Foldable pedal apparatus for vehicle

A foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle is configured so that a pedal pad is pop up in a manual driving mode in which a driver drives the vehicle himself or herself so that operation by the driver is possible, the pedal pad is hidden in an autonomous driving situation so that operation by the driver is impossible, and a gear device transmitting power of motors generates a boosting force to implement a foldable function of the pedal pad.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0088440, filed Jul. 18, 2022, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

Field of the Present Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle. The present disclosure relates to a foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle, wherein, in a manual driving mode in which a driver drives the vehicle by himself or herself, a pedal pad protrudes toward the driver and is exposed thereto to allow the driver to operate the pedal pad by himself or herself, and in an autonomous driving situation, the pedal pad is hidden and is prevented from being exposed toward the driver to prevent operation by the driver.

Description of Related Art

The development of autonomous driving vehicles is progressing in the direction of smart vehicles with autonomous driving technology by which a vehicle may go its destination itself even when a driver does not manipulate a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, and brakes.

When the autonomous driving situation is realized universally, the driver can select a mode among a manual driving mode in which the driver drives her or himself and an autonomous driving mode in which the vehicle goes its destination itself without direct driving of the driver.

In the autonomous driving mode, the driver can take rest while stretching his or her legs. Therefore, when a pedal (accelerator pedal and brake pedal) located in a lower space of a driver seat remains in an exposed state to the vehicle interior, there is a problem that the pedal disturbs the rest of the driver.

An autonomous driving situation refers to a situation in which the driver does not manipulate the pedal (accelerator pedal and brake pedal) of the vehicle. Therefore, when the driver manipulates the pedal during the autonomous driving, a vehicle controller determines that the driver stops the autonomous driving and wants to resume manual driving, and thereby stops the autonomous driving.

However, because the pedal of the vehicle is configured to be exposed to the lower space of the driver seat, in the autonomous driving situation, there is a risk that the driver inadvertently manipulates the pedal (mis-operation of pedal), and in the instant case, there is a risk that accidents may occur in response to traffic condition or the distance between vehicles.

Accordingly, there is necessity for technique development of a pedal apparatus, wherein, in the manual driving mode in which the driver drives her or himself, the pedal pad is exposed to protrude toward the driver so that manipulation by the driver is possible, and in the autonomous driving situation, exposure of a pedal pad is prevented so that the manipulation by the driver is impossible to secure safety and the driver's rest and to prevent mis-operation.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to providing a foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle, wherein the foldable pedal apparatus is configured such that, in a manual driving mode in which a driver drives the vehicle by himself or herself, a pedal pad protrudes toward the driver to be exposed (pop-up) so that the driver can operate the pedal apparatus, and in the autonomous driving situation, the pedal pad is hidden and exposure toward the driver is prevented (hidden) to prevent operation by the driver, and in the autonomous driving situation, the driver can take a comfortable rest, and moreover, mis-operation of the pedal apparatus in the autonomous driving situation is prevented, inducing safety improvement.

Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the foldable pedal apparatus is configured to generate a boosting force by a gear device transmitting power of a motor to implement a foldable function of the pedal pad, so that Various aspects of the present disclosure are to induce cost reduction and size reduction with use of a minimum-capacity motor.

Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the foldable pedal apparatus is configured to simplify the mechanism of the foldable function as much as possible to minimize the number of parts thereof, so that a further objective of the present disclosure is to induce cost reduction, weight reduction, and layout minimization.

Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the foldable pedal apparatus is an organ type electric pedal apparatus including a high-load spring module and a hysteresis lever, so that a further objective of the present disclosure is to tune a step force, a stroke, and a hysteresis operation force required differently for each vehicle model through change of portions of the hysteresis lever, inducing cost reduction.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle, the foldable pedal apparatus including: a pedal housing; a pedal pad rotatably coupled to the pedal housing and configured to move in response to operation of a driver; a spring module mounted on the pedal housing and configured to provide an elastic force to the pedal pad so that the pedal pad may protrude from the pedal housing; a gear device configured to rotate in receiving power of motors fixed to the pedal housing to generate a boosting force; and a rotation stopper coupled to the gear device, wherein when the pedal pad rotates forward and is inserted into the pedal housing as the rotation stopper presses the pedal pad by rotation of the gear device, the foldable pedal apparatus may be hidden so that an operation of the pedal pad by the driver in an autonomous driving mode may be impossible.

When pressure of the pedal pad by the rotation stopper is removed by rotation of the gear device and the pedal pad rotates rearward by the elastic force of the spring module to protrude from the pedal housing, the foldable pedal apparatus may be pop-up so that an operation of the pedal pad by the driver in a manual driving mode may be possible.

The pedal housing may include a side cover coupled thereto to cover an open one portion of the pedal housing; the side cover may have a cover groove interrupted with an inside space of the pedal housing; the motors and the gear device may be located inside the cover groove; and the rotation stopper may be provided to protrude to the inside space of the pedal housing through the side cover.

