Pedal devices and gaming equipment

Abstract

This application relates to a pedal device and a gaming device. The pedal device includes a pedal assembly, which comprises a connecting base, a pressure sensor, and a pedal. The pressure sensor includes a fixed portion and a deformable portion connected to each other. The fixed portion is connected to the connecting base, and a deformable space is provided between the deformable portion and the connecting base. The pedal is disposed on the side of the pressure sensor away from the connecting base, and includes a pedal body and a pressing portion. The pedal body is spaced apart from the pressure sensor, and the pressing portion protrudes from the side of the pedal body facing the pressure sensor and is connected to the deformable portion. By fixing the pressure sensor to the connecting base and directly connecting the pressing portion of the pedal to the deformable portion of the pressure sensor, when the pedal is subjected to a stepping force, the pressing portion directly presses against the deformable portion, causing deformation within the deformable space. This allows the pressure sensor to directly sense minute changes in pressure on the pedal, improving the sensing speed and accuracy of the pressure sensor in detecting pedal force.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of simulated vehicle driving technology, and in particular to pedal devices and gaming equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In pedal systems, accurate feedback of pedal force is crucial for driving experience and control precision. Traditionally, pressure sensors are typically placed on the bottom or inside of the pedal. These sensors detect the deformation of the pedal when subjected to external force, thus determining the pressure applied. However, due to the inherent lag in deformation transmission, the pressure sensors' sensing speed and feedback accuracy are not high enough to meet the growing demands for a superior driving experience in simulation. Utility Model Content

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a pedal device and gaming device to address the problems of low pedal force response speed and low sensing accuracy.

[0004] In a first aspect, this application provides a pedal device, including a pedal assembly, the pedal assembly comprising:

[0005] Connector;

[0006] A pressure sensor includes a fixed part and a deformable part connected to each other. The fixed part is connected to the connecting seat, and a deformable space is provided between the deformable part and the connecting seat.

[0007] A pedal is disposed on the side of the pressure sensor away from the connecting seat; the pedal includes a pedal body and a pressing part, the pedal body is disposed at a distance from the pressure sensor, the pressing part protrudes from the side of the pedal body facing the pressure sensor and is connected to the deformation part.

[0008] The pedal device provided in this application embodiment detects the pedal force in real time by setting a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is fixed to a connecting base, and the pedal's pressing part is directly connected to the deformation part of the pressure sensor. When the pedal is subjected to a pressing force, the pressing part directly presses against the deformation part, causing deformation within the deformation space. This allows the pressure sensor to directly sense minute changes in pressure on the pedal, improving the sensor's sensing speed and accuracy, which is beneficial for meeting the growing demands for immersive gaming experiences.

[0009] In one embodiment, the connector is provided with a mounting groove, and the pressure sensor is disposed in the mounting groove.

[0010] The pedal device provided in this application embodiment limits the pressure sensor by setting a mounting groove, which helps to improve the accuracy of the pressure sensor's installation position and the installation firmness.

[0011] In one embodiment, the pressure sensor is connected to the bottom of the mounting slot via a plurality of first fasteners.

[0012] The pedal device provided in this application embodiment uses bolts or screws or other first fasteners to fix the pressure sensor to the connecting seat, thereby improving the installation firmness of the pressure sensor.

[0013] In one embodiment, the bottom of the mounting groove is provided with the deformation space along the depth direction of the mounting groove, and the deformation space is disposed opposite to the deformation part.

[0014] The pedal device provided in this application embodiment has a pressure sensor installed in the mounting groove. When the pressure sensor is pressed by the pedal, the deformation part will move into the deformation space at the bottom of the mounting groove.

[0015] In one embodiment, the bottom plate of the mounting groove has a protrusion facing the deformation space, and the surface of the protrusion facing the pressure sensor is flush with the bottom plate of the groove to support the fixing part.

[0016] The pedal device provided in this application embodiment provides support for the fixing part by setting a protrusion, so as to make the pressure sensor more securely installed.

[0017] In one embodiment, the pressing part is connected to the deforming part by a plurality of second fasteners.

