Pedal arrangement for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a pedal arrangement (1) for a vehicle, comprising a movably mounted pedal plate (3) which can be actuated against a force from a spring element (15) over a small actuation travel, a circuit carrier (7) and at least one sensor arrangement (10) with an inductive sensor (10A) which is designed to detect the actuation of the pedal plate (3) and the actuation travel, wherein the inductive sensor (10A) comprises at least one transmitting structure (12) and at least one receiving structure (16) and at least one electrically conductive coupling element (14) and is designed to couple an electrical voltage to the receiving structure (16) based on an eddy current principle, starting from the transmitting structure (12) and via the electrically conductive coupling element (14).wherein the transmitting structure (12) and the receiving structure (16) are arranged on the circuit carrier (7) and a current distance (A) between the circuit carrier (7) and the electrically conductive coupling element (14) determines a degree of coupling between the transmitting structure (12) and the receiving structure (16), wherein the small actuation path of the pedal plate (3) changes the current distance (A) between the circuit carrier (7) and the electrically conductive coupling element (14) and thus a measurement signal output by the receiving structure (16).

Description

The invention relates to a pedal assembly for a vehicle. Such a pedal arrangement comprises a movably mounted pedal plate which can be actuated against a force of at least one spring element over a predefined actuation path, and at least one sensor arrangement which is designed to detect the actuation of the pedal plate and the corresponding actuation path.Pedal arrangements are known from the prior art, which are used, for example, for the realization of brake pedals or accelerator pedals. Such a pedal arrangement for realizing a brake pedal is designed, for example, as a hydraulic system with at least one hydraulic cylinder. In order to provide sufficient liquid volumes for actuating the at least one hydraulic cylinder, the corresponding brake pedal has a long actuation path of approximately 70 mm. As a rule, the brake pedal is actuated via a lever which is significantly longer than the height of the pedal surface. As a result, it is largely immaterial at which point on the pedal surface the foot rests for actuation. As a result of the electrification of the brake system (brake-by-wire), it is possible to reduce the actuating paths by using force sensors and nevertheless to enable a fine-dose operation. The aim here is to use a force-sensitive pedal plate as a replacement for the classic brake pedal with a small actuating distance of less than 2 mm, which is no longer perceived as a "pedal travel" by the driver. The challenge with the force sensor is primarily dirt resistance, flat construction, surface measurement of the load or detection of uneven load on the pedal plate, EMC robustness (relevant above all in the case of electric vehicles), functional safety and competitive production costs.DE 10 2017 220 826 A1 discloses a control element for a vehicle which comprises a foot mat having at least one sensor region. The sensor region has at least one pressure sensor which is configured to generate a control signal upon a pressure actuation of the pressure sensor. In addition, the sensor region comprises a cover layer and a carrier layer, wherein the pressure sensor is arranged between the cover layer and the carrier layer. In this case, the foot mat can have a first sensor region, the pressure sensor of which is configured to generate a control signal for accelerating the vehicle and to act as an accelerator pedal, and a second sensor region, the pressure sensor of which is configured to generate a control signal for braking the vehicle and to act as a brake pedal.Disclosure of the InventionThe pedal arrangement for a vehicle having the features of independent claim 1 has the advantage that the eddy current principle used can provide a safe and cost-effective pedal arrangement which, with a "small" actuation travel of less than two millimeters (2 mm), can nevertheless generate a proportional signal suitable for a brake pedal for activating a braking function or for an accelerator pedal for activating an acceleration function. Since an actuation path of approximately one millimeter is sufficient to change the output signal or measurement signal by a factor of 2, for example, using the eddy current principle, an actuation path in the range of 1 mm to 5 mm may preferably be predefined. Embodiments of the pedal arrangements enable very high degrees of redundancy independent of the deformation body due to the separation of deformation body and measurement points. A very high functional safety can thereby be achieved.Embodiments of the pedal arrangement make possible a large-area measurement by using the eddy current principle. In addition, multiple coil arrangements of the transmitting structure and / or of the receiving structure can be used for measuring a tilt angle and for implementing redundant safety designs.Embodiments of the present invention provide a pedal arrangement for a vehicle, having a movably mounted pedal plate which can be actuated against a force of at least one spring element over a predefined small actuation path, a circuit carrier and at least one sensor arrangement having an inductive sensor which is