The foldable pedal apparatus may include a rubber stopper coupled to the pedal housing, wherein when the pedal pad rotates to protrude from the pedal housing, the rubber stopper is provided as a stopper by being in contact with the pedal pad.

The rubber stopper may include a first rubber stopper and a second rubber stopper securely coupled to an internal upper surface of the pedal housing; wherein the first rubber stopper may be coupled to a position closer to a rotation center portion of the pedal pad than the second rubber stopper, so when the pedal pad rotates to protrude from the pedal housing, the first rubber stopper may be brought into contact with the pedal pad first and the second rubber stopper may be brought into contact with the pedal pad later.

The first rubber stopper may have a hollow shape with an empty inside portion to be deformed in contact with the pedal pad to absorb shock and noise; and the second rubber stopper may have a solid shape with a filled inside portion to perform complete stop of the pedal pad.

The foldable pedal apparatus may include a hysteresis lever rotatably provided with respect to the pedal housing, and of which an upper portion may be inserted into the pedal pad and brought into contact with an inside surface of the pedal pad, and generating hysteresis by a friction force with the pedal pad when the pedal pad rotates.

The pedal pad may include: a box-shaped pad portion including a pad surface operated by a foot of the driver, provided so that one end portion of the spring module may be inserted thereinto, and brought into contact with the upper portion of the hysteresis lever inserted thereinto; and a pedal arm portion of which a first end portion may be connected to the pad portion and a second end portion may be coupled to a hinge pin.

In a hidden state of the pedal pad, and in switching from a pop-up state to the hidden state and switching from the hidden state to the pop-up state, the pedal arm portion and the rotation stopper may be brought into contact with each other.

In a pop-up state of the pedal pad and a state in which the pop-up pedal pad moves in response to operation of the driver and then rotates forward, contact between the pedal arm portion and the rotation stopper may be prevented.

The foldable pedal apparatus may include: a permanent magnet coupled to the pedal pad; and a printed circuit board (PCB) coupled to the pedal housing to face the permanent magnet, wherein when the pedal pad rotates, the PCB may detect magnetic flux change of the permanent magnet to generate a signal related to a pedal function.

When the pedal pad rotates to be hidden or pop-up by rotation of the gear device in response to operation of the motors and a position of the permanent magnet changes, the PCB may perform non-generation of the signal related to the pedal function to prevent mis-operation of the foldable pedal apparatus.

Only when the pedal pad is in a pop-up state in which the pedal pad protrudes from the pedal housing and a position of the permanent magnet changes as the pedal pad rotates forward by operation of the driver in non-operation of the motor, the PCB may generate the signal related to the pedal function.

The motors may be two-way rotational motors configured for rotating both clockwise and counterclockwise and include at least two motors.

The gear device may include: a first gear coupled to the motor; a second gear gear-engaged with the first gear; a third gear integrated with the second gear and rotating together with the second gear; and a fourth gear gear-engaged with the third gear and in which the rotation stopper may be coupled to a position eccentric from a rotation center portion of the fourth gear, wherein, to generate the boosting force in a process in which power of the motors is transmitted from the first gear to the fourth gear, the second gear may have the number of gear teeth greater than the number of gear teeth of the first gear and have a pitch circle diameter (PCD) formed greater than the first gear, and the fourth gear may have the number of gear teeth greater than the number of gear teeth of the third gear and have a PCD formed greater than the third gear; the third gear and the fourth gear may include a worm gear and a worm wheel gear; and the second gear may be integrally coupled to the third gear so that a center portion thereof may be located at each of opposite end portions of the third gear.

The gear device may include a plurality of gears to generate the boosting force in a process in which power of the motors may be transmitted; the gear device may include at least one worm gear and a worm wheel gear; and the worm gear and the worm wheel gear may include final reduction gears and the rotation stopper may be coupled to a position eccentric from a rotation center portion of the worm wheel gear.

The foldable pedal apparatus may include: a moving guide including a first end portion inserted into a guide groove formed in the hysteresis lever to be movable along the guide groove and including a second end portion coupled to the gear device through a connection pin, the moving guide moving along the guide groove when the gear device rotates; and a rubber damper coupled to the moving guide, wherein when the pedal pad rotates to be inserted into the pedal housing in a response that the driver operates the pedal pad in a pop-up state, the rubber damper may generate a pedal force while being elastically deformed due to be in contact with the pedal pad.

The pedal pad may have a damper avoidance hole; and when the gear device and the rotation stopper rotate by operation of the motor, and when the pedal pad is inserted into the pedal housing and rotates to be hidden as the rotation stopper presses the pedal pad, the moving guide may move along the guide groove in a direction of protruding from a rod portion, and when the pedal pad is in a hidden state, the rubber damper may be inserted in the damper avoidance hole.

To prevent the rubber damper from being deformed by the pedal pad when the rubber damper is inserted in the damper avoidance hole, the damper avoidance hole may be formed greater than the rubber damper.

