Foldable pedal apparatus for vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a foldable pedal device for a vehicle. In an autonomous driving situation, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are slid to the right and left sides of the dashboard panel (10), respectively, so that they are hidden and cannot be operated by the driver. In a manual driving mode, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are slid to the center of the dashboard panel (10), respectively, so that they are exposed and can 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 an accelerator pedal device and a brake pedal device move left and right depending on autonomous driving conditions and manual driving conditions, thereby enabling a hidden state where operation by the driver is impossible and a pop-up state where operation by the driver is possible. 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, in an autonomous driving situation, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are moved to the right and left sides of the dashboard, respectively, to become hidden, making operation by the driver impossible, and in a manual driving mode, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are moved to the center of the dashboard, respectively, to become exposed, making operation by the driver possible, thus enabling comfortable rest for the driver in an autonomous driving situation and further enhancing safety by preventing misoperation of the pedals in an autonomous driving situation.

[0011] In addition, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured to allow the position of the accelerator pedal device in a pop-up state to be finely adjusted left and right, thereby providing another purpose of enabling the driver to operate the accelerator pedal device as comfortably as possible.

[0012] 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. 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 stator of a linear motor that is coupled to extend left and right along a vertical portion of a dashboard panel and serves as a guide for movement guidance; a actuator of a linear motor that is coupled to the stator of the linear motor and moves left and right along the stator of the linear motor when current is applied; and an accelerator pedal device and a brake pedal device that are coupled to the actuator of the linear motor and move together with the actuator of the linear motor.

[0014] The actuator of the above linear motor includes an actuator for an accelerator pedal coupled to an accelerator pedal device and an actuator for a brake pedal coupled to a brake pedal device; the actuator for the accelerator pedal and the actuator for the brake pedal operate independently.

[0015] The above accelerator pedal device and brake pedal device are characterized by the fact that when they move to the right and left, respectively, along the stator of the linear motor and are separated to the maximum extent from each other, the accelerator pedal device and brake pedal device become hidden, making them impossible to operate by the driver.

[0016] The above accelerator pedal device and brake pedal device are characterized by the fact that when they move to the left and right along the stator of the linear motor, respectively, and come close together, the accelerator pedal device and brake pedal device become a pop-up state that can be operated by the driver.

[0017] The above accelerator pedal device and brake pedal device are each characterized by comprising: a pedal housing coupled to a actuator of a linear motor; a pedal arm having its upper end rotatably coupled to the pedal housing and its lower end equipped with a pedal pad; a permanent magnet coupled to the upper end of the pedal arm; and a PCB fixed to the pedal housing so as to face the permanent magnet, which generates a signal related to the pedal function through a change in magnetic flux according to a change in the position of the permanent magnet when the pedal arm rotates.

[0018] The pedal arm of the accelerator pedal device and the pedal arm of the brake pedal device are characterized by having their upper sides connected to the pedal housing bent outward in opposite directions and installed to form left-right symmetry.

[0019] When an autonomous driving mode signal is generated while the above-mentioned accelerator pedal device and brake pedal device are in a popped-up state, the accelerator pedal device and brake pedal device move to the hidden space on the right console side and the hidden space on the left door side, respectively, and thus the accelerator pedal device and brake pedal device become hidden, making them impossible to operate by the driver.

[0020] When a manual driving mode signal is generated while the above-mentioned accelerator pedal device and brake pedal device are in a hidden state, the accelerator pedal device and brake pedal device move to a pre-memorized position to the left and right, respectively, and are fixed, thereby becoming a pop-up state that can be operated by the driver.

[0021] The device further includes a pressure sensor coupled to the horizontal portion of the above-mentioned dashboard; and when a manual driving mode signal and a pressure sensor signal are generated while the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are in a hidden state, the brake pedal device moves to the right to the position where the pressure sensor signal is generated and is fixed, and the accelerator pedal device moves to the left to a position spaced a certain distance from the brake pedal device and is fixed, so that the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device become a pop-up state that can be operated by the driver.

[0022] The above pressure sensor signal is characterized by being generated when a load exceeding a certain level is applied to the pressure sensor by the driver stepping on the horizontal part of the dashboard with their foot.

