Driving Force Control Mitigating Wheelbase-Dependent Obstacle Delay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing driving force control systems cause inconvenience to drivers when attempting to navigate over steps, as they delay the mitigation of driving force limitation for front wheels, leading to difficulty in smoothly overcoming obstacles despite intentional accelerator pedal operation.

Innovation Solution

A driving force control apparatus that includes a specific state detection module and a travel distance determination module to initiate driving-force-limitation mitigation control when the travel distance corresponds to the vehicle's wheelbase, allowing for timely adjustment of driving force to facilitate smooth passage over obstacles without requiring a predetermined period of continued specific state detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the system waits for a predetermined period of specific state detection before mitigating driving force limitation, then false erroneous depression operations are prevented, but legitimate obstacle crossing operations are delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of erroneous depression detectionVSAvoidtime delay in obstacle crossing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the specific state (vehicle stopped with accelerator depressed) and uses travel distance measurement to predict whether mitigation should be initiated, rather than waiting passively for the predetermined period to expire. When the travel distance exceeds the wheelbase, the system proactively initiates mitigation control, anticipating that the vehicle has moved far enough to indicate a legitimate obstacle crossing operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the mitigation initiation criteria based on travel distance. Instead of using a fixed time-based threshold, the system continuously monitors travel distance and compares it against the wheelbase parameter, allowing the mitigation decision to adapt to the actual vehicle movement and operational context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the system mitigates driving force limitation quickly, then obstacle crossing is facilitated, but erroneous depression operations may be incorrectly permitted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmoothness of obstacle crossingVSAvoidaccuracy of operation detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The travel distance measurement serves as an intermediary parameter between the specific state detection and the mitigation decision. Rather than directly transitioning from state detection to mitigation, the system uses travel distance as a mediating criterion that provides additional verification, ensuring that mitigation is only initiated when the vehicle has moved a sufficient distance to indicate a legitimate operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the time-based mechanical waiting period with a distance-based measurement criterion. Instead of waiting for a predetermined time interval to pass, the system measures the actual travel distance and uses this physical quantity to trigger mitigation, providing a more accurate reflection of the vehicle's operational state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If the system uses fixed predetermined period for mitigation, then control logic is simple, but it cannot adapt to different wheelbase configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of control logicVSAvoidadaptability to different vehicle configurations
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the control parameter from a fixed time-based predetermined period to a distance-based criterion using the wheelbase parameter. This allows the mitigation initiation threshold to be adapted to different vehicle configurations by simply changing the wheelbase value, without requiring changes to the overall control logic structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11279374B2Driving force control apparatus
Publication Date: 2022.03.22 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • US11279374B2 patent drawing
  • US11279374B2 patent drawing
  • US11279374B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A driving force control apparatus including an ECU configured to detect a specific state of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is not traveling even though an accelerator pedal of the vehicle is operated. The ECU of the driving force control apparatus being configured to acquire, when the specific state is detected, a travel distance of the vehicle from a time point when the specific state last ended. The ECU of the driving force control apparatus being configured to start driving-force-limitation mitigation control without requiring the specific state currently detected to continue for a predetermined period or longer, when the travel distance is a distance corresponding to a wheelbase.