Virtual footrest apparatus

• US 10,639,990 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bentley Motors Limited (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Bentley Motors Limited (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: O Meachair, Deaglan, Elliot, Gary Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Luis A
• Application Number:
  US16/310,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20190322172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2026/026 Adjusting of accelerator pedal positions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/20 Operator actuated switches or levers for cruise control or speed limiting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/28 Following time setting methods, e.g. elapsed delay between preceding and host vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/172 Driving mode indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/178 Warnings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1492 Foot actuated switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/103 Accelerator thresholds, e.g. kickdown
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/14 Adaptive cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/14 Cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/38 comprising means to continuously detect pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2505/00 Means for preventing, limiting or returning the movements of parts of a control mechanism, e.g. locking controlling member
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/06 : for holding members in one or a limited number of definite positions only G05G5/005, G05G5/03, G05G5/05, G05G5/28 take precedence

Abstract

Apparatus for a vehicle is provided such that the throttle pedal can act as a virtual footrest. The apparatus comprises a pedal adapted to be depressed by a driver and a restriction mechanism adapted to restrict the displacement of the pedal. The apparatus also comprises a visual sign which enters a first illuminated state in response to activation of the footrest mode. The visual sign remains in the first illuminated state whilst the restriction mechanism retains the pedal in the footrest position, and is extinguished when footrest mode or cruise control is cancelled. The visual sign enters a second illuminated state when the pedal is subjected to a force greater than a first threshold value, so as to push the pedal past through the footrest position whilst in the footrest mode.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a pedal adapted to be depressed by a driver by means of a force; and

a restriction mechanism adapted to restrict the displacement of the pedal in the depressive direction, wherein, when the vehicle is in a cruise control mode, the restriction mechanism is operable to enter a footrest mode, which increases the force required to depress the pedal and thereby retains the pedal in a rest position when the pedal is subjected to a force less than or equal to a predetermined first threshold value, but allows depressing of the pedal away from said rest position when the pedal is subjected to a force greater than the first threshold value;

wherein the apparatus comprises a visual sign which enters a first illuminated state in response to activation of the footrest mode;

the visual sign remaining in the first illuminated state whilst the restriction mechanism retains the pedal in the rest position, the visual sign being extinguished when footrest mode, or cruise control is cancelled; and

wherein the apparatus comprises a controller to control the visual sign to enter a second illuminated state when the pedal is subjected to a force greater than the first threshold value and passes a first threshold position, whilst in the footrest mode, the first threshold position being beyond the rest position.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first illuminated state is a static illuminated state and/or is illuminated in a first colour and the second illuminated state is a flashing state, and/or is illuminated in a different colour.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 which is operable to extinguish the visual sign if the pedal remains beyond the first threshold position for a predetermined period.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 which simultaneously cancels the cruise control and footrest modes when the visual illumination is cancelled.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3 which is operable to return to the first illuminated state if the pedal returns to the rest position within the predetermined period, to indicate that the footrest and cruise control modes remain active.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein over the course of a predetermined period, during which the pedal is depressed beyond the first threshold position, the force required to maintain the pedal in position is reduced, such that the force required to depress the pedal is normal by the time that the visual illumination is extinguished and the cruise control and footrest modes are cancelled.

7. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the predetermined period is between 10 and 30 seconds.

8. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the predetermined period is between 5 seconds and 1 minute.

9. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the predetermined period is about 20 seconds.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 which is operable to cancel footrest mode whilst maintaining the cruise control mode.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 which is operable to enter footrest mode only in response to operation of a switch.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 which is operable to cancel cruise control mode and footrest mode in response to driver intervention with a cruise control switch, driver intervention on the brake pedal or clutch, and/or in response to vehicle intervention.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pedal is a floor mounted throttle pedal.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the visual sign is a tell-tale, provided on a dashboard.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1 arranged such that after having exceeded the first threshold value, the force required to depress the pedal increases along the entire extent of the displacement of the pedal.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pedal is a throttle pedal.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the visual sign comprises an image of a foot or a shoe.

18. An automobile, comprising:

an apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising

a pedal adapted to be depressed by a driver by means of a force, and

a restriction mechanism adapted to restrict the displacement of the pedal in the depressive direction, wherein, when the vehicle is in a cruise control mode, the restriction mechanism is operable to enter a footrest mode, which increases the force required to depress the pedal and thereby retains the pedal in a rest position when the pedal is subjected to a force less than or equal to a predetermined first threshold value, but allows depressing of the pedal away from said rest position when the pedal is subjected to a force greater than the first threshold value;

wherein the apparatus comprises a visual sign which enters a first illuminated state in response to activation of the footrest mode;

the visual sign remaining in the first illuminated state whilst the restriction mechanism retains the pedal in the rest position, the visual sign being extinguished when footrest mode, or cruise control is cancelled; and

wherein the apparatus comprises a controller to control the visual sign to enter a second illuminated state when the pedal is subjected to a force greater than the first threshold value and passes a first threshold position, whilst in the footrest mode, the first threshold position being beyond the rest position.