Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a depression amount detection unit, a depression speed detection unit, a reaction force setting unit, and a reaction force generation unit. The reaction force setting unit sets a value of a reaction force in a manner of separating characteristics into advancement characteristics and return characteristics.

Abstract: An operation device in which in-vehicle devices are controlled in accordance with a rotation angle of an input unit operated by a manual operation of a driver, which includes a commander rotatable about a rotation shaft, a rotation angular speed calculation unit that detects a rotation angular speed of the commander, a motor that gives an operation reaction force for each predetermined rotation angle of the commander, and an ECU that controls the operation reaction force given by the motor, wherein the ECU changes the operation reaction force in accordance with the rotation angular speed detected by the rotation angular speed calculation unit.

Abstract: The present invention includes: a visual perception target determination unit for determining a visual perception target by using a saliency model for determining that an object to be visually perceived at a glance is a visual perception target, a surprise model for determining that an object behaving abnormally is a visual perception target, and a normative model for determining that an object to be visually perceived by a viewing action of a driver serving as a norm is a visual perception target; and a visual guidance unit for determining whether or not an overlooked visual perception to which a line-of-sight direction detected by a line-of-sight detection unit is not directed is present, and guiding a line-of-sight of a driver toward the overlooked visual perception target, when the overlooked visual perception target is present.

Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a depression amount detection unit, a depression speed detection unit, a reaction force setting unit, and a reaction force generation unit. The reaction force setting unit sets a value of a reaction force in a manner of separating characteristics into advancement characteristics and return characteristics.

Abstract: An operation device in which in-vehicle devices are controlled in accordance with a rotation angle of an input unit operated by a manual operation of a driver, which includes a commander rotatable about a rotation shaft, a rotation angular speed calculation unit that detects a rotation angular speed of the commander, a motor that gives an operation reaction force for each predetermined rotation angle of the commander, and an ECU that controls the operation reaction force given by the motor, wherein the ECU changes the operation reaction force in accordance with the rotation angular speed detected by the rotation angular speed calculation unit.

Abstract: An edge of, for example, a windshield which serves as range of vision is defined by front pillars, a roof, and a dashboard. A modification area is provided at a peripheral portion of the windshield. In the modification area, visual saliency (visual conspicuousness) can be partially increased by means of, e.g., liquid crystals.

Abstract: A vehicle control device is provided, which includes a depression amount detector configured to detect a depression amount of an accelerator pedal, a processor configured to execute a reaction force setting module to set a reaction force of the accelerator pedal based on a detection result of the depression amount detector, a reaction force applying part configured to apply the reaction force to the accelerator pedal based on a setting result of the reaction force setting module, and an operation amount detector configured to detect an operation amount of a driver's foot on the accelerator pedal. The reaction force setting module sets a reaction force value of the accelerator pedal for a depression characteristic and a counter-depression characteristic. The reaction force setting module includes a reaction force correcting module configured to reduce the reaction force value of the counter-depression characteristic as the detected operation amount increases.

Abstract: The present invention includes: a visual perception target determination unit for determining a visual perception target by using a saliency model for determining that an object to be visually perceived at a glance is a visual perception target, a surprise model for determining that an object behaving abnormally is a visual perception target, and a normative model for determining that an object to be visually perceived by a viewing action of a driver serving as a norm is a visual perception target; and a visual guidance unit for determining whether or not an overlooked visual perception to which a line-of-sight direction detected by a line-of-sight detection unit is not directed is present, and guiding a line-of-sight of a driver toward the overlooked visual perception target, when the overlooked visual perception target is present.

Abstract: An edge of, for example, a windshield which serves as range of vision is defined by front pillars, a roof, and a dashboard. A modification area is provided at a peripheral portion of the windshield. In the modification area, visual saliency (visual conspicuousness) can be partially increased by means of, e.g., liquid crystals.

Abstract: A floor structure on a driver side of a vehicle where a control pedal, such as a brake pedal, adapted to be depressedly operated by a driver seated in a driver seat arranged at a front of a passenger compartment. The floor structure has a heel-placement zone which is provided on an approximately horizontal floor portion located rearward of a depressing point of the control pedal, and formed to have a frontward region adapted to allow a short person seated in the driver seat place his/her heel thereon and a rearward region adapted to allow a tall person seated in the driver seat place his/her heel thereon. The heel-placement zone includes an inclined surface portion formed in at least part thereof in such a manner as to rise relative to a surrounding area of the floor portion and has an upper surface extending obliquely upwardly and frontwardly.

Abstract: A floor structure of a driver's seat for an automotive vehicle comprises an organ type of accelerator pedal supported swingably at a support point with its lower-end hinge portion, a hanging type of brake pedal provided beside the accelerator pedal and supported swingably at a support point with its upper pivotal portion, a floor mat covering an upper face of a front portion of a floor panel located in front of the driver's seat, and an incline forming member provided at a specified portion of the floor mat located in back of a pressing-face board of the accelerator pedal, the incline forming member forming an incline portion at an upper face of a heel placing area on which a driver's heel is placed, the incline portion being inclined so that its front portion is positioned at a higher level than its rear portion.

