Pedal with integrated position sensor
AssigneeCTS Corporation
InventorsDavid S. Pfaffenberger, Robert L. Newman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pedal and sensor assembly for mounting to a vehicle. The assembly has a pedal arm having a first end and a second end. A magnetic field generator is connected to the second end to generate a variable magnetic field as the pedal moves. A housing is attached to the vehicle and has the second end and the magnetic field generator contained therein. A magnetic field sensor is located adjacent to the magnetic field generator and detects the variable magnetic field such that as the pedal arm rotates the magnetic field sensor generates an electrical signal proportional to the strength of the variable magnetic field and that is indicative of the position of the pedal arm.
Claims16
A pedal and sensor assembly for mounting to a vehicle, the pedal being depressed by a user, comprising:
- a) a pedal arm having a first end, a second end and an aperture;
- b) a rod extending through the aperture;
- c) a magnet driven by the pedal arm, the magnet generating a magnetic field;
- d) a housing, attachable to the vehicle and rotatably supporting the rod;
- and
- e) a magnetic field sensor located adjacent the magnet for detecting the magnetic field.
A pedal and sensor assembly for mounting to a vehicle, the pedal adapted to be depressed by a user, comprising:
- a) an elongated pedal arm having a first end and a second end;
- b) a rod extending through the pedal arm, the rod mounted toward the second end of the pedal arm, the first end adapted to be depressed by the user;
- c) a housing, attachable to the vehicle, the housing rotatably supporting the pedal arm;
- d) a magnetic field generator movable by the pedal arm, the magnetic field generator generating a magnetic field;
- and
- e) a magnetic field sensor located adjacent the magnetic field generator for detecting the magnetic field such that as the pedal arm moves, the magnetic field sensor generates an electrical signal that is indicative of the position of the pedal arm.
A pedal and sensor assembly for mounting to a vehicle, the pedal being depressed by a user, comprising:
- a) a pedal arm having a pair of ends and an aperture;
- b) a rod extending through the aperture;
- c) a housing, attachable to the vehicle and rotatably supporting the rod;
- d) a magnet attached to the pedal arm and adapted to be moved by the pedal arm, the magnet generating a magnetic field;
- and
- e) a magnetic field sensor mounted to the housing and spaced from the magnet, the magnetic field sensor detecting the magnetic field.
A pedal assembly for mounting to a vehicle, the pedal being depressed by a user, comprising:
- a) a pedal arm having a first end, a second end and an aperture;
- b) a foot rest attached to the first end;
- c) a rod extending through the aperture toward the second end;
- d) a housing adapted to be attached to the vehicle, the housing partially enclosing the second end, the housing rotatably supporting the rod to allow relative rotation between the housing and the pedal arm;
- and
- e) a sensor mounted adjacent the second end, the sensor including a permanent magnet and a hall effect device, the permanent magnet being moved by the pedal arm, the magnet generating a magnetic field, the hall effect device mounted to the housing adjacent the magnet, the hall effect device detecting the magnetic field and generating an electrical signal that is indicative of the position of the pedal arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.