Foldable pedal apparatus for vehicle with hysteresis module

Abstract

The present invention relates to a foldable pedal device for a vehicle equipped with a hysteresis module. In a manual driving mode where the driver is driving directly, the pedal pad (200) is popped out from the pedal housing (100) and exposed toward the driver. In an autonomous driving mode where the driver is not driving directly, the pedal pad (200) is inserted into the pedal housing (100) and becomes hidden (hidden) so that exposure toward the driver is blocked. When the pedal pad (200) is operated, hysteresis can be implemented through the hysteresis module (300).

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a foldable pedal device for a vehicle equipped with a hysteresis module, and more specifically, to a foldable pedal device for a vehicle equipped with a hysteresis module such that in a manual driving mode where the driver directly drives, the pedal pad protrudes from the pedal housing and is exposed toward the driver to enable operation by the driver, and in an autonomous driving situation, the pedal pad is inserted into the pedal housing so that operation by the driver is impossible, thereby blocking exposure toward the driver. 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 relates to a foldable pedal device for a vehicle, wherein in a manual driving mode where the driver directly drives, the pedal pad protrudes from the pedal housing and is exposed toward the driver to allow operation by the driver, and in an autonomous driving situation, the pedal pad is inserted into the pedal housing to block exposure toward the driver so that operation by the driver is impossible, and furthermore, the device is equipped with a hysteresis module to enable the implementation of hysteresis. 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. means of solving the problem

[0011] A foldable pedal device for a vehicle equipped with a hysteresis module according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose comprises: a pedal housing fixedly installed in the lower space of the driver's seat; a pedal pad rotatably coupled to the pedal housing and operated by the driver's foot; a hysteresis module rotatably installed in the pedal housing and connected to the pedal pad, which generates hysteresis when the pedal pad is operated by the driver; a motor fixedly installed in the pedal housing; and a support member installed to contact the pedal housing and the hysteresis module, connected to the motor, and moving back and forth by the power of the motor; wherein the pedal pad is inserted into the pedal housing and changes into a hidden state and a pop-up state protruding from the pedal housing through the rotation of the hysteresis module caused by the back-and-forth movement of the support member.

[0012] It is characterized by further including a motor control PCB that is fixedly installed in the above-mentioned pedal housing and electrically connected to the motor to control the operation of the motor.

[0013] The above pedal pad is characterized by being an organ-type pad in which the lower end is rotatably connected to the pedal housing via a hinge pin, the upper part of the hinge pin is connected to a hysteresis module, and the upper end rotates back and forth around the hinge pin.

[0014] It is characterized by further including a pedal return spring that is installed with both ends supported on the above-mentioned pedal housing and hysteresis module, and provides elastic force to the pedal pad so that the pedal pad can rotate in the direction of insertion into the pedal housing.

[0015] The above motor operates so that when the support member moves forward and is inserted between the pedal housing and the hysteresis module, the hysteresis module rotates while overcoming the elastic force of the pedal return spring; and when the support member supports the hysteresis module, the pedal pad changes to a pop-up state protruding from the pedal housing.

[0016] The device is characterized by the fact that when the support member moves backward by the operation of the motor and the state in which the support member supports the hysteresis module is released, the pedal pad receives the elastic force of the pedal return spring through the hysteresis module and rotates to be inserted into the pedal housing, thereby changing to a hidden state.

[0017] The hysteresis module is characterized by comprising: a lever housing having one end rotatably coupled to a fixed shaft provided in a pedal housing and overlapping with the support member and supported by the support member when the support member moves forward; a rotating lever located within the lever housing and rotatably installed with one end hinged through the fixed shaft; a friction bushing coupled to the fixed shaft and generating frictional force through contact with the rotating lever when the rotating lever rotates; a connecting link rotatably connecting the other end of the rotating lever and the pedal pad; and a lever spring installed so that both ends are supported by the lever housing and the rotating lever.

[0018] The apparatus further includes a permanent magnet coupled to the hinge portion of the rotary lever; and a non-contact pedal sensor fixedly installed in the pedal housing to face the permanent magnet; wherein the non-contact pedal sensor detects the rotation angle of the pedal pad through the change in magnetic flux of the permanent magnet when the rotary lever is rotated and generates a signal related to the pedal function.

