Foldable pedal apparatus for vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a foldable pedal device for a vehicle. In a manual driving mode where the driver drives directly, the pedal pad (100) rotates backward from the footrest panel (10) to pop up so that it can be operated by the driver. In an autonomous driving situation, the pedal pad (100) rotates forward upward so that it is positioned as close as possible to the front surface (11) of the footrest panel (10), thereby becoming a hidden state in which exposure is blocked so that it cannot be operated by the driver.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a foldable pedal device for a vehicle, and more specifically, to a technology for a foldable pedal device for a vehicle in which, in a manual driving mode where the driver directly drives, the pedal pad protrudes and is exposed toward the driver to enable operation by the driver, and in an autonomous driving situation, the pedal pad is hidden so that operation by the driver is impossible and exposure toward the driver is blocked. Background Technology

[0002] Autonomous vehicles are smart vehicles equipped with autonomous driving technology that allows them to find their way to a destination on their own without the driver directly operating the steering wheel, accelerator, or brakes, and their development has been progressing rapidly recently.

[0003] When autonomous driving becomes a common reality, drivers can select a manual driving mode in which they drive directly, and an autonomous driving mode in which the vehicle drives itself to the destination without the driver driving directly.

[0004] In autonomous driving mode, the driver needs to be able to stretch their legs and rest comfortably, so if the pedals (accelerator pedal, brake pedal) located in the lower space of the driver's seat remain exposed inside the cabin, it has the disadvantage of interfering with the driver's rest.

[0005] In addition, an autonomous driving situation is one in which the driver does not operate the vehicle's pedals (accelerator pedal, brake pedal). If the driver operates the pedals during autonomous driving, the vehicle controller determines that the driver wishes to terminate autonomous driving and take over driving, and terminates the control for autonomous driving.

[0006] However, since the vehicle's pedals are installed to be exposed in the space under the driver's seat, there is a risk that the driver may unconsciously operate the pedals during autonomous driving (situations of pedal misoperation), and in such cases, there is a risk of accidents occurring depending on road conditions or the distance between vehicles.

[0007] Therefore, it is necessary to develop technology for a pedal device that exposes the pedal pad so that it protrudes toward the driver to enable operation in manual driving mode, and blocks the exposure of the pedal pad to prevent operation by the driver in autonomous driving situations to ensure safety, such as comfortable rest and prevention of erroneous operation.

[0008] The matters described above as background technology are intended only to enhance understanding of the background of the present invention and should not be construed as an acknowledgment that they constitute prior art already known to those skilled in the art. Prior art literature

[0009] Republic of Korea Published Patent Application No. 10-2017-0137427 The problem to be solved

[0010] The present invention is a foldable pedal device for a vehicle in which the pedal pad protrudes and is exposed (pops up) toward the driver to enable operation by the driver in a manual driving mode where the driver drives directly, and the pedal pad is hidden and its exposure toward the driver is blocked (hides) so that operation by the driver is impossible in an autonomous driving situation. The purpose of the invention is to enable comfortable rest for the driver in an autonomous driving situation and, furthermore, to promote safety by preventing erroneous operation of the pedal in an autonomous driving situation.

[0011] In addition, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention has another purpose of being configured to minimize the hidden space of the pedal device when in a hidden state, thereby maximizing the space in the vehicle interior and engine room.

[0012] In addition, the present invention has another purpose in that it is configured so as not to form a hole connected to the engine room in the footrest panel for the installation and operation of the foldable pedal device, thereby preventing noise and foreign matter from entering the interior and minimizing moisture penetration. means of solving the problem

[0013] A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose comprises: a pedal pad rotatably coupled to a footrest panel, which rotates toward the front surface of the footrest panel to become a hidden state where operation by the driver is impossible in autonomous driving situations, and rotates backward to become exposed toward the driver in a pop-up state where operation by the driver is possible in manual driving mode; a link mechanism connecting the footrest panel and the pedal pad and rotating together with the pedal pad; and an actuator fixed to the footrest panel, which contacts or releases contact with the link mechanism when operated, and rotates the pedal pad toward the front surface of the footrest panel to make the pedal pad a hidden state when operated to contact the link mechanism.

