A pedal assembly having a pedal pivotally secured to a housing. A sensor is fixed to the housing at the pivot, the sensor including first and second components. A member is mounted to the pivot and slaved to the pedal in proximity to the sensor, the member including a coupler and an activating component. Upon pivotal rotation of the member relative to the sensor, the coupler communicating with the first sensor component to generate an output indicative of an angular position of the pedal relative to the housing. The activating component communicates with the second sensor component to function as a wakeup switch for the sensor.

Vehicle systems are disclosed. A vehicle system includes one or more sensors, a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, a steering wheel actuator, an accelerator pedal actuator, and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and the steering sensitivity adjusting unit. The controller includes at least one processor and at least one memory module storing computer readable and executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to detect an object based on output from the one or more sensors, and send to the steering sensitivity adjusting unit an instruction for adjusting a sensitivity of the steering wheel in response to detecting the object.

An accelerator pedal assembly of a vehicle can include a pivotable arm including a moveable end that is movable through a plurality of pedal positions from an initial position to a fully engaged position. The accelerator pedal assembly can also include a pedal connected to the moveable end of the pivotable arm. The accelerator pedal assembly can further include a reaction force control assembly connected to the pivotable arm and configured to apply a reaction force to the pivotable arm. The reaction force control assembly can include a first mode in which the reaction force increases as the pedal position approaches the fully engaged position in accordance with a first relationship, and a second mode in which the reaction force increases as the pedal position approaches the fully engaged position in accordance with a second relationship that is different from the first relationship.

A controller for the anticipatory influencing of the speed of a motor vehicle has the steps: repeatedly determining and evaluating a traffic situation ahead of the host motor vehicle on the roadway currently traveled, as well as the position of the host motor vehicle on the roadway; comparing the determined and evaluated traffic situation to a current driving situation of the host motor vehicle; and determining whether a reduction in the speed of the host motor vehicle, taking into account the determined traffic situation ahead of the host motor vehicle at a distance to be established ahead of the host motor vehicle, in the traffic situation (i) is beneficial to an extent to be established and (ii) is reducible to a target speed to be established, without braking intervention, taking into account the current speed of the host motor vehicle and the distance of the determined traffic situation from the host motor vehicle; and as a function of the determined traffic situation, applying a counterforce to an accelerator pedal against a force applied by the driver, wherein the counterforce is to be dimensioned and/or modulated in the sense of signaling to the driver that he/she is to reduce a force currently applied to the accelerator pedal by the driver.

A reaction force output device is provided with: a drive unit that drives a drive member to output a force in a direction opposite to an operating direction to an operated element operated by an operator; and a control unit that determines whether or not a space is formed between the operated element and the drive member, and if it is determined that the space is formed, controls the drive unit to output a greater driving force than when it is determined that the space is not formed.

A method controls an acceleration pedal of a vehicle that calls a driver's attention by causing vibration or increasing pedal effort in the acceleration pedal according to diversified driving situations. The method includes selecting a control mode of selecting, by a driver, a control mode given to the acceleration pedal, judging an eco red state of judging whether the vehicle is driven for a predetermined time in the eco red state, and executing the control mode of giving the control mode selected at the selecting of the control mode to the acceleration pedal when it is judged that the vehicle is driven for the predetermined time in the eco red state at the judging of the eco red state.

A method for output of haptic information to a driver of a motor vehicle via a brake pedal includes ascertaining, based on signals of an environment-sensor system, imminence of a traffic situation that poses a potential risk to the motor vehicle, and modifying, during a driving of the motor vehicle, independent of a driver input, and in response to the ascertained imminence of the traffic situation, a characteristic of the brake pedal of the motor vehicle.

An acceleration pedal reaction force control device imparts to a driver a sensation (feeling) of an appropriate reaction force in accordance for example with an intention of/operation performed by the driver. The acceleration pedal reaction force control device is configured such that when a stepping amount on the acceleration pedal has become equal to or exceeded a threshold stepping amount, whether a reaction force increase rate at which a base reaction force increases to a target reaction force with the threshold stepping amount should be made variable or a reaction force increase amount (enhancing reaction force) for causing the base reaction force to increase to the target reaction force with the threshold stepping amount should be made variable can be set. Thereby, a sensation (feeling) of an appropriate reaction force can be imparted to a driver in accordance for example with an intention of/an operation performed by the driver.

An active vibratory pedal comprising a pedal housing and a pedal housing cover. A pedal arm extends into the pedal housing. An electric vibratory motor is mounted on the pedal arm. A power cable extends from the motor into the end of the pedal arm extending into the pedal housing. A motor power connection assembly includes, in one embodiment, electrical contactors coupled to the end of the power cable and located in an open recess defined in the drum of the pedal arm. Conductive tracks are formed on the cover of the pedal housing. The contactors are in sliding contact with the contactor tracks. Power connection terminals extend through the cover and into electrical contact with the conductive tracks. In another embodiment, terminals extend through the cover and into electrical contact with the end of the power cable extending into the open recess defined in the drum of the pedal.

A method for the operation of at least one actuator for a force controller of a device, for which a user of the device is provided with a haptic feedback message about at least one operating state of the device by a force, which is predetermined in its strength and acts by way of at least one actuator on the force controller, when the force controller is brought by the user to at least one predetermined point on a track of movement of the force controller. The at least one actuator is controlled in such a way that the strength of the force acting by way of the at least one actuator on the force controller is reduced after another predetermined period of time.