The pedal pad may have a damper avoidance hole into which the rubber damper may be inserted when the pedal pad is in a hidden state; a first guide avoidance hole may be formed at a first side portion of the damper avoidance hole, and when the pedal pad rotates to be inserted into the pedal housing in response to operation of the pop-up pedal pad by the driver, the second end portion of the moving guide may be inserted into the first guide avoidance hole to prevent interference with the pedal pad; and a second guide avoidance hole may be formed at a second side portion of the damper avoidance hole, and when the pedal pad is hidden, the second end portion of the moving guide may be inserted into the second guide avoidance hole to prevent interference with the pedal pad.

In the foldable pedal apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in the manual driving mode in which the pedal is operated by the driver by himself or herself, the pedal pad protrudes toward the driver to be exposed (pop-up) so that the driver can operate the pedal apparatus, and in the autonomous driving state, the pedal pad is hidden and exposure toward the driver is prevented (hidden) so that the driver cannot operate the pedal apparatus. In the autonomous driving state, the comfortable rest of the driver is possible, and moreover, mis-operation of the pedal apparatus in the autonomous driving state is prevented, inducing safety improvement.

Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the foldable pedal apparatus is configured to generate a boosting force by the gear device transmitting power of the motors to implement the foldable function of the pedal pad, so that cost reduction and size reduction may be induced with use of the minimum-capacity motors.

Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the foldable pedal apparatus is configured to implement the foldable function of the pedal apparatus by rotations of the gear device and the rotation stopper by operation of the motors, so that the number of parts can be minimized with the mechanism of the foldable function made as simple as possible, and cost reduction, weight reduction, and layout minimization may be induced.

Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the foldable pedal apparatus is the organ type electric pedal apparatus, which has the high-load spring module and the hysteresis lever, and the pedal apparatus is configured to change of parts of the hysteresis lever. Accordingly, a step force, a stroke, a hysteresis operation force required differently for each vehicle model may be tuned so that cost reduction may be induced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinbelow, exemplary embodiments described in the specification will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings, and regardless of the reference numerals, the same reference numerals will refer to the same or like parts, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The suffixes “module and “part” for the components used in the following description are provided or mixed in consideration of only the ease of writing the specification, and do not have distinct meanings or roles by themselves.

In the following description, if it is decided that the detailed description of known function or configuration related to the present disclosure makes the subject matter of the present disclosure unclear, the detailed description is omitted.

Furthermore, the accompanying drawings are only for understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and the technical ideas included in the specification are not limited by the accompanying drawings, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as included in the accompanying claims.

It is to be understood that when one element is referred to as being “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly connected to or directly coupled to another element or be connected to or coupled to another element, including the other element intervening therebetween.

On the other hand, it is to be understood that when one element is referred to as being “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element, it may be connected to or coupled to another element without the other element intervening therebetween.

Singular forms are intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” or “have” used in the present specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, components, parts, or a combination thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numerals, steps, operations, components, parts, or a combination thereof.

Furthermore, a unit or a control unit included in names such as a motor control unit (MCU), a hybrid control unit (HCU), etc. is only a widely used term for a controller that is configured to control a specific function of a vehicle, and does not mean a generic function unit.

The controller may include a communication device communicating with other controllers or a sensor to control the function in charge, a memory storing an operation system or a logic command and input/output information, and at least one process performing determination, calculation, and decision necessary for controlling the function in charge.

Hereinbelow, a foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to accompanying drawings.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIGS.1to17, the foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle includes: a pedal housing100securely provided in a lower space of a driver's seat; a pedal pad300rotatably coupled to the pedal housing100by a hinge pin200as a medium, and operated by a driver; a spring module400supplying an elastic force to the pedal pad300so that the pedal pad300protrudes from the pedal housing100; a gear device600rotating by receiving power of motors500fixed to the pedal housing100and generating a boosting force; and a rotation stopper700coupled to the gear device600.

In an autonomous driving situation, as the gear device600rotates by operation of the motors500and the rotation stopper700presses the pedal pad300, the pedal pad300rotates forward and is inserted into the pedal housing100, and thus the pedal pad300is hidden so that it is impossible for the driver to operate the pedal pad300(referring toFIG.15,FIG.16andFIG.17).

When the pedal pad300is in the hidden state, the pedal pad300is inserted into the pedal housing100to be prevented from being exposed to the driver or passengers' view.

In the manual driving mode, as the gear device600rotates by operation of the motors500, the pedal pad300is released from pressure by the rotation stopper700, and simultaneously, the pedal pad300rotates rearward by the elastic force of the spring module400to protrude from the pedal housing100. Accordingly, the pedal pad300protrudes toward the in-vehicle space, and thus the pedal pad300is pop-up so that the driver can operate the pedal apparatus (referring toFIG.2,FIG.3,FIG.4,FIG.5,FIG.6,FIG.7, andFIG.8).

The pedal housing100has a box shape with an empty inside portion, and includes the pedal pad300, the high-load spring module400, a hysteresis lever and a moving guide to be described later, etc. Therein.

