Vehicle Output Control Device for Intentional Driver Actions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional output control devices for vehicles suppress engine output when both accelerator and brake operations are performed, regardless of the driver's intention, leading to unintended control interventions during intentional driver actions like heel-and-toe operations or temporary stops on slopes.
Innovation Solution
An output control device that includes an accelerator operation detector, a brake operation force estimator, and an output suppression controller, which only suppresses engine output when both accelerator operation and brake operation meet specific threshold values for a predetermined time, allowing for intentional driver actions by adjusting threshold values and using existing sensors to estimate brake force accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If engine output is suppressed whenever brake operation is detected, then vehicle safety is improved, but driver intention is ignored causing unintended control intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of brake operation force by introducing a threshold value. Only when the brake operation force exceeds this threshold is output suppression activated. This parameter-based discrimination allows the system to distinguish between accidental brake presses (low force) and intentional braking (high force), thereby maintaining safety while respecting driver intention during intentional simultaneous accelerator and brake operations.
2Speed
If output suppression is activated immediately upon detecting simultaneous accelerator and brake operations, then response speed is improved, but false activation occurs during intentional operations like heel-and-toe
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a threshold parameter for brake operation force and combines it with a time-based condition. Output suppression is activated only when the brake operation force exceeds the threshold for a predetermined time period. This dual-parameter approach maintains fast response while preventing false activation during temporary simultaneous operations like heel-and-toe maneuvers or slope control.
3Reliability
If brake operation force threshold is set low, then output suppression activates more frequently improving safety, but it interferes with intentional driver operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system sets the brake operation force threshold at an appropriate level that distinguishes between safety-critical braking and intentional driving maneuvers. By calibrating this parameter, the system achieves broad safety coverage for accidental or emergency braking while maintaining compatibility with intentional driver operations such as heel-and-toe downshifting, slope control, and cornering weight transfer.
4Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added to detect driver intention, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing brake operation force detection capability already present in the vehicle's brake system to infer driver intention. Instead of adding new sensors, the control unit utilizes the available brake force information in combination with accelerator position data and time-based logic to determine whether output suppression should be activated. This self-service approach achieves precise driver intention detection without increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an output control device for a vehicle. The device includes an accelerator operator to receive an output adjustment operation of a drive power of a vehicle; a brake operator to receive a braking operation of a braking device; an accelerator operation amount detection unit for detecting an operation amount of the accelerator operator; a brake operation force estimation unit for estimating an operation force of the brake operator; and an output suppression control unit for suppressing an output of the drive power regardless of a state of the accelerator operator, in the case where for a predetermined time or longer, a state continues in which the operation amount of the accelerator operator is greater than or equal to a predetermined accelerator threshold value, and the operation force estimated by the brake operator is greater than or equal to a predetermined brake threshold value.