PEDAL SYSTEM

Abstract

A pedal system for a vehicle, a vehicle including such a pedal system, a method for manufacturing such a pedal system and a method for operating such a pedal system. The pedal system includes a pedal arm, a support member, a first locking unit and a second locking unit. The pedal arm is arranged at the support member pivotably around the support member. The first locking unit is arranged at the support member and couplable with the pedal arm to move the pedal arm to a first position. The second locking unit is connected to the pedal arm to release the pedal arm to a second position. The first locking unit is different from the second locking unit.

Claims

1. A pedal system for a vehicle, the pedal system comprising: a pedal arm; a support member; a first locking unit; and a second locking unit; wherein the pedal arm is arranged at the support member pivotably around the support member; wherein the first locking unit is arranged at the support member and couplable with the pedal arm to move the pedal arm to a first position; wherein the second locking unit is connected to the pedal arm to release the pedal arm to a second position; and wherein the first locking unit is different from the second locking unit.

2. The pedal system of claim 1, wherein the first locking unit and the second locking unit are arranged between a floor portion of the vehicle and the pedal arm.

3. The pedal system of claim 1, wherein the first locking unit comprises an actuator and a rod element, the pedal arm comprises a rod coupling element, and the actuator is configured to actuate the rod element in order to couple with the rod coupling element of the pedal arm.

4. The pedal system of claim 3, wherein the rod element comprises a protrusion at an end portion facing the rod coupling element and the rod coupling element comprises a groove formed corresponding to a shape of the protrusion.

5. The pedal system of claim 4, wherein the protrusion of the rod element is ball-shaped and the groove of the rod coupling element has a concave shape.

6. The pedal system of claim 1, wherein the first locking unit is configured to lock the pedal arm in the first position.

7. The pedal system of claim 1, wherein the second locking unit comprises a spring element, the spring element being biased while the pedal arm is in the first position.

8. The pedal system of claim 1, wherein the first locking unit is configured to exert higher force than the second locking unit to the pedal arm.

9. The pedal system of claim 1, wherein the first position is a locked position in which the pedal arm is retracted and the second position is a released position of the pedal arm.

10. The pedal system of claim 3, wherein the actuator of the first locking unit is a step motor configured to gradually release the second locking unit to the second position.

11. The pedal system of claim 3, wherein the rod element of the first locking unit is disconnected from the pedal arm while the pedal arm is in the second position.

12. The pedal system of claim 1, wherein the pedal system is connected to a brake system.

13. A vehicle, comprising: a pedal system, comprising: a pedal arm; a support member; a first locking unit; and a second locking unit; wherein the pedal arm is arranged at the support member pivotably around the support member; wherein the first locking unit is arranged at the support member and couplable with the pedal arm to move the pedal arm to a first position; wherein the second locking unit is connected to the pedal arm to release the pedal arm to a second position; and wherein the first locking unit is different from the second locking unit; and a driver assistance system having an autonomous driving function.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to send a signal to the pedal system for moving the pedal arm to the first position when the autonomous driving function is active to send a signal to the pedal system for releasing the pedal arm to the second position when the autonomous driving function is deactivated.

15. A method for manufacturing a pedal system for a vehicle, the method comprising: arranging a pedal arm at a support member pivotably around the support member; arranging a first locking unit at the support member; and connecting a second locking unit to the pedal arm; wherein the first locking unit is configured to move the pedal arm to a first position; wherein the second locking unit is configured to release the pedal arm to a second position; and wherein the first locking unit is different from the second locking unit.

16. A method for operating a pedal system for a vehicle, wherein the pedal system comprises a pedal arm, a support member, a first locking unit, and a second locking unit, wherein the pedal arm is arranged at the support member pivotably around the support member, wherein the first locking unit is arranged at the support member and couplable with the pedal arm to move the pedal arm to a first position, wherein the second locking unit is connected to the pedal arm to release the pedal arm to a second position, and wherein the first locking unit is different from the second locking unit, and wherein the vehicle comprises a driver assistance system having an autonomous driving function, the method comprising: sending a signal to the first locking unit when the autonomous driving function is activated; actuating the first locking unit to couple the first locking unit with the pedal arm and move the pedal arm to the first position; locking the pedal arm in the first position by means of the first locking unit; sending a signal to the first locking unit when the autonomous driving function is deactivated; and moving the pedal arm to the second position by gradually releasing the second locking unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] Exemplary embodiments will be described in the following with reference to the following drawings.

[0047] FIGS. 1a, 1b, 1c show schematically and exemplarily an embodiment of a pedal system according to the present disclosure.

[0048] FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c show schematically and exemplarily a cut-out objective view of an embodiment of a pedal system according to the present disclosure.

[0049] FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c show schematically and exemplarily an embodiment of a pedal system according to the present disclosure.

[0050] FIGS. 4a, 4b show schematically and exemplarily an embodiment of a pedal system according to the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0051] FIGS. 1a to 1c show a pedal system 1 according to the present disclosure. The pedal system 1 may be connected to a brake system or an accelerator system. The pedal system 1 includes a pedal arm 30, a support member 40, a first locking unit 10 and a second locking unit 20. The pedal arm 30 is arranged at the support member 40, which is attached to a floor portion 50 of the vehicle. The pedal arm 30 is engaged with the support member 40 by a shaft, which forms a rotation axis 32 of the pedal arm 30. Preferably, the rotation axis 32 is arranged at a top portion of the pedal arm 30 such that the substantially entire pedal arm 30 is pivotable around the rotation axis 32 relative to support member 40 and/or the floor portion 50 of the vehicle.