[0014] It is characterized by further including a return spring that is installed so as to be supported at both ends by the footrest panel and the pedal pad, and provides spring force to cause the pedal pad to rotate backward and become pop-up.

[0015] The foldable pedal device, comprising the above-mentioned pedal pad, link mechanism, actuator, and return spring, is characterized by being composed of two identical devices and installed spaced apart from each other on the left and right sides of the footrest panel.

[0016] It is characterized by the fact that one of the two foldable pedal devices installed spaced apart to the left and right on the footrest panel is used as an accelerator pedal device and the other is used as a brake pedal device.

[0017] The above pedal pad is characterized by being an organ-type pad in which the lower part is rotatably connected to the footrest panel via a hinge pin, the upper part of the hinge pin is connected to a return spring, and the upper part rotates back and forth around the hinge pin.

[0018] The above link mechanism comprises: a first link rotatably coupled to a footrest panel via a first link pin; a second link rotatably coupled to an upper part of the pedal pad via a second link pin; and a connecting pin rotatably connecting the first link and the second link; and the pedal pad is characterized in that when the first link and the second link are rotated to be folded, it rotates toward the front surface of the footrest panel to become a hidden state, and when the first link and the second link are rotated to be unfolded, it rotates toward the rear to become a pop-up state.

[0019] The above-mentioned second link is characterized by being composed of a dual link that is connected to the pedal pad via a second link pin and a connecting pin on both sides of the first link.

[0020] The actuator is characterized by comprising: a linear motor having a motor rod that moves back and forth and is fixedly installed on a footrest panel; and a foldable guide connected to the motor rod, which contacts a first link when the motor rod moves backward and releases contact with the first link when the motor rod moves to protrude.

[0021] The above foldable guide is characterized by the fact that when it moves backward and comes into contact with the first link, the first link and the second link rotate to fold each other, and the pedal pad rotates toward the front surface of the footrest panel to become hidden.

[0022] The above foldable guide is characterized by the fact that when contact with the first link is released as the above foldable guide moves forward, the pedal pad rotates to protrude backward by the spring force of the return spring connected to the pedal pad, thereby becoming a pop-up state.

[0023] A guide groove is formed on the front surface of the pedal pad and extends along the longitudinal direction of the pedal pad; and one end of a foldable guide is inserted into the guide groove to guide the linear movement of the foldable guide.

[0024] A panel groove is formed on the front surface of the footrest panel that protrudes forward and is open to the rear; a linear motor is inserted into the panel groove and fixedly installed; and when the pedal pad is in a hidden state, the first link, the second link, and the foldable guide are inserted into the space between the panel groove and the pedal pad, thereby blocking exposure.

[0025] When the above pedal pad is in a hidden state, the panel groove is covered by the pedal pad, and exposure is blocked, which is a characteristic feature.

[0026] The lower part of the above pedal pad is provided with a stopper; and when the above pedal pad is in a popped-up state, the pop-up position of the pedal pad is determined as the stopper contacts the footrest panel.

[0027] The device further includes a permanent magnet coupled to the pedal pad; and a PCB fixedly installed on a footrest panel to face the permanent magnet; wherein the PCB detects the rotation angle of the pedal pad through a change in magnetic flux of the permanent magnet when the pedal pad rotates and generates a signal related to the pedal function.

[0028] When the position of the permanent magnet changes as the pedal pad rotates to become hidden or popped up by the operation of the above actuator, the PCB is characterized by not generating a signal related to the pedal function to prevent malfunction.

[0029] The PCB is characterized by generating a signal related to the pedal function only when the position of the permanent magnet changes as the pedal pad rotates due to driver operation while the above-mentioned pedal pad is in a popped-up state and the actuator is not operating. Effects of the invention

[0031] The foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured such that in a manual driving mode where the driver drives directly, the pedal pad rotates backward to pop up so that it can be operated by the driver, and in an autonomous driving situation, the pedal pad rotates forward to be positioned as close as possible to the front surface of the footrest panel, thereby becoming a hidden state in which exposure is blocked so that it cannot be operated by the driver. This configuration allows for comfortable rest for the driver in an autonomous driving situation and further enhances safety by preventing misoperation of the pedal in an autonomous driving situation.