[0019] The above support member is installed to contact the front inclined surface of the pedal housing; and the fixed axis serving as the rotational center of the hysteresis module is positioned between the front inclined surface and the rear inclined surface of the pedal housing so that the rotational center of the hysteresis module is installed so as to be further rearward than the support member.

[0020] The one surface of the support member and the front inclined surface of the pedal housing are both formed as flat surfaces, so that the one surface of the support member and the front inclined surface always make surface contact.

[0021] The surface in contact with the support member in the lever housing is formed with a curved portion and a flat portion; the curved portion of the lever housing allows the support member to enter so that the support member is inserted between the pedal housing and the lever housing when the support member moves forward from a retracted state; and the flat portion of the lever housing is characterized by being supported by the support member while overlapping with the other surface of the support member that has moved forward.

[0022] The other surface of the above-mentioned support member is formed as a flat surface and is characterized by always making surface contact with the flat surface of the lever housing.

[0023] The non-contact pedal sensor is characterized by not generating a signal related to the pedal function to prevent malfunction when the position of the permanent magnet changes as the hysteresis module rotates due to the back-and-forth movement of the support member caused by the operation of the above motor, and the pedal pad rotates to become hidden or popped up due to the rotation of the hysteresis module.

[0024] The non-contact pedal sensor 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 motor is not operating.

[0025] A sensor pin is coupled to the above-mentioned pedal pad; the sensor pin is coupled to a sensor lever of a stroke sensor fixed to the pedal housing.

[0026] The above hinge pin is characterized by being located below the bottom of the pad surface provided in the pedal pad, so that when the pedal pad is in a pop-up state, the bottom of the pad surface is exposed from the pedal housing.

[0027] The pedal housing is characterized by having a guide portion formed therein to guide the forward and backward movement of the support member so that the support member can move while always in contact with the forward inclined surface of the pedal housing.

[0028] The above-mentioned non-contact pedal sensor is characterized as being either an APS that generates a signal related to acceleration or a BPS that generates a signal related to braking.

[0029] The foldable pedal device according to the present invention is characterized by being usable as an accelerator pedal device or a brake pedal device in an autonomous vehicle. Effects of the invention

[0030] The foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured such that, in a manual driving mode where the driver is driving directly, the pedal pad protrudes from the pedal housing and pops up to be exposed toward the driver so that the driver can operate the pedal pad, and in an autonomous driving mode where the driver is not driving directly, the pedal pad is inserted into the pedal housing so that the driver cannot operate the pedal pad and the exposure toward the driver is blocked, thereby enabling a hidden state. In particular, it is configured to include a hysteresis module to enable the implementation of hysteresis, thereby enabling comfortable rest for the driver in an autonomous driving situation, and furthermore, by preventing misoperation of the pedal in an autonomous driving situation, it has the effect of improving safety.

[0031] In addition, the present invention is configured such that when the pedal pad is inserted into the pedal housing in a hidden state, a linear motor fixed inside the pedal housing is accommodated in the inner space of the pedal pad, thereby having an efficient layout structure, which has the effect of significantly reducing the overall external size of the pedal device. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0032] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a foldable pedal device for a vehicle equipped with a hysteresis module according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the combined state of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a drawing for explaining the motor and support member of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a drawing for explaining the coupling structure of a hysteresis module, FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a permanent magnet and a non-contact pedal sensor coupled to a hysteresis module. FIG. 7 is a drawing for explaining a support member and a hysteresis module, FIG. 8 is a drawing for explaining a pedal pad according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 is a drawing of a hidden state in which a pedal pad is inserted into a pedal housing. FIG. 10 is a drawing of a pedal pad in a pop-up state protruding from the pedal housing. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a popped-up pedal pad rotates and operates normally by the driver's operation. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] Hereinafter, a foldable pedal device for a vehicle equipped with a hysteresis module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be examined with reference to the attached drawings.

[0041] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 11, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention comprises: a pedal housing (100) fixedly installed in the lower space of the driver's seat; a pedal pad (200) rotatably coupled to the pedal housing (100) and operated by the driver's foot; a hysteresis module (300) rotatably installed in the pedal housing (100), connected to the pedal pad (200), and generating hysteresis when the pedal pad (200) is operated by the driver; a motor (400) fixedly installed in the pedal housing (100); and a support member (500) installed to contact the pedal housing (100) and the hysteresis module (300), connected to the motor (400), and moving back and forth with the power of the motor (400).

