Vehicle Pedal Apparatus with Unified Pivot Direction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicles, the existing dual pedal setup for accelerator and brake pedals leads to driver fatigue and increased injury risk due to limited space and different operational sensations, which can result in erroneous operations.

Innovation Solution

A pedal apparatus with a single housing for both pedals, allowing them to operate in the same direction, featuring a pedal hinge system, overlapping design, and sensors for clear differentiation and control, reducing component count and fatigue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If accelerator pedal and brake pedal are disposed separately in the limited space below driver's seat, then each pedal can be operated independently, but the space becomes crowded causing driver fatigue and increasing injury risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent pedal operationVSAvoiddriver fatigue and injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the accelerator pedal and brake pedal into a single integrated pedal assembly that shares a common housing and pivot mechanism. This merging reduces the overall space occupation below the driver's seat, creating more legroom and reducing driver fatigue while maintaining independent operational capability through separate control portions for each pedal function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Volume of stationary object

If accelerator pedal and brake pedal are integrated in a single assembly, then space below driver's seat is increased, but the pedals operate in different directions causing different sensation and potential erroneous operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace below driver's seatVSAvoidoperational sensation consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the pedals pivot in traditionally different directions (accelerator up/down, brake push down), the patent inverts the conventional approach by making both pedals pivot in the same direction (forward toward the driver). This maintains the space benefits of integration while ensuring consistent operational sensation. The control portions are shaped differently to distinguish their functions while both moving in the same pivot direction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If accelerator pedal and brake pedal are provided as separate assemblies, then each pedal can have dedicated control mechanism, but the number of components increases complicating the structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvededicated control mechanismVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal pedal housing and pivot mechanism that serves both accelerator and brake functions. The single housing accommodates both pedals, the shared pivot mechanism enables both to rotate about the same axis, and the integrated design reduces the overall component count while maintaining dedicated control portions for each pedal function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10732667B2Pedal apparatus for vehicle

Publication Date: 2020.08.04 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A pedal apparatus for a vehicle may include a pedal housing fixedly disposed in a space in which a driver's foot is located; and an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal pivotably connected to the pedal housing, wherein, when the accelerator pedal is operated, the accelerator pedal pivots independently of the brake pedal, and when the brake pedal is operated, both the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal pivot.