Device with additional restoring force on the gas pedal based on the deviation of a vehicle parameter from the set value

• US 7,770,491 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Klimes, Milan, von Hayn, Holger, Queisser, Torsten, Ritter, Wolfgang, Haverkamp, Martin, Kroll, Wolfgang, Görlach, Johannes, Schonlau, Jürgen, Rüffer, Manfred, Schiel, Lothar
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson; Vicky A
• Application Number:
  US10/493,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20040259687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,840 Days
• Field of Search: 745/12, 745/13, 745/16, 745/17, 745/18, 745/60, 180/170
• US Class Current: 74/560
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/021 with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/04 foot actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/105 characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/30 Controlling members actuated by foot
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/03 Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

It is known in the art to apply a counterforce, which opposes the actuating force, onto an accelerator pedal of a vehicle in the event that the vehicle, with respect to a vehicle parameter, sufficiently deviates from the nominal value. The parameter can be the speed or the measured distance from vehicles driving ahead.

The invention discloses a series of embodiments that satisfy especially easily and reliably the defined requirements for applying the counterforce to the pedal.

Claims

1. Device for controlling a vehicle parameter, the device including a control element wherein a change in position of the control element caused by a corresponding actuating force with respect to an initial position of the control element leads to an increase of the parameter in opposition to a restoring force, and with decreasing actuating force, the restoring force returns the control element in the direction of the initial position of the control element, and a controlling member being provided and generating an additional controlling force that acts in the restoring direction of the control element in dependence on one or more predetermined measured variables of the vehicle, wherein the controlling force is generated by an electromechanical actuator, wherein the actuator is actuated by a corrective signal triggered by the deviation of a measured quantity of the vehicle from a nominal value, or is at least dependent thereon, wherein the controlling force acts on the control element in dependence on the deviation from the nominal value, wherein overrule means are provided by way of which the controlling force can be overcome by a sufficiently high actuating force, wherein emergency means are provided which facilitate depression of the control element in opposition to the controlling force even if the overrule means are blocked and wherein the emergency means will respond only after the fluctuating force exerted on the control element exceeds a predetermined threshold which is greater than the sufficiently high actuating force, wherein the emergency means includes an elastic member which remains substantially rigid when the actuating force exerted on the control element is below the predetermined threshold and responds elastically when the actuating force exerted on the control element exceeds the predetermined threshold.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controlling force sets in abruptly.

3. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuator accommodates an electric motor generating the controlling force.

4. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator is only actuated when an actual speed is at least equal to an adjusted nominal speed.

5. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controlling force is active only in opposition to the actuating force but not in the direction of the actuating force.

6. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overrule means are integrated into the actuator for generating the additional controlling force.

7. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator is equipped with a gear by way of which it outputs the controlling force to the control element.

8. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator and a source of power providing the restoring force onto the control element is protected against the ambient air.

9. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator and a source of power providing the restoring force are arranged within a housing of a control element module.

10. Device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control element is configured as a pedal lever that is articulated at the housing of the control element module.

11. Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vehicle parameter is either the speed or the deceleration of the vehicle.

12. Device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the control element is either a pedal configured to control the driving force of the vehicle engine or a pedal configured to control the brake force of the vehicle.

13. Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the measured quantity is either a driving speed or a brake force and the nominal value is either a nominal speed or an allowable brake force, respectively.