[0042] The pedal pad (200) can be inserted into the pedal housing (100) through the rotation of the hysteresis module (300) caused by the forward and backward movement of the support member (500), and can be changed to a hidden state and a pop-up state protruding from the pedal housing.

[0043] The pedal housing (100) is formed in a box shape with an empty interior, and covers (110) are detachably connected to both sides, and a hysteresis module (300), a motor (400), a support member (500), and a motor control PCB (Printed Circuit Board) and a non-contact pedal sensor, etc., described later are installed in the empty space inside.

[0044] The motor (400) may be configured as a rotary motor, and the rotary motor may be configured as a stepper motor and configured to be electrically connected to a power supply.

[0045] The motor (400) transmits power through the first gear (410) and the second gear (420), one end of the lead screw (430) is connected to the center of the second gear (420), a nut (440) is connected to the lead screw (430), and the nut (440) is connected to the support member (500).

[0046] The support member (500) is installed in a guided state on the guide part (120) provided in the pedal housing (100) and is installed in a state where it is always in contact with the front inclined surface (130) of the pedal housing (100).

[0047] Accordingly, when the motor (400) operates and the first gear (410), the second gear (420), and the lead screw (430) rotate, the support member (500) including the nut (440) moves back and forth along the longitudinal direction of the lead screw (430).

[0048] The motor (400), the first gear (410), and the second gear (420) are configured to be enclosed and protected by the motor housing (450), and the motor housing (450) is fixedly coupled to the pedal housing (100).

[0049] The guide portion (120) formed in the pedal housing (100) serves to guide the forward and backward movement of the support member (500), and for this purpose, the guide portion (120) is provided to guide one side facing forward and the other side facing backward from the support member (500), respectively.

[0050] Additionally, the present invention further includes a motor control PCB (600) that is fixedly installed in the pedal housing (100) and electrically connected to the motor (400) to control the operation of the motor (400).

[0051] The motor control PCB (600) is configured to be electrically connected to a power source, such as a battery, through a wire.

[0052] The pedal pad (200) is characterized by being an organ-type pad in which the lower part is rotatably connected to the pedal housing (100) via a hinge pin (210), and the upper part of the hinge pin (210) is rotatably connected to the hysteresis module (300), and the upper part rotates back and forth around the hinge pin (210) of the lower part.

[0053] In addition, the pedal pad (200) is provided with an internal space that is open to the lower side, and when the pedal pad (200) changes from a pop-up state to a hidden state, the motor (400) is inserted into the internal space of the pedal pad (200) (see FIG. 9). Through this, an efficient layout structure is achieved, which has the advantage of significantly reducing the size of the pedal housing (100) and the overall external size of the pedal device.

[0054] A housing hole (150) is formed in the rear inclined surface (140) facing the driver in the pedal housing (100), and a pedal pad (200) is positioned in a manner that penetrates the housing hole (150), and the lower end of the pedal pad (200) is rotatably connected to the pedal housing (100) via a hinge pin (210).

[0055] Additionally, the present invention further includes a pedal return spring (700) which is installed with both ends supported on the pedal housing (100) and the hysteresis module (300) and provides elastic force to the pedal pad (200) so that the pedal pad (200) can rotate in the direction of being inserted into the pedal housing (100).

[0056] Accordingly, when the support member (500) moves forward toward the hysteresis module (300) by the operation of the motor (400), and the forward-moving support member (500) is inserted between the pedal housing (100) and the hysteresis module (300), the hysteresis module (300) rotates while overcoming the elastic force of the pedal return spring (700), and when the forward-moving support member (500) supports the hysteresis module (300), the pedal pad (200) becomes a pop-up state protruding from the pedal housing (100), and from this time, the pedal pad (200) becomes a state that can be operated by the driver. (State of FIG. 3 and FIG. 10)

[0057] Then, when the support member (500) moves backward away from the hysteresis module (300) by the operation of the motor (400) and the state in which the support member (500) supports the hysteresis module (300) is released, the pedal pad (200) receives the elastic force of the pedal return spring (700) through the hysteresis module (300) and rotates to be inserted into the pedal housing (100), changing to a hidden state, and at this time, the pedal pad (200) becomes impossible to operate by the driver. (State in FIG. 9)

[0058] The rear side of the pedal pad (200) facing the driver becomes the pad surface (220) operated by the driver's foot, and the pad surface (220) of the pedal pad (200) is formed with an external size larger than the housing hole (150), so that when the pedal pad (200) rotates forward, the housing hole (150) is sealed by the pad surface (220) of the pedal pad (200).

