Foldable step device for a vehicle

Abstract

Disclosed is a foldable pedal device for a vehicle, including: a pedal housing rotatably coupled to a foot pedal member disposed below a driver's seat, configured to be in contact with a front inclined surface of the foot pedal member when rotated forward, and configured to be in contact with a bottom surface of the foot pedal member when rotated backward; a brake pedal pad rotatably coupled to the pedal housing and configured to be rotated by a driver; and an accelerator pedal pad rotatably coupled to the pedal housing and configured to be rotated by a driver; wherein when the pedal housing is in contact with the front inclined surface of the foot pedal member by rotating forward, the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad are folded to be located between the front inclined surface and the pedal housing, and remain in a hidden state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a foldable pedal device for vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] The statements in this section are provided only as background information relating to the invention and do not constitute prior art.

[0003] Autonomous vehicles are developing rapidly. They are intelligent vehicles that use autonomous driving technology and can reach their destination on their own even if the driver does not operate the steering wheel, accelerator pedal, brakes, etc.

[0004] Even when autonomous driving is in general, the driver can choose between manual driving mode and autonomous driving mode. In manual driving mode, the driver drives manually, while in autonomous driving mode, the vehicle travels to its destination on its own without the driver having to drive manually.

[0005] In autonomous driving mode, the driver should be able to rest in a comfortable position with their legs extended. However, if the pedals (accelerator and brake pedals) located under the driver's seat remain exposed, they will interfere with the driver's rest.

[0006] Furthermore, the driver does not operate the pedals (accelerator and brake pedals) in a vehicle in autonomous driving mode. However, if the driver operates the pedals during autonomous driving, the vehicle control unit determines that the driver wants to stop autonomous driving and drive manually, thereby ceasing control of autonomous driving.

[0007] However, because the pedals are installed in the vehicle and exposed under the driver's seat, the driver may unintentionally operate the pedals in autonomous driving mode (accidental pedal operation). In this case, depending on road conditions, distance between vehicles, etc., an accident may occur.

[0008] Therefore, it is desirable to develop a pedal device that exposes the pedal pad to the driver so that the driver can operate the pedal pad in manual driving mode, and that can hide the pedal pad so that the driver cannot operate the pedal pad in autonomous driving mode, thereby allowing the driver to rest comfortably and ensuring safety (e.g., preventing accidental operation).

[0009] The above description of the related technologies of the present invention is only for the purpose of helping to understand the background of the present invention, and should not be construed as including them in the related technologies known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The present invention provides a foldable pedal device for a vehicle, wherein in manual driving mode where the driver is manually driving, the pedal pad protrudes from the pedal housing to be exposed to the driver (pop-up state), allowing the driver to operate the pedal pad, and in automatic driving mode, the pedal pad is inserted into the pedal housing and is not exposed to the driver (hidden state), preventing the driver from operating the pedal pad, thereby allowing the driver to rest comfortably in automatic driving mode, and improving safety by preventing accidental pedal operation in automatic driving mode.

[0011] The present invention provides a foldable pedal device for a vehicle, wherein when the pedal pad moves from a hidden state to a pop-up state, the amount of pop-up of the pedal pad (the distance the pedal pad moves backward) can be increased, thereby making it easier and more convenient for the driver to operate the pedal pad when the automatic driving mode has been changed to the manual driving mode.

[0012] The present invention provides a foldable pedal device for vehicles, wherein the amount of pedal pad ejection can be increased without using a guide rail structure, thereby eliminating the need for separate guide rail installation space and preventing malfunctions caused by foreign objects getting stuck in the guide rail.

[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, a foldable pedal device for a vehicle includes: a pedal housing rotatably coupled to a foot pedal member disposed under a driver's seat and configured to contact a forward-sloping surface of the foot pedal member when rotated forward and a bottom surface of the foot pedal member when rotated backward; and a brake pedal pad and an accelerator pedal pad rotatably coupled to the pedal housing and rotated by the driver, wherein when the pedal housing contacts the forward-sloping surface of the foot pedal member by forward rotation, the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad fold between the forward-sloping surface and the pedal housing and remain in a concealed state not exposed to the driver.

[0014] When the pedal housing contacts the bottom surface of the foot pedal component by rotating backward, the brake pedal pad and accelerator pedal pad can be deployed at a predetermined angle relative to the pedal housing and can remain in a popped-up state exposed to the driver.

[0015] The first end of the pedal housing can be rotatably connected to the pedal assembly via a connecting pin at the junction between the bottom surface of the pedal assembly and the forward inclined surface.

