A foldable electronic pedal apparatus is proposed. The foldable electronic pedal apparatus has both a foldable function that can pop up and hide the pedal and an electronic pedal function, and can tune necessary pedal effort, stroke, and hysteresis that are different for every kind of vehicle by having a high-load spring module and a hysteresis lever.

A reactive pedal algorithm is used to modify an accelerator pedal output (APO)-to-torque conversion to produce more deceleration for the same accelerator pedal position. Modifying the APO-to-torque conversion provides the driver of a vehicle the sensation that the vehicle is resisting approaching closer to a lead vehicle. The APO-to-torque conversion is modified based on a scene determination to classify vehicles as in-lane, neighbor-lane, or on-coming. Lane change assist methods and systems are used to modify the APO-to-torque conversion range based on a lead vehicle, a neighbor vehicle, or both.

The example aspects of the present disclosure relates to a pedal module, with an electromechanical actuator, and with a base body, having an inner space and in the inner space, a pedal mechanism with a restoring unit, as well as an actuation plate, wherein the base body and actuation plate are connected to one another such that the actuation plate is rotatably mounted on the base body. Moreover, the pedal module has a coupling element, having a first end and a second end, wherein the coupling element in the region of the first end is situated in operative connection with the pedal mechanism and in the region of the second end is situated in operative connection with the actuation plate. To propose a pedal module with an actuator which has a simple, cost-effective and low-maintenance construction, and moreover ensures the generation of easily usable tactile signals, it is provided that the coupling element has a cavity in which the electromechanical actuator is disposed.

A vehicle control system configured to reduce physical stress on a driver to operate an accelerator pedal without reducing acceleration feel. The vehicle control system selects a first driving force property if an estimated stress on an ankle is less than a threshold value, and selects a second driving force property if the estimated stress on the ankle is greater than the threshold value to reduce the stress on the ankle. When the second driving force property is selected, a target driving force is reduced less than a target driving force calculated based on the first driving force property. In this case, the vehicle control system reduces a difference between: a ratio of acceleration to a pedal force given that the first driving force property is selected; and a ratio of acceleration to the pedal force given that the second driving force property is selected.

An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates in accordance with a step-on operation. The lock mechanism is capable of restricting the operation of the pedal lever. The lock mechanism can switch a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is free from restriction by the lock mechanism. The ECU includes a locking operation determination unit, an actuator control unit, and an information acquisition unit. The locking operation determination unit determines switching of a locking operation by the lock mechanism. The actuator control unit controls a driving operation of an actuator. The locking operation determination unit locks the pedal lever when the vehicle is traveling on a specific position in an automatic driving mode.

An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever that performs an operation in accordance with a step-on operation, a lock mechanism configured to restrict the operation of the pedal lever, and an actuator configured to switch between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted by the lock mechanism. A controller includes a locking operation determination unit that determines switching of a locking operation by the lock mechanism, an actuator control unit that controls a driving operation of the actuator, and an information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle speed information. The locking operation determination unit locks the pedal lever when a vehicle is traveling in an automatic driving mode and when a vehicle speed is equal to or more than an activation-determination lower limit value.

An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates according to a step-on operation. The lock mechanism can restrict an operation of the pedal lever. The actuator switches between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted. The ECU includes a lock operation determination unit and an actuator control unit. The lock operation determination unit determines switching of the locked state and the unlocked state by the lock mechanism. The actuator control unit controls a drive of the actuator. The lock operation determination unit releases the locked state of the pedal lever when a driver's intention to accelerate is detected while a vehicle is traveling in the locked state.

An electronic throttle control pedal assembly includes a housing having a friction generating surface, a pedal arm, a spring carrier, and at least one spring. The pedal arm includes a hub portion and a friction generating member. The friction generating member has a lobe connected to a cross member and is positioned on a side surface of the hub portion. The cross member extends within the hub portion. The spring carrier has a friction generating portion. As the pedal arm is depressed, a portion of the spring carrier engages the friction generating portion against the cross member positioned within the hub aperture and pivotally engages a portion of the lobe of the friction generating member against the friction generating surface of the housing thereby creating at least two independent friction generating surfaces to create a hysteresis proportional to the depression of the pedal arm.

An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates according to a step-on operation. The lock mechanism can restrict an operation of the pedal lever. The actuator switches between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted. The ECU includes a lock operation determination unit and an actuator control unit. The lock operation determination unit unlocks the pedal lever when an approaching object from behind is detected during a travel of a vehicle in the locked state.

An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates according to a step-on operation. The lock mechanism can restrict the operation of the pedal lever. The actuator switches between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted. The ECU include a lock operation determination unit and an actuator control unit. The lock operation determination unit determines switching of the lock/unlock operation by the lock mechanism, in response to a voice instruction of a driver. The actuator control unit controls a drive of the actuator according to a determination result of the lock operation determination unit.