Foldable pedal device for autonomous vehicles

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a foldable pedal assembly for an autonomous vehicle. In manual driving mode, where the driver is directly operating the vehicle, the pedal pad rotates rearward and pops out into the interior of the vehicle, allowing the driver to manipulate the pedal pad. In autonomous driving mode, where the driver is not directly operating the vehicle, the pedal pad rotates forward and hides in the engine compartment, preventing it from being exposed to the interior and being manipulated by the driver.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a foldable pedal device for an autonomous vehicle, and more particularly, to a foldable pedal device for an autonomous vehicle, in which, in a manual driving mode, a pedal pad protrudes into an interior space to be manipulated by a driver, and in an autonomous driving mode, the pedal pad is introduced into an engine compartment space to prevent the pedal pad from being exposed in the interior space and to prevent the driver from inadvertently manipulating the pedal pad. Background Art

[0002] An autonomous vehicle is an intelligent vehicle that uses autonomous driving technology to automatically drive to a set destination without the driver having to operate the steering wheel, accelerator, brakes, etc. These autonomous vehicles are rapidly developing. To promote their commercialization, autonomous vehicles are now able to choose between a manual driving mode (in which the driver directly operates the vehicle) and an autonomous driving mode (in which the vehicle automatically drives to the destination without the driver's driving operation or manipulation).

[0003] In autonomous driving mode, the driver may wish to rest comfortably in a stretched position. In particular, if pedals (such as the accelerator and brake pedals) located in the space below the driver's seat remain exposed to the vehicle's interior, they may interfere with the driver's rest. Furthermore, in autonomous driving mode where the driver does not need to operate the vehicle's pedals, if the driver operates the pedals, the vehicle controller determines that the driver wishes to terminate autonomous driving mode and directly operate the vehicle, and terminates control of the autonomous driving mode.

[0004] However, since the vehicle's pedals are installed and exposed in the space below the driver's seat, the driver may inadvertently operate the pedals in autonomous driving mode (e.g., by mistake), which may cause an accident depending on road conditions, the distance between vehicles, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new pedal device that exposes the pedal pad in the interior space for driver operation in a manual driving mode in which the driver directly operates the vehicle, and prevents the pedal pad from being exposed in the interior space in autonomous driving mode to prevent mistaken operation of the pedal pad.

[0005] The information disclosed in this section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present disclosure and is not to be regarded as an admission or any form of suggestion that this information constitutes the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a foldable pedal device for an autonomous vehicle. In manual driving mode, where the driver directly operates the vehicle, the pedal pad is exposed to the interior of the vehicle to allow the driver to manipulate the pedal. In autonomous driving mode, the pedal pad is retracted into the engine compartment to prevent exposure to the interior, thereby preventing the driver from manipulating the pedal. This prevents erroneous pedal manipulation, thereby ensuring the driver's comfortable rest and safety in autonomous driving mode.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the above and other purposes can be achieved by providing a foldable pedal device for an autonomous vehicle, which includes a pedal pad and an actuator, wherein the pedal pad is installed to pass through a vehicle body panel, and the vehicle body panel is arranged in the space below the driver's seat to separate the engine compartment space and the interior space, and the pedal pad is configured to be stepped on or otherwise contacted by the driver and switched between a hidden state in which the pedal pad is introduced into the engine compartment space and a pop-up state in which the pedal pad protrudes into the interior space, and the actuator is configured to generate power to rotate the pedal pad so that the pedal pad enters the hidden state or the pop-up state.

[0008] The foldable step device may further include a step housing fixedly mounted relative to the vehicle body panel within the engine compartment. A hinge shaft may be formed at a lower end of the step pad and rotatably coupled to the step housing. The step pad may be mounted such that an upper end portion of the step pad is rotatable in a front-to-rear direction about a hinge shaft formed at a lower end of the step pad.

[0009] When the pedal pad is rotated forward about a hinge axis formed at its lower end, it can enter a hidden state, in which it is introduced into the engine compartment space. When the pedal pad is rotated backward about a hinge axis formed at its lower end, it can enter a pop-up state, in which it protrudes into the interior space.

[0010] The foldable pedal device may further include a pad spring installed so that a first end of the pad spring is supported by the pedal housing and a second end of the pedal pad is supported by the pedal pad. When the driver steps on the pedal pad, the pedal pad rotates forward about the hinge axis, and the pad spring is compressed and accumulates elastic force. When the driver releases the pedal pad, the pedal pad rotates backward due to the elastic force accumulated in the pad spring and returns to its original position.

