Foldable step device for a vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a foldable pedal device for a vehicle, in which a pedal pad protrudes from a pedal housing and enters a pop-up state in which the pedal pad is exposed toward a driver in a manual driving mode in which the driver manually drives the vehicle, and in which the pedal pad is inserted into the pedal housing and enters a hidden state in which the pedal pad is prevented from being exposed toward the driver in an autonomous driving mode in which the driver does not drive the vehicle. When the pedal pad is changed from the hidden state to the pop-up state, the interior design of the vehicle is optimized by allowing the pedal pad to pop up through a panel hole formed on a foot pedal panel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to a foldable pedal device for a vehicle, and more specifically, to a foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a manual driving mode and an automatic driving mode, wherein in the manual driving mode, the pedal pad protrudes and is exposed toward the driver to allow the driver to operate the pedal device, and in the automatic driving mode, the pedal pad is hidden and prevented from being exposed toward the driver to prevent the driver from operating the pedal device. Background Technology

[0002] Recently, the development of autonomous vehicles has been moving towards intelligent vehicles that employ autonomous driving technology, which enables vehicles to drive themselves to their destination without the driver operating the steering wheel, accelerator pedal, or brakes.

[0003] When autonomous driving becomes commonplace, drivers will be able to choose between a manual driving mode where the driver manually drives the vehicle, and an autonomous driving mode where the vehicle drives itself to its destination without the driver's direct involvement.

[0004] In autonomous driving mode, the driver may stretch their legs and rest. Therefore, if the pedals (accelerator and / or brake pedals) located in the space under the driver's seat are still exposed in the vehicle interior, there is a problem that the pedals may prevent the driver from resting.

[0005] Autonomous driving mode refers to a situation where the driver does not operate the vehicle's pedals (accelerator pedal and / or brake pedal) (i.e., the vehicle's driving mode). Therefore, when the driver operates the pedals during autonomous driving, the vehicle controller interprets this as the driver discontinuing autonomous driving and wishing to resume manual driving, thus disabling autonomous driving.

[0006] However, because the vehicle's pedals are configured to be exposed in the space under the driver's seat, there is a risk of the driver accidentally operating the pedals (pedal misoperation) in autonomous driving mode, and in this case, there is a risk of an accident due to traffic conditions or distance between vehicles.

[0007] Therefore, it is desirable to develop a pedal device in which, in manual driving mode, the pedal pad protrudes and is exposed toward the driver, enabling the driver to operate it, and in automatic driving mode, the pedal pad is prevented from being exposed, thereby avoiding driver operation, to provide safety for vehicle occupants and allow the driver to rest while preventing unintentional pedal operation.

[0008] The foregoing content is only for the purpose of helping to understand the background technology of this disclosure, and does not mean that this disclosure falls within the scope of related technologies known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Therefore, this disclosure proposes a foldable pedal device for a vehicle, wherein in manual driving mode, the pedal pad protrudes towards the driver and is exposed to the driver (pop-up state), allowing the driver to perform operations, and in automatic driving mode, the pedal pad is hidden to prevent the pedal pad from being exposed towards the driver (hidden state), preventing the driver from performing operations. Thus, the driver can rest in automatic driving mode, and safety is ensured by preventing unintentional operation of the pedal in automatic driving mode.

[0010] Another object of this disclosure is to provide a foldable pedal device in which the hole through which the pedal pad passes during the pop-out or retraction operation of the pedal pad is formed to have a relatively small size, thereby optimizing the vehicle interior design, and in manual driving mode, the pedal pad pops out through the small-sized hole formed on the pedal panel, thereby maximizing the high-tech image of the foldable pedal device.

[0011] To achieve the above objectives, a foldable pedal device for a vehicle includes: a pedal housing coupled to a foot pedal panel located in the lower space of a driver's seat and configured to protrude forward; a pedal frame configured to pass through the foot pedal panel and be slidably movable in the front-rear direction of the pedal housing, wherein the pedal frame can retract into the pedal housing when the pedal frame moves forward and protrude from the pedal housing and be exposed in the vehicle interior when the pedal frame moves rearward; a pedal pad rotatably coupled to the pedal frame and configured to be operated by the driver; a spring module having its opposite ends rotatably coupled to the pedal frame and the pedal pad and configured to provide elastic force to the pedal pad such that the pedal pad can rotate in the direction protruding from the pedal frame; and a rotary motor securely disposed at the pedal housing and configured to provide power for sliding of the pedal frame.

[0012] When the pedal frame moves forward by the operation of the rotary motor, both the pedal frame and the pedal pad can retract into the pedal housing, and the pedal pad can fold into the pedal frame, thus entering a hidden state that prevents the pedal pad from being exposed to the driver.

[0013] When the pedal frame moves backward by the operation of the rotary motor, both the pedal frame and the pedal pad can protrude from the pedal housing, and the pedal pad can be rotated by the elastic force of the spring module and unfolded relative to the pedal frame, thereby entering a pop-up state in which the pedal pad can be exposed to the driver.

