Abstract: A vehicle operating device including an operating member operable by a driver and configured to: issue, to a drive system, a command to apply a drive force in a forward direction when a first-direction operation of the operating member from its neutral position in a first direction is performed in a state in which the vehicle is at a stop or running forward; issue, to the drive system, a command to apply a drive force in a backward direction when a second-direction operation of the operating member from the neutral position in a second direction different from the first direction is performed in a state in which the vehicle is at a stop or running backward; and issue, to a brake system, a command to apply a braking force as an opposite-direction-operation-dependent braking force when the second-direction operation is performed in a state in which the vehicle is running forward.

Abstract: The electric power steering apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a steering assist mechanism and a controller. The steering assist mechanism is driven by a motor and assists operation of a steering wheel by a driver. The controller acquires the position of the steering wheel and sets a target value of a steering reaction torque acting on the steering wheel. Then, the controller calculates a position target of the steering assist mechanism based on the position of the steering wheel and the target value of the steering reaction torque, and controls the motor of the steering assist mechanism according to the position target of the steering assist mechanism.

Abstract: A vehicle operating device including an operating member operable by a driver and configured to: issue, to a drive system, a command to apply a drive force in a forward direction when a first-direction operation of the operating member from its neutral position in a first direction is performed in a state in which the vehicle is at a stop or running forward; issue, to the drive system, a command to apply a drive force in a backward direction when a second-direction operation of the operating member from the neutral position in a second direction different from the first direction is performed in a state in which the vehicle is at a stop or running backward; and issue, to a brake system, a command to apply a braking force as an opposite-direction-operation-dependent braking force when the second-direction operation is performed in a state in which the vehicle is running forward.

Abstract: The electric power steering apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a steering assist mechanism and a controller. The steering assist mechanism is driven by a motor and assists operation of a steering wheel by a driver. The controller acquires the position of the steering wheel and sets a target value of a steering reaction torque acting on the steering wheel. Then, the controller calculates a position target of the steering assist mechanism based on the position of the steering wheel and the target value of the steering reaction torque, and controls the motor of the steering assist mechanism according to the position target of the steering assist mechanism.

Abstract: In a situation where it is predicted that a symbol of target torque reverses by turns to be positive and negative alternately, the hybrid ECU carries out an increasing correction of the target torque, in which the target torque is corrected by increasing the target torque by a set amount ?T in a negative direction when a specific condition, in which it is judged that the degree of the vertical vibration of a vehicle body is larger than a standard value and it is judged there is no acceleration demand, is satisfied, and makes the vibration suppression control torque not to be contained in the target torque when the specific condition is not satisfied. Thereby, even when carrying out free run, the sprung vibration suppression control can be carried out during bad road running, and braking force can be suppressed and fuel consumption can be improved during good road running.

Abstract: A negative pressure controller controls a negative pressure in a vacuum chamber of a vacuum booster by controlling a negative pressure supplier connected to the vacuum chamber. The negative pressure controller includes: negative pressure sensors each configured to detect the negative pressure in the vacuum chamber; and a negative-pressure-supplier controller configured to actuate the negative pressure supplier when one of output values of the negative pressure sensors which is nearest to an atmospheric pressure among the output values becomes nearer to an atmospheric pressure than a first threshold value. The negative-pressure-supplier controller is configured to stop the negative pressure supplier when at least two output values of the output values of the negative pressure sensors become nearer to a vacuum than a second threshold value.

Abstract: A steering system includes a steering unit including a first actuator; a turning unit including a second actuator; and a backup mechanism configured to mechanically couple the steering unit and the turning unit, wherein a maximum torque that the first actuator is able to transmit to the second actuator via the backup mechanism is larger than or equal to a maximum torque that the second actuator is able to transmit to the first actuator via the backup mechanism.

Abstract: A negative pressure controller controls a negative pressure in a vacuum chamber of a vacuum booster by controlling a negative pressure supplier connected to the vacuum chamber. The negative pressure controller includes: negative pressure sensors each configured to detect the negative pressure in the vacuum chamber; and a negative-pressure-supplier controller configured to actuate the negative pressure supplier when one of output values of the negative pressure sensors which is nearest to an atmospheric pressure among the output values becomes nearer to an atmospheric pressure than a first threshold value. The negative-pressure-supplier controller is configured to stop the negative pressure supplier when at least two output values of the output values of the negative pressure sensors become nearer to a vacuum than a second threshold value.

Abstract: In a situation where it is predicted that a symbol of target torque reverses by turns to be positive and negative alternately, the hybrid ECU carries out an increasing correction of the target torque, in which the target torque is corrected by increasing the target torque by a set amount ?T in a negative direction when a specific condition, in which it is judged that the degree of the vertical vibration of a vehicle body is larger than a standard value and it is judged there is no acceleration demand, is satisfied, and makes the vibration suppression control torque not to be contained in the target torque when the specific condition is not satisfied. Thereby, even when carrying out free run, the sprung vibration suppression control can be carried out during bad road running, and braking force can be suppressed and fuel consumption can be improved during good road running.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for an electrically-driven vacuum pump. The control device stops operation of an electrically-driven vacuum pump for generating negative pressure in a negative pressure chamber of a brake booster when the vacuum pump is operated and a gradient of increasing of a booster negative pressure representing a magnitude of a difference between pressure in the negative pressure chamber and the atmospheric pressure is smaller than or equal to a predetermined stop gradient threshold.