[0052] The first locking unit 10 is arranged at an upper portion of the support member 40 relative to the rotation axis 32 of the pedal arm 30. In other words, the first locking unit 10 is disposed in the support member 40 in an opposite side of an extension direction of the pedal arm 30 relative to the rotation axis 32. The first locking unit 10 includes an electric motor 11 and a rod element 12 connected to the electric motor 11. The electric motor 11 may be, for example a synchronous motor, a servomotor, an electric linear step motor, a DC motor, preferably a step motor. The electric motor 11 is configured to provide press force stepwise, i.e. gradually increasing and/or reducing force applied on the rod element 12.

[0053] The first locking unit 10 may be connected to an electronic control unit (not shown) of the vehicle and may receive a signal from the control unit if an autonomous driving is activated or deactivated. In case of the autonomous driving of the vehicle, the electric motor 11 applies press force on the rod element 12 to advance the rod element 12 in a linear direction. The pedal arm 30 includes a rod coupling element 31 at its top portion to receive the extending rod element 12.

[0054] The rod element 12 includes a ball-shaped protrusion 13 facing the rod coupling element 31. The rod coupling element 31 includes a groove 33, preferably a concave-shaped groove 33 to at least partially surround the ball-shaped protrusion 13 of the rod element 12. Accordingly, the press force exerted by the electric motor 11 and transferred by the rod element 12 may be linearly transferred to the rod coupling element 31 effectively (see FIGS. 2a to 2c).

[0055] After the rod element 12 of the first locking unit 10 is coupled with the rod coupling element 31 of the pedal arm 30, the rod element 12 is further extended to press the rod coupling element 31. Since the pedal arm 30 is pivotably arranged at the support member 40 and the rod element 12 presses the rod coupling element 31 arranged at the top portion of the pedal arm 30, the pedal arm 30 will be pivoted in a direction of the support member 40 and/or the floor portion 50 of the vehicle (see FIG. 1c). In other words, the press force exerted to the pedal arm 30 for stowing the pedal arm 30 is applied in an opposite direction, in which the pedal arm 30 is retracted (see FIG. 1b).

[0056] The electric motor 11 is configured to steadily apply the press force to the rod element 12 such that the pedal arm 30 is securely retracted in the first, i.e. locked position. As a result, more space in a foot area and more comfort can be provided during the autonomous driving of the vehicle.

[0057] The pedal system 1 further includes a second locking unit 20 arranged between the floor portion 50 of the vehicle and the pedal arm 30 same as the first locking unit 10. The second locking unit 20 is connected to the pedal arm 30 and configured to release the pedal arm 30 to a second, i.e. released position. The second locking unit 20 includes a spring element 21 which is biased while the rod element 12 of the first locking unit 10 is coupled with the rod coupling element 31 of the pedal arm 30 and locks the pedal arm 30 in the retracted position. In other words, as the pedal arm 30 moves to the retracted position, the pedal arm 30 presses the spring element 21 in the direction of the floor portion 50 of the vehicle.

[0058] To facilitate pressing the spring element 21 by the pedal arm 30, a spring force of the spring element 21 is smaller than the press force applied to the rod coupling element 31 of the pedal arm 30. For instance, the electric motor 11 may provide press force of 300 N, whereas the spring element 21 may have a spring force of 200 N.

[0059] Since both of the first locking unit 10 and the second locking unit 20 are arranged between the floor portion 50 of the vehicle and the pedal arm 30, no other components of the pedal system 1 besides the pedal arm 30 may be exposed to the foot area of the driver, which allows safe and more comfortable foot area for the driver during the autonomous driving of the vehicle.

[0060] FIGS. 3a to 3c show the pedal system 1 in case the autonomous driving is deactivated. If the electronic control unit of the vehicle provides a signal to the first locking unit 10 that the autonomous driving is deactivated, the electric motor 11 reduces the press force gradually. As shown in FIG. 3b, the rod element 12 of the first locking unit 10 is coupled with the rod coupling element 31, even though the pedal arm 30 is deployed. The press force applied on the pedal arm 30 is still higher than the spring force of the spring element 21 during a deployment of the pedal arm 30 to smoothly release the pedal arm 30 to the second/released position. Accordingly, the spring element 21, which was biased in the locked position of the pedal arm 30, may not be released or bounced rapidly, to avoid any accident. For instance, the complete deployment of the pedal arm 30 may take 10 seconds.

[0061] However, the spring force of the spring element 21 is high enough to push the pedal arm 30 to the released position. The rod element 12 is disconnected from the pedal arm 30, when the pedal arm 30 is completely deployed to the released/manual operating position (see FIG. 3c).

[0062] FIGS. 4a and 4b show a manual operation of the pedal system 1. If the autonomous driving function is deactivated, the rod element 12 of the first locking unit 10 is disconnected from the pedal arm 30 and maintained in the retracted position. Accordingly, the rod element 12 does not interfere a manual operation of the pedal arm 30.

[0063] It has to be noted that embodiments of the disclosure are described with reference to different subject matters. In particular, some embodiments are described with reference to method type claims whereas other embodiments are described with reference to the device type claims. However, a person skilled in the art will gather from the above and the following description that, unless otherwise notified, in addition to any combination of features belonging to one type of subject matter also any combination between features relating to different subject matters is considered to be disclosed with this application. However, all features can be combined providing synergetic effects that are more than the simple summation of the features.

[0064] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing a claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the dependent claims.

[0065] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfil the functions of several items re-cited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are re-cited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.