Reconfigurable by-wire foot pedals

• US 20040129487A1
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Shabana, Mohsen D., Chernoff, Adrian B., Borroni-Bird, Christopher E., Vitale, Robert Louis
• Granted Patent: US 7,213,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/315
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20189 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20534 Accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2054 Signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2172 Adjustable or folding

Abstract

A vehicle chassis having substantially all of the mechanical, electrical and structural componentry necessary for a fully functional vehicle, including at least energy conversion system, a steering system and a braking system. The chassis is configured for releasable engagement with a variety of different types or styles of vehicle bodies. Various prior art mechanical control linkages between a driver and controlled systems are replaced with non-mechanical control signal transmission components. Fuel cell technology is also implemented. A system for adjustable, reconfigurable foot pedals is also shown for generating driver input to the by-wire braking systems and energy conversion systems and for providing control and comfort for the driver and/or a passenger.

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal assembly for a vehicle having a chassis, a driver'"'"'s seat having selectable multiple driving positions and a vehicle body, said pedal assembly comprising:

a track arrangement in one of said chassis and said vehicle body extending longitudinally and transversely with respect to said vehicle, and

one or more foot pedals movably mounted in said track arrangement for positioning said pedal or pedals with respect to said vehicle longitudinally and transversely along said track in accordance with the driving position selected.

2. The adjustable pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein said track arrangement includes a longitudinal track portion and a transverse track portion, and said one or more foot pedals includes a base movable forwardly and backwardly in the longitudinal track portion, and a post connected to the base and movable upwardly and downwardly with respect to the base, and a beam pivotally supported with respect to said base or said post.

3. The adjustable pedal assembly of claim 2 wherein said beam is elongated transversely and splitable longitudinally.

4. The adjustable pedal assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least three wheels on the vehicle, and an energy conversion system operable for motivating at least one of said wheels to move the vehicle, and wherein at least one of the one or more foot pedals is actuable by-wire to selectively operate said energy conversion system.

5. The method of selling an originally manufactured vehicle to an end user consumer comprising:

selling a chassis having at least three wheels, an energy conversion system operable for motivating at least one of said wheels to move the vehicle, a braking system operable for braking at least one of said wheels to stop the movement of said vehicle;

selling a body matable with said chassis and having a configuration selectable by said consumer from an inventory of bodies of different configurations;

selling a seat matable with one of said chassis or said body and including features selectable by said consumer from an inventory of different features; and

said selling of said chassis, body and seat being independent of each other.

6. The method of selling an originally manufactured vehicle having a body and chassis to an end user consumer comprising selling a seat for the vehicle to the consumer completely independently of the body and chassis.

7. A by-wire foot pedal arrangement for a moveable vehicle having at least three wheels, an energy conversion system operable for motivating at least one of said wheels to move the vehicle, a braking system operable for braking at least one of said wheels to stop the movement of the vehicle, said arrangement comprising:

a guide mountable with respect to said vehicle to establish a plurality of driving positions for operating said systems;

at least one foot pedal being variably positionable at one of the plurality of driving positions established by said guide;

said foot pedal being actuatable to selectively operate one of said energy conversion system or said braking system; and

a wire extending between said foot pedal and said energy conversion system or said braking system to electrically communicate the actuation of said foot pedal to the energy conversion system or the braking system for selectively operating one of said systems.

8. The by-wire foot pedal arrangement of claim 7 wherein the guide is a track, and the at least one foot pedal is positionable along the track.

9. The by-wire foot pedal arrangement of claim 7 wherein the guide includes a plurality of interface connector points to which the foot pedal is positionable.

10. The by-wire foot pedal arrangement of claim 9 further comprising a seat, and wherein the foot pedal is positionable to said seat.

11. The by-wire foot pedal arrangement of claim 9 further comprising a console, and wherein the foot pedal is positionable to said console.

12. The by-wire foot pedal arrangement of claim 7 wherein said at least one foot pedal is moveable laterally within the vehicle.

13. A unitary vehicle seat and function control unit for a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle seat; and

an interface panel on the control unit being reconfigurable for a plurality of functions selected from the group consisting of driving, computer, working, entertaining, and child care.

14. The unitary vehicle seat and function control unit of claim 13 wherein the unitary unit is selectively positionable at one of a plurality of positions within the vehicle.

15. A foot pedal for use with a seat of a vehicle and comprising:

a base moveable forwardly and backwardly;

a post connected to the base and moveable upwardly and downwardly with respect to the base;

a beam pivotally supported with respect to the base and/or the post;

a first actuator connected to the base for moving the base;

a second actuator connected to the post and/or beam for pivoting the beam; and

a third actuator connected to the beam for expanding the surface area of the beam.

16. The foot pedal of claim 15 wherein the base is further movable from side to side.

17. The foot pedal of claim 16 wherein the base is moveable on a track in the vehicle.

18. The foot pedal of claim 15 wherein the pivoting of the beam is part of an energy conversion system or braking system for the vehicle.

19. The method of selling an originally manufactured vehicle to an end user consumer comprising:

selling a chassis having at least three wheels, an energy conversion system operable for motivating at least one of said wheels to move the vehicle, a braking system operable for braking at least one of said wheels to stop the movement of said vehicle;

selling a body matable with said chassis and having a configuration selectable by said consumer from an inventory of bodies of different configurations;

selling a seat matable with one of said chassis or said body and including features selectable by said consumer from an inventory of different features;

said selling of said chassis, body and seat being independent of each other; and

installing a reconfigurable by-wire foot pedal system on said chassis or said body selected by said consumer to accommodate said body and said seat selected by said consumer for operating said systems.

20. A by-wire foot pedal system wherein at least one foot pedal is adjustably mounted in a vehicle, the foot pedal being movable along a track.

21. A by-wire foot pedal system wherein at least one for pedal is removably mounted in a vehicle for reconfiguration of the driving location, wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of driver interface points to which the foot pedal is connectable.