Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus includes a parking lot staying determination section which determines whether or not a vehicle is present in a parking lot having a parking row including parking slots and/or parked vehicles located adjacent to each other, an erroneous operation determination section which determines whether or not an occupant has erroneously stepped on an acceleration operation element, and a control section which executes driving power reduction control upon determination that the vehicle is present in the parking lot and that the occupant has performed the erroneous operation. When the erroneous operation determination section determines that the occupant has performed the erroneous operation again before elapse of a predetermined threshold time after execution of the driving power reduction control, the control section executes the driving power reduction control again, irrespective of the result of the determination by the parking lot staying determination section.

Abstract: Provided is a driving support device (1) including a control device which has an acceleration suppression function of suppressing acceleration of an own vehicle when the own vehicle is determined to be positioned in a parking area (PA) including a parking spot row (PSA) and an erroneous depression operation is determined to be executed on an accelerator pedal (AP). The control device predicts a trajectory (T) of the own vehicle in a case in which the own vehicle travels when a speed (vs) of the own vehicle is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed, and further predicts a time (?t) required for the own vehicle to reach a point at which the trajectory (T) and the parking spot row (PSA) intersect with each other. The control device determines that the own vehicle is positioned in the parking area (PA) when the predicted time (?t) is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time.

Abstract: A drive device includes stepper motors, each having an excitation coil and a rotor rotating based on variation in the excitation state of the excitation coil; driven members, each moving in accordance with the rotation of the rotor of the corresponding stepper motor; stoppers, each stopping the driven member mechanically at a zero position; and a controller, controlling the respective stepper motors so as to selectively performs either a normal operation in which the stepper motor is driven so as to rotate, or a zero-position detection operation in which the stepper motor is driven so that the driven member is moved to the stopper. The controller starts to perform the zero-position detection operation simultaneously in all of the stepper motors and changes the stepper motor which has terminated the zero-position detection operation to the normal operation without waiting for the termination of the zero-position detection operation in other stepper motors.

Abstract: A method of correcting a pointing position of a pointer rotated by a stepper motor includes the steps of: performing a prereset operation in which the pointer is rotated to a reset operation starting position that represents a pointing position of the pointer which is shifted by a predetermined amount in a plus direction of a scale from a reset position where a pin which is rotated in conjunction with a rotation of the pointer abuts against a fixed stopper; after the prereset operation, performing a reset operation in which the pointer is rotated in a minus direction of the scale to the reset position; and after the reset operation, performing a correcting operation in which the pointer is rotated in the plus direction up to a reference pointing position which is indicated by previously stored reference pointing positional information.

Abstract: A method of correcting a pointing position of a pointer rotated by a stepper motor includes the steps of: performing a prereset operation in which the pointer is rotated to a reset operation starting position that represents a pointing position of the pointer which is shifted by a predetermined amount in a plus direction of a scale from a reset position where a pin which is rotated in conjunction with a rotation of the pointer abuts against a fixed stopper; after the prereset operation, performing a reset operation in which the pointer is rotated in a minus direction of the scale to the reset position; and after the reset operation, performing a correcting operation in which the pointer is rotated in the plus direction up to a reference pointing position which is indicated by previously stored reference pointing positional information.

Abstract: A vehicle brake apparatus comprises brake operation detecting device for detecting an operation of a brake operating member, a fluid pressure type booster which boosts the operating force applied to the brake operating member, a pressure detecting device for detecting a pressure supplied to the fluid pressure type booster, and an electric motor control device. A recirculating type hydraulic pressure modulator is disposed in a hydraulic pressure conduit between a master cylinder and a wheel brake cylinder. The electric motor control device drives an electric motor for activating a recirculating pump in response to the brake operation detected by the brake operation detecting device and the pressure detected by the pressure detecting means so that the pressure in the wheel brake cylinder is modulated.

Abstract: A drive device includes stepper motors, each having an excitation coil and a rotor rotating based on variation in the excitation state of the excitation coil; driven members, each moving in accordance with the rotation of the rotor of the corresponding stepper motor; stoppers, each stopping the driven member mechanically at a zero position; and a controller, controlling the respective stepper motors so as to selectively performs either a normal operation in which the stepper motor is driven so as to rotate, or a zero-position detection operation in which the stepper motor is driven so that the driven member is moved to the stopper. The controller starts to perform the zero-position detection operation simultaneously in all of the stepper motors and changes the stepper motor which has terminated the zero-position detection operation to the normal operation without waiting for the termination of the zero-position detection operation in other stepper motors.