[0032] In addition, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured such that when the pedal pad is in a hidden state, the link mechanism and actuator corresponding to the operating mechanism are inserted into the panel groove of the footrest panel to be hidden, and the panel groove is covered by the pedal pad so that exposure is blocked. Through this, the hidden space is minimized, thereby maximizing the space of the vehicle interior and engine room, and maximizing the interior design of the vehicle interior.

[0033] In addition, the present invention is configured such that no hole connected to the engine room is formed in the footrest panel for the installation and operation of the foldable pedal device, thereby having the effect of preventing noise and foreign matter from entering the interior and preventing moisture penetration to the maximum extent. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0034] FIG. 1 is a drawing of a foldable pedal device according to the present invention in a hidden state. FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a drawing of FIG. 1 with the pedal pad separated. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of Fig. 3, FIG. 5 is a drawing of a state in which a first link is coupled to a footrest panel according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a frontal perspective view of the pedal pad in FIG. 3. Fig. 7 is an exploded view of Fig. 6, FIG. 8 is a drawing of an actuator according to the present invention, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the pedal pad when it is in a hidden state. FIG. 10 is a side view of FIG. 9 with the pedal pad removed. FIGS. 11 and 12 are drawings for explaining the state when the pedal pad is in a hidden state according to the present invention, FIGS. 13 to 15 are drawings for explaining the state when the pedal pad is in a popped-up state according to the present invention, FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the popped-up pedal pad moving forward by the driver's operation and operating normally. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0035] Specific structural or functional descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention disclosed in this specification or application are merely illustrative for the purpose of explaining embodiments according to the present invention, and embodiments according to the present invention may be implemented in various forms and should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments described in this specification or application.

[0036] Since embodiments according to the present invention may be subject to various modifications and may take various forms, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in this specification or application. However, this is not intended to limit embodiments according to the concept of the present invention to specific disclosed forms, and it should be understood that they include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0037] Terms such as "first," "second," etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components shall not be limited by said terms. For the sole purpose of distinguishing one component from another, for example, without departing from the scope of rights according to the concept of the present invention, the first component may be named the second component, and similarly, the second component may be named the first component.

[0038] When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, there may also be other components in between. Conversely, when it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between. Other expressions describing the relationship between components, such as "between" and "exactly between," or "adjacent to" and "directly adjacent to," should be interpreted in the same way.

[0039] The terms used herein are merely for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as “comprising” or “having” are intended to specify the existence of the described features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0040] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this specification.

[0041] A control unit (controller) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be implemented through a non-volatile memory (not shown) configured to store data relating to an algorithm configured to control the operation of various components of a vehicle or software instructions for executing said algorithm, and a processor (not shown) configured to perform the operation described below using the data stored in said memory. Here, the memory and the processor may be implemented as separate chips. Alternatively, the memory and the processor may be implemented as a single chip integrated with each other. The processor may take the form of one or more processors.

[0042] Hereinafter, a foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be examined with reference to the attached drawings.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 16, the foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises: a pedal pad (100) rotatably coupled to a footrest panel (10), which rotates toward the front surface (11) of the footrest panel (10) in an autonomous driving situation to become a hidden state where operation by the driver is impossible, and rotates backward to become exposed toward the driver in a manual driving mode to become a pop-up state where operation by the driver is possible; and a link mechanism (200) connecting the footrest panel (10) and the pedal pad (100) and rotating together with the pedal pad (100). and includes an actuator (300) that is fixed to the footrest panel (10) and contacts or releases contact with the link mechanism (200) when operated, and rotates the pedal pad (100) toward the front surface (11) of the footrest panel (10) to make the pedal pad (100) hide when operated to contact the link mechanism (200).

[0044] The footrest panel (10) includes a bottom surface (12) in close contact with the bottom surface of the vehicle body, and a front surface (11) that extends inclinedly upward from the front end of the bottom surface (12).