[0023] When the above brake pedal device is in a popped-up or hidden state and a manual driving mode signal is not generated and only a pressure sensor signal is generated, the brake pedal device is characterized by maintaining its current position without moving to the position where the pressure sensor signal was generated.

[0024] The above accelerator pedal device is characterized by being adjusted by moving to the right or left when a fine adjustment switch is operated while the accelerator pedal device is in a popped-up state.

[0025] When the one-pedal mode switch is operated while the above-mentioned accelerator pedal device and brake pedal device are in a pop-up state, the brake pedal device moves to a hidden space on the left door side and becomes a hidden state that cannot be operated by the driver, and the accelerator pedal device moves to a pre-memorized position and is fixed, thereby becoming a pop-up state that can be operated by the driver.

[0026] When the dual-foot mode switch is operated while the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are in a pop-up state, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device move to pre-memorized positions to the left and right, respectively, and are fixed, thereby becoming a pop-up state that can be operated by the driver.

[0027] The device further includes a pressure sensor coupled to the horizontal portion of the above-mentioned dashboard; and when a two-foot mode signal and a pressure sensor signal are generated while the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are in a pop-up state, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are moved by the right foot and the left foot, respectively, to the position where the pressure sensor signal is generated and fixed, thereby becoming a pop-up state that can be operated by the driver.

[0028] When a collision signal for the operation of the vehicle's airbag occurs, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device move to a hidden space on the right side of the console and a hidden space on the left side of the door, respectively, thereby becoming a hidden state where the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device cannot be operated by the driver, thus preventing injury to the driver caused by the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device in the event of a collision. Effects of the invention

[0029] The foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured such that, in an autonomous driving situation, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are moved to the right and left sides of the dashboard, respectively, to become hidden, making operation by the driver impossible, and in a manual driving mode, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are moved to the center of the dashboard, respectively, to become exposed, making operation by the driver possible, thus enabling comfortable rest for the driver in an autonomous driving situation and further enhancing safety by preventing misoperation of the pedals in an autonomous driving situation.

[0030] In addition, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured such that the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device slide left and right relative to the dashboard to hide and pop up, respectively, and has the effect of reducing the number of parts, reducing costs, and significantly reducing the external size compared to a rotary foldable structure.

[0031] In addition, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured to allow the position of the accelerator pedal device in a pop-up state to be finely adjusted left and right, thereby enabling the driver to operate the accelerator pedal device as comfortably as possible and thus improving the sense of operation.

[0032] In addition, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured to minimize the hidden space of the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device when in a hidden state, thereby having the effect of maximizing the space of the vehicle interior and the engine room.

[0033] In addition, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured to forcibly move the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device to a hidden space on the right console side and a hidden space on the left door side to become hidden when a major collision occurs in which the vehicle's airbag is activated, thereby having the effect of preventing driver injury caused by the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device as much as possible in the event of a collision. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0034] FIGS. 1 and 2 are drawings of a foldable pedal device according to the present invention, wherein an accelerator pedal device and a brake pedal device are moved to the left and right of a dashboard and are in a hidden state. FIGS. 3 and 4 are drawings of an accelerator pedal device and a brake pedal device in a popped-up state moved to the center of a dashboard according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an accelerator pedal device and a brake pedal device according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side view showing an accelerator pedal device and a brake pedal device installed according to the present invention. FIGS. 7 and 8 are drawings of the one-pedal mode and two-foot mode according to the present invention. FIGS. 9 and 10 are drawings of an embodiment in which a pressure sensor is installed on a dashboard according to the present invention. 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 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 10, the foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises: a stator (100) of a linear motor that is coupled to extend left and right along a vertical portion (11) of a dash panel (10) and serves as a guide for movement guidance; a movable member (200) of a linear motor that is coupled to the stator (100) of the linear motor and moves left and right along the stator (100) of the linear motor when current is applied; and an accelerator pedal device (300) and a brake pedal device (400) that are coupled to the movable member (200) of the linear motor and move together with the movable member (200) of the linear motor.