designed to detect the actuation of the pedal plate and the corresponding actuation path. The inductive sensor comprises at least one transmission structure and at least one reception structure and at least one electrically conductive coupling element and is designed, based on an eddy current principle, starting from the at least one transmission structure and coupling an electrical voltage to the at least one reception structure via the at least one electrically conductive coupling element. The at least one transmission structure and the at least one reception structure are arranged on the circuit carrier, and a current distance between the circuit carrier and the at least one electrically conductive coupling element determines a degree of coupling between the at least one transmission structure and the at least one reception structure. In this case, the small actuating travel of the pedal plate changes the current distance between the circuit carrier and the at least one electrically conductive coupling element and thus a measurement signal output by the at least one receiving structure.The evaluation and control unit can be understood in the present case as an electrical circuit which processes or evaluates detected sensor signals. The evaluation and control unit can have at least one interface, which can be designed as hardware and / or software. In a hardware configuration, the interfaces can be part of a so-called system ASIC, for example, which contains a wide variety of functions of the evaluation and control unit. However, it is also possible for the interfaces to be dedicated, integrated circuits or to consist at least partially of discrete components. In the case of a software configuration, the interfaces can be software modules which are present, for example, on a microcontroller in addition to other software modules. A computer program product having program code which is stored on a machine-readable carrier such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk memory or an optical memory and is used for carrying out the evaluation when the program is executed by the evaluation and control unit is also advantageous.The measures and developments specified in the dependent claims make advantageous improvements of the pedal arrangement for a vehicle specified in independent patent claim 1 possible.It is particularly advantageous that the pedal arrangement can have an evaluation and control unit which is designed to couple a periodic alternating signal into the at least one transmitting structure during operation and to receive signals induced in the at least one receiving structure as measurement signals and evaluate them for determining the actuation path and to determine a corresponding current actuation force acting on the pedal plate on the basis of the determined actuation path and predefined properties of the at least one spring element. The use of the eddy current principle has several technical advantages for realizing such a force-measuring pedal arrangement with a negligible small actuation travel. The small actuation travel of the pedal plate or the small change in distance between the pedal plate and the circuit carrier in combination with the known properties of the at least one spring element makes it possible to infer the pedal force generated by the driver. By means of the properties of the at least one spring element, a desired force-travel characteristic curve for the actuation of the pedal plate can be set. The spring properties can preferably be dimensioned such that the relationship between the exertion of force on the at least one spring element and the change in distance between the at least one electrically conductive coupling element and the circuit carrier is linear. Of course, a non-linear behavior can also be applied in order to positively influence the pedal feeling during the actuation of the pedal plate. In a known force-displacement characteristic curve, the conversion of the change in distance into the actuation force is still possible. Due to the separation of the at least one spring element from the at least one transmitting structure and the at least one receiving structure on the common circuit carrier, the separation of the deformation elements and sensor surfaces can be realized in a simple manner. Therefore, a simple adaptation of force measurement areas is possible without changing the at least one transmission structure and the at least one reception structure on the common circuit carrier. In addition, a good EMC behavior can be implemented by a fixed operating frequency and / or a differential measuring principle. The at least one spring element can be designed, for example, as a disk spring, short helical spring or else as an elastomer element. The at least one spring element can also be composed of a plurality of distributed springs. In addition, the at least one spring element can be designed as a bead which is stressed in tension and connects the pedal plate to a frame.In an advantageous embodiment of the pedal arrangement, the at least one transmission structure can comprise at least one planar transmission coil and the at least one reception structure can comprise at least one planar reception coil. In the case of a planar coil, the winding is not produced from wire, for example copper wire, but from etched conductor tracks of the circuit carrier. This enables a simple and cost-effective implementation of the at least one transmission structure and the at least one