The pedal housing100may have a shape with an open one side portion, and the pedal housing100may include a side cover110. The side cover110is removably coupled to the pedal housing to cover the one side portion of the pedal housing100.

A cover groove111having a predetermined size is formed on an external portion of the side cover110, and the cover groove111is provided to be interrupted from the inside space of the pedal housing100by the side cover110. The motors500and the gear device600are provided to be located inside the cover groove111, and the rotation stopper700is provided to protrude toward the inside space of the pedal housing100through the side cover110.

The motors500generating power to perform a foldable function and the gear device600transmitting power of the motors500are located inside a safe space to be more efficiently protected and to prevent penetration of foreign materials. Therefore, the motors500and the gear device600are provided inside the cover groove111of the side cover110interrupted from the inside space of the pedal housing100.

The cover groove111of the side cover110is sealed by a protection cover120and the motors500and the gear device600provided inside the cover groove111are disconnected from the outside space.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the foldable pedal apparatus includes a rubber stopper800coupled to the pedal housing100and provided as a stopped by being brought into contact with the pedal pad300when the pedal pad300rotates to protrude from the pedal housing100(referring toFIG.4andFIG.5).

When the pedal pad300rotates to protrude from the pedal housing100and is restored to an initial position thereof, the rubber stopper800coupled to the pedal housing100is brought into contact with a pedal arm portion of the pedal pad300to stop the pedal pad300, and a restored position of the pedal pad300is regulated.

Furthermore, when the pedal pad300is brought into contact with the rubber stopper800in restoration of the pedal pad300, the rubber stopper800reduces shock and noise.

Meanwhile, the driver steps on the pop-up pedal pad300and the pedal pad300rotates to be inserted into the pedal housing100, and at the present point, in a full stroke of the pedal pad300, a full stroke position of the pedal pad300is regulated as a lower end portion of a pad portion touches the bottom portion of the pedal housing100(referring toFIG.13).

Furthermore, as the gear device600rotates by operation of the motors500and the rotation stopper700presses the pedal pad300, the pedal pad300is rotated forward and is inserted into the pedal housing100, and when the pedal pad300is in the hidden state, the pedal pad300in the hidden state is restrained by a force of the rotation stopper700pressing the pedal pad300(referring toFIG.15).

The rubber stopper800includes a first rubber stopper810and a second rubber stopper820securely coupled to an internal upper surface of the pedal housing100.

The first rubber stopper810and the second rubber stopper820have the shape of straight rods and are fixed to positions spaced from each other on the internal upper surface of the pedal housing100.

The first rubber stopper810is coupled to a position closer to a rotation center portion (the hinge pin) of the pedal pad300than the second rubber stopper820, so that when the pedal pad300rotates to protrude from the pedal housing100, the first rubber stopper810is brought into contact with the pedal pad300first and the second rubber stopper820is brought into contact with the pedal pad300later.

The first rubber stopper810and the second rubber stopper820are brought into contact with the pedal arm portion of the pedal pad300. The first rubber stopper810is brought into contact with the pedal arm portion first and with a time gap in therebetween, the second rubber stopper820is brought into contact with the pedal arm portion later.

The first rubber stopper810that comes into contact with the pedal pad300first has a hollow shape with an empty inside portion to absorb restoration energy by changing the shape in contact with the pedal pad300to absorb as much shock and noise as possible.

The second rubber stopper820that comes into contact with the pedal pad300later has a solid shape with filled inside portion to absorb shock secondarily. The second rubber stopper820severs to bring the pedal pad300to a complete stop by use of an improved supporting force compared to the first rubber stopper810.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle includes a hysteresis lever900, the hysteresis lever900is located inside the pedal housing100and provided to be rotatably with respect to the pedal housing100, an upper portion of the hysteresis lever900is inserted into the pedal pad300to come into contact with an internal surface of the pedal pad300, and when the driver operates the pedal pad300so that the pedal pad300rotates and is inserted into the pedal housing100, the hysteresis lever900generates hysteresis by a friction force between the hysteresis lever900and the pedal pad300.

The hysteresis lever900is an L-shaped type lever, a lower end portion of the spring module400is rotatably supported by the hysteresis lever900, and a lever friction portion910is provided outside the hysteresis lever900to generate a friction force by contact with the pedal pad300.

The hysteresis lever900includes a pair of rod portions920rotatably coupled to the pedal housing100, and the rod portions920are disposed in parallel to each other while being spaced from each other. The rod portions920have respective guide grooves921extending in longitudinal directions of the rod portions920.

The hysteresis lever900has protrusions formed on end portions of the rod portions920rotatably coupled to the pedal housing100.

When the spring module400is provided so that opposite end portions (upper and lower end portions) thereof are respectively supported by the pad portion310of the pedal pad30and the hysteresis lever900, and an upper end portion of the hysteresis lever900remains a contact state with the pad portion310by a spring force of the spring module400. Accordingly, when the pedal pad300rotates, implementation of hysteresis is possible, and the spring force of the spring module400allows initial operating force of the pedal pad300to be generated.

