A pedal box for determining drivability parameters of a vehicle, a method to provide an acceleration input signal, a computer program product, as well as a

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pedal box (10) for determining drivability parameters of a vehicle comprising a circuit board (36), wherein the circuit board comprises a first chip (56, 58, 106), a

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pedal box for determining drivability parameters of a vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method to provide an acceleration input signal for determining drivability parameters of a vehicle, a corresponding computer program product, as well as to a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] Drivability describes the customers perception of how the vehicle responds to driver input. Various sources report subjective drivability scores for new vehicles. One key source matches the rate of customer complaints / problems, and general drivability trends can be made based on the problems reported in the sources. In order to better understand these subject ratings and to develop specific plans for future drivability improvements, it is necessary to correlate them with measurable drivability parameters. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a pedal box, a corresponding method, a corresponding computer program product, as well as a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, by which drivability parameters of a motor vehicle can be determined in an improved manner.

[0004] This object is solved by a pedal box, a corresponding method, a corresponding computer program product, as well as a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention relates to a pedal box for determining drivability parameters of a vehicle comprising a circuit board, wherein the circuit board comprises a first chip, a second chip, and a third chip, wherein the at least one of the first chip, the second chip, or the third chip are configured for generating an acceleration input signal, a deadman switch, a kill switch, and an LCD screen.

[0006] In particular, according to the present invention, research topics, for example how a customer uses the motor vehicle, and the vehicle response is investigated. Many of these test cases, especially drivability topics, specific pedal maneuvers, are necessary. Human execution of a specific accelerator pedal behavior may be improved. For improvement, the pedal box is provided. The pedal box may provide a controlled testing environment, where the vehicle may be tested at different accelerator pedal percentages with different ramp values. The pedal box may eliminate potential human error for specific accelerator pedal behavior.

[0007] Having this pedal box, may reduce time spent trying to get an accurate pedal hold when testing at the test track and makes testing faster and efficient. When using the test track, there are daily costs for renting the facility. Minimizing time spent best helps minimize cost spent renting the test track facility. The pedal box is not exclusively for a drivability use. For any powertrain research &development (R / D) request regarding executing a specific pedal behavior, this pedal box can be used.

[0008] In particular, receipt of recorded data may be performed. The data may be recorded during an operation of the vehicle. The recorded data comprises a progression of an acceleration input signal of an acceleration pedal of the vehicle. The recorded data further comprises a progression of a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle.

[0009] According to an embodiment the acceleration input signal is generated as an analog signal.

[0010] In another embodiment the acceleration input signal is generated as a digital signal.

[0011] In another embodiment the pedal box comprises a communication device.

[0012] In another embodiment the pedal box comprises a rotary encoder.

[0013] In another embodiment the pedal box comprises a voltage step down component.

[0014] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method to provide an acceleration input signal for determining drivability parameters of a motor vehicle by a pedal box according to the preceding aspect comprising the following steps: generating an acceleration input signal and transmitting the acceleration input signal to a control unit.

[0015] A still further aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to the preceding aspect.

[0016] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to the preceding aspect.

[0017] A computing unit / electronic computing device may in particular be understood as a data processing device, which comprises processing circuitry. The computing unit can therefore in particular process data to perform computing operations. This may also include operations to perform indexed accesses to a data structure, for example a look-up table, LUT.

[0018] In particular, the computing unit may include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers, and / or one or more integrated circuits, for example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, ASIC, one or more field-programmable gate arrays, FPGA, and / or one or more systems on a chip, SoC. The computing unit may also include one or more processors, for example one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units, CPU, one or more graphics processing units, GPU, and / or one or more signal processors, in particular one or more digital signal processors, DSP. The computing unit may also include a physical or a virtual cluster of computers or other of said units.

[0019] In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0020] A memory unit may be implemented as a volatile data memory, for example a dynamic random access memory, DRAM, or a static random access memory, SRAM, or as a non-volatile data memory, for example a read-only memory, ROM, a programmable read-only memory, PROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory, EPROM, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, EEPROM, a flash memory or flash EEPROM, a ferroelectric random access memory, FRAM, a magnetoresistive random access memory, MRAM, or a phase-change random access memory, PCRAM.