reception structure in the circuit carrier.In a further advantageous embodiment of the pedal arrangement, the circuit carrier can be designed as a multilayer printed circuit board. This enables simple and cost-effective production of the circuit carrier. Alternatively, the circuit carrier can be embodied as injection-molded busbars or as injection-molded circuit carrier (MID: Molded Interconnect Devices).In a further advantageous embodiment of the pedal arrangement, the at least one planar transmitting coil and / or the at least one planar receiving coil can be arranged in a plurality of layers of the printed circuit board. In this case, the sections of the at least one planar transmitting coil and / or of the at least one planar receiving coil arranged in different layers can be electrically contacted with one another via plated-through holes. Planar is to be understood here as meaning that the spatial extent in the "planar plane" is significantly greater than the spatial extent over the layers of the printed circuit board.In a further advantageous embodiment of the pedal arrangement, the at least one electrically conductive coupling element or the circuit carrier can be coupled to the pedal plate and, when the pedal plate is actuated, can be moved with it. This means that the at least one electrically conductive coupling element can be coupled to the pedal plate and the circuit carrier can be fixed. As a result, when the pedal plate is actuated, the at least one electrically conductive coupling element can be moved with it, while the circuit carrier is not moved with it. Alternatively, the circuit carrier can be coupled to the pedal plate and the at least one electrically conductive coupling element can be fixed. Upon actuation of the pedal plate, the circuit carrier can then be moved with it, while the at least one electrically conductive coupling element is not moved with it. In this case, the coupling or connection between the pedal plate and the at least one electrically conductive coupling element or the circuit carrier can be designed such that the current distance between the circuit carrier and the at least one electrically conductive coupling element decreases upon actuation of the pedal plate. Alternatively, the coupling or connection between the pedal plate and the at least one electrically conductive coupling element or the circuit carrier can be designed such that the current distance between the circuit carrier and the at least one electrically conductive coupling element increases upon actuation of the pedal plate. This alternative configuration can be used in particular for applications which require a particularly high accuracy in the lower force range.In a further advantageous embodiment of the pedal arrangement, the circuit carrier can be arranged between two electrically conductive coupling elements. In this case, a current first distance between a first electrically conductive coupling element and the circuit carrier can decrease upon actuation of the pedal plate, and a current second distance between a second electrically conductive coupling element and the circuit carrier can increase upon actuation of the pedal plate. By a suitable arrangement of the two electrically conductive coupling elements with respect to the circuit carrier, a relationship between the voltage induced in the at least one receiving structure and the distance between the at least one electrically conductive coupling element and the circuit carrier can be linearized to the greatest possible extent. In this case, the use of two electrically conductive coupling elements can offer improved linearization than only one electrically conductive coupling element.In a further advantageous embodiment of the pedal arrangement, the at least one receiving structure can comprise at least one coil pair which comprises two receiving coils arranged side by side with opposing turns which are electrically connected in series. The opposing turns of the two receiving coils can effectively suppress external interference fields. In this case, the at least one planar transmitting coil of a corresponding transmitting structure can enclose the at least one coil pair. As a result, the at least one coil pair is arranged completely within a surface spanned by the at least one planar transmitting coil.In a further advantageous embodiment of the pedal arrangement, the at least one electrically conductive coupling element can at least partially cover a surface spanned by the at least one coil pair and the surface spanned by the at least one planar transmitting coil. Thus, the at least one electrically conductive coupling element can cover, for example, half of the receiving coils of the at least one coil pair. By means of the half-lap of the receiving coils of the at least one coil pair, it can be achieved that a signal can be generated by the difference formation in the two receiving coils, while external interference influences which act equally on both receiving coils are suppressed. Of course, a different degree of coverage, such as, for example, a coverage of one quarter or one third of the receiving coils of the at least one coil pair, can also be implemented. Depending on the distance from the circuit carrier, energy can be transmitted from the at least one transmitter coil to the at least one receiver coil by the at least one electrically conductive coupling element, which energy can be measured as voltage or current at the at least one receiver coil. The half-lap