The pedal apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has a following structure. When the driver operates the pedal pad300so that the pad portion310rotates to be inserted into the pedal housing100, the spring force of the spring module400increases, and a force of the hysteresis lever900pressing the pad portion310by the spring force increases and a friction force increases, and hysteresis is implemented in operating the pedal pad300by increasing friction force.

The pedal pad300includes the box-shaped pad portion310including a pad surface311which is operated by the driver's foot, and into which an upper end portion of the spring module400is inserted and rotatably provided, and into which the upper portion of the hysteresis lever900is inserted and is in contact with therewith; and a pedal arm portion320of which a first end portion is connected to the pad portion310and a second end portion is coupled to the hinge pin200.

The pad portion310and the pedal arm portion320are formed to be connected to each other in the “L” shape in a side view thereof, implementing an organ-type pedal apparatus.

A pad friction portion330is provided in the pad portion310to be in contact with the lever friction portion910of the hysteresis lever900. When the pedal pad300rotates, the pad friction portion330may generate a friction force due to friction between the pad friction portion330and the lever friction portion910.

The pad portion310is inserted into the pedal housing100or protrudes from the pedal housing100through a housing hole130formed in the pedal housing100in response to rotation of the pedal pad300, and the pedal arm portion320is provided to be located in the pedal housing100instead of rotation of the pedal pad300.

The pad portion310has a structure of which a lower portion into which the spring module400and the hysteresis lever900are inserted is open and remaining all portion is sealed for prevention of inflow of foreign materials.

The pedal pad300is provided to the pedal housing100so that a rear end portion of the pedal arm portion320is rotatable forward and rearward on the hinge pin200, and in forward rotation of the pedal arm portion320, the pad portion310spaced apart forward from the hinge pin200is inserted into the pedal housing100through the housing hole130formed in the pedal housing100, and in rearward rotation of the pedal arm portion320, the pad portion310is exposed by protruding from the pedal housing100toward the rear side where the driver is located.

An upper surface and a lower surface of the pad portion310have arc shapes with the same trajectory as a radius of rotation of the pedal pad300on the hinge pin200, and the structure maintains a gap between the pad portion310and the housing hole130formed in the pedal housing100constant so that it is possible to prevent the entry of foreign materials as much as possible.

The pad portion310is inserted into the pedal housing100or protrudes from the pedal housing100through the housing hole130formed in the pedal housing100in response to rotation of the pedal pad300, and the pedal arm portion320is provided to be located in the pedal housing100instead of rotation of the pedal pad300, so that contact with the driver is prevented.

Therefore, when the driver operates the pedal pad300with the driver's foot, the driver can operate only the pad surface311of the pad portion310, the pad surface being exposed from the pedal housing100, and the pedal arm portion320located inside the pedal housing100is prevented from being in contact with the driver's foot and operation thereof is impossible, and thus mis-operation of the driver may be prevented.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a foreign material inflow preventing guide140is coupled to the housing hole130formed in the pedal housing100along an edge portion of the housing hole130.

The foreign material inflow preventing guide140is configured to eliminate a gap between the housing hole130of the pedal housing100and the pad portion310of the pedal pad300to prevent inflow of foreign materials into the pedal housing100through the housing hole130.

The foreign material inflow preventing guide140is formed of a rubber material having elasticity to prevent wear and noise caused by contact with the pad portion310, but is not limited thereto.

A foreign material discharge hole may be formed on the bottom surface inside the pedal housing100to discharge foreign materials flowing into the pedal housing100outward.

The spring module400is a high-load spring module, and provided to be located in an oblique direction along a moving direction of the pad portion310. The upper end portion of the spring module400is inserted into the pad portion310of the pedal pad300and is rotatably coupled to the pad portion310, and the lower end portion thereof is provided to be rotatable and in contact with the hysteresis lever900.

The pedal apparatus for a vehicle requires high load for safety during operation. Therefore, the pedal apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has the structure using the high-load spring module400, and may implement required pedal force by use of the high-load spring module400.

Generally, the high-load spring module400includes at least two springs disposed in series and at least two dampers to implement the pedal force.

As the high-load spring module400includes at least two springs disposed in series, even when any one of the two springs is broken during use, the pedal pad300may be efficiently restored by a spring force of a remaining spring which is not broken.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when the pedal pad300is hidden, a pop-up state is switched to the hidden state, and the hidden state is switched to the pop-up state, the pedal arm portion320and the rotation stopper700are brought into contact with each other.

Furthermore, when the pedal pad300is in the pop-up state and the pedal pad300rotates forward as the pop-up pedal pad300is operated by the driver, the pedal arm portion320and the rotation stopper700are not in contact with each other.