[0011] The pad spring may include a first spring and a second spring having different elastic forces. The pedal pad may include a spring seat groove formed therein and open in a forward direction. The second end of the pad spring may be inserted into and supported by the spring seat groove. The pedal pad may include a main body portion that passes through a panel hole formed in a vehicle body panel, a rear surface formed to cover the rear side of the main body portion and to be engaged by the driver, and a front surface formed to cover the front side of the main body portion. The total size of each of the rear and front surfaces of the pedal pad may be set to be larger than the size of the panel hole, so that the rear and front surfaces seal the panel hole when the pedal pad is in a hidden state or a pop-up state.

[0012] The top and bottom surfaces of the main body may be formed into an arc shape extending in a circumferential direction around the hinge axis, and the top surface may be formed to be longer than the bottom surface. The actuator may include a direct drive motor fixedly mounted in the pedal housing, a plunger linearly pulled or pushed by the operation of the direct drive motor, and a plunger spring mounted to support the plunger. The pad operating component may be integrally formed with the hinge axis and may protrude into the pedal housing. The plunger may contact the pad operating component in both the hidden state and the pop-up state of the pedal pad.

[0013] The spring force of the plunger spring can be set to be greater than the spring force of the pad spring. When power is supplied to the direct drive motor, the plunger is pulled to be inserted into the direct drive motor, the plunger spring is compressed and accumulates spring force, and the pedal pad rotates backward around the hinge axis under the spring force of the pad spring and pops out in the interior space.

[0014] When the power supply to the direct-drive motor is blocked, the plunger protrudes from the direct-drive motor due to the elastic force of the plunger spring. The plunger pushes the pad operating component, causing the pedal pad to rotate forward about the hinge axis. The pad spring compresses and accumulates elastic force, allowing the pedal pad to be hidden in the engine compartment. The foldable pedal device may also include a non-contact pedal sensor fixedly mounted in the pedal housing and having a printed circuit board disposed therein, a hinge shaft protrusion protruding from the hinge axis toward the non-contact pedal sensor, and a permanent magnet coupled to the hinge shaft protrusion so as to face the non-contact pedal sensor.

[0015] The contactless pedal sensor may be configured to detect the rotational angle of the pedal pad by detecting the magnetic field strength that changes as the rotational position of the permanent magnet changes when the pedal pad rotates, and to generate an acceleration-related signal or a braking-related signal. Furthermore, the contactless pedal sensor may be configured to control the power supply to the direct-drive motor. When the pedal pad rotates and the position of the permanent magnet changes due to movement of the plunger in response to operation of the direct-drive motor, the contactless pedal sensor may not generate the acceleration-related signal or the braking-related signal, thereby preventing erroneous operation.

[0016] The contactless pedal sensor can be configured to generate an acceleration-related signal or a braking-related signal only when the driver manipulates the pedal pad in its popped-up state while the direct drive motor is not operating, and the position of the permanent magnet changes due to the pedal pad's rotation. The pedal pad can be a component of either the accelerator pedal assembly or the brake pedal assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a foldable step device for an autonomous vehicle according to the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 2 According to the present disclosure Figure 1 The connection perspective of

[0020] Figure 3 According to the present disclosure Figure 2 a rear view of the foldable step assembly with a portion of the body panel and the step housing removed;

[0021] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 , a cross-sectional view showing a pop-up state in which the pedal pad according to the present disclosure protrudes into an interior space;

[0022] Figure 5 It is shown that according to the present disclosure Figure 4 A view of the normal rotation operation of the pedal pad; and

[0023] Figure 6 It is shown that according to the present disclosure Figure 4 The pedal pads are introduced into the engine compartment space in a hidden state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] It should be understood that the term "vehicle" or "vehicular" or other similar terms used in this document include general motor vehicles, such as passenger cars including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including various boats and ships, aircraft, etc., and include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, combustion plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other alternative fuel (e.g., fuels extracted from resources other than petroleum) vehicles.

[0025] Although the exemplary embodiments are described as using multiple units to perform the exemplary processes, it should be understood that the exemplary processes can also be performed by one or more modules. In addition, it should be understood that the term controller / control unit refers to a hardware device that includes a memory and a processor and is specifically programmed to perform the processes described herein. The memory is configured to store the modules, and the processor is specifically configured to execute the modules to complete one or more processes described further below.

