Adjustable pedal controller with obstruction detection
First Claim
1. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising, in combination:
- a carrier;
a lower arm supported by the carrier and operatively connected to the carrier for selected movement relative to the carrier;
a drive assembly operatively connected to the lower arm to selectively move the lower arm relative to the carrier, the drive assembly comprising a drive screw connected to one of the lower arm and the carrier, a drive nut connected to the other of the lower arm and the carrier and cooperating with the drive screw such that the drive nut travels along the drive screw upon rotation of the drive screw, and an electric motor operatively connected to the drive screw to selectively rotate the drive screw;
a sensor adapted to detect motion information upon rotation of the drive screw; and
a controller receiving the motion information from the sensor and adapted to activate the electric motor upon initialization of the controller to move the lower arm in a first direction until a first mechanical stop is engaged and establish a home stop position and to move the lower arm in the other direction opposite the first direction until a second mechanical stop is engaged and establish a travel stop position, wherein the home stop position and the travel stop position represent the mechanical limits of travel for the lower arm.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adjustable control pedal for a motor vehicle includes an upper arm, a lower arm supported by the upper arm and operatively connected to the upper arm for selected movement relative to the upper arm, and a drive assembly operatively connected to the lower arm to selectively move the lower arm relative to the upper arm. The drive assembly includes a drive screw connected to one of the upper and lower pedal arms, a drive nut connected to the other of the upper and lower pedal arms and cooperating with the drive screw such that the drive nut travels along the drive screw upon rotation of the drive screw, and an electric motor operatively connected to the drive screw to selectively rotate the drive screw. A hall-effect sensor is located adjacent the drive screw and cooperates with a ring magnet rotatable with the drive screw to detect motion information, including distance and velocity information, upon rotation of the drive screw. A controller receives the motion information and activates the electric motor upon initialization of the controller to move the lower pedal arm in a first direction until a first mechanical stop is engaged and establish a home stop position and to move the lower pedal arm in the other direction until a second mechanical stop is engaged and establish a travel stop position. The controller then determines electronic limits of travel for the lower pedal arm based on the mechanical limits of travel to reduce engagement with the first and second mechanical stops during movement of the lower pedal arm. The controller also determines stall conditions of the lower pedal arm between the limits of travel based on the velocity information received during movement of the lower pedal arm to reduce injury or damage resulting from engagement with obstructions.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising, in combination:
-
a carrier;
a lower arm supported by the carrier and operatively connected to the carrier for selected movement relative to the carrier;
a drive assembly operatively connected to the lower arm to selectively move the lower arm relative to the carrier, the drive assembly comprising a drive screw connected to one of the lower arm and the carrier, a drive nut connected to the other of the lower arm and the carrier and cooperating with the drive screw such that the drive nut travels along the drive screw upon rotation of the drive screw, and an electric motor operatively connected to the drive screw to selectively rotate the drive screw;
a sensor adapted to detect motion information upon rotation of the drive screw; and
a controller receiving the motion information from the sensor and adapted to activate the electric motor upon initialization of the controller to move the lower arm in a first direction until a first mechanical stop is engaged and establish a home stop position and to move the lower arm in the other direction opposite the first direction until a second mechanical stop is engaged and establish a travel stop position, wherein the home stop position and the travel stop position represent the mechanical limits of travel for the lower arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising, in combination:
-
a carrier;
a lower arm supported by the carrier and operatively connected to the carrier for selected movement relative to the carrier;
a drive assembly operatively connected to the lower arm to selectively move the lower arm relative to the carrier, the drive assembly comprising a drive screw connected to one of the lower arm and the carrier, a drive nut connected to the other of the lower arm and the carrier and cooperating with the drive screw such that the drive nut travels along the drive screw upon rotation of the drive screw, and an electric motor operatively connected to the drive screw to selectively rotate the drive screw;
a sensor adapted to detect motion information upon rotation of the drive screw; and
a controller adapted to selectively activate the electric motor to move the lower arm, to receive the motion information, and to determine stall conditions of the lower arm based on the motion information during movement of the lower arm. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising, in combination:
-
an upper arm;
a lower arm supported by the upper arm and operatively connected to the upper arm for selected movement relative to the upper arm;
a drive assembly operatively connected to the lower arm to selectively move the lower arm relative to the upper arm, the drive assembly comprising a drive screw connected to one of the upper and lower arms, a drive nut connected to the other of the upper and lower arms and cooperating with the drive screw such that the drive nut travels along the drive screw upon rotation of the drive screw, and an electric motor operatively connected to the drive screw to selectively rotate the drive screw;
a sensor adapted to detect motion information upon rotation of the drive screw, the motion information including distance information and velocity information; and
a controller adapted to receive the motion information from the sensor, to activate the electric motor upon initialization of the controller to move the lower arm in a first direction until a first mechanical stop is engaged and establish a home stop position and to move the lower arm in the other direction opposite the first direction until a second mechanical stop is engaged and establish a travel stop position, wherein the home stop position and the travel stop position represent the mechanical limits of travel for the lower arm, and to determine electronic limits of travel for the lower arm based on the mechanical limits of travel, and wherein the controller is also adapted to selectively activate the electric motor to move the lower arm to a desired position between the electronic limits of travel, to determine stall conditions of the lower arm based on the velocity information during movement of the lower arm between the electronic limits of travel, and to reverse direction of movement of the lower arm when a stall condition is detected between the electronic limits of travel.
-
Specification