# US 2014/0195090 A1 · Driving force control system for vehicle

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- Number: US 2014/0195090 A1
- Document ID: US20140195090A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/238,365
- Filed: 2011-09-20
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-09-20
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi; Kazuo Tsuruoka; Toshio Tanahashi; Yoshimitsu Agata; Hiroki Kaneko; Koji Tsurumura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195090A1

## CPC

- F02D 29/02: peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
- B60K 31/00: Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator
- B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines
- B60W 30/1882: {characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart}
- F02D 11/105: {characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque}
- F02D 31/001: {Electric control of rotation speed}
- B60W 2710/0644: Engine speed
- Y10S 903/903: having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
- F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W)
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A driving force control system for vehicle for controlling a target speed of an engine serving as a prime mover by selecting a control mode based on an index representing a driving preference of a driver. The control mode is selected from a first mode for operating the engine to achieve the target speed while optimizing a fuel economy, and a second mode for operating the engine to achieve the target speed at a speed lower than that achieved while optimizing the fuel economy. The driving force control system is configured to determine a lower limit speed of the engine based on the index provided that the second mode is selected, and to restrict a lower limit value of the target speed of the engine to the lower limit speed in case the target speed of the engine exceeds the lower limit speed under the second mode.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-6. (canceled)

### Claim 7

A driving force control system for vehicle, which is configured to control a target speed of an engine serving as a prime mover by selecting a control mode based on an index representing a driving preference of a driver, from a first mode for operating the engine in a manner to achieve the target speed while optimizing a fuel economy, and a second mode for operating the engine in a manner to achieve the target speed at a speed lower than that achieved while optimizing the fuel economy,
wherein the index is determined based on at least a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle that is changed by an operation of the driver;
wherein the driving force control system is configured to determine a lower limit speed of the engine based on the index provided that the second mode is selected; and
to restrict a lower limit value of the target speed of the engine to the lower limit speed based on the current index in case the target speed of the engine exceeds the lower limit speed under the second mode.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The driving force control system for vehicle as claimed in claim 7,
wherein the lower limit speed is set to the higher speed in accordance with an increase in a value of the index to enhance agility of vehicle behavior.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The driving force control system as claimed in claim 7,
wherein the target speed is a speed of the engine to be achieved under a steady-state running condition where an amount of change in a vehicle speed or an amount of change in a drive demand falls within a predetermined range.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The driving force control system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the vehicle includes any of:
a hybrid vehicle, in which the engine is connected with anyone of rotary elements of a power distribution device adapted to perform a differential action using three rotary elements, another rotary element is connected with a motor, and still another rotary element serves as an output element; and
a vehicle in which a continuously variable transmission is connected with an output side of the engine.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The driving force control system as claimed in claim 7,
wherein the index is increased promptly in the direction to increase the agility of the vehicle behavior, in accordance with an increase in a synthesized acceleration of the longitudinal acceleration and a lateral acceleration of the vehicle that is obtained based on a sensor value or an operating amount of the driver, but lowered relatively slower in the direction to decrease the agility of the vehicle behavior with respect to a reduction in the synthesized acceleration.

### Claim 12

A driving force control system for vehicle, which is configured to control a target speed of an engine serving as a prime mover by selecting a control mode based on an index representing a driving preference of a driver, from a first mode for operating the engine in a manner to achieve the target speed while optimizing a fuel economy, and a second mode for operating the engine in a manner to achieve the target speed at a speed lower than that achieved while optimizing the fuel economy,
wherein the index is determined based on at least a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle that is changed by an operation of the driver;
wherein the driving force control system is configured to determine a lower limit speed of the engine based on the index provided that the second mode is selected; and
to hold the target speed of the engine to the lower limit speed based on the current index, in case the target speed of the engine exceeds the lower limit speed under the second mode, and then falls below the lower limit speed.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The driving force control system for vehicle as claimed in claim 12,
wherein the lower limit speed is set to the higher speed in accordance with an increase in a value of the index to enhance agility of vehicle behavior.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The driving force control system as claimed in claim 12,
wherein the target speed is a speed of the engine to be achieved under a steady-state running condition where an amount of change in a vehicle speed or an amount of change in a drive demand falls within a predetermined range.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The driving force control system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the vehicle includes any of:
a hybrid vehicle, in which the engine is connected with anyone of rotary elements of a power distribution device adapted to perform a differential action using three rotary elements, another rotary element is connected with a motor, and still another rotary element serves as an output element; and
a vehicle in which a continuously variable transmission is connected with an output side of the engine.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The driving force control system as claimed in claim 12,
wherein the index is increased promptly in the direction to increase the agility of the vehicle behavior, in accordance with an increase in a synthesized acceleration of the longitudinal acceleration and a lateral acceleration of the vehicle that is obtained based on a sensor value or an operating amount of the driver, but lowered relatively slower in the direction to decrease the agility of the vehicle behavior with respect to a reduction in the synthesized acceleration.