[0059] When the pedal pad (200) rotates forward fully around the hinge pin (210), the pad surface (220) of the pedal pad (200) cannot pass through the housing hole (150), so the pad surface (220) is supported by the pedal housing (100), and as a result, the forward rotation of the pedal pad (200) is naturally restricted.

[0060] In addition, if the housing hole (150) is sealed by the pad surface (220) of the pedal pad (200), it is advantageous for maintaining airtightness, which prevents the entry of foreign matter, and also enables noise blocking effect towards the interior.

[0061] The hysteresis module (300) according to the present invention comprises: a lever housing (310) having one end rotatably coupled to a fixed shaft (160) provided in a pedal housing (100) and overlapping with the support member (500) and supported by the support member (500) when the support member (500) moves forward; a rotating lever (320) located inside the lever housing (310) and rotatably installed with one end of a hinge portion (321) penetrating the fixed shaft (160); a friction bushing (330) coupled to the fixed shaft (160) and generating frictional force through contact with the rotating lever (320) when the rotating lever (320) rotates; and a connecting link (340) rotatably connecting the other end of the rotating lever (320) and the pedal pad (200). and a lever spring (350) installed so that both ends are supported on the lever housing (310) and the rotary lever (320);

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, when the driver operates the pedal pad (200) by stepping on it with their foot while the pedal pad (200) is in a popped-up state, the pedal pad (200) rotates forward around the hinge pin (210) as shown in FIGS. 11, and the connecting link (340) connected to the pedal pad (200) moves to be inserted into the pedal housing (100). Due to the movement of the connecting link (340), the rotation lever (320) rotates around the fixed axis (160), and at this time, the lever spring (350) accumulates elastic force while being compressed.

[0063] And, when the driver releases the operating force from the pedal pad (200) in the state of Fig. 11, the rotating lever (320), the connecting link (340), and the pedal pad (200) return to the pop-up state as in Figs. 3 and 10 by the restoring force of the lever spring (350).

[0064] The lever spring (350) can be tuned for pedal force through tuning of the spring force, and it is preferable that it be composed of two springs with different spring forces so as to suppress fine vibration of the pedal pad (200), but the number is not limited to two.

[0065] It is preferable that the lever spring (350) be a compression coil spring.

[0066] When the driver operates the pedal pad (200) by stepping on it, the spring force (compressive force) of the lever spring (350) and the frictional force of the friction bush (330) are generated together and act as resistance, so a large pedal force (pedal force during operation) is required to overcome this large resistance, and when the driver releases the operating force from the pedal pad (200) and the pedal pad (200) returns, only the frictional force caused by the friction bush (330) is generated, so the pedal force (pedal force during return) is reduced relatively compared to the pedal force during operation.

[0067] In this way, the difference between the pedal force when operating the pedal pad (200) and the pedal force when returning is caused by the friction bushing (330) corresponding to the friction element, and this phenomenon is called hysteresis in the pedal device.

[0068] Hysteresis of the pedal device is a necessary element to promote quiet driving by preventing the amount of pedal pressure from changing abruptly when an impact occurs due to road irregularities, and to reduce the driver's ankle fatigue by maintaining a constant amount of pedal arm pressure, especially during constant speed driving or long-distance driving.

[0069] The present invention is configured such that when a driver operates the pedal pad (200) by stepping on it while the pedal pad (200) is in a popped-up state as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 10, most of the driver's operating force is supported in the pedal housing (100) through the pedal pad (200), the connecting link (340), the hysteresis module (300), and the support member (500). This allows the capacity of the motor (400) to be minimized, thereby providing the advantage of reducing costs and weight.

[0070] The present invention further includes a permanent magnet (810) coupled to a hinge portion (321) of a rotating member (320), and a non-contact pedal sensor (820) fixedly installed in a pedal housing (100) to face the permanent magnet (810).

[0071] The non-contact pedal sensor (820) is a sensor that detects the rotation of the rotation lever (320) when the driver operates the pedal pad (200) by stepping on it. It detects the rotation angle of the pedal pad (200) through the change in magnetic field strength according to the change in position of the permanent magnet (810) when the rotation lever (320) rotates, and generates a signal related to the pedal function.

