IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,420,644
Granted Patent B2
US 12,420,644 · App. 18/044,209 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Inventor: Toshihiro Hirao (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
B60L15/20B60L2240/421B60L2240/423B60L2240/441B60L2240/443B60L2250/28G10K15/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,420,644
App. No.
18/044,209
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a parameter calculation unit that calculates, on the basis of a driving force characteristic in a predetermined reference gear stage of a simulation target vehicle to be simulated using an internal combustion engine as a power source, a first parameter related to the internal combustion engine in a simulated gear stage that is a simulative gear stage in a control target vehicle to be controlled using a non-internal combustion engine as a power source; a parameter setting unit that sets a second parameter related to the non-internal combustion engine on the basis of the first parameter; and a drive control unit that controls the non-internal combustion engine on the basis of the second parameter. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a system for controlling an electric vehicle.

Claims (62)

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

circuitry including a processor that is configured to

calculate, on a basis of a driving force characteristic in a predetermined reference gear stage of a simulation target vehicle to be simulated using an internal combustion engine as a power source, a first parameter related to the internal combustion engine in a simulated gear stage that is a simulative gear stage in a control target vehicle to be controlled using a non-internal combustion engine as a power source, the first parameter including a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine in the simulated gear stage,

set a second parameter related to the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of the first parameter, the second parameter including a rotation speed and a torque of the non-internal combustion engine, and

control the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of the second parameter, wherein

the circuitry is further configured to

calculate the first parameter further on a basis of a first gear ratio in the predetermined reference gear stage and a second gear ratio in the simulated gear stage of the simulation target vehicle,

set a reaction time of the rotation speed of the non-internal combustion engine with respect to an operation of an accelerator pedal of the control target vehicle on a basis of a reaction time of the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine with respect to an operation of an accelerator pedal of the simulation target vehicle, and

control the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of the reaction time that was set.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the driving force characteristic includes a characteristic indicating a relationship among an accelerator pedal opening, a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine, and a torque of the internal combustion engine, in the predetermined reference gear stage of the simulation target vehicle, and

the circuitry is further configured to

calculate the rotation speed and the torque of the internal combustion engine in the simulated gear stage on a basis of the driving force characteristic, the first gear ratio, the second gear ratio, and an accelerator pedal opening of the control target vehicle, and

set the rotation speed and the torque of the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of the accelerator pedal opening of the control target vehicle and the torque of the internal combustion engine in the simulated gear stage.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the driving force characteristic includes a characteristic indicating a relationship among an accelerator pedal opening, a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine, and a longitudinal acceleration of the simulation target vehicle, in the predetermined reference gear stage of the simulation target vehicle, and

the circuitry is further configured to

calculate the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine and the longitudinal acceleration of the simulation target vehicle in the simulated gear stage on a basis of the driving force characteristic, the first gear ratio, the second gear ratio, and an accelerator pedal opening of the control target vehicle, and

set the rotation speed and the torque of the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of the accelerator pedal opening of the control target vehicle and the longitudinal acceleration of the simulation target vehicle in the simulated gear stage.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

in a case where the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine in the simulated gear stage exceeds a maximum rotation speed of the internal combustion engine in the simulated gear stage of the simulation target vehicle, the circuitry is further configured to correct the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine in the simulated gear stage to the maximum rotation speed or less.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the circuitry is further configured to control an output of an output sound simulating a sound of the internal combustion engine on a basis of the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine in the simulated gear stage.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the circuitry is further configured to set the simulated gear stage on a basis of an operation signal from an operation unit included in the control target vehicle.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the circuitry is further configured to switch the simulated gear stage on a basis of an accelerator pedal opening of the control target vehicle, a maximum speed of the simulation target vehicle in the simulated gear stage, and a speed of the control target vehicle.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

in a case where an accelerator pedal of the control target vehicle is stepped on at a speed equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, the circuitry is further configured to lower the simulated gear stage.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

in a case where the simulated gear stage of the control target vehicle is set to neutral, the circuitry is further configured to

set a rotation speed of the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine in a case where a gear stage of the simulation target vehicle is set to neutral, and

control the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of the rotation speed that was set.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

in a case where the control target vehicle is in an idling state, the circuitry is further configured to

set a rotation speed of the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine during idling of the simulation target vehicle, and

control the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of the rotation speed that was set.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the circuitry is further configured to control vibration of the control target vehicle during switching of the simulated gear stage.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the simulation target vehicle is an existing vehicle, and

the driving force characteristic is a characteristic based on a measured value in the simulation target vehicle.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the simulation target vehicle is an imaginary vehicle, and

the driving force characteristic is a created characteristic.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the circuitry is further configured to

control reception of a data set including the driving force characteristic from another information processing apparatus, and

calculate the first parameter on a basis of the driving force characteristic included in the received data set.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the internal combustion engine is an engine, and

the non-internal combustion engine is an electric motor.

16. An information processing method comprising:

calculating, on a basis of a driving force characteristic in a predetermined reference gear stage of a simulation target vehicle to be simulated using an internal combustion engine as a power source, a first parameter related to the internal combustion engine in a simulated gear stage that is a simulative gear stage in a control target vehicle to be controlled using a non-internal combustion engine as a power source;

setting a second parameter related to the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of the first parameter;

controlling the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of the second parameter; and

in a case where the simulated gear stage of the control target vehicle is set to neutral, setting a rotation speed of the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine in a case where a gear stage of the simulation target vehicle is set to neutral, and controlling the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of the rotation speed that was set.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute processing of:

calculating, on a basis of a driving force characteristic in a predetermined reference gear stage of a simulation target vehicle to be simulated using an internal combustion engine as a power source, a first parameter related to the internal combustion engine in a simulated gear stage that is a simulative gear stage in a control target vehicle to be controlled using a non-internal combustion engine as a power source;

setting a second parameter related to the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of the first parameter;

controlling the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of the second parameter; and

in a case where the control target vehicle is in an idling state, setting a rotation speed of the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine during idling of the simulation target vehicle, and controlling the non-internal combustion engine on a basis of the rotation speed that was set.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2023
From: HIRAO, TOSHIHIRO
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062898/0996 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-157243 · Sep 18, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230356603A1 · Nov 9, 2023
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