[0045] In the foldable pedal device according to the present invention, when the pedal pad (100) is rotated forward by the operation of the actuator (300) and positioned as close as possible to the front surface (11) of the footrest panel (10), the pedal pad (100) is blocked from exposure toward the driver, thereby maintaining a hidden state in which operation of the pedal pad (100) by the driver is impossible. (Refer to FIGS. 1 to 2 and FIGS. 11 to 12)

[0046] And, when the pedal pad (100) is rotated backward by the operation of the actuator (300) and protrudes into the vehicle interior, the pedal pad (100) is exposed toward the driver, resulting in a pop-up state where the pedal pad (100) can be operated by the driver. (Refer to FIGS. 13 to 15)

[0047] The foldable pedal device according to the present invention further includes a return spring (400) that is installed so as to be supported at both ends on the footrest panel (10) and the pedal pad (100) and provides spring force to the pedal pad (100) so that the pedal pad (100) rotates backward to become a pop-up state.

[0048] When the pedal pad (100) rotates forward due to the driver's operation, the return spring (400) is compressed and accumulates elastic force, and when the driver's operating force is released from the pedal pad (100), the return spring (400) is released from compression and restored to its initial state, and at this time, the pedal pad (100) receives the elastic force of the return spring (400) and returns to its initial position.

[0049] The return spring (400) is composed of a coil spring, and the pedal force of the pedal pad (100) can be tuned by tuning the spring force of the return spring (400).

[0050] The foldable pedal device according to the present invention is composed of two identical devices having the same overall configuration, including a pedal pad (100), a link mechanism (200), an actuator (300), and a return spring (400), and the two identical foldable pedal devices are installed spaced apart from each other on the footrest panel (10).

[0051] Of the two foldable pedal devices installed spaced apart from each other on the footrest panel (10), one is used as a foldable pedal device for the accelerator pedal device, and the other is used as a foldable pedal device for the brake pedal device.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 1, in an embodiment according to the present invention, the one located on the right side of the footrest panel (10) is a pedal pad (101) used as a foldable pedal device for an accelerator pedal device, and the one located on the left side is a pedal pad (102) used as a foldable pedal device for a brake pedal device.

[0053] The pedal pad (100) is characterized by being an organ-type pad in which the lower part is rotatably connected to the footrest panel (10) via a hinge pin (110), the upper part of the hinge pin (110) is connected to a return spring (400), and the upper part rotates back and forth around the hinge pin (110).

[0054] Organ-type pedal pads have the advantage of being easier and more convenient to operate than pendant-type pedal pads.

[0055] The link mechanism (200) according to the present invention includes: a first link (220) rotatably coupled to a footrest panel (10) via a first link pin (210); a second link (240) rotatably coupled to an upper part of the pedal pad (100) via a second link pin (230); and a connecting pin (250) rotatably connecting the first link (220) and the second link (240).

[0056] According to the present invention, when the first link (220) and the second link (240) rotate to be folded, the pedal pad (100) rotates toward the front surface (11) of the footrest panel (10) to become hidden (see FIG. 12), and when the first link (220) and the second link (240) rotate to be unfolded relative to each other, the pedal pad (100) rotates backward to become popped up (see FIG. 15).

[0057] The second link (240) is configured as a dual link that is connected to the pedal pad (100) via the second link pin (230) and the connecting pin (250) on both sides of the first link (220).

[0058] The robustness of the pedal pad (100) and the safety of its operation can be ensured by the second link (240) configured as a dual.

[0059] The actuator (300) according to the present invention includes a linear motor (320) having a motor rod (310) that moves back and forth and is fixedly installed on a footrest panel (10), and a foldable guide (330) that is connected to the motor rod (310), contacts a first link (220) when the motor rod (310) moves backward, and releases contact with the first link (220) when the motor rod (310) moves to protrude.

[0060] The linear motor (320) may be configured as a linear motor and is configured to be electrically connected to a power supply, and the motor rod (310) moves forward to protrude from the linear motor (320) or moves backward to be inserted into the linear motor (320) when the linear motor (320) is operated.

[0061] The linear motor (320) is configured such that its operation is controlled by the PCB described later.

[0062] When the motor rod (310) and the foldable guide (330) move backward due to the operation of the linear motor (320), the end of the foldable guide (330) comes into contact with the first link (220) and pulls the first link (220) toward the linear motor (320). Due to the pulling force of the foldable guide (330), the first link (220) and the second link (240) rotate to be folded together, and due to the rotation of the first link (220) and the second link (240), the pedal pad (100) rotates toward the front surface (11) of the footrest panel (10) and becomes hidden.