[0026] The terms used herein are used only to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that the terms "include" and / or "including" used in this specification specify the presence of the stated features, quantities, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0027] Hereinafter, a foldable step device for an autonomous driving vehicle according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, a foldable pedal device for an autonomous vehicle according to the present disclosure may include a pedal pad 100, which is installed to pass through a vehicle body panel 10, and the vehicle body panel 10 is arranged in a space below a driver's seat to separate an engine compartment space and an interior space, and the pedal pad 100 is installed to be stepped on by a driver and is switchable between a hidden state (the pedal pad 100 is introduced into the engine compartment space) and a pop-up state (the pedal pad 100 protrudes into the interior space), and the foldable pedal device also includes an actuator 200, which is configured to generate power to rotate the pedal pad 100 so that the pedal pad 100 enters a hidden state or a pop-up state.

[0029] The vehicle body panel 10, which is provided below the driver's seat to separate the engine compartment space from the interior space, may be a carpet-covered surface. The exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a pedal housing 300, which is fixedly mounted relative to the vehicle body panel 10 so as to be located in the engine compartment space. The pedal housing 300 may include a left housing 310 and a right housing 320, which are provided separately from each other. The pedal housing 300 may include an empty interior space for accommodating the actuator 200 and a non-contact sensor, which will be described below.

[0030] The pedal pad 100 may include a hinge shaft 400 formed integrally therewith. The hinge shaft 400 may be formed at the lower end of the pedal pad 100 and rotatably connected to the pedal housing 300. The pedal pad 100 may be installed so that the upper end of the pedal pad 100 can rotate in the front-to-rear direction around the hinge shaft 400 formed at the lower end of the pedal pad. When the pedal pad 100 rotates forward around the hinge shaft 400 formed at the lower end of the pedal pad, the pedal pad 100 enters a hidden state. In the hidden state, the pedal pad 100 is introduced into the engine compartment space. When the pedal pad 100 rotates backward around the hinge shaft 400, the pedal pad 100 enters a pop-up state, in which the pedal pad 100 protrudes into the interior space.

[0031] The exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a cushion spring 500, which is installed so that a first end of the cushion spring 500 is supported by the pedal housing 300 and a second end of the cushion spring 500 is supported by the pedal pad 100. When the driver steps on the pedal pad 100, the pedal pad 100 rotates forward about the hinge shaft 400, and the cushion spring 500 is compressed and accumulates elastic force. When the driver releases the pedal pad 100, the pedal pad 100 rotates backward under the action of the accumulated elastic force of the cushion spring 500 and returns to its original position.

[0032] The pedal force can be adjusted by adjusting the elastic force of the pad spring 500. In addition, to prevent slight vibrations of the pedal pad 100, the pad spring 500 may include a first spring 510 and a second spring 520 having different elastic forces. However, the number of springs in the pad spring 500 is not limited to two. The spring pad 500 may be a compression coil spring.

[0033] The pedal pad 100 may include a spring seat groove 110 formed therein, and the spring seat groove 110 is open in the forward direction. The second end of the cushion spring 500 can be inserted into the spring seat groove 110 for support. Therefore, the cushion spring 500 can be more stably installed. The pedal pad 100 may include a main body 120 that passes through a panel hole 11 formed in the vehicle body panel 10, a rear surface 130 that covers the rear side of the main body 120 and is designed to be stepped on by the driver, and a front surface 140 that covers the front side of the main body 120.

[0034] The spring seat groove 110 may be formed as a concave groove in the main body portion 120 and may be open in the forward direction through the front surface 140. The total size of each of the rear surface 130 and the front surface 140 of the pedal pad 100 may be set to be larger than the size of the panel hole 11 formed on the vehicle body panel 10. Therefore, when the pedal pad 100 is in the hidden state or the pop-up state, the rear surface 130 or the front surface 140 of the pedal pad 100 seals the panel hole 11.

[0035] When the pedal pad 100 is rotated forward about the hinge shaft 400 and introduced into the engine compartment space in a hidden state, the rear surface 130 of the pedal pad 100 contacts the vehicle body panel 10 and seals the panel hole 11. When the pedal pad 100 is rotated backward about the hinge shaft 400 and protrudes into the interior space in a pop-up state, the front surface 140 of the pedal pad 100 contacts the vehicle body panel 10 and seals the panel hole 11.

