Compact Vehicle Pedal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016334829-A1
Application number	US-201615152051-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 11, 2016
Priority date	May 17, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle pedal with a pedal base defining a sensor housing and a pedal arm overlying and spaced from and pivotally coupled to the pedal base. A sensor in the sensor housing includes a sensor element that moves in the direction of the pedal base in response to the movement of the pedal arm to generate an electrical signal used to determine to position of the pedal arm. In one embodiment, the sensor includes a strain gage and the sensor element is an actuator that flexes the strain gage. In another embodiment, the sensor includes a Hall Effect sensor and the sensor element is a magnet whose movement results in a magnetic field change sensed by the Hall Effect sensor. In a further embodiment, the sensor element is a cap with wipers that slide against a resistive element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle pedal comprising;
a pedal base including opposed first and second ends and defining a sensor housing; a pedal arm overlying and spaced from the pedal base and including opposed first and second ends, the first end of the pedal arm being coupled to the first end of the pedal base and the pedal arm being pivotable about and relative to the pedal base; and a sensor located in the sensor housing in the pedal base, the sensor including a sensor element that is moveable in the direction of the pedal base in response to the pivotable movement of the pedal arm in the direction of the pedal base for determining the position of the pedal arm.

2 . The vehicle pedal of claim 1 wherein the sensor additionally comprises:
a strain gage located in the sensor housing in the pedal base;
a moveable actuator defining the moveable sensor element, the actuator being located between the strain gage and the pedal arm and abutting against the strain gage; and
a bias spring located between the actuator and the pedal arm, the spring including a first end abutting against the actuator and a second opposed end abutted against the pedal arm;
wherein the pivotal movement of the pedal arm direction of the pedal base causes the spring to exert a force against the actuator which causes the flexing of the strain gage and the generation of an electrical signal for determining the position of the pedal arm.

3 . The vehicle pedal of claim 2 wherein the actuator includes a radial shoulder, the first end of the spring surrounding the actuator and abutted against the radial shoulder.

4 . The vehicle pedal of claim 2 further comprising a circuit board located in the sensor housing in the pedal base and wherein first electrical terminals extend between the strain gage and the substrate and second electrical terminals extend between the substrate and an electrical connector.

5 . The vehicle pedal of claim 2 wherein the actuator includes a projection extending into an aperture defined in the strain gage.

6 . The vehicle pedal of claim 2 further comprising a return spring having a first end abutted against the pedal arm and a second opposed end abutted against the pedal base and adapted for returning the pedal arm to an idle position, the return spring being located between and spaced from the first end of the pedal base and the sensor.

7 . The vehicle pedal of claim 1 wherein the sensor additionally comprises:
a Hall Effect sensor located in the sensor housing of the pedal base; and
a moveable magnet defining the moveable sensor element and coupled to the pedal arm;
wherein the pivotal movement of the pedal arm in the direction of the pedal base causes the movement of the magnet in the direction of the pedal base and a change in the magnitude and/or direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet that is sensed by the Hall Effect sensor and adapted to generate an electrical signal for determining the position of the pedal arm.

8 . The vehicle pedal of claim 7 wherein the magnet includes a base and a pair of spaced apart arms together defining an interior gap in the magnet, the Hall Effect sensor extending in the gap in the magnet.

9 . The vehicle pedal of claim 1 further comprising a return spring having a first end abutted against the pedal arm and a second opposed end abutted against the pedal base and adapted for returning the pedal arm to an idle position, the return spring being located between and spaced from the first end of the pedal base and the sensor.

9 . The vehicle pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor further comprises:
a resistive element located in the sensor housing in the pedal base;
a moveable drive arm comprising the moveable sensor element, the moveable drive arm including a wiper in abutting contact with the resistive element;
wherein the pivotal movement of the pedal arm in the direction of the pedal base causes the movement of the drive arm in the direction of the pedal arm which causes the wiper to slide against the resistive element and generate an electrical signal for determining the position of the pedal arm.

10 . The vehicle pedal assembly of claim 9 further comprising a spring located between the pedal base and the drive arm.

11 . The vehicle pedal assembly of claim 10 wherein the drive arm is a cap seated against a first end of the spring, the cap being located between the spring and the pedal arm and abutting the pedal arm.

12 . A vehicle pedal comprising:
a pedal base defining a sensor housing, the pedal base including opposed first and second ends, a pedal base clip element at the first end of the pedal base and a connector at the second end of the pedal base, the sensor housing being located between and spaced from the pedal base clip element and the connector; a pedal arm opposed and spaced from the pedal base, the pedal arm including opposed first and second ends, a pedal arm clip element at the first end of the pedal arm coupled to the pedal base clip element for pivotally mounting the pedal arm for movement in the direction of the pedal base; and a sensor located in the sensor housing, the sensor including a sensor element that is moveable in the direction of the pedal base in response to the pivotal movement of the pedal arm in the direction of the pedal base.

13 . The vehicle pedal of claim 12 wherein the pedal base clip element is an elongate rod and the pedal arm clip element receives and is pivotable about and relative to the elongate rod.

14 . The vehicle pedal of claim 13 further comprising respective second pedal base and pedal arm clip elements at the respective second ends of the pedal base and the pedal arm for clipping the pedal arm to the pedal base at the respective second ends of the pedal base and the pedal arm.

15 . The vehicle pedal of claim 13 further comprising a return spring located between the pedal base and the pedal arm, the return spring being located between and spaced from the respective first ends of the pedal base and the pedal arm and the sensor.

Assignees

• Cts Corp

Inventors

• Kaijala Murray

Classifications

• B60K2026/046

  with electrical transmission means · CPC title

• G05G1/38 Primary

  comprising means to continuously detect pedal position · CPC title

• B60K26/04

  of means connecting initiating means or elements to propulsion unit · CPC title

• B60K26/02

  of initiating means or elements · CPC title

• G05G5/05

  Means for returning or tending to return controlling members to an inoperative or neutral position, e.g. by providing return springs or resilient end-stops (G05G5/28 takes precedence) · CPC title