Patent ID: 7044019
Filing Date: 2006-05-16
Classification: B60K,G05G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An accelerator pedal device having a base unit for attachment to a motor vehicle and comprising: (a) a foot pedal element rotatably connected to the base unit, (b) at least one retraction unit attached to the base unit for retracting the pedal element after it is pressed by a user's foot, (c) a motor unit releaseably connected to the pedal element and attached to the base unit for applying a counterforce to the pedal element in opposition to a force applied by the user's foot, (d) a clutch unit attached to the base unit and mechanically connected between the motor unit and the pedal element, forming the releaseable connection therebetween, for preventing application of the counterforce in an emergency condition said clutch unit comprising an actuation element and a limp home object, where said motor unit is connected to said limp home object and said pedal element is connected to said actuation element, and (e) a pedal sensor element connected to said actuation element for producing an electronic signal representing the position of said pedal element.