Abstract: A pedal mechanism is provided for use in a drive by wire system. The plunger comprises an aperture through which the pin may pass, enabling the size of the mechanism to be reduced and reducing the possibility that the mechanism fails under excessive pedal force. The mechanism also comprises an angled friction surface, the angle of which may be varied to determine the force hysteresis of the pedal mechanism.

Abstract: A pedal mechanism 20 requires a friction mechanism for producing the force hysteresis in the pedal to ensure the correct, desirable pedal ‘feel’. A pedal arm 18 is pivoted in a housing 24. Friction is produced with a piston 28,128 which is urged by resetting springs 30,32,130,132 into frictional contact with a friction pad 36,136 which is fixed in the housing. Relative angular movement between the pedal 18 and the pad 36,136 when the pedal is depressed causes the point of contact between the pad and the piston 28 to move relative to the housing 24. This movement is resisted by friction between the pad and the piston, and by the springs which have to be compressed to allow the movement to take place. The same springs provided a restoring force to return the pedal to its initial position when it is released.

Abstract: A magnetic position sensor for sensing the position of a foot pedal in a motor vehicle and producing an electrical signal representative of the foot pedal position. The position sensor has a stator 7 with a channel 17 and a magnet 8 which can move along the surface 7a of the stator, the magnetic field in the stator channel 17 being dependent on the position of the magnet 8 relative to the stator 17. The magnet is connected to the foot pedal so that the movement of the foot pedal causes the magnet 8 to move along the stator surface and changes the magnetic field in the channel 17, the magnetic field in the channel 17 being sensed by a Hall probe 6 which produces an electrical signal proportional to the displacement of the magnet 8.

Abstract: A pedal mechanism 20 requires a friction mechanism for producing the force hysteresis in the pedal to ensure the correct, desirable pedal ‘feel’. A pedal arm 18 is pivoted in a housing 24. Friction is produced with a piston 28,128 which is urged by resetting springs 30,32,130,132 into frictional contact with a friction pad 36,136 which is fixed in the housing. Relative angular movement between the pedal 18 and the pad 36,136 when the pedal is depressed causes the point of contact between the pad and the piston 28 to move relative to the housing 24. This movement is resisted by friction between the pad and the piston, and by the springs which have to be compressed to allow the movement to take place. The same springs provided a restoring force to return the pedal to its initial position when it is released.