[0014] The foldable pedal device may include: a protective cover rotatably coupled to the pedal panel and configured to open and close a panel opening; and a cover spring, oppositely coupled to the pedal panel and the protective cover and supported by the pedal panel and the protective cover, and configured to provide a spring force to the protective cover such that the protective cover can rotate in a direction to seal the panel opening, wherein the pedal frame can be configured to move through the panel opening in a front-rear direction.

[0015] The foldable pedal device may include: a pinion gear connected to a rotary motor; and a rack connected to a pedal frame to extend along the length of the pedal frame and engage with the pinion gear.

[0016] The foldable pedal assembly may include a support roller located in and rotatably coupled to the pedal housing, and configured to contact the lower surface of the pedal frame.

[0017] The foldable pedal device may include an upper guide and a lower guide, disposed in the pedal housing, and configured to prevent vertical movement of the pedal frame by contacting the upper and lower surfaces of the pedal frame.

[0018] The foldable pedal device may include: a side guide disposed in the pedal housing and configured to prevent lateral movement of the pedal frame by contacting the left and right surfaces of the pedal frame.

[0019] The pedal frame may have a frame hole that extends along the length of the pedal frame and passes vertically through the pedal frame; when the pedal frame is retracted into the pedal housing, the spring module may retract into the frame hole, and when the pedal frame is protruding from the pedal housing, the spring module may protrude from the frame hole.

[0020] Foreign objects are discharged through the frame holes.

[0021] The pedal pad can be an accordion-style pad, meaning that its lower end can be rotatably connected to the rear end of the pedal frame via a hinge pin as a medium. A spring module can be connected above the hinge pin, and the upper end of the pedal pad can rotate back and forth around the hinge pin.

[0022] The spring module may include: a lower spring guide whose front end is rotatably connected to the pedal frame via a first connecting pin as a medium, its rear end protruding toward the pedal pad, and having a hollow cylindrical structure; an upper spring guide whose rear end is rotatably connected to the pedal pad via a second connecting pin as a medium, and whose front end retracts into the lower spring guide, thereby moving along the lower spring guide; and a first spring and a second spring, configured such that the opposite ends of each of the first spring and the second spring can be supported by the lower spring guide and the upper spring guide.

[0023] The lower spring guide may include a concealed protrusion configured to project upwards; when the pedal frame, retracted into the pedal housing, moves rearward to protrude from the pedal housing, the concealed protrusion can be exposed to the vehicle interior while passing through the pedal panel, thereby allowing the spring module to return to its elongated state by the reset of the first and second springs, and the pedal pad can rotate about the hinge pin and unfold relative to the pedal frame, thereby entering a pop-out state in which the pedal pad can be exposed toward the driver.

[0024] The lower spring guide may include a concealed protrusion configured to project upwards; when the pedal frame, which protrudes from the pedal housing, moves forward and retracts into the pedal housing, the concealed protrusion contacts the pedal panel, and the lower spring guide may rotate toward the pedal frame to compress the first and second springs, allowing the spring module to shorten. The pedal pad may rotate about the hinge pin in the direction in which the pedal can fold into the pedal frame. When the pedal frame and the pedal pad are fully retracted into the pedal frame, the spring module retracts into a frame hole formed in the pedal frame, and the pedal pad may enter a folded-in state into the pedal frame, thereby entering a concealed state that prevents the pedal pad from being exposed toward the driver.

[0025] The pedal frame may have a recessed retraction groove on its upper rear surface; and the rear end of the upper spring guide may retract into the retraction groove in response to the rotation of the spring module.

[0026] The protrusion can be formed by projecting upward from the rear end of the pedal frame; and when the pedal pad rotates and unfolds relative to the pedal frame to enter the pop-up state where the pedal pad is exposed to the driver, the lower end of the pedal pad can contact the protrusion to restrict its rotation, thereby locking the initial position of the pedal pad in the pop-up state.

[0027] The foldable pedal device may include: a permanent magnet, a hinge pin connected to the pedal pad; and a printed circuit board (PCB) securely mounted on the pedal frame and facing the permanent magnet, wherein the PCB may be configured to detect the rotation angle of the pedal pad by means of the change in magnetic flux of the permanent magnet when the hinge pin rotates in response to the rotation of the pedal pad, so as to generate a signal related to the pedal function.

[0028] When the pedal pad rotates in response to the operation of the rotary motor by moving the pedal frame back and forth to enter a hidden or popped state, and the position of the permanent magnet changes, the PCB may not generate signals related to the pedal function to prevent unintentional (misoperation) of the pedal pad.

[0029] The PCB can be configured to generate pedal function-related signals only when the driver operates the pedal pad and hinge pin to rotate, thereby changing the position of the permanent magnet, while the pedal frame moves backward and protrudes from the pedal housing, the pedal pad unfolds relative to the pedal frame and is in a pop-out state, and the rotary motor is not operating.

[0030] The foldable pedal device can be used as an accelerator pedal device or a brake pedal device.