[0021] Further advantages, features, and details of the present invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and / or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The novel features and characteristic of the present disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and / or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0023] The drawings show in:

[0024] Fig. 1 a schematic top view according to an embodiment of circuit board for a pedal box;

[0025] Fig. 2 a schematic block diagram according to an embodiment of a pedal box;

[0026] Fig. 3 a schematic illustration of a progression of an acceleration input signal and a longitudinal acceleration of a motor vehicle;

[0027] Fig. 4 a schematic illustration of a progression of an acceleration input signal of a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle in a shift position;

[0028] Fig. 5 a schematic illustration of drivability parameters related to an initial tip in acceleration value; and

[0029] Fig. 6 a schematic illustration of drivability parameters related to an initial tip out acceleration value.

[0030] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0032] While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0033] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises” or “comprise” does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0034] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0035] Fig. 1 shows a schematic top view according to an embodiment of a circuit board 36 for a pedal box 10. In particular, Fig. 1 shows a circuit board 36. Furthermore, a resistor 42 are shown. Furthermore, two connectors 44, 48 for A / D 104 &deadman switch 72 (as shown in Fig. 2) and switches 90, 92 &a calibrator 96 (as shown in Fig. 2) are shown . Furthermore, further resistors 50 are shown. Fig. 1 further shows a master chip 56 in particular with ground included and a signal one chip 58 and a signal two chip 106. The there may be a digital signal: step up filtering component, a I2C bus for a communication device 100 between Master chip 56, and SIG1 chip 58 / SIG2 chip 106 to generate the signals for the acceleration input signal 12 (Fig. 4), voltage divider of the voltage step down component 64 may include a buffer, pin headers, and other components for the circuit board 36.

[0036] Fig. 1 further shows an input / output module 62 for receiving and transmitting. Furthermore, A / D relays 66 and a dual in-line package 68 are provided. Fig. 1 further shows that an analog signal step up component 70 is provided such as an Analog Signal Step Up 3v-5v component 70.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows a schematic block diagram according to an embodiment of the pedal box 10. In particular, Fig. 2 shows the circuit board 36. Furthermore, a deadman switch 72, a kill switch 90, further switches 92, an LCD screen 94, a calibrator 96, a power module 98, a communication device 100, a rotary encoder 102 as well as an analog / digital (A / D) module 104 are shown.

[0038] According to the shown embodiment, a pedal box 10 for determining the drivability parameters of the vehicle is shown comprising at least the circuit board 36, wherein the circuit board 36 comprises a first chip 56, 58, 106, a second chip 56, 58, 106, and a third chip 56, 58, 106, wherein the at least one of the first chip 56, 58, 106, the second chip 56, 58, 106 or the third chip 56, 58, 106 are configured for generating an acceleration input signal 12, the deadman switch 72, the kill switch 90, and the LCD screen 94.

[0039] In particular, the acceleration input signal 12 is generated as an analog signal. Furthermore, the acceleration input signal 12 is generated as a digital signal.

[0040] Furthermore, Fig. 2 shows, that the pedal box 10 comprises a communication device 100, a rotary encoder 102 and for example the voltage step down component 64 which may include a voltage divider.

[0041] Furthermore, a method for providing the acceleration input signal 12 for determining the drivability parameters of the vehicle is provided, wherein the method is performed by the pedal box 10. Therefore, the acceleration input signal 12 is an acceleration pedal input. The acceleration input signal 12 is generated and the acceleration input signal 12 is transmitted to a control unit 108.

[0042] Fig. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a progression of an acceleration input signal 12 and a longitudinal acceleration 14 of the vehicle.

[0043] The progression of the acceleration input signal 12 and the progression of the longitudinal acceleration 14 of the vehicle may be provided to a control unit 108 in recorded data. The recorded data may be recorded during an operation of the vehicle, the acceleration input signal 12 may describe an input of an acceleration pedal of the vehicle.