The state in which the pedal arm portion320and the rotation stopper700are not in contact with each other in the pop-up state of the pedal pad300is the same as the state in which the pedal arm portion320of the pedal pad300are not in contact with the rotation stopper700when the pedal pad300rotates to be protrude from the pedal housing100and is restored to the initial position by a spring force of the spring module400. Accordingly, a return noise generated when the pedal pad300is restored to the initial position may be reduced.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the motors500are securely provided to the pedal housing100and are a two-way rotational motors configured for rotating clockwise and counterclockwise, and at least two motors may be provided to implement fail safe, and when any one of the two motors is broken, the other motor which is not broken allows the gear device600to rotate.

Operation of the motors500may be configured to be controlled by a PCB, which will be described later.

According to various exemplary embodiments as shown inFIGS.1to15, the gear device600includes a first gear610coupled to the motors500, a second gear620gear-engaged to the first gear610, a third gear630rotating while being integrated with the second gear620, and a fourth gear640gear-engaged with the third gear630and in which the rotation stopper700is coupled to a position eccentric from a rotation center portion of the fourth gear640.

As the two motors500are provided, the first gear610includes two first gears610to be respectively coupled to the two motors500, and the second gear620includes two second gears620to be respectively gear-engaged with the two first gears610one by one.

Because the third gear630is integrated with the two second gears620while being located between the two second gears620, the third gear630includes one third gear630, and the fourth gear640, which is gear-engaged with the one third gear630, includes one fourth gear640.

In the gear device600according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, to generate a boosting force in a process in which power of the motors500is sequentially transmitted from the first gears610to the fourth gear640, each of the second gears620has a larger number of gear teeth than the number of gear teeth of each of the first gears610and has a pitch circle diameter (PCD) formed greater than the first gear, and the fourth gear640has a larger number of gear teeth than the number of gear teeth of the third gear630and has a PCD formed greater than the third gear630.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, foldable operation of the pedal apparatus is configured so that power of the motors500is boosted through the gear device600and transmitted to the rotation stopper700, and the rotation stopper700presses the pedal pad300with a large force to rotate the pedal pad300. Accordingly, as the minimum capacity motors may be used, cost reduction and size reduction may be achieved.

To generate a boosting force through the gear device600, the first gears610and the second gears620include bevel gears, and the third gear630and the fourth gear640include a worm gear and a worm wheel gear, and the second gears620are integrally coupled to the third gear630so that center portions of the second gears620are respectively located on opposite end portions of the third gear630.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the pedal apparatus includes a moving guide1100of which a first end portion is inserted into in the guide grooves921formed in the rod portions920of the hysteresis lever900to be movable along the guide grooves921and a second end portion is coupled to the gear device600through a connection pin1000and moves along the guide grooves921when the gear device rotates.

The connection pin1000is coupled to the second end portion of the moving guide1100, and the connection pin1000is coupled to one surface of the fourth gear640forming the gear device600.

The connection pin1000is coupled to a position which is eccentric from the center portion of the fourth gear640, and protrudes in parallel with the rotation stopper700.

When the fourth gear640receives power of the motors500and rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, a rotation force of the fourth gear640is transmitted to the moving guide1100through the connection pin1000, and the moving guide1100is in a state in which the first end portion thereof is inserted into the guide grooves921formed in the rod portions920of the hysteresis lever900, so that the moving guide1100receives the rotating force of the fourth gear640through the connection pin1000and linearly moves along the guide grooves921.

When the moving guide1100moves along the guide grooves921, the moving guide1100moves forward as shown inFIG.9to be located inside of the rod portions920of the hysteresis lever900or moves rearward as shown inFIG.16to protrude outwardly from the rod portions920of the hysteresis lever900.

As shown inFIG.9, when the moving guide1100moves forward and is inserted into the rod portions920of the hysteresis lever900, the pedal pad300is in the pop-up state of protruding from the pedal housing100. As shown inFIG.16, when the moving guide1100moves rearward and protrudes out of the rod portions920of the hysteresis lever900, the pedal pad300is in the hidden state of being inserted into the pedal housing100.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a rubber damper1200is coupled to the moving guide1100, and the driver operates the pop-up pedal pad300. Therefore, when the pedal pad300rotates to be inserted into the pedal housing100, the rubber damper1200is elastically deformed by being in constant with the pedal arm portion320of the pedal pad300and is configured to generate a pedal force (referring toFIG.14).

A damper contact portion340including a concave groove is formed on a lower surface of the pedal arm portion320to be in contact with the rubber damper1200.

The rubber damper1200has a cone shape of which an end portion in contact with the pedal arm portion320is sharp. Accordingly, in an initial contact stage of the pedal arm portion320, while a pedal force increases weakly with a small deformed area, and when the pedal pad300is operated, a final pedal force of a large force may be generated as the deformed area increases.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a damper avoidance hole350is formed on the pedal arm portion320of the pedal pad300.

The damper avoidance hole350has a structure formed through upper and lower surfaces of the pedal arm portion320, and a form thereof is the same as a form of the rubber damper1200and a size thereof is greater than a size of the rubber damper1200.