[0031] As described above, the foldable pedal device according to this disclosure is configured such that: in the manual driving mode of a vehicle driven manually by the driver, the pedal frame and pedal pad protrude from the pedal housing and pop out to expose themselves toward the driver, allowing the driver to operate the pedal pad; in the automatic driving mode where the driver is not driving, the pedal frame and pedal pad retract into the pedal housing and enter a hidden state that prevents the pedal pad from being exposed toward the driver, thus preventing the driver from operating the pedal pad. Therefore, it has the following advantages: the driver can rest when the vehicle is in automatic driving mode, and safety is improved because accidental pedal operation is prevented in automatic driving mode.

[0032] The foldable pedal device according to this disclosure is configured such that, in the concealed state, the pedal pad retracts into the pedal housing to be completely hidden. In particular, the panel opening through which the pedal pad passes in the foot pedal panel is minimized (i.e., its size is relatively small) during the pop-out and retraction operations of the pedal pad. Therefore, it has the advantage of optimizing vehicle interior design.

[0033] The foldable pedal device according to this disclosure is configured such that, when changing from a concealed state to a pop-out state, the pedal pad protrudes from the pedal housing; specifically, the pedal pad pops out through a small panel hole formed in the pedal panel. Therefore, it has the advantage of maximizing the high-tech image of the foldable pedal device. Attached Figure Description

[0034] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of this disclosure will become clearer from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] Figure 1 This is an exploded perspective view showing a foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to the present disclosure;

[0036] Figure 2 This illustrates the foldable pedal assembly, where the pedal frame and pedal pad are retracted into the pedal housing and hidden. Figure 1 An assembly perspective view of the foldable pedal device;

[0037] Figure 3 It shows the removal Figure 2A diagram showing the foldable pedal assembly, including the foot pedal panel and pedal housing.

[0038] Figure 4 This shows the spring module retracting to... Figure 3 A plan view showing the state of the formation in the frame holes of the pedal frame;

[0039] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing the pedal frame and pedal pad protruding from the pedal housing and the pedal pad rotating to unfold relative to the pedal frame in a pop-up state according to the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 6 It shows the removal Figure 5 Diagram showing the state of the foot pedal panel and pedal housing.

[0041] Figure 7 It is shown Figure 6 Enlarged side view of the connecting hinge pin portion.

[0042] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing the interior of the pedal frame of this disclosure from the front view, used to illustrate the upper guide, lower guide, and side guide; and

[0043] Figures 9 to 12 This is a diagram illustrating the operation process of changing the pedal pad from a hidden state to a pop-up state according to the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0044] It should be understood that the term "vehicle" or "of a vehicle" or other similar terms as used herein include general motor vehicles, such as: passenger vehicles, including SUVs, public vehicles, trucks, and various commercial vehicles; water vehicles, including various boats and ships; and aircraft, etc., and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As noted herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle with two or more power sources, such as a vehicle that is simultaneously powered by gasoline and electricity.

[0045] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “described” are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprising” and / or “including,” when used in this specification, specifically indicate the presence of the mentioned features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any one and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Throughout this specification, unless expressly stated otherwise, the word “comprising” and variations such as “including” or “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of the mentioned elements but not exclude any other elements. Additionally, the terms “unit,” “piece,” “part,” and “module” described in the specification refer to a unit that performs at least one function and operation and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.

[0046] Furthermore, the control logic of this disclosure can be implemented as a non-transitory computer-readable medium on a computer-readable medium comprising executable program instructions executed by a processor, controller, etc. Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, compressed optical disc (CD)-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash memory drive, smart card, and optical data storage device. The computer-readable medium can also be distributed across a network-connected computer system, such that the computer-readable medium is stored in a distributed manner and, for example, executed via a telematics server or a controller area network (CAN).

[0047] In the following description, the structural or functional descriptions specific to exemplary embodiments based on the concepts of this disclosure are intended to describe exemplary embodiments. Therefore, it should be understood that this disclosure may be implemented in various ways, and is not limited to exemplary embodiments.

[0048] The embodiments described herein can vary in various ways and shapes, and therefore specific embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings and will be described in detail in this specification. However, it should be understood that exemplary embodiments based on the concepts of this disclosure are not limited to the embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions are included within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

[0049] It will be understood that while the terms first and / or second, etc., may 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, without departing from the teachings of this disclosure, the first element discussed below may be referred to as the second element. Similarly, the second element may also be referred to as the first element.

[0050] It should be understood that when an element is referred to as "connected to" or "linked to" another element, it can be directly connected to or linked to the other element, or connected to or linked to the other element in the presence of other elements in between. Conversely, it should be understood that when an element is referred to as "directly connected to" or "directly linked to" another element, it can be connected to or linked to the other element without any other element in between. Furthermore, the terms used herein to describe relationships between elements—namely, "between," "directly between," "adjacent," or "directly adjacent"—should be interpreted in the same manner as the terms described above.

[0051] The terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit this disclosure. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms.

[0052] Unless otherwise defined, 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 disclosure pertains. It must be understood that terms as defined in dictionaries have the same meaning in the relevant technical context and should not be ideally or excessively formally defined unless the context clearly specifies otherwise.