[0016] The hinge pin can be connected to the second end of the pedal housing and can be configured to pass through the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad, so that the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad can rotate independently on the hinge pin.

[0017] The foldable pedal device may include: a rotary motor fixed to a foot pedal component and including a motor gear; a rotary cam assembly including a cam gear meshing with the motor gear; a pedal housing gear disposed in a pedal housing and meshing with the motor gear; a first spring assembly including a first end rotatably connected to a brake pedal pad; a second spring assembly including a first end rotatably connected to an accelerator pedal pad; a first linear motion block including a first end rotatably connected to a second end of the first spring assembly; and a second linear motion block including a first end rotatably connected to a second end of the second spring assembly; wherein, depending on the rotation of the rotary cam assembly, the rotary cam assembly, the first linear motion block, and the second linear motion block may be connected to each other by contacting each other, or may be disconnected from each other by separating them.

[0018] The foldable pedal assembly may further include a protective cover fixed to the pedal component and configured to cover and protect the rotary motor and rotary cam assembly.

[0019] The rotary cam assembly may include: a camshaft integrally formed with the cam gear through the center of the cam gear; a first cam block eccentrically connected to a first end of the camshaft; and a second cam block eccentrically connected to a second end of the camshaft; wherein an arcuate groove may be formed at the first end of the first cam block and the second cam block, and may contact the first linear motion block and the second linear motion block when the rotary cam assembly rotates.

[0020] Each spring assembly may include a cylinder, a rod, and springs at both ends supported by the cylinder and the rod; the length of the spring assembly may be changed by moving the rod through the cylinder, and the spring assembly may be configured as two parts having the same construction and may be connected to the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad respectively.

[0021] The second ends of the first linear motion block and the second linear motion block can be arc-shaped protrusions with shapes corresponding to the arc-shaped grooves of the cam block, and the arc-shaped grooves and arc-shaped protrusions can come into contact with each other by the rotation of the rotating cam assembly.

[0022] The foldable pedal device may further include a guide plate connected to the protective cover and configured to support the first and second linear motion blocks and guide the linear motion blocks to move linearly.

[0023] When the pedal housing contacts the forward-sloping surface of the pedal component by rotating forward, the pedal housing may include an upper opening and a lower opening, and is configured to be open vertically relative to the pedal component, such that foreign objects entering the pedal housing can be discharged through the upper opening and the lower opening.

[0024] When the pedal housing contacts the forward-sloping surface of the pedal component by rotating forward, and the brake pedal pad and accelerator pedal pad are folded between the forward-sloping surface and the pedal housing and are not exposed to the driver in a concealed state, the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad can be opened downward relative to the pedal housing, so that foreign objects entering the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad can be discharged through the lower opening.

[0025] When the pedal housing, which is in contact with the bottom surface of the pedal assembly, rotates forward, the top of the brake pedal pad and the top of the accelerator pedal pad may contact the forward inclined surface of the pedal assembly; when the top of the brake pedal pad and the top of the accelerator pedal pad contact the forward inclined surface of the pedal assembly, the angle between the pedal housing and the brake pedal pad and the angle between the pedal housing and the accelerator pedal pad may be the same acute angle.

[0026] When the pedal housing, which is in contact with the bottom surface of the pedal assembly, rotates forward, the tops of the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad can contact the forward-sloping surface of the pedal assembly; the tops of both the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad can be circular, such that when the tops of the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad contact the forward-sloping surface of the pedal assembly, the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad can be folded into the pedal housing.

[0027] When the pedal housing is rotated backward to contact the bottom surface of the pedal component and the brake pedal pad and accelerator pedal pad are folded into a pop-up state and exposed to the driver, the lower ends of the brake pedal pad and the lower ends of the accelerator pedal pad can contact the upward protrusion at the rear end of the pedal housing, and their initial positions in the pop-up state can be fixed.

[0028] The foldable pedal device may further include: a first permanent magnet connected to a hinged portion of the brake pedal pad; a second permanent magnet connected to a hinged portion of the accelerator pedal pad; and a PCB fixed to the pedal housing and facing the first and second permanent magnets; wherein the PCB can detect the rotation angle of the brake pedal pad or the accelerator pedal pad, and can generate a signal related to pedal function based on the change in magnetic flux of the first and second permanent magnets when the brake pedal pad or the accelerator pedal pad rotates.

[0029] When the pedal housing rotates due to the operation of the rotary motor, the position of the permanent magnet changes, and the brake pedal pad and accelerator pedal pad rotate into a hidden or popped state, the PCB will not generate signals related to the pedal function to prevent misoperation.