[0044] A dash panel (10) is located in the lower space of the driver's seat, and an accelerator pedal device (300) and a brake pedal device (400) are installed in a pendant type on the vertical portion (11) of the dash panel (10).

[0045] A linear motor is equipped with a stator (100) and a movable member (200). The stator (100) of the linear motor is installed to extend left and right along the vertical section (11) of the dash panel (10), and the movable member (200) of the linear motor is coupled to the stator (100) of the linear motor. When current is applied to the coil of the stator (100) of the linear motor, it slides left and right along the stator (100) of the linear motor.

[0046] The actuator (200) of the linear motor is composed of an actuator (210) for an accelerator pedal combined with an accelerator pedal device (300) and an actuator (220) for a brake pedal combined with a brake pedal device (400), and the actuator (210) for an accelerator pedal and the actuator (220) for a brake pedal are configured to operate independently under the control of a foldable pedal controller (500).

[0047] The accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) according to the present invention each include a pedal housing (310, 410) coupled to a linear motor actuator (200), a pedal arm (340, 440) having a top end rotatably coupled to the pedal housing (310, 410) around a hinge pin (320, 420) and a pedal pad (330, 430) at the bottom end, a permanent magnet (350, 450) coupled to the top of the pedal arm (340, 440), and a PCB (360, 460) fixed to the pedal housing (310, 410) to face the permanent magnet (350, 450) and generating a signal related to the pedal function through a change in magnetic flux according to the change in position of the permanent magnet (350, 450) when the pedal arm (340, 440) rotates.

[0048] The pedal housing (310, 410) is formed in the shape of a box with an empty interior and one side is open, and a cover (370, 470) is attached to the open side.

[0049] The pedal housing (310) of the accelerator pedal device (300) is coupled with the accelerator pedal actuator (210) among the actuators (200) of the linear motor, and the pedal housing (410) of the brake pedal device (400) is coupled with the brake pedal actuator (220) among the actuators (200) of the linear motor.

[0050] The pedal arm (340, 440) rotates back and forth around the hinge pin (320, 420), and two permanent magnets (350, 450) are attached to the part where the hinge pin (320, 420) is attached at the top of the pedal arm (340, 440), and the two permanent magnets (350, 450) may be provided in two or more numbers to increase the safety of the signal.

[0051] The pedal function-related signal generated by the PCB (360) of the accelerator pedal device (300) is a signal related to acceleration, and the pedal function-related signal generated by the PCB (460) of the brake pedal device (400) is a signal related to braking.

[0052] The pedal arm (340) of the accelerator pedal device (300) and the pedal arm (440) of the brake pedal device (400) are structured such that the upper sides connected to the pedal housings (310, 410) are bent outward in opposite directions and installed to form left-right symmetry.

[0053] In this way, if the pedal arms (340, 440) are formed to spread out in opposite directions and installed to form left-right symmetry, the phenomenon of misoperation in which the driver simultaneously steps on the pedal arm (340) of the accelerator pedal device (300) and the pedal arm (440) of the brake pedal device (400) when the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are in a popped-up state can be prevented to the maximum extent.

[0054] In the foldable pedal device according to the present invention, when the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are each moved to the right and left along the stator (100) of the linear motor and are separated to the maximum distance from each other, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) become hidden, making them impossible to operate by the driver. (See FIGS. 1 and 2)

[0055] That is, when the driver operates the autonomous driving mode switch (610) among the configurations of the mode switch (600) to generate an autonomous driving mode signal, current is applied to the linear motor by the control of the foldable pedal controller (500), so that the accelerator pedal actuator (210) and the brake pedal actuator (220) move to the right and left respectively along the stator (100) of the linear motor, and as a result, the accelerator pedal device (300) moves to the right and is positioned in the console-side hidden space (710), and the brake pedal device (400) moves to the left and is positioned in the door-side hidden space (720), and the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are separated to the maximum extent from each other, and through this, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) become a hidden state that cannot be operated by the driver.

[0056] As described above, when the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are moved to the right and left respectively to become hidden, the space under the driver's seat becomes a wide space free from interference with the pedals, allowing the driver to rest comfortably in a relaxed mode with their right foot (21) and left foot (22) positioned between the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400), and also improves safety by preventing accidental operation of the pedals in autonomous driving situations.

