Accelerator control system for automotive vehicle

Claim 1

An accelerator control system for an automotive vehicle including an accelerator pedal, and a throttle valve, said system comprising: (a) means for detecting an accelerator pedal depression timing and outputting a signal ADTS corresponding thereto; (b) means for detecting the stroke of the accelerator pedal and outputting signals ASS corresponding thereto; (c) means for detecting the speed of the accelerator pedal stroke and outputting signals DASS corresponding thereto; (d) means for initiating a predetermined time period To in response to the signal ADTS outputting from said accelerator pedal depression timing detecting means; (e) means for comparing the voltage level of the detected accelerator pedal stroke signal ASS with a first reference stroke voltage level ASS1 and the voltage level of the detected accelerator pedal stroke speed signal DASS with a first reference stroke speed voltage level DASS1 within the predetermined time period To, and outputting a first command signal when either or both of the voltage levels of the detected signals ASS and DASS exceed the first reference voltage levels ASS1 and DASS1 respectively and otherwise outputting a second command signal; (f) means for storing first ordinary control characteristics such that an opening rate of the throttle valve increases relatively sharply with increasing accelerator pedal stroke and second fine control characteristics such that an opening rate of the throttle valve increases relatively gently with increasing accelerator pedal stroke; (g) means for selecting selected control characteristics corresponding to the first ordinary control characteristics in response to the first command signal and corresponding to the second fine control characteristics in response to the second command signal; (h) means for determining target throttle valve opening rates corresponding to the detected accelerator pedal strokes in accordance with the selected control characteristics and outputting target throttle valve opening rate control signals corresponding thereto; and (i) means responsive to said target throttle valve opening rate control signals for opening the throttle valve at the target throttle valve opening rate.

Claim 22

A method of controlling an accelerator for an automotive vehicle, which comprises the following steps for: (a) detecting an accelerator pedal depression timing; (b) measuring a predetermined time period To in response the signal ADTS indicative of accelerator pedal depression timing; (c) detecting accelerator pedal strokes; (d) detecting accelerator pedal stroke speed; (e) storing first ordinary control characteristics such that opening rate of the throttle valve increases relatively sharply with increasing accelerator pedal stroke and second fine control characteristics such that opening rate of the throttle valve increases relatively gently with increasing accelerator pedal stroke; (f) comparing the detected accelerator pedal stroke ASS with a first reference stroke ASS1 and the detected accelerator pedal stroke speed DASS with a first reference stroke speed DASS1 only within the predetermined time period To; (g) when either or both of the detected stroke ASS and stroke speed DASS exceed the first reference values ASS1 and DASS1 respectively, stopping the time measuring operation and selecting the first ordinary control characteristics; (h) when neither the detected stroke ASS nor stroke speed DASS exceeds the first reference values ASS1 and DASS1 respectively, checking whether the predetermined time period To has elapsed or not; (i) when the time period To has elapsed, stopping the time measuring opertion and selecting the second fine control characteristics; (j) when the time period To has not elapsed, selecting the first ordinary control characteristics; (k) determining target throttle valve opening rates corresponding to the detected accelerator pedal strokes in accordance with the selected control characteristics; and (l) controlling the opening rate of the throttle valve to match the target throttle valve opening rate.

Claim 23

A method of controlling an accelerator for an automotive vehicle, which comprises the following steps for: (a) detecting an accelerator pedal depression timing; (b) measuring a predetermined time period To in response the signal ADTS indicative of accelerator pedal depression timing; (c) detecting accelerator pedal strokes; (d) detecting accelerator pedal stroke speed; (e) storing first ordinary control characteristics such that opening rate of the throttle valve increases relatively sharply with increasing accelerator pedal stroke and second fine control characteristics such that opening rate of the throttle valve increases relatively gently with increasing accelerator pedal stroke; (f) comparing the detected accelerator pedal stroke ASS with a first reference stroke ASS1 and the detected accelerator pedal stroke speed DASS with a first reference stroke speed DASS1 only within the predetermined time period To; (g) when either or both of the detected stroke ASS and stroke speed DASS exceed the first reference values ASS1 and DASS1 respectively, stopping the time measuring operation and selecting the first ordinary control characteristics; (h) when neither the detected stroke ASS nor stroke speed DASS exceeds the first reference values ASS1 and DASS1 respectively, checking whether the predetermined time period To has elapsed or not; (i) when the time period To has elapsed, stopping the time measuring opertion and selecting the second fine control characteristics; (j) when the time period To has not elapsed, selecting the first ordinary control characteristics; (k) determining target throttle valve opening rates corresponding to the detected accelerator pedal strokes in accordance with the selected control characteristics; and (l) controlling the opening rate of the throttle valve to match the target throttle valve opening rate.