[0053] The control unit (controller) according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure may be implemented using a non-volatile memory (not shown) and a processor (not shown). The non-volatile memory includes algorithms configured to control the operation of various components of the vehicle or data regarding software instructions for running the algorithms. The processor is configured to use the data stored in the memory to perform the operations described below. Here, the memory and processor may be implemented as separate chips. Alternatively, the memory and processor may be implemented as an integrated single chip. The processor may take one or more forms.

[0054] In the following description, a foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0055] According to this disclosure, such as Figures 1 to 12As shown, the foldable pedal device includes: a pedal housing 100, connected to a foot pedal panel 10 located in the lower space of the driver's seat and configured to protrude forward; a pedal frame 200, configured to slide through the foot pedal panel 10 and be movable in a front-rear direction, and when the pedal frame moves forward, the pedal frame retracts into the pedal housing 100, and when the pedal frame moves backward, the pedal frame protrudes from the pedal housing 100 and is exposed to the vehicle interior; a pedal pad 300, rotatably connected to the pedal frame 200 and configured to be operated by the driver's foot; a spring module 400, the opposite end of which is rotatably connected to the pedal frame 200 and the pedal pad 300, and configured to provide elasticity to the pedal pad 300 such that the pedal pad 300 swings in the direction protruding from the pedal frame 200; and a rotary motor 500, securely mounted at the pedal housing 100 and configured to provide power for the sliding of the pedal frame 200.

[0056] The foot pedal panel 10 can be replaced by a control panel.

[0057] In the foldable pedal device according to this disclosure, when the pedal frame 200 moves forward due to the operation of the rotary motor 500, both the pedal frame 200 and the pedal pad 300 retract into the pedal housing 100, and the pedal pad 300 folds toward the pedal frame 200, thereby preventing the pedal pad from being exposed toward the driver (see [link]). Figure 2-4 and Figure 9 The hidden state of ).

[0058] In the foldable pedal device according to this disclosure, when the pedal frame 200 moves rearward due to the operation of the rotary motor 500, both the pedal frame 200 and the pedal pad 300 protrude from the pedal housing 100, and the pedal pad 300 rotates and unfolds by the elastic force of the spring module 400 to form a predetermined angle relative to the pedal frame 200, thereby maintaining the pedal pad in an exposed pop-out state facing the driver (see [link]). Figure 5-8 and Figure 12 ).

[0059] According to this disclosure, the foot pedal panel 10 has a panel hole 11 that communicates with the interior of the pedal housing 100 connected to the foot pedal panel 10.

[0060] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the foldable pedal device includes: a protective cover 610 rotatably coupled to the pedal panel 10 and configured to open and close the panel opening 11; and a cover spring 620, oppositely coupled to and supported by the pedal panel 10 and the protective cover 610, and configured to provide a spring force to the protective cover 610 causing it to rotate toward sealing the panel opening 11. The pedal frame 200 is configured to move in the front-rear direction through the panel opening 11.

[0061] When the pedal frame 200 and pedal pad 300 move forward through the panel hole 11 and retract into the pedal housing 100, that is, when the pedal pad 300 enters the hidden state where the pedal pad retracts into the pedal housing 100, the panel hole 11 of the pedal panel 10 is sealed by the protective cover 610.

[0062] On the other hand, when the pedal frame 200 and pedal pad 300, which are retracted into the pedal housing 100, move backward and protrude from the pedal housing 100, the pedal frame 200 pushes and rotates the protective cover 610, thereby opening the panel hole 11 of the pedal panel 10, and exposing the pedal frame 200 and pedal pad 300 to the driver through the opened panel hole 11.

[0063] According to this disclosure, a pinion 630 is coupled to a rotary motor 500, and a rack 640 is coupled to a pedal frame 200 and extends along the length of the pedal frame. The pinion 630 and the rack 640 are configured to mesh with each other.

[0064] Therefore, during the operation of the rotary motor 500, the pedal frame 200 slides in the front-to-back direction via the pinion 630 and the rack 640.

[0065] This disclosure includes a support roller 650 located in and rotatably coupled to the pedal housing 100, and configured to contact the lower surface of the pedal frame 200.

[0066] The rotary motor 500 and the support roller 650 are disposed on the first and second sides of the pedal housing 100 so as to face each other.

[0067] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the foldable pedal device includes: an upper guide 660 and a lower guide 670 disposed in the pedal housing 100 and configured to prevent vertical movement of the pedal frame 200 by contacting the upper and lower surfaces of the pedal frame 200; and a side guide 680 disposed in the pedal housing 100 and configured to prevent lateral movement of the pedal frame by contacting the left and right surfaces of the pedal frame 200.

[0068] The upper guide 660 is formed by an upper protrusion extending downward from the inner upper surface of the pedal housing 100 along the length of the pedal housing 100. The upper guide 660 is composed of two upper protrusions spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction of the pedal housing 100, and the upper guide 660 contacts the upper surface of the pedal frame 200.

