Vehicle Pedal Zero-Position Fault Diagnosis Using Seat Occupancy

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for detecting zero position faults in vehicle pedals, such as accelerator and brake pedals, are inadequate as they cannot accurately determine if the pedal is pressed, leading to inconsistent zero position voltage settings in vehicle controllers, which compromises vehicle control safety.

Innovation Solution

A pedal fault diagnosis method and apparatus that detects whether the driver seat is unmanned, collects the actual zero position voltage of the pedal in this state, and determines if a zero position fault exists based on this voltage, thereby ensuring accurate updates to the zero position voltage settings in the vehicle controller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the zero position voltage is collected based on driving operation or statistical data inference, then the fault detection can be performed, but the accuracy of determining whether the pedal is at zero position deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault detection capabilityVSAvoidzero position determination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of driver presence before collecting zero position voltage. By detecting whether the driver seat is occupied in advance, the system ensures that voltage collection only occurs when the pedal is guaranteed to be at zero position, eliminating the need for inaccurate inference methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary detection mechanism (driver seat occupancy detection) between the voltage collection process and the fault determination. This intermediary step provides reliable information about pedal position, serving as a mediator that connects the collection process with accurate fault diagnosis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the actual zero position voltage is collected when the pedal position is uncertain, then the voltage collection process can be completed, but the consistency of controller settings deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoltage collection efficiencyVSAvoidcontroller setting consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of driver presence before collecting zero position voltage. By detecting whether the driver seat is occupied in advance, the system ensures that voltage collection only occurs when the pedal is guaranteed to be at zero position, eliminating the need for inaccurate inference methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the driver seat occupancy detection to control the voltage collection process. When the driver is detected to be present, the system stops or skips voltage collection, using this feedback information to maintain consistency of controller settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the zero position voltage update is performed without accurate pedal position confirmation, then the fault diagnosis process can be completed, but the vehicle control safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault diagnosis completionVSAvoidvehicle control safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of driver presence before collecting zero position voltage. By detecting whether the driver seat is occupied in advance, the system ensures that voltage collection only occurs when the pedal is guaranteed to be at zero position, eliminating the need for inaccurate inference methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary detection mechanism (driver seat occupancy detection) between the voltage collection process and the fault determination. This intermediary step provides reliable information about pedal position, serving as a mediator that connects the collection process with accurate fault diagnosis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3995378B1Pedal fault diagnosis method and apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.04.30 YINWANG INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD

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AI summary

A pedal fault diagnosis method and apparatus for a vehicle are provided, specifically including: detecting whether a driver seat is in an unmanned state; collecting an actual zero position voltage of a pedal when the driver seat is in the unmanned state; and then determining, based on the actual zero position voltage, whether a zero position fault exists on the pedal. The apparatus may update a set value of a zero position voltage in a vehicle controller based on the actual zero position voltage that is collected when the driver seat is in the unmanned state, and may be applied to the fields of assisted driving and automatic driving. Vehicle control safety can be improved by using the actual zero position voltage that is collected when the driver seat is in the unmanned state.