[0044] The figure shows a respective start point 18, identified by the control unit 108. The start point 18 may indicate a time of a respective positive step in the progression of the acceleration input signal 12. The start point 18 may indicate the time a driver pressed the pedal, which may be simulated using the pedal box 10. The start point 18 may define a beginning of a respective reference time segment 22 for analyzing an operation of the vehicle. The respective reference time may extend from the respective start point 18 to a respective end point 20. The end point 20 may be identified by the control unit 108 according to a predefined criterion.

[0045] The drivability parameters of the vehicle may be evaluated by the control unit 108 according to a predefined evaluation method as a function of the recorded data.

[0046] The drivability parameters may comprise an absolute maximum acceleration value 24. The absolute maximum acceleration value 24 may be evaluated in a response delay evaluation method, the response delay evaluation method may comprise a filtering of the progression of the longitudinal acceleration 14 of the vehicle using a low pass filter of a cut-off frequency between including 2 Hz and including 5 Hz to receive a progression of a filtered longitudinal acceleration 14. The control unit 108 may identify one of the drivability parameters comprising the absolute maximum acceleration value 24 of the progression of the filtered longitudinal acceleration 14 during the respective reference time segment 22, and a corresponding point of occurrence of the absolute maximum acceleration value 26.

[0047] The control unit 108 may identify one of the drivability parameters comprising a predefined relative acceleration value 28 of the progression of the filtered longitudinal acceleration 14 during the respective reference time segment 22 and a corresponding point of occurrence of the predefined relative acceleration value 30, the predefined relative acceleration value 28 being a predefined portion of the absolute maximum acceleration value 24. Fig. 3 shows the predefined relative acceleration values 28 being portions of 60% and 90% of the absolute maximum acceleration value 24.

[0048] The control unit 108 may identify one of the drivability parameters comprising an absolute delay value 32 being a corresponding point of occurrence when a predefined absolute acceleration value 34 is exceeded for a first time by the filtered longitudinal acceleration 14 during the respective reference time segment 22. The absolute delay value 32 may give the predefined absolute acceleration value of 0.5 m / s2. The corresponding time may be the initial delay time.

[0049] The control unit 108 may identify one of the drivability parameters comprising a shock, according to a predefined shock evaluation method. The shock may be evaluated by filtering the progression of the longitudinal acceleration 14 of the vehicle using a low pass filter of a cut-off frequency of 10 Hz to receive a progression of a filtered high frequency longitudinal acceleration 36. Gradient inversion points 38 may be identified in the progression of the filtered high frequency longitudinal acceleration 36. A maximum gradient inversion point 40 of the gradient inversion points 38 may be identified by the control unit 108. One of the drivability parameters may be a post amplitude 44 of the maximum gradient inversion point 40. The post amplitude 44 may be the amplitude of the longitudinal acceleration 14 between the maximum gradient inversion point 40 and a following gradient inversion point 38 of the maximum gradient inversion point 40. Another one of the drivability parameters may be a frequency of the maximum gradient inversion point 40 related to the time between the maximum gradient inversion point 40 and the following gradient inversion point 38 of the maximum gradient inversion point 40.

[0050] It may be possible that in the identification of the maximum gradient inversion point 40 of the gradient inversion points 38, gradient inversion points 38, whose pre amplitudes 42 and post amplitudes 44 are equal or smaller than zero and / or whose halves of the frequencies are outside a range of 0.04 Hz and 0.075 Hz may be ignored by the control unit 108. The pre amplitude 42 may be the amplitude of the longitudinal acceleration 14 between the maximum gradient inversion point 40, and a preceding point of the maximum gradient inversion point 40. The preceding point may have a same time distance to the maximum gradient inversion point 40 as the following gradient inversion point 38 of the maximum gradient inversion point 40.