Abstract: An auxiliary vehicle hydraulic pressure source device includes a hydraulic pressure pump pressurizing and discharging fluid, an accumulator accumulating fluid pressurized and discharged by the hydraulic pressure pump, a hydraulic pressure detector continuously detecting the accumulator hydraulic pressure, and a controller controlling operation of the hydraulic pressure pump based on a comparison of the detection result of the hydraulic pressure detector with a predetermined target pressure.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake apparatus for a vehicle includes a supplementary hydraulic pressure source outputting a pressurized output hydraulic pressure and an electronic control apparatus that controls a hydraulic pump in the supplementary hydraulic pressure source. The electronic control apparatus judges whether the hydraulic pump satisfies a predetermined operating condition based on the output hydraulic pressure of the supplementary hydraulic pressure source or not. The electronic control apparatus compares the output hydraulic pressure with a minimum standard hydraulic pressure, detects a drop in the output hydraulic pressure when the output hydraulic pressure is less than a standard hydraulic pressure and determines that the hydraulic pump does not satisfy the predetermined operating condition.

Abstract: A vehicle hydraulic brake apparatus includes a brake member, a master cylinder generating brake hydraulic pressure, and a master piston movable in response to operation of the brake member. A closed chamber is defined by the master piston and a power piston is disposed behind the master piston. A power chamber is defined by the power piston rearwardly of the power piston. An auxiliary hydraulic pressure source generates power hydraulic pressure and a pressure regulating device regulates the output power hydraulic pressure and feeds it to the power chamber. A reaction force member is disposed in a front end portion of the power piston and is exposed towards the closed chamber. A retaining device maintains the reaction force member exposed towards the closed chamber, with the rearward reaction force of the master piston being transmitted to a front end portion of the power piston while bypassing the reaction force member.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure brake device for a vehicle includes a first piston outputting brake pressure generated in a first pressure chamber and a second piston having a larger diameter than that of the first piston and provided rearward of the first piston and forming a second pressure chamber having a larger diameter than that of the first pressure chamber. The hydraulic pressure brake device further includes a valve device closing the second pressure chamber hydraulically when actuation of the first piston and the second piston is assisted by the assisting device and establishing hydraulic communication between the second pressure chamber and the reservoir when the assisting is not carried out. The first pressure chamber is connected with wheel cylinders provided on front wheels through a first hydraulic pressure system and the second pressure chamber is connected with wheel cylinders provided on rear wheels through a second hydraulic pressure system.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake apparatus is provided for increasing a braking force with a brake feeling similar to that during a normal brake operation, even if a brake pedal is operated during an automatic brake operation. A valve device having a spool is placed in a power piston and is transferred between first and second positions depending on the operation of the brake pedal. At the first position, a power chamber is at atmospheric pressure level, while at the second position a fluid communication is established between the power chamber and an auxiliary hydraulic pressure source. The spool is driven independent of the operation of the brake pedal. When a hydraulic pressure is applied to the spool, the valve device is switched to the second position, urging the power piston to advance, without transmitting the resultant force to the brake operation member. The driving device, when applied with no hydraulic pressure, retains the valve device at the first position.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure assisting device includes a power piston slidably accommodated in a housing, an input member movable relative to the power piston in response to operation of a brake member, and an auxiliary hydraulic pressure source that increases brake fluid in a reservoir to a predetermined pressure and outputs power hydraulic pressure. A pressure modulator connected to the auxiliary hydraulic pressure source and the reservoir modulates power hydraulic pressure outputted from the auxiliary hydraulic pressure source to a predetermined pressure corresponding to movement of the input member relative to the power piston and supplies modulated power hydraulic pressure to a power chamber in the power piston. A cylindrical elastic member has one end portion connected to the input member or power piston and another end portion connected to the housing, with a space being defined in the elastic member connected to the pressure modulator and the reservoir.

