METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS ACTIVATED

Abstract

The method is designed to improve the driving experience in a vehicle (VE) equipped with an accelerator pedal (PD), the vehicle having an accelerator pedal law (LPA) that converts accelerator pedal position information (I_CP) into accelerator pedal depressment percentage information (PEP), which is provided as an acceleration command to an electronic vehicle control unit (eVCU) of the vehicle's electronic powertrain (e-GMP). According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of: a) receiving as input foot size information (I_CU) indicated by a driver of the vehicle and representative of a foot size (Pn) of that driver; and b) adapting (ESW) the accelerator pedal law based on the foot size information. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE WHEN ITS ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS ACTIVATED

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of driving ergonomics for motor vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for improving the driving experience of a motor vehicle when a driver presses the vehicle's accelerator pedal. The invention is generally applicable to any vehicle, whether internal combustion, hybrid, all-electric, or other, incorporating an accelerator pedal operated by a driver for vehicle control.

[0002] Studies and tests carried out by the inventive entity on current vehicles have highlighted the existence of different perceptions of vehicle dynamics depending on the driver. The driver's perception of how the vehicle reacts to an application of the accelerator pedal depends essentially on the driver's morphology, driving position, and sensitivity to effort.

[0003] In current vehicles, to improve their driving position, drivers can adjust their seat and its distance from the steering wheel and vehicle control pedals. Furthermore, in some vehicles, they can also adjust the tilt of the steering column.

[0004] In the prior art, various means have been proposed to improve the ergonomics of pedal operation by the driver of a motor vehicle. For example, document TR201920379A2 describes a mechanism for automatically adjusting the surface angle of a pedal according to the driver's height. Document CN105667309A describes a mechanism for adjusting the angle of an accelerator pedal according to the driver's height and needs. Furthermore, document CN113602088A discloses a device for adjusting the height of a pedal to adapt it to the driver's body shape. In this device, information from dedicated sensors is used to calculate an appropriate pedal height. The pedal is then adjusted to the calculated height by means of an electric actuator.In general, the aforementioned prior art solutions require the integration of additional mechanical and electrical means into the vehicle, such as an adjustment mechanism, and one or more sensors and actuators, and entail significant additional costs.

[0005] In a motor vehicle, the accelerator pedal is coupled to a sensor that provides accelerator pedal position information, for example, in the form of an analog voltage which is then digitized by an analog-to-digital converter. The accelerator pedal position information is converted by an accelerator pedal law into accelerator pedal depressment percentage information, which is the acceleration command supplied to the vehicle's powertrain control unit. The accelerator pedal law is determined during vehicle design for a selected pedal type and nominal foot morphology and is stored in the vehicle's control unit's memory.

[0006] An example of an accelerator pedal law LPA_TA of the prior art is shown in [Fig. 1]. This LPA_TA law provides a pedal depressment percentage information PEP_TA varying from 0% to 100% as a function of an accelerator pedal position information I_CP delivered by a pedal position sensor. The PEP_TA information varies linearly from 0% to 100% as a function of the I_CP information, when the I_CP information varies within a voltage range from VB to VH. The LPA_TA law determines PEP_TA = 0% for I_CP = VB and PEP_TA = 100% for I_CP = VH.

[0007] Thus, in the prior art, this accelerator pedal law is stored in memory once and for all in a vehicle computer. It offers no degree of freedom that would allow for consideration of the driver's specific morphology. The driver must adapt to an accelerator pedal law that remains fixed.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a solution to the problem described above, by providing a method offering a simple and inexpensive implementation to improve the driving experience of a motor vehicle when the accelerator pedal is activated.

[0009] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for improving the driving experience in a vehicle equipped with an accelerator pedal, the vehicle having an accelerator pedal law that converts accelerator pedal position information into accelerator pedal depressment percentage information, which is provided as an acceleration command to a computer in the vehicle's powertrain. According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of: a) receiving as input foot size information indicated by a driver of the vehicle and representative of that driver's foot size; and b) adapting the accelerator pedal law based on the foot size information.

[0010] According to a particular feature, step b) of adapting the accelerator pedal law includes a modification of a conversion slope of the accelerator pedal position information to the accelerator pedal percentage depress information as a function of the foot size information, the conversion slope being reduced when the foot size informed by the foot size information increases and being increased when the foot size informed by the foot size information decreases.

[0011] According to another particular feature, step b) of adapting the accelerator pedal law includes a modification of a dead stroke value assigned to the accelerator pedal position information and corresponding to a zero value of the accelerator pedal percentage depress information, the dead stroke value being increased when the foot size informed by the foot size information increases and being reduced when the foot size informed by the foot size information decreases.