[0069] The lower guide 670 is formed as a flat plate and is fixed to the pedal housing 100 to be located in the pedal housing 100, positioned forward-spaced from the rotary motor 500 and the support roller 650, and in contact with the lower surface of the pedal frame 200.

[0070] The side guide 680 is disposed on the inner left and right surfaces of the pedal housing 100 and contacts the left and right surfaces of the pedal frame 200.

[0071] The pedal frame 200 has a frame hole 210 extending along the length of the pedal frame and passing vertically through the pedal frame. When the pedal frame 200 is retracted into the pedal housing 100, the spring module 400 retracts into the frame hole 210, and when the pedal frame 200 protrudes from the pedal housing 100, the spring module 400 protrudes from the frame hole 210.

[0072] Since the spring module 400 is configured to retract into the frame hole 210, it has the advantage of enabling a compact structure of the foldable pedal device during the concealed state of the pedal pad 300.

[0073] In order to achieve the structure in which the spring module 400 retracts into the frame hole 210 during the hidden state of the pedal pad 300, the pedal frame 200 has a recessed retraction groove 220 on the upper surface of its rear end, and the retraction groove 220 is configured such that the rear end of the upper spring guide 440, which will be described below, retracts into the retraction groove in response to the rotation of the spring module 400.

[0074] In addition, foreign objects can be discharged through the frame hole 210, which has the advantage of preventing misoperation of the pedal frame 200 and / or pedal pad 300 caused by foreign objects getting stuck.

[0075] The pedal pad 300 is preferably an accordion-style pad, the lower end of which is rotatably connected to the rear end of the pedal frame 200 via a hinge pin 31, and is connected to the spring module 400 above the hinge pin 310. The upper end of the pedal pad rotates back and forth about the hinge pin 310.

[0076] The spring module 400 includes: a lower spring guide 420, the front end of which is rotatably connected to the pedal frame 200 via a first connecting pin 410 as a medium, the rear end of which protrudes toward the pedal pad 300, and has a hollow cylindrical structure; an upper spring guide 440, the rear end of which is rotatably connected to the pedal pad via a second connecting pin 430 as a medium, the front end of which retracts into the lower spring guide 420, thereby moving along the lower spring guide 420; and a first spring 450 and a second spring 460, configured such that the opposite ends of each of the first and second springs are supported by the lower spring guide 420 and the upper spring guide 440.

[0077] The front end of the lower spring guide 420 is inserted into the front of the frame hole 210 formed in the pedal frame 200, and the first connecting pin 410 is connected to the pedal frame 200 and the front end of the lower spring guide 420 by passing through both the pedal frame 200 and the front end of the lower spring guide 420 in the lateral direction of the pedal frame.

[0078] The spring module 400 can adjust the pedal force by adjusting the spring force of each of the first spring 450 and the second spring 460. In particular, in order to suppress minor vibrations of the pedal pad 300, the first spring 450 and the second spring 460 are preferably configured to have different spring forces than each other.

[0079] The first spring 450 and the second spring 460 are compression coil springs.

[0080] Preferably, the rotary motor 500 is a rotary stepper motor configured to rotate during its operation and lock the rotation of the motor when operation stops, configured to be electrically connected to a power supply, and its operation is controlled by a printed circuit board (PCB) described later.

[0081] According to this disclosure, the lower spring guide 420 has an upwardly projecting concealed protrusion 470.

[0082] When the pedal frame 200, retracted within the pedal housing 100, moves rearward via the operation of the rotary motor 500 to protrude from the pedal housing 100, the concealed protrusion 470 is exposed to the vehicle interior while passing through the pedal panel 10. Consequently, the spring module 400 returns to its elongated position via the reset of the first spring 450 and the second spring 460, and the pedal pad 300 rotates about the hinge pin 310 and unfolds relative to the pedal frame 200, thus entering a pop-out state where the pedal frame is exposed to the driver (see reference). Figures 9 to 12 (The process shown).

[0083] On the other hand, when the pedal frame 200, protruding from the pedal housing 100, moves forward through the operation of the rotary motor 500 and retracts into the pedal housing 100, the hidden protrusion 470 contacts the pedal panel 10, and the lower spring guide 420 rotates toward the pedal frame 200 to compress the first spring 450 and the second spring 460, thereby shortening the spring module 400. The pedal pad 300 rotates about the hinge pin 310 in the direction in which the pedal pad folds into the pedal frame 200. When the pedal frame 200 and the pedal pad 300 are fully retracted into the pedal housing 100 together, the spring module 400 is inserted into the frame hole 210 formed in the pedal frame 200, and the pedal pad 300 is folded into the pedal frame 200, thereby entering a hidden state that prevents the pedal pad from being exposed to the driver (see reference). Figures 12 to 9 (The process shown).

[0084] In the foldable pedal device according to this disclosure, the protrusion 230 is configured to project upward from the rear end of the pedal frame 200. When the pedal pad 300 is rotated to unfold from the pedal frame 200 and is in a popped-out state with the pedal pad facing the driver, the lower end of the pedal pad 300 contacts the protrusion 230 to restrict its rotation, thereby fixing the initial position of the pedal pad 300 in the popped-out state to the protrusion 230 (see reference 230). Figure 7 )locking.