[0030] With the brake pedal pad and accelerator pedal pad in the pop-up state and the rotary motor not running, the PCB can only generate signals related to the pedal function when the position of the permanent magnet changes due to the driver rotating the brake pedal pad or accelerator pedal pad.

[0031] According to the foldable pedal device of the present invention, in the manual driving mode where the driver manually operates the pedals, the brake pedal pad and accelerator pedal pad protrude from the pedal housing to enter a pop-up state and are exposed to the driver, allowing the driver to operate the brake pedal pad and accelerator pedal pad. Furthermore, in the automatic driving mode where the driver does not manually operate the pedals, the brake pedal pad and accelerator pedal pad are inserted into the pedal housing to enter a hidden state and are not exposed to the driver. Therefore, it has the following effects: the driver can comfortably rest in automatic driving mode, and safety can be improved by preventing accidental pedal operation in automatic driving mode.

[0032] Furthermore, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention has the following effect since the brake pedal pad and accelerator pedal pad are completely covered and hidden by the pedal housing in the hidden state: it can provide an excellent design, in particular, it can prevent damage to the brake pedal pad and accelerator pedal pad even if the driver unintentionally stretches out his foot and hits the pedal housing.

[0033] Furthermore, when the foldable pedal device according to the invention changes from a hidden state to a pop-up state, the pop-up amount of the brake pedal pad and accelerator pedal pad can be increased by the distance the pedal housing rotates backward on the connecting pin. Therefore, it has the effect that when changing from automatic driving mode to manual driving mode, the driver can operate the brake pedal pad and accelerator pedal pad more easily and conveniently.

[0034] Furthermore, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention has the following effects: since the amount of rebound of the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad can be increased without using a guide rail structure, no separate guide rail installation space is required, and in particular, malfunctions caused by foreign objects getting stuck in the guide rail can be prevented.

[0035] Other areas of application will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that this specification and specific examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0036] To better understand this disclosure, its various forms will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0037] Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of a foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0038] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 An assembled perspective view of the device shown, in which the brake pedal and accelerator pedal are hidden;

[0039] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Side view;

[0040] Figure 4 Showing from Figure 3 A view showing the state after the protective cover has been removed;

[0041] Figure 5 Show Figure 2 The image shows an internal view of the pedal housing;

[0042] Figure 6 Show Figure 5 The internal view of the brake pedal and accelerator pedal shown;

[0043] Figure 7 A view showing the brake pedal and accelerator pedal in a popped-up state according to one form of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 8 For what is seen from the front Figure 7 The view;

[0045] Figure 9 for Figure 2 Side view;

[0046] Figure 10 Showing from Figure 8 A view showing the state of the foot pedal assembly and protective cover after removal;

[0047] Figure 11 A perspective view of a foot pedal component combined with a protective cover according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0048] Figure 12 An exploded perspective view of a rotary cam assembly, a spring assembly, and a linear motion block according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 13 A view showing a linear motion block and guide plate according to one form of the present invention; and

[0050] Figure 14 The diagram shows a state of one form of the invention, wherein when the pop-up state changes to the hidden state, the top of the brake pedal and the top of the accelerator pedal are in contact with the forward-sloping surface of the pedal component.

[0051] The accompanying drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Detailed Implementation

[0052] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention, application, or use. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals denote similar or corresponding parts and features.

[0053] In the following description, the structural or functional descriptions of exemplary forms detailed according to the concept of the invention are intended to describe exemplary forms, and therefore it should be understood that the invention can be formed in various ways and is not limited to the exemplary forms.

[0054] The forms described herein can vary in various ways and shapes, and therefore specific forms are shown in the accompanying drawings and will be described in detail in this specification. However, it should be understood that exemplary forms of the invention are not limited to those described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, and all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives are included within the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0055] It will be understood that although the terms first, second, etc., will be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element discussed below may be referred to as a second element without departing from the proper scope of the invention. Similarly, a second element may also be referred to as a first element.

[0056] It should be understood that when an element is referred to as "connected to" or "attached to" another element, it can be directly connected to or directly attached to the other element, or connected to or attached to the other element with other elements in between. Conversely, it should be understood that when an element is referred to as "directly connected to" or "directly attached to" another element, it can be connected to or attached to the other element without any other elements in between. Furthermore, the terms used herein to describe relationships between elements—namely, "between," "directly between," "adjacent to," or "directly adjacent to"—should be interpreted in the same manner as described above.

[0057] The terminology used in this invention is for describing specific exemplary forms only and is not intended to limit the invention. Singular forms are intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprising / including" or "having" as used herein indicate the presence of the stated features, values, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, values, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0058] Unless otherwise specified, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It must be understood that dictionary definitions of terms have the same meaning within the context of the relevant art, and they should not be idealized or overly formalized unless the context explicitly states otherwise.