[0012] The invention also relates to a computer comprising a memory storing program instructions for the implementation of the method briefly described above, when the program instructions are executed by a processor of the computer.

[0013] The invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with an accelerator pedal and comprising a computer as described above. Typically, this computer is responsible for monitoring the operation of a vehicle's powertrain.

[0014] Other advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the detailed description below of several particular embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] Fig. 1 shows a representative curve of an example of accelerator pedal law according to the prior art.

[0016] Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an example of an electric vehicle in which the method of the invention is implemented.

[0017] Fig. 3 shows several curves representing an example of an accelerator pedal law according to the method of the invention.

[0018] With reference to [Fig.2] and [Fig.3], a particular embodiment of the method according to the invention is now described below in the context of an application to an electric vehicle VE.

[0019] As shown in [Fig. 2], the electric vehicle (EV) comprises an electric powertrain (e-PWM). The electric powertrain (e-PWM) includes a rotating electric traction machine and a speed reducer (not shown) and is supplied with electrical energy by a high-voltage electrical storage system. The BAT_HV voltage and a CONV DC / AC type electrical converter are used. The e-GMP powertrain is managed by an eVCU supervisory control unit. The eVCU is connected to a BCD data communication bus, typically of the "CAN" type, and controls the e-GMP powertrain based on sensor information and driver commands, applying different control strategies.

[0020] A PA accelerator pedal device for the VE vehicle is shown schematically in [Fig. 2]. The PA accelerator pedal device comprises an accelerator pedal PD associated with its mechanism and an accelerator pedal position sensor CP. The CP sensor provides accelerator pedal position information I_CP, as described above in the prior art description. The I_CP information, in digital form, is provided to the eVCU supervisor control unit.

[0021] Foot size information I_CU, provided by the driver of the electric vehicle (EV), is taken into account in the method of the invention. A foot size slider CU is schematically represented in [Fig. 2]. The CU slider produces the foot size information I_CU based on a foot size indicated by the driver on a predefined foot size scale. A scale from PI to P10 is shown in [Fig. 2] by way of example. In a practical implementation of the method of the invention in a vehicle, the driver will typically indicate their foot size by entering the appropriate foot size information I_CU via the vehicle's digital human-machine interface, typically by means of a touchscreen.Alternatively, a physical slider, for example of the potentiometer type, could be integrated into the vehicle's dashboard to produce the foot size information I_CU and would allow the driver to indicate their foot size by appropriately positioning the slider.

[0022] The method according to the invention is implemented in the EV vehicle by means of an ESW embedded software module. In this embodiment, the ESW embedded software module is implemented in the eVCU supervisory computer, more precisely in a MEM memory of this computer.

[0023] The ESW software module enables the implementation of the method according to the invention by the execution of program code instructions by a processor (not shown) of the eVCU supervisor computer.

[0024] As schematically shown in [Fig. 2], the ESW module receives as input the accelerator pedal position information I_CP and the foot size information I_CU and outputs as output a pedal depressment percentage information PEP varying from 0% to 100%. The PEP information is used as an acceleration command by the eVCU supervisor control unit. In accordance with the method of The invention, the ESW module implements an adaptive accelerator pedal law, which is adjusted according to the foot size information I_CU.

[0025] With particular reference to [Fig.3], an example of an LPA accelerator pedal law, adjustable according to foot size, as implemented by the method of the invention, is described below.

[0026] As seen in [Fig. 3], the accelerator pedal law LPA offers a dynamic adjustment DA between two limit curves C_P1 and C_P10 representing conversion functions F_P1 and F_P10 respectively. The conversion functions F_P1 and F_P10 are boundary functions applied respectively for a minimum foot size I_CU=P1 and a maximum foot size I_CU=P10.

[0027] The conversion function F_P1 is defined by minimum values ​​VB_P1 and maximum values ​​VH_P1 of the accelerator pedal position information I_CP, a conversion slope K_P1 and the following equalities:

[0028] 1) PEP = F_P1(I_CP) = K_P1*(I_CP - VB_P1) when I_CP is between VB_P1 and VH_P1, with K_P1 = 100 / (VH_Pl - VB_P1);

[0029] 2) PEP = 0% when I_CP is less than VB_P1; and

[0030] 3) PEP = 100% when I_CP is greater than VH_P1.

[0031] The conversion function F_P10 is defined by minimum values ​​VB_P10 and maximum values ​​VH_P10 of the accelerator pedal position information I_CP, a conversion slope K_P10 and the following equalities:

[0032] 4) PEP = F_P10(I_CP) = K_P10*(I_CP - VB_P10) when I_CP is between VB_P10 and VH_P10, with K_P10 = 100 / (VH_P10 - VB_P10);

[0033] 5) PEP = 0% when I_CP is less than VB_P10; and

[0034] 6) PEP = 100% when I_CP is greater than VH_P10.