Abstract: A steering system includes a steering unit including a first actuator; a turning unit including a second actuator; and a backup mechanism configured to mechanically couple the steering unit and the turning unit, wherein a maximum torque that the first actuator is able to transmit to the second actuator via the backup mechanism is larger than or equal to a maximum torque that the second actuator is able to transmit to the first actuator via the backup mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for an electrically-driven vacuum pump. The control device stops operation of an electrically-driven vacuum pump for generating negative pressure in a negative pressure chamber of a brake booster when the vacuum pump is operated and a gradient of increasing of a booster negative pressure representing a magnitude of a difference between pressure in the negative pressure chamber and the atmospheric pressure is smaller than or equal to a predetermined stop gradient threshold.

Abstract: A steering control apparatus of a vehicle includes a steering unit having an input shaft, a turning unit having an output shaft, a clutch for connecting or disconnecting between the input shaft and the output shaft, and a control unit for controlling the turning unit based on an output from the steering unit. The control unit controls the rotation of the output shaft such that when the input shaft rotates, the clutch is caused to run idle. The clutch may be configured such that the clutch runs idle when the rotating speed of the output shaft is greater than or equal to the rotating speed of the input shaft and such that the clutch is connected when the rotating speed of the output shaft is less than that of the input shaft.

Abstract: An electronic control unit inputs from temperature sensors a temperature of the heating side of a thermoelectric conversion section assembled to each of brake units provided for left and right rear wheels. When the temperature of the heating side is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the electronic control unit drives and controls a brake hydraulic pressure control section so as to operate the brake units preferentially over brake units provided for left and right front wheels. With this operation, each of the brake units generates friction heat, and heats the heating side of the corresponding thermoelectric conversion section, whereby the thermoelectric conversion section efficiently collects thermal energy and generates electrical power.

Abstract: A steering control apparatus of a vehicle includes a steering unit having an input shaft, a turning unit having an output shaft, a clutch for connecting or disconnecting between the input shaft and the output shaft, and a control unit for controlling the turning unit based on an output from the steering unit. The control unit controls the rotation of the output shaft such that when the input shaft rotates, the clutch is caused to run idle. The clutch may be configured such that the clutch runs idle when the rotating speed of the output shaft is greater than or equal to the rotating speed of the input shaft and such that the clutch is connected when the rotating speed of the output shaft is less than that of the input shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes: brakes provided for respective right-side wheel, left-side wheel, front wheel and rear wheel of a vehicle, and configured to restrain rotations of the respective wheels by activations of brake actuators of the brakes; and at least two energy sources independent from each other and configured to supply energy to the brake actuators. A first brake line includes (a) a first energy source as one of the at least two energy sources and (b) one of the brake actuators provided for the front wheel and activatable by the energy supplied from the first energy source. A second brake line includes (c) a second energy source as one of the at least two energy sources and (d) three of the brake actuators provided for the respective right-side, left-side and rear wheels and activatable by the energy supplied from the second energy source.

Abstract: A chassis structure used in a vehicle having a front, a left, a right, and a rear wheel, including: two front oblique beams disposed to sandwich the front wheel and extending from a central portion of the chassis structure respectively toward between the front wheel and the right wheel and toward between the front wheel and the left wheel such that distal end portions of the respective two front oblique beams are located on a right side and a left side of the front wheel, respectively; and two rear oblique beams disposed to sandwich the rear wheel and extending from the central portion respectively toward between the rear wheel and the right wheel and toward between the rear wheel and the left wheel such that distal end portions of the respective two rear oblique beams are located on a right side and a left side of the rear wheel, respectively.

Abstract: A disc brake apparatus which can securely suppress clunking sounds not only at the time of forward braking of a vehicle but also at the time of back braking of the vehicle is provided. When a backing metal 6A of a brake pad 6 shifts toward a first torque receiving part 3C of a torque member 3 along with an operation for forward braking of the vehicle, a leading end part of a spring piece 9A engages one slope of an engaging projection 6E, so as to elastically press the backing metal 6A toward the first torque receiving part 3C, whereby the disc brake apparatus is held in a first contact state. When the backing metal 6A shifts toward a second torque receiving part 3D of the torque member 3 along with an operation for back braking of the vehicle, the leading end part of the spring piece 9A engages the other slope of the engaging projection 6E, so as to elastically press the backing metal 6A toward the second torque receiving part 3D, whereby the disc brake apparatus is held in a second contact state.

Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes: brakes provided for respective right-side wheel, left-side wheel, front wheel and rear wheel of a vehicle, and configured to restrain rotations of the respective wheels by activations of brake actuators of the brakes; and at least two energy sources independent from each other and configured to supply energy to the brake actuators. A first brake line includes (a) a first energy source as one of the at least two energy sources and (b) one of the brake actuators provided for the front wheel and activatable by the energy supplied from the first energy source. A second brake line includes (c) a second energy source as one of the at least two energy sources and (d) three of the brake actuators provided for the respective right-side, left-side and rear wheels and activatable by the energy supplied from the second energy source.

Abstract: An electronic control unit inputs from temperature sensors a temperature of the heating side of a thermoelectric conversion section assembled to each of brake units provided for left and right rear wheels. When the temperature of the heating side is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the electronic control unit drives and controls a brake hydraulic pressure control section so as to operate the brake units preferentially over brake units provided for left and right front wheels. With this operation, each of the brake units generates friction heat, and heats the heating side of the corresponding thermoelectric conversion section, whereby the thermoelectric conversion section efficiently collects thermal energy and generates electrical power.