[0072] The non-contact pedal sensor (820) is configured to be electrically connected to a power source such as a battery via a wire, and compared to a contact sensor directly connected via a link, it has the advantage of reducing operating noise and, in particular, further increasing the accuracy of the output signal.

[0073] The non-contact pedal sensor (820) can be configured as either an APS (Accelerator Position Sensor) that generates a signal related to acceleration or a BPS (Brake Position Sensor) that generates a signal related to braking.

[0074] The pedal pad (200) may have a structure connected to a stroke sensor (900) via a link (910), and the stroke sensor (900) may be installed so as to be fixed to the pedal housing (100), and the stroke sensor (900) serves to detect whether the pedal pad (200) returns to its initial position when the pedal pad (200) is operated.

[0075] A sensor pin (230) is coupled to the pedal pad (200), and the sensor pin (230) is coupled to the sensor lever (910) of the stroke sensor (900) fixed to the pedal housing (100). The stroke sensor (900) is responsible for detecting whether the pedal pad (200) returns to its initial position when the pedal pad (200) is operated, and additionally, it can also perform an auxiliary function of the non-contact pedal sensor (820), such as an APS or BPS.

[0076] The hinge pin (210), which serves as the rotational center of the pedal pad (200), can be configured to be positioned at a location that is almost identical to the bottom (221) of the pad surface (220) for package reduction, as shown in FIG. 3. In this case, when the pedal pad (200) is in a pop-up state, the bottom (221) of the pad surface (220) may be located inside the pedal housing (100) and not exposed. In this case, the line of the bottom (221) of the pad surface (220) is obscured and not visible, which may be disadvantageous in terms of design.

[0077] Accordingly, another embodiment of the present invention can be configured such that a hinge pin (210), which serves as the rotation center of the pedal pad (200) as shown in FIG. 8, is positioned lower than the bottom (221) of the pad surface (220), so that when the pedal pad (200) is in a pop-up state, the bottom (221) of the pad surface (220) is completely exposed from the pedal housing (100), thereby allowing the line of the bottom (221) of the pad surface (220) to be seen, thereby improving the design.

[0078] The support member (500) according to the present invention is installed to contact the front inclined surface (130) of the pedal housing (100) as shown in FIG. 3, and the fixed axis (160), which serves as the rotational center of the hysteresis module (300), is located between the front inclined surface (130) and the rear inclined surface (140) of the pedal housing (100). As a result, the rotational center (fixed axis (160)) of the hysteresis module (300) is installed so that it is positioned further rearward than the support member (500). This configuration allows the hysteresis module (300) to rotate smoothly around the fixed axis (160) when the support member (500) moves forward.

[0079] If the fixed axis (160), which serves as the rotational center of the hysteresis module (300), is positioned further forward in the state of FIG. 3 to be close to the front inclined surface (130) of the pedal housing (100), or especially if it is positioned within the cross-sectional thickness or cross-sectional height of the support member (500) in the front-rear direction, then even if the support member (500) moves forward, the hysteresis module (300) cannot rotate smoothly around the fixed axis (160), and thus a phenomenon of sticking may occur. To prevent this, the fixed axis (160), which serves as the rotational center of the hysteresis module (300), is installed so that it is positioned further rearward than the support member (500).

[0080] According to the present invention, one side (the side facing forward) of the support member (500) and the forward inclined surface (130) of the pedal housing (100) are both formed as flat surfaces, so that the one side of the support member (500) and the forward inclined surface (130) always make surface contact. Through this, stable forward and backward movement of the support member (500) is possible, and furthermore, the hysteresis module (300) can be supported in a more stable state.

[0081] Meanwhile, the surface in contact with the support member (500) in the lever housing (310) constituting the hysteresis module (300) is formed as a curved portion (311) and a flat portion (312).

[0082] The curved portion (311) of the lever housing (310) allows the support member (500) to enter so that the support member (500) can be easily inserted between the pedal housing (100) and the lever housing (310) when the support member (500) moves forward after being in a retracted state as in FIG. 9.

[0083] And, the flat portion (312) of the lever housing (310) overlaps with the other side (the side facing backward) of the support member (500) that has moved forward as in FIG. 10, and becomes a surface supported by the support member (500).

