Haptic Sensor Pedal Layout for Compact Drive-by-Wire Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pedal units for vehicles require mechanical pedal travel for operation, limiting installation space and necessitating complex mechanical designs, while drive-by-wire systems lack intuitive differentiation between functional regions.
Innovation Solution
A sensor surface with distinct functional regions for braking and acceleration, integrated with an evaluation and control unit to detect actuations and control vehicle functions, eliminating the need for pedal travel and providing haptic differentiation through raisable or lowerable regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional pedal units use mechanical pedal travel for operation, then the driver can intuitively distinguish functional regions through physical movement, but the installation space is limited and the mechanical design becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical pedal travel system with an electronic sensor-based system. The sensor surface detects actuation forces directly without requiring mechanical movement, eliminating the need for pedal travel while maintaining functional differentiation through electronic sensing zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor surface is divided into multiple functional regions (first and second functional regions) that can be independently detected. This segmentation allows different vehicle functions to be controlled from different zones of the same pedal surface, providing intuitive differentiation without mechanical travel.
2Volume of stationary object
If drive-by-wire systems eliminate mechanical connection, then installation space is reduced, but the differentiation between functional regions becomes less intuitive
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the sensor surface are assigned different functional properties. The first functional region is associated with a first vehicle function while the second functional region is associated with a second vehicle function, creating local quality differences that help drivers intuitively distinguish between functions through touch location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs visual differentiation (analogous to color changes) by providing visual indicators or differentiating features on the sensor surface that correspond to different functional regions, helping drivers intuitively identify which region corresponds to which vehicle function.
3Volume of stationary object
If pedal travel is eliminated in drive-by-wire systems, then installation space is optimized, but the mechanical feedback to driver is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical feedback mechanisms with electronic sensing and potential haptic feedback systems. The sensor surface detects actuation forces electronically, and the system can provide feedback through other means such as visual indicators or electronic haptic feedback, maintaining driver awareness without requiring mechanical pedal travel.
Data Source
AI summary
A pedal unit for a vehicle has a sensor surface which includes at least two functional regions and is designed to detect an actuation by the driver. The pedal unit also has at least one evaluation and control unit coupled to the sensor surface and designed to evaluate an actuation of one of the at least two functional regions detected by the sensor surface and, as a function of this evaluation, control a vehicle function associated with the corresponding functional region of the sensor surface. At least one region of the sensor surface is raised or lowered and enables a haptic differentiation between the at least two functional regions of the sensor surface.