[0035] The conversion functions F_P1 and F_P10 also comply with the following conditions:

[0036] 7) The value VB_P10 is greater than the value VB_P1; and

[0037] The slope K_P10 is less than the slope K_P1.

[0038] Generally, the driver's input of a foot size I_CU=Pn between P1 and P10 causes an adjustment of the accelerator pedal law to a conversion function F_Pn. The conversion function F_Pn is represented by the curve C_Pn shown in [Fig. 3]. The curve C_Pn is included in the aforementioned DA adjustment dynamics, between the curve C_P1 and the curve C_P10.

[0039] The conversion function F_Pn is defined by a minimum value VB_Pn of the information I_CP between the values ​​VB_P1 and VB_P10, a maximum value VH_Pn of the information I_CP between the values ​​VH_P1 and VH_P10, a conversion slope K_Pn between the slopes K_P10 and KP_P1 and the following equalities:

[0040] 4) PEP = F_Pn(I_CP) = K_Pn*(I_CP - VB_Pn) when I_CP is between VB_Pn and VH_Pn, with K_Pn = 100 / (VH_Pn - VB_Pn);

[0041] 5) PEP = 0% when I_CP is less than VB_Pn; and

[0042] 6) PEP = 100% when I_CP is greater than VH_Pn.

[0043] The minimum values ​​VB_P1, VB_P10, and VB_Pn are dead travel values ​​assigned to the accelerator pedal position information I_CP and correspond to a zero value, PEP = 0%, of the pedal depressment percentage information PEP. The dead travel value VB_Pn (a value between VB_P1 and VB_P10) assigned to the I_CP information increases when the foot size increases and decreases otherwise. The conversion slope K_Pn (a slope between K_P10 and K_P1) decreases when the foot size increases and increases otherwise.

[0044] Thanks to the invention, the driver can adapt the accelerator pedal response to the ergonomics of their foot. By making this response adaptable at the driver's discretion, the invention provides a degree of freedom in the driver's perception of the vehicle's dynamics. This results in an overall improved driving experience, with less driver fatigue and, consequently, a greater sense of comfort and safety.

[0045] The method of the invention has the advantage of being particularly simple and inexpensive to implement. The additional cost incurred by its integration into a vehicle is negligible, particularly in its "all-software" embodiment, with foot size being entered via the vehicle's digital human-machine interface. Furthermore, the invention provides a benefit in terms of accelerator pedal standardization, as the adaptability of the pedal response facilitates the use of the same pedal on several vehicle models.

[0046] The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein by way of example. A person skilled in the art may, depending on the applications of the invention, make various modifications and variations falling within the scope of the invention's protection.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for improving the driving experience in a vehicle (VE) equipped with an accelerator pedal (PD), said vehicle (VE) having an accelerator pedal law (LPA) associated with said pedal (PD) and said law (LPA) converting accelerator pedal position information (I_CP) into accelerator pedal depressment percentage information (PEP) which is provided as an acceleration command to a computer (eVCU) of a powertrain (e-GMP) of said vehicle (VE), characterized in that it comprises the steps of: a) receiving as input foot size information (I_CU) indicated by a driver of said vehicle (VE) and representative of a foot size (Pn) of the driver; and b) adapting (ESW) said accelerator pedal law (LPA) according to said foot size information (I_CU).

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that step b) of adapting said accelerator pedal law (LPA) comprises a modification of a conversion slope (K_Pn) of said accelerator pedal position information (I_CP) to said accelerator pedal percentage depressment information (PEP) as a function of said foot size information (I_CP), said conversion slope (K_Pn) being reduced when said foot size (Pn) informed by said foot size information (I_CU) increases and being increased when said foot size (Pn) informed by said foot size information (I_CU) decreases.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that step b) of adapting said accelerator pedal law (LPA) comprises a modification of a dead stroke value (VB_Pn) assigned to said accelerator pedal position information (I_CP) and corresponding to a zero (0%) value of said accelerator pedal percentage depressment (PEP) information, said dead stroke value (VB_Pn) being increased when said foot size (Pn) informed by said foot size information (I_CU) increases and being reduced when said foot size (Pn) informed by said foot size information (I_CU) decreases.

4. Computer (eVCU) characterized in that it comprises a memory (MEM) storing program instructions (ESW) for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 8 when said program instructions (ESW) are executed by a processor of said computer (eVCU).

5. Vehicle equipped with an accelerator pedal, characterized in that it includes a computer (eVCU) according to claim 4.

6. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that said computer is a computer (eVCU) responsible for supervising the operation of a powertrain (e-GMP) of said vehicle (VE).