[0036] When the pedal pad 100 is in the hidden state or the popped-up state, the rear surface 130 or the front surface 140 of the pedal pad 100 seals the panel hole 11, thereby preventing foreign matter from entering the panel hole 11 and ensuring smooth operation of the pedal pad 100. In addition, since the rear surface 130 or the front surface 140 of the pedal pad 100 seals the panel hole 11 by contacting the vehicle body panel 10, the rear surface 130 or the front surface 140 of the pedal pad 100 also functions as a stopper for adjusting the rotation angle of the pedal pad 100.

[0037] In the pedal pad 100, the top surface 121 and the bottom surface 122 of the main body 120 may be formed into an arc shape extending in a circumferential direction about the hinge shaft 400. In the structure of the pedal pad 100, the upper end portion of the pedal pad 100 rotates in the front-to-rear direction about the hinge shaft 400 formed at the lower end of the pedal pad 100, and the main body 120 of the pedal pad 100 passes through the panel hole 11 of the vehicle body panel 10. Since the top surface 121 and the bottom surface 122 of the main body 120 may be formed into an arc shape extending in the circumferential direction about the hinge shaft 400, it is possible to minimize the gap formed between the top surface 121 and the panel hole 11 or the gap formed between the bottom surface 122 and the panel hole 11, thereby improving the matching with the vehicle body panel 10 and minimizing the introduction of foreign matter.

[0038] The actuator 200 according to the present disclosure may include a straight-driving motor 210 fixedly installed in a pedal housing 300, a plunger 220 linearly pulled or pushed by the operation of the direct-driving motor 210, and a plunger spring 230 installed to support the plunger 220. The direct-driving motor 210 may be implemented as a linear motor and may be electrically connected to a power source.

[0039] According to the present disclosure, the pad operating member 600 may be integrally formed with the hinge shaft 400. The pad operating member 600 may protrude into the pedal housing 300. The plunger 220 is always in contact with the pedal operating member 600 in both the hidden and popped-up states of the pedal pad 100. The elastic force of the plunger spring 230 of the actuator 200 may be set to be greater than the elastic force of the pad spring 500. Therefore, the pedal pad 100 can enter the popped-up state while the elastic force of the plunger spring 230 overcomes the elastic force of the pad spring 500.

[0040] The exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a contactless pedal sensor 700 fixedly mounted in the pedal housing 300, a hinge shaft protrusion 800 protruding from the hinge shaft 400 toward the contactless pedal sensor 700, and a permanent magnet 900 coupled to the hinge shaft protrusion 800 so as to face the contactless pedal sensor 700. The contactless pedal sensor 700 may include a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed in the contactless pedal sensor 700 so as to face the permanent magnet 900. The PCB is electrically connected to a power source (e.g., a battery) via a wire.

[0041] When the pedal pad 100 rotates about the hinge shaft 400, the hinge shaft protrusion 800 connected to the hinge shaft 400 rotates, and the rotational position of the permanent magnet 900 coupled to the hinge shaft protrusion 800 changes. In particular, the non-contact pedal sensor 700 can be configured to detect the rotation angle of the pedal pad 100 through the magnetic field strength that changes as the rotational position of the permanent magnet 900 changes, and generate a signal related to acceleration or a signal related to braking.

[0042] Furthermore, the contactless pedal sensor 700 can be configured to control the power supply to the direct drive motor 210 constituting the actuator 200. Compared to contact sensors directly connected to other components via a link, etc., the contactless pedal sensor 700 can advantageously reduce operating noise and further improve the accuracy of the output signal. The pedal pad 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can be configured as a component of an accelerator pedal device or as one of the components of a brake pedal device.

[0043] Figure 2 and Figure 4 The pedal pad 100 is shown in a pop-up state, rotating backward and protruding into the indoor space. When power is supplied to the direct-drive motor 210 through the control function of the contactless pedal sensor 700, the plunger 220 is pulled (e.g., moved leftward) to be inserted into the direct-drive motor 210, and the plunger spring 230 is compressed and accumulates elastic force. Simultaneously, the pedal pad 100 rotates backward about the hinge axis 400 under the elastic force of the pad spring 500, protruding into the indoor space and in a pop-up state.

[0044] like Figure 4 As shown, when the pedal pad 100 is in the popped-up state, the pedal pad 100 protrudes from the vehicle body panel 10 into the interior space, and the driver can perform normal maneuvers by stepping on the rear surface 130 of the popped-up pedal pad 100 . Figure 5 A state is shown in which the driver steps on the pedal pad 100 popped up in the interior space and pushes forward.