Abstract: A vehicle brake apparatus comprises brake operation detecting device for detecting an operation of a brake operating member, pressure detecting device for detecting a pressure supplied to a recirculating type hydraulic pressure modulator, and an electric motor control device. The recirculating type hydraulic pressure is disposed in a hydraulic pressure conduit between a master cylinder and a wheel brake cylinder. The electric motor control device drives an electric motor for activating a recirculating pump in response to the brake operation detected by the brake operation detecting device and the pressure detected by the pressure detecting means so that the pressure in the wheel brake cylinder is modulated.

Abstract: A vehicle hydraulic brake apparatus includes a brake member, a master cylinder generating a brake hydraulic pressure by increasing the pressure of brake fluid in a reservoir, a master piston moved forward in response to operation of the brake member, a closed chamber defined behind the master piston, a power piston disposed behind the master piston, and a power chamber defined behind the power piston. An auxiliary hydraulic pressure source generates power hydraulic pressure and a pressure regulating device connects the auxiliary hydraulic pressure source with the reservoir. The power hydraulic pressure is regulated to a predetermined hydraulic pressure and is fed to the power chamber. A normally-open type valve connects the closed chamber and the power chamber, and is closable upon operation of the brake member. The closed chamber is connected to the reservoir via the normally-open type valve, the power chamber and the pressure regulating device.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure brake device is provided with a vacuum boosting device performing a boosting operation and a hydraulic boosting device performing a hydraulic boosting operation. The hydraulic pressure brake device includes a valve device that prohibits the hydraulic boosting operation for the master cylinder piston by the hydraulic boosting device until the vacuum boosting device reaches its boosting limit and allows the hydraulic boosting operation for the master cylinder piston by the hydraulic boosting device when the vacuum boosting device exceeds its boosting limit. A detecting sensor detects the operational condition of the vacuum boosting device and/or the operational condition of the brake pedal. Based on the detected output by the detecting sensor, a pump device for supplying the boosting pressure by the hydraulic boosting device is controlled to be driven.

Abstract: An auxiliary vehicle hydraulic pressure source device includes a hydraulic pressure pump pressurizing and discharging fluid, an accumulator accumulating fluid pressurized and discharged by the hydraulic pressure pump, a hydraulic pressure detector continuously detecting the accumulator hydraulic pressure, and a controller controlling operation of the hydraulic pressure pump based on a comparison of the detection result of the hydraulic pressure detector with a predetermined target pressure.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure brake apparatus which smoothly adds the assistance force of a hydraulic pressure booster to a master cylinder piston after the assistance limitation by a negative pressure booster includes a negative pressure booster that assists a master cylinder piston, a hydraulic pressure booster that assists the master cylinder piston by outputting the hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic pressure pump after the assistance limitation of the negative pressure booster, and a valve mechanism that controls the assistance by the hydraulic pressure booster. A single reaction member in the form of a reaction force rubber disc is provided between the master cylinder piston and the hydraulic pressure booster to transmit the reaction force to a brake pedal via the reaction force rubber disc.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydraulic brake apparatus, which includes wheel brake cylinders, and a master cylinder for advancing a master piston in response to operation of a brake pedal. A power chamber is formed behind the master piston. A reaction piston is disposed, with the front end thereof exposed in the power chamber, so as to transmit a reaction force produced by the pressure in the power chamber to the brake pedal. A power source is provided for pressurizing brake fluid stored in a reservoir to supply power pressure to the power chamber. A solenoid valve is provided for opening and closing a return passage which connects the power chamber to the reservoir, thereby to return the brake fluid thereto. A detection device is provided for detecting the amount of operation of the brake pedal. The solenoid valve is controlled in response to the amount of operation detected by the detection device to reduce the amount of the brake fluid in the power chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure assisting device includes a power piston slidably accommodated in a housing, an input member movable relative to the power piston in response to operation of a brake member, and an auxiliary hydraulic pressure source that increases brake fluid in a reservoir to a predetermined pressure and outputs power hydraulic pressure. A pressure modulator connected to the auxiliary hydraulic pressure source and the reservoir modulates power hydraulic pressure outputted from the auxiliary hydraulic pressure source to a predetermined pressure corresponding to movement of the input member relative a to the power piston and supplies modulated power hydraulic pressure to a power chamber in the power piston. A cylindrical elastic member has one end portion connected to the input member or power piston and another end portion connected to the housing, with a space being defined in the elastic member connected to the pressure modulator and the reservoir.