[0085] The foldable pedal device disclosed herein includes a permanent magnet 710 connected to a hinge pin 310 of a pedal pad 300, and a PCB 720 securely disposed at a pedal frame 200 and facing the permanent magnet 710.

[0086] PCB 720 has the function of controlling the operation of rotary motor 500.

[0087] Furthermore, PCB 720 may have the function of detecting the rotation of pedal pad 300 when the driver operates pedal pad 300 by pressing the pedal.

[0088] When the hinge pin 310 rotates in response to the rotation of the pedal pad 300, the PCB 720 detects the rotation angle of the pedal pad 300 by the change in magnetic flux of the permanent magnet 710 to generate a signal related to the pedal function, which is either a braking-related signal or an acceleration-related signal.

[0089] The foldable pedal device according to this disclosure can be used as one of an accelerator pedal device and a brake pedal device in an autonomous vehicle, or simultaneously as an accelerator pedal device and a brake pedal device.

[0090] Figure 2 and Figure 9 A foldable pedal device in a concealed state is shown. In the accompanying drawings, the pedal frame 200 and pedal pad 300 move forward and retract into the pedal housing 100 by the operation of a rotary motor 500, and the pedal pad 300 rotates to fold towards the pedal frame 200, thereby preventing the pedal from being exposed toward the driver.

[0091] Since the spring module 400 is configured to retract into the frame hole 210 formed in the pedal frame 200 during the concealed state, it has the advantage of enabling a compact structure of the foldable pedal device during the concealed state of the pedal pad 300.

[0092] During the concealed state of the pedal mat 300, the pedal frame 200 and the pedal mat 300 are completely hidden within the pedal housing 100, which is constructed in a relatively small space, and the panel opening 11 of the pedal panel 10 is sealed by the protective cover 610. Therefore, it has the advantage of optimizing the vehicle interior design.

[0093] The foldable pedal device according to this disclosure is configured to form a panel hole 11 on the pedal panel 10 as minimally (i.e., relatively small) as possible, wherein the pedal pad 300 passes through the panel hole during the pop-out and retraction operation of the pedal pad 300, thereby optimizing the vehicle interior design.

[0094] As described above, when the pedal pad 300 is in the concealed state, the lower space under the driver's seat is widened and there is no pedal interference, allowing the driver to rest. Furthermore, it can prevent accidental pedal operation in automatic driving mode and improve safety.

[0095] The pedal mat 300 is configured to retract into the pedal housing 100 in a concealed state to enter a fully concealed state. Therefore, it has the advantage of ensuring an excellent vehicle interior design.

[0096] In such a situation Figure 9 The pedal frame 200 and pedal pad 300 in their concealed state, as shown, are achieved through... Figure 10 The rotary motor 500 is operated and moves backward, entering a state protruding from the pedal housing 100, while the pedal pad 300 remains folded into the pedal frame 200 until the hidden protrusion 470 completely passes through the pedal panel 10.

[0097] Figure 11 It is the pedal frame 200 from Figure 10 The diagram shows the state moving further back, at which point the hidden protrusion 470 passes through the foot pedal panel 10.

[0098] When the hidden protrusion 470 passes through the foot pedal panel 10 and is exposed to the vehicle interior, the spring module 400 returns to its elongation by the reset of the first spring 450 and the second spring 460, and the pedal pad 300 begins to rotate about the chain pin 310 and unfold relative to the pedal frame 200.

[0099] Figure 5 and Figure 12 The pedal frame 200 is shown in Figure 11 In the state of being further moved backward and protruding to the maximum extent from the pedal housing 100. At this time, the pedal pad 300 is in the pop-out state, in which the pedal pad rotates around the hinge pin 310 by the spring force of the spring module 400 and fully unfolds relative to the pedal frame 200 to expose itself toward the driver.

[0100] As described above, when the pedal pad 300 is in the pop-out state, the spring module 400 is located diagonally and supports the pedal pad 300.

[0101] When the pedal pad 300 is from Figure 9 The pedal pad shown is hidden in the pedal housing 100, and the hidden state is changed to as follows: Figure 12 When the pedal pad is in its popped-out state, protruding towards the driver, the pedal pad 300 protrudes from the pedal housing 100. Specifically, the pedal pad pops out through a small panel hole 11 formed on the foot pedal panel 10. Therefore, it has the advantage of maximizing the realization of a high-tech image for a foldable pedal device.

[0102] When the pedal pad 300 rotates and unfolds relative to the pedal frame 200 to enter the pop-out state, the driver operates the protruding pedal pad 300 with his foot.

[0103] During normal operation of the pedal pad 300, the pedal force can be achieved by changing the length of the spring module 400, and the movement of the pedal pad 300 can be restricted by the constraint force of the rotary motor 500.

