METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LEARNING THE NEUTRAL POSITION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20110040457A1
• Filed: 04/16/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Bernhardt, Roger, Meier, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 8,761,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/106 Detection of demand or actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2474 Characteristics of sensors

Abstract

In a method and a device for learning the neutral position of the accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle, the lowest pedal voltage is determined during a first drive cycle, the voltage remaining constant over a specific period of time and repeating itself several times within the drive cycle. A minimum pedal value is confirmed and set on the basis of the determined lowest pedal value that has been confirmed in at least one succeeding drive cycle. Finally, a plausibility check on the confirmed lowest pedal value is performed. The method and the device are characterized by particular robustness.

Claims

1. A method for learning the neutral position of the accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the following steps:

a. determining the lowest pedal voltage during a first drive cycle, which voltage remains constant over a specific period of time and repeats itself several times within the drive cycle;

b. confirming and setting a minimum pedal value on the basis of the determined lowest pedal voltage that has been confirmed in at least one succeeding drive cycle; and

c. performing a plausibility check on the confirmed minimum pedal value with the aid of at least one further pedal sensor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plausibility check is used in order to differentiate between an electrical and a mechanical drift.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lowest pedal voltage is confirmed in a plurality of succeeding different drive cycles.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a drive cycle starts and ends with the accelerator pedal in a neutral position.

4. A device for learning the neutral position of the accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle, the device comprising

a means for determining the lowest pedal voltage during a first drive cycle, which voltage remains constant over a specific period of time and repeats itself several times within the drive cycle;

a means for confirming and setting a minimum pedal value on the basis of the determined lowest pedal voltage that has been confirmed in at least one succeeding drive cycle; and

a means for performing a plausibility check on the confirmed minimum pedal value with the aid of at least one further pedal sensor.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the means for performing a plausibility check is used in order to differentiate between an electrical and a mechanical drift.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein in the case of the means for confirming and setting a minimum pedal value the lowest pedal voltage is confirmed in a plurality of succeeding different drive cycles.

8. The device according to claim 4, wherein a drive cycle starts and ends with the accelerator pedal in a neutral position.

9. A system for learning the neutral position of an accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle, comprising

an accelerator pedal,

first and second sensors coupled with said accelerator pedal generating a pedal voltage representative of a pedal position, and

an evaluation unit operable to:

determine a lowest pedal voltage during a first drive cycle from the first sensor, wherein said lowest pedal voltage must remain constant over a specific period of time and repeat itself several times within the drive cycle to be valid,

confirming the previously determined minimum pedal value during at least one succeeding drive cycle,

performing a plausibility check on the confirmed minimum pedal value with the aid of the second sensor.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising memory to store the confirmed minimum pedal value.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the evaluation unit is further operable to repeat the determination of the minimum pedal value after the motor vehicle has been driven or has been traveling for a predetermined period of time.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the plausibility check is performed at any time after a lowest pedal voltage is determined.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein a drive cycle starts and ends with the accelerator pedal in a neutral position.