[0018] The pedal device provided in this application embodiment connects the pressure-receiving part and the deformation part by setting a second fastener such as bolts or screws, thereby achieving a firm connection between the pressure sensor and the pedal and stably transmitting the pedal force to the pressure sensor.

[0019] In one embodiment, the end of the second fastener protrudes from the deformed portion toward the side of the connector; the connector is provided with a clearance hole relative to the position of the second fastener, and the portion of the second fastener protruding from the deformed portion can extend into the clearance hole.

[0020] In the pedal device provided in this application embodiment, when assembling the pedal assembly, the pressure sensor is first fixed in the mounting groove, then the pedal is placed on the side of the pressure sensor away from the connecting seat, and then the second fastener 5 passes through the clearance hole to connect and fix the deformable part and the pressing part.

[0021] In one embodiment, the fixing part is configured as a frame, and the deformable part is disposed within the frame and partially connected to the frame.

[0022] The pedal device provided in this application embodiment, through the above-mentioned arrangement, creates a gap between the part of the deformable part that is not connected to the frame and the frame, thereby making it easier for the deformable part to deform when pressed by the pressure part, so as to improve the sensitivity of pressure change detection.

[0023] In one embodiment, at least two pressure sensors are provided, and the at least two pressure sensors are spaced apart from each other and disposed between the connecting seat and the pedal.

[0024] The pedal device provided in this application embodiment addresses the issue of uneven pressure distribution across different areas of the pedal. By employing two spaced-apart pressure sensors to detect pressure in two different areas of the pedal, and averaging the results to compensate for deviations caused by uneven pressure distribution, the accuracy of detecting the pedal force is improved. Furthermore, more than two pressure sensors can be provided as needed to further enhance detection accuracy.

[0025] In one embodiment, the pedal device further includes:

[0026] Base;

[0027] A pedal support arm, one end of which is rotatably connected to the base, and the other end of which is connected to the side of the connecting seat away from the pedal;

[0028] A transmission mechanism, wherein the fixed end of the transmission mechanism is disposed on the base, and the driving end of the transmission mechanism is movably connected to the pedal support arm, for driving the pedal support arm to rotate around the base.

[0029] The pedal device provided in this application embodiment applies force to the pedal support arm and the pedal by setting a transmission mechanism, so as to provide resistance or assistance to the pedal assembly, thereby obtaining a pedal force feel that is more in line with the driving intention.

[0030] In one embodiment, the connecting seat is rotatably connected to the pedal support arm, and the rotation axis of the connecting seat is perpendicular to the rotation plane of the pedal support arm.

[0031] The pedal device provided in this application embodiment, through the above-described configuration, adjusts the tilt angle of the connecting seat on the pedal support arm to better facilitate the user in adjusting the pedaling posture.

[0032] Secondly, this application also provides a gaming device, including the pedal device described in any of the above embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the pedal device provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 2This is a cross-sectional view of a pedal device provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a pedal assembly provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a pedal assembly (with pedal removed) provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the connector provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0038] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0039] 1. Pedal assembly; 11. Connecting seat; 111. Deformation space; 112. Mounting slot; 113. Clearance hole; 114. Protrusion; 115. Connecting plate; 1151. First connecting hole; 116. Wiring hole; 12. Pressure sensor; 121. Fixing part; 122. Deformation part; 13. Pedal; 131. Pedal body; 132. Pressing part; 14. First fastener; 15. Second fastener;

[0040] 2. Base;

[0041] 3. Pedal support arm;

[0042] 4. Transmission mechanism; 41. Motor shaft; 42. Lead screw; 43. Lead screw nut; 44. Drive shaft; 45. Coupling;

[0043] 5. Motherboard;

[0044] 6. Wiring harness. Detailed Implementation

[0045] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0046] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the pedal device provided in one embodiment of this application is shown; Figure 2A cross-sectional view of a pedal device provided in one embodiment of this application is shown. This application provides a pedal device and a gaming device including the pedal device, which may be, but is not limited to, a driving simulator. The pedal device includes a pedal assembly 1, a base 2, a pedal support arm 3, a transmission mechanism 4, and a main board 5. The main board 5 is mounted on the base 2 and electrically connected to the pedal assembly 1 and the transmission mechanism 4, and is used to precisely control the pedal assembly 1 or the transmission mechanism 4 according to a preset driving strategy. One end of the pedal support arm 3 is rotatably connected to the base 2, and the other end is connected to the pedal assembly 1. The fixed end of the transmission mechanism 4 is disposed on the base 2, and the driving end of the transmission mechanism 4 is movably connected to the pedal support arm 3, used to apply force to the pedal support arm 3 and the pedal 13 to provide resistance or assistance to the pedal assembly 1, thereby obtaining a pedal force feel that better matches the driving intention.

