Abstract: When an accelerator opening angle has reached an accelerator opening angle threshold value APS1 corresponding to a boundary of a range in which a fuel consumption is relatively deteriorated, a pedal effort of accelerator pedal 2 is increased by a pedal effort increment with respect to a base pedal effort. Even in a case where the accelerator pedal is pushed back to reduce the accelerator opening angle due to an increase in pedal effort when the accelerator opening angle exceeds the accelerator opening angle threshold value APS1, cancellation of pedal effort increment is inhibited to thereby ensure suppression of rattling of accelerator pedal 2 contrary to the driver's intention.

Abstract: An accelerator reaction force control apparatus is provided with an accelerator position detecting device, a reaction force varying device and a threshold value setting device. The reaction force varying device varies a reaction force of the accelerator so as to increase a reaction force of the accelerator by a prescribed increase amount with respect to a base reaction force when the accelerator position is equal to or larger than an accelerator position threshold value. The reaction force varying device also varies a reaction force increase rate at a first increase rate during a first reaction force increase period of the increase of the reaction force, and at a second increase rate during a second reaction force increase period of the increase of the reaction force. The second increase rate is larger during the second reaction force increase period than during the first reaction force increase period.

Abstract: A control apparatus of a vehicle includes a detector to detect an opening degree of an accelerator, a controller to adjust a reaction force of the accelerator, wherein the controller is configured to increase the reaction force of the accelerator when the accelerator opening degree exceeds a threshold value, a first threshold value corresponding to a first vehicle driving force, and a second threshold value corresponding to a second vehicle driving force that is larger than the first vehicle deriving force, wherein the first threshold value is higher than the second threshold value.

Abstract: An apparatus to control a reaction force of an accelerator includes a detector to detect an opening degree of the accelerator, and a controller to increase the reaction force by a first force magnitude during a period in which the vehicle transitions from a first operational state to a second operational state in response to an increase in the opening degree of the accelerator, wherein the controller increases the reaction force if the accelerator opening degree is increased within a predetermined time period after the reaction force is increased by the first force magnitude, wherein the first operational state corresponds to a low specific fuel consumption and the second operational state corresponds to a high specific fuel consumption, and wherein the controller decreases the reaction force by the first force magnitude in response to a reduction in the opening degree of the accelerator.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a means for detecting a position and a means for adjusting a reaction force of the accelerator, wherein the means for adjusting increases the reaction force of the accelerator by an increase amount in addition to a basic reaction force when the position of the accelerator is increased to satisfy a predetermined condition associated with a specific fuel consumption of the vehicle, the means for adjusting sets the increase amount to a first amount when the position of the accelerator is increased from a first accelerator position in a preload area to a second accelerator position that satisfies the predetermined condition, the means for adjusting sets the increase amount to a second amount when the position of the accelerator position is increased from an intermediate accelerator position that exceeds the preload area to the second position, and the first amount is greater than the second amount.

Abstract: A utility vehicle comprising a cab which houses a steering wheel assembly is provided wherein a steering wheel (22) is rotatably mounted to a support body (24). The support body, or steering console, is mounted on an armrest assembly (40) or control console positioned to one side of a driver's seat (18). By providing an asymmetric mounting arrangement for the steering console, the space underneath is left clear of any supporting structure thus providing improved legroom for the driver.

Abstract: An accelerator reaction force control apparatus has an accelerator position detecting device that detects an accelerator position and a reaction force varying device that varies a reaction force of an accelerator. The reaction force varying device increases the accelerator's reaction force beyond a base reaction force in response to the accelerator position being equal to or larger than a reaction force increase threshold, and decreases the accelerator's reaction force toward the base reaction force in response to the accelerator position becoming equal to or smaller than a reaction force increase cancellation threshold after the reaction force has been increased beyond the base reaction force. The reaction force varying device varies a reaction force decrease rate at which the accelerator's reaction force is decreased based on an accelerator position change condition existing at a time when the accelerator position becomes equal to or smaller than the reaction force increase cancellation threshold.

Abstract: A control device for a fan motor (7) which cools a condenser (6) of a vehicle air conditioner includes a temperature sensor (12) which detects a temperature of an air that has passed through an evaporator (10) of the vehicle air conditioner; and a controller (2). The controller (2) functioning to calculate a reference value (Ds) of an airflow generated by a rotation of the fan motor (7); calculate a correction value (DUP, DUPT) of the airflow on the basis of the detected air temperature (Tair); set a target airflow (TDR) on the basis of the reference value (Ds) and correction value (DUP, DUPT) of the airflow; and control the rotation of the fan motor to effect the target airflow (TDR).

Abstract: A method of controlling a power transmission system for a vehicle includes resuming fuel supply from a fuel cut condition during transition from an accelerator-off mode to an accelerator-on mode, setting a speed change inhibition time period of a continuously variable transmission (“CVT”) in correspondence to a speed change ratio, determining combustion attainment of an engine, and permitting variation of the speed change ratio of the CVT in accordance with the speed change inhibition time period and the determination of combustion attainment.