Abstract: A driving position adjusting device comprises a seat-position adjusting mechanism to adjust height and seat-face angle of a seat cushion in accordance with longitudinal movement of a driver's seat, and a floor adjusting mechanism to adjust a height of a floor board in accordance with the operation of the longitudinal adjustment of the driver's seat, wherein the seat-position adjusting mechanism is configured so that an inclination angle of the seat cushion becomes smaller as the driver's seat is moved forward from a middle position, and the floor adjusting mechanism is configured so that the height of the floor board becomes higher as the driver's seat is moved forward from the middle position. Accordingly, the sitting position of the driver and the operational function of the operational pedal can be provided properly regardless of the body size of the driver.

Abstract: There is provided a pedal device of an automotive vehicle, which comprises a plate-shaped pedal body, a lower end of which is rotatably supported at a pivot (support axis) which is disposed on a vehicle floor at a position where a foot of a driver seated in a driver's seat is to be located, the pedal body being provided so as to rotate around the pivot and swing longitudinally according to a pressing operation of the driver's foot, and a slant-face member which is provided behind the pivot which supports the lower end of the pedal body, the slant-face member having a slant upper face which extends obliquely rearward and downward with a slant angle within a rage of 13.5 to 23.5 degrees.

Abstract: An egress-start determining device determines a start of egress of a passenger seated in a seat of a vehicle. A completion determining device determines completion of a driver's head moving out of a door opening of the vehicle after the start of egress of the passenger. A seat-sitting-face height adjusting device adjusts a height of a sitting face of the seat in such a manner that the height is adjusted to a first height during a time from the start of egress of the passenger to the completion of the driver's head moving out of the door opening of the vehicle, and the height is adjusted to a second height after the completion of the driver's head moving out of the door opening of the vehicle.

Abstract: A floor structure on a driver side of a vehicle where a control pedal, such as a brake pedal 5, adapted to be depressedly operated by a driver seated in a driver seat 1 is arranged at a front of a passenger compartment. The floor structure comprises a heel-placement zone 10 which is provided on an approximately horizontal floor portion 8 located rearward of a depressing point 5a of the control pedal, and formed to have a frontward region 11 adapted to allow a short person seated in the driver seat 1 to place his/her heel thereon and a rearward region 12 adapted to allow a tall person seated in the driver seat 1 to place his/her heel thereon. The heel-placement zone 10 including an inclined surface portion 14 formed in at least part thereof in such a manner as to rise relative to a surrounding area of the floor portion 8 and have an upper surface extending obliquely upwardly and frontwardly.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle, which can reduce the steering load and allows accurate steering angle control, is provided. In the steering apparatus for a vehicle, an estimation unit estimates a mechanical impedance upon a driver's steering manipulation. A control unit controls the steering reaction force of a steering wheel based on the estimated mechanical impedance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a driving posture adjusting apparatus comprising: a seat-position adjusting mechanism (2) adapted to move a seat cushion (1a) of a driver seat (1) in a longitudinal direction so as to adjust a longitudinal position of the driver seat (1); a seated-posture adjusting mechanism (3) adapted to adjust a seated posture of a driver seated in the driver seat (1); a controllability adjusting mechanism (7) adapted to adjust controllability for an operation section (4) to be operated by the driver; a seat slide switch (91) adapted to issue an instruction for actuating the seat-position adjusting mechanism (2) to move the seat cushion (1a) of the driver seat (1) in the longitudinal direction; and control unit (95) operable to actuate the seated-posture adjusting mechanism (3) and the controllability adjusting mechanism (7), in correlation with the longitudinal position of the driver seat (1) adjusted according to an input signal through the seat slide switch (91), so as to obtain a driving posture correspond

Abstract: A driving position adjusting device comprises a seat-position adjusting mechanism to adjust height and seat-face angle of a seat cushion in accordance with longitudinal movement of a driver's seat, and a floor adjusting mechanism to adjust a height of a floor board in accordance with the operation of the longitudinal adjustment of the driver's seat, wherein the seat-position adjusting mechanism is configured so that an inclination angle of the seat cushion becomes smaller as the driver's seat is moved forward from a middle position, and the floor adjusting mechanism is configured so that the height of the floor board becomes higher as the driver's seat is moved forward from the middle position. Accordingly, the sitting position of the driver and the operational function of the operational pedal can be provided properly regardless of the body size of the driver.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle, which can reduce the steering load and allows accurate steering angle control, is provided. In the steering apparatus for a vehicle, an estimation unit estimates a mechanical impedance upon a driver's steering manipulation. A control unit controls the steering reaction force of a steering wheel based on the estimated mechanical impedance.