US-12617272-B2 - Accelerator device

US12617272B2US 12617272 B2US12617272 B2US 12617272B2US-12617272-B2

Abstract

An accelerator device includes a pedal lever, a drive source, a power transmission mechanism, and a control unit. The pedal lever is operable in response to a pedaling operation. The drive source generates a driving force when being energized. The power transmission mechanism transmits the driving force of the drive source to the pedal lever, and applies a reaction force in an opposite direction to a pedaling direction of the pedal lever. The control unit includes a reaction force controller that controls the reaction force applied to the pedal lever by controlling the drive source. The reaction force controller holds an initial reaction force for a reaction force hold time from a start of reaction force application, and performs a reaction force reduction control in which the reaction force is reduced as a time function after an elapse of the reaction force hold time.

Inventors

Yusuke Yoshida
Soichi KINOUCHI

Assignees

DENSO CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20250117
Priority Date: 20220829

Claims (10)

1 . An accelerator device comprising: a pedal lever configured to be operable in response to a pedaling operation; a drive source configured to generate a driving force when being energized; a power transmission mechanism configured to transmit the driving force of the drive source to the pedal lever, and to apply a reaction force in an opposite direction to a pedaling direction of the pedal lever; and a control unit including a reaction force controller configured to control the reaction force applied to the pedal lever by controlling the drive source, wherein when a reaction force application condition is satisfied during a vehicle travel, the reaction force controller holds an initial reaction force for a reaction force hold time from a start of the reaction force applied to the pedal lever, and to perform a reaction force reduction control in which the reaction force is reduced by a time function after an elapse of the reaction force hold time; and the reaction force controller sets a reaction force reduction time, for which the reaction force reduction control is performed, based on a pedaling speed of the pedal lever at the start of the reaction force applied to the pedal lever.
2 . The accelerator device according to claim 1 , wherein the reaction force controller sets the reaction force hold time based on the pedaling speed of the pedal lever at the start of the reaction force applied to the pedal lever.
3 . An accelerator device comprising: a pedal lever configured to be operable in response to a pedaling operation; a drive source configured to generate a driving force when being energized; a power transmission mechanism configured to transmit the driving force of the drive source to the pedal lever, and to apply a reaction force in an opposite direction to a pedaling direction of the pedal lever; and a control unit including a reaction force controller configured to control the reaction force applied to the pedal lever by controlling the drive source, wherein when a reaction force application condition is satisfied during a vehicle travel, the reaction force controller holds an initial reaction force for a reaction force hold time at a start of the reaction force applied to the pedal lever, and to perform a reaction force reduction control in which the reaction force is reduced by a time function after an elapse of the reaction force hold time, the reaction force controller sets the reaction force hold time based on a start pedaling speed of the pedal lever at the start of the reaction force applied to the pedal lever, (i) to be a minimum hold time when the start pedaling speed is greater than a first predetermined value, and (ii) to be shorter in accordance with an increase of the start pedaling speed in a range where the start pedaling speed is equal to or less than the first predetermined value.
4 . The accelerator device according to claim 3 , wherein the reaction force controller sets the reaction force hold time (i) to be shorter in accordance with the increase of the start pedaling speed in the range where the start pedaling speed is equal to or less than the first predetermined value and is greater than a second predetermined value that is a value less than the first predetermined value, and (ii) to be a maximum hold time when the start pedaling speed is equal to or less than the second predetermined value.
5 . The accelerator device according to claim 4 , wherein the reaction force controller sets the reaction force hold time (i) to be linearly shorter in accordance with the increase of the start pedaling speed in the range where the start pedaling speed is equal to or less than the first predetermined value and is greater than the second predetermined value that is a value less than the first predetermined value, and (ii) to be the maximum hold time when the start pedaling speed is equal to or less than the second predetermined value.
6 . The accelerator device according to claim 4 , wherein the reaction force controller sets the reaction force hold time (i) to be non-linearly shorter in accordance with the increase of the start pedaling speed in the range where the start pedaling speed is equal to or less than the first predetermined value and is greater than the second predetermined value that is a value less than the first predetermined value, and (ii) to be the maximum hold time when the start pedaling speed is equal to or less than the second predetermined value.
7 . The accelerator device according to claim 3 , wherein the reaction force controller sets the reaction force hold time based on the start pedaling speed of the pedal lever at the start of the reaction force applied to the pedal lever, (i) to be the minimum hold time when the start pedaling speed is greater than the first predetermined value, and (ii) to be linearly shorter in accordance with the increase of the start pedaling speed in the range where the start pedaling speed is equal to or less than the first predetermined value.
8 . The accelerator device according to claim 3 , wherein the reaction force controller sets the reaction force hold time based on the start pedaling speed of the pedal lever at the start of the reaction force applied to the pedal lever, (i) to be the minimum hold time when the start pedaling speed is greater than the first predetermined value, and (ii) to be non-linearly shorter in accordance with the increase of the start pedaling speed in the range where the start pedaling speed is equal to or less than the first predetermined value.
