Electronic clutch pedal assembly having varying resistance
First Claim
1. An electronic pedal assembly for use with an automotive vehicle, said pedal assembly comprising:
- a housing bracket adapted for mounting said pedal assembly to the vehicle;
a pedal arm having a pedal pad at a lower end and an upper end pivotally supported within said housing bracket, said pedal arm operable to travel along a pedal path between an undepressed position and a depressed position;
an electronic position sensor that detects rotation of said pedal arm and transmits a position signal based on said detected rotation; and
a biasing device having a first end cap, a second end cap and a compressible member disposed between said first end cap and said second end cap, said first end cap pivotally attached to said housing bracket, said second end cap pivotally attached to said pedal arm, said compressible member of said biasing device biases said pedal arm towards said undepressed position, said compressible member has a generally hollow cylindrical shape extending along an axis of compression, and one of said first end cap and said second end cap includes an outwardly extending shaft extending coaxial with the axis of compression, and an other of said first end cap and said second end cap includes an outwardly extending hollow shaft extending coaxial with said axis of compression, said hollow shaft slidably receives a portion of said shaft to prohibit said compressible member from compressing in a direction other than along said axis of compression;
wherein upon depression of said pedal arm from said undepressed position towards said depressed position said compressible member compresses, said biasing device rotates with said first end cap pivoting on said housing bracket and said second end cap pivoting on said pedal arm to provide a variable pedal resistance over said pedal path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The electronic clutch pedal assembly includes a housing bracket for mounting the pedal assembly to the vehicle, a pedal arm, and a biasing device. The pedal arm includes an upper end and a pedal pad at a lower end. The upper end of the pedal arm is pivotally supported within the housing bracket for movement along a pedal path between an undepressed position and a depressed position. The biasing device includes a first end cap pivotally attached to the housing bracket and a second end cap pivotally attached to the pedal arm. The biasing device includes a compressible member disposed between the first end cap and the second end cap. The compressible member biases the pedal arm towards the undepressed position. Upon depression of the pedal arm towards the depressed position, the compressible member compresses as the biasing device rotates to provide a variable pedal resistance over the pedal path.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic pedal assembly for use with an automotive vehicle, said pedal assembly comprising:
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a housing bracket adapted for mounting said pedal assembly to the vehicle; a pedal arm having a pedal pad at a lower end and an upper end pivotally supported within said housing bracket, said pedal arm operable to travel along a pedal path between an undepressed position and a depressed position; an electronic position sensor that detects rotation of said pedal arm and transmits a position signal based on said detected rotation; and a biasing device having a first end cap, a second end cap and a compressible member disposed between said first end cap and said second end cap, said first end cap pivotally attached to said housing bracket, said second end cap pivotally attached to said pedal arm, said compressible member of said biasing device biases said pedal arm towards said undepressed position, said compressible member has a generally hollow cylindrical shape extending along an axis of compression, and one of said first end cap and said second end cap includes an outwardly extending shaft extending coaxial with the axis of compression, and an other of said first end cap and said second end cap includes an outwardly extending hollow shaft extending coaxial with said axis of compression, said hollow shaft slidably receives a portion of said shaft to prohibit said compressible member from compressing in a direction other than along said axis of compression; wherein upon depression of said pedal arm from said undepressed position towards said depressed position said compressible member compresses, said biasing device rotates with said first end cap pivoting on said housing bracket and said second end cap pivoting on said pedal arm to provide a variable pedal resistance over said pedal path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electronic pedal assembly for use with an automotive vehicle, said pedal assembly comprising:
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a housing bracket adapted for mounting said pedal assembly to the vehicle, said housing bracket having a first support portion, said first support portion having a first upper wall and a spaced apart first lower wall; a pedal arm having a lower end having a pedal pad and an upper end pivotally supported within said housing bracket, said pedal arm operable to travel along a pedal path between an undepressed position and a depressed position; an electronic position sensor that detects rotation of said pedal arm and transmits a position signal based on said detected rotation; and a biasing device having a first end cap, a second end cap and a compressible member disposed between said first end cap and said second end cap, said first end cap pivotally attached to said housing bracket at said first support portion between said first wall and said second wall, said first end cap having an exterior surface, said second end cap pivotally attached to said pedal arm, said compressible member of said biasing device biases said pedal arm towards said undepressed position; wherein when said pedal arm is in said undepressed position said exterior surface of said first end cap contacts one of said first upper wall and said first lower wall to limit pivotal movement of said first end cap with respect to said first support portion, and wherein when said pedal arm is in said depressed position said exterior surface of said first end cap contacts an other of said first upper wall and said first lower wall to limit pivotal movement of said first end cap with respect to said first support portion; wherein upon depression of said pedal arm from said undepressed position towards said depressed position said compressible member compresses, said biasing device rotates with said first end cap pivoting on said housing bracket and said second end cap pivoting on said pedal arm to provide a variable pedal resistance over said pedal path. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An electronic pedal assembly for use with an automotive vehicle, said pedal assembly comprising:
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a housing bracket adapted for mounting said pedal assembly to the vehicle; a pedal arm having a lower end and an upper end, said upper end positioned above said lower end with respect to a vertical direction, said lower end having a pedal pad, said upper end pivotally supported within said housing bracket, said pedal arm operable to travel along a pedal path between an undepressed position and a depressed position; an electronic position sensor that detects rotation of said pedal arm and transmits a position signal based on said detected rotation; and a biasing device having a first end cap, a second end cap and a compressible member disposed between said first end cap and said second end cap, said first end cap pivotally attached to said housing bracket, said second end cap pivotally attached to said pedal arm, said compressible member of said biasing device biases said pedal arm towards said undepressed position; wherein upon depression of said pedal arm from said undepressed position towards said depressed position said compressible member compresses, said biasing device rotates with said first end cap pivoting on said housing bracket and said second end cap pivoting on said pedal arm to provide a variable pedal resistance over said pedal path.
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Specification