# US 11,999,228 B2 · Pedal-application-error accident preventing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,228 B2 - Document ID: US11999228B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/687,042 - Filed: 2022-03-04 - Published: 2022-09-22 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-22 - Assignees: Subaru Corporation - Applicants: Subaru Corporation - Inventors: Kou Sasaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999228B2 ## CPC - B60K 26/02: of initiating means or elements - B60K 26/021: {with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics} - B62D 1/181: with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory - B60K 2026/023: {with electrical means to generate counter force or torque} - B60K 2026/026: {Adjusting of accelerator pedal positions} - B60Y 2306/01: Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract A pedal-application-error accident preventing device to be applied to a vehicle includes a steering-wheel-position changing mechanism, a steering-wheel-position adjuster, and an accelerator-pedal-position adjuster. The steering-wheel-position changing mechanism is configured to displace a steering wheel of the vehicle in a vehicle forward-rearward direction. The steering-wheel-position adjuster is configured to displace the steering wheel in accordance with an operation amount of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle such that the steering wheel is positioned further toward a vehicle rearward side as the operation amount of the accelerator pedal operated by a driver who drives the vehicle increases. The accelerator-pedal-position adjuster is configured to displace the accelerator pedal in a direction such that the operation amount of the accelerator pedal returns to zero in a case where the steering wheel is pushed back forward in a state in which the steering wheel is displaced toward the vehicle rearward side. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pedal-application-error accident preventing device to be applied to a vehicle, the pedal-application-error accident preventing device comprising: a steering-wheel-position changing mechanism configured to displace a steering wheel of the vehicle in a vehicle forward-rearward direction; a steering-wheel-position adjuster configured to displace the steering wheel in accordance with an operation amount of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle such that the steering wheel is positioned further toward a vehicle rearward side as the operation amount of the accelerator pedal operated by a driver who drives the vehicle increases; and an accelerator-pedal-position adjuster configured to displace the accelerator pedal in a direction such that the operation amount of the accelerator pedal returns to zero in a case where the steering wheel is pushed back forward in a state in which the steering wheel is displaced toward the vehicle rearward side. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pedal-application-error accident preventing device according to claim 1, further comprising: an accelerator-pedal-position detector configured to detect the operation amount of the accelerator pedal, wherein the steering-wheel-position changing mechanism comprises a steering wheel actuator configured to displace the steering wheel, and wherein the steering-wheel-position adjuster is configured to control driving of the steering wheel actuator based on the operation amount of the accelerator pedal detected by the accelerator-pedal-position detector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pedal-application-error accident preventing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a depressing-force sensor configured to detect a force with which the driver depresses the accelerator pedal, wherein the steering-wheel-position adjuster is configured to control driving of the steering wheel actuator based on the force with which the driver depresses the accelerator pedal detected by the depressing-force sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The pedal-application-error accident preventing device according to claim 2, further comprising: a depressing-force sensor configured to detect a force with which the driver depresses the accelerator pedal, wherein the steering-wheel-position adjuster is configured to control the driving of the steering wheel actuator based on the force with which the driver depresses the accelerator pedal detected by the depressing-force sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pedal-application-error accident preventing device according to claim 1, further comprising: an acceleration sensor configured to detect an acceleration of displacement of the accelerator pedal, wherein the steering-wheel-position adjuster is configured to control driving of the actuator based on the acceleration of the displacement of the accelerator pedal detected by the acceleration sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The pedal-application-error accident preventing device according to claim 2, further comprising: an acceleration sensor configured to detect an acceleration of displacement of the accelerator pedal, wherein the steering-wheel-position adjuster is configured to control the driving of the actuator based on the acceleration of the displacement of the accelerator pedal detected by the acceleration sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The pedal-application-error accident preventing device according to claim 2, further comprising: a steering-wheel-position detector configured to detect a position of the steering wheel in the vehicle forward-rearward direction; an accelerator pedal actuator configured to displace the accelerator pedal; and an accelerator-pedal-position adjuster configured to control driving of the accelerator pedal actuator configured to displace the accelerator pedal, wherein the accelerator-pedal-position adjuster is configured to displace the accelerator pedal in the direction such that the operation amount of the accelerator pedal returns to zero in a case where the steering wheel is pushed back forward in the state in which the steering wheel is displaced toward the vehicle rearward side. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The pedal-application-error accident preventing device according to claim 3, further comprising: a steering-wheel-position detector configured to detect a position of the steering wheel in the vehicle forward-rearward direction; an accelerator pedal actuator configured to displace the accelerator pedal; and an accelerator-pedal-position adjuster configured to control driving of the accelerator pedal actuator configured to displace the accelerator pedal, wherein the accelerator-pedal-position adjuster is configured to displace the accelerator pedal in the direction such that the operation amount of the accelerator pedal returns to zero in a case where the steering wheel is pushed back forward in the state in which the steering wheel is displaced toward the vehicle rearward side. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The pedal-application-error accident preventing device according to claim 4, further comprising: a steering-wheel-position detector configured to detect a position of the steering wheel in the vehicle forward-rearward direction; an accelerator pedal actuator configured to displace the accelerator pedal; and an accelerator-pedal-position adjuster configured to control driving of the accelerator pedal actuator configured to displace the accelerator pedal, wherein the accelerator-pedal-position adjuster is configured to displace the accelerator pedal in the direction such that the operation amount of the accelerator pedal returns to zero in a case where the steering wheel is pushed back forward in the state in which the steering wheel is displaced toward the vehicle rearward side. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The pedal-application-error accident preventing device according to claim 5, further comprising: a steering-wheel-position detector configured to detect a position of the steering wheel in the vehicle forward-rearward direction; an accelerator pedal actuator configured to displace the accelerator pedal; and an accelerator-pedal-position adjuster configured to control driving of the accelerator pedal actuator configured to displace the accelerator pedal, wherein the accelerator-pedal-position adjuster is configured to displace the accelerator pedal in the direction such that the operation amount of the accelerator pedal returns to zero in a case where the steering wheel is pushed back forward in the state in which the steering wheel is displaced toward the vehicle rearward side. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The pedal-application-error accident preventing device according to claim 6, further comprising: a steering-wheel-position detector configured to detect a position of the steering wheel in the vehicle forward-rearward direction; an accelerator pedal actuator configured to displace the accelerator pedal; and an accelerator-pedal-position adjuster configured to control driving of the accelerator pedal actuator configured to displace the accelerator pedal, wherein the accelerator-pedal-position adjuster is configured to displace the accelerator pedal in the direction such that the operation amount of the accelerator pedal returns to zero in a case where the steering wheel is pushed back forward in the state in which the steering wheel is displaced toward the vehicle rearward side. ### Claim 12 A pedal-application-error accident preventing device to be applied to a vehicle, the pedal-application-error accident preventing device comprising: a steering-wheel-position changing mechanism configured to displace a steering wheel of the vehicle in a vehicle forward-rearward direction; and circuitry configured to displace the steering wheel in accordance with an operation amount of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle such that the steering wheel is positioned further toward a vehicle rearward side as the operation amount of the accelerator pedal operated by a driver who drives the vehicle increases, and displace the accelerator pedal in a direction such that the operation amount of the accelerator pedal returns to zero in a case where the steering wheel is pushed back forward in a state in which the steering wheel is displaced toward the vehicle rearward side.