The gear device600and the rotation stopper700rotate by operation of the motors500, and the rotation stopper700presses the pedal arm portion320of the pedal pad300so that the pedal pad300is inserted into the pedal housing100and rotates to be in the hidden state. Therefore, the moving guide1100moves in a direction of protruding from the rod portions920along the guide grooves921formed in the rod portions920of the hysteresis lever900. When the pedal pad300is in the hidden state, the rubber damper1200is inserted into the damper avoidance hole350(referring toFIG.15,FIG.16andFIG.17).

The damper avoidance hole350is formed greater than the rubber damper1200, so that when the rubber damper1200is inserted into the damper avoidance hole350, deformation of the rubber damper1200by the pedal arm portion320may be prevented.

In other words, when the pedal pad300is in the hidden state, the rubber damper1200is inserted into the damper avoidance hole350and is prevented from being pressed by the pedal arm portion320. Accordingly, deformation of the rubber damper1200may be prevented and the durability may be improved and permanent deformation may be prevented. In the hidden state of the pedal pad300, as the pedal pad300is rotatable in consideration only of the spring force of the spring module400, the capacity of the motors500may be minimized.

On a lower surface of the pedal pad300, a first guide avoidance hole360is formed at a first side position based on the damper avoidance hole350and a second guide avoidance hole370is formed at a second side position.

When the first end portion of the moving guide1100is inserted into the guide grooves921formed in the rod portions920of the hysteresis lever900, the second end portion of the moving guide1100to which the connection pin1000is coupled protrudes upwards from the rod portions920of the hysteresis lever900.

Therefore, when the pedal pad300rotates to be inserted into the pedal housing100, the second end portion of the moving guide1100to which the connection pin1000is coupled may be brought into contact with the pedal arm portion320of the pedal pad300to interfere with the pedal arm portion320, and in a case in which the pedal arm portion320and the second end portion of the moving guide1100interfere with each other, when the pedal pad300rotates to be inserted into the pedal housing100, there may be a problem in that the pedal apparatus is not efficiently operated.

Therefore, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first guide avoidance hole360and the second guide avoidance hole370are formed on the lower surface of the pedal pad300so that interference between the pedal arm portion320and the second end portion the moving guide1100may be prevented.

In other words, as the driver operates the pop-up pedal pad300, when the pedal pad300rotates to be inserted into the pedal housing100, the second end portion of the moving guide1100is inserted into the first guide avoidance hole360to serve as an avoidance hole preventing interference with the pedal pad300(referring toFIG.13andFIG.14).

The first guide avoidance hole360is located between the damper contact portion340and the damper avoidance hole350, is extended in left and right directions of the pedal arm portion320, and has a concave groove shape.

Accordingly, when the pedal pad300is hidden by operation of the motors500and rotations of the gear device600and the rotation stopper700, the second guide avoidance hole370is configured as an avoidance hole into which the second end portion of the moving guide1100is inserted to prevent interference with the pedal pad300(referring toFIG.15,FIG.16andFIG.17).

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the foldable pedal apparatus includes a permanent magnet1300coupled to the pedal pad300, and a printed circuit board (PCB)1400coupled to the pedal housing100to face the permanent magnet1300. The PCB1400detects magnetic flux change of the permanent magnet1300in rotation of the pedal pad300to generate a signal related to a pedal function, and the signal related to the pedal function is a signal related to braking or a signal related to acceleration.

The permanent magnet1300may include a plurality of permanent magnets1300and may be located at one side surface of the pedal arm portion320.

The PCB1400may have a function of controlling operation of the motors500, to the present end, the PCB1400and the motors500is electrically connected to each other to allow the signal to be transmitted therebetween, and the motors500is electrically connected to a power device for operation.

To protect the PCB1400, the PCB1400is configured to be covered with a protecting cover1500, and the protecting cover1500is coupled to a side surface of the pedal housing100.

FIGS.15and17are views showing the hidden state in which the pedal pad300is inserted into and located in the pedal housing100to prevent exposure thereof toward the driver.

When the gear device600rotates by operation of the motors500and the rotation stopper700rotates together with the fourth gear640to press the pedal arm portion320, the pedal pad300rotates forward on the hinge pin200and thus the pad portion310is inserted into the pedal housing100. Accordingly, as the pad portion310is inserted into and located in the pedal housing100, the pedal pad300is hidden so that the pedal pad cannot be operated by the driver.

When the pedal pad300is in the hidden state, as a lower space of the driver's seat becomes a wide space without interference with the pedal pad, the driver can take a comfortable rest in a relaxation mode. Furthermore, the misoperation of the pedal in an autonomous driver situation is prevented, so that it is possible to improve safety.

FIG.2,FIG.3,FIG.4,FIG.5,FIG.6,FIG.7,FIG.8, andFIG.9are views showing the pop-up in which the pedal pad300protrudes from the inside space of the pedal housing100toward the in-vehicle space to be exposed toward the driver.