can also be produced in that the at least one electrically conductive coupling element has a profile structure which has different heights above the two receiving coils. The at least one electrically conductive coupling element can likewise be produced analogously to the circuit carrier using printed circuit board technology in order to achieve the necessary partial coverage of the receiving coils. In this case, the at least one electrically conductive coupling element is produced in such a way that an electrically conductive surface is arranged in each case above a first receiving coil of the at least one coil pair, while only non-conductive carrier material is arranged above the second receiving coil of the at least one coil pair. Alternatively, the at least one electrically conductive coupling element can be designed as a busbar encapsulated with plastic or as an injection-molded circuit carrier (MID: Molded Interconnect Devices).In a further advantageous embodiment of the pedal arrangement, the at least one receiving structure can have a plurality of coil pairs. As a result, a multi-channel structure can be implemented which advantageously enables an improved relationship between the applied actuating force on the pedal plate and the measured force at the inductive sensor. In this case, the at least one planar transmitting coil of a corresponding transmitting structure can enclose at least one coil pair of the plurality of coil pairs and / or be arranged between the plurality of coil pairs. For example, a plurality of transmitting coils can each enclose a coil pair or a plurality of coil pairs of the corresponding receiving structure, or a transmitting coil can enclose all coil pairs of the corresponding receiving structure. Thus, a receiving structure can preferably comprise four sensor pairs, which form a sensor array at least partially covering the pedal plate. As a result, different force effects on the pedal plate can be detected by resultant tilting in two axes via the sensor array. In addition, four spring elements can be arranged distributed in the corner regions of the pedal plate. Alternatively, the at least one spring element can be designed as a circumferential elastomer element, which can act as a seal. This has the additional advantage that the encircling elastomer element can protect the arrangement from dirt. As a further alternative, the encircling elastomer element can be designed as a bead which is subject to tension. The redundancy in the embodiment as a sensor array allows plausibility checking of the measurement signals, as a result of which high requirements for functional safety can be met. Thus, for example, degradation or failure of individual receiving coils can be reliably detected by comparison with the other receiving coils.In addition, surfaces spanned by the plurality of coil pairs and the surface spanned by the at least one planar transmitting coil can be at least partially covered by a common electrically conductive coupling element or by two different electrically conductive coupling elements. By using a plurality of coil pairs with the same electrically conductive coupling element, homogeneous redundancy can be produced. This homogeneous redundancy can be further increased by the use of a plurality of coil pairs with two electrically conductive coupling elements.In a further advantageous embodiment of the pedal arrangement, the evaluation and control unit can be further designed to receive and evaluate the signals induced in the plurality of coil pairs of the at least one receiving structure as measurement signals and to determine a current spatial position of the pedal plate on the basis of the evaluation. By determining the spatial position, it is possible to determine a tilt in two axes and a centering of the actuating force and the current distance, which can generally be different again and again during the actuation by the user. In addition, it can be detected reliably whether the pedal plate is actually actuated. This makes it possible to compensate drift during operation, which can be caused, for example, by aging. Fault detection, for example when the temperature behavior of the individual channels changes, such as the detection of dirt in the air space between the at least one electrically conductive coupling element and the circuit carrier, is also possible as a result.In a further advantageous embodiment of the pedal arrangement, the at least one sensor arrangement can comprise at least one further distance sensor which is designed to determine the distance between the circuit carrier and the corresponding electrically conductive coupling element on the basis of an alternative measurement principle. Thus, the at least one further distance sensor can use, for example, an optical measuring principle and / or a capacitive measuring principle or a magnetic measuring principle for distance measurement. By using another measuring principle, heterogeneous redundancy can be achieved. If the at least one further distance sensor is arranged on the same circuit carrier as the receiving structure and the transmitting structure of the inductive sensor, a simple integration of the at least one further distance sensor is possible. In this case, the at least one further distance sensor can use the same coupling element as the inductive sensor for distance measurement. Alternatively, the at least one further distance sensor can be arranged on another circuit carrier, but use the same coupling