Active Accelerator Pedal Effort Control via Motor-Driven Spring Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing accelerator pedals lack the ability to actively adjust pedal effort in response to driving maneuvers such as lane changes and cornering, which limits driving safety and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An active control method for accelerator pedal effort that determines vehicle speed and steering wheel angle conditions to adjust pedal effort dynamically, using a motor and power transmission unit to vary the spring length and thus the pedal effort, reducing effort during lane changes and increasing it during cornering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring with predetermined elastic modulus is used to meet safety regulations, then safety requirements are satisfied, but the pedal effort cannot be changed or actively varied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the Dynamics principle by making the spring system adjustable through a motor-driven mechanism. The motor can actively vary the spring length and thus the pedal effort in real-time based on driving conditions, transforming a static spring system into a dynamic one that adapts to different operational requirements while maintaining safety standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements Parameter changes by modifying the physical state of the spring system through active control. By changing the spring length parameter using a motor-driven adjustment mechanism, the pedal effort can be varied dynamically without replacing the spring itself, allowing the system to meet both safety requirements and adaptability needs.
2Ease of manufacture
If the accelerator pedal structure is kept simple and fixed, then manufacturing and maintenance are easier, but the pedal effort cannot be actively controlled during driving maneuvers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies Universality by designing a pedal system that performs multiple functions: the motor-driven mechanism serves both as a spring adjustment device and as an active control system. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain structural simplicity while incorporating automation for active pedal effort control during lane changes and cornering maneuvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a motor-driven adjustment mechanism as a mediator between the fixed pedal structure and the active control requirement. This intermediary component enables automated pedal effort control without fundamentally redesigning the entire pedal system, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while adding automation capability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the spring length is fixed, then the pedal effort remains constant, but it cannot be varied to reduce effort during lane changes or increase effort during cornering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies Preliminary action by pre-positioning the motor-driven adjustment mechanism to set the spring length according to anticipated driving conditions. The system can proactively adjust the pedal effort before maneuvers like lane changes or cornering occur, optimizing performance in advance rather than reacting after the fact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements Feedback by using sensors to detect driving conditions (lane changes, cornering) and feeding this information back to the control system. The control system then adjusts the motor-driven spring length accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that maintains stability while enabling variability when needed based on real-time conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances driving safety and efficiency by allowing quick lane changes and stable cornering, without the need to replace springs, thereby meeting safety regulations and improving driver experience.
Implementation Method 1
a motor and power transmission unit to vary the spring length and thus the pedal effort
Implementation Method 2
A spring 6 is installed in the pedal arm housing 1 in such a way that a first end of the spring 6 is held by the spring plate 5 and a second end of the spring 6 is held by the pedal arm housing 1. Accordingly, during an operation of the related art accelerator pedal having the above-mentioned construction, when the pedal arm 2 is rotated around a hinge shaft 7 relative to the pedal arm housing 1, the spring 6 is elastically compressed and forms pedal effort of the pedal pad 4.
Data Source
AI summary
An active control method of accelerator pedal effort is configured such that, when a driver changes lanes while driving a vehicle having a pedal effort controllable accelerator, the method can actively control the accelerator pedal effort so as to reduce the pedal effort, and when the driver turns corners while driving the vehicle, the method can actively control the accelerator pedal effort so as to increase the pedal effort.