Control system for adjustable pedal assembly

• US 6,510,761 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DUS Operating, Inc. (Dura Automotive Topco Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Dura Global Technologies (Dura Automotive Systems)
• Inventors: Zhang, Rongjun, Toelke, Steven Allen, Smith, Gordon Lloyd, DePotter, Michael William, Bigham, Richard Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHONG HWA
• Application Number:
  US10/026,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/14, 745/60, 744/731.7, 280/261
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated

Abstract

A method of operating a control pedal assembly includes the steps providing a pair of adjustable control pedals. Each control pedal includes a first support and a second support having a lower arm and moveable relative to the first support to adjust the fore-aft position of the lower arm upon operation of a motor. A predetermined fore-aft relationship is provided between the lower arms of each of the pair of control pedals. The predetermined fore-aft relationship is maintained during operation of the motor to move the second supports relative to the first supports while adjusting the fore-aft position of the lower arms. The motor is stopped during operation if the predetermined fore-aft relationship between the lower arms is not maintained.

Claims

1. A method of operating a control pedal assembly comprising the steps of, in combination:

providing a pair of adjustable control pedals, each of the pair of the control pedals including a first support and a second support, the second support being moveable relative to the first support to adjust the fore-aft position of the second support upon operation of a motor;

providing a predetermined fore-aft relationship between the second support of a first one of the pair of control pedals and the second support of a second one of the pair of control pedals;

maintaining the predetermined fore-aft relationship during operation of the motor to move the second support of the first one of the pair of control pedals and the second support of the second one of the pair of control pedals while adjusting the fore-aft position of the lower arm of the first control pedal and the lower arm of the second control pedal;

stopping the motor during operation if the predetermined fore-aft relationship is not maintained; and

determining the movement of at least one of the second supports relative to at least one of the first supports.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of detecting movement with a non-contact sensor.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of detecting movement with a non-contact sensor comprises detecting movement with at least one of a Hall effect device, an inductance sensor, a potentiometer, and an encoder.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of detecting movement with means for measuring rotational movement.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of determining the movement of at least one of the second supports relative to at least one of the first supports comprises determining the movement of each of the second supports.

2. A method of operating a control pedal assembly comprising the steps of, in combination:

providing a pair of adjustable control pedals, each of the pair of the control pedals including a first support and a second support, the second support being moveable relative to the first support to adjust the fore-aft position of the second support upon operation of a motor;

providing a predetermined fore-aft relationship between the second support of a first one of the pair of control pedals and the second support of a second one of the pair of control pedals;

maintaining the predetermined fore-aft relationship during operation of the motor to move the second support of the first one of the pair of control pedals and the second support of the second one of the pair of control pedals while adjusting the fore-aft position of the lower arm of the first control pedal and the lower arm of the second control pedal;

stopping the motor during operation if the predetermined fore-aft relationship is not maintained; and

moving each of the second supports to a forward position in response to a control signal.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control signal is one of a vehicle ignition switch, vehicle open door, vehicle trunk lid open, a manual switch and a memory device.

4. A method of operating a control pedal assembly comprising the steps of, in combination:

providing a pair of adjustable control pedals, each of the pair of the control pedals including a first support and a second support, the second support being moveable relative to the first support to adjust the fore-aft position of the second support upon operation of a motor;

providing a predetermined fore-aft relationship between the second support of a first one of the pair of control pedals and the second support of a second one of the pair of control pedals;

maintaining the predetermined fore-aft relationship during operation of the motor to move the second support of the first one of the pair of control pedals and the second support of the second one of the pair of control pedals while adjusting the fore-aft position of the lower arm of the first control pedal and the lower arm of the second control pedal;

stopping the motor during operation if the predetermined fore-aft relationship is not maintained; and

preventing movement of one of the second supports relative to one of the first supports when a control device is engaged and allowing movement of one of the second supports relative to one of the first supports when the control device is disengaged.

5. A method of operating a control pedal assembly comprising the steps of, in combination:

providing a pair of adjustable control pedals, each of the pair of the control petals including a first support and a second support, the second support being moveable relative to the first support to adjust the fore-aft position of the second support upon operation of a motor;

providing a predetermined fore-aft relationship between the second support of a first one of the pair of control pedals and the second support of a second one of the pair of control pedals;

maintaining the predetermined fore-aft relationship during operation of the motor to move the second support of the first one of the pair of control pedals and the second support of the second one of the pair of control pedals while adjusting the fore-aft position of the lower arm of the first control pedal and the lower arm of the second control pedal;

stopping the motor during operation if the predetermined fore-aft relationship is not maintained; and

providing at least one sensor at least partially supported by one of the first support and the second support and determining the position of one of the second supports relative to one of the first supports with the sensor in order to identify whether the predetermined fore-aft relationship has been maintained.

10. A method of operating a control pedal assembly comprising the steps of, in combination:

providing a first adjustable control pedal including a first upper support and a first lower support, the first lower support being moveable relative to the first upper support to adjust the fore-aft position of the first lower support;

providing a second adjustable control pedal including a second upper support and a second lower support, the second lower support being moveable relative to the second upper support to adjust the fore-aft position of the first lower support;

providing a predetermined fore-aft relationship between the first lower support and the second lower support;

simultaneously moving the first lower support relative to the first upper support and the second lower support relative to the second upper support to adjust the fore-aft position of the first and second lower supports while attempting to maintain the predetermined fore-aft relationship; and

identifying when the predetermined fore-aft relationship is not maintained.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of determining the movement of at least one of the first and second lower supports.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of determining the movement of at least one of the first and second lower supports comprises determining the movement of each of the first and second lower supports.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of stopping movement of the first and second lower supports when the predetermined fore-aft relationship is not maintained.

14. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of providing a controller operably connected to each of the first and second control pedals and determining with the controller a fore-aft position of each of the first and second lower supports.

15. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of detecting movement with a non-contact sensor.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of detecting movement with a non-contact sensor comprises detecting movement with at least one of a Hall effect device, an inductance sensor, a potentiometer, and an encoder.

17. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the stop of detecting movement with means for measuring rotational movement.

18. A method of operating a control pedal assembly comprising the steps of, in combination:

providing a first adjustable control pedal including a first upper support and a first lower support, the first lower support being moveable relative to the first upper support to adjust the fore-aft position of the first lower support;

providing a second adjustable control pedal including a second upper support and a second lower support, the second lower support being moveable relative to the second upper support to adjust the fore-aft position of the first lower support;

providing a predetermined fore-aft relationship between the first lower support and the second lower support;

providing a controller operably connected to each of the first and second control pedals;

simultaneously moving the first lower support relative to the first upper support and the second lower support relative to the second upper support to adjust the fore-aft position of the first and second lower supports;

providing a signal to the controller indicative of movement of the first lower support;

providing a signal to the controller indicative of movement of the second lower support; and

determining with the controller whether the predetermined fore-aft relationship is not maintained.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of determining with the controller a fore-aft position of each of the first and second lower supports.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of stopping movement of the first and second lower supports when the controller determines that the predetermined fore-aft relationship is not maintained.

21. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of detecting movement with a non-contact sensor.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the step of detecting movement with a non-contact sensor comprises detecting movement with at least one of a Hall effect device, an inductance sensor, a potentiometer, and an encoder.

23. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of detecting movement with means for measuring rotational movement.