Patent ID: 7770491

Claim:
Device for controlling a vehicle parameter, the device including a control element wherein a change in position of the control element caused by a corresponding actuating force with respect to an initial position of the control element leads to an increase of the parameter in opposition to a restoring force, and with decreasing actuating force, the restoring force returns the control element in the direction of the initial position of the control element, and a controlling member being provided and generating an additional controlling force that acts in the restoring direction of the control element in dependence on one or more predetermined measured variables of the vehicle, wherein the controlling force is generated by an electromechanical actuator, wherein the actuator is actuated by a corrective signal triggered by the deviation of a measured quantity of the vehicle from a nominal value, or is at least dependent thereon, wherein the controlling force acts on the control element in dependence on the deviation from the nominal value, wherein overrule means are provided by way of which the controlling force can be overcome by a sufficiently high actuating force, wherein emergency means are provided which facilitate depression of the control element in opposition to the controlling force even if the overrule means are blocked and wherein the emergency means will respond only after the fluctuating force exerted on the control element exceeds a predetermined threshold which is greater than the sufficiently high actuating force, wherein the emergency means includes an elastic member which remains substantially rigid when the actuating force exerted on the control element is below the predetermined threshold and responds elastically when the actuating force exerted on the control element exceeds the predetermined threshold.