed setting unit switches from one of the target vehicle speeds to a higher target vehicle speed, the reaction force controller lowers, at the same ratio, one of the reaction force applying characteristics, which corresponds to the target vehicle speed before switching to the higher target vehicle speed.

2. A reaction force apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vehicle speed detector for detecting the vehicle speed of the vehicle,

wherein after the target vehicle speed setting unit switches from the one of the target vehicle speeds to the higher target vehicle speed, the reaction force controller uses one of the reaction force applying characteristics, which corresponds to the higher target vehicle speed, when the vehicle speed becomes equal to the higher target vehicle speed, or when the vehicle speed exceeds a vehicle speed threshold value, which indicates that the vehicle speed is in the neighborhood of the higher target vehicle speed.

3. A reaction force apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when the target vehicle speed setting unit switches from the one of the target vehicle speeds to the higher target vehicle speed, the reaction force controller sets a second vehicle speed threshold value, which is in a neighborhood of the higher target vehicle speed and smaller than the vehicle speed threshold value, for preventing the accelerator pedal from being depressed excessively;

and

when the vehicle speed exceeds the second vehicle speed threshold value, the reaction force controller increases one of the reaction force applying characteristics, which corresponds to the one of the target vehicle speeds, and uses the increased one of the reaction force applying characteristics, and thereafter, when the vehicle speed exceeds the vehicle speed threshold value, the reaction force controller uses the one of the reaction force applying characteristics, which corresponds to the higher target vehicle speed.

4. A reaction force apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the target vehicle speed setting unit switches from the one of the target vehicle speeds to the higher target vehicle speed, the reaction force controller adds, to the reaction force applying characteristics, an upper limit value, which is equal to or smaller than the reaction force at a position where the driver of the vehicle held the accelerator pedal before the target vehicle speed setting unit switched from the one of the target vehicle speeds to the higher target vehicle speed.