[0051] The control unit 108 may identify one of the drivability parameters comprising a dip according to a dip evaluation method, the dip evaluation method may comprising a filtering of the progression of the longitudinal acceleration 14 of the vehicle using a first low pass filter of a cut-off frequency of 2 Hz to receive a progression of a filtered low frequency longitudinal acceleration 48 and a filtering the progression of the longitudinal acceleration 14 of the vehicle using a first low pass filter of a cut-off frequency of 10 Hz to receive a progression of a filtered high frequency longitudinal acceleration 36. The control unit 108 may identify gradient inversion points 50, 52 in the progression of the filtered low frequency longitudinal acceleration 48 and in the progression of the filtered high frequency longitudinal acceleration 36 and identifying a maximum gradient inversion point 54 of the gradient inversion points 50, 52 of the filtered low frequency longitudinal acceleration 48 and the filtered high frequency longitudinal acceleration 36.

[0052] One of the drivability parameters may be a post amplitude 58 of the maximum gradient inversion point 54. Another one of the drivability parameters may be a frequency of the maximum gradient inversion point 54.

[0053] For identifying the maximum gradient inversion point 54 of the gradient inversion points 50, 52, the control unit 108 may ignore gradient inversion points 50, 52 whose pre amplitudes 56 and post amplitudes 58 are equal or smaller than zero. The control unit 108 may also ignore gradient inversion points 50, 52 of the filtered high frequency longitudinal acceleration 36 whose halves of the frequency are outside a range of 0.075 Hz and 0.4 Hz. The control unit 108 may also ignore gradient inversion points 50, 52 of the filtered low frequency longitudinal acceleration 48 whose halves of the frequency are outside a range of 0 Hz and 0.8 Hz.

[0054] Fig. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a progression of an acceleration input signal 12 a longitudinal acceleration 14 of the vehicle and a shift 16 position. In particular, a respective second start point 82, indicating a time of a respective negative step in the progression of the acceleration input signal 12 and a respective second end point 84 which is later than the respective second start point 82 according to a predefined criterion. A respective second reference time segment 86 may extend from the respective second start point 82 to the respective second end point 84.

[0055] A point of occurrence 78 when a predefined absolute first initial tip out acceleration value 74 is exceeded for a first time by the filtered longitudinal acceleration 14 during the respective second reference time segment 86. A point of occurrence 80 when a predefined absolute second initial tip out acceleration value 76 is exceeded for a first time by the filtered longitudinal acceleration 14 during the respective second reference time segment 86. An initial Ax gradient value 88 (Fig. 5) for determining an initial tip out acceleration value may be evaluated by dividing the difference between the predefined absolute first initial tip out acceleration value 74 (Fig. 5) and the predefined absolute second initial tip out acceleration value 76 (Fig. 5) by the difference between the point of occurrence of the absolute first initial tip out acceleration value 78 (Fig. 5) and the point of occurrence of the absolute second initial tip out acceleration value 80 (Fig. 5).

[0056] Fig. 5 shows a schematic illustration of drivability parameters related to an initial tip out acceleration value based on an initial Ax gradient value 88 during the second time reference segment 86 (Fig. 4). In another embodiment, the initial Ax gradient value may be determined during the reference time segment 22 (Fig. 4).

[0057] Fig. 5 further shows the initial Ax gradient value 88 may be determined between two points of occurrence, which includes a point of occurrence 78 when a predefined absolute first initial tip out acceleration value 74 is exceeded for a first time by the filtered longitudinal acceleration 14 during the respective second reference time segment 86 (Fig. 4) and a point of occurrence 80 (Fig. 4) when a predefined absolute second initial tip out acceleration value 76 is exceeded for a first time by the filtered longitudinal acceleration 14 during the respective second reference time segment 86 (Fig. 4). The initial Ax gradient value 88 for determining the initial tip out acceleration value may be evaluated by dividing the difference between the predefined absolute first initial tip out acceleration value 74 and the predefined absolute second initial tip out acceleration value 76 by the difference between the point of occurrence of the absolute first initial tip out acceleration value 78, where the pedal box 10 is lifted off, and the point of occurrence of the absolute second initial tip out acceleration value 80, which occurs around 60% of maximum acceleration.