element. As a further alternative, the at least one further distance sensor can be arranged on another circuit carrier and use a different coupling element. For distance determination, for example, an optical intensity measurement or triangulation measurements can be carried out. Active components such as LEDs, laser diodes or light sensors can be integrated on the printed circuit board and the light reflected by the at least one electrically conductive coupling element can be detected. As a result, common-cause failures (common cause failures) acting on a sensor principle can be effectively detected. As a result of the heterogeneous redundancy thus formed, particularly high safety levels can be achieved. Magnetic field sensors offer comparably high safety and simple integration. In this case, a solderable semiconductor magnetic field sensor can be integrated on the printed circuit board, while a permanent magnet is connected, for example embedded or adhesively bonded, to the movable pedal plate.Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate components or elements that perform like or analogous functions.Brief Description of the DrawingsFIG. 1 shows a sectional illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of a pedal arrangement according to the invention for a vehicle. FIG. 2 shows a sectional illustration of a second exemplary embodiment of a pedal arrangement according to the invention for a vehicle. FIG. 3 shows a sectional illustration of a third exemplary embodiment of a pedal arrangement according to the invention for a vehicle. FIG. 4 shows a sectional illustration of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a pedal arrangement according to the invention for a vehicle. FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a fifth exemplary embodiment of a pedal arrangement according to the invention for a vehicle. FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of the pedal arrangement according to the invention for a vehicle from FIG. 5.Embodiments of the InventionAs can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 6, the illustrated exemplary embodiments of a pedal arrangement 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E for a vehicle each comprise a movably mounted pedal plate 3, which can be actuated against a force of at least one spring element 15 over a predefined small actuation path, a circuit carrier 7 and at least one sensor arrangement 10 having an inductive sensor 10A, which is designed to detect the actuation of the pedal plate 3 and the corresponding actuation path. Inductive sensor 10A includes at least one transmitting structure 12 and at least one receiving structure 16 and at least one electrically conductive coupling element 14 and is designed, based on an eddy current principle, starting from the at least one transmitting structure 12 and coupling an electrical voltage to the at least one receiving structure 16 via the at least one electrically conductive coupling element 14. The at least one transmitting structure 12 and the at least one receiving structure 16 are arranged on the circuit carrier 7, and a current distance A between the circuit carrier 7 and the at least one electrically conductive coupling element 14 determines a degree of coupling between the at least one transmitting structure 12 and the at least one receiving structure 16.As can be further seen from FIGS. 1 to 5, the pedal arrangements 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E illustrated each comprise an evaluation and control unit 11 which is arranged on an underside of the circuit carrier 7 and is designed to couple a periodic alternating signal into the at least one transmission structure 12 during operation and to receive signals induced in the at least one reception structure 16 as measurement signals and to evaluate them for determining the actuation path and to determine a corresponding current actuation force F acting on the pedal plate 3 on the basis of the determined actuation path and predefined properties of the at least one spring element 15.As can be further seen from FIGS. 1 to 5, in the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the pedal arrangement 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, the at least one electrically conductive coupling element 14 or the circuit carrier 7 is coupled to the pedal plate 3 and is moved with the pedal plate 3 when the pedal plate 3 is actuated. In the exemplary embodiments of the pedal arrangement 1A, 1B, 1D, 1E illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the at least one electrically conductive coupling element 14 is in each case coupled or connected to the pedal plate 3 and is moved with the pedal plate 3 when the pedal plate 3 is actuated. In the exemplary embodiment of the pedal arrangement 1C illustrated in FIG. 3, the circuit carrier 7 is coupled or connected to the pedal plate 3 and is moved with the pedal plate 3 when the latter is actuated.As can be further seen from FIGS. 1 to 3, in the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the pedal arrangement 1A, 1B, 1C, the circuit carrier 7 with the at least one transmitting structure 12 and the at least one receiving structure 16 is arranged in a housing 9. In addition, a plurality of spring elements 15 of the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the pedal arrangement 1A, 1B, 1C are each designed as helical springs 15A, which are supported on a carrier 5 designed as a base plate 5A. Here, the base plate 5A forms