[0104] When the pedal pad 300 is rotated by the driver's operation, the hinge pin 310 rotates together with the pedal pad 300, the permanent magnet 710 rotates together with the hinge pin 310, and the PCB 720 detects the rotation angle of the pedal pad 300 by the change in magnetic flux of the permanent magnet 710 that rotates together with the pedal pad 300 when the pedal pad 300 rotates and generates a signal related to the pedal function (a signal related to acceleration or a signal related to braking).

[0105] According to embodiments of this disclosure, when the pedal pad 300 rotates to enter a hidden or popped state by the pedal frame 200 in response to the operation of the rotary motor 500, and changes the position of the permanent magnet 710, the PCB 720 does not generate signals related to the pedal function (signals related to acceleration or braking) to prevent malfunction of the foldable pedal device.

[0106] That is, when the pedal frame 200 moves forward and retracts into the pedal housing 100 by the operation of the rotary motor 500 and the pedal pad 300 enters... Figure 9 When the pedal frame 200 is in the hidden state, or when the pedal frame 200 moves backward and protrudes from the pedal housing 100 by the operation of the rotary motor 500 and the pedal pad 300 rotates and unfolds relative to the pedal frame 200 to enter the pop-up state, the PCB 720 does not generate a signal related to the pedal function even if the position of the permanent magnet 710 changes, thereby preventing accidents caused by misoperation.

[0107] However, as Figure 12 As shown, when the pedal frame 200 moves backward and protrudes completely from the pedal housing 100, the pedal pad 300 unfolds relative to the pedal frame 200 and is in a pop-out state, and the rotary motor 500 is not operating, the PCB 720 generates a signal related to the pedal function only when the pedal pad 300 and hinge pin 310 are rotated by the driver's operation, and the permanent magnet 710 rotates to change the position of the permanent magnet 710, thus enabling safer operation of the foldable pedal device.

[0108] As described above, the foldable pedal device according to this disclosure is configured such that, in a manual driving mode where the vehicle is manually driven by the driver, the pedal frame 200 and pedal pad 300 protrude from the pedal housing 100 and pop out to expose themselves towards the driver, allowing the driver to operate the pedal pad 300. In an automatic driving mode where the driver is not driving, the pedal frame 200 and pedal pad 300 retract into the pedal housing 100 and enter a hidden state to prevent the pedal pad from being exposed towards the driver, thereby preventing the driver from operating the pedal pad 300. Therefore, it has the advantages that the driver can rest in automatic driving mode, and safety is improved because accidental pedal operation is prevented in automatic driving mode.

[0109] The foldable pedal device according to this disclosure is configured such that, in a concealed state, the pedal pad 300 retracts into the pedal housing 100 to be completely hidden, wherein the panel hole 11 through which the pedal pad 300 passes during the pop-out and retraction operations of the pedal pad 300 is formed to be as small as possible. Therefore, it has the advantage of optimizing vehicle interior design.

[0110] The foldable pedal device according to this disclosure is configured such that the pedal pad 300 protrudes from the pedal housing 100 during the transition from a concealed state to a pop-out state, wherein the pedal pad 300 pops out through a small panel hole 11 formed on the foot pedal panel 10. Therefore, it has the advantage of maximizing the high-tech image of the foldable pedal device.

[0111] Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications, additions, and substitutions may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure as disclosed in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A foldable pedal device for a vehicle, the foldable pedal device comprising: The pedal housing is connected to the foot pedal panel located in the lower space of the driver's seat and is configured to protrude forward; The pedal frame is configured to slide through the pedal panel and in the front-rear direction of the pedal housing, and when the pedal frame moves forward, the pedal frame retracts into the pedal housing, and when the pedal frame moves backward, the pedal frame protrudes from the pedal housing and is exposed to the vehicle interior. The pedal pad is rotatably attached to the pedal frame and configured to be operated by the driver; A spring module, the opposite ends of which are rotatably connected to the pedal frame and the pedal pad, is configured to provide a spring force to the pedal pad, causing the pedal pad to rotate in a direction protruding from the pedal frame; as well as A rotary motor is securely mounted on the pedal housing and configured to provide power for sliding of the pedal frame.

2. The foldable pedal device according to claim 1, wherein, When the pedal frame moves forward by the operation of the rotary motor, both the pedal frame and the pedal pad retract into the pedal housing, and the pedal pad folds toward the pedal frame, thereby entering a hidden state that prevents the pedal pad from being exposed toward the driver.

3. The foldable pedal device according to claim 1, wherein, When the pedal frame moves backward by the operation of the rotary motor, both the pedal frame and the pedal pad protrude from the pedal housing, and the pedal pad rotates and unfolds relative to the pedal frame by the elastic force of the spring module, thereby entering the pop-out state in which the pedal pad faces the driver.

4. The foldable pedal device according to claim 1, further comprising: A protective cover, rotatably attached to the foot pedal panel, is configured to open and close the panel opening; as well as A cover spring, with its opposite end connected to and supported by the foot pedal panel and the protective cover, is configured to provide a spring force to the protective cover, causing the protective cover to rotate in a direction that seals the panel opening. The pedal frame is configured to move in the front-to-back direction through the panel hole.

