Accelerator Pedal Assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016004271-A1
Application number	US-201414321658-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 1, 2014
Priority date	Jul 1, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An accelerator pedal assembly is disclosed. The accelerator pedal assembly can include a pedal configured to be movable by a vehicle operator to control a speed of a vehicle. In addition, the accelerator pedal assembly can include an electromagnetic resistance mechanism coupled to the pedal. The electromagnetic resistance mechanism can be configured to provide a force to resist movement of the pedal by the operator to indicate an operational condition of the vehicle to the operator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An accelerator pedal assembly, comprising:
a pedal configured to be movable by a vehicle operator to control a speed of a vehicle; and an electromagnetic resistance mechanism coupled to the pedal and configured to provide a force to resist movement of the pedal by the operator to indicate an operational condition of the vehicle to the operator.

2 . The accelerator pedal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic resistance mechanism comprises an electrically conductive coil operable with a metallic member.

3 . The accelerator pedal assembly of claim 2 , wherein the electrically conductive coil is configured to pivotally couple with the vehicle and the metallic member is configured to translate relative to the electrically conductive coil.

4 . The accelerator pedal assembly of claim 2 , wherein the electrically conductive coil is configured to be fixed relative to the vehicle and the metallic member is configured to rotate relative to the electrically conductive coil.

5 . The accelerator pedal assembly of claim 2 , wherein the electrically conductive coil is configured to be fixed relative to the vehicle and the metallic member is configured to translate relative to the electrically conductive coil.

6 . The accelerator pedal assembly of claim 2 , wherein the metallic member comprises a metallic core configured to be disposed at least partially within the electrically conductive coil.

7 . The accelerator pedal assembly of claim 2 , wherein the metallic member comprises a permanent magnet.

8 . The accelerator pedal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic resistance mechanism comprises at least one of a linear solenoid and a rotary solenoid.

9 . The accelerator pedal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pedal is configured for at least one of rotational and linear movement.

10 . The accelerator pedal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pedal is configured as a hanging pedal.

11 . The accelerator pedal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pedal is configured as a floor mounted pedal.

12 . The accelerator pedal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic resistance mechanism is associated with a pivot for the pedal.

13 . The accelerator pedal assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a linkage member coupled to the pedal to facilitate movement of the pedal.

14 . A vehicle control system, comprising:
a powertrain control module to monitor and manage operation of a powertrain of a vehicle; a feedback control module in communication with the powertrain control module to receive operational information of the vehicle; and an accelerator pedal assembly having
a pedal configured to be movable by a vehicle operator to control a speed of the vehicle, and
an electromagnetic resistance mechanism coupled to the pedal,
wherein the feedback control module is configured to actuate the electromagnetic resistance mechanism to provide a force to resist movement of the pedal by the operator to indicate an operational condition of the vehicle to the operator.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the operational condition comprises an impending transition from utilizing an electric power plant to an internal combustion power plant for propulsion of the vehicle.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the force to resist movement of the pedal by the operator is transient.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the force to resist movement of the pedal by the operator is configured to be overcome by the operator to maintain normal operation of the vehicle.

18 . A method for facilitating indication of an operational condition of a vehicle to an operator, comprising:
obtaining a powertrain control module to monitor and manage operation of a powertrain of a vehicle; obtaining an accelerator pedal assembly having
a pedal configured to be movable by a vehicle operator to control a speed of the vehicle, and
an electromagnetic resistance mechanism coupled to the pedal; and
facilitating actuation of the electromagnetic resistance mechanism to provide a force to resist movement of the pedal by the operator to indicate an operational condition of the vehicle to the operator.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein facilitating actuation of the electromagnetic resistance mechanism comprises obtaining a feedback control module and facilitating communication of the feedback control mechanism with the powertrain control module to receive operational information of the vehicle.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the electromagnetic resistance mechanism comprises an electrically conductive coil operable with a metallic member.

Assignees

• Raytheon Bbn Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Gregory Daniel Alan
• Mergen John-Francis

Classifications

• G05G1/30 Primary

  Controlling members actuated by foot · CPC title

• B60W20/10 Primary

  Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand · CPC title

• G05G1/44

  pivoting · CPC title

• B60W50/16

  Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal · CPC title

• B60W2540/103

  Accelerator thresholds, e.g. kickdown · CPC title