Key-Based Driving Force Limitation With Abnormality Notification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control devices do not provide appropriate notifications to drivers when an abnormality occurs in driving force limitation control, especially when the control is deactivated, which can lead to safety concerns when shared vehicles are used by family members with different driving needs.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control device that switches driving force limitation control based on electronic keys, providing notifications to drivers when abnormalities are detected, even if the control is deactivated, using an accelerator pedal operation detection unit, driving force limitation unit, notification unit, and storage unit to manage limitation settings for each key.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If driving force limitation control is deactivated for certain drivers, then driving freedom and ease of operation are improved, but safety and information awareness deteriorate when abnormalities occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving freedomVSAvoidsafety information awareness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system is configured to provide abnormality information selectively based on the activation state of driving force limitation control. When the control is deactivated, the notification unit provides abnormality notifications to maintain safety awareness. This local differentiation of notification behavior resolves the contradiction by tailoring the information provision to the specific operational mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The notification unit dynamically adjusts its behavior based on the activation state of driving force limitation control. The system transitions between different notification modes: providing notifications when control is deactivated, and suppressing them when control is activated. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between driving freedom and safety information awareness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If driving force limitation control is activated for elderly drivers, then safety is improved, but driving freedom and adaptability for different users deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddriving freedom for different users

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the driver population into different groups based on their needs (e.g., elderly drivers requiring limitation control vs. other drivers requiring full control). The limitation setting unit allows different electronic keys to have different limitation settings, enabling each driver to use the configuration most suitable for their needs while maintaining overall system safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The notification unit serves multiple functions: it notifies drivers of abnormalities when limitation control is deactivated, maintains safety awareness when limitation control is activated, and adapts its behavior based on the current operational mode. This multi-functionality allows the system to serve diverse user needs while maintaining a unified architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If abnormality notifications are provided only when limitation control is activated, then notification simplicity is improved, but information sharing among vehicle users deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification logic simplicityVSAvoidabnormality information sharing

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The notification unit dynamically adjusts its behavior based on the activation state of driving force limitation control. When control is deactivated, the system provides abnormality notifications to ensure information sharing among vehicle users. This dynamic approach balances notification simplicity with comprehensive information provision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12472965B2Vehicle control device

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle control device 1 incudes: a detection unit configured to detect an operation onto an accelerator pedal; a driving force limitation unit 21 configured to conduct driving force limitation control of limiting driving force of a vehicle in accordance with the operation onto the accelerator pedal; a limitation setting unit 22 configured to switch between activation and deactivation of the driving force limitation control for every electronic key 5 to be used when driving the vehicle, based on limitation setting information set for every electronic key 5 of the vehicle; and a notification unit 24 configured to give a notification to a driver when an abnormality related to conducting the driving force limitation control is detected, in which the notification unit 24 gives the notification to the driver, when the abnormality is detected, in a case where the driving force limitation control is deactivated.