JP2734213B2 - Pedal adjustment device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pedal adjusting device for an automobile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional pedal adjusting device, there is one disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-42336.

As shown in FIG. 7, a driver's physical size and driving posture are detected by means of means 101 for detecting the physical size of the driver and a means 103 for detecting the driving posture. The control unit 105 controls the drive of the pedal drive unit 107 based on the
Is adjusted so as to be an appropriate driving position for the driver.

Accordingly, in the conventional pedal adjusting device shown in FIG. 7, the pedal device can be adjusted based on the driver's physical size and driving posture, but the relative position between the pedals is adjusted. Could not.

[0005]

By the way, when the operation of stepping on the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal is evaluated by a sensory test, the result shown in FIG. 8 is obtained. In other words, the evaluation is extremely high when there is no step in the direction in which the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal are depressed, and the evaluation becomes worse as the step between both increases. Also, according to the experimental results of the muscle activity of the lower limb by the stepping operation between the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal, as shown in FIG. As the size increases, the burden on the lower limbs increases significantly. Therefore, the smaller the step between the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal is, the better the step change operability is, and the less burden is placed on the lower limb.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a pedal adjustment device which enables relative position adjustment according to the depression between a plurality of pedals.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a pedal device CL1 comprising a plurality of pedals which can be depressed from an initial position as shown in FIG. 1, and at least one of the plurality of pedals. Pedal drive means CL2 capable of changing the initial position of another pedal in the direction of depression according to the depression of the pedal, pedal depression amount detection means CL3 for detecting the pedal depression amount, and the detection amount of the pedal depression amount detection means CL3 And control means CL4 for controlling the pedal drive means CL2 so as to change the initial position of the other pedal in response to the control.

[0008]

When a predetermined pedal of the pedal device CL1 is depressed, the pedal depression amount detection means CL3 detects the depression amount, and the control means CL4 changes the initial position of another pedal in accordance with the detected amount. The driving means CL2 is controlled.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of a pedal adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to a vehicle.

In this vehicle, for example, an accelerator pedal 1,
Pedal device C using brake pedal 3 etc. as a plurality of pedals
L1. Each of the pedals 1 and 3 is provided with a pedal drive mechanism 4 as a pedal drive means CL2 capable of changing the initial position of each stepping direction.

Further, this vehicle is provided with depression amount detection sensors 5A and 5B for detecting the depression amounts of the accelerator pedal 1 and the brake pedal 3, as pedal depression amount detection means CL3 for detecting the depression amount of a predetermined pedal. In addition, a microcomputer 9 is provided as a vehicle speed sensor 7 for detecting the speed of the vehicle and a control means CL4 for controlling the drive of the pedal drive means CL2.

The one pedal depression amount detection sensor 5A
Is configured such that a winding-type potentiometer is provided between the accelerator rod and the vehicle body, for example, and the other pedal depression amount detection sensor 5B is configured by attaching a potentiometer to the rotation shaft of the brake pedal 3. The signals from the potentiometers are transmitted to the microcomputer 9
To detect the amount of depression of the pedal. The depression amount of the accelerator pedal 1 can be detected by taking in the throttle opening. The vehicle speed sensor 7 detects a vehicle speed by, for example, receiving a signal from a speedometer into the microcomputer 9.

The pedal drive mechanism 4 is configured as shown in FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the pedal drive mechanism 4 of the brake pedal 3.

The brake pedal 3 has a brake lever 29 having a brake pedal pad 27 at one end, and the other end rotatably supported by a brake lever support bracket 30 fixed to the dash lower panel 17 on the vehicle body side. A rod R is provided at an end of the brake lever 29, and a predetermined distance (play) L is provided at one end of the brake rod 31.
Only slidably connected. The other end of the brake rod 31 is connected to a hydraulic cylinder 33 fixed to the dash lower panel 17 so that the reaction force of the brake pedal 3 can be freely controlled. An electric converter 35 is connected to the hydraulic cylinder 33, and when the brake pedal pad 27 is depressed, the depression force is applied to the brake lever 2.
9. Act on the hydraulic cylinder 33 via the brake rod 31, the electric converter 35 detects a change in the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic cylinder 33, and outputs an operation signal to the brake hydraulic system.