[0047] The main improvement in this embodiment is to the pedal assembly 1. Please refer to... Figure 3 , Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a pedal assembly 1 provided in one embodiment of this application is shown. The pedal assembly 1 includes a connecting seat 11, a pressure sensor 12, and a pedal 13. The pressure sensor 12 includes a fixed portion 121 and a deformable portion 122 connected together. The fixed portion 121 is connected to the connecting seat 11, and a deformable space 111 is provided between the deformable portion 122 and the connecting seat 11. The pedal 13 is disposed on the side of the pressure sensor 12 facing away from the connecting seat 11. The pedal 13 includes a pedal body 131 and a pressing portion 132. The pedal body 131 is spaced apart from the pressure sensor 12, and the pressing portion 132 protrudes from the side of the pedal body 131 facing the pressure sensor 12 and is connected to the deformable portion 122.

[0048] The pedal device provided in this application embodiment detects the pedal force on the pedal 13 in real time by setting a pressure sensor 12. The pressure sensor 12 is fixed to the connecting seat 11 by fixing the fixing part 121 of the pressure sensor 12, and the pressing part 132 of the pedal 13 is directly connected to the deformation part 122 of the pressure sensor 12. When the pedal 13 is subjected to a pedal force, the pressing part 132 directly presses against the deformation part 122 and deforms into the deformation space 111, thereby allowing the pressure sensor 12 to directly sense subtle changes in the pressure on the pedal 13. This improves the sensing speed and accuracy of the pressure sensor 12 in sensing pedal force, which is beneficial for meeting the growing demand for a better driving experience in simulated driving.

[0049] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the pedal support arm 3 is connected to the connecting seat 11 on the side opposite to the pedal 13. The connecting seat 11 is rotatably connected to the pedal support arm 3, and the rotation axis of the connecting seat 11 is perpendicular to the rotation plane of the pedal support arm 3, so as to adjust the tilt angle of the connecting seat 11 on the pedal support arm 3, so as to better facilitate the user to adjust the pedaling posture.

[0050] Specifically, a connecting plate 115 is provided on the side of the connecting seat 11 away from the pedal 13. The connecting plate 115 is provided with a plurality of first connecting holes 1151, and the pedal support arm 3 is provided with corresponding second connecting holes, so as to connect and fix the connecting plate 115 to the pedal support arm 3 by means of fasteners such as bolts or screws.

[0051] Optionally, one of the first connecting holes 1151 is a round hole, and at least one of the other first connecting holes 1151 is an oblong hole. In one specific embodiment, the connecting plate 115 is fixed to the pedal support arm 3 by means of bolts or screws passing through the first connecting hole 1151 and the second connecting hole. When the connecting plate 115 and the pedal support arm 3 rotate relative to each other, the position of the bolts or screws in the oblong hole is adjusted around the round hole in the first connecting hole 1151 as the rotation center to change the installation angle of the connecting plate 115 on the pedal support arm 3, thereby adjusting the tilt angle of the connecting seat 11 on the pedal support arm 3. It is understood that one of the second connecting holes can also be a round hole, and at least one of the other second connecting holes can be an oblong hole, which can also achieve the adjustment of the installation angle of the connecting plate 115.

[0052] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 5 , Figure 4 This paper shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a pedal assembly 1 (with pedal 13 removed) provided in one embodiment of the present application; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the connector 11 provided in one embodiment of this application is shown.

[0053] In some embodiments, at least two pressure sensors 12 are provided, and the at least two pressure sensors 12 are spaced apart and disposed between the connecting seat 11 and the pedal 13. Since the pressure distribution in different areas of the pedal 13 may be uneven, by providing two spaced-apart pressure sensors 12, pressure is detected in two different areas of the pedal 13, and the deviation caused by uneven pressure distribution is compensated by taking the average value, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the pedal force. Furthermore, more than two pressure sensors 12 can be provided as needed to further improve the detection accuracy.

