A pedal simulator includes a pedal simulator piston configured to move in a linear direction based on a pedal stroke of a driver, a first stopper that is rotatable in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction and configured to adjust a pedal tactile feedback provided to the driver based on the rotation of the first stopper, a first damper disposed inside the pedal simulator piston to be spaced apart from the first stopper by an air gap, and configured to contract or expand based on the movement in the linear direction, and a second stopper configured to be operatively coupled with the first stopper for causing the air gap to change based on the rotation of the first stopper, wherein the pedal tactile feedback changes based on a change in the air gap.

An accelerator device includes a stepping member that receives a stepping by a driver, a case attachable to a vehicle body, an internal movable mechanism housed in the case, and a rotation angle detector. The internal movable mechanism includes a shaft that rotates in respond to a stepping to the stepping member, and the rotation angle detector outputs a signal corresponding to a rotation angle of the shaft via a plurality of terminals. Output ends of the plurality of terminals are arranged in an arrangement different from a line arrangement when being viewed from an output side of the plurality of terminals.

An accelerator device includes a pad configured to receive an input force from a driver, a case attachable to a vehicle body and having a front wall facing the pad, and an internal movable mechanism housed in the case. The internal movable mechanism includes a shaft that is rotatably supported in the case and a pedal extending outward from an outer peripheral portion of the shaft. An arm is arranged to pass through an opening provided in the front wall and to connect the pad and the pedal, and a cushioning member is provided in the front wall, to be inserted between the pedal or the arm and the front wall in an accelerator fully-closed state, and to be inserted between the pad and the front wall in an accelerator fully-open state.

A throttle pedal assembly comprises a base, a pedal pivotably mounted on the base, and a gear box coupled to the pedal. The gear box has a throttle wheel with a plurality of throttle cable terminal attachment locations and the gear box has a plurality of throttle cable mounting locations. A throttle cable is selectively and releasably attached to one of said plurality of throttle cable terminal attachment locations, and the throttle cable is selectively and releasably attached to one of said plurality of throttle cable mounting locations.

A throttle pedal assembly comprises a base, a pedal pivotably mounted on the base, and a gear box coupled to the pedal. The gear box has a throttle wheel with a plurality of throttle cable terminal attachment locations and the gear box has a plurality of throttle cable mounting locations. A throttle cable is selectively and releasably attached to one of said plurality of throttle cable terminal attachment locations, and the throttle cable is selectively and releasably attached to one of said plurality of throttle cable mounting locations.

A brake control system and method for autonomous vehicle control that includes a first brake pedal connected to a first brake arm, the first brake arm is connected to a first brake shaft, the first brake shaft extends a length between an upper end and lower end and includes a first actuator that expands and contracts in length. The lower end of the first brake shaft is operably connected to a first brake mechanism. An autonomous control system having a controller with microprocessor, memory and instructions is connected and controls operation of the first actuator. When the first brake shaft expands in length the first brake mechanism is engaged by the lower end of the first brake shaft thereby applying the brakes. The first brake mechanism is operable by depressing the first brake pedal in manual operation mode as well as by controlling the first actuator in autonomous operation mode.

A surgical footswitch having elevated auxiliary buttons is provided. In particular embodiments, the surgical footswitch comprises a footswitch base, a treadle mounted on the footswitch base, a first primary button positioned on an upper surface of the footswitch base along a first lateral side of the treadle, a first auxiliary button housing positioned along a lateral side of the first primary button opposite the treadle, and a first auxiliary button mounted on an upper surface of the first auxiliary button housing, wherein an upper surface of the first auxiliary button is elevated in relation to an upper surface of the first primary button. In particular embodiments, the treadle is configured to activate a first function of a surgical console, the first primary button is configured to activate a second function of the surgical console, and the first auxiliary button is configured to activate a third function of the surgical console.

A pedal force simulator device includes: a pressure piston actuatable by a brake pedal and axially moveably mounted in a housing; and at least two disk spring stacks connected in series, each disk spring stack having at least two disk springs, at least two of the disk spring stacks having different spring constants, and the disk spring stacks being situated in the housing between an end face of the pressure piston and an axial stop of the housing. At least one of the disk spring stacks includes an axial receiving recess, in which a spring element, which can be elastically deformed by the pressure piston, is situated, one end of the spring element being supported on the pressure piston and the other end being supported on one of the disk spring stacks.

A method for determining jumps and/or inflection points in an activation characteristic of an activation unit includes activating the activation unit using an activator, wherein different activation areas, separated from one another by the jumps and/or inflection points, are defined by the activation characteristic. Different activation forces for activating the activator are respectively set in the activation areas. The jumps and/or inflection points are determined by activating the activator by continuously determining activation travel values of the activator, respectively assigning an activation speed characteristic variable to the determined activation travel values, continuously forming value pairs from the determined activation travel value and the assigned activation speed characteristic variable, and checking, based on the value pairs which are formed whether significant changes occur in the activation speed. The jumps and/or inflection points in the activation characteristic are assigned to activation travel values at which significant changes occur in activation speed.

A reaction force control system configured to control a reaction force applied to a pedal without reducing an operational feeling. A controller reduces a reaction force applied to the pedal mildly from a second reaction force to a first reaction force at a rate D upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition. The rate D is determined based on a depression of the pedal, a pedal force applied to the pedal, an elapsed time, or a predetermined function.