Pedal system

• US 20060219048A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ueno, Kentaro
• Granted Patent: US 7,958,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/560
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/126 Rotatable input devices for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/06 Disposition of pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/38 comprising means to continuously detect pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/005 for preventing unintentional use of a control mechanism G05G5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/03 Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18304 Axial cam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

To enable a pedal system equipped with an actuator to reduce power consumption and put a pedal at an appropriate position when there is no need to operate the pedal. A system state control unit changes pedal position to an end position or original position before deactivating the pedal system. It deactivates the pedal system based on information from a pedal position detection unit, pedal state detection unit, power supply state detection unit, and vehicle motion detection unit and activates the pedal system based on information from a power supply state detection unit. It shifts pedal position toward the original position after activation of the pedal system.

Claims

1. A pedal system comprising:

a pedal;

an actuator;

pedal system control means for electrically controlling pedal position and pedal reaction force using the actuator;

and system state control means for activating and deactivating the pedal system, wherein

the system state control means changes the pedal position to a predetermined stop position before deactivating the pedal system.

2. The pedal system according to claim 1, wherein conditions for the system state control means to deactivate the pedal system include that the pedal position is changed to the predetermined stop position.

3. The pedal system according to claim 1, wherein the stop position corresponds to an end position.

4. The pedal system according to claim 1, wherein the stop position corresponds to a predetermined original position.

5. The pedal system according to claim 3, comprising:

vehicle information detection means for detecting state of a parking brake and state of a shift lever, wherein

conditions for the system state control means to change the pedal position to the end position before deactivating the pedal system include at least one of conditions that a parking brake is in operation and that the shift lever is in a P range.

6. The pedal system according to claim 4, comprising:

vehicle information detection means for detecting state of a parking brake and state of a shift lever, wherein

conditions for the system state control means to change the pedal position to the original position before deactivating the pedal system include that the parking brake is not in operation and that the shift lever is not in a P range.

7. The pedal system according to claim 1, comprising:

pedal state detection means for detecting whether or not the pedal is pressed, wherein

conditions for the system state control means to deactivate the pedal system include that the pedal is not pressed.

8. The pedal system according to claim 1, comprising:

vehicle motion detection means for detecting operating state of vehicle motion, wherein

conditions for the system state control means to deactivate the pedal system include that the vehicle is stopped.

9. The pedal system according to claim 1, comprising:

power supply state detection means for detecting power supply state of the vehicle, wherein

conditions for the system state control means to deactivate the pedal system include that the vehicle is powered off.

16. The pedal system according to claim 1, wherein the pedal is a brake pedal or an accelerator pedal.

10. A pedal system comprising:

a pedal;

an actuator;

pedal system control means for electrically controlling pedal position and pedal reaction force using the actuator;

and system state control means for activating and deactivating the pedal system, wherein

the system state control means changes the pedal position to a predetermined original position before deactivating the pedal system.

11. The pedal system according to claim 10, comprising:

a stopper for preventing the pedal position from moving further forward than the original position, wherein

after activating the pedal system, the system state control means moves the pedal position forward until the movement is stopped by the stopper.

12. The pedal system according to claim 11, wherein

the pedal position at which the movement is stopped by the stopper is regarded to be the original position.

13. The pedal system according to claim 11, wherein when the pedal is not pressed and a force moving the pedal toward the stopper is larger than a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the movement of the pedal is stopped by the stopper and the pedal position at that time is regarded to be the original position.

14. The pedal system according to claim 11, wherein when the pedal is not pressed and a current moving the pedal toward the stopper is larger than a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the movement of the pedal is stopped by the stopper and the pedal position at that time is regarded to be the original position.

15. The pedal system according to claim 10, wherein conditions for the system state control means to activate the pedal system include that the vehicle is powered on.