[0063] Then, when the motor rod (310) and the foldable guide (330) move forward due to the operation of the linear motor (320), the foldable guide (330) is released from contact with the first link (220), and at this time, the pedal pad (100) rotates to protrude backward towards the center of the hinge pin (110) by the spring force of the return spring (400) to become a pop-up state, and at the same time, the first link (220) and the second link (240) rotate from a folded state to an unfolded state.

[0064] The foldable guide (330) according to the present invention is formed in an L shape, so that one end is connected to the motor rod (310) and the other end protrudes toward the pedal pad (100).

[0065] A guide groove (120) extending along the longitudinal direction of the pedal pad (100) is formed on the front surface of the pedal pad (100) facing the foldable guide (330), and the other end of the foldable guide (330) is inserted into the guide groove (120) to guide the linear movement of the foldable guide (330).

[0066] As the pedal pad (100) rotates in the forward and backward directions by the operation of the linear motor (320), when it changes to the hidden state and the pop-up state, the foldable guide (330) moves along the guide groove (120), and the guide groove (120) guides the linear movement of the foldable guide (330).

[0067] When the pedal pad (100) is in a hidden state, the other end of the foldable guide (330) is inserted into the guide groove (120) (see FIG. 12), and when the pedal pad (100) is in a popped state, the other end of the foldable guide (330) is detached from the guide groove (120) (see FIG. 15).

[0068] According to the present invention, a panel groove (13) that protrudes forward and is open to the rear is formed on the front surface (11) of the footrest panel (10), and a linear motor (320) is inserted into the panel groove (13) and fixedly installed.

[0069] The lower end of the return spring (400) is fixedly installed inside the panel home (13), and the PCB described later is fixedly installed.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 12, when the pedal pad (100) is in a hidden state, the first link (220), the second link (240), and the foldable guide (330) are inserted into the space between the panel groove (13) and the pedal pad (100), thereby blocking exposure. This prevents exposure to the driver or passenger's field of vision inside the vehicle, which has the advantage of maximizing the interior design of the vehicle's interior.

[0071] In addition, the configuration allows the link mechanism (200) and actuator (300), which are operating mechanisms of the foldable pedal device, to be hidden through the panel groove (13), thereby minimizing the hidden space of the link mechanism (200) and actuator (300), which has the advantage of maximizing the space in the vehicle interior and engine room.

[0072] In addition, the embodiment according to the present invention is configured such that no hole connected to the engine room is formed in the footrest panel (10) for the installation and operation of the foldable pedal device, thereby having the advantage of preventing noise from entering the interior, preventing foreign matter from entering, and preventing moisture penetration as much as possible.

[0073] In addition, in the embodiment according to the present invention, when the pedal pad (100) is in a hidden state, the panel groove (13) is covered by the pedal pad (100) so that exposure is blocked, and thereby there is an advantage of maximizing the interior design of the vehicle interior.

[0074] According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 15, a stopper portion (130) protruding outwardly is provided at the bottom of the pedal pad (100), and when the pedal pad (100) is in a popped-up state, the popping position of the pedal pad (100) is determined as the stopper portion (130) comes into contact with the footrest panel (10).

[0075] An embodiment of the present invention further includes a permanent magnet (500) coupled to a pedal pad (100) and a PCB (600, Printed Circuit Board) fixedly installed on a footrest panel (10) so as to face the permanent magnet (500), and the PCB (600) detects the rotation angle of the pedal pad (100) through a change in magnetic flux according to a change in the position of the permanent magnet (500) when the pedal pad (100) rotates, and generates a signal related to the pedal function.

[0076] The signal related to the pedal function becomes a signal related to braking or a signal related to acceleration.

[0077] It has the function of controlling the operation of the PCB (600) and the linear motor (320), and is configured to be electrically connected to a power supply such as a battery.

[0078] The PCB (600) is inserted into the panel groove (13) formed on the front surface (11) of the footrest panel (10) and fixedly installed.