Further, the dash lower panel 17 is provided with a brake lever motor 37 which can be rotated forward and backward. One end of a brake lever wire 39 wound around the motor 37 is connected to the brake lever 29. The motor 37 is connected to the microcomputer 9 in FIG. 2 and is driven by a signal output from the microcomputer 9. By driving the motor 37, the brake lever wire 39 is pulled to rotate the brake lever 29, so that the initial position of the brake pedal 3 in the stepping direction of the pedal pad 27 is changed, for example, as shown by a dashed line in FIG. It has become.

The brake lever wire 39 is provided with, for example, a strain gauge. When the brake lever 29 is pulled by the brake lever wire 39, the wire 3
9 is detected. Then, if the brake lever wire 39 is distorted,
Since the initial position of the pedal pad 27 has been changed, the microcomputer 9 resets the signal of the electric converter 35 in accordance with the initial position. When the brake pedal 3 is depressed and the distortion of the brake lever wire 39 starts to decrease, the brake does not operate for a predetermined distortion corresponding to normal play, and when the distortion decreases, the brake operates.

As described above, since the depression of the brake pedal 3 is detected by the electric converter 35 via the hydraulic cylinder 33 and the brake hydraulic system is operated, the initial position of the brake pedal 3 in the depression direction is set. Even if it is changed, it is possible to set the brake characteristics without feeling uncomfortable for the driver.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the pedal drive mechanism 4 of the accelerator pedal 1.

In the accelerator pedal 1, the other end of an accelerator pedal rod 13 having an accelerator pedal pad 11 at one end is connected to one end of an accelerator wire 15. The accelerator wire 15 is connected to the electric converter 16, and when the accelerator pedal 1 is depressed, the electric converter 35 detects this and outputs an operation signal to the electronic fuel injection system. A substantially central portion of the accelerator pedal rod 13 is rotatably supported by a bracket 19 fixed to a dash lower panel 17, and is depressed by a return spring 21 to an initial position.

On the other hand, the dash lower panel 17 is provided with an accelerator pedal motor 23 which can be rotated forward and backward. The other end of an accelerator pedal wire 25 wound around the accelerator pedal motor 23 is connected to the accelerator pedal rod 13. I have.

The motor 23 is connected to the microcomputer 9
, And is driven by a signal output from the microcomputer 9 to change the initial position of the accelerator pedal 1 in the depressing direction by pulling the wire 25.

The accelerator pedal wire 25 is also provided with a strain gauge, for example.
The signal of the electric converter 16 is reset at the initial position. Therefore, like the brake pedal 3, the initial position can be changed without the occupant feeling uncomfortable.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described first with reference to FIG.
This will be described based on the control flowchart shown in FIG. This flowchart is for the case where the initial position of the brake pedal 3 is changed in accordance with the depression of the accelerator pedal 1, and the pedal drive mechanism 4 of the accelerator pedal 1 is not performed.

This flowchart is started when an ON signal of the ignition key switch is input to the microcomputer 9. If the ignition switch is ON in step S1, it is determined in step S2 whether the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 7 is 0 or not. This determination is made as to whether the vehicle is running, that is, the accelerator pedal 1
It is determined whether or not is depressed. When the vehicle is running, the depression amount of the accelerator pedal 1 detected by the pedal depression amount detection sensor 5 is read in step S3.

Next, in step S4, it is determined whether the depression amount of the accelerator pedal is 0 or not. If the vehicle is running,
Since the accelerator pedal 1 is normally depressed except for a downhill or the like, the process proceeds to step S5, and a drive signal is output to the motor 37 of the brake pedal 3 according to the depression amount of the accelerator pedal 1. The drive signal drives the brake lever motor 37, and the brake lever wire 3
9. Change the initial position of the pedaling direction of the pedal pad 27 via the brake lever 29 to a position corresponding to the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal 1 and set it to an arbitrary position within a predetermined range α as shown in FIG. Layout can be realized.

