# US 11,999,229 B2 · Electronic throttle control pedal assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,229 B2 - Document ID: US11999229B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/121,116 - Filed: 2023-03-14 - Published: 2023-07-20 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-25 - Assignees: KSR IP Holdings, LLC - Applicants: KSR IP Holdings, LLC - Inventors: Matthew Vyskocil - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999229B2 ## CPC - B60K 26/021: {with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics} - G05G 5/03: Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce (arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015) - B60K 2026/023: {with electrical means to generate counter force or torque} - B60Y 2400/301: for position or displacement - G05G 1/38: comprising means to continuously detect pedal position - G05G 1/44: pivoting - 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 - G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00) - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract An electronic throttle control pedal assembly includes a housing having a friction generating surface, a pedal arm, a spring carrier, and at least one spring. The pedal arm includes a hub portion and a friction generating member. The friction generating member has a lobe connected to a cross member and is positioned on a side surface of the hub portion. The cross member extends within the hub portion. The spring carrier has a friction generating portion. As the pedal arm is depressed, a portion of the spring carrier engages the friction generating portion against the cross member positioned within the hub aperture and pivotally engages a portion of the lobe of the friction generating member against the friction generating surface of the housing thereby creating at least two independent friction generating surfaces to create a hysteresis proportional to the depression of the pedal arm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic throttle control pedal assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising: a housing having a friction generating surface; a pedal arm having a hub portion and a friction generating member, the friction generating member having a lobe, the lobe having an opening and positioned on a side surface of the hub portion such that at least a portion of the side surface of the hub portion is received within the opening, the pedal arm is pivotally connected to the housing at the hub portion; a spring carrier coupled to the pedal arm and received within the housing; and at least one spring positioned to be in contact with the pedal arm and the spring carrier, wherein when the pedal arm is depressed, the at least one spring and the spring carrier leverages a load applied by the at least one spring by movement of the pedal arm to pivotally engage at least a portion of the lobe of the friction generating member against the friction generating surface of the housing thereby creating a hysteresis proportional to the depression of the pedal arm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein: the hub portion includes a another side surface opposite the side surface, each of the side surfaces are curvilinear shaped, the side surfaces are separated by a hub aperture and connected by an upper surface of the pedal arm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein: the friction generating member includes a second lobe spaced apart from the lobe, the second lobe having a second opening and is positioned on the another side surface of the hub portion such that at least a portion of the another side surface of the hub portion is received within the opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the lobe and the second lobe of the friction generating member are shaped to geometrically match the curvilinear shape of the side surface and the another side surface of the hub portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3, wherein: the pedal arm further includes an exterior surface and an opposite inner surface; the at least one spring extending between the inner surface of the pedal arm and the spring carrier; and the hub aperture extends through an inner surface and an opposite exterior surface of the hub portion and a portion of the spring carrier positioned within the hub aperture to engage with a portion of the friction generating member positioned within the hub aperture when the load from the at least one spring is applied to the spring carrier. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The assembly of claim 5, wherein the spring carrier further comprises: a spring receiving portion; and an arm portion extending from and integrally formed with the spring receiving portion, wherein the at least one spring is received by the spring receiving portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one spring further comprises: an outer spring having an inner diameter and extending between the inner surface of the pedal arm and the spring receiving portion of the spring carrier; and an inner spring positioned within the inner diameter of the outer spring and extending between the inner surface of the pedal arm and the spring receiving portion of the spring carrier. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The assembly of claim 6, wherein the friction generating portion is positioned on an upper surface of the arm portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a sensor assembly having: a coupler rotatably mounted to one side of the hub portion; at least one receiver coil positioned adjacent to the coupler; and at least one transmitter coil, wherein movement of the coupler is detected by the at least one receiver coil. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pedal arm is formed from a multi-shot injection molding. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the friction generating surface of the housing is arcuate in shape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pedal arm is a universal connector for a plurality of lower pedal arms. ### Claim 13 A pedal assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising: a housing having a friction generating surface; and a pedal arm assembly having a pedal arm having an exterior surface and an opposite inner surface, the pedal arm further having: a hub portion and a friction generating member, the hub portion is curvilinear in shape, the friction generating member having a pair of spaced apart lobes, each of the pair of lobes having an opening and positioned on a respective side surface of the hub portion such that at least a portion of the respective side surface of the hub portion is received within the respective opening, each of the pair of lobes of the friction surface are shaped to geometrically match the curvilinear shape of the hub portion, the pedal arm is pivotally connected to the housing at the hub portion, a spring carrier coupled to the pedal arm and received within the housing, the spring carrier having a friction generating portion extending from a rear surface; and at least one spring extending between the inner surface of the pedal arm and the spring carrier, wherein when the pedal arm is depressed, the at least one spring and the spring carrier leverages a load applied to the at least one spring by movement of the pedal arm to engage the friction generating portion against a portion of each of the pair of lobes of the friction generating member to pivotally engage against the friction generating surface of the housing thereby creating a hysteresis proportional to the depression of the pedal arm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The pedal assembly of claim 13, wherein the pedal arm further comprises: a hub aperture extending through the inner surface and the exterior surface of the hub portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The pedal assembly of claim 13, wherein the spring carrier further comprises: a spring receiving portion at a first end; and an arm portion extending from the spring receiving portion to a distal tip, the arm portion extends from and integrally formed with the spring receiving portion, the arm portion having the friction generating portion positioned on the rear surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The pedal assembly of claim 13, further comprising: an outer spring having an inner diameter and extending between the inner surface of the pedal arm and spring receiving portion of the spring carrier; and an inner spring positioned within the inner diameter of the outer spring and extending between the inner surface of the pedal arm and the spring receiving portion of the spring carrier, wherein the outer spring and the inner spring are each received by the spring receiving portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The pedal assembly of claim 13, further comprising: a sensor assembly having: a coupler rotatably mounted to one side of the hub portion; at least one receiver coil positioned adjacent to the coupler; and at least one transmitter coil, wherein movement of the coupler is detected by the at least one receiver coil. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The pedal assembly of claim 13, wherein the friction generating surface of the housing is arcuate in shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The pedal assembly of claim 13, wherein the pedal arm is a universal connector for a plurality of lower pedal arms. ### Claim 20 A method of a final assembly of installing a pedal arm assembly into a housing, the method comprising: inserting an inner spring with an outer diameter into an inner diameter of an outer spring to form a spring package, the outer diameter of the inner spring is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer spring; inserting one end of the spring package into a spring receiving portion of a pedal arm; inserting another end of the spring package into a spring receiving portion of a spring carrier; and inserting the spring carrier and the pedal arm into a hub receiving cavity of the housing such that the pedal arm and the spring carrier are pivotally mounted to the housing, the pedal arm having a hub portion and a friction generating member, the friction generating member having a lobe, the lobe having an opening and positioned on a side surface of the hub portion such that at least a portion of the side surface of the hub portion is received within the opening.