[0045] When the driver steps on the pedal pad 100 that pops up in the interior space, the pedal pad 100 rotates forward about the hinge shaft 400, compressing the pad spring 500 and causing the pad operating member 600 to rotate backward and away from the plunger 220. Simultaneously, due to the rotation of the pedal pad 100, the hinge shaft protrusion 800 connected to the hinge shaft 400 rotates, and the rotational position of the permanent magnet 900 coupled to the hinge shaft protrusion 800 changes. Specifically, the contactless pedal sensor 700 can be configured to detect the rotational angle of the pedal pad 100 by varying the magnetic field strength as the rotational position of the permanent magnet 900 changes, and to generate a signal related to acceleration or braking.

[0046] Figure 6 The pedal pad 100 is shown in a hidden state in which it is rotated forward to be hidden in the engine compartment space and thus prevented from being exposed in the interior space. When the power supply to the direct drive motor 210 is blocked by the control function of the contactless pedal sensor 700, the plunger 220 can protrude from (e.g., move to the right) the direct drive motor 210 by the elastic force of the plunger spring 230, and the pad operating member 600 can be pushed by the plunger 230. As a result, the pedal pad 100 rotates forward around the hinge shaft 400, and the pad spring 500 can be compressed and accumulate elastic force. Therefore, the pedal pad 100 can be hidden in the engine compartment space.

[0047] like Figure 6 As shown, when the pedal pad 100 is in the hidden state, the space under the driver's seat is increased, so the driver can rest comfortably in the relaxation mode without being disturbed by the pedals. In addition, safety can be ensured by preventing the pedals from being mistakenly operated in the automatic driving mode.

[0048] The exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is characterized in that when the pedal pad 100 rotates and the position of the permanent magnet 900 changes due to the plunger 220 responding to the operation of the direct drive motor 210 to perform linear movement, the non-contact pedal sensor 700 does not generate an acceleration-related signal or a brake-related signal to prevent accidents caused by erroneous manipulation of the pedal. In other words, when the pedal pad 100 enters the position due to the operation of the actuator 200, Figure 4 The pop-up state shown or Figure 6 In the hidden state shown, although the position of the permanent magnet 900 is changed, the non-contact pedal sensor 700 does not generate an acceleration-related signal or a braking-related signal, thereby preventing accidents caused by erroneous pedal manipulation.

[0049] However, if Figure 5As shown, the contactless pedal sensor 700 can be configured to generate an acceleration-related signal or a braking-related signal only when the driver manipulates the pop-up pedal pad 100 in a state where the actuator 200 is not operated and the position of the permanent magnet 900 changes due to the rotation of the pedal pad 100, thereby further ensuring stable operation.

[0050] As can be seen from the above description, according to the foldable pedal device for an autonomous vehicle of the present disclosure, in a manual driving mode in which the driver directly operates the vehicle, the pedal pad 100 rotates backward and pops up in the interior space through the operation of the actuator 200 to allow the driver to manipulate the pedal pad 100, and in an autonomous driving mode in which the driver does not directly operate the vehicle, the pedal pad 100 rotates forward and is hidden in the engine compartment space through the operation of the actuator 200 to prevent exposure to the interior space and prevent manipulation by the driver. Therefore, the driver can rest comfortably in the autonomous driving mode. In addition, safety can be ensured by preventing erroneous manipulation of the pedals in the autonomous driving mode.

[0051] Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A foldable pedal device for an autonomous vehicle, comprising: a pedal pad installed so as to penetrate a vehicle body panel provided in a space below a driver's seat to separate an engine compartment space from an interior space, the pedal pad being installed so as to be stepped on by a driver and switching between a concealed state in which the pedal pad is introduced into the engine compartment space and a pop-up state in which the pedal pad protrudes into the interior space; as well as an actuator that generates power to rotate the pedal pad so that the pedal pad enters the hidden state or the pop-up state, The pedal pad comprises: a main body portion extending through a panel hole formed in the vehicle body panel; a rear surface covering a rear side of the main body portion and being stepped on by a driver; and a front surface covering the front side of the main body portion, Wherein, the total size of each of the rear surface and the front surface of the pedal pad is set to be larger than the size of the panel hole, so that the rear surface or the front surface seals the panel hole in the hidden state or pop-up state of the pedal pad.

