# US 2023/0066751 A1 · Accelerator pedal system

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- Number: US 2023/0066751 A1
- Document ID: US20230066751A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/893,752
- Filed: 2022-08-23
- Published: 2023-03-02
- Earliest claimed: 2021-08-25
- Assignees: Denso Corporation
- Applicants: Denso Corporation
- Inventors: Soichi KINOUCHI; Yuusuke YOSHIDA; Takuto KITA; Hideyuki MORI; Shinji KOMATSU
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230066751A1

## CPC

- G05G 1/30: Controlling members actuated by foot
- B60W 30/143: {Speed control (B60W30/16 takes precedence)}
- G05G 1/40: adjustable
- G05G 1/44: pivoting
- B60K 26/021: {with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics}
- B60K 2026/023: {with electrical means to generate counter force or torque}
- B60W 2540/10: Accelerator pedal position
- G05G 5/005: {for preventing unintentional use of a control mechanism (G05G5/28 takes precedence)}
- 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)
- 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)
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- 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

## Abstract

An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates according to a step-on operation. The lock mechanism can restrict an operation of the pedal lever. The actuator switches between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted. The ECU includes a lock operation determination unit and an actuator control unit. The lock operation determination unit determines switching of the locked state and the unlocked state by the lock mechanism. The actuator control unit controls a drive of the actuator. The lock operation determination unit releases the locked state of the pedal lever when a driver's intention to accelerate is detected while a vehicle is traveling in the locked state.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An accelerator pedal system comprising:
a pedal lever configured to operate in accordance with a step-on operation;
a lock mechanism configured to be capable of restricting the operation of the pedal lever;
an actuator configured to switch between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is free from restriction by the lock mechanism; and
a controller including
a lock operation determination unit configured to determine switching of a locking operation by the lock mechanism, and
an actuator control unit configured to control a driving operation of the actuator,
wherein the lock operation determination unit is configured to release the locked state of the pedal lever, when an intention of a driver to accelerate is detected during an automatic drive control with the pedal lever in the locked state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The accelerator pedal system of claim 1, wherein
the lock operation determination unit determines that the driver has an intention to accelerate when a winker is operated.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The accelerator pedal system of claim 1, wherein
the lock operation determination unit determines that the driver has an intention to accelerate when a steering member is operated.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The accelerator pedal system of claim 1, wherein
the lock operation determination unit determines an intention of the driver to accelerate based on image information from a camera.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The accelerator pedal system of claim 1, wherein
the lock operation determination unit determines an intention of the driver to accelerate based on voice information from a microphone.

### Claim 6

An accelerator pedal system comprising:
a pedal lever configured to operate in accordance with a step-on operation;
a lock mechanism configured to be capable of restricting the operation of the pedal lever;
an actuator configured to switch between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is free from restriction by the lock mechanism; and
a controller including at least one processor configured to determine switching of a locking operation by the lock mechanism, and to control a driving operation of the actuator, wherein
the controller is configured to determine an intention of a driver to accelerate during an automatic drive control in the locked state of the pedal lever, and to release the locked state of the pedal lever during the automatic drive control in response to the intention of the driver to accelerate.