Stepping motor direct drive adjustable pedal assembly

• US 7,191,680 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KSR IP Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Drivesol Worldwide Holding Corporation (Sun Capital Partners Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ouyang, Jiyuan, Rixon, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHONG HWA
• Application Number:
  US10/225,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20030121355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/14, 745/60
• US Class Current: 74/512
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/405 infinitely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

A pair of first (14) and second (34) pedal levers is pivotally supported for rotation by a support (12). A pair of adjustment mechanisms (21, 41) interconnect the support (12) and the respective pedal levers (14, 34) and include rods (28, 48) for adjusting the operational position of the pedal levers (14, 34) along the rods (28, 48) between a plurality of adjusted positions. A stepper motor (52) and screw (32) unit is attached to the inner end of each rod (28, 48) for moving the respective pedal levers (14, 34) along the respective rods (28, 48). The assembly (10) is characterized by a controller (56) sending pulses of energy to each of the motors (52), measuring the time to reach a predetermined resistance condition of each motor during each pulse, and terminating energy to both motors (52) in response to the time being below a predetermined time period in any pulse to either motor, thereby to synchronize the movement of both pedal levers together.

Claims

1. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising;

a support (12) for mounting said assembly to a vehicle structure,

a first pedal lever (14) pivotally supported for rotation about an operational axis (A) with respect to said support (12),

a first electrically operated stepper motor (52) including a first set of windings (54) for sequentially moving in increments of movement and interconnection said support (12) and said first pedal lever (14) for adjusting the operational position of said pedal lever (14) relative to said support (12) between a plurality of adjusted positions,

a second pedal lever (34) pivotally supported for rotation about a second operational axis (B) with respect to said support (12),

a second electrically operated stepper motor (52) including a second set of windings (54) for sequentially moving in increments of movement and interconnecting said support (12) and said second pedal lever (34) relative to said support (12)(B) between a plurality of adjusted positions, and

a controller (56) that sends pulses of electrical energy sequentially to said respective windings (54) to incrementally rotate said first (52) and second (53) motors,

said assembly characterized by including a timer (62) that measures a the time to reach a predetermined resistance condition of either of said windings during each pulse and that terminates energy to both of said windings in response to said time being below a predetermined time period.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said controller (56) includes a first pulse width modulator for receiving said pulses of energy for oscillating said energy in each pulse to said first winding of said first motor at a first predetermined frequency, and a second pulse width modulator for receiving said pulses for oscillating said energy in each pulse to said second winding of said second motor at a second predetermined frequency.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a guide (28) movably supported (20) by said support (12) and said pedal lever (14) is slidably supported by said guide (28).

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said adjustment mechanism (21) includes a screw (32) for moving said pedal lever (14) between adjusted positions, a motor housing surrounding said motor (52), said screw (32) extending from said housing.

5. An adjustable pedal assembly comprising;

a support (12) for mounting said assembly to a vehicle structure,

a first pedal lever (14) pivotally supported for rotation about an operational axis (A) with respect to said support (12),

a first electrically operated motor (52) including a first winding (54) for sequentially moving in increments of movement and interconnecting said support (12) and said first pedal lever (14) for adjusting the operational position of said pedal lever (14) relative to said support (12) between a plurality of adjusted positions,

a controller (56) that sends pulses of electrical energy sequentially to said winding (54) to incrementally rotate said first (52) motor,

said assembly characterized by including a timer (62) that measures a the time to reach a predetermined resistance condition of said winding during each pulse and that terminates energy to said winding in response to said time being below a predetermined time period.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said controller (56) includes a first pulse width modulator for receiving said pulses of energy for oscillating said energy in each pulse to said first winding of said first motor at a predetermined frequency.