[0084] When the support member (500) moves back and forth while moving away from the flat portion (312) of the lever housing (310) and in contact with the curved portion (311), the lever housing (310) rotates around the fixed axis (160). When the support member (500) moves away from the curved portion (311) of the lever housing (310) and in contact with the flat portion (312), the lever housing (310) does not rotate around the fixed axis (160), so the support member (500) can support the lever housing (310) in a stable state, and through this, the support member (500) can support the load of the hysteresis module (300).

[0085] The other side (the side facing the rear) of the support member (500) is formed as a flat surface and is characterized by always being in surface contact with the flat portion (312) of the lever housing (300), thereby enabling the support member (500) to support the lever housing (310) in a stable state.

[0086] FIG. 9 is a state in which the support member (500) is moved backward by the operation of the motor (400) and the support member (500) is released from supporting the hysteresis module (300). At this time, the pedal pad (200) is hidden so that it is rotated forward by the elastic force of the pedal return spring (700) and inserted into the pedal housing (100). Accordingly, the pedal pad (200) is in a hidden state where exposure is blocked.

[0087] When the support member (500) moves backward away from the hysteresis module (300) by the operation of the motor (400) (moving in the direction where the second gear (420) is located), and the state in which the support member (500) supports the hysteresis module (300) is released, the hysteresis module (300) rotates counterclockwise around the fixed axis (160) by the elastic force of the pedal return spring (700), and the pedal pad (200), which is connected via the connecting link (340) by the rotation of the hysteresis module (300), rotates forward around the lower hinge pin (210) and becomes hidden (hidden) inserted into the pedal housing (100).

[0088] As described above, when the pedal pad (200) 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.

[0089] FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 10 show the pedal pad (200) in a pop-up state, rotated toward the rear where the driver is located and protruding from the pedal housing (100).

[0090] In the hidden state of the aforementioned pedal pad (200), when the support member (500) moves forward toward the hysteresis module (300) by the operation of the motor (400), the advancing support member (500) is inserted between the pedal housing (100) and the hysteresis module (300) to support and hold the flat portion (312) of the lever housing (310). During this process, the hysteresis module (300) rotates while overcoming the elastic force of the pedal return spring (700), and when the support member (500) supports and holds the hysteresis module (300), the pedal pad (200) becomes a pop-up state protruding from the pedal housing (100).

[0091] As described above, when the pedal pad (200) is in a pop-up state protruding from the pedal housing (100), the driver steps on the pad surface (220) of the protruding pedal pad (200) to perform normal operation.

[0092] FIG. 11 shows a state in which a driver operates a pedal pad (200) that has popped up and protruded from a pedal housing (100) by stepping on it with their foot.

[0093] When the driver operates the pedal pad (200) that pops up protruding from the pedal housing (100) by stepping on it with their foot, the pedal pad (200) rotates forward around the hinge pin (210), and the connecting link (340) connected to the pedal pad (200) moves into the pedal housing (100), and the rotating lever (320) rotates around the fixed axis (160) due to the movement of the connecting link (340), and at this time, the lever spring (350) accumulates elastic force while being compressed.

[0094] Additionally, as the pedal pad (200) rotates due to the driver's operation, the rotation lever (320) of the hysteresis module (300) rotates, and the permanent magnet (810) coupled to the hinge portion (321) of the rotation lever (320) also rotates together. At this time, the non-contact pedal sensor (820) detects the rotation angle of the pedal pad (200) through the change in magnetic flux due to the rotation of the permanent magnet (810) and generates a signal related to the pedal function (a signal related to acceleration or a signal related to braking).

[0095] An embodiment according to the present invention is characterized in that, when the hysteresis module (300) rotates due to the back-and-forth movement of the support member (500) caused by the operation of the motor (400), and the position of the permanent magnet (810) changes while the pedal pad (200) rotates to become hidden or pop-up due to the rotation of the hysteresis module (300), the non-contact pedal sensor (820) does not generate a signal related to the pedal function (a signal related to acceleration or a signal related to braking) to prevent malfunction.

[0096] That is, when the pedal pad (200) is converted to a hidden state as in FIG. 9 and a pop-up state as in FIG. 10 by the operation of the motor (400), the non-contact pedal sensor (820) does not generate a signal related to the pedal function even if the position of the permanent magnet (810) changes, thereby preventing accidents caused by malfunction.