[0058] Fig. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a method to determine drivability parameters of a vehicle performed by a control unit 108.

[0059] In a first step S1, the control unit 108 may receive recorded data, recorded during an operation of the vehicle, the recorded data comprising a progression of an acceleration input signal 12 of an acceleration pedal of the vehicle and a progression of a longitudinal acceleration 14 of the vehicle.

[0060] In a second step S2, the control unit 108 may identify a respective start point 18, indicating a time of a respective positive step in the progression of the acceleration input signal 12.

[0061] In a third step S3, the control unit 108 may identify a respective end point 20 which is later than the respective start point 18 according to a predefined criterion.

[0062] In a fourth step S4 the control unit 108 may define a respective reference time segment 22 for analyzing the operation of the vehicle, extending from the respective start point 18 to the respective end point 20.

[0063] In a fifth step S5, the control unit 108 may evaluate the drivability parameters of the vehicle according to a predefined evaluation method as a function of the recorded data recorded in the respective reference time segment 22.

[0064] In a sixth step S6, the control unit 108 may send a signal comprising the drivability parameters of the vehicle.

[0065] A test procedure is designed for objective analysis and quality control of passenger car characteristics based on the driver's experience. The system uses the pedal box 10 and various sensors inputs to capture the most significant data and vehicle parameters, such as longitudinal acceleration, engine speed, velocity, pedal position, and vibrations.

[0066] The process for the test procedure may use the following input as a test case: Drive vehicle in any operation state and perform step input of acceleration pedal box 10 for 5 seconds. The process includes recording data for the analysis of delay time until certain percent of peak acceleration is reached on vehicle. Reference signs 10 Pedal box 12 acceleration input signal 14 longitudinal acceleration 16 shift 18 start point 20 end point 22 reference time segment 24 absolute maximum acceleration value 26 point of occurrence of the absolute maximum acceleration value 28 predefined relative acceleration value 30 point of occurrence of the predefined relative acceleration value 32 absolute delay value 34 point of occurrence when a predefined absolute acceleration value 36 circuit board 38 gradient inversion point 40 maximum gradient inversion point 42 resistors 44 connector 46 shock amplitude 48 connector 50 further resistors 52 gradient inversion point 54 maximum gradient inversion point 56 chip 58 chip 60 dip amplitude 62 Input / output 64 Voltage step down component 66 relay 68 dual in-line package 70 Analog Signal Step Up component 72 deadman switch predefined absolute first initial tip out acceleration value predefined absolute second initial tip out acceleration value point of occurrence of the absolute first initial tip out acceleration value point of occurrence of the absolute second initial tip out acceleration value second start point second end point second reference time segment initial Ax gradient value kill switch switch LCD screen calibrator power module communication device rotary encoder Analog / digital module chip control unit Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Claims

1. A pedal box (10) for determining drivability parameters of a vehicle comprising a circuit board (36), wherein the circuit board (36) comprises a first chip (56, 58, 106), a second chip (56, 58, 106), and a third chip (56, 58, 106), wherein the at least one of the first chip (56, 58, 106), the second chip (56, 58, 106), or the third chip (56, 58, 106) are configured for generating an acceleration input signal (12), a deadman switch (72), a kill switch (90), and an LCD screen (94).

2. The pedal box (10) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe acceleration input signal (12) is generated as an analog signal.

3. The pedal box (10) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe acceleration input signal (12) is generated as a digital signal.

4. The pedal box (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatthe pedal box (10) comprises a communication device (100).

5. The pedal box (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatthe pedal box (10) comprises a rotary encoder (102).

6. The pedal box (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5,characterized in thatthe pedal box (10) comprises a voltage step down component (64).

7. A method to provide an acceleration input signal (12) for determining drivability parameters of a vehicle by a pedal box (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the following steps:- generating an acceleration input signal (12); and- transmitting the acceleration input signal (12) to a control unit (108).

8. A computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to claim 7.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to claim 8.17

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