Pedal Array with a Positioning Device

Abstract

In a pedal array, in particular for a motor vehicle, having an actuating element for the actuation of a function by a user, and a positioning device for positioning the actuating element in a first position and a second position, the first position of the actuating element is flush with or below or slightly above a surface formed by an area surrounding the actuating element, and the second position of the actuating element is further above the surface formed by the area surrounding the actuating element than the first position.

Claims

1. A pedal array for a motor vehicle, comprising: an actuating element configured to actuate a function by a user; and a positioning device configured to position the actuating element in a first position and a second position, wherein, when the actuating element is in the first position, the actuating element lies flush with or below or slightly above a surface formed by way of surroundings of the actuating element, and wherein, when the actuating element is in the second position, the actuating element lies further above the surface formed by way of the surroundings of the actuating element in comparison to the first position.

2. The pedal array according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is block-shaped.

3. The pedal array according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element and its surroundings are covered with a flexible surface element in such a way that when the actuating element is positioned in the second position, the flexible surface element is to be moved out of the surface formed by the surroundings of the actuating element by way of the actuating element.

4. The pedal array according to claim 1, wherein the positioning device is configured to bring the actuating element into the second position as soon as an associated mode is activated.

5. The pedal array according to claim 4, further comprising a detection device configured to detect contact with the actuating element and/or a movement in the direction of the actuating element so as to activate the associated mode.

6. The pedal array according to claim 1, wherein the positioning device is designed with a pneumatic device.

7. The pedal array according to claim 1, wherein the positioning device is designed with an electromechanical device.

8. The pedal array according to claim 1, wherein the positioning device is designed with a thermally, magnetically and/or light-induced controlled device.

9. The pedal array according to claim 1, wherein the positioning device is designed with a magnetohydrodynamically controlled device.

10. The pedal array according to claim 1, wherein the function to be actuated by the actuating element is a braking function.

11. The pedal array according to claim 1, wherein the function to be actuated by the actuating element is an acceleration function.

12. Use of a pedal array according to claim 1 in a motor vehicle.

Description

[0033] An exemplary embodiment of the solution according to the invention is explained below with reference to the appended schematic drawings. The drawings show:

[0034] FIG. 1 a schematic cross-section of an exemplary embodiment of a pedal array according to the invention in the retracted state, and

[0035] FIG. 2 the view according to FIG. 1 in extended state.

[0036] FIGS. 1 through 2 show a highly schematized pedal array 10 of a motor vehicle or vehicle not shown. The pedal array 10 can be used to actuate a braking function and an acceleration function as required. For this purpose, the pedal array 10 comprises a pedal block or a block-shaped actuating element 12, which is completely covered with a flexible surface element 16 in the direction of a merely indicated interior 14 of the vehicle. The flexible surface element 16 has a visible side 18 facing the interior 14 and an inner side 20 opposite the visible side 18. The inner side 20 is in contact with the actuating element 12 and additionally with a surrounding surface or surface 24 formed by means of surroundings 22 of the actuating element 12. The flexible surface element 16 thus covers the surface 24 and the actuating element 12.

[0037] In a first position 26, the actuating element 12 is arranged flush with the surface 24, so that the visible side 18 of the flexible surface element 16 is flat (FIG. 1). Designed in this way, there is a particularly large interior 14 without a bottom step in the first position 26. The first position 26 is a rest position in which the actuating element 12 cannot be actuated or operated by a user of the vehicle.

[0038] If the user or driver wants to actuate the pedal array 10, he moves his foot towards the actuating element 12. The foot's approaching movement is detected by a detection device 28, which in this case is a combination of a camera sensor and a pressure sensor. From there, a detected signal is forwarded to a control device 30, which is coupled to a positioning device 32 in a signal-transmitting manner.

[0039] When a corresponding signal is transmitted from the control device 30 to the positioning device 32, a mode 34 is activated. In this activated mode 34, the actuating element 12 is moved from the first position 26 to a second position 36 by the positioning device 32. The second position 36 is above the surface 24 (FIG. 2). Thus, when the actuating element 12 is positioned in the second position 36, it moves out of a plane of the surface 24 and raises the flexible surface element 16 in the area of the actuating element 12. The visible side 18 thus has a structure in which an actuating area 38 protrudes from the surface 24 in the area of the actuating element 12. In other words, the pedal array 10 creates a morphing surface in which a three-dimensional pedal emerges from the surface 24 as an actuating element 12 as soon as the user approaches it.

[0040] In this protruding, second position 36 of the actuating element 12, the actuating element 12 can be operated as a pedal by the driver. When stepping on the actuating element 12, a braking or accelerating function is transferred to a braking or accelerating device not shown, by exerting pressure. A transmission and control device, which is also not shown, is provided for this purpose and can be a hydraulic system or a brake-by-wire system.

