Patent ID: 7971506

Claim:
An adaptive position detent mechanism for use in a drive-by-wire throttle system, the drive-by-wire throttle system including an accelerator pedal and a control portion, the control portion determining a pedal position at which a transmission kick-down will occur, the mechanism comprising: a housing defining an opening at an end of the housing facing the accelerator pedal; a plunger portion slidably movable within the housing opening so as to permit at least a head of the plunger to extend from the housing opening; a plunger driver configured to slidably move the plunger portion within the housing opening and to hold the plunger portion in any position relative to the housing opening; a controller for actuating the plunger driver to move and hold the plunger portion in a position that corresponds to the determined pedal position at which the transmission kick-down will occur; and a biasing member biasing the plunger portion in a direction opposite to a direction of pedal depression so as to resist pedal depression beyond said pedal position at which the transmission kick-down will occur.