2. The foldable pedal device according to claim 1, further comprising: a pedal housing fixedly mounted relative to the vehicle body panel in the engine compartment space, wherein a hinge shaft is formed at a lower end of the pedal pad and rotatably coupled to the pedal housing, and The pedal pad is installed so that an upper end portion of the pedal pad is rotatable in a front-rear direction about the hinge shaft formed at a lower end of the pedal pad.

3. The foldable pedal device according to claim 2, wherein: When the pedal pad is rotated forward about the hinge shaft formed at the lower end of the pedal pad, the pedal pad enters a hidden state in which the pedal pad is introduced into the engine compartment space.

4. The foldable pedal device according to claim 2, wherein: When the pedal pad is rotated backward about the hinge shaft formed at the lower end of the pedal pad, the pedal pad enters a pop-up state in which the pedal pad protrudes into the indoor space.

5. The foldable pedal device according to claim 2, further comprising: a pad spring having a first end supported by the pedal housing and a second end supported by the pedal pad, When the driver steps on the pedal pad, the pedal pad rotates forward around the hinge axis, and the pad spring is compressed and accumulates elastic force, and When the pedal pad is released, the pedal pad rotates backward by the elastic force accumulated in the pad spring and returns to an original position.

6. The foldable pedal device according to claim 5, wherein: The pad spring includes a first spring and a second spring having elastic forces different from each other.

7. The foldable pedal device according to claim 5, wherein: A spring seat groove formed to be open in a forward direction is included in an interior of the pedal pad, and the second end of the pad spring is inserted into and supported by the spring seat groove.

8. The foldable pedal device according to claim 2, wherein: A top surface and a bottom surface of the main body portion are formed in an arc shape extending in a circumferential direction around the hinge axis, and the top surface is longer than the bottom surface.

9. The foldable pedal device according to claim 5, wherein: The actuator comprises: a direct drive motor fixedly mounted in the pedal housing; a plunger that is linearly pulled or pushed by operation of the direct drive motor; and Plunger spring, support plunger, wherein the pad operating member is integrally formed with the hinge shaft and protrudes into the pedal housing, and The plunger is in contact with the pad operating member in the hidden state and the popped-up state of the pedal pad.

10. The foldable pedal device according to claim 9, wherein: The elastic force of the plunger spring is set to be greater than the elastic force of the pad spring.

11. The foldable pedal device according to claim 9, wherein: When power is supplied to the direct drive motor, the plunger is pulled to be inserted into the direct drive motor, the plunger spring is compressed and accumulates elastic force, and the pedal pad rotates backward around the hinge axis under the elastic force of the pad spring and pops out in the indoor space.

12. The foldable pedal device according to claim 9, wherein: When the power supply of the direct drive motor is blocked, the plunger protrudes from the direct drive motor by the elastic force of the plunger spring, the plunger pushes the pad operating part, the pedal pad rotates forward around the hinge axis, the pad spring is compressed and accumulates elastic force, and the pedal pad is hidden in the engine compartment space.

13. The foldable pedal assembly according to claim 9, further comprising: a non-contact pedal sensor fixedly mounted in the pedal housing, wherein a printed circuit board is provided inside the non-contact pedal sensor; a hinge shaft protrusion protruding from the hinge shaft toward the contactless pedal sensor; as well as A permanent magnet is coupled to the hinge shaft protrusion to face the non-contact pedal sensor.

14. The foldable pedal device according to claim 13, wherein: The non-contact pedal sensor is configured to detect the rotation angle of the pedal pad by changing the magnetic field strength as the rotation position of the permanent magnet changes when the pedal pad rotates, and generate an acceleration-related signal or a braking-related signal, and the non-contact pedal sensor is used to control the power supply to the direct drive motor.

15. The foldable pedal device according to claim 13, wherein: When the pedal pad rotates and the position of the permanent magnet changes as the plunger moves in response to the operation of the direct drive motor, the non-contact pedal sensor does not generate an acceleration-related signal or a braking-related signal to prevent erroneous operation.

16. The foldable pedal device according to claim 13, wherein: The contactless pedal sensor is configured to generate an acceleration-related signal or a braking-related signal only when the driver manipulates the pedal pad in the pop-up state while the direct drive motor is not in operation and the position of the permanent magnet changes due to the rotation of the pedal pad.

17. The foldable pedal device according to claim 1, wherein: The pedal pad is one of the components of an accelerator pedal device, or one of the components of a brake pedal device.

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