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Method and device for learning the neutral position of the accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle

  • US 8,761,996 B2
  • Filed: 04/16/2009
  • Issued: 06/24/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An automated method setting a neutral position of accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle corresponding to an idle running mode of the motor vehicle, the method comprising the following steps:

  • sensing a pedal voltage corresponding to a position of the accelerator pedal with a first sensor;

    communicating the sensed pedal voltage to a computer processor;

    determining with the computer processor a lowest pedal voltage occurring during a first drive cycle, wherein the first drive cycle includes multiple discrete periods of the sensed pedal voltage remaining at the lowest pedal voltage for at least a predetermined period of time, the multiple discrete periods occurring during the first drive cycle being separated by periods in which the sensed pedal voltage increases above the lowest pedal voltage;

    confirming the determined lowest pedal voltage during at least one succeeding drive cycle;

    setting a minimum pedal value based on the confirmed lowest pedal voltage;

    performing a plausibility check with the computer processor on the minimum pedal value using at least one further pedal sensor; and

    defining the neutral position of the accelerator pedal based on the minimum pedal value and storing the neutral position in a non-transitory computer readable memory in communication with the computer processor.

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