Accelerator Pedal Indicator with Variable Sensitivity for Fuel Economy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle operation support apparatuses face difficulties in accurately and delicately manipulating the accelerator pedal to achieve optimal fuel efficiency, especially when the target accelerator opening is small, due to excessive sensitivity in indication changes.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features an indicator section with reduced sensitivity near the target value, allowing for smoother adjustments by displaying the actual accelerator pedal opening as a ratio to the target, with a fixed indicated position and varying sensitivity based on vehicle speed, making it easier for operators to align with the target without excessive deviation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the actual accelerator opening is indicated as a ratio with respect to the target accelerator opening, then the indication can be normalized across different operating conditions, but when the target accelerator opening is small, a small change in actual accelerator opening causes a large change in indicated position, making delicate manipulation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the sensitivity of the indication different in different regions. Specifically, the change amount of indication per unit change of actual accelerator opening is made smaller in regions close to the target value and larger in regions far from the target value. This creates a non-uniform sensitivity distribution that adapts to the local operational context, making delicate manipulation easier near the target while maintaining good adaptability across the full range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the indication sensitivity variable rather than fixed. The sensitivity dynamically adjusts based on the distance from the target accelerator opening: when the actual opening is close to the target, the sensitivity is reduced; when far from the target, the sensitivity is increased. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between normalization and delicate manipulation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the target accelerator opening position in the indicator section is fixed, then the indicator layout is simple and easy to manufacture, but it becomes difficult to accurately recognize and manipulate the actual accelerator opening when the target value changes with vehicle speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes different regions of the indicator have different properties. The region near the target accelerator opening has reduced sensitivity (smaller change amount per unit change), while regions far from the target have normal or higher sensitivity. This local differentiation allows the fixed position layout to remain simple while improving visual recognition accuracy near the critical target region.
3Measurement precision
If high sensitivity indication is used to show small changes in accelerator opening, then precise feedback is provided to the operator, but it becomes difficult to make smooth adjustments and causes excessive operator effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of indication sensitivity based on the operational context. Instead of using constant high sensitivity, the system reduces the sensitivity parameter in regions close to the target accelerator opening. This parameter change allows precise feedback when far from target while enabling smooth adjustments with reduced operator effort when approaching the target.
Data Source
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AI summary
To achieve driving with good fuel economy, a target accelerator pedal opening (21) and an actual accelerator pedal opening (26) are displayed on an accelerator pedal indicator (20) of an instrument panel to allow the vehicle operator to control the accelerator pedal so as to bring the actual accelerator pedal opening (26) close to the target accelerator pedal opening (21). The target accelerator pedal opening varies depending on the vehicle speed, but is displayed at a fixed position on the accelerator pedal indicator (20) with the actual accelerator pedal opening (26) displayed as the ratio therebetween. In the region (ΔL) near the target accelerator pedal opening (21), the sensitivity to a variation in the display position corresponding to the amount of change in accelerator pedal opening is reduced so that the actual accelerator pedal opening (26) being displayed will not vary too sensitively, thereby facilitating the control by the vehicle operator.