[0097] However, as shown in FIG. 11, when the pedal pad (200) is in a popped-up state and the motor (400) is not operating, the pedal pad (200) rotates due to the driver's operation, and the hysteresis module (300) rotates through the connecting link (340) due to the rotation of the pedal pad (200), and the position of the permanent magnet (810) changes due to the rotation of the hysteresis module (300), the non-contact pedal sensor (820) generates a signal related to the pedal function only when the position of the permanent magnet (810) changes due to the rotation of the hysteresis module (300), thereby enabling more stable operation.

[0098] Meanwhile, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention may be used as either an accelerator pedal device or a brake pedal device in an autonomous vehicle, or as both an accelerator pedal device and a brake pedal device.

[0099] As described above, the foldable pedal device according to the present invention is configured such that, in a manual driving mode where the driver directly drives, the pedal pad (200) protrudes from the pedal housing (100) and pops up to be exposed toward the driver so that the driver can operate the pedal pad (200), and in an autonomous driving mode where the driver does not directly drive, the pedal pad (200) is inserted into the pedal housing (100) so that the driver cannot operate the pedal pad (200) and is hidden so that exposure toward the driver is blocked. In particular, the device is configured to be equipped with a hysteresis module (300) to enable the implementation of hysteresis, thereby allowing the driver to rest comfortably in an autonomous driving situation and further enhancing safety by preventing accidental operation of the pedal in an autonomous driving situation.

[0100] In addition, the present invention is configured such that when the pedal pad (200) is inserted into the pedal housing (100) and becomes hidden, the motor (400) fixed inside the pedal housing (100) is accommodated in the inner space of the pedal pad (200), thereby having an efficient layout structure, which has the advantage of significantly reducing the overall external size of the pedal device.

[0101] 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

[0102] 100 - Pedal Housing 110 - Cover 120 - Guide section 130 - Forward inclined surface 140 - Rear slope 150 - Housing hole 160 - Fixed axis 200 - Pedal pad 210 - Hinge pin 220 - Pad surface 221 - Bottom of the pad surface 230 - Sensor pin 300 - Hysteresis Module 310 - Lever Housing 311 - Curved section 312 - Flat section 320 - Rotating lever 321 - Hinge part 330 - Friction Bush 340 - Connecting Link 350 - Lever spring 400 - Motor 410 - 1st gear 420 - 2nd gear 430 - Lead screw 440 - Nut 450 - Motor housing 500 - Support member 600 - Motor control PCB 700 - Pedal return spring 810 - Permanent Magnet 820 - Non-contact Pedal Sensor 900 - Stroke Sensor 910 - Sensor Lever

