Accelerator Pedal Lock Control Under Vehicle Disturbance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional accelerator pedal systems fail to prevent unintended acceleration due to disturbances like vehicle deceleration or vibration, where the pedal can be unintentionally stepped on, leading to increased reaction force and potential fuel inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
An accelerator pedal system with a lock mechanism and actuator that restricts pedal operation, using a controller to adjust the actuator's energization to maintain a locked state during disturbances, preventing unintended acceleration by increasing the lock holding force when a disturbance is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the accelerator pedal is locked during automatic speed control to function as a footrest, then fuel efficiency is improved and driver fatigue is reduced, but unintended acceleration may occur due to disturbances like vehicle deceleration or vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of disturbances (vehicle deceleration, vibration) before unintended acceleration occurs. When a disturbance is detected, the controller proactively increases the energization amount to the actuator to strengthen the lock holding force, preventing the pedal from being unintentionally stepped on during automatic speed control operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors disturbance conditions and provides feedback to the controller. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts the energization amount to the actuator in real-time, increasing power consumption during disturbances to maintain reliable locking while restoring normal operation when disturbances subside
2Reliability
If the reaction force against the pedal is increased to prevent unintended stepping, then acceleration control reliability is improved, but the pedal becomes harder to operate and driver fatigue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the lock holding force based on detected disturbance conditions. During normal operation, the lock mechanism maintains ease of pedal operation. When disturbances are detected, the actuator increases energization to strengthen locking only during those specific moments, creating a dynamic balance between reliability and ease of operation
3Reliability
If the actuator energization is continuously increased to maintain lock strength, then acceleration control reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and fuel efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic detection of disturbance conditions and applies increased actuator energization only during detected disturbance periods. The controller monitors for disturbances such as vehicle deceleration or vibration and temporarily increases power consumption to the actuator only when needed, rather than maintaining continuously high energization levels
Data Source
AI summary
An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever configured to perform an operation in accordance with a step-on operation, a lock mechanism configured to restrict the operation of the pedal lever, and an actuator configured to switch between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is free from restriction by the lock mechanism. In the accelerator pedal system, a controller configured to change an energization amount to the actuator when a disturbance is detected during a vehicle traveling in the locked state. Thus, the lock state can be suitably controlled.