Electronic accelerator pedal having a kickdown feature

An electronic accelerator pedal mechanism for a vehicle, comprising:

• a) a housing having a sensor cavity and a spring cavity separated by a wall;
• b) a shaft extending through the wall and the spring and sensor cavities;
• c) a pedal bar attached to a first end of the shaft, the shaft rotating as an operator applies a force on the pedal bar;
• d) a drive plate located in the spring cavity and attached to the shaft, the drive plate having a rod extending from the drive plate parallel to the shaft toward the sensor cavity and the drive plate having a nose;
• e) a friction plate mounted over the rod and in contact with the housing, the friction plate engaging in frictional contact with the housing as the shaft rotates, the friction plate providing a resistance against the force applied by the operator on the pedal bar;
• f) a bifurcated kickdown clip, mounted to the wall in the spring cavity, the nose engaging and spreading the clip as the pedal is depressed providing an increased resistance;
• g) a spring disposed around the shaft, for biasing the pedal bar to an original position after the operator removes the force applied to the pedal bar;
• and
• h) a sensor located in the sensor cavity and attached to a second end of the shaft, the sensor generating an electrical signal in response to the rotation of the shaft, the electrical signal changing as a function of the position of the pedal bar, the sensor including a rotor attached to the second end of the shaft, a contactor attached to the rotor, the contactor extending parallel to the rotor and a film mounted inside the sensor cavity to a second wall, the film having a plurality of resistive tracks disposed thereon, the contactor contacting the resistive tracks as the rotor rotates.