[0057] In addition, in the hidden state, the hidden space of the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) can be minimized, thereby maximizing the space in the vehicle interior and engine room.

[0058] In addition, in the foldable pedal device according to the present invention, when the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are moved to the left and right, respectively, along the stator (100) of the linear motor and come close together, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) become a pop-up state that can be operated by the driver. (See FIGS. 3 and 4)

[0059] That is, when the driver operates the manual driving mode switch (620) among the configurations of the mode switch (600) to generate a manual driving mode signal, current is applied to the linear motor by the control of the foldable pedal controller (500), so that the accelerator pedal actuator (210) and the brake pedal actuator (220) move to the left and right, respectively, along the stator (100) of the linear motor, and the accelerator pedal actuator (210) and the brake pedal actuator (220) that have moved to the left and right move to a pre-memory position and then the position is fixed, and as a result, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) become a pop-up state that can be operated by the driver.

[0060] For example, the autonomous driving mode switch (610) and the manual driving mode switch (620) may be composed of a single driving mode switch (610, 620). When the driving mode switch is pressed while in the autonomous driving mode, it switches to manual driving mode, and the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) become a pop-up state that can be operated by the driver. When the driving mode switch is pressed while in manual driving mode, it switches to autonomous driving mode, and the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) become a hidden state that cannot be operated by the driver.

[0061] As described above, when the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are moved to the left and right respectively and become pop-up, the driver can operate the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) normally using the right foot (21).

[0062] When the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) move to a pre-memorized position to become pop-up, there is no pressure sensor, and the movement of the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) to the memorized position is made possible by the control of the foldable pedal controller (500), and a similar example is a memory sheet.

[0063] The foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured such that the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) slide left and right relative to the dash panel (10) to hide and pop up, respectively, and has the advantage of reducing the number of parts, reducing costs, and significantly reducing the external size compared to a rotary foldable structure.

[0064] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the accelerator pedal device (300) is in a popped-up state, the driver can move the accelerator pedal device (300) to the right or left by operating the fine adjustment switch (630) among the components of the mode switch (600), and through this, the driver can operate the accelerator pedal device (300) as comfortably as possible, thereby improving operability.

[0065] The fine adjustment switch (630) includes a plus switch (631) and a minus switch (632). For example, operating the plus switch (631) allows the accelerator pedal device (300) to be moved slightly to the right to adjust its position, and operating the minus switch (632) allows the accelerator pedal device (300) to be moved slightly to the left to adjust its position. If necessary, it can be configured in the opposite way.

[0066] When the position of the accelerator pedal device (300) is adjusted by operating the fine adjustment switch, the position of the brake pedal device (400) can be set to move to a position spaced apart from the accelerator pedal device by a set distance to the left.

[0067] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the driver operates the one-pedal switch (640) among the configurations of the mode switch (600) while the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are in a popped-up state, the brake pedal device (400) moves to the hidden space (720) on the left side of the door as shown in FIG. 7, becoming a hidden state that cannot be operated by the driver, and the accelerator pedal device (300) moves to a pre-memorized position and is fixed, becoming a popped-up state that can be operated by the driver.

[0068] In this way, when the accelerator pedal device (300) is popped up and the accelerator one-pedal mode is executed, the driver operates only the popped-up accelerator pedal device (300) with the accelerator (21) to perform acceleration and braking of the vehicle. That is, acceleration of the vehicle is performed when the accelerator pedal device (300) is operated, and braking by deceleration is performed when the operating force is released from the accelerator pedal device (300).

[0069] Conversely, when only the brake pedal device (400) pops up and the brake one-pedal mode is executed, the driver operates only the popped-up brake pedal device (400) to accelerate and brake the vehicle. At this time, braking is performed when the brake pedal device (400) is operated, and acceleration of the vehicle can be performed when the operating force is released from the brake pedal device (300).

[0070] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the driver operates the two-foot mode switch (650) among the configurations of the mode switch (600) to generate a two-foot mode signal, the driver moves the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) to the positions that are pre-memorized to the left and right, respectively, as shown in FIG. 8, and fixes them, thereby becoming a pop-up state that can be operated by the driver.