Accordingly, the distance between the accelerator pedal 1 and the brake pedal 3 in the stepping direction is kept constant, so that the stepping operation to the brake pedal 3 in an emergency or the like can be easily performed. You can eliminate discomfort.

FIG. 6 shows a control flowchart according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the positions of both the accelerator pedal 1 and the brake pedal 3 in the pressing direction can be changed.

Steps similar to those in the flowchart of FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. However, in step S3, depression of the accelerator pedal is detected by detecting the throttle opening.

After steps S1 to S3, the depression amount of the brake pedal 3 is read in step S6, and it is determined in step S7 whether the accelerator pedal 1 is depressed and the throttle is open. Here, if the light is turned on immediately after the engine is started even if the throttle is open, the accelerator pedal 1 may not be depressed in some cases. When it is determined that the accelerator is open and the accelerator pedal 1 is depressed, the process proceeds to step S8, and it is determined whether the brake pedal 3 is depressed. When the brake pedal 3 is depressed, it is considered that the driver is performing a so-called heel-and-toe operation or the like, or it is considered that this is an operation that can normally occur in an automatic car. Drive signals are output to the motors 37 and 23 according to the depression amount of the accelerator pedal 1 and the depression amount of the brake pedal 3, that is, the vehicle speed at that time. This drive signal causes the motor 3
7 and 23 are respectively driven in a predetermined relationship, and the initial positions in both the depressing directions of the brake pedal 3 and the accelerator pedal 1 are changed to relative positions which are easy to operate.

Since such an operation has individual differences depending on the driver, the current depression position of the brake pedal 3 and the accelerator pedal 1 may be detected and determined by learning control or the like.

If it is determined in step S8 that the brake pedal 3 has not been depressed, the process proceeds to step S10, in which the brake lever motor 37
The drive signal is output to The motor 37 is driven by this drive signal, and the initial position of the brake pedal 3 in the pressing direction is changed to a position corresponding to the pressing amount of the accelerator pedal 1,
Prepare for brake operation in an emergency.

If it is determined in step S7 that the throttle is not open, the flow shifts to step S11 to determine whether or not the brake pedal 3 is depressed. When the brake pedal 3 is depressed, it is a signal stop or the inter-vehicle distance with the preceding vehicle is shortened, and it is possible that the accelerator pedal 1 is subsequently depressed. Accordingly, in step S12, a drive signal is output to the accelerator pedal motor 23 of the accelerator pedal 1 according to the amount of depression of the brake pedal 3. The motor 23 is driven by this drive signal, and the initial position in the stepping direction of the accelerator pedal 1 is changed to a position corresponding to the stepping amount of the brake pedal 3.

According to this embodiment, in addition to providing the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment, the operation of changing from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal can be easily performed without a sense of incongruity. Operation with a car is also easy.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the pedals can be applied in a selected combination among three or more pedals. Also, the present invention can be applied to vehicles other than automobiles and pedal operations other than vehicles.

[0038]

As described above, the pedal adjusting device according to the present invention can change the initial position in the direction in which another pedal is depressed in accordance with the amount of depression of a predetermined pedal. The positional relationship can be kept constant. Therefore, there is an effect that the operability can be improved, for example, the feeling of the stepping operation of the pedal is made constant.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a pedal adjustment device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a pedal adjustment device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a pedal drive mechanism of the brake pedal shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a pedal drive mechanism of the accelerator pedal of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an example of a control flowchart.

FIG. 6 is an example of a control flowchart.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a pedal adjustment device according to a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a sensory test result regarding a step between an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an experimental result of muscle activity of a lower limb with respect to a step between an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 CL1 Pedal device CL2 Pedal driving means CL3 Pedal depression amount detecting means CL4 Control means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pedal device comprising a plurality of pedals which can be depressed from an initial position, and a pedal drive capable of changing an initial position in a depressing direction of another pedal in accordance with depressing of at least one of the plurality of pedals. Means, pedal depression amount detection means for detecting the pedal depression amount,
Control means for controlling the pedal driving means so as to change the initial position of the other pedal in accordance with the detected amount of the pedal depression amount detecting means.