Electronic pedal device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12235669-B2
Application number	US-202318220094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2023
Priority date	Dec 7, 2022
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

An electronic pedal device includes an accelerator pedal module and a brake pedal module that operate in a pressure operation manner, whereby a driver may operate the same with a small force. The driver may easily recognize the operational state of the pedal based on a haptic signal generated during operation of the pedal. Because operation of the pedal is detected through a dual detecting structure using a Hall sensor and a pressure sensor, safety may be further ensured during operation of the pedal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic pedal apparatus comprising:
an accelerator pedal module including an accelerator pedal pad;
a brake pedal module including a brake pedal pad;
a pedal housing to which the accelerator pedal module and the brake pedal module are pivotably mounted while being spaced from each other in a leftward-rightward direction thereof;
an accelerator pedal detecting unit mounted in the pedal housing and the accelerator pedal module to detect pivotal movement of the accelerator pedal module;
a brake pedal detecting unit mounted in the pedal housing and the brake pedal module to detect pivotal movement of the brake pedal module;
a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted in the pedal housing to generate signals related to pedal functions of a vehicle upon receiving signals from the accelerator pedal detecting unit and the brake pedal detecting unit; and
an accelerator pedal haptic motor and a brake pedal haptic motor respectively mounted to the accelerator pedal pad and the brake pedal pad to generate haptic signals under control of the PCB in a response that the accelerator pedal pad and the brake pedal pad are pivoted by operation force applied thereto by a driver.

2. The electronic pedal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the accelerator pedal haptic motor and the brake pedal haptic motor are configured to generate different types of haptic signals or haptic signals including different intensities from each other.

3. The electronic pedal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, in a response that amount of pivotal movement of the accelerator pedal pad and the brake pedal pad caused by operation force applied thereto by the driver increases, an intensity of the haptic signal generated from the accelerator pedal haptic motor and an intensity of the haptic signal generated from the brake pedal haptic motor increase.

4. The electronic pedal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the accelerator pedal detecting unit is configured to detect an operational displacement of the accelerator pedal module and operation force applied to the accelerator pedal module.

5. The electronic pedal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brake pedal detecting unit is configured to detect an operational displacement of the brake pedal module and operation force applied to the brake pedal module.

6. The electronic pedal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the accelerator pedal detecting unit includes:
an accelerator pedal magnet fixedly coupled to a flange portion extending downwards from the accelerator pedal pad;
an accelerator pedal Hall sensor mounted in the pedal housing to face the accelerator pedal magnet to detect a change in magnetic flux in response to change in position of the accelerator pedal magnet due to the pivotal movement of the accelerator pedal pad; and
an accelerator pedal pressure sensor fixedly mounted in the pedal housing to be in contact with a lower end portion of an accelerator pedal return spring to detect a pressure in a response that the accelerator pedal return spring is compressed by the pivotal movement of the accelerator pedal pad caused by operation force applied thereto by a driver.

7. The electronic pedal apparatus of claim 6 ,
wherein the PCB is configured to compare a detecting value received from the accelerator pedal Hall sensor and a detecting value received from the accelerator pedal pressure sensor with each other,
wherein, upon concluding that the compared detecting values are equal to each other or a difference between the compared detecting values is within a predetermined normal range, the PCB is configured to conclude that a current state of the electronic pedal apparatus is normal,
wherein, upon concluding that the difference between the compared detecting values is outside the predetermined normal range, the PCB is configured to conclude that the current state of the electronic pedal apparatus is abnormal,
wherein, upon concluding that the current state of the electronic pedal apparatus is normal, the PCB is configured to generate a signal related to acceleration of the vehicle, and
wherein, upon concluding that the current state of the electronic pedal apparatus is abnormal, the PCB is configured to generate an error signal.

8. The electronic pedal apparatus of claim 6 ,
wherein the accelerator pedal module includes an accelerator pedal lower bracket pivotably coupled at a lower end portion thereof to the pedal housing via an accelerator pedal hinge pin,
wherein the accelerator pedal pad is coupled to the accelerator pedal lower bracket and is configured to be operated by the driver, and
wherein the accelerator pedal return spring supports the accelerator pedal pad to apply return force to the accelerator pedal pad.

9. The electronic pedal apparatus of claim 8 ,
wherein the accelerator pedal module further includes an accelerator pedal tactile feedback unit mounted so that first and second end portions thereof are supported by the pedal housing and the accelerator pedal lower bracket, and
wherein, in a response that the accelerator pedal pad is pivoted by operation force applied thereto by the driver, the accelerator pedal tactile feedback unit is elastically deformed and provides pedal tactile feedback to the driver.

10. The electronic pedal apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the accelerator pedal tactile feedback unit includes:
a lower cover secured to the pedal housing, the lower cover including a guide portion extending in an upward-downward direction thereof;
an upper cover supported by the accelerator pedal lower bracket, the upper cover including a guide protrusion movably inserted into the guide portion;
a cover return spring inserted into the guide portion, the cover return spring including first and second end portions supported by the lower cover and the guide protrusion; and
an elastic member accommodating the guide portion and the guide protrusion therein, the elastic member including first and second end portions supported by the lower cover and the upper cover, and
wherein, in a response that the upper cover moves toward the lower cover, the elastic member is compressed and produces pedal tactile feedback.

11. The electronic pedal apparatus of claim 10 ,
wherein the accelerator pedal tactile feedback unit is disposed adjacent to the accelerator pedal hinge pin,
wherein the accelerator pedal magnet is spaced from the accelerator pedal hinge pin, and
wherein the accelerator pedal return spring is disposed between the accelerator pedal tactile feedback unit and the accelerator pedal magnet.

12. The electronic pedal apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brake pedal detecting unit includes:
a brake pedal magnet fixedly coupled to an end portion of a brake pedal lower bracket;
a brake pedal Hall sensor mounted in the pedal housing to face the brake pedal magnet to detect a change in magnetic flux in response to change in position of the brake pedal magnet due to the pivotal movement of the brake pedal pad; and
a brake pedal pressure sensor fixedly mounted in the pedal housing to be in contact with a lower end portion of a brake pedal return spring to detect a pressure in response that the brake pedal return spring is compressed by the pivotal movement of the brake pedal pad caused by operation force applied thereto by a driver.

13. The electronic pedal apparatus of claim 12 ,
wherein the PCB is configured to compare a detecting value received from the brake pedal Hall sensor and a detecting value received from the brake pedal pressure sensor with each other,
wherein, upon concluding that the compared detecting values are equal to each other or a difference between the compared detecting values is wi

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp
• Dong Hee Industrial Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Eun Sik
• Park Wi Sang
• Cho Jae Hyun
• Lee Jung Min
• Jo Seong Ju

Classifications

• B60K2026/023

  with electrical means to generate counter force or torque · CPC title

• B60K26/021 Primary

  with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics · CPC title

• G05G2505/00

  Means for preventing, limiting or returning the movements of parts of a control mechanism, e.g. locking controlling member · CPC title

• G05G1/38 Primary

  comprising means to continuously detect pedal position · CPC title

• H05K7/1427

  Housings · CPC title