In the hidden state described above, the gear device600rotates reversely by operation of the motors500, and when the rotation stopper700rotates together with the fourth gear640and thus the pedal arm portion320is released from pressing by the rotation stopper700, the pedal pad300rotates rearward on the hinge pin200by the elastic force of the spring module400to protrude from the inside space of the pedal housing100, and thus the pedal pad300protrudes and is exposed to the in-vehicle space. Therefore, the pedal pad300is pop-up so that the pedal pad may be operated by the driver.

When the gear device600rotates to by operation of the motors500in the pop-up state described above and the rotation stopper700presses the pedal arm portion320, the pedal pad300rotates to be inserted into the pedal housing100to be hidden.

As described above, when the gear device600rotates by operation of the motors500so that the pedal pad300rotates to be hidden or pop-up and a position of the permanent magnet1300is changed, the PCB1400does not generates the signal related to the pedal function to prevent mis-operation of the pedal.

FIG.13andFIG.14are views showing a normal operation state in which the driver operates the pop-up pedal pad300by stepping on the pedal pad300with the driver's foot so that the pedal pad300rotates forward thereof.

As described above, when the pedal pad300is in the pop-up state, the driver steps on the protruding pedal pad300to perform normal operation.

When the pedal pad300is normally operated, the spring module400, the rubber damper1200, and a pedal force and hysteresis may be implemented through the hysteresis lever900.

When the pedal pad300rotates forward by operation of driver in the pop-up state, a position of the permanent magnet1300is changed, and the PCB1400detects magnetic flux change in response to positional change of the permanent magnet1300to generate the signal (signal related to acceleration or signal related to braking) related to the pedal function, so that mores stale operation may be induced.

FG.18is a view showing the gear device600according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

According to the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the gear device600includes a plurality of gears to generate a boosting force in a process of transmitting power of the motors500, the gear device600includes at least one worm gear (fifth gear to be described later) and a worm wheel gear (sixth gear to be described later), the worm gear and the worm wheel gear include final reduction gears, and the rotation stopper700is coupled to a position eccentric from a rotation center portion of the worm wheel gear.

The reason that the final reduction gears are selected as the worm gear and the worm wheel gear is because the gear ratio increase efficiency is large, so that generation of a boosting force may be induced.

In other words, according to the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the gear device600includes a first gear661coupled to the motors500, a second gear662gear-engaged with the first gear661, a third gear663coupled to a rotation center portion of the second gear662and rotating integrally with the second gear662, a fourth gear664gear-engaged with the third gear663, a fifth gear665integrated with the fourth gear664and rotating with the fourth gear664, and a sixth gear666gear-engaged with the fifth gear665and to which the rotation stopper700is coupled to the position eccentric from the rotation center portion thereof.

The first gear661includes two first gears661to be respectively coupled to the motors500, and the second gear662also includes two second gears662to be gear-engaged with the first gears661one by one.

The first gears661ad the second gears662include spur gears, and to generate a boosting force, each of the second gears662has the number of gear teeth greater than the number of gear teeth of each of the first gears661and has PCD formed greater than PCD of the first gear661.

The third gear663and the fourth gear664include bevel gears, and to generate a boosting force, the fourth gear664has the number of gear teeth greater than the number of gear teeth ad has PCD formed greater than PCD of the third gear663.

Because the fifth gear665is located between two fourth gears664and is integrated with the fourth gear664, the fifth gear665includes one fifth gear665, and the sixth gear666gear-engaged with the one fifth gear665also includes one sixth gear666.

The fifth gear665and the sixth gear666include a worm gear and a worm wheel gear, and to generate a boosting force, the sixth gear666has the number of gear teeth greater than the number of gear teeth the fifth gear665and has PCD formed greater than PCD of the fifth gear665.

As described above, the foldable pedal apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is configured as follows. In the manual driving mode in which the pedal is operated by the driver by himself or herself, the pedal pad300protrudes toward the driver to be exposed (pop-up) so that the driver can operate the pedal apparatus, and in the autonomous driving situation, the pedal pad300is hidden and exposure toward the driver is prevented (hidden) so that the driver cannot operate the pedal apparatus. In the autonomous driving situation, the comfortable rest of the driver is possible, and moreover, mis-operation of the pedal apparatus in the autonomous driving situation is prevented, inducing safety improvement.

Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the foldable pedal apparatus is configured to generate a boosting force by the gear device600transmitting power of the motors500to implement the foldable function of the pedal pad300, so that cost reduction and size reduction may be induced with use of the minimum-capacity motors500.

Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the foldable pedal apparatus is configured to implement the foldable function of the pedal apparatus by rotations of the gear device600and the rotation stopper700by operation of the motors500, so that the number of portions may be minimized with the mechanism of the foldable function made as simple as possible, and cost reduction, weight reduction, and layout minimization may be induced.

Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the foldable pedal apparatus is the organ type electric pedal apparatus, which has the high-load spring module400and the hysteresis lever900, and the pedal apparatus is configured to change of portions of the hysteresis lever900. Accordingly, a step force, a stroke, a hysteresis operation force required differently for each vehicle model may be tuned so that cost reduction may be induced.