Vehicle drive mode estimating device, and vehicle control apparatus, transmission shift control apparatus and vehicle drive force control apparatus including drive mode estimating device

• US 5,895,435 A
• Filed: 02/28/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Hiroyuki, Oshima, Masuji, Ohta, Takashi, Ito, Yoshio, Sayo, Syoichi, Nakamura, Yasunari, Hayakawa, Kisaburo, Osawa, Masataka, Tomomatsu, Hideo, Taniguchi, Hiroji, Fukumura, Kagenori
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US08/808,433
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 701/51, 701/52, 701/53, 701/117, 701/110, 701/118, 701/204, 701/59, 701/77, 701/58, 701/54, 701/55, 701/56, 701/57, 477/107, 477/34, 477/118, 477/120, 477/901, 477/904, 123/361, 706/23, 706/25, 706/905, 706/900, 706/913
• US Class Current: 701/59
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0057 Frequency analysis, spectral techniques or transforms
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/082 with different modes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0081 Fuzzy logic
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/141 of rate of change of torque or torque demand
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/44 dependent on machine speed of the machine, e.g. the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 477/904 Control signal is acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/905 Vehicle or aerospace

Abstract

Apparatus for estimating a drive mode of a motor vehicle desired by an operator of the motor vehicle, including a variable calculating device and a drive mode estimating device, wherein the variable calculating device calculates at least one of drive mode indicating variables such as a drive force of the vehicle desired by the operator upon starting of the vehicle, a maximum rate of increase of the drive force, a maximum deceleration of the vehicle upon operation of a manually operated member for brake application to the vehicle, a coasting run time of the vehicle and a steady run time of the vehicle, and wherein the drive mode estimating device includes a neural network which receives the drive mode indicating variable or variables calculated by the variable calculating device, so that the drive mode estimating device estimates the drive mode of the motor vehicle desired by the operator on the basis of an output of the neural network. The output of the neural network may be used to control a desired controllable system of the vehicle such as an automatic transmission and a vehicle drive force control device.

Claims

1. A drive mode estimating device for estimating a drive mode of a motor vehicle desired by an operator of the motor vehicle, comprising:

variable calculating means for calculating at least one of drive mode indicating variables selected from a group consisting of a fixed amount of operation of manually operated means operated by the operator for designating a drive force of the vehicle desired by the operator only upon starting of the vehicle, a maximum rate of increase of said amount of operation of said manually operated means, a maximum deceleration of the vehicle upon operation of a manually operated member for brake application to the vehicle, a coasting run time of the vehicle and a steady run time of the vehicle; and

drive mode estimating means including a neural network receiving said at least one of drive mode indicating variables calculated by said variable calculating means, said drive mode estimating means estimating the drive mode of the motor vehicle desired by the operator, both during and after starting of the vehicle, on the basis of an output of said neural network.

2. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 1, wherein said drive mode estimating means estimates the drive mode of the motor vehicle on the basis of the output of said neural network when each one of said at least one of said drive mode indicating variables is calculated by said variable calculating means.

3. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 1, wherein said motor vehicle includes an engine and said manually operated means designates an output of said engine, said drive mode estimating device further comprising:

operation amount detecting means for detecting the amount of operation of said manually operated means by the operator for designating the output of said engine; and

vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a running speed of the vehicle,

and wherein said variable calculating means comprises starting output calculating means for calculating, as the drive force of the vehicle desired by the operator upon starting of the vehicle, a starting output of said engine upon starting of the vehicle, on the basis of the amount of operation of said manually operated means detected by said operation amount detecting means, and the running speed of the vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means.

4. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 1, wherein said motor vehicle includes an engine and manually operated means for designating an output of said engine, and said drive mode estimating means further includes output detecting means for detecting an amount of operation of said manually operated means by the operator for designating the output of said engine,

and wherein said variable calculating means comprises maximum output increase rate calculating means for calculating a maximum rate of increase of said output of said engine, on the basis of a maximum rate of increase of the amount of operation of said manually operated means detected by said output detecting means, except when an amount of operation of said manually operated means is abruptly changed.

5. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 4, wherein said manually operated means comprises an accelerator pedal, and said engine has a throttle valve whose opening angle changes with an amount of operation of said accelerator pedal, said maximum output increase rate calculating means comprising:

maximum throttle opening increase rate updating means for storing and updating a maximum rate of increase of said opening angle of said throttle valve;

abrupt change detecting means for detecting abrupt depression followed by immediate releasing of said accelerator pedal in a short time;

maximum throttle opening increase rate determining means for determining, as a maximum value of an increase rate of said opening angle of the throttle valve, said maximum rate of increase of said opening angle updated by said maximum throttle opening increase rate updating means when said abrupt depression followed by immediate releasing of said accelerator pedal is not detected by said abrupt change detecting means; and

maximum throttle opening determining means for determining a maximum value of said opening angle of the throttle valve until said maximum value of the increase rate of the opening angle is determined by said maximum throttle opening increase rate determining means.

6. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 1, wherein said variable calculating means determines each of at least one of said coasting run time, said steady run time and said maximum deceleration of the vehicle at a predetermined time interval, and said drive mode estimating means estimates the drive mode of the vehicle desired by the operator, on the basis of the output of said neural network when said neural network receives each one of said at least one of said coasting run time, said steady run time and said maximum deceleration of the vehicle which is determined by said variable calculating means at said predetermined time interval.

7. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 1, wherein said variable calculating means comprises at least one of coasting run time calculating means for calculating said coasting run time of the vehicle and steady run time calculating means for calculating said steady run time of the vehicle, and said drive mode estimating means estimates the drive mode of the vehicle desired by the operator, on the basis of the output of said neural network each time said neural network receives at least one of said coasting run time and said steady run time which is determined by said variable calculating means at a predetermined time interval.

8. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 7, wherein said steady run time calculating means comprises:

steady run determining means for determining that an amount of change of a running speed of the vehicle is held within a predetermined range;

first time counting means for measuring a first time length during which said amount of change of the running speed is held within said predetermined range;

said steady run determining means determining a steady run of the vehicle if said first time length exceeds a predetermined threshold,

second time counting means for measuring a second time length during which said steady run determining means continues to determine said steady run of the vehicle; and

steady run time determining means for determining said steady run time of the vehicle, on the basis of said second time length measured by said second time counting means, said steady run time determining means repeatedly determining said steady run time at a predetermined time interval while said steady run is determined by said steady run time determining means.

9. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 7, wherein said coasting run time calculating means comprises:

coasting run determining means for determining a coasting run of the vehicle if the amount of operation of said manually operated means for designating the drive force of the vehicle is substantially zero;

time counting means for measuring a time length during which said coating run determining means continues to determine said coasting run of the vehicle; and

coasting run time determining means for determining said coasting run time of the vehicle, on the basis of said time length measured by said time counting means, said coasting run time determining means repeatedly determining said coasting run time at a predetermined time interval while said coasting run is determined by said coasting run time determining means.

10. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 1, wherein said variable calculating means comprises maximum deceleration calculating means for calculating said maximum deceleration of the vehicle during brake application to the vehicle, at a predetermined time interval, and said drive mode estimating means estimates the drive mode of the vehicle desired by the operator, on the basis of the output of said neural network each time said neural network receives said maximum deceleration determined by said maximum deceleration calculating means.

11. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle includes a transmission, and said variable calculating means comprises:

longitudinal acceleration updating means for storing and updating longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, so that said neural network of said drive mode estimating means receives the updated longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle; and

longitudinal acceleration input ignoring means for inhibiting said longitudinal acceleration updating means from applying said updated longitudinal acceleration to said neural network while said transmission is in the process of a predetermined shifting action.

12. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle has an engine, and said variable calculating means comprises signal peak calculating means for calculating at least one of a maximum value of the amount of operation of said manually operated means, a maximum value of a speed of said engine, and a maximum value of deceleration of the vehicle, for a predetermined period of time, so that said at least one of said maximum values is received by said neural network of said drive mode estimating means, and said drive mode estimating means selects one of a plurality of different drive modes of the vehicle, said different drive modes including a sporty drive mode for driving the vehicle with a higher degree of acceleration than in the other of said drive modes, said signal peak calculating means comprising:

vehicle turn determining means for determining that the vehicle is turning; and

peak hold means for inhibiting said at least one of said maximum values from being applied to said neural network of said drive mode estimating means while said sporty drive mode is selected by said drive mode estimating means and while said vehicle turn determining means determines that the vehicle is turning.

13. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle has an engine, and said drive mode estimating means selects one of a plurality of different drive modes of the vehicle, said different drive modes including a sporty drive mode for driving the vehicle with a higher degree of acceleration than in the other of said drive modes, said variable calculating means comprises:

at least one of maximum output updating means for updating a maximum amount of operation of said manually operated means for a predetermined period of time, maximum engine speed updating means for updating a maximum speed of the engine for a predetermined period of time, and maximum deceleration updating means for updating maximum deceleration of the vehicle for a predetermined period of time, so that said neural network of said drive mode estimating means receives an output of said at least one of said maximum output updating means, said maximum engine speed updating means and said maximum deceleration updating means;

vehicle turn determining means for determining that the vehicle is turning; and

peak hold means for inhibiting said at least one of said maximum output updating means, said maximum engine speed updating means and said maximum deceleration updating means from applying an output thereof to said neural network of said drive mode estimating means while said sporty drive mode is selected by said drive mode estimating means and while said vehicle turn determining means determines that the vehicle is turning.

14. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 13, wherein said manually operated means comprises an accelerator pedal, and said variable calculating means further comprises abrupt change detecting means for detecting abrupt depression followed by immediate releasing of said accelerator pedal in a short time, and inhibiting means for inhibiting said at least one of said maximum output updating means, said maximum engine speed updating means and said maximum deceleration updating means from updating a corresponding one of said maximum amount of operation of said manually operated means, said maximum speed of the engine and said maximum deceleration of the vehicle, if said abrupt depression followed by immediate releasing of said accelerator pedal is detected by said abrupt change detecting means.

15. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle has an engine, and a transmission having a plurality of gear positions including a highest gear position and a next highest gear position, and said variable calculating means comprises:

engine speed detecting means for detecting a speed of the engine;

maximum engine speed updating means for updating a maximum value of the speed of the engine for a predetermined period of time so that said neural network of said drive mode estimating means receives the maximum value of the speed of the engine updated by said maximum engine speed updating means; and

engine speed compensating means for compensating the speed of the engine detected by said engine speed detecting means when the transmission is placed in said next highest gear position after the vehicle has been running in a steady state at a substantially constant speed for more than a predetermined length of time, said engine speed compensating means compensating the detected speed of the engine such that the compensated speed of the engine is lowered to a value which is equal to the detected speed of the engine multiplied by a speed ratio of said highest gear position,

and wherein said maximum engine speed updating means receives said compensated speed of the engine, and updates the maximum value of the speed of the engine when the transmission is placed in said nest highest gear position after the vehicle has been running in said steady state for more than said predetermined length of time.

16. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 1, further comprising:

vehicle turn determining means for determining that the vehicle is turning; and

drive mode estimation inhibiting means for inhibiting an operation of said neural network of said drive mode estimating means if said vehicle turn determining means determines that the vehicle is turning, said drive mode estimating inhibiting means commanding said neural network to hold the output thereof before the operation of the neural network is inhibited by said drive mode estimation inhibiting means.

17. An apparatus for controlling a controllable system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a drive mode estimating device for estimating a drive mode of the motor vehicle desired by an operator of the vehicle, said drive mode estimating device including (a) variable calculating means for calculating at least one of drive mode indicating variables selected from a group consisting of an amount of operation of manually operated means operated by the operator for designating a drive force of the vehicle desired by the operator upon starting of the vehicle, a maximum rate of increase of said amount of operation of said manually operated means, a maximum deceleration of the vehicle upon operation of a manually operated member for brake application to the vehicle, a coasting run time of the vehicle and a steady run time of the vehicle; and

(b) drive mode estimating means including a neural network receiving said at least one of drive mode indicating variables calculated by said variable calculating means, said drive mode estimating means estimating the drive mode of the motor vehicle desired by the operator on the basis of an output of said neural network;

control pattern selecting means for selecting, according to the drive mode estimated by said drive mode estimating means of said drive mode estimating device, one of a plurality of predetermined different control patterns for controlling said controllable system in respective different manners; and

a control device for controlling said controllable system according to the control pattern selected by said control pattern selecting means.