5. The foldable pedal device according to claim 1, further comprising: A small gear is connected to the rotary motor; as well as A rack is connected to the pedal frame to extend along the length of the pedal frame and engages with the pinion.

6. The foldable pedal device according to claim 1, further comprising: A support roller, located in and rotatably coupled to the pedal housing, is configured to contact the lower surface of the pedal frame.

7. The foldable pedal device according to claim 1, further comprising: Upper and lower guide members are disposed in the pedal housing and configured to prevent vertical movement of the pedal frame by contacting the upper and lower surfaces of the pedal frame.

8. The foldable pedal device according to claim 1, further comprising: A side guide, disposed in the pedal housing, is configured to prevent lateral movement of the pedal frame by contacting the left and right surfaces of the pedal frame.

9. The foldable pedal device according to claim 1, wherein, The pedal frame has a frame hole that extends along the length of the pedal frame and passes vertically through the pedal frame; and When the pedal frame retracts into the pedal housing, the spring module retracts into the frame hole, and when the pedal frame is in a state of protruding from the pedal housing, the spring module protrudes from the frame hole.

10. The foldable pedal device according to claim 9, wherein, Foreign objects are discharged through the frame holes.

11. The foldable pedal device according to claim 1, wherein, The pedal pad is an accordion-style pad, meaning that its lower end is rotatably connected to the rear end of the pedal frame via a hinge pin as a medium, and is connected to the spring module above the hinge pin. The upper end of the pedal pad rotates back and forth about the hinge pin.

12. The foldable pedal device according to claim 1, wherein, The spring module includes: The lower spring guide has its front end rotatably connected to the pedal frame via a first connecting pin as a medium, the rear end of the lower spring guide protruding toward the pedal pad, and the lower spring guide has a hollow cylindrical structure. An upper spring guide, the rear end of which is rotatably connected to the pedal pad via a second connecting pin serving as a medium, the front end of which retracts into the lower spring guide, thereby moving along the lower spring guide; and The first spring and the second spring are configured such that the opposite ends of each of the first spring and the second spring are supported by the lower spring guide and the upper spring guide.

13. The foldable pedal device according to claim 12, wherein, The lower spring guide includes a concealed protrusion configured to project upwards; and When the pedal frame, which is retracted into the pedal housing, moves rearward and protrudes from the pedal housing, the hidden protrusion is exposed to the vehicle interior while passing through the pedal panel, causing the spring module to return to its elongated state by the reset of the first and second springs, and the pedal pad rotates about the hinge pin and unfolds relative to the pedal frame, thereby entering the pop-out state in which the pedal pad is exposed to the driver.

14. The foldable pedal device according to claim 12, wherein, The lower spring guide includes a concealed protrusion configured to project upwards; and When the pedal frame, protruding from the pedal housing, moves forward and retracts into the pedal housing, the hidden protrusion contacts the pedal panel. The lower spring guide rotates toward the pedal frame to compress the first and second springs, causing the spring module to shorten. The pedal pad rotates about the hinge pin in the direction in which the pedal pad folds into the pedal frame. When the pedal frame and the pedal pad are fully retracted into the pedal housing, the spring module retracts into the frame hole formed in the pedal frame, and the pedal pad enters a folded-in state into the pedal frame, thereby entering a hidden state that prevents the pedal pad from being exposed toward the driver.

15. The foldable pedal device according to claim 12, wherein, The pedal frame has a recessed contraction groove on its upper rear surface; and The rear end of the upper spring guide retracts into the contraction groove in response to the rotation of the spring module.

16. The foldable pedal device according to claim 1, wherein, The protrusion is formed by projecting upward from the rear end of the pedal frame; and When the pedal pad rotates and unfolds relative to the pedal frame to enter the pop-up state where the pedal pad is exposed to the driver, the lower end of the pedal pad contacts the protrusion to restrict its rotation, thereby locking the pedal pad in the initial position of the pop-up state.

17. The foldable pedal device according to claim 11, further comprising: A permanent magnet is connected to the hinge pin of the pedal pad; as well as The printed circuit board (PCB) is securely mounted on the pedal frame and faces the permanent magnet. The PCB is configured to detect the rotation angle of the pedal pad by means of the change in magnetic flux of the permanent magnet when the hinge pin rotates in response to the rotation of the pedal pad, so as to generate a signal related to the pedal function.

18. The foldable pedal device according to claim 17, wherein, When the pedal pad rotates to enter a hidden or popped state by the forward and backward movement of the pedal frame in response to the operation of the rotary motor, and the position of the permanent magnet changes, the PCB does not generate signals related to the pedal function to prevent malfunction of the pedal pad.

19. The foldable pedal device according to claim 17, wherein, The PCB is configured to generate pedal function-related signals only when the pedal frame moves rearward and protrudes from the pedal housing, the pedal pad is unfolded relative to the pedal frame and in a pop-out state, and the rotary motor is not operating, and the pedal pad and the hinge pin are rotated by the driver to change the position of the permanent magnet.

20. The foldable pedal device according to claim 1, wherein, The foldable pedal device is used as an accelerator pedal device or a brake pedal device.

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