9 . An accelerator device comprising: a pedal lever configured to be operable in response to a pedaling operation; a drive source configured to generate a driving force when being energized; a power transmission mechanism configured to transmit the driving force of the drive source to the pedal lever, and to apply a reaction force in an opposite direction to a pedaling direction of the pedal lever; and a control unit including a reaction force controller configured to control the reaction force applied to the pedal lever by controlling the drive source, wherein when a reaction force application condition is satisfied during a vehicle travel, the reaction force controller holds an initial reaction force for a reaction force hold time from a start of the reaction force applied to the pedal lever, and to perform a reaction force reduction control in which the reaction force is reduced by a time function after an elapse of the reaction force hold time; and the reaction force controller switches a control constant in an electric current feedback control including a proportional control and an integral control to a value different from that of a steady control constant such that a proportional term and an integral term become smaller in the electric current feedback control, when a counter electromotive force equal to or greater than a determination threshold is generated in the drive source, in the reaction force reduction control.
10 . An accelerator device comprising: a pedal lever configured to be operable in response to a pedaling operation; a drive source configured to generate a driving force when being energized; a power transmission mechanism configured to transmit the driving force of the drive source to the pedal lever, and to apply a reaction force in an opposite direction to a pedaling direction of the pedal lever; and a controller including at least one of a circuit and a processor having a memory, wherein the controller is configured to control the reaction force applied to the pedal lever by controlling the drive source, to determine whether a reaction force application condition is satisfied during a vehicle travel, and to hold an initial reaction force for a reaction force hold time from a start of the reaction force applied to the pedal lever, and to perform a reaction force reduction control in which the reaction force is reduced by a time function after an elapse of the reaction force hold time, when the reaction force application condition is satisfied during the vehicle travel; and to set a reaction force reduction time, for which the reaction force reduction control is performed, based on a pedaling speed of the pedal lever at the start of reaction force applied to the pedal lever.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is a continuation application of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2023/029665 filed on Aug. 17, 2023, which designated the U.S. and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-135477, filed on Aug. 29, 2022. The entire disclosures of all of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to an accelerator device. BACKGROUND Conventionally, a reaction force device that controls a reaction force against an accelerator pedal is known. For example, the reaction force is reduced when a pedaling speed exceeds an acceleration intention boundary threshold, and the reaction force is maintained when the pedaling speed is lower than the acceleration intention boundary threshold. SUMMARY An accelerator device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a pedal lever, a drive source, a power transmission mechanism, and a control unit. The pedal lever is operable in response to a pedaling operation. The drive source is configured to generate a driving force when being energized. The power transmission mechanism is configured to transmit the driving force of the drive source to the pedal lever, and to apply a reaction force in an opposite direction to a pedaling direction of the pedal lever. The control unit includes a reaction force controller configured to control the reaction force applied to the pedal lever by controlling the drive source. In addition, when a reaction force application condition is satisfied during a vehicle travel, the reaction force controller is configured to hold an initial reaction force for a reaction force hold time from a start of the reaction force applied to the pedal lever, and to perform a reaction force reduction control in which the reaction force is reduced by a time function after an elapse of the reaction force hold time. In such manner, the reaction force can be appropriately applied. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an accelerator device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a reaction force application control according to the first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a time chart for explaining the reaction force application control according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a graph for explaining a setting of a reaction force hold time according to the first embodiment; FIG. 5 is a graph for explaining a setting of a reaction force reduction time according to the first embodiment; FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a reaction force application control according to a second embodiment; and FIG. 7 is a time chart for explaining the reaction force application control according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In a reaction force device that controls a reaction force against an accelerator pedal, the reaction force may be reduced when a pedaling speed exceeds an acceleration intention boundary threshold, and the reaction force may be maintained when the pedaling speed is lower than the acceleration intention boundary threshold. For example, when a moderate acceleration is determined, a reaction force is maintained. When a driver continues to step on a pedal at a moderate pedaling speed with an intention to accelerate, a pedal operability may deteriorate due to the reaction force maintained at a constant level. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an accelerator device that is capable of appropriately applying a reaction force. In an accelerator device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, when a reaction force application condition is satisfied during a vehicle travel, a reaction force controller holds an initial reaction force for a reaction force hold time from a start of a reaction force applied to a pedal lever, and to perform a reaction force reduction control in which the reaction force is reduced by a time function after an elapse of the reaction force hold time. In such manner, the reaction force can be appropriately applied. First Embodiment Hereinafter, an accelerator device according to the present disclosure is described with reference to the drawings. In the following plural embodiments, substantially same structural configurations are designated with the same reference numerals thereby to simplify the description. The first embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. As shown in FIG. 1, an accelerator device 1 includes a pedal lever 20, a motor 31, a power transmission mechanism 40, an ECU 50, and the like. The pedal lever 20 includes a pad 21, an arm 23, and a pedal 25, and is driven integrally by a pedaling operation of a driver or the like. The pad 21 is provided to be