Actuation responsive brake pedal pad assembly

• US 5,115,162 A
• Filed: 04/18/1990
• Issued: 05/19/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MDH Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Uthoff, Loren H. Jr., Leonard, Mark L., Hastings, Jerome K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Budd, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US07/510,643
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 310/338, 310/339, 310/366, 310/800, 303/DIG. 3, 341/34
• US Class Current: 310/339
• 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: G01L 5/225 to foot actuated controls, e.g. brake pedals
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/302 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 303/03 Electrical pressure sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/80 Piezoelectric polymers, e.g. PVDF

Abstract

A pressure sensitive pad assembly for a brake pedal having in one embodiment a pair of plastic films with metallized surfaces spaced apart by apertured spaces and embedded in an elastomeric pad to be placed on a brake pedal. Application of a brake actuating force on the pad causes the elastomer to deform closing contact between the metallized surfaces for actuating a brake light. In another embodiment a pressure sensitive transducer pad assembly has embedded in elastomeric material, a plurality of piezoelectric strips which are deformed, upon application of a brake actuating force to the pad, for providing an electrical signal indicative of the magnitude of the brake actuating force. In another embodiment an elastomeric pad spans a shallow recess in a support with piezoelectric material provided on the spanning surface and deformation of the pad into the recess deforms the piezoelectric material to provide a brake actuating force signal.

Claims

1. A pressure-sensitive brake pedal transducer comprising:

(a) support means adapted for attachment to a vehicle brake pedal arm;

(b) pad means received on said support means, said pad means formed of resilient flexible material having embedded therein,

(i) a spacer layer of resiliently deformable electrically insulating material.

(ii) a first plurality of spaced generally parallel strips disposed on one side of said spacer layer said strips formed of relatively thin piezoelectric material.

(iii) a second plurality of spaced generally parallel strips disposed on the side of said spacer opposite said one side, said second plurality of strips formed of relatively thin piezoelectric material and disposed to extend generally at right angles to said first plurality of strips, wherein upon application of a brake actuating force to said pad means, some of said first plurality and some of second plurality of strips are simultaneously individually deformed to give separate electrical signals indicative of said actuating force.

2. The transducer defined in claim 1, wherein said separate electrical signals are combined to give an electrical signal indicative of the force applied to said pedal.

3. The transducer defined in claim 1, wherein said spacer layer is formed of polyvinyl chloride plastic material.

4. A pressure-sensitive brake pedal transducer comprising:

(a) rigid support means adapted for attachment to a vehicle brake;

(b) pressure-sensitive pad means received on said support means, said pad means formed of resilient elastomeric material having embedded therein;

(i) at least one layer of spaced generally parallel strips formed of piezoelectric material,

(ii) relaxation means disposed adjacent one side of said strips and operative to provide less resistance to flexing of said strips than said elastomeric material on the side of said strip opposite said one side, wherein upon application of a brake actuating force to said pad means, some of said strips are deformed into said relaxation means to give electrical signals indicative of said actuating force.

5. The transducer defined in claim 4, wherein said relaxation means comprise a layer of elastomeric material having substantially lower durometer than the balance of said pad means.

6. The transducer defined in claim 4, wherein said relaxation means comprises a plurality of recesses formed in the elastomeric material adjacent each of said strips.

7. A pressure sensitive transducer assembly for a brake pedal comprising:

(a) support means adapted for attachment to be brake servoactuating arm, said support means defining a generally shallow recess therein;

(b) pad means formed of elastomeric material received on said support means and bridging said recess to define a void of predetermined depth therebetween; and

,

(c) at least one strip of piezoelectric material attached to the surface of said pad means bridging said recess;

(d) electrical lead means connected to said piezoelectric material and extending exteriorly of said recess, wherein, upon application of a braking force to said pad means, said elastomeric and piezoelectric material are deflected into said recess, wherein said piezoelectric material provides an electrical signal indicative of said force on said lead means.

8. The transducer assembly defined in claim 7, wherein said support means has a generally cup-shaped configuration.

9. The transducer assembly defined in claim 7, wherein said pad means comprises an integrally formed elastomeric member attached to said support means at the margins thereof.

10. The transducer assembly defined in claim 7, wherein said support means includes means defining a chamber separate having electrical amplifying means therein.