Control apparatus and method for electric vehicles
First Claim
1. A control apparatus for an electric vehicle comprising:
- seat detecting means for verifying that a driver has occupied a seat of the electric vehicle;
accelerator opening detecting means for detecting a position of an accelerator of the electric vehicle;
motor driving enablement means for issuing a motor driving enablement command when said seat detecting means generates a seat detection output indicating that the driver has occupied the seat and said accelerator opening detecting means generates an accelerator detection output indicating that an accelerator opening is equal to a minimum value or smaller than a predetermined value; and
power supply control means for enabling supply of electric power to a motor of the electric vehicle in accordance with said motor driving enablement command.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control apparatus of an electric vehicle for effectively limiting the operation of the vehicle when it is determined that a driver of the electric vehicle is not sitting in the seat and an accelerator opening of the electric vehicle is in a position corresponding to a minimum value. A motor driving enablement circuit generates a motor driving command which selectively limits operation of the electric vehicle in accordance with these determinations. In addition, when a state in which the driver is not occupying the seat continues for a period of time exceeding a predetermined value, a motor halt controller issues a motor halt command for halting a motor of the electric vehicle. Based on the motor driving enablement command and the motor halt command, a power supply controller controls the supply of power to the motor of the electric vehicle.
30 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A control apparatus for an electric vehicle comprising:
-
seat detecting means for verifying that a driver has occupied a seat of the electric vehicle; accelerator opening detecting means for detecting a position of an accelerator of the electric vehicle; motor driving enablement means for issuing a motor driving enablement command when said seat detecting means generates a seat detection output indicating that the driver has occupied the seat and said accelerator opening detecting means generates an accelerator detection output indicating that an accelerator opening is equal to a minimum value or smaller than a predetermined value; and power supply control means for enabling supply of electric power to a motor of the electric vehicle in accordance with said motor driving enablement command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of controlling an electric vehicle comprising the steps of:
-
a) detecting when a driver has occupied a seat of the electric vehicle to generate a seat detection signal; b) detecting a position of an accelerator of the electric vehicle to generate an accelerator detection signal; c) generating a motor driving enablement command upon generation of a seat detection signal in said step a) indicative that the driver has occupied the seat and an accelerator detection signal in said step b) indicative that an accelerator opening is equal to a minimum value or smaller than a predetermined value; and d) enabling supply of electric power to a motor of the electric vehicle in accordance with the motor driving enablement command generated in said step c). - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification