Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Indication or control of braking – acceleration – or deceleration
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-08
2001-08-07
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
C701S200000, C340S990000, C180S170000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272416
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to vehicle drive force control, and in particular relates to a device for modifying drive force characteristics when a vehicle is travelling on a curve.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A device is known for automatically modifying drive force characteristics according to external conditions in order to enhance stability during travel.
Tokkai Hei 7-125566 published by the Japanese Patent Office in 1995 discloses a technique wherein it is determined whether or not a vehicle can take a curve based on the curvature of the curve in front of the vehicle and a vehicle speed, and automatically decelerating the vehicle when it is determined that the vehicle speed is too high to take the curve safely. Information on the curvature of the curve is given by a vehicle navigation device, i. e. a combination of a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and a prestored map.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, in this prior art technology, the vehicle decelerates regardless of the driver's operations, so it is possible that the driver will experience discomfort. The time at which the driver makes a decision to decelerate will also depend on the shape of the road, the driving conditions and the driver him/herself. In the prior art controller, it was impossible to modify the deceleration start timing in accordance with all these conditions.
It is therefore an object of this invention to reflect the driver's intention in a controller which adjusts drive force characteristics when a vehicle takes a curve, and thereby to reduce the driver's discomfort.
In order to achieve above object, this invention provides a drive force control device for a vehicle comprising deceleration force generating mechanism for decelerating the vehicle, a sensor for detecting a position of the vehicle, a storing medium wherein map information is stored, a sensor for detecting release of an accelerator pedal and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is programmed to detect a curve in front of the vehicle based on the vehicle position and map information and control the deceleration force generating mechanism to decelerate the vehicle when a curve is detected in front of the vehicle and release of the accelerator pedal is detected.
The details as well as other features and advantages of this invention are set forth in the remainder of the specification and are shown in the accompanying drawings.
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Abe Hiroshi
Kuroda Kouichi
Sato Hiroshi
Sato Yoshihiro
Toukura Nobusuke
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Foley & Lardner
Hernandez Olga
Nissan Motor Co,. Ltd.
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