Abstract: An engine control device is configured to prevent a rotational speed of a vehicle engine from becoming abnormally low during deceleration due to an abnormal air-fuel ratio. When conditions for feedback control of engine idle speed are not satisfied and self diagnosis results of the air-fuel ratio control system are normal, the control device determines if the air-fuel ratio is in an abnormally lean state. The control device then determines if the abnormally lean air-fuel ratio state has continued without interruption for a prescribed period or longer. If so, the control device calculates an air-fuel ratio abnormality compensation quantity, e.g., adds an air-fuel ratio abnormality compensation value to an idle compensation air quantity, to increase the intake air quantity and compensate for the engine torque deficiency resulting from the lean air-fuel ratio state.

Abstract: System and method for controlling idle speed for a vehicle including an internal combustion engine coupled to an automatic transmission which has a torque converter. The system includes a sensor operative to detect a parameter based on a torque converter speed ratio and generate a signal indicative of the parameter detected, and a controller programmed to determine basic idle speed, determine a target idle speed by correcting the basic idle speed based on the signal when the automatic transmission is in a drive range in engine idling condition. The method includes determining basic idle speed when the automatic transmission is in a drive range in engine idling condition, detecting a parameter based on a torque converter speed ratio, and determining a target idle speed by correcting the basic idle speed based on the parameter.

Abstract: A controller 21 controls an intake air flow rate via an electronic throttle 14 based on a feedback correction amount set so that a rotation speed (NE) of an internal combustion engine (11) during idle running gradually approaches a target value (tNE). When the deviation (?NE) between the rotation speed (NE) and the target value (tNE) becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value (XNE), increase correction of the intake air flow rate is performed according to the deviation (?NE). When the deviation (?NE) falls below the predetermined value (XNE), a value corresponding to the increase correction amount at that time is added to the feedback correction amount, and subsequent increase correction amounts are set to zero, so the decreased engine rotation speed (NE) can be returned to the target value (tNE) with a rapid response, and future drops of the returned engine rotation speed (NE) are prevented.

Abstract: An engine control device is configured to prevent a rotational speed of a vehicle engine from becoming abnormally low during deceleration due to an abnormal air-fuel ratio. When conditions for feedback control of engine idle speed are not satisfied and self diagnosis results of the air-fuel ratio control system are normal, the control device determines if the air-fuel ratio is in an abnormally lean state. The control device then determines if the abnormally lean air-fuel ratio state has continued without interruption for a prescribed period or longer. If so, the control device calculates an air-fuel ratio abnormality compensation quantity, e.g., adds an air-fuel ratio abnormality compensation value to an idle compensation air quantity, to increase the intake air quantity and compensate for the engine torque deficiency resulting from the lean air-fuel ratio state.

Abstract: A controller 21 controls an intake air flow rate via an electronic throttle 14 based on a feedback correction amount set so that a rotation speed (NE) of an internal combustion engine (11) during idle running gradually approaches a target value (tNE). When the deviation (?NE) between the rotation speed (NE) and the target value (tNE) becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value (XNE), increase correction of the intake air flow rate is performed according to the deviation (?NE). When the deviation (?NE) falls below the predetermined value (XNE), a value corresponding to the increase correction amount at that time is added to the feedback correction amount, and subsequent increase correction amounts are set to zero, so the decreased engine rotation speed (NE) can be returned to the target value (tNE) with a rapid response, and future drops of the returned engine rotation speed (NE) are prevented.

Abstract: A control device for a fan motor (7) which cools a condenser (6) of a vehicle air conditioner includes a temperature sensor (12) which detects a temperature of an air that has passed through an evaporator (10) of the vehicle air conditioner; and a controller (2). The controller (2) functioning to calculate a reference value (Ds) of an airflow generated by a rotation of the fan motor (7); calculate a correction value (DUP, DUPT) of the airflow on the basis of the detected air temperature (Tair); set a target airflow (TDR) on the basis of the reference value (Ds) and correction value (DUP, DUPT) of the airflow; and control the rotation of the fan motor to effect the target airflow (TDR).

Abstract: System and method for controlling idle speed for a vehicle including an internal combustion engine coupled to an automatic transmission which has a torque converter. The system includes a sensor operative to detect a parameter based on a torque converter speed ratio and generate a signal indicative of the parameter detected, and a controller programmed to determine basic idle speed, determine a target idle speed by correcting the basic idle speed based on the signal when the automatic transmission is in a drive range in engine idling condition. The method includes determining basic idle speed when the automatic transmission is in a drive range in engine idling condition, detecting a parameter based on a torque converter speed ratio, and determining a target idle speed by correcting the basic idle speed based on the parameter.

Abstract: An air/fuel ratio control system for internal combustion engines performs .lambda. control by using .alpha. correction coefficients variable depending upon oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas. The system derives an average value of the .alpha. correction coefficients for a predetermined time after the engine enters an idling state while the engine driving condition satisfies a predetermined feedback control for performing .lambda. control, and modifies the average value by adding a predetermined value determined on the basis of an engine coolant temperature. The modified average value is set as a fixed value and is substituted for the .alpha. correction coefficient after the predetermined time elapses.