Automotive accelerator pedal with adaptive position kick-down detent
First Claim
1. An adaptive position detent mechanism for use in a drive-by-wire throttle system, the drive-by-wire throttle system including an accelerator pedal and a control portion, the control portion determining a pedal position at which a transmission kick-down will occur, the mechanism comprising:
- a housing defining an opening at an end of the housing facing the accelerator pedal;
a plunger portion slidably movable within the housing opening so as to permit at least a head of the plunger to extend from the housing opening;
a plunger driver configured to slidably move the plunger portion within the housing opening and to hold the plunger portion in any position relative to the housing opening;
a controller for actuating the plunger driver to move and hold the plunger portion in a position that corresponds to the determined pedal position at which the transmission kick-down will occur; and
a biasing member biasing the plunger portion in a direction opposite to a direction of pedal depression so as to resist pedal depression beyond said pedal position at which the transmission kick-down will occur.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adaptive position kick-down detent mechanism for providing a force feedback to an operator of a vehicle through a drive-by-wire accelerator prior to the transmission performing a kick-down. The kick-down detent mechanism includes a plunger portion, a plunger driving device, and an elastic portion. The plunger portion is slidable within the plunger driving device and is biased by the elastic portion. An electronic control unit communicates a kick-down pedal position to the plunger driving device, which moves the plunger portion to the kick-down pedal position so that the force feedback is provided to the driver before the kick-down even as the kick-down pedal position changes during vehicle operation.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An adaptive position detent mechanism for use in a drive-by-wire throttle system, the drive-by-wire throttle system including an accelerator pedal and a control portion, the control portion determining a pedal position at which a transmission kick-down will occur, the mechanism comprising:
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a housing defining an opening at an end of the housing facing the accelerator pedal; a plunger portion slidably movable within the housing opening so as to permit at least a head of the plunger to extend from the housing opening; a plunger driver configured to slidably move the plunger portion within the housing opening and to hold the plunger portion in any position relative to the housing opening; a controller for actuating the plunger driver to move and hold the plunger portion in a position that corresponds to the determined pedal position at which the transmission kick-down will occur; and a biasing member biasing the plunger portion in a direction opposite to a direction of pedal depression so as to resist pedal depression beyond said pedal position at which the transmission kick-down will occur. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An adaptive pedal force-feedback device for use in a drive-by-wire throttle system, the drive-by-wire throttle system including an accelerator pedal, the device comprising:
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a control portion configured to determine a pedal position at which a force feedback is to be provided; a plunger slidably provided in a housing such that a tip of the plunger extends from the housing toward the accelerator pedal; a biasing means biasing the plunger toward the accelerator pedal; and a plunger driver controlled by the control portion to adjust a slidable position of the plunger within the housing to correspond to the pedal position at which force feedback is to be provided, wherein the determined pedal position at which the force feedback is to be provided varies based on vehicle operation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An adaptive pedal force-feedback device for use in a drive-by-wire throttle system, the drive-by-wire throttle system including an accelerator pedal, the device comprising:
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a control portion configured to determine a pedal position at which a force feedback is to be provided; a plunger slidably provided in a housing such that a tip of the plunger extends from the housing toward the accelerator pedal; a biasing means biasing the plunger toward the accelerator pedal; and a plunger driver controlled by the control portion to adjust a slidable position of the plunger within the housing to correspond to the pedal position at which force feedback is to be provided, wherein the control portion is configured to continuously determine and adjust the pedal position at which the force feedback is to be provided.
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Specification