[0059] The control unit (controller) according to an exemplary form of the invention may be implemented using a non-volatile memory (not shown) and a processor (not shown), the non-volatile memory being configured to store algorithms for controlling the operation of various components of the vehicle or data regarding software instructions for executing these algorithms, and the processor being configured to use the data stored in the memory to perform the operations described below. The memory and processor may be separate chips. Alternatively, the memory and processor may be integrated into a single chip. The processor may be implemented as one or more processors.

[0060] A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to an exemplary form of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0061] As in Figures 1 to 14 As shown, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention includes: a pedal housing 100 rotatably connected to a foot pedal member 10 disposed below the driver's seat, contacting a forward inclined surface 11 of the foot pedal member 10 when rotating forward and contacting a bottom surface 12 of the foot pedal member 10 when rotating backward; and a brake pedal pad 200 and an accelerator pedal pad 300, which are rotatably connected to the pedal housing 100 and rotated by the driver.

[0062] The foot pedal component 10 has a bottom surface 12 and a forward-sloping surface 11, the bottom surface 12 being fixed to contact the floor of the vehicle body, and the forward-sloping surface 11 extending forward and upward from the front end of the bottom surface 11 at a certain angle.

[0063] According to the foldable pedal device of the present invention, when the pedal housing 100 contacts the forward inclined surface 11 of the foot pedal component 10 by forward rotation, the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 fold between the forward inclined surface 11 and the pedal housing 100, and remain in a hidden state not exposed to the driver (see...). Figures 2 to 6 ).

[0064] Furthermore, according to the foldable pedal device of the present invention, when the pedal housing 100 contacts the bottom surface 12 of the foot pedal member 10 by rotating rearward, the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 unfold relative to the pedal housing 100 at a predetermined angle and remain in a popped-up state exposed to the driver (see [link to original text]). Figures 7 to 10 ).

[0065] The first end of the pedal housing 100 is rotatably connected to the pedal component 10 at the junction between the bottom surface 12 and the forward inclined surface 11 of the pedal component 10 via a connecting pin 410.

[0066] At the junction between the bottom surface 12 and the forward-sloping surface 11 of the foot pedal component 10, two hinged protrusions 13 are spaced apart from each other on the left and right sides. (Reference) Figure 1 The left and right sides of the front end of the pedal housing 100 are rotatably connected to the hinge protrusion 13 of the foot pedal component 10 via two connecting pins 410.

[0067] refer to Figure 1 The hinge pin 420 is connected to a second end facing the rear of the pedal housing 100 and is configured to pass through the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300, thereby allowing the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 to rotate independently on the hinge pin 420.

[0068] That is, the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 can be operated and rotated independently by the driver's foot on the hinge pin 420.

[0069] The foldable pedal device according to the invention includes: a rotary motor 500 fixed to the pedal assembly 10 and including a motor gear 510; a rotary cam assembly 600 including a cam gear 610 meshing with the motor gear 510 like an external gear; a pedal housing gear 700 disposed at the pedal housing 100 and meshing with the motor gear 510 like an external gear; a spring assembly 800 including first ends rotatably connected to a brake pedal pad 200 and an accelerator pedal pad 200, respectively; and a linear motion block 900 including first ends rotatably connected to second ends of the spring assembly 800, respectively. The rotation of the rotary cam assembly 600 (…) Figures 2 to 6 The rotary cam assembly 600 and the linear motion block 900 are connected to each other through mutual contact. Figures 7 to 10 Alternatively, they can disconnect from each other by separating from one another.

[0070] The foldable pedal device according to the invention further includes a protective cover 1000, which is fixed to the foot pedal component 10 and covers and protects the rotary motor 500 and the rotary cam assembly 600.

[0071] The protective cover 1000 is fixed to the front surface of the front inclined surface 11 of the foot pedal component 10, covering and protecting all components located in front of the front inclined surface 11, including the rotary motor 500 and the rotary cam assembly 600.

[0072] The rotary motor 500 can be a stepper motor that rotates during operation and stops when stopped, and is electrically connected to a power supply.

[0073] The rotary cam assembly 600 includes: a cam gear 610 that meshes with a motor gear 510 like an external gear; a cam shaft 620 that passes through the center of the cam gear 610 and is integrally formed with the cam gear 610; and a pair of cam blocks 630 that are eccentrically connected to both ends of the cam shaft 620.

[0074] An arc-shaped groove 640 is formed at the first end of the cam block 630 and is the part that contacts the linear motion block 900 when the rotary cam assembly 600 rotates.