[0071] As shown in Fig. 8, when the two-foot mode is executed, the driver can operate the accelerator pedal device (300) using the right foot (21) and operate the brake pedal device (400) normally using the left foot (22).

[0072] When the two-foot mode is executed, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) move to a pre-memorized position when moving to a pop-up state, and the movement of the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) to the memorized position is made possible by the control of the foldable pedal controller (500), and a similar example is a memory sheet.

[0073] A mode switch (600) equipped with an autonomous driving mode switch (610), a manual driving mode switch (620), a fine adjustment switch (630), a one-pedal mode switch (640), and a two-foot mode switch (650) can be installed around the driver's seat for easy operation by the driver, and in an autonomous vehicle, it can be configured to be located on the driver's seat as needed.

[0074] In the foldable pedal device according to the present invention, when a collision signal for the operation of the vehicle's airbag occurs, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are moved and positioned in the right console-side hidden space (710) and the left door-side hidden space (720), respectively, under the control of the foldable pedal controller (500) (same state as in FIG. 2). As a result, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) become hidden and cannot be operated by the driver, thereby preventing injury to the driver caused by the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) in the event of a collision.

[0075] The collision signal may be transmitted from the vehicle's collision sensor (800) to the foldable pedal controller (500), or the signal from the collision sensor (800) may be configured to be transmitted to the foldable pedal controller (500) through the vehicle controller.

[0076] When a major collision occurs in which the vehicle's airbag is deployed, if the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are pushed toward the driver while in a popped-up state, the driver's lower limbs are struck by the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) and suffer serious injuries.

[0077] To prevent this, an embodiment according to the present invention is configured such that when a major collision occurs in which the vehicle's airbag is activated, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are forcibly moved to the right console-side hiding space (710) and the left door-side hiding space (720) to be hidden, and even if a subsequent collision occurs and the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are pushed into the interior, they are kept away from the driver's lower limbs, thereby preventing injury to the driver caused by the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400).

[0078] FIG. 9 is an embodiment in which a pressure sensor (900) is installed on the horizontal portion (12) of a dash panel (10), and when a driver steps on the horizontal portion (12) of the dash panel (10) with their foot and a load greater than a certain amount is applied to the pressure sensor (900), a pressure sensor signal is generated.

[0079] In this way, when a pressure sensor (900) is installed on the horizontal portion (12) of the dashboard panel (10), when the driver operates the autonomous driving mode switch (610) to generate an autonomous driving mode signal, the accelerator pedal device (300) moves to the right and is positioned in the console-side hidden space (710) under the control of the foldable pedal controller (500), and the brake pedal device (400) moves to the left and is positioned in the door-side hidden space (720). Through this, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) become hidden and cannot be operated by the driver, and the operation is the same as when there is no pressure sensor.

[0080] And, if a pressure sensor (900) is installed on the horizontal portion (12) of the dash panel (10), the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are hidden as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the driver operates the manual driving mode switch (620) to generate a manual driving mode signal, and presses the pressure sensor (900) with the driver's foot to generate a pressure sensor signal.

[0081] When the manual driving mode signal and the pressure sensor signal are generated in this manner, the brake pedal device (400) moves to the right and is fixed to the position where the pressure sensor signal is generated, and the accelerator pedal device (300) moves to the left and is fixed to a position separated from the brake pedal device (400) by a certain distance. As a result, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) become pop-up states that can be operated by the driver, and at this time, the driver can normally operate the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) using their right foot.

[0082] Meanwhile, when the driver does not operate the manual driving mode switch (620) while the brake pedal device is in a popped-up or hidden state and the manual driving mode signal is not generated, and only the pressure sensor signal is generated by pressing the pressure sensor (900) with the driver's foot, the brake pedal device (400) does not move to the position where the pressure sensor signal is generated and maintains its current position, and as a result, the positions of the brake pedal device (400) and the accelerator pedal device (300) are not changed.

