An accelerator device includes a pedal lever, a reaction force adjuster and a controller. The pedal lever operates according to a stepping operation. The reaction force adjuster is driven by an actuator, and is capable of adjusting a reaction force that is a force in a direction of pushing back the pedal lever. The controller includes a target operation amount setting unit and a drive control unit. The target operation amount setting unit sets a target operation amount, which is an operation amount of the pedal lever according to a vehicle speed. The drive control unit controls a drive of the actuator. The controller controls the reaction force according to the target operation amount so that the operation amount of the pedal lever is within a target range when switching from an automatic drive to a manual drive.

The embodiments described herein concern a reconfigurable throttle-by-wire pedal subsystem for a vehicle and associated methods. One embodiment detects a pedal error in which a driver of the vehicle mistakenly actuates an accelerator foot pedal unit of the vehicle instead of a separate brake pedal of the vehicle, the accelerator foot pedal unit controlling a throttle of the vehicle, and performs the following in response to the detected pedal error: reconfiguring the accelerator foot pedal unit to control a braking subsystem of the vehicle instead of the throttle and reconfiguring a haptic feedback of the accelerator foot pedal unit from a throttle-by-wire mode to a brake-by-wire mode.

Systems and device configurations are provided for reducing misstep, such as miscommunication between a vehicle and a driver that results in applying the incorrect pedal. Vehicle pedal configurations having a positioning element are described. Embodiments include pedal configurations having a pedal pad and at least one positioning element to adjust the pedal pad in response to pedal misstep. Pedal adjustment can include rotation of a pedal pad, rotation of portions of a pedal pad, and multibody pedal pad configurations. According to embodiment, a pedal pad includes vibrational elements to control vibration of the pedal. Embodiments are also directed to a pedal configuration including a flip plate. Systems are provided including a controller to control a pedal configuration and positioning elements. The controller may control the pedal based on a driving mode, such as an assistive driving state wherein operator is instructed to apply a pedal.

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.

Systems and device configurations are provided for reducing misstep, such as miscommunication between a vehicle and a driver that results in applying the incorrect pedal. Vehicle pedal configurations having a positioning element are described. Embodiments include pedal configurations having a pedal pad and at least one positioning element to adjust the pedal pad in response to pedal misstep. Pedal adjustment can include rotation of a pedal pad, rotation of portions of a pedal pad, and multibody pedal pad configurations. According to embodiment, a pedal pad includes vibrational elements to control vibration of the pedal. Embodiments are also directed to a pedal configuration including a flip plate. Systems are provided including a controller to control a pedal configuration and positioning elements. The controller may control the pedal based on a driving mode, such as an assistive driving state wherein operator is instructed to apply a pedal.

Systems and device configurations are provided for reducing misstep, such as miscommunication between a vehicle and a driver that results in applying the incorrect pedal. Vehicle pedal configurations having a positioning element are described. Embodiments include pedal configurations having a pedal pad and at least one positioning element to adjust the pedal pad in response to pedal misstep. Pedal adjustment can include rotation of a pedal pad, rotation of portions of a pedal pad, and multibody pedal pad configurations. According to embodiment, a pedal pad includes vibrational elements to control vibration of the pedal. Embodiments are also directed to a pedal configuration including a flip plate. Systems are provided including a controller to control a pedal configuration and positioning elements. The controller may control the pedal based on a driving mode, such as an assistive driving state wherein operator is instructed to apply a pedal.

A pedal reaction force applying device includes an acceleration pedal used in a stepping-in operation and a returning operation, a motor configured to apply a pedal reaction force acting on an acceleration pedal in the stepping-in operation and the returning operation, a power transmitting device provided between the acceleration pedal and the motor and including a speed-reduction mechanism, an operation direction determiner configured to determine an operation direction of the acceleration pedal, and a reaction force controller configured to control the pedal reaction force on the acceleration pedal. The reaction force controller controls a magnitude of the pedal reaction force by controlling a power of the motor based on the operation direction of the acceleration pedal determined by the operation direction determiner.

A reaction force control system for a pedal that is configured to stably operate a vehicle in which an operating mode can be shifted between normal and one-pedal modes, without requiring a complicated operation, and without disturbing a driver. An operating mode is selected from a one-pedal mode in which a drive force and a brake force are controlled by manipulating an accelerator pedal, and a normal mode in which drive force is controlled by manipulating the accelerator pedal, and the brake force is controlled by manipulating the brake pedal. Reaction force applied to the accelerator pedal is increased for a predetermined period of time when shifting from one of the operating modes to the other one, and thereafter the reaction force is adjusted in accordance with a position of the accelerator pedal in the other one of the operating modes.

The embodiments described herein concern a reconfigurable throttle-by-wire pedal subsystem for a vehicle and associated methods. One embodiment detects a pedal error in which a driver of the vehicle mistakenly actuates an accelerator foot pedal unit of the vehicle instead of a separate brake pedal of the vehicle, the accelerator foot pedal unit controlling a throttle of the vehicle, and performs the following in response to the detected pedal error: reconfiguring the accelerator foot pedal unit to control a braking subsystem of the vehicle instead of the throttle and reconfiguring a haptic feedback of the accelerator foot pedal unit from a throttle-by-wire mode to a brake-by-wire mode.

An accelerator pedal apparatus in which an acceleration operation for a vehicle is to be performed by a pedal configured to be operated by a foot includes a vibration application unit and a vibration application control processor. The vibration application unit is configured to apply vibration to the pedal. The vibration application control processor is configured to cause the vibration application unit to apply the vibration to the pedal with a vibration application waveform including one or both of a frequency component that is higher than or equal to 10 hertz and lower than or equal to 50 hertz and a frequency component that is higher than or equal to 100 hertz and lower than or equal to 300 hertz.