[0079] FIGS. 1 to 2 and FIGS. 11 to 12 show a state in which the pedal pad (100) is rotated forward by the operation of a linear motor (320) and positioned as close as possible to the front surface (11) of the footrest panel (10). At this time, the pedal pad (100) is in a hidden state where operation of the pedal pad (100) by the driver is impossible as its exposure to the driver is blocked.

[0080] When the pedal pad (100) is in a hidden state, the foldable guide (330) moves backward to come into contact with the first link (220), and the first link (220) and the second link (240) rotate relative to each other to become folded.

[0081] When the pedal pad (100) is in a hidden state, the first link (220), the second link (240), and the foldable guide (330) are inserted into the space between the panel groove (13) and the pedal pad (100), thereby blocking exposure. This prevents exposure to the driver or passenger's field of vision inside the vehicle, which has the advantage of maximizing the interior design of the vehicle's interior.

[0082] In addition, in the hidden state, the link mechanism (200) and actuator (300), which are operating mechanisms of the foldable pedal device, can be hidden through the panel groove (13) of the footrest panel (10), thereby minimizing the hidden space of the link mechanism (200) and actuator (300), which has the advantage of maximizing the space in the vehicle interior and engine room.

[0083] In addition, in the hidden state, the pedal pad (100) covers the panel groove (13) to block exposure to the outside, thereby having the advantage of maximizing the interior design of the vehicle's interior.

[0084] In addition, when the pedal pad (100) is hidden, the space under the driver's seat becomes a wide space free from interference with the pedal, allowing the driver to take a comfortable rest in a relax mode, and also improves safety by preventing misoperation of the pedal in autonomous driving situations.

[0085] FIGS. 13 to 15 show that in the aforementioned hidden state, the motor rod (310) and the foldable guide (330) are moved forward by the operation of the linear motor (320), and the foldable guide (330) is released from contact with the first link (220). At this time, the pedal pad (100) is rotated to protrude backward towards the center of the hinge pin (110) by the spring force of the return spring (400) and protrudes into the vehicle interior. As a result, the pedal pad (100) is exposed toward the driver, and thus is in a pop-up state where the pedal pad (100) can be operated by the driver.

[0086] When the pedal pad (100) is in a pop-up state, the first link (220) and the second link (240) are switched to an unfolded state.

[0087] FIG. 16 is a normal operating state in which the pedal pad (100) is rotated forward as the driver steps on and operates the popped-up pedal pad (100).

[0088] As described above, when the pedal pad (100) is in a pop-up state, the driver steps on the protruding pedal pad (100) to perform normal pedal operation.

[0089] When the pedal pad (100) is operated normally, the return spring (400) can be used to apply a pedal force.

[0090] When the pedal pad (100) moves forward by the driver's operation, the permanent magnet (500) moves together with the pedal pad (100), and when the permanent magnet (500) moves, the PCB (600) detects the stroke change (rotation angle) of the pedal pad (100) through the change in magnetic flux according to the change in position of the permanent magnet (500) and generates a signal related to the pedal function (a signal related to acceleration or a signal related to braking).

[0091] An embodiment according to the present invention is characterized in that, when the position of the permanent magnet (500) changes while the pedal pad (100) rotates to become hidden or pop-up by the operation of the linear motor (320), the PCB (600) does not generate a signal related to the pedal function (a signal related to acceleration or a signal related to braking) to prevent malfunction.

[0092] That is, when the pedal pad (100) is converted to a hidden state as shown in FIGS. 11 to 12 or to a pop-up state as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 by the operation of the linear motor (320), the PCB (600) does not generate a signal related to the pedal function even if the position of the permanent magnet (500) changes, thereby preventing accidents caused by malfunction.

[0093] However, when the pedal pad (100) is in a popped-up state and the linear motor (320) is not operating, the position of the permanent magnet (500) changes only when the pedal pad (100) rotates due to the driver's operation, and the PCB (600) generates a signal related to the pedal function, thereby enabling more stable operation.

[0094] As described above, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured such that in a manual driving mode where the driver drives directly, the pedal pad (100) rotates backward to pop up so that it can be operated by the driver, and in an autonomous driving situation, the pedal pad (100) rotates forward to be positioned as close as possible to the front surface (11) of the footrest panel (10), thereby becoming a hidden state in which exposure is blocked so that it cannot be operated by the driver. This configuration allows for comfortable rest for the driver in an autonomous driving situation and further enhances safety by preventing accidental operation of the pedal in an autonomous driving situation.

