Patent ID: 7219575

Claim:
An adjustable pedal assembly comprising, in combination: a carrier; a lower arm supported by the carrier and operatively connected to the carrier for selected movement relative to the carrier; a drive assembly operatively connected to the lower arm to selectively move the lower arm relative to the carrier, the drive assembly comprising a drive screw connected to one of the lower arm and the carrier, a drive nut connected to the other of the lower arm and the carrier and cooperating with the drive screw such that the drive nut travels along the drive screw upon rotation of the drive screw to move the lower arm, and an electric motor operatively connected to the drive screw to selectively rotate the drive screw; a sensor to detect motion information indicating movement of the lower arm upon rotation of the drive screw; a controller connected to the motor to selectively activate and deactivate the motor and connected to the sensor to receive the motion information from the sensor, the controller having a processor programmed to selectively active the motor to move the lower arm, to receive the motion information, and to determine obstruction conditions of the lower arm based on the motion information during movement of the lower arm; and wherein the motion information includes velocity information, and obstruction conditions are determined based on the velocity information.