[0054] In this embodiment, two pressure sensors 12 are provided, arranged along the length of the pedal foot to uniformly sense the pressure on the pedal 13. In other embodiments, if more than two pressure sensors 12 are provided, they are also arranged along the length of the pedal foot.

[0055] In some embodiments, the connector 11 is provided with a mounting groove 112, and the pressure sensor 12 is disposed in the mounting groove 112. By providing the mounting groove 112 to limit the position of the pressure sensor 12, it is beneficial to improve the accuracy of the installation position and the installation firmness of the pressure sensor 12.

[0056] Optionally, the pressure sensor 12 is connected to the bottom of the mounting groove 112 by a plurality of first fasteners 14, which may be bolts or screws. The first fasteners 14 generally protrude from the pressure sensor 12, need to be set to avoid the pressure part 132, and maintain a distance from the pedal body 131 so as to provide clearance for the movement of the pedal body 131 when it is stepped on.

[0057] In some embodiments, a deformation space 111 is provided at the bottom of the mounting groove 112 along the depth direction of the mounting groove 112, and the deformation space 111 is disposed opposite to the deformation part 122. When the pressure sensor 12 disposed in the mounting groove 112 is pressed by the pedal 13, the deformation part 122 will move into the deformation space 111 at the bottom of the mounting groove 112.

[0058] In some embodiments, the bottom plate of the mounting groove 112 is provided with a protrusion 114 facing the deformation space 111. The surface of the protrusion 114 facing the pressure sensor 12 is flush with the bottom plate of the groove, which is used to support the fixing part 121 so that the pressure sensor 12 is installed more securely. Optionally, two protrusions 114 may be provided opposite each other to support the opposite sides of the fixing part 121.

[0059] Specifically, when there are two or more pressure sensors 12, the protrusion 114 is disposed between two adjacent pressure sensors 12, which can support the edges of the two adjacent pressure sensors 12.

[0060] In some embodiments, the pressing part 132 is connected to the deformable part 122 by a plurality of second fasteners 15. The second fasteners 15 may specifically be bolts or screws. By providing the second fasteners 15 such as bolts or screws, the pressing part 132 and the deformable part 122 are connected, thereby achieving a firm connection between the pressure sensor 12 and the pedal 13, and thus stably transmitting the pedal force received by the pedal 13 to the pressure sensor 12.

[0061] Specifically, the end of the second fastener 15 protrudes from the deformable portion 122 towards the connecting seat 11; the connecting seat 11 is provided with a clearance hole 113 relative to the position of the second fastener 15, and the portion of the second fastener 15 protruding from the deformable portion 122 can extend into the clearance hole 113. When assembling the pedal assembly 1, the pressure sensor 12 is first fixed in the mounting groove 112, then the pedal 13 is placed on the side of the pressure sensor 12 away from the connecting seat 11, and then the second fastener 15 passes through the clearance hole 113 to connect and fix the deformable portion 122 and the pressing portion 132.

[0062] In some embodiments, the fixing part 121 is configured as a frame, and the deformable part 122 is disposed in the frame and partially connected to the frame, thereby creating a gap between the part of the deformable part 122 not connected to the frame and the frame, thereby making it easier for the deformable part 122 to deform when pressed by the pressing part 132, so as to improve the sensitivity of pressure change detection.

[0063] In some embodiments, the pressure sensor 12 is connected to the motherboard 5 via a wiring harness 6. To facilitate the wiring of the wiring harness 6, a wire hole 116 is provided on the connector 11. The wiring harness 6 passes through the wire hole 116 and its two ends are respectively connected to the pressure sensor 12 and the motherboard 5.

[0064] In this embodiment, two pressure sensors 12 are provided, and a wire hole 116 is provided between the two pressure sensors 12 so that the wire harnesses 6 of the two pressure sensors 12 share a wire hole 116, which simplifies the structure of the connector 11, facilitates processing, and the fewer openings are more conducive to improving the structural strength of the connector 11.

