Kongsberg Automotive Holding Asa, Inc.

General Signal Technology Corporation

Sean Rick

Chuck Peniston

Gary B Swetish

Alan Simchayoff

William P Doucet

Jan Vondras

A hysteresis assembly for a pedal includes an elastic member support, two adjacent hysteresis blocks, and an elastic member connecting the elastic member support to the more distant hysteresis block. The hysteresis blocks interface at a slope. The assembly is attached at one end to a mounting bracket for the pedal via a shaft, and at the other end to the pedal arm. As the pedal is displaced, the hysteresis blocks slide relative to each other and frictionally engage the mounting bracket. The frictional force is proportional to the return force generated by the elastic member. The spring rate of the elastic member, the angle of the slope between the hysteresis blocks, and the point of attachment are determined, through analysis, to provide desired hysteresis forces (i.e., idle force, frictional force, and return force) to the pedal, thus providing the feel of a mechanical pedal in an electronic pedal.

Method and apparatus for pedal hysteresis

An electronic pedal assembly including a treadle, a pedal arm connected to the treadle, and a rotor assembly about which the pedal arm rotates. The assembly also includes one or more Hall sensors positioned within a cavity in the rotor assembly and one or more magnets that fixedly attached to the rotor assembly. The Hall sensors detect the position of the treadle by monitoring the positions of the magnets. Also, a method of monitoring an electronic pedal assembly using one or more magnets and one or more Hall sensors.

Pedal sensor and method

The invention provides hand levers having integrated controllers. A hand lever according to the invention may include a housing and a horn controller that is adapted to be electrically connected to a horn. The horn controller, which may include a horn button, is coupled to the housing and is accessible from the exterior of the housing. The controller may also be a speed controller for controlling speed or cruise control. The hand lever is adapted to control at least one of transmission shift position and engine throttle.

Growing community of inventors

Schnecksville, PA, United States of America

Sean Rick