[0095] In addition, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured such that when the pedal pad (100) is in a hidden state, the link mechanism (200) and the actuator (300), which correspond to the operating mechanism, are inserted into the panel groove (13) of the footrest panel (10) to be hidden, and the panel groove (13) is covered by the pedal pad (100) so that exposure is blocked. Through this, the hidden space can be minimized to maximize the space of the vehicle interior and the engine room, and the interior design of the vehicle interior can be maximized.

[0096] In addition, the present invention has the advantage of not forming a hole connected to the engine room in the footrest panel (10) for the installation and operation of the foldable pedal device, thereby preventing noise from entering the interior, preventing foreign matter from entering, and preventing moisture penetration as much as possible.

[0097] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in relation to specific embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the technical spirit of the invention as provided by the following claims. Explanation of the symbols

[0098] 10 - Footrest Panel 11 - Front View 12 - Bottom surface 13 - Panel groove 100 - Pedal pad 101 - Pedal pad of the accelerator pedal system 102 - Pedal pad of the brake pedal device 110 - Hinge pin 120 - Guide Home 130 - Stopper 200 - Linkage mechanism 210 - First link pin 220 - 1st Link 230 - 2nd Link Pin 240 - 2nd link 250 - Connecting pin 300 - Actuator 310 - Motor rod 320 - Linear motor 330 - Foldable guide 400 - Return spring 500 - Permanent magnet 600 - PCB

