Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Indication or control of braking – acceleration – or deceleration
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-18
2002-07-02
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Indication or control of braking, acceleration, or deceleration
C123S319000, C180S170000, C701S091000, C701S093000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06415216
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling run of a car, a method of controlling run of a car and a car using the apparatus and, more particularly to following distance controlling auto-cruise including slow acceleration and deceleration running in a congested area. Automatic control technologies are being developed. The automatic control technologies are that a distance between a self-car and a preceding car (including an obstacle) is detected using a radar, and an engine, a motor, a transmission and a brake are automatically controlled so that the distance becomes a safe following distance. An example of the automatic control technologies is following distance controlling auto-cruise including slow acceleration and deceleration running in a congested area (hereinafter, referred to as “ACC”: Adaptive cruise Control).
Among the ACC, there are known systems that automatic control is performed only for starting and acceleration operations and a driver operates deceleration and stopping according to his own decision in order to secure higher safety.
One example of the systems is that deceleration and stopping operations and starting and acceleration operations are performed by operating only a brake pedal using a conventional oil brake system.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.4-38600 discloses a system that when the running mode is set to a slow deceleration running mode due to traffic congestion, the car can be stopped and started by one-pedal running of braking operation. That is, the driving force is controlled so that the running speed of the car becomes a target running speed when there is no brake operation, and the diving force is controlled not to act toward a running direction when there is brake operation.
According to the conventional technologies described above, in order to perform stopping and starting operations by one pedal of braking operation using a conventional brake operating mechanism, the pedal can be used only as if it is an ON-OFF switch, that is, the car is decelerated and stopped when the brake pedal is stepped on, and started and accelerated when the brake pedal is released.
Therefore, in a case of, for example, acceleration a car, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is characterized by an apparatus for controlling run of a car, the apparatus comprising a pedal for controlling both of a braking force and a driving force of the car depending on an operating amount or an operating force, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range being provided in the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal, wherein a footrest function is realized when the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal is within the footrest function range, and run of the car is controlled by a braking force, the braking force being increased corresponding to the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal when the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal is within the braking force increasing function range.
Further, the present invention is characterized by an apparatus for controlling run of a car, the apparatus comprising a pedal for controlling both of a braking force and a driving force of the car depending on an operating amount or an operating force, a footrest function range, a driving force decreasing function range and a braking force increasing function range being provided in the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal, wherein a footrest function is realized when the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal is within the footrest function range, and run of the car is controlled by a driving force, the driving force being decreased corresponding to the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal when the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal is within the driving force decreasing function range; and a braking force, the braking force being increased corresponding to the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal when the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal is within the braking force increasing function range.
Further, the present invention is characterized by that a driving force is generated when the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal is within the footrest function range.
Further, the present invention is characterized by an apparatus for controlling run of a car, the apparatus comprising a pedal for controlling both of a braking force and a driving force of the car depending on an operating amount or an operating force; and a braking mechanism for braking wheels corresponding to the operating amount and the operating force of the pedal, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range being provided in the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal, wherein a footrest function is realized when the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal is within the footrest function range, and the braking mechanism is controlled by a braking force, the braking force being increased corresponding to the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal when the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal is within the braking force increasing function range.
Further, the present invention is characterized by an apparatus for controlling run of a car, the apparatus comprising a pedal for controlling both of a braking force and a driving force of the car depending on an operating amount or an operating force; a braking mechanism for braking wheels corresponding to the operating amount and the operating force of the pedal; a following distance detector for detecting a following distance; and a driving force control unit for controlling a driving force corresponding to a signal of the following distance detector, a footrest function range and a driving force decreasing function range being provided in the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal, wherein a footrest function is realized when the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal is within the footrest function range, and the braking mechanism is controlled by a braking force, the braking force being increased corresponding to the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal when the operating amount or the operating force of the pedal is within the braking force increasing function range.
Further, the present invention is characterized by an apparatus for controlling run of a car comprising a first pedal; a second pedal; a footrest apparatus for realizing a footrest function in the first pedal; and a control unit for executing control of a one-pedal mode which controls both of a braking force and a driving force of the car corresponding to an operating amount or an operating force of the first pedal, wherein a means for realizing the footrest function in the footrest apparatus comprises a mechanical stopper mechanism. The mechanical stopper mechanism has an advantage that the footrest apparatus can be constructed with a simple structure even if the other kind of energy such as electric power is difficult to be obtained.
Similarly, a means for realizing the footrest function in the footrest apparatus can be constructed using a solenoid mechanism. By doing so, the holding force can be optimally adjusted by adjusting the electric energy to the load added by a driver's foot.
Further, a means for realizing the footrest function in the footrest apparatus similarly can be constructed using a combination of springs and cranks. By the means of such a kind, the footrest apparatus can be also constructed without using electric power.
Further, the present invention is characterized by an apparatus for controlling run of a car comprising a first pedal; a second pedal;
Kuragaki Satoru
Minowa Toshimichi
Satou Kazuhiko
Yoshikawa Tokuji
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Hernandez Olga
Hitachi , Ltd.
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