Patent Application
20120053796
1. Field
The present invention relates to a method and system for adjusting a pedal map.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional automobile includes a pedal and a powertrain. By depressing or releasing the pedal, a user indicates his desire to increase or decrease output of the powertrain. However, users of an automobile tend to have different height, shapes, and comfort levels. Thus, the user may not be comfortable depressing the pedal by a certain amount to correspond to a certain output of the powertrain. Some solutions have incorporated mechanical devices which allow for the physical movement of the pedal closer or further away from the user. However, such mechanical devices suffer from drawbacks such that the user may need to make several adjustments to determine his comfort level for the pedal position. In addition, such adjustments cannot be made while the automobile is moving. Since adjusting the pedal without the automobile moving can lead to inaccurate results, the user may have to start and stop the automobile multiple times. Such starting and stopping can also lead to more adjustments since the user may not have a quick comparison for various positions of the pedal.
Thus, there is a need for a method and system for adjusting a pedal map.
The present invention relates to a method and system for adjusting a pedal map. The present invention can include an automobile. The automobile can include a pedal map adjustment system. The pedal map adjustment system can include a processor, a pedal system, a memory, a user input unit, a speed detection unit, and/or a power train. The memory can store a pedal map, which indicates a desired output of the powertrain at particular speed value. The pedal map can include a plurality of pedal curves and a road load pedal angle curve. A pedal curve indicates a desired output of the powertrain at a particular speed value for the depression amount corresponding to the pedal curve. The road load pedal angle curve indicates a pedal depression amount required to maintain the automobile at a particular speed value. The pedal system can collect pedal data, the user input unit can collect user input data, and the speed detection unit can collect speed data. The output of the powertrain can move the automobile.
The user can indicate through the user input unit that the user wishes to adjust the pedal map. The user can then depress a pedal in the pedal system to indicate a desired adjustment of the pedal depression amount required to maintain the automobile at the current speed value. The user can indicate through the user input unit that the user has completed adjusting the pedal. The processor, using the pedal data and the speed data can adjust pedal curves in the pedal map to intersect with a road load pedal angle curve.
By adjusting the pedal map, the user can adjust the pedal depression amount required to maintain the automobile at a particular speed while the user is driving. In addition this can reduce an amount of time required to adjust the pedal depression amount and increase an amount of comfort for the user.
In one embodiment, the present invention is a pedal map adjustment system including a pedal system generating pedal data, a memory storing a pedal map, a user input unit generating user input data indicating when the pedal map should be adjusted, and a processor connected to the pedal system, the memory, and the user input unit, the processor is configured to analyze the pedal data and adjust the pedal map based on the pedal data and the user input data.
In another embodiment, the present invention is an automobile including a powertrain generating an output and a pedal map adjustment system connected to the powertrain. The pedal map adjustment system can include a pedal system generating pedal data, the pedal data corresponding to a pedal depression amount of the pedal system, a memory storing a pedal map, a user input unit generating user input data indicating when the pedal map should be adjusted, and a processor connected to the pedal system, the memory, the user input unit, and the powertrain, the processor is configured to control a requested output of the powertrain based on the pedal map, and to analyze the pedal data and adjust the pedal map based on the pedal data and the user input data.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a method of adjusting a pedal map including storing, using a memory, a pedal map, generating, using a pedal system, pedal data corresponding to a pedal depression amount of the pedal system, generating, using a user input unit, user input data indicating when the pedal map should be adjusted, analyzing, using a processor, the pedal data and the user input data, and adjusting, using the processor, the pedal map based on the pedal data and the user input data.
The features, obstacles, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
Apparatus, systems and methods that implement the embodiments of the various features of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate some embodiments of the present invention and not to limit the scope of the present invention. Throughout the drawings, reference numbers are re-used to indicate correspondence between referenced elements.
In one embodiment, the present invention includes, for example, an automobile 100. The automobile 100 can include, for example, a pedal map adjustment system 102. The pedal map adjustment system 102 can include, for example, a pedal system 104, a memory 106, a user input unit 108, a powertrain 110, a processor 112, and/or a speed detection unit 116.
The pedal system 104 can be connected, for example, to the processor 112. The pedal system 104 can include, for example, a pedal 118 as seen in
Referring back to
The arrow 126 indicates, for example, a general increase in the pedal depression amount and the corresponding pedal curves. Thus, near the base of the arrow 126, the pedal curves 124 tend to correspond to a low pedal depression amount 118. However, near the tip of the arrow 126, the pedal curves 124 tend to correspond to a high pedal depression amount 118. For example, the pedal curve 124a corresponds to a 100% depression of the pedal 118, while the pedal curve 124b corresponds to approximately a 0% depression of the pedal 118. The road load pedal angle curve 130 indicates, for example, an amount of pedal depression that is required for the automobile 100 to maintain its speed value.