[0083] Additionally, if a pressure sensor (900) is installed on the horizontal portion (12) of the dash panel (10), when the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are in a popped-up state, the driver operates the two-foot mode switch (650) to generate a two-foot mode signal, and when the driver presses the pressure sensor (900) with their foot to generate a pressure sensor signal, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are moved and fixed to the position where the pressure sensor signal is generated by the right foot (21) and the left foot (22), respectively, and as a result, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) become a popped-up state that can be operated by the driver.

[0084] As described above, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured such that in an autonomous driving situation, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are moved to the right and left sides of the dashboard panel (10), respectively, so that they are hidden and cannot be operated by the driver, and in a manual driving mode, the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) are moved to the center of the dashboard panel (10), respectively, so that they are exposed and can be operated by the driver, thus having the advantage of allowing the driver to rest comfortably in an autonomous driving situation and further improving safety by preventing accidental operation of the pedals in an autonomous driving situation.

[0085] In addition, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured such that the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) slide left and right relative to the dash panel (10) to hide and pop up, respectively, and has the advantage of reducing the number of parts, reducing costs, and significantly reducing the external size compared to a rotary foldable structure.

[0086] In addition, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured to allow the position of the accelerator pedal device (300) in a pop-up state to be finely adjusted left and right, thereby allowing the driver to operate the accelerator pedal device (300) as comfortably as possible, which has the advantage of improving the sense of operation.

[0087] In addition, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured to minimize the hidden space of the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) when in a hidden state, thereby having the advantage of maximizing the space of the vehicle interior and the engine room.

[0088] In addition, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured to forcibly move the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) to the right console side hiding space (710) and the left door side hiding space (720) to a hidden state when a major collision accident occurs in which the vehicle's airbag is activated, thereby having the advantage of preventing the driver's injury caused by the accelerator pedal device (300) and the brake pedal device (400) as much as possible when a collision accident occurs.

[0089] 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

[0090] 10 - Dash Panel 11 - Vertical Section 12 - Horizontal section 21 - Right foot 22 - Left foot 100 - Linear motor stator 200 - Actuator for linear motor 210 - Actuator for accelerator pedal 220 - Actuator for brake pedal 300 - Accelerator pedal device 310,410 - Pedal housing 320,420 - Hinge pin 330, 430 - Pedal pads 340, 440 - Pedal arms 350,450 - Permanent Magnet 360,460 - PCB 370,470 - Cover 400 - Brake pedal device 500 - Foldable Pedal Controller 600 - Mode Switch 610 - Autonomous driving mode switch 620 - Manual driving mode switch 630 - Fine adjustment switch 631 - Plus switch 632 - Minus switch 640 - One-pedal mode switch 650 - Dual-foot mode switch 710 - Console side hidden space 720 - Door-side hidden space 800 - Collision sensor 900 - Pressure sensor

