System for controlling adjustable pedals

• US 6,316,897 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Tech
• Inventors: Ewing, Kip Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Khanh
• Application Number:
  US09/618,415
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 318/551, 318/255, 318/257, 745/60, 745/62, 745/12, 745/13, 745/14, 123/399
• US Class Current: 318/551
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

An adjustable pedal system 10 for an automotive vehicle. The system 10 substantially ensures that adjustable pedals 20 are not adjusted when any one or more of the pedals 20 are depressed and/or when the vehicle is being driven.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an adjustable pedal within a vehicle of the type including an automotive operating element which is selectively activated by a depression of said adjustable pedal, and an electronic component which is selectively activated in response to said activation of said automotive operating element, said system comprising:

a motor which is effective to selectively adjust said pedal; and

a controller which is communicatively coupled to said motor and to said electronic component, said controller being effective to monitor said electronic component and to prevent said motor from adjusting said pedal when said component is activated, thereby substantially preventing said pedal from being adjusted while said pedal is depressed.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said automotive operating element comprises a throttle, wherein said pedal comprises an accelerator, and wherein said electronic component comprises a throttle switch.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said automotive operating element comprises a brake system, wherein said pedal comprises a brake pedal, and wherein said electronic component comprises a brake light switch.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said automotive operating element comprises a clutch assembly, wherein said pedal comprises a clutch pedal, and wherein said electronic component comprises a clutch activation switch.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a selectively positionable pedal adjustment switch which is communicatively coupled to said controller and which is effective to generate adjustment command signals which are selectively communicated to said motor by said controller.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said motor is effective to selectively extend and retract said pedal.

7. A method for controlling a plurality of adjustable pedals within a vehicle of the type including a plurality of automotive operating elements each of which is selectively activated by a depression of a unique one of said plurality of adjustable pedals, said method comprising the steps of:

determining if any of said plurality of automotive operating elements has been activated; and

adjusting said plurality of adjustable pedals only if none of said plurality of automotive operating elements has been activated, thereby substantially preventing said plurality of adjustable pedals from being adjusted while any of said plurality of adjustable pedals is depressed.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said determination if said plurality of automotive operating elements has been activated is performed by use of at least one sensor.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said vehicle further comprises a plurality of electronic components each of which changes from a first electrical state to a second electrical state in response to activation of a unique one of said plurality of automotive operating elements, and wherein said determination if any of said plurality of automotive operating elements has been activated is performed by monitoring said plurality of electronic components.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said plurality of automotive operating elements comprises a throttle, wherein said plurality of adjustable pedals comprises an accelerator, and wherein said plurality of electronic components comprises a throttle switch.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said plurality of automotive operating elements further comprises a brake system, wherein said plurality of adjustable pedals further comprises a brake pedal, and wherein said plurality of electronic components further comprises a brake light switch.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said plurality of automotive operating elements further comprises a clutch assembly, wherein said plurality of adjustable pedals further comprises a clutch pedal, and wherein said plurality of electronic components further comprises a clutch activation switch.

13. A method for controlling a plurality of adjustable pedals within a vehicle of the type including a park gear, a neutral gear and a plurality of automotive operating elements each of which is selectively activated by a unique one of said plurality of adjustable pedals, said method comprising the steps of:

determining whether said vehicle is in said park gear or said neutral gear; and

adjusting said plurality of adjustable pedals only if said vehicle is in said park gear or said neutral gear, thereby substantially preventing said plurality of adjustable pedals from being adjusted while said vehicle is being driven.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said determination if said vehicle is in said park gear or said neutral gear is performed by monitoring a park/neutral switch within said vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said plurality of adjustable pedals is selectively adjusted by use of a motor.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said plurality of automotive operating elements comprises a throttle and wherein said plurality of adjustable pedals comprises an accelerator pedal.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said plurality of automotive operating elements further comprises a brake system, and wherein said plurality of adjustable pedals further comprises a brake pedal.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said plurality of automotive operating elements further comprises a clutch assembly, and wherein said plurality of adjustable pedals further comprises a clutch pedal.