The pedal map 114 can be adjusted by the processor 112, as seen in
Referring back to
The speed detection unit 116 is connected, for example, to the processor 112. The speed detection unit 116 can be, for example, a sensor. The speed detection unit 116 can detect, for example, speed data indicating speed values of the automobile 100.
The powertrain 110 is connected, for example, to the processor 112. The powertrain 110 can, for example, move or propel the automobile 100. A desired output of the powertrain 110 can be controlled, for example, by the processor 112.
The processor 112 is connected, for example, to the pedal system 104, the memory 106, the user input unit 108, the powertrain 110, and/or the speed detection unit 116. The processor 112 can receive the pedal data from the pedal system 104, the user input data from the user input unit 108, and/or the speed data from the speed detection unit 116. In addition, the processor 112 can, for example, adjust the pedal map 114 in the memory 106 and/or control a desired output of the powertrain 110 based on the pedal map 114.
To adjust the pedal map 114, the processor 112 waits until a first user input data indicates that the user wishes to adjust the pedal map 114. For example, the user can depress a button. The processor 112 can note the speed value of the automobile 100 at the time that the processor 112 receives the first user input data indicating that the user wants to adjust the pedal map 114 by analyzing the speed data. The processor 112 can also determine, based on a first pedal data, an original pedal depression amount 118. The processor 112 maintains a speed of the automobile while a user depresses or releases the pedal 118 to adjust a pedal depression amount of the pedal 118 to the corresponding second pedal data. The user then indicates, again through the user input unit 108 and the corresponding user input data that the user has finished adjusting the depression of the pedal 118, thereby generating a second user input data.
Once the processor 112 receives the second user input data, the processor 112 selects a pedal curve from a group of available pedal curves, and adjusts the pedal curve to intersect with the road load pedal angle curve 130. In one embodiment, the pedal curve selected is a pedal curve that corresponds with the second pedal data. However, if the pedal curve that corresponds with the second pedal data is not within the group of available pedal curves, then a different pedal curve that is within the group of available pedal curves is selected. The group of available pedal curves can be, for example, pedal curves with a corresponding pedal depression amount that is within a predetermined range of pedal depression amounts corresponding to the first pedal data.
Once the pedal curve is selected, the processor 112 adjusts the selected pedal curve to intersect with the road load pedal angle curve 130. In one embodiment, the processor 112 smoothes the whole selected pedal curve at various speed values so that it intersects with the road load pedal angle curve 130 but does not include an unacceptably steep slope. The acceptability of the steepness of the slope can vary depending on desired sensitivity allowed by a manufacturer, and can be enforced by the processor to limit the steepness of the slope. In another embodiment, the processor 112 can also adjust other pedal curves in addition to the selected pedal curve to ensure a smooth transition for the user when depressing or releasing the pedal 118.
An adjustment of the pedal map 114 can be seen, for example, in
Once the processor 112 receives the indication that the user has finished adjusting the depression of the pedal 118, the processor 112 selects a pedal curve from a group of pedal curves for adjustment based on the second pedal data (20%) and the speed value (50 km/h). The group of available pedal curves can be dependent, for example, on the original pedal depression amount (30%).
In one embodiment, the range for pedal depression amounts can be, 10%. Thus, the group of available pedal curves can be, for example, pedal curves which correspond to a 20%-40% pedal depression. However, it is understood that the range for pedal depression amounts can be varied depending on the maximum and/or minimum desired sensitivity allowed by a manufacturer, and can be enforced by the processor 112 to limit the pedal curves available in the group of available pedal curves.
By adjusting the pedal map and the pedal curves in the pedal map, the user now only has to depress the pedal by 20% instead of 30% to maintain his desired speed of 50 km/h. This allows a user to customize his driving experience and can increase the comfort level of the driver.
In
Once the pedal curve 124e is selected, the processor 112 adjusts the pedal curve 124e so that it intersects with the road load pedal angle curve 130 at the current speed value (50 km/h) as shown by the pedal curve 124f illustrated in dotted lines. In addition, the processor 112 can selectively adjust other pedal curves, such as the pedal curve 124g to be the pedal curve 124h illustrated by the dotted line. The selective adjustment of other pedal curves can ensure a smooth transition experience for the user.
In one embodiment, the present invention is a process as shown in
Those of ordinary skill would appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and algorithm steps described in connection with the examples disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. Furthermore, the present invention can also be embodied on a machine readable medium causing a processor or computer to perform or execute certain functions.
To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the disclosed apparatus and methods.
The various illustrative logical blocks, units, modules, and circuits described in connection with the examples disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.
The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the examples disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The steps of the method or algorithm may also be performed in an alternate order from those provided in the examples. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The ASIC may reside in a wireless modem. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in the wireless modem.
The previous description of the disclosed examples is provided to enable any person of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosed methods and apparatus. Various modifications to these examples will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosed method and apparatus. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive and the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