Claims

Claim 1 A pedal housing fixedly installed in the lower space of the driver's seat; a pedal pad rotatably coupled to the pedal housing and operated by the driver's foot; a hysteresis module rotatably installed in the pedal housing, connected to the pedal pad, and generating hysteresis when the pedal pad is operated by the driver; and a motor fixedly installed in the pedal housing; A foldable pedal device for a vehicle equipped with a hysteresis module, characterized by comprising: a support member installed to contact the pedal housing and the hysteresis module, connected to a motor, and moving back and forth by the power of the motor; wherein the pedal pad changes from a hidden state, inserted into the pedal housing, to a pop-up state, protruding from the pedal housing, through the rotation of the hysteresis module caused by the back-and-forth movement of the support member; wherein when the support member moves forward and the support member supports the hysteresis module, the pedal pad changes to a pop-up state, protruding from the pedal housing; and when the support member moves backward and the state in which the support member supports the hysteresis module is released, the pedal pad changes to a hidden state, inserted into the pedal housing by rotation. Claim 2 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a hysteresis module, characterized in that, in claim 1, it further comprises a motor control PCB that is fixedly installed in the pedal housing and electrically connected to the motor to control the operation of the motor. Claim 3 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a hysteresis module according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the pedal pad is rotatably coupled to the pedal housing via a hinge pin, is connected to the hysteresis module at the upper portion of the hinge pin, and is an organ-type pad that rotates back and forth around the hinge pin. Claim 4 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a hysteresis module, characterized in that, in claim 1, it further comprises a pedal return spring installed so as to have both ends supported by the pedal housing and the hysteresis module, and providing elastic force to the pedal pad so that the pedal pad can rotate in a direction into which it is inserted into the pedal housing. Claim 5 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle equipped with a hysteresis module according to claim 4, characterized in that when the support member moves forward by the operation of the motor and is inserted between the pedal housing and the hysteresis module, the hysteresis module rotates while overcoming the elastic force of the pedal return spring, and the pedal pad changes to a pop-up state. Claim 6 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle equipped with a hysteresis module according to claim 4, characterized in that when the support member moves backward by the operation of the motor and the state in which the support member supports the hysteresis module is released, the pedal pad receives the elastic force of the pedal return spring through the hysteresis module and changes to a hidden state. Claim 7 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a hysteresis module according to claim 1, wherein the hysteresis module comprises: a lever housing having one end rotatably coupled to a fixed shaft provided in a pedal housing and overlapping with the support member and supported by the support member when the support member moves forward; a rotating lever located within the lever housing and rotatably installed with one end hinged through the fixed shaft; a friction bushing coupled to the fixed shaft and generating frictional force through contact with the rotating lever when the rotating lever rotates; a connecting link rotatably connecting the other end of the rotating lever and a pedal pad; and a lever spring installed so that both ends are supported by the lever housing and the rotating lever. Claim 8 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a hysteresis module, wherein, in claim 7, a permanent magnet coupled to a hinge portion of the rotary lever; and a non-contact pedal sensor fixedly installed in a pedal housing to face the permanent magnet; wherein the non-contact pedal sensor detects the rotation angle of the pedal pad through a change in magnetic flux of the permanent magnet when the rotary lever is rotated and generates a signal related to the pedal function. Claim 9 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a hysteresis module according to claim 7, wherein the support member is installed to contact the front inclined surface of the pedal housing; and the fixed axis serving as the rotational center of the hysteresis module is positioned between the front inclined surface and the rear inclined surface of the pedal housing so that the rotational center of the hysteresis module is installed to be offset further rearward than the support member. Claim 10 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a hysteresis module according to claim 7, wherein one surface of the support member and the front inclined surface of the pedal housing are both formed as flat surfaces so that one surface of the support member and the front inclined surface are always in surface contact. Claim 11 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a hysteresis module according to claim 7, wherein the surface in contact with the support member in the lever housing is formed with a curved portion and a flat portion; the curved portion of the lever housing allows the support member to enter so that the support member is inserted between the pedal housing and the lever housing when the support member moves forward from a retracted state; and the flat portion of the lever housing overlaps with the other surface of the support member that has moved forward and is supported by the support member. Claim 12 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a hysteresis module, wherein, in claim 11, the other surface of the support member is formed as a flat surface and always makes surface contact with the flat portion of the lever housing. Claim 13 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle equipped with a hysteresis module according to claim 8, characterized in that, when the position of the permanent magnet changes while the hysteresis module rotates due to the reciprocating movement of the support member according to the operation of the motor and the pedal pad rotates to become hidden or pop-up due to the rotation of the hysteresis module, the non-contact pedal sensor does not generate a signal related to the pedal function to prevent malfunction. Claim 14 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle equipped with a hysteresis module according to claim 8, characterized in that the non-contact pedal sensor generates 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 in a situation where the pedal pad is in a popped-up state and the motor is not operating. Claim 15 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a hysteresis module, characterized in that, in claim 1, a sensor pin is coupled to the pedal pad; and the sensor pin is coupled to a sensor lever of a stroke sensor fixed to the pedal housing. Claim 16 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a hysteresis module according to claim 3, wherein the hinge pin is positioned lower than the bottom of the pad surface provided on the pedal pad so that when the pedal pad is in a pop-up state, the bottom of the pad surface is exposed from the pedal housing. Claim 17 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a hysteresis module according to claim 1, characterized in that the pedal housing has a guide portion formed therein to guide the forward and backward movement of the support member so that the support member can move while always in contact with the forward inclined surface of the pedal housing. Claim 18 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a hysteresis module, wherein, in claim 8, the non-contact pedal sensor is either an APS that generates a signal related to acceleration or a BPS that generates a signal related to braking. Claim 19 A foldable pedal device for a vehicle having a hysteresis module, characterized in that it can be used as an accelerator pedal device or as a brake pedal device, according to claim 1. Claim 20 delete Claim 21 delete Claim 22 delete Claim 23 delete

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