[0041] The positioning device 32 is designed as a pneumatic device 40 with an antagonistically acting pneumatic double actuator. The device 40 comprises a first air cushion 42 arranged below the actuating element 12 and a second air cushion 44 arranged below the first air cushion 42. The two air cushions 42 and 44 each act as an air pocket for alternately absorbing air. In this case, air is contained in a predefined air volume, which is limited by the air cushions 42 and 44, in the two air cushions 42 and 44 as a whole. The air contained in the air volume can be moved back and forth between the two air cushions 42 and 44 as required. For this purpose, a line 46 is provided which connects the two air cushions 42 and 44 in an air-conducting manner, as well as a shut-off element 48 which is arranged in the line 46 and can be opened or closed as required.

[0042] In addition, a first movement element 52 that can be moved back and forth along an axis 50 is arranged above the first air cushion 42 between the first air cushion 42 and the actuating element 12. The first movement element 52 is coupled to the actuating element 12 in its movement. In addition, the first movement element 52 is associated with the first air cushion 42 and, depending on the change in volume of the first air cushion 42, is axially displaceable relative to the axis 50 in the direction of and counter to the direction of the actuating element 12. Two guide elements 54 extending parallel to the axis 50 and each arranged on the outside of the first movement element 52 are provided for guiding. Furthermore, the first movement element 52 is designed as a plate extending transversely to the axis 50, which is displaceably mounted on the guide element 54 on two of its opposite outer sides 56.

[0043] Axially between the first air cushion 42 and the second air cushion 44, a plate-shaped fixed element 58 extending transversely to the axis 50 is provided. The fixed element 58 is statically fixed and therefore not movable in the pedal array 10. Furthermore, an associated second movement element 60 is arranged axially below the second air cushion 44, which is also designed as a plate and is guided axially displaceably on the outside of the two guide elements 54. The second air cushion 44 is thus clamped between the second movement element 60 and the fixed element 58.

[0044] In the first position 26 according to FIG. 1, the second air cushion 44 is filled with considerably more air than the first air cushion 42. When the second moving element 60 is moved in the direction of the fixed element 58, the second air cushion 44 is compressed. This forces the air contained therein through line 46 into the first air cushion 42 when the shut-off element 48 is open. The first air cushion 42 is clamped between the fixed element 58 and the first moving element 52. By means of the statically arranged fixed element 58, the air forcing or flowing into the first air cushion 42 in this way displaces the displaceably arranged first movement element 52 axially in the direction of the actuating element 12. This moves the actuating element 12 correspondingly axially upwards into the interior 14 into its second position 36 as shown in FIG. 2. The flexible surface element 16 is lifted upwards out of the surface 24 in the actuation area 38.

[0045] In this second position 36, the pedal array 10 can be actuated by the driver using the actuating element 12. When pressure is exerted by the driver's foot on the actuation area 38, an air pressure present in the first air cushion 42 is increased, which is detected by means of a pressure sensor not shown and/or alternatively by means of an equalizing volume not shown. Depending on the detected increase in air pressure, a braking process or acceleration process is triggered. Compared to the braking process, the acceleration process requires less pressure from the user and therefore less increase in air pressure in the first air cushion 42. The pneumatic device 40 used as the positioning device 32 thus also serves as a transmission device with which the desired braking function or acceleration function can be transmitted to an associated control device.

[0046] In order to move the actuating element 12 from the second position 36 back to the first position 26, the second air cushion 44 is refilled with air by the first air cushion 42. The second movement element 60 is moved axially downwards and thus away from the actuating element 12. Accordingly, the second air cushion 44 is filled with air from the first air cushion 42 through line 46. This increases the volume of the second air cushion 44. The volume of the first air cushion 42 decreases accordingly, so that the first movement element 52 and, coupled to it, the actuating element 12 are displaced in the direction of the fixed element 58. The actuating element 12 is thus moved back into its first position 26 until a flat visible side 18 is again formed with the surface element 16.

[0047] To control the pneumatic device 40 in this way, the control device 30 coupled to the detection device 28 is coupled in a signal-transmitting manner at least to the shut-off element 48. If required, a signal-transmitting coupling with the second movement element 60 is also provided.

[0048] Furthermore, a further preferred embodiment is provided in which the pneumatic device 40 does not have a closed air system of the two air cushions 42 and 44, as is the case in the exemplary embodiment already described. The further, preferred embodiment largely corresponds to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 2. In contrast, each air cushion 42 and 44 is assigned its own valve, which can be used to release air from the associated air cushion 42 or 44 to the outside. In addition, a central pump is provided through which air can be pumped from the outside alternately into the first air cushion 42 and into the second air cushion 44. When air is pumped into the first air cushion 42, a corresponding amount of air escapes from the other air cushion 44 through the associated valve by opening this valve. The actuating element 12 is thus moved from the first position 26, as shown in FIG. 1, to the second position 36, as shown in FIG. 2. In the opposite direction, the second air cushion 44 is to be filled with air by the central pump, while air is to be released from the first air cushion 42 through the associated valve.