Instrumented control pedals for electronically shifted manual transmissions

• US 8,393,240 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Wolterman, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Ha D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Agendia, Jude
• Application Number:
  US12/541,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20110036192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 744/731.6, 744/731, 744/78, 745/12, 745/14, 192/99.R, 192/3.51, 192/3.62
• US Class Current: 74/473.16
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/31413 Clutch pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/31466 Gear lever
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50203 Transition between manual and automatic control of the clutch
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/5126 Improving response to driver inputs
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70424 Outputting a clutch engaged-disengaged signal
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/06 Control by electric or electronic means, e.g. of fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/04 Ratio selector apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/28 with at least one movement of the final actuating mechanism being caused by a non-mechanical force, e.g. power-assisted
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/46 Signals to a clutch outside the gearbox
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/38 comprising means to continuously detect pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20055 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated

Abstract

An instrumented control pedal for a vehicle includes a lever portion, a pedal portion, a position sensor and at least one pressure sensor. The lever portion may include a first end, a second end and a pivot point disposed proximate the second end. The pedal portion may be disposed proximate the first end of the lever portion and the at least one pressure sensor may be disposed on the pedal portion. The position sensor may be operable to detect the displacement of the instrumented control pedal about the pivot point and output a position signal indicating the displacement of the instrumented control pedal. When a pressure is applied to the pedal portion, the pressure sensor outputs a signal indicating pressure is being applied to the pedal portion.

Claims

1. An instrumented control pedal for a vehicle comprising a lever portion, a foot pedal portion and a matrix of pressure sensors, wherein:

the lever portion comprises a first end, a second end and a pivot point disposed proximate the second end;

the foot pedal portion is disposed proximate the first end of the lever portion; and

the matrix of pressure sensors is disposed on the foot pedal portion such that, when a pressure is applied to the foot pedal portion, the matrix of pressure sensors outputs a signal indicating pressure is being applied to the foot pedal portion.

2. The instrumented control pedal of claim 1 wherein the matrix of pressure sensors is operable to output the signal indicating pressure is being applied to the foot pedal portion when the foot pedal portion is contacted and the instrumented control pedal is not rotated about the pivot point.

3. The instrumented control pedal of claim 1 wherein the signal output from the matrix of pressure sensors is indicative of a magnitude of the pressure applied to the foot pedal portion.

4. The instrumented control pedal of claim 1 further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the matrix of pressure sensors.

5. The instrumented control pedal of claim 4 wherein the controller is operable to receive the signal output from the matrix of pressure sensors and, as a result of the output signal, determine a status of various systems of the vehicle.

6. The instrumented control pedal of claim 1 further comprising a pedal pad disposed on the foot pedal portion, wherein the at least one pressure sensor is disposed between the pedal pad and foot pedal portion.

7. The instrumented control pedal of claim 1 further comprising a pedal pad disposed on foot pedal portion, wherein the at least one pressure sensor is disposed on or integral with the pedal pad.

8. An instrumented clutch pedal for a vehicle comprising a lever portion, a foot pedal portion, at least one pressure sensor, a controller, an electro-mechanical clutch actuator, and at least one position sensor, wherein:

the lever portion comprises a first end, a second end and a pivot point disposed proximate the second end;

the foot pedal portion is disposed proximate the first end of the lever portion;

the at least one pressure sensor is disposed on the foot pedal portion such that, when a pressure is applied to the foot pedal portion, the pressure sensor outputs a pressure signal indicating pressure is being applied to the foot pedal portion;

the at least one position sensor is operable to detect a displacement of the instrumented clutch pedal about the pivot point and output a position signal corresponding to the displacement of the instrumented clutch pedal;

the electro-mechanical clutch actuator is electrically coupled to the controller;

the controller is operatively coupled to the pressure sensor and the position sensor, wherein the controller is operable to receive the position signal and, based on the position signal, output an actuation signal to the electro-mechanical clutch actuator, wherein the actuation signal is proportional to the displacement of the instrumented clutch pedal such that the electro-mechanical clutch actuator either fully disengages a clutch of the vehicle or partially disengages the clutch of the vehicle.

9. The instrumented clutch pedal of claim 8 wherein the pressure sensor is operable to output the pressure signal when the foot pedal portion is contacted and the instrumented clutch pedal is not rotated about the pivot point.

10. The instrumented clutch pedal of claim 8 wherein the pressure signal is indicative of a magnitude of the pressure applied to the pedal portion.

11. The instrumented clutch pedal of claim 8 wherein the controller is operable to receive the pressure signal and, as a result of the received pressure signal, determine a status of various systems of the vehicle.

16. The instrumented clutch pedal of claim 8 wherein the at least one pressure sensor comprises a matrix of pressure sensors.

12. A vehicle comprising an instrumented clutch pedal comprising a lever portion, a foot pedal portion, at least one pressure sensor, at least one position sensor, an electro-mechanical clutch actuator and a controller wherein:

the lever portion comprises a first end, a second end and a pivot point disposed proximate the second end;

the foot pedal portion is disposed proximate the first end of the lever portion;

the electro-mechanical clutch actuator is electrically coupled to the controller;

the at least one pressure sensor is disposed on the foot pedal portion such that, when a pressure is applied to the foot pedal portion, the pressure sensor outputs a pressure signal indicating pressure is being applied to the foot pedal portion;

the at least one position sensor is operable to detect the displacement of the instrumented clutch pedal about the pivot point and output a position signal indicating the displacement of the instrumented clutch pedal; and

the at least one position sensor and the at least one pressure sensor are communicatively coupled to the controller and the controller is operable to;

receive the pressure signal from the pressure sensor;

receive the position signal from the position sensor;

determine a status of various systems of the vehicle based on the pressure signal; and

output an actuation signal to the electro-mechanical clutch actuator, wherein the actuation signal is based on the position signal and the actuation signal is proportional to the displacement of the instrumented clutch pedal such that the electromechanical clutch actuator either fully disengages a clutch of the vehicle or partially disengages the clutch of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the at least one position sensor and the at least one pressure sensor are wirelessly coupled to the controller.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the pressure sensor is operable to output the pressure signal indicating pressure is being applied to the foot pedal portion when the foot pedal portion is contacted and the instrumented clutch pedal is not rotated about the pivot point.

15. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the at least one pressure sensor comprises a matrix of pressure sensors.