18. A shift control apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a drive mode estimating device for estimating a drive mode of the motor vehicle desired by an operator of the vehicle, said drive mode estimating device including (a) variable calculating means for calculating at least one of drive mode indicating variables selected from a group consisting of an amount of operation of manually operated means operated by the operator for designating a drive force of the vehicle desired by the operator upon starting of the vehicle, a maximum rate of increase of said amount of operation of said manually operated means, a maximum deceleration of the vehicle upon operation of a manually operated member for brake application to the vehicle, a coasting run time of the vehicle and a steady run time of the vehicle; and

(b) drive mode estimating means including a neural network receiving said at least one of drive mode indicating variables calculated by said variable calculating means, said drive mode estimating means estimating the drive mode of the motor vehicle desired by the operator on the basis of an output of said neural network;

shift pattern selecting means for selecting, according to the drive mode estimated by said drive mode estimating means of said drive mode estimating device, one of a plurality of predetermined different shift patterns for shifting said automatic transmission in respective different manners; and

a shift control device for controlling a speed ratio of said automatic transmission according to the shift pattern selected by said shift pattern selecting means.

19. A shift control apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said motor vehicle includes an engine provided with a throttle valve, said shift control apparatus further comprising:

throttle opening obtaining means for obtaining an opening angle of said throttle valve;

vehicle speed obtaining means for obtaining a running speed of the motor vehicle; and

a shift pattern memory for storing said plurality of predetermined different shift patterns, each of said different shift patterns representing a relationship between said speed ratio of said automatic transmission, and said opening angle of the throttle valve and said running speed of the vehicle,

and wherein said shift control device changes the speed ratio of said automatic transmission on the basis of the opening angle of the throttle valve and the running speed of the vehicle which are obtained by said throttle opening obtaining means and said vehicle speed obtaining means, respectively, and according to the shift pattern selected by said shift pattern selecting means.

20. A shift control apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising highest gear inhibiting means for inhibiting a shift-up operation of said shift control device to shift up said automatic transmission to a highest gear position when the output of said neural network of said drive mode estimating means of said drive mode estimating device is not smaller than a predetermined threshold, said highest gear inhibiting means cancelling inhibition of said shift-up operation of said shift control means when the output of said neural network is smaller than said predetermined threshold while the motor vehicle is running in a steady state at a substantially constant speed.

21. A drive mode estimating device for estimating a drive mode of a motor vehicle desired by an operator of the motor vehicle, comprising:

drive mode estimating means for estimating the drive mode of the vehicle desired by the operator of the vehicle, on the basis of an amount of operation of manually operated means operated by the operator for designating a desired drive force of the vehicle;

maximum operation amount determining means for determining a maximum value of said amount of operation of said manually operated means; and

drive mode estimation inhibiting means for inhibiting an operation of said drive mode estimating means to estimate said drive mode on the basis of said amount of operation of said manually operated means, if a difference between said maximum value of the amount of operation of said manually operated means determined by said maximum operation amount determining means and a value of said amount of operation at a first point of time (t3) which is a predetermined time (T1) after a second point of time (t1) at which said maximum value is determined is larger than a predetermined threshold value.

22. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 21, wherein said drive mode estimation inhibiting means permits the operation of the drive mode estimating means to estimate the drive mode of the vehicle desired by the operator, if said difference is not larger than said predetermined threshold value.

23. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 21, further comprising:

maximum increase rate determining means for determining a maximum value of an increase rate of said amount of operation of said manually operated means; and

critical value determining means for determining a critical value of the amount of operation of said manually operated means, said critical value being a value obtained at said first point of time (t3) which is a predetermined time (T1+T2) after a third point of time (t0) at which said maximum value of the increase rate is determined by said maximum increase rate determining means,

and wherein said predetermined said drive mode estimation inhibiting means determining said difference on the basis of said maximum value determined by said maximum operation amount determining means and said critical value determined by said critical value determining means.

24. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 23, wherein said maximum operation amount determining means monitors the maximum value of the amount of operation of said manually operated means for a predetermined sampling time period (T1) after said third point of time (t0) at which said maximum value of said increase rate is determined by said maximum increase rate determining means,

and wherein said predetermined time (T1+T2) between said first point of time (t3) and said third point of time (t0) is a sum of a time (T2) between said third point of time (t0) and said first point of time (t1), and one of said sampling time period (T1) and a time (T1) between said third point of time (t0) and a fourth point of time (t2) at which a minimum value of said amount of operation of said manually operated means is determined.

25. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 21, wherein the motor vehicle has an engine, and a throttle valve those opening angle changes with a change in the amount of operation of said manually operated means, said drive mode estimating means includes a neural network, and said maximum operation amount determining means and said drive mode estimation inhibiting means constitute a part of variable calculating means connected to said neural network, said variable calculating means including:

starting throttle angle calculating means for calculating a starting value of the opening angle of said throttle valve upon starting of the vehicle;

maximum throttle opening increase rate calculating means for calculating a maximum rate of increase of the opening angle of said throttle valve during acceleration of the vehicle;

maximum deceleration calculating means for calculating a maximum deceleration of the vehicle upon operation of a manually operated member for brake application to the vehicle;

coasting run time calculating means for calculating a coasting run time of the vehicle;

steady run time calculating means for calculating a steady run time of the vehicle; and

signal peak calculating means for calculating peak values of input signals which include a signal indicative of the opening angle of said throttle valve,

and wherein said neural network of said drive mode estimating means receives outputs of said starting throttle angle calculating means, said maximum throttle opening increase rate calculating means, said coasting run time calculating means, said steady run time calculating means and said signal peak calculating means.

26. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 21, wherein said vehicle has a shift control apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission whose speed ratio is variable, a steering force control apparatus for controlling a steering force of a power steering system, and a suspension control apparatus for controlling a damping force or spring characteristics of a shock absorber of a suspension system, an output of said drive mode estimating means being applied to said shift control apparatus, said steering force control apparatus and said suspension control apparatus, for controlling said speed ratio of said automatic transmission, said steering force of said power steering system and said damping force or spring characteristics of said shock absorber, according to the drive mode selected by said drive mode estimating means.

27. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 21, wherein said vehicle has an engine provided with a throttle valve, and a shift control apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission whose speed ratio is variable, said shift control apparatus comprising:

throttle opening obtaining means for obtaining an opening angle of said throttle valve;

vehicle speed obtaining means for obtaining a running speed of the motor vehicle;

a shift pattern memory for storing a plurality of different shift patterns for shifting said automatic transmission in different manner, each of said different shift patterns representing a relationship between said speed ratio of said automatic transmission, and said opening angle of the throttle valve and said running speed of the vehicle; and

shift pattern selecting means for for selecting one of said plurality of shift patterns, according to the drive mode estimated by said drive mode estimating means,

and wherein said shift control apparatus changes the speed ratio of said automatic transmission on the basis of the opening angle of the throttle valve and the running speed of the vehicle which are obtained by said throttle opening obtaining means and said vehicle speed obtaining means, respectively, and according to the shift pattern selected by said shift pattern selecting means.

28. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 21, wherein said drive mode estimating means includes a neural network which receives the amount of operation of said manually operated means upon starting of the vehicle, a maximum rate of increase of the amount of operation of said manually operated means, a maximum deceleration of the vehicle upon operation of a manually operated member for brake application to the vehicle, a coasting run time of the vehicle, and a steady run time of the vehicle, said drive mode estimating means estimating the drive mode desired by the operator, on the basis of an output of said neural network, when said neutral network receives each one of said amount of operation of said manually operated means upon starting of the vehicle, said maximum rate of increase and said maximum deceleration, coasting run time and steady run time of the vehicle.

29. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 21, wherein said indifference larger than said predetermined threshold indicates an abrupt increase followed by an immediate decrease of the amount of operation of said manually operated means.