[0075] See Figure 1 The pedal housing gear 700 protrudes upward in the middle part along the left-right direction at the front end of the pedal housing 100, and can be integrally formed with the pedal housing 100 or can be manufactured separately from the pedal housing 100 and then integrated by welding or the like.

[0076] The pedal housing gear 700 has an arcuate shape and meshes with the motor gear 510 like an external gear.

[0077] The cam gear 610 meshes with the motor gear 510 at the front like an external gear, and the pedal housing gear 700 meshes with the motor gear 510 at the rear like an external gear. The motor gear 510 is located between the cam gear 610 and the pedal housing gear 700.

[0078] The spring assembly 800 includes a cylinder 810, a rod 820, and a spring 830 supported at both ends by the cylinder 810 and the rod 820.

[0079] The rod 820 is inserted into the cylinder 810, so the length of the spring assembly 800 can be changed by moving the rod 820 through the cylinder 810. When the length changes, the spring 830 is compressed or returns to its original position.

[0080] refer to Figure 1 The cylinder 810 is located at the rear, and the rear end of the cylinder 810 is rotatably connected to the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300. The lever 820 is located at the front, and the front end of the lever 820 is rotatably connected to the rear end of the linear motion block 900.

[0081] That is, two spring assemblies 800 with the same construction are provided. One of the spring assemblies 800 rotatably connects the brake pedal pad 200 to a linear motion block 900. In addition, the other spring assembly 800 rotatably connects the accelerator pedal pad 300 to another linear motion block 800.

[0082] refer to Figure 1 The linear motion block 900 includes: a rear end rotatably coupled to the front end of the spring assembly 800; and a front end including an arcuate protrusion 910 having a shape corresponding to the arcuate groove 640 of the cam block 630. When the rotary cam assembly 600 rotates, the arcuate protrusion 910 inserts into the arcuate groove 640, thereby bringing them into contact with each other.

[0083] The foldable pedal device according to the invention further includes a guide plate 1100, which is fixed to the protective cover 1000, supports the bottom of the linear motion block 900 upward, and guides the linear motion block 900 to move linearly.

[0084] When the rotation of the rotary cam assembly 600 causes the arc-shaped protrusion 910 to insert into the arc-shaped groove 640, the linear motion block 900 moves backward linearly against the elasticity of the spring 830. When the rotation of the rotary cam assembly 600 causes the arc-shaped protrusion 910 to disengage from the arc-shaped groove 640, the linear motion block 900 moves forward linearly under the restoring force of the spring 830. During this process, the guide plate 1100 connected to the protective cover 1000 guides the linear motion block 900 to move linearly and simultaneously supports the bottom of the linear motion block 900 upward.

[0085] Three holes 14 are formed between the left hinge protrusion 13 and the right hinge protrusion 13 of the foot pedal component 10. The pedal housing gear 700 is configured to pass through the middle hole 14, and the linear motion block 900 is configured to pass through the holes 14 at both ends respectively.

[0086] The pedal housing 100 is formed in a flat plate shape, including a left side cover and a right side cover, and is open in the vertical direction.

[0087] Therefore, as in Figures 2 to 6 As shown, when the pedal housing 100 contacts the forward inclined surface 11 of the foot pedal component 10 by rotating forward, the pedal housing 100 is vertically open relative to the foot pedal component 10, so foreign objects entering the pedal housing 100 can be discharged through the upper and lower openings (by...). Figure 2 (Indicated by arrow M1).

[0088] Furthermore, when the pedal housing 100 contacts the forward-sloping surface 11 of the pedal component 10 by rotating forward, and the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300 are folded between the forward-sloping surface 11 and the pedal housing 100 and are not exposed to the driver in a concealed state, the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300 are open downwards relative to the pedal housing 100. Therefore, foreign objects entering the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300 can be discharged through the lower opening (by...). Figure 6(Arrow M2 indicates this).

[0089] The lower openings of the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300 also prevent interference with the spring assembly 800, which is in a concealed state.

[0090] When the pedal housing 100, which is in contact with the bottom surface 12 of the pedal assembly 10, rotates forward, that is, when the pedal housing 100 rotates forward from the pop-up state to the retracted state, the top of the brake pedal pad 200 and the top of the accelerator pedal pad 300 contact the forward inclined surface 11 of the pedal assembly 10 (see...). Figure 14 ).

[0091] When the tops of the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 contact the forward inclined surface 11 of the pedal assembly 10, the angles between the pedal housing 100 and the brake pedal pad 200, and between the pedal housing 100 and the accelerator pedal pad 300, are the same acute angles. Figure 14 (A1 in the text). Therefore, when the pop-up state changes to the hidden state, the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 can be more easily folded into the pedal housing 100.

