Vehicle accessory pedal and method

• US 20060185925A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Embach, James T., Kolpasky, Kevin G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,516,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/333
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated

Abstract

The present invention includes a foot-operated accessory pedal located on the floor area of a vehicle interior. The accessory pedal is depressible to activate one of a plurality of vehicle functions. Further included with the present invention is a hand-operated input device operative to assign which of the plurality of vehicle functions the accessory pedal will influence upon selective depressions. Moreover, a display unit is included operative to indicate which of the plurality of vehicle functions the accessory pedal is operative to influence.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body defining a vehicle interior having a floor area;

an accessory pedal mounted with respect to said floor area of said vehicle interior;

a control unit operable to control a plurality of vehicular functions;

wherein said accessory pedal is selectively depressible and upon depression of said accessory pedal a first signal is sent from said accessory pedal to said control unit, wherein said first signal is operable to activate one of said plurality of vehicular functions; and

an input device mounted with respect to said vehicle interior and operable to send a second signal to said control unit, wherein said second signal assigns one of said plurality of vehicular functions to said first signal received from said accessory pedal;

wherein said accessory pedal is accessible to an operator of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said input device includes a ring-shaped member defining an annular space, said ring-shaped member being rotatable about an axis;

and

wherein said control unit is configured such that rotation of said ring-shaped member causes said control unit to respond to said first signal by activating one of said plurality of vehicular functions.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit configured to receive a third signal from said control unit, said third signal operable to indicated the assigned said one of said plurality of vehicular functions.

4. A multi-function control system for a plurality of vehicle accessories, comprising:

a foot-operated activator;

a hand-operated programmer; and

a control unit connectable to said plurality of accessories and preselectable by said programmer for enabling said activator to control the accessory preselected.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein said foot-operated activator is selectively depressible and upon depression of said foot-operated activator a first signal is sent from said foot-operated activator to said control unit, wherein said first signal is operative to activate one of said accessories.

6. The control system of claim 4, wherein said hand-operated programmer is operable to send a second signal to said control unit, wherein said second signal assigns one of said plurality of accessories to said first signal received from said foot-operated activator.

7. The control system of claim 6, wherein said hand-operated programmer includes ring-shaped member defining an annular space, said ring-shaped member being rotatable about an axis;

and

wherein said control unit is configured such that rotation of the ring-shaped member causes said control unit to respond to said first signal by activating one of said plurality of accessories.

8. The vehicle of claim 4, further comprising:

a display unit configured to receive a third signal from said control unit, said third signal operable to indicate the assigned said one of said plurality of accessories.

9. A vehicle, comprising:

a first component or system characterized by a first variable characteristic;

a second component or system characterized by a second variable characteristic;

a control unit characterized by a first mode and a second mode of operation;

a selectively depressible pedal being sufficiently configured to transmit a first signal to the control unit when depressed; and

an input device operatively connected to the control unit and being manipulable to cause the control unit to alternate between the first and second modes of operation;

wherein the control unit is configured to cause the first variable characteristic to change in response to the first signal during the first mode of operation; and

wherein the control unit is configured to cause the second variable characteristic to change in response to the first control signal during the second mode of operation.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said input device includes ring-shaped member defining an annular space, said ring-shaped member being rotatable about an axis;

and

wherein said control unit is configured such that rotation of the ring-shaped member causes said control unit to respond to said first signal by activating said first variable characteristic.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, further comprising:

a display unit configured to receive a third signal from said control unit, said third signal being operative to indicate the assigned said one of said first variable characteristic and second variable characteristic.