30. A drive mode estimating device for estimating a drive mode of a motor vehicle desired by an operator of the motor vehicle, comprising:

drive mode estimating means for obtaining from time to time a non-processed drive mode index value for estimating the drive mode of the vehicle desired by the operator, on the basis of drive mode indicating variables relating to manipulation of the vehicle by the operator;

standard drive mode estimating means for obtaining a standard drive mode index value on the basis of the non-processed drive mode index values which have been obtained by said drive mode estimating means; and

output filtering means for filtering the non-processed drive mode index value presently obtained by said drive mode estimating means, with a filtering constant which varies as a function of said standard drive mode index value obtained by said standard drive mode estimating means,

said output filtering means generating a processed drive mode index value as a result of filtering said non-processed drive mode index value.

31. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 30, wherein said output filtering means filters said non-processed drive mode index value only when said non-processed drive mode index value is changing toward a value which indicates a drive mode of the vehicle in which the vehicle should be driven so as to increase fuel economy of the vehicle.

32. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 30, wherein said output filtering means includes means for determining said filtering constant such that said filtering constant is larger when said standard drive mode index value indicates a drive mode of the vehicle in which the vehicle should be driven so as to increase a drive force for driving the vehicle, than when said standard drive mode index value indicates a drive mode of the vehicle in which the vehicle should be driven so as to increase fuel economy of the vehicle.

33. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 30, further comprising drive force selecting means for selecting a drive force for driving the vehicle, on the basis of said processed drive mode index value obtained by said output filtering means.

34. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 33, wherein the motor vehicle includes an engine, an automatic transmission, and shift control means for automatically shifting said automatic transmission on the basis of a load of said engine and a running speed of the vehicle, and according to one of a plurality of shift patterns which is selected by said drive force selecting means on the basis of said processed drive mode index value.

35. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 30, wherein the vehicle has an engine with a throttle valve, an accelerator pedal, and throttle control means for controlling an opening angle of said throttle valve on the basis of an amount of operation of said accelerator pedal, and according to one of a plurality of relationships between said opening angle of said throttle valve and said amount of operation of said accelerator pedal, said one of said plurality of relationships being selected by said drive force selecting means on the basis of said processed drive mode index value.

39. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 35, further comprising drive force selecting means for selecting a drive force for driving the vehicle, on the basis of said drive mode index value obtained by said drive mode estimating means.

40. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 39, wherein the motor vehicle includes an engine, an automatic transmission, and shift control means for automatically shifting said automatic transmission on the basis of a load of said engine and a running speed of the vehicle, and according to one of a plurality of shift patterns which is selected by said drive force selecting means on the basis of said drive mode index value obtained by said drive mode estimating means.

41. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 39, wherein the vehicle has an engine with a throttle valve, an accelerator pedal, and throttle control means for controlling an opening angle of said throttle valve on the basis of an amount of operation of said accelerator pedal, and according to one of a plurality of relationships between said opening angle of said throttle valve and said amount of operation of said accelerator pedal, said one of said plurality of relationships being selected by said drive force selecting means on the basis of said drive mode index value obtained by said drive mode estimating means.

36. A drive mode estimating device for estimating a drive mode of a motor vehicle desired by an operator of the motor vehicle, comprising:

drive mode estimating means for obtaining from time to time a drive mode index value for estimating the drive mode of the vehicle desired by the operator, on the basis of at least one first drive mode indicating variable generated in relation to manipulation of the vehicle by the operator, and at least one second drive mode indicating variable generated at a predetermined time interval;

standard drive mode estimating means for obtaining a standard drive mode index value on the basis of the drive mode index values which have been obtained by said drive mode estimating means; and

input filtering means for filtering said at least one second drive mode indicating variable, with a filtering constant which varies as a function of said standard drive mode index value obtained by said standard drive mode estimating means.

37. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 36, wherein said input filtering means filters said at least one second drive mode indicating variable, only when said drive mode index value obtained by said drive mode estimating means is changing toward a value which indicates a drive mode of the vehicle in which the vehicle should be driven so as to increase fuel economy of the vehicle.

38. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 36, wherein said input filtering means includes means for determining said filtering constant such that said filtering constant is larger when said standard drive mode index value indicates a drive mode of the vehicle in which the vehicle should be driven so as to increase a drive force for driving the vehicle, than when said standard drive mode index value indicates a drive mode of the vehicle in which the vehicle should be driven so as to increase fuel economy of the vehicle.

42. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 36, further comprising variable calculating means for calculating said at least one first variable and said at least one second drive mode indicating variable, and said variable calculating means calculating as said at least one first drive mode indicating variable an amount of operation of manually operated means operated by the operator of the vehicle for designating a drive force of the vehicle desired by the operator upon starting of the vehicle, a maximum rate of increase of said amount of operation of said manually operated means, a maximum deceleration of the vehicle upon operation of a manually operated member for brake application to the vehicle, a coasting run time of the vehicle and a steady run time of the vehicle, said variable calculating means calculating as said at least one second drive mode indicating variable a maximum value of each of at least one input signal, and a maximum value of a running speed of the vehicle, at a predetermined time interval, said drive mode estimating means including a neural network which receives each of said first and second drive mode indicating variables when said each of said first and second drive mode indicating variables is calculated by said variable calculating means.

43. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 42, wherein said drive mode estimating means obtains said drive mode index value on the basis of an output of said neural network, when each of said first and second drive mode indicating variables is calculated by said variable calculating means.

44. A drive mode estimating device according to claim 42, wherein said variable calculating means includes input signal distribution calculating means for calculating a distribution value of each of said at least one input signal, for a predetermined period of time, said drive mode estimating means receiving said distribution value.

45. A drive force control apparatus for controlling a drive force for driving a motor vehicle, comprising:

drive mode estimating means for obtaining from time to time a drive mode index value for estimating a drive mode of the vehicle desired by an operator of the vehicle, on the basis drive mode indicating variables relating to manipulation of the vehicle by the operator;

standard drive mode estimating means for obtaining a standard drive mode index value on the basis of the drive mode index values which have been obtained by said drive mode estimating means; and

drive force selecting means for selecting a drive force for driving the vehicle, on the basis of said drive mode index value obtained by said drive mode estimating means and said standard drive mode index value obtained by said standard drive mode.

46. A drive force control apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the motor vehicle has an automatic transmission, and shift control means for controlling said automatic transmission according to a selected one of a plurality of shift patterns, said drive force selecting means comprises threshold determining means for determining at least one threshold for selecting said drive force, on the basis of said standard drive mode index value obtained by said standard drive mode estimating means, and comparing and determining means for comparing said drive mode index value obtained by said drive mode estimating means, with said threshold, and determining one of said plurality of shift patterns as a result of comparison of said drive mode index value with said threshold, whereby said drive force is selected by said drive force selecting means.

47. A drive force control apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said standard drive mode estimating means obtains said standard drive mode index value by subjecting said drive mode index value obtained by said drive mode estimating means, to one of a smoothing operation and a weighted averaging operation.

48. A drive force control apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the motor vehicle includes an engine, an automatic transmission, and shift control means for automatically shifting said automatic transmission on the basis of a load of said engine and a running speed of the vehicle, and according to one of a plurality of shift patterns which is selected by said drive force selecting means on the basis of said drive mode index value obtained by said drive mode estimating means.

49. A drive force control apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the vehicle has an engine with a throttle valve, an accelerator pedal, and throttle control means for controlling an opening angle of said throttle valve on the basis of an amount of operation of said accelerator pedal, and according to one of a plurality of relationships between said opening angle of said throttle valve and said amount of operation of said accelerator pedal, said one of said plurality of relationships being selected by said drive force selecting means on the basis of said drive mode index value obtained by said drive mode estimating means.