[0092] When the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300 change from the pop-up state to the hidden state (as in...) Figure 14 As shown in the diagram, when the tops of the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 contact the forward inclined surface 11 of the pedal component 10, the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 should fold smoothly into the pedal housing 100. Therefore, according to the present invention, the tops of both the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 are circular portions 1200, allowing the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 to fold smoothly.

[0093] According to the foldable pedal device of the present invention, when the pedal housing 100 contacts the bottom surface 12 of the pedal component 10 by rotating rearward and the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300 are folded into a pop-up state and exposed to the driver, the lower ends of the brake pedal pad 200 and the lower ends of the accelerator pedal pad 300 both contact the protrusion 110 protruding upward at the rear end of the pedal housing 100. Therefore, the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 are fixed in their initial positions in the pop-up state by the protrusion 110 (see...). Figure 9 ).

[0094] The foldable pedal device of the present invention further includes: a permanent magnet 1300, which is respectively connected to the hinge portion 210 of the brake pedal pad 200 and the hinge portion 310 of the accelerator pedal pad 300; and a printed circuit board 1400 (PCB), which is fixed to the pedal housing 100 and faces the permanent magnet 1300.

[0095] PCB1400 controls the operation of rotary motor 500.

[0096] When the driver presses down on the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300, the PCB1400 also detects the rotation of the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300.

[0097] That is, when the brake pedal pad 200 or the accelerator pedal pad 300 rotates, the PCB 1400 detects the rotation angle of the brake pedal pad 200 or the accelerator pedal pad 300, and generates a signal related to the pedal function based on the change in magnetic flux of the permanent magnet 1300. The PCB 1400 generates a braking-related signal when the brake pedal pad 200 is in operation, and generates an acceleration-related signal when the accelerator pedal pad 300 is in operation.

[0098] Figures 2 to 6 The brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300 are shown in a concealed state, with the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300 folded between the forward-sloping surface 11 of the pedal piece 10 and the pedal housing 100 and not exposed to the driver.

[0099] In the concealed state, the arcuate protrusion 910 of the linear motion block 900 disengages from the arcuate groove 640 of the cam block 630 due to the operation of the rotary motor 500 and the rotation of the cam block 630. Therefore, the cam block 630 and the linear motion block 900 are disconnected. Furthermore, the pedal housing 100 rotates forward on the connecting pin 410 by the torque transmitted from the rotary motor 500 via the pedal housing gear 700, thereby contacting the forward inclined surface 11 of the foot pedal component 10. During this process, the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 are folded into a concealed state, positioned between the forward inclined surface 11 of the foot pedal component 10 and the pedal housing 100, and are not exposed to the driver.

[0100] As described above, when the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300 are in the retracted state, a spacious area is created under the driver's seat that does not interfere with the pedals, allowing the driver to rest comfortably in relaxation mode. Furthermore, it prevents accidental pedal operation during automatic driving, thereby improving safety.

[0101] Furthermore, since the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300 are completely covered and hidden by the pedal housing 100 in the concealed state, an excellent design is provided. In particular, the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300 are protected from damage even if the driver unintentionally extends his foot and hits the pedal housing 100.

[0102] Figures 7 to 10 The image shows the popped-up state, in which the pedal housing 100 is in contact with the bottom surface 12 of the foot pedal component 10, and the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300 have been unfolded from the pedal housing 100 and exposed to the driver.

[0103] In the concealed state as described above, the arcuate protrusion of the linear motion block 900 is inserted into the arcuate groove 640 of the cam block 630 by the rotation of the cam block 630 due to the operation of the rotary motor 500. Therefore, the cam block 630 and the linear motion block 900 are connected in contact with each other. In addition, the pedal housing 100 rotates backward on the connecting pin 410 by the torque transmitted from the rotary motor 500 via the pedal housing gear 700, thereby contacting the bottom surface 12 of the foot pedal component 10. During this process, the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 are deployed from the pedal housing 100 at a predetermined angle by the elasticity of the spring assembly 800, so as to enter the pop-up state and be exposed to the driver.

[0104] When the foldable pedal device according to the invention changes from a hidden state to a pop-up state, the pop-up amount of the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 can be increased by the distance the pedal housing 100 rotates backward on the connecting pin 410. Therefore, when the automatic driving mode has been changed to the manual driving mode, the driver can operate the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 more easily and conveniently.