the bottom of the housing 9.As can be further seen from FIG. 1, in the illustrated first exemplary embodiment of the pedal arrangement 1A, an electrically conductive coupling element 14 is arranged on a holding structure 4 designed as a holding plate 4A, which is coupled or connected to the pedal plate 3 via connecting webs 3.1. In this case, the connecting webs 3.1 are guided through a cover, not designated in any more detail, of the housing 9. As a result, the coupling element 14 is arranged between the circuit carrier 7 and the pedal plate 3 and the distance A between the coupling element 14 and the circuit carrier 7 decreases when the actuating force F is applied to the pedal plate 3. end regions of the retaining plate 4 form stops 4.1, which, in combination with the cover of the housing 9, define an illustrated starting position of the retaining plate 4 and thus of the pedal plate 3. The spring elements 15 designed as helical springs 15A act as compression springs and press the retaining plate 4 against the cover of the housing 9 into the initial position shown. As can be further seen from FIG. 1, the circuit carrier 7 is firmly connected to the base plate 5A via spacer elements not designated in more detail.As can be further seen from FIG. 2, the circuit carrier 7 is arranged between two electrically conductive coupling elements 14 in the illustrated second exemplary embodiment of the pedal arrangement 1B. In this case, a current first distance A 1 between a first electrically conductive coupling element 14A and the circuit carrier 7 decreases upon actuation of the pedal plate 3 and a current second distance A 2 between a second electrically conductive coupling element 14B and the circuit carrier 7 increases upon actuation of the pedal plate 3. As a result, the first coupling element 14A is arranged between the circuit carrier 7 and the pedal plate 3 and the first distance A 1 between the first coupling element 14A and the circuit carrier 7 decreases upon application of the actuating force F to the pedal plate 3. When the actuating force F is applied to the pedal plate 3, the second distance A 2 between the second coupling element 14A and the circuit carrier 7 increases. Analogously to the first exemplary embodiment of the pedal arrangement 1A, end regions of the retaining plate 4 form stops 4.1 in the illustrated second exemplary embodiment of the pedal arrangement 1B, which stops, in combination with the cover of the housing 9, define an illustrated starting position of the retaining plate 4 and thus of the pedal plate 3. The spring elements 15 designed as helical springs 15A act as compression springs and press the retaining plate 4 against the cover of the housing 9 into the initial position shown. In addition, the circuit carrier 7 is firmly connected to the base plate 5A via spacer elements, which are not designated in any more detail and which are designed higher than the spacer elements in the first exemplary embodiment.As can be further seen from FIG. 3, in the illustrated third exemplary embodiment of the pedal arrangement 1C, the circuit carrier 7 is coupled or connected to the pedal plate 3 via connecting webs 3.1. In this case, the connecting webs 3.1 are guided through the cover of the housing 9, which cover is not designated in any more detail. The electrically conductive coupling element 14 is firmly connected to the cover of the housing and is arranged between the circuit carrier 7 and the pedal plate 3. Therefore, the distance A between the coupling element 14 and the circuit carrier 7 increases upon application of the actuating force F to the pedal plate 3. end regions of the circuit carrier 7 4 form stops 7.1, which in combination with the cover of the housing 9 define an illustrated starting position of the circuit carrier 7 and thus of the pedal plate 3. The spring elements 15 designed as helical springs 15A act as compression springs and press the circuit carrier 7 against the cover of the housing 9 into the initial position shown.As can be further seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, in the exemplary embodiments of the pedal arrangement 1D, 1E shown, the at least one electrically conductive coupling element 14 is directly coupled or connected to the pedal plate 3 and is moved with the pedal plate 3 when the pedal plate 3 is actuated. In addition, in the exemplary embodiments of the pedal arrangement 1D, 1E shown, the circuit carrier 7 having the at least one transmission structure 12 and the at least one reception structure 16 is in each case fixedly coupled to a carrier 5 designed as a base plate 5A. In this case, the base plate 5A has a depression, not designated in any more detail, which is covered by the circuit carrier 7. As a result, electronic components, such as the evaluation and control unit 11, can be arranged on the underside of the circuit carrier 7.As can be further seen from FIG. 4, in the fourth exemplary embodiment of the pedal arrangement 1D illustrated, the coupling element 14 is arranged between the circuit carrier 7 and the pedal plate 3, and the distance A between the coupling element 14 and the circuit carrier 7 decreases when the actuating force F is applied to the pedal plate 3. end regions of the pedal plate 3 form stops 3.1, which limit the actuating travel of the pedal plate 3 in combination with the base plate 5A. In the illustrated starting position, the electrically conductive coupling element 14 has a maximum distance A from the circuit carrier 7. As can