A method is provided to control the acceleration of a motor vehicle from a current speed, wherein the motor vehicle includes an accelerator pedal system able to generate on the accelerator pedal an added reaction force when the depression of the accelerator pedal reaches a given depression level. The method includes the steps of: a) measuring the current vehicle speed; b) determining a target speed of the motor vehicle in function at least of the current vehicle speed or determining from the current vehicle speed a maximum acceleration rate; c) determining at least one threshold depression level of the accelerator pedal that corresponds to the stabilization of the vehicle speed at the target speed or that corresponds to maximum acceleration rate; d) generating an added reaction force on the accelerator pedal if the depression of the accelerator pedal reaches or is about to reach the threshold depression level; wherein at least steps a), b), and c) are automatically repeated as vehicle speed increases.

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.

A reaction force applying device includes an actuator housing, an actuator, a lever, a connected part, and a connecting part. The actuator housing is attachable to a vehicle. The actuator is provided in the actuator housing. The lever is provided in the actuator housing to be rotatable by receiving a driving force from the actuator, to contact an arm that rotates with a pedal, and to be capable of applying a reaction force to the pedal against a driver's stepping force. The connected part is provided in a pedal housing, and the connecting part is provided in the actuator housing and connected to the connected part.

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.

A force-feedback assembly includes a first shaft with a shaft end. The first shaft is movable between a shaft first position and a shaft second position. The force-feedback assembly also includes a compliant element arranged to exert a return force on the first shaft and bias the first shaft toward the shaft first position. The force-feedback assembly additionally includes a ramp in sliding engagement with the shaft end. The force-feedback assembly further includes an operator input device operatively coupled to the ramp. The operator input device has a device first position and a device second position. Moving the operator input device from the device first position to the device second position slides the ramp relative to the shaft end and moves the first shaft from the shaft first position to the shaft second position.

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 that outputs a reaction force to an operation unit includes: a motor as a drive source configured to create the reaction force; a reaction force transmission unit configured to transmit the reaction force to the operation unit; and a clutch mechanism disposed between the motor and the reaction force transmission unit and configured to set the motor and the reaction force transmission unit to a disengaged state or an engaged state depending on a driving state of the motor.

An accelerator device includes an inner housing, a pedal lever, an urging member, and an actuator. The inner housing is supported to the outer housing by a support member. The pedal lever is rotatably supported to the inner housing in response to a stepping operation. The urging member urges the pedal lever in a closing direction. The actuator can drive the inner housing in an opening and closing directions of the pedal lever.

An accelerator device includes at least one drive source, a pedal lever, and a power transmission mechanism. The pedal lever is configured to move according to a pedal depressing operation. The power transmission mechanism is configured to transmit force both in the pedal lever's closing direction and opening direction to the pedal lever by driving of the drive source.