Claims

Claim 1 A pedal pad rotatably coupled to a footrest panel, which rotates toward the front of the footrest panel to become a hidden state where operation by the driver is impossible in autonomous driving situations, and rotates backward to become exposed toward the driver in manual driving mode, thereby becoming a pop-up state where operation by the driver is possible; a link mechanism connecting the footrest panel and the pedal pad and rotating together with the pedal pad; and an actuator fixed to the footrest panel, which contacts or releases contact with the link mechanism upon operation, and rotates the pedal pad toward the front of the footrest panel to make the pedal pad a hidden state when operated to contact the link mechanism; wherein the link mechanism comprises a first link rotatably coupled to the footrest panel via a first link pin; and a second link rotatably coupled to the upper part of the pedal pad via a second link pin. A foldable pedal device for a vehicle, characterized by comprising: a connecting pin that rotatably connects the first link and the second link; wherein the pedal pad rotates toward the front surface of the footrest panel to become a hidden state when the first link and the second link are rotated to be folded, and rotates backward to become a pop-up state when the first link and the second link are rotated to be unfolded; wherein the actuator is a linear motor having a motor rod that moves back and forth and is fixedly installed on the footrest panel; and a foldable guide connected to the motor rod, which contacts the first link when the motor rod moves backward, and releases contact with the first link when the motor rod moves to protrude. Claim 2 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a return spring installed so as to have both ends supported by the footrest panel and the pedal pad, providing spring force to cause the pedal pad to rotate backward to a pop-up state. Claim 3 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the foldable pedal device comprising the pedal pad, link mechanism, actuator, and return spring is composed of two identical devices and is installed spaced apart from each other on the left and right sides of the footrest panel. Claim 4 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that one of the two foldable pedal devices installed spaced apart to the left and right on the footrest panel is used as an accelerator pedal device and the other is used as a brake pedal device. Claim 5 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the pedal pad is an organ-type pad in which the lower end is rotatably coupled to a footrest panel via a hinge pin, the upper part of the hinge pin is connected to a return spring, and the upper end rotates back and forth around the hinge pin. Claim 6 delete Claim 7 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the second link is composed of a dual link connected to a pedal pad via a second link pin and a connecting pin on both sides of the first link. Claim 8 delete Claim 9 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that when the foldable guide moves backward and comes into contact with the first link, the first link and the second link rotate to be folded together, and the pedal pad rotates toward the front surface of the footrest panel to become hidden. Claim 10 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that when contact with the first link is released as the foldable guide moves forward, the pedal pad rotates to protrude backward by the spring force of a return spring connected to the pedal pad, thereby becoming a pop-up state. Claim 11 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a guide groove extending along the longitudinal direction of the pedal pad is formed on the front surface of the pedal pad; and one end of a foldable guide is inserted into the guide groove to guide the linear movement of the foldable guide. Claim 12 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a panel groove protruding forward and opening to the rear is formed on the front surface of the footrest panel; a linear motor is inserted and fixedly installed within the panel groove; and when the pedal pad is in a hidden state, the first link, the second link, and the foldable guide are inserted into the space between the panel groove and the pedal pad, thereby blocking exposure. Claim 13 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that when the pedal pad is in a hidden state, the panel groove is covered by the pedal pad so that exposure is blocked. Claim 14 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a stopper portion is provided at the bottom of the pedal pad; and the pop-up position of the pedal pad is determined as the stopper portion contacts the footrest panel when the pedal pad is in a pop-up state. Claim 15 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a permanent magnet coupled to the pedal pad; and a PCB fixedly installed on a footrest panel so as to face the permanent magnet; wherein the PCB detects the rotation angle of the pedal pad through a change in magnetic flux of the permanent magnet when the pedal pad rotates and generates a signal related to the pedal function. Claim 16 A pedal pad rotatably coupled to a footrest panel, which rotates toward the front of the footrest panel to become a hidden state where operation by the driver is impossible in autonomous driving situations, and rotates backward to become exposed toward the driver in manual driving mode, thereby becoming a pop-up state where operation by the driver is possible; a link mechanism connecting the footrest panel and the pedal pad and rotating together with the pedal pad; and an actuator fixed to the footrest panel, which contacts or releases contact with the link mechanism upon operation, and rotates the pedal pad toward the front of the footrest panel to make the pedal pad a hidden state when operated to contact the link mechanism; and a permanent magnet coupled to the pedal pad; A foldable pedal device for a vehicle, further comprising a PCB installed to be fixed to a footrest panel so as to face the permanent magnet; wherein the PCB detects the rotation angle of the pedal pad through a change in magnetic flux of the permanent magnet when the pedal pad rotates and generates a signal related to the pedal function; and wherein, when the position of the permanent magnet changes while the pedal pad rotates to become a hidden state or a pop-up state by the operation of the actuator, the PCB does not generate a signal related to the pedal function to prevent malfunction. Claim 17 A pedal pad rotatably coupled to a footrest panel, which rotates toward the front of the footrest panel to become a hidden state where operation by the driver is impossible in autonomous driving situations, and rotates backward to become exposed toward the driver in manual driving mode, thereby becoming a pop-up state where operation by the driver is possible; a link mechanism connecting the footrest panel and the pedal pad and rotating together with the pedal pad; and an actuator fixed to the footrest panel, which contacts or releases contact with the link mechanism upon operation, and rotates the pedal pad toward the front of the footrest panel to make the pedal pad a hidden state when operated to contact the link mechanism; and a permanent magnet coupled to the pedal pad; A foldable pedal device for a vehicle, further comprising a PCB installed to be fixed to a footrest panel so as to face the permanent magnet; wherein the PCB detects the rotation angle of the pedal pad through a change in magnetic flux of the permanent magnet when the pedal pad rotates and generates a signal related to the pedal function; and wherein the PCB generates a signal related to the pedal function only when the position of the permanent magnet changes as the pedal pad rotates due to the driver's operation while the pedal pad is in a popped-up state and the actuator is not operating. Claim 18 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle comprising: a pedal pad rotatably coupled to a footrest panel, which rotates toward the front surface of the footrest panel to become a hidden state where operation by the driver is impossible in autonomous driving situations, and rotates backward to become exposed toward the driver in manual driving mode, thereby becoming a pop-up state where operation by the driver is possible; a link mechanism connecting the footrest panel and the pedal pad and rotating together with the pedal pad; and an actuator fixed to the footrest panel, capable of operating to contact and non-contact with the link mechanism, and configured to rotate the pedal pad toward the front surface of the footrest panel so that the pedal pad becomes a hidden state when operated to contact the link mechanism. Claim 19 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 18, characterized in that when the actuator and the link mechanism are in non-contact, the pedal pad rotates to protrude backward and becomes a pop-up state.

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