[0065] Specifically, two adjacent pressure sensors 12 have notches on opposite sides, forming a wire passage that connects to a wire hole 116. The wiring harnesses 6 of the two pressure sensors 12 are connected to the motherboard 5 sequentially through this wire passage and the wire hole 116. By providing notches on the pressure sensors 12, the wiring harnesses 6 can pass through easily, thus reducing the gap between adjacent pressure sensors 12.

[0066] Please return to the reference. Figure 1 In some embodiments, the transmission mechanism 4 employs a lead screw module, including a housing and a motor, a lead screw 42, and a lead screw nut 43 disposed within the housing. The lead screw nut 43 is rotatably connected within the housing and is provided with a limiter to restrict the axial movement of the lead screw nut 43. One end of the lead screw 42 is rotatably connected to the pedal support arm 3, and the other end is threadedly connected to the lead screw nut 43. The motor drives the lead screw nut 43 to rotate, thereby driving the lead screw 42 to move axially, thus applying a force opposite to that of the pedal 13 to the pedal support arm 3.

[0067] Specifically, the transmission mechanism 4 also includes a transmission shaft 44 and a coupling 45. The motor shaft 41 of the motor is connected to one end of the transmission shaft 44 through the coupling 45. The end of the transmission shaft 44 away from the coupling 45 is connected to the lead screw nut 43, thereby transmitting the rotation of the motor shaft 41 to the lead screw nut 43.

[0068] It should be noted that the transmission mechanism 4 is not limited to the structure described above. In other embodiments, a cylinder and connecting rod assembly may also be used, as long as they can apply a force opposite to that of the pedal 13 to the pedal support arm 3.

[0069] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0070] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pedal device, characterized in that, Includes a pedal assembly (1), the pedal assembly (1) comprising: Connector (11); The pressure sensor (12) includes a fixed part (121) and a deformable part (122) connected to each other. The fixed part (121) is connected to the connecting seat (11), and a deformable space (111) is provided between the deformable part (122) and the connecting seat (11). A pedal (13) is disposed on the side of the pressure sensor (12) away from the connecting seat (11); the pedal (13) includes a pedal body (131) and a pressing part (132). The pedal body (131) is disposed at a distance from the pressure sensor (12). The pressing part (132) protrudes from the side of the pedal body (131) facing the pressure sensor (12) and is connected to the deformation part (122).

2. The pedal device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connector (11) is provided with a mounting groove (112), and the pressure sensor (12) is disposed in the mounting groove (112); The pressure sensor (12) is connected to the bottom of the mounting groove (112) by a plurality of first fasteners (14).

3. The pedal device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The bottom of the mounting groove (112) is provided with the deformation space (111) along the depth direction of the mounting groove (112), and the deformation space (111) is provided opposite to the deformation part (122).

4. The pedal device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The mounting groove (112) has a protrusion (114) on its bottom plate facing the deformation space (111). The surface of the protrusion (114) facing the pressure sensor (12) is flush with the bottom plate and is used to support the fixing part (121).

5. The pedal device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressing part (132) is connected to the deformable part (122) by a plurality of second fasteners (15).

6. The pedal device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The end of the second fastener (15) protrudes from the deformable part (122) on the side facing the connecting seat (11); the connecting seat (11) is provided with a clearance hole (113) at the position of the second fastener (15), and the part of the second fastener (15) protruding from the deformable part (122) can extend into the clearance hole (113).

7. The pedal device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The fixing part (121) is configured as a frame, and the deformable part (122) is disposed in the frame and partially connected to the frame.

8. The pedal device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, At least two pressure sensors (12) are provided, and the at least two pressure sensors (12) are spaced apart from each other and disposed between the connecting seat (11) and the pedal (13).

9. The pedal device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The pedal device also includes: Base (2); The pedal support arm (3) has one end rotatably connected to the base (2) and the other end connected to the side of the connecting seat (11) away from the pedal (13). The transmission mechanism (4) has a fixed end located on the base (2) and a drive end movably connected to the pedal support arm (3) for driving the pedal support arm (3) to rotate around the base (2).

10. A gaming device, characterized in that, Includes the pedal device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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