Claims

Claim 1 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle, comprising: a stator of a linear motor coupled to extend left and right along the vertical portion of a dashboard panel to serve as a guide for movement guidance; a actuator of a linear motor coupled to the stator of the linear motor and moving left and right along the stator of the linear motor when current is applied; and an accelerator pedal device and a brake pedal device coupled to the actuator of the linear motor and moving together with the actuator of the linear motor; wherein the actuator of the linear motor includes an actuator for an accelerator pedal coupled to the accelerator pedal device and an actuator for a brake pedal coupled to the brake pedal device; and wherein the actuator for the accelerator pedal and the actuator for the brake pedal operate independently. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that when the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are each moved to the right and left along the stator of a linear motor and are separated to the maximum extent from each other, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device become hidden and cannot be operated by the driver. Claim 4 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that when the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device each move to the left and right along the stator of a linear motor and come close together, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device become a pop-up state that can be operated by the driver. Claim 5 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device each comprise: a pedal housing coupled to a actuator of a linear motor; a pedal arm having a pedal pad at its lower end and a rotatably coupled to the pedal housing at its upper end; a permanent magnet coupled to the upper end of the pedal arm; and a PCB fixed to the pedal housing to face the permanent magnet and generating a signal related to the pedal function through a change in magnetic flux according to a change in the position of the permanent magnet when the pedal arm rotates. Claim 6 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the pedal arm of the accelerator pedal device and the pedal arm of the brake pedal device are installed such that the upper sides connected to the pedal housing are bent outward in opposite directions and are symmetrically positioned. Claim 7 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that when an autonomous driving mode signal is generated while the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are in a popped-up state, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device move to a hidden space on the right console side and a hidden space on the left door side, respectively, thereby making the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device into a hidden state that cannot be operated by the driver. Claim 8 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that when a manual driving mode signal is generated while the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are in a hidden state, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device move to pre-memorized positions to the left and right, respectively, and are fixed, thereby becoming a pop-up state that can be operated by the driver. Claim 9 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising a pressure sensor coupled to the horizontal portion of the dash panel; wherein, when a manual driving mode signal and a pressure sensor signal are generated while the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are in a hidden state, the brake pedal device moves to the right to the position where the pressure sensor signal is generated and is fixed, and the accelerator pedal device moves to the left to a position spaced a certain distance from the brake pedal device and is fixed, so that the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device become a pop-up state that can be operated by the driver. Claim 10 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that the pressure sensor signal is generated when a driver steps on the horizontal portion of the dashboard with their foot and a load greater than a certain amount is applied to the pressure sensor. Claim 11 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that when the brake pedal device is in a popped-up or hidden state and a manual driving mode signal is not generated and only a pressure sensor signal is generated, the brake pedal device does not move to the position where the pressure sensor signal is generated and maintains its current position. Claim 12 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that when a fine adjustment switch is operated while the accelerator pedal device is in a popped-up state, the accelerator pedal device moves to the right or left and is adjusted. Claim 13 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that when the one-pedal mode switch is operated while the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are in a pop-up state, the brake pedal device moves to a hidden space on the left door side and becomes a hidden state that cannot be operated by the driver, and the accelerator pedal device moves to a pre-memorized position and is fixed, thereby becoming a pop-up state that can be operated by the driver. Claim 14 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that when the two-foot mode switch is operated while the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are in a popped-up state, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device move to pre-memorized positions to the left and right, respectively, and are fixed, thereby becoming a popped-up state that can be operated by the driver. Claim 15 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising a pressure sensor coupled to the horizontal portion of the dash panel; wherein, when a two-foot mode signal and a pressure sensor signal are generated while the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are in a popped-up state, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device are moved by the right foot and the left foot, respectively, to the position where the pressure sensor signal is generated and fixed, thereby becoming a popped-up state that can be operated by the driver. Claim 16 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that when a collision signal for the operation of the vehicle's airbag occurs, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device move to a hidden space on the right console side and a hidden space on the left door side, respectively, so that the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device become a hidden state that cannot be operated by the driver, thereby preventing injury to the driver caused by the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device in the event of a collision. Claim 17 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle, comprising: a stator of a linear motor coupled to extend left and right along the vertical portion of a dashboard panel to serve as a guide for movement guidance; a actuator of a linear motor coupled to the stator of the linear motor and moving left and right along the stator of the linear motor when current is applied; and an accelerator pedal device and a brake pedal device coupled to the actuator of the linear motor and moving together with the actuator of the linear motor; wherein when the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device each move to the right and left along the stator of the linear motor and are separated to the maximum extent from each other, the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device become hidden, making them unoperable by the driver. Claim 18 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle, characterized by comprising: a stator of a linear motor that is coupled to extend left and right along the vertical portion of a dashboard panel and serves as a guide for movement guidance; a actuator of a linear motor coupled to the stator of the linear motor and moves left and right along the stator of the linear motor when current is applied; an accelerator pedal device and a brake pedal device coupled to the actuator of the linear motor and moving together with the actuator of the linear motor; wherein the accelerator pedal device and the brake pedal device each comprise a pedal housing coupled to the actuator of the linear motor; a pedal arm having a pedal pad at its lower end and rotatably coupled to the pedal housing; a permanent magnet coupled to the upper end of the pedal arm; and a PCB fixed to the pedal housing to face the permanent magnet and generating a signal related to the pedal function through a change in magnetic flux according to a change in the position of the permanent magnet when the pedal arm rotates.

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