50. An apparatus for controlling a controllable system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a drive mode estimating device for estimating a drive mode of the motor vehicle desired by an operator of the vehicle, said drive mode estimating device including (a) variable calculating means for calculating at least one of drive mode indicating variables selected from a group consisting of a fixed amount of operation of manually operated means operated by the operator for designating a drive force of the vehicle desired by the operator only upon starting of the vehicle, a maximum rate of increase of said amount of operation of said manually operated means, a maximum deceleration of the vehicle upon operation of a manually operated member for brake application to the vehicle, a coasting run time of the vehicle and a steady run time of the vehicle; and

(b) drive mode estimating means including a neural network receiving said at least one of drive mode indicating variables calculated by said variable calculating means, said drive mode estimating means estimating the drive mode of the motor vehicle desired by the operator, both during and after starting of the vehicle, on the basis of an output of said neural network;

control pattern selecting means for selecting, according to the drive mode estimated by said drive mode estimating means of said drive mode estimating device, one of a plurality of predetermined different control patterns for controlling said controllable system in respective different manners; and

a control device for controlling said controllable system according to the control pattern selected by said control pattern selecting means.

51. A shift control apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a drive mode estimating device for estimating a drive mode of the motor vehicle desired by an operator of the vehicle, said drive mode estimating device including (a) variable calculating means for calculating at least one of drive mode indicating variables selected from a group consisting of a fixed amount of operation of manually operated means operated by the operator for designating a drive force of the vehicle desired by the operator only upon starting of the vehicle, a maximum rate of increase of said amount of operation of said manually operated means, a maximum deceleration of the vehicle upon operation of a manually operated member for brake application to the vehicle, a coasting run time of the vehicle and a steady run time of the vehicle; and

(b) drive mode estimating means including a neural network receiving said at least one of drive mode indicating variables calculated by said variable calculating means, said drive mode estimating means estimating the drive mode of the motor vehicle desired by the operator, both during and after starting of the vehicle, on the basis of an output of said neural network;

shift pattern selecting means for selecting, according to the drive mode estimated by said drive mode estimating means of said drive mode estimating device, one of a plurality of predetermined different shift patterns for shifting said automatic transmission in respective different manners; and

a shift control device for controlling a speed ratio of said automatic transmission according to the shift pattern selected by said shift pattern selecting means.

52. An apparatus for controlling a motor vehicle including a controllable system, comprising:

a drive mode estimating device for estimating a drive mode of the motor vehicle desired by an operator of the vehicle, said drive mode estimating device including (a) variable calculating means for calculating at least one of drive mode indicating variables selected from a group consisting of a fixed amount of operation of manually operated means operated by the operator for designating a drive force of the vehicle desired by the operator only upon starting of the vehicle, a maximum rate of increase of said amount of operation of said manually operated means, a maximum deceleration of the vehicle upon operation of a manually operated member for brake application to the vehicle, a coasting run time of the vehicle and a steady run time of the vehicle; and

(b) drive mode estimating means including a neural network receiving said at least one of drive mode indicating variables calculated by said variable calculating means, said drive mode estimating means estimating the drive mode of the motor vehicle desired by the operator, both during and after starting of the vehicle, on the basis of an output of said neural network;

control pattern selecting means for selecting, according to the drive mode estimated by said drive mode estimating means of said drive mode estimating device, one of a plurality of predetermined different control patterns for controlling said controllable system in respective different manners; and

a control device for controlling said controllable system according to the drive mode estimated by said drive mode estimating means of said drive mode estimating device.

53. A shift control apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a drive mode estimating device for estimating a drive mode of the motor vehicle desired by an operator of the vehicle, said drive mode estimating device including (a) variable calculating means for calculating at least one of drive mode indicating variables selected from a group consisting of a fixed amount of operation of manually operated means operated by the operator for designating a drive force of the vehicle desired by the operator only upon starting of the vehicle, a maximum rate of increase of said amount of operation of said manually operated means, a maximum deceleration of the vehicle upon operation of a manually operated member for brake application to the vehicle, a coasting run time of the vehicle and a steady run time of the vehicle; and

(b) drive mode estimating means including a neural network receiving said at least one of drive mode indicating variables calculated by said variable calculating means, said drive mode estimating means estimating the drive mode of the motor vehicle desired by the operator, both during and after starting of the vehicle, on the basis of an output of said neural network;

shift pattern selecting means for selecting, according to the drive mode estimated by said drive mode estimating means of said drive mode estimating device, one of a plurality of predetermined different shift patterns for shifting said automatic transmission in respective different manners; and

a shift control device for controlling a speed ratio of said automatic transmission according to the drive mode estimated by said drive mode estimating means of said drive mode estimating device.