Electronic foot pedal vehicle control system
First Claim
1. An electronic foot pedal vehicle control system that comprises:
- a foot pedal including means for securement to a vehicle at a position to be responsive to forces applied by a foot of a vehicle operator, said pedal being of rigid construction, and said securement means being adapted to secure said pedal in fixed non-movable position on a vehicle;
a force sensor coupled to said pedal for providing an electrical sensor signal as a function of force applied to said pedal by a vehicle operator and independent of movement of said pedal, and means responsive to said electrical sensor signal for controlling at least one variable of vehicle operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic foot pedal vehicle control system includes a foot pedal of rigid one-piece molded plastic construction having a base and a pedal arm cantilevered from the base. An electronic subassembly is insert molded into the base of the foot pedal, and includes a force sensor disposed in the base adjacent to the pedal arm for providing an electrical sensor signal as a function of force applied to the pedal arm by a vehicle operator. Electronic circuitry is responsive to the sensor signal for providing a pedal output signal to control at least one variable of vehicle operation. The electronic circuitry preferably has programmed hysteresis characteristics so as to allow limited force variation on the pedal without changing the output signal from the electronic circuitry.
44 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electronic foot pedal vehicle control system that comprises:
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a foot pedal including means for securement to a vehicle at a position to be responsive to forces applied by a foot of a vehicle operator, said pedal being of rigid construction, and said securement means being adapted to secure said pedal in fixed non-movable position on a vehicle;
a force sensor coupled to said pedal for providing an electrical sensor signal as a function of force applied to said pedal by a vehicle operator and independent of movement of said pedal, and means responsive to said electrical sensor signal for controlling at least one variable of vehicle operation. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An electronic foot pedal vehicle control system that comprises:
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a foot pedal including means for securement to a vehicle at a position to be responsive to forces applied by a foot of a vehicle operator, a force sensor coupled to said pedal for providing an electrical sensor signal as a function of force applied to said pedal by a vehicle operator and independent of movement of said pedal, and means responsive to said electrical sensor signal for controlling at least one variable of vehicle operation, said signal responsive means comprising electronic circuitry having electrically programmed hysteresis characteristics allowing a change in force on said pedal over a limited range without changing said variable of vehicle operation at said means responsive to said electrical sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronic foot pedal vehicle control system that comprises:
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a foot pedal of rigid one-piece integrally molded construction having a base, a pedal arm cantilevered from said base, and means on said base for securing said pedal to a vehicle at a position to be responsive to forces applied to said pedal arm by a vehicle operator, and an electronic subassembly insert molded into said base, and including a force sensor disposed on said base adjacent to said pedal arm for providing an electrical sensor signal as a function of force applied to said pedal arm by a vehicle operator and independently of pedal movement, and electronic circuitry responsive to said sensor signal for providing a pedal output signal to control at least one variable of vehicle operation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An electronic foot pedal vehicle control system that comprises:
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a foot pedal of rigid one-piece integrally molded construction having a base, a pedal arm cantilevered from said base, and means on said base for securing said pedal. to a vehicle at a position to be responsive to forces applied to said pedal arm by a vehicle operator, and an electronic subassembly insert molded into said base, and including a force sensor disposed on said base adjacent to said pedal arm for providing an electrical sensor signal as a function of force applied to said pedal arm by a vehicle operator and electronic circuitry responsive to said sensor signal for providing a pedal output signal to control at least one variable of vehicle operation, said electronic subassembly including a connector disposed on an external surface of said pedal for selective electrical connection to vehicle control electronics. said electronic circuitry having electrically programmed hysteresis characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An electronic foot pedal assembly that includes:
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a foot pedal of rigid one-piece integrally molded plastic construction having a base, a pedal arm cantilevered from said base, and means on said base for securing said pedal to a vehicle at a position to be responsive to forces applied to said pedal arm by a vehicle operator, and an electronic subassembly insert molded into said foot pedal, and including a sensor for providing electrical sensor signals as a function of forces applied to said pedal arm by a vehicle operator, electronic circuitry responsive to said sensor signals for providing control signals, and an electrical connector at a surface of said base for providing said control signals to control vehicle operation.
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Specification