[0105] Furthermore, since the amount of rebound of the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 can be increased without using a guide rail structure, no separate guide rail installation space is required, and in particular, it can prevent malfunctions caused by foreign objects getting stuck in the guide rail.

[0106] As described above, when the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 protrude from the pedal housing 100 in the popped-up state, the driver can normally operate the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 by pressing down on them.

[0107] When the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300 are operated normally, the pedal pressure can be adjusted by changing the length of the spring assembly 800.

[0108] When the driver rotates the brake pedal pad 200 or the accelerator pedal pad 300, the PCB 1400 detects the rotation angle of the brake pedal pad 200 or the accelerator pedal pad 300 and generates a signal related to the pedal function (an acceleration-related signal or a braking-related signal) based on the change in magnetic flux of the permanent magnet 1300 that operates together with the brake pedal pad 200 or the accelerator pedal pad 300.

[0109] One aspect of the invention is characterized in that when the pedal housing 100 rotates due to the operation of the rotary motor 500, the position of the permanent magnet 1300 changes, and the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 rotate into a hidden state or a pop-up state, the PCB 1400 does not generate signals related to pedal function (signals related to acceleration or braking) to prevent misoperation.

[0110] That is, the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 enter a hidden state through the operation of the rotary motor 500 (as in...). Figures 2 to 6 (as shown in the image) or enter a pop-up state (as shown in the image) Figures 7 to 10 As shown in the diagram, even if the position of the permanent magnet 1300 changes, the PCB 1400 will not generate a signal related to the pedal function, thereby preventing accidents caused by misoperation.

[0111] However, only when the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300 are in the popped-up state and the rotary motor 500 is not running, and the driver rotates the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300, and the permanent magnet 1300 rotates together with the brake pedal pad 200 and accelerator pedal pad 300, causing the position of the permanent magnet 1300 to change, the PCB 1400 generates a signal related to the pedal function, thereby enabling more stable operation.

[0112] As described above, according to the foldable pedal device of the present invention, in the manual driving mode where the driver manually drives, the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 protrude from the pedal housing 100 to enter a pop-up state and are exposed to the driver, allowing the driver to operate the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300. Furthermore, in the automatic driving mode where the driver does not manually drive, the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 are inserted into the pedal housing 100 to enter a hidden state and are not exposed to the driver. Therefore, it has the advantages that the driver can comfortably rest in automatic driving mode, and safety can be improved by preventing accidental pedal operation in automatic driving mode.

[0113] Furthermore, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention has the following advantages since the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 are completely covered and hidden by the pedal housing 100 in the hidden state: it can provide an excellent design, in particular, it can prevent damage to the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 even if the driver unintentionally stretches out his foot and hits the pedal housing 100.

[0114] Furthermore, when the foldable pedal device according to the invention changes from a hidden state to a pop-up state, the pop-up amount of the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 can be increased by the distance the pedal housing 100 rotates backward on the connecting pin 410. Therefore, it has the advantage that when the automatic driving mode has been changed to manual driving mode, the driver can operate the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 more easily and conveniently.

[0115] Furthermore, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention has the following advantages: since the amount of rebound of the brake pedal pad 200 and the accelerator pedal pad 300 can be increased without using a guide rail structure, it does not require a separate guide rail installation space, and in particular, it can prevent malfunctions caused by foreign objects getting stuck in the guide rail.

[0116] Although the invention has been described in specific form with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its scope.

Claims

1. A foldable pedal device for a vehicle, the foldable pedal device comprising: The pedal housing, rotatably connected to a foot pedal component located under the driver's seat, is configured as follows: It contacts the forward-sloping surface of the foot pedal component when rotating forward. It contacts the bottom surface of the foot pedal component when rotating backward; A brake pedal pad, which is rotatably coupled to the pedal housing and configured to be rotated by the driver; as well as An accelerator pedal pad, rotatably connected to the pedal housing and configured to be rotated by the driver. When the pedal housing contacts the forward-sloping surface of the pedal component by rotating forward, the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad fold between the forward-sloping surface and the pedal housing and remain in a hidden state.

2. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, When the pedal housing contacts the bottom surface of the foot pedal component by rotating backward, the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad unfold at a predetermined angle relative to the pedal housing and remain in the pop-up state.

3. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, The first end of the pedal housing is rotatably connected to the pedal component via a connecting pin at the junction between the bottom surface and the forward inclined surface of the pedal component.

4. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising a hinge pin coupled to a second end of the pedal housing and configured to pass through the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad. in, The brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad are configured to rotate independently on the hinge pin.

5. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: A rotary motor, which is fixed to the foot pedal component and includes motor gears; A rotary cam assembly, comprising a cam gear meshing with the motor gear; A pedal housing gear, which is disposed in the pedal housing and meshes with the motor gear; A first spring assembly includes a first end rotatably coupled to the brake pedal pad; The second spring assembly includes a first end connected to the accelerator pedal pad; A first linear motion block, the first end of which is rotatably connected to the second end of the first spring assembly; and The second linear motion block has its first end rotatably connected to the second end of the second spring assembly. Depending on the rotation of the rotary cam assembly, the rotary cam assembly, the first linear motion block, and the second linear motion block are configured to be connected to each other by contacting each other, or to be disconnected from each other by separating from each other.

6. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising a protective cover fixed to the pedal component and configured to cover and protect the rotary motor and the rotary cam assembly.

7. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising a guide plate connected to the protective cover and configured to support and guide the linear movement of the first linear motion block and the second linear motion block.

8. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein, The rotary cam assembly includes: A camshaft, which passes through the center of the cam gear and is integrally formed with the cam gear; A first cam block, eccentrically connected to a first end of the camshaft, and including an arcuate groove formed at the first end of the first cam block; and The second cam block is eccentrically connected to the second end of the camshaft and includes an arcuate groove formed at the first end of the second cam block. When the rotary cam assembly rotates, the arc-shaped grooves of the first cam block and the second cam block respectively contact the first linear motion block and the second linear motion block.

9. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein: The first linear motion block and the second linear motion block each include an arc-shaped protrusion formed at the second end of the first linear motion block and the second linear motion block, respectively. The arcuate protrusions of the first linear motion block and the second linear motion block have shapes corresponding to the arcuate grooves of the first cam block and the second cam block, respectively, and the arcuate grooves and the arcuate protrusions come into contact with each other by the rotation of the rotary cam assembly.

10. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein: The first spring assembly and the second spring assembly each include a cylinder, a rod, and a spring. The first and second ends of the spring are supported by the cylinder and the rod. The lengths of the first spring assembly and the second spring assembly are changed by moving a rod through the cylinder. The first spring assembly and the second spring assembly have the same construction and are respectively connected to the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad.

11. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising: A first permanent magnet is connected to the hinged portion of the brake pedal pad; A second permanent magnet is connected to the hinged portion of the accelerator pedal pad; as well as PCB, which is fixed to the pedal housing and faces the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet, The PCB is configured to detect the rotation angle of the brake pedal pad or the accelerator pedal pad, and generate a signal related to the pedal function based on the change in magnetic flux of the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet when the brake pedal pad or the accelerator pedal pad rotates.

12. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein, When the pedal housing rotates due to the operation of the rotary motor, the positions of the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet change, and the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad rotate into a hidden state or a pop-up state, the PCB does not generate signals related to the pedal function.

13. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein, The PCB generates signals related to the pedal function only in the following cases: The brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad are in a popped-up state, the rotary motor is not running, and the positions of the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet change due to the driver rotating the brake pedal pad or the accelerator pedal pad.

14. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, When the pedal housing contacts the forward-sloping surface of the foot pedal component by rotating forward, the pedal housing includes an upper opening that opens upward relative to the foot pedal component and a lower opening that opens downward.

15. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: When the pedal housing contacts the forward-sloping surface of the pedal component by rotating forward, the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad are folded between the forward-sloping surface and the pedal housing, and are not exposed to the driver in a concealed state. The brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad each include a lower opening that opens downward relative to the pedal housing and is configured to discharge foreign objects.

16. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: When the pedal housing, which is in contact with the bottom surface of the pedal assembly, rotates forward, the top of the brake pedal pad and the top of the accelerator pedal pad come into contact with the forward inclined surface of the pedal assembly. When the top of the brake pedal pad and the top of the accelerator pedal pad contact the forward inclined surface of the pedal component, the angle between the pedal housing and the brake pedal pad and the angle between the pedal housing and the accelerator pedal pad are the same acute angle.

17. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: When the pedal housing, which is in contact with the bottom surface of the pedal assembly, rotates forward, the top of the brake pedal pad and the top of the accelerator pedal pad come into contact with the forward inclined surface of the pedal assembly. The tops of both the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad are circular and configured to fold into the pedal housing when the tops of the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad are in contact with the forward-sloping surface of the pedal component.

18. The foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: When the pedal housing contacts the bottom surface of the foot pedal component by rotating backward and the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad are folded into a pop-up state, The lower ends of both the brake pedal pad and the accelerator pedal pad are in contact with an upwardly projecting protrusion at the rear end of the pedal housing, and The initial position is fixed in the popped-up state.

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