Dual stage accelerator assembly with selectable stroke transition and pedal feedback system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9381809-B2
Application number	US-201414242663-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2014
Priority date	Apr 1, 2014
Publication date	Jul 5, 2016
Grant date	Jul 5, 2016

Abstract

A dual stage accelerator pedal spring assembly is provided that allows the transition point between stroke stages to be set, thereby controlling pedal travel within the first stroke stage, and notifies the driver of a critical operating condition, such as a low battery pack level, via a pedal feedback system. The spring assembly, which uses two springs exhibiting different spring force, allows adjustment of the relative positions of the two springs in order to control the transition point between the first and second pedal stroke stages. The change in pedal resistance used to notify the driver of a change in a monitored vehicle characteristic is achieved by preloading one of the springs in the spring assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly, comprising:
an accelerator pedal; and
a first spring assembly, wherein an accelerator linkage arm couples said accelerator pedal to said first spring assembly, said first spring assembly comprising:
a first spring;
a second spring assembly comprised of a second spring and a rear second spring assembly support member, wherein a position of said second spring assembly relative to said first spring determines a transition point between a first pedal stroke stage and a second pedal stroke stage;
a spring compression member coupled to said accelerator linkage arm and proximate to a first end of said first spring, wherein during an initial stage of accelerator pedal travel corresponding to said first pedal stroke stage said spring compression member only compresses said first spring, and wherein during a final stage of accelerator pedal travel corresponding to said second pedal stroke stage said spring compression member compresses both said first spring and said second spring;
a rear spring support member proximate to a second end of said second spring, said rear spring support member positionable in at least a first position and a second position, wherein said rear spring support member in said second position increases preload compression of said second spring compared to said first position of said rear spring support member, and wherein said rear spring support member in said second position increases accelerator pedal resistance within said second pedal stroke stage compared to said first position of said rear spring support member;
a first adjustment mechanism coupled to said rear spring support member, wherein upon receipt of a first control signal said first adjustment mechanism is configured to move said rear spring support member to said first position, and wherein upon receipt of a second control signal said first adjustment mechanism is configured to move said rear spring support member to said second position;
a preload adjustment controller coupled to said first adjustment mechanism, said preload adjustment controller configured to transmit said first and second control signals to said first adjustment mechanism;
a second adjustment mechanism coupled to said rear second spring assembly support member, wherein upon receipt of a third control signal said second adjustment mechanism is configured to move said second spring assembly to a first position relative to said first spring, and wherein upon receipt of a fourth control signal said second adjustment mechanism is configured to move said second spring assembly to a second position relative to said first spring, wherein said first pedal stroke stage is shorter when said second spring assembly is in said second position compared to said first position; and
a stage transition controller coupled to said second adjustment mechanism, said stage transition controller configured to transmit said third and fourth control signals to said second adjustment mechanism.

2. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a regeneration system coupled to a vehicle battery pack, said regeneration system configured to recharge said vehicle battery pack when activated;
a pedal stroke position sensor, wherein said pedal stroke position sensor monitors travel of said accelerator pedal and detects said initial stage of accelerator pedal travel corresponding to said first pedal stroke stage and detects said final stage of accelerator pedal travel corresponding to said second pedal stroke stage; and
a regeneration system controller coupled to said pedal stroke position sensor and to said regeneration system, said regeneration system controller configured to activate said regeneration system during said first pedal stroke stage and configured to deactivate said regeneration system during said second pedal stroke stage.

3. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 2 , wherein during said second pedal stroke stage said vehicle battery pack is electrically coupled to a vehicle propulsion motor.

4. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 3 , said regeneration system controller further configured to deactivate said regeneration system after completion of said first pedal stroke stage and prior to initiation of said second pedal stroke stage.

5. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 2 , said regeneration system controller further coupled to said preload adjustment controller, wherein said regeneration system controller monitors at least one characteristic of said regeneration system, wherein said preload adjustment controller transmits said first control signal to said first adjustment mechanism when said at least one characteristic is within a preset range, and wherein said preload adjustment controller transmits said second control signal to said first adjustment mechanism when said at least one characteristic is outside of said preset range.

6. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 5 , wherein said preset range is input by a vehicle manufacturer.

7. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a user interface coupled to said preload adjustment controller, wherein said preset range is input into said first preload adjustment controller via said user interface.

8. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a battery pack management system coupled to a vehicle battery pack and to said preload adjustment controller, wherein said battery pack management system monitors at least one characteristic of said vehicle battery pack, wherein said preload adjustment controller transmits said first control signal to said first adjustment mechanism when said at least one characteristic of said vehicle battery pack is within a preset range, and wherein said second preload adjustment controller transmits said second control signal to said first adjustment mechanism when said at least one characteristic of said vehicle battery pack is outside of said preset range.

9. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 8 , wherein said at least one characteristic of said vehicle battery pack corresponds to a current battery pack capacity.

10. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 8 , wherein said at least one characteristic of said vehicle battery pack corresponds to an available driving range based on a current battery pack capacity.

11. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 8 , wherein said preset range is input by a vehicle manufacturer.

12. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a user interface coupled to said preload adjustment controller, wherein said preset range is input into said preload adjustment controller via said user interface.

13. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface coupled to said stage transition controller, wherein selection of said third control signal or said fourth control signal is input into said stage transition controller via said user interface.

14. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first spring is comprised of a compression coil spring.

15. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 1 , wherein said second spring is comprised of a compression coil spring.

16. The dual stage vehicle pedal accelerator assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first spring force corresponding to said first spring is les

Assignees

• Atieva Inc

Inventors

• Gauthier Jean-Philippe

Classifications

• B60L50/61

  by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles · CPC title

• G05G1/38

  comprising means to continuously detect pedal position · CPC title

• Y10T74/20888

  Pedals · CPC title

• B60L7/18

  Controlling the braking effect (B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T74/2054

  Signal · CPC title