be further seen from FIG. 4, the at least one spring element 15 is designed as a circumferential elastomer element 15B, which acts as a seal and protects the circuit carrier 7 from undesired external influences, such as dirt, moisture, etc. The encircling elastomer element 15B acts as a compression spring and presses the pedal plate 3 with the electrically conductive coupling element 14 into the initial position shown.As can be further seen from FIG. 5, in the fifth exemplary embodiment of the pedal arrangement 1E illustrated, the coupling element 14 is arranged, analogously to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the pedal arrangement 1D, between the circuit carrier 7 and the pedal plate 3, and the distance A between the coupling element 14 and the circuit carrier 7 decreases when the actuating force F is applied to the pedal plate 3. As can be further seen from FIG. 4, the at least one spring element 15 is designed as a circumferential elastomer element 15C, which forms a bead which is subject to tension and connects the pedal plate 3 to a holding structure 4 designed as a holding frame 4B. In this case, the encircling holding frame 4B protects the circuit carrier 7 from undesired external influences, such as dirt, moisture, etc. The encircling elastomer element 15C acts as a tension spring and holds the pedal plate 3 with the electrically conductive coupling element 14 in the starting position shown.In the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the pedal arrangement 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, the at least one transmission structure 12 comprises at least one planar transmission coil 12A and the at least one reception structure 16 comprises at least one planar reception coil 16A, 16B, as can be seen from FIG. 6. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the receiving structures 16 each comprise four coil pairs 18, which each comprise two receiving coils 16A, 16B arranged next to one another and having opposite turns, as can be further seen from FIG. 6. In addition, the two receiving coils 16A, 16B are electrically connected in series. FIG. 6 shows, by way of example, a possible embodiment of the at least one transmitting structure 12 and the at least one receiving structure 16, which are arranged on the circuit carrier 7, wherein the pedal plate 3 is represented as transparent or transparent.In the exemplary embodiments of the pedal arrangement 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E shown, the circuit carrier 7 is in each case designed as a multilayer printed circuit board 7A. In this case, the planar transmitting coil 12A and / or the planar receiving coils 16A, 16B can be arranged in a plurality of layers of the printed circuit board 7A. In this case, the sections of the planar transmitting coil 12A and / or of the at least one planar receiving coil 16A, 16B arranged in different layers can be electrically contacted with one another via plated-through holes.As can be further seen from FIG. 6, the planar transmitting coil 12A of the transmitting structure 12 encloses the four coil pairs 18 of the receiving structure 16. As a result, the receiving structure preferably comprises four sensor pairs, which form a sensor array at least partially covering the pedal plate 3. As a result, different force effects on the pedal plate 3 can be detected by resulting tilting via the sensor array in two axes. As can be further seen from FIG. 6, the electrically conductive coupling element 14 in each case covers one of the receiving coils 16B of the four coil pairs 18.In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the pedal arrangement 1, not shown, two different electrically conductive coupling elements 14 cover surfaces spanned by the plurality of coil pairs 18 and the surface spanned by the at least one planar transmitting coil 12A at least partially.The evaluation and control unit 11 is further designed to receive and evaluate the signals induced in the plurality of coil pairs 18 of the receiving structure 16 as measurement signals and to determine a current spatial position of the pedal plate 3 on the basis of the evaluation.As can be further seen from FIGS. 1 to 5, the sensor arrangements 10 of the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the pedal arrangement 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E each comprise at least one further distance sensor 20, which is designed to determine the distance A between the circuit carrier 7 and the corresponding electrically conductive coupling element 14 on the basis of an alternative measuring principle. The at least one further distance sensor 20 can use, for example, an optical measuring principle and / or a capacitive measuring principle or a magnetic measuring principle for distance measurement.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2017 220 826 A1

[0003]

Claims

Pedal arrangement (1) for a vehicle, having a movably mounted pedal plate (3) which can be actuated against a force from at least one spring element (15) over a predefined small actuation path, having a circuit carrier (7) and having at least one sensor arrangement (10) having an inductive sensor (10A) which is designed to sense the actuation of the pedal plate (3) and the corresponding actuation path, wherein the inductive sensor (10A) comprises at least one transmitting structure (12) and at least one receiving structure (16) and at least one electrically conductive coupling element (14) and is designed to couple an electrical voltage to the at least one receiving structure (16) on the basis of an eddy current principle proceeding from the at least one transmitting structure (12) and via the at least one electrically conductive coupling element (14), wherein the at least one transmitting structure (12) and the at least one receiving structure (16) are arranged on the circuit carrier (7) and a current distance (A) between the circuit carrier (7) and the at least one electrically conductive coupling element (14) determines a degree of coupling between the at least one transmitting structure (12) and the at least one receiving structure (16), wherein the small actuation path of the pedal plate (3) changes the current distance between the circuit carrier (7) and the at least one electrically conductive coupling element (14) and thus a measurement signal output by the at least one receiving structure (16).Pedal arrangement (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that an evaluation and control unit (11) is designed to couple a periodic alternating signal into the at least one transmission structure (12) during operation and to receive signals induced in the at least one reception structure (16) as measurement signals and to evaluate them for determining the actuation path and to determine a corresponding current actuation force (F) acting on the pedal plate (3) on the basis of the determined actuation path and predefined properties of the at least one spring element (15).Pedal arrangement (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one transmission structure (12) comprises at least one planar transmission coil (12A) and the at least one reception structure (16) comprises at least one planar reception coil (16A, 16B).Pedal arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the circuit carrier (7) is designed as a multilayer printed circuit board (7A).Pedal arrangement (1) according to Claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the at least one planar transmitting coil (12A) and / or the at least one planar receiving coil (16A, 16B) are arranged in a plurality of layers of the printed circuit board (7A), wherein the sections of the at least one planar transmitting coil (12A) and / or of the at least one planar receiving coil (16A, 16B) arranged in different layers are electrically contacted with one another via plated-through holes.Pedal arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one electrically conductive coupling element (14) or the circuit carrier (7) is coupled to the pedal plate (3) and can be moved with the pedal plate (3) when the latter is actuated.Pedal arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the circuit carrier (7) is arranged between two electrically conductive coupling elements (14), wherein a current first distance (A1) between a first electrically conductive coupling element (14A) and the circuit carrier (7) decreases when the pedal plate (3) is actuated, and a current second distance (A2) between a second electrically conductive coupling element (14B) and the circuit carrier (7) increases when the pedal plate (3) is actuated.Pedal arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the at least one receiving structure (16) comprises at least one coil pair (18) which comprises two receiving coils (16A, 16B) arranged next to one another and having opposing turns, which are electrically connected in series.Pedal arrangement (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the at least one planar transmitting coil (12A) of a corresponding transmitting structure (12) encloses the at least one coil pair (18).Pedal arrangement (1) according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the at least one electrically conductive coupling element (14) at least partially covers a surface spanned by the at least one coil pair (18) and a surface spanned by the at least one planar transmitting coil (12A).Pedal arrangement (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the at least one receiving structure (16) has a plurality of coil pairs (18).Pedal arrangement (1) according to Claim 11, characterized in that the at least one planar transmitting coil (12A) of a corresponding transmitting structure (12) encloses at least one coil pair (18) of the plurality of coil pairs (18) and / or is arranged between the plurality of coil pairs (18).Pedal arrangement (1) according to Claims 11 and 12, characterized in that surfaces spanned by the plurality of coil pairs (18) and the surface spanned by the at least one planar transmitting coil (12A) are at least partially covered by a common electrically conductive coupling element (14) or by two different electrically conductive coupling elements (14).Pedal arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the evaluation and control unit (11) is furthermore designed to receive and evaluate the signals induced in the plurality of coil pairs (18) of the at least one receiving structure (16) as measurement signals and to determine a current spatial position of the pedal plate (3) on the basis of the evaluation.Pedal arrangement (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the at least one sensor arrangement (10) comprises at least one further distance sensor (20) which is designed to determine the distance between the circuit carrier (7) and the corresponding electrically conductive coupling element (14) on the basis of an alternative measurement principle.

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