BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH PEDAL PAD FORCE SENSORS
The invention relates to a pedal pad force sensing assembly having a force sensing capacitor. The force sensing capacitor includes an upper plate which is overmolded into the pad body and a lower plate supported on the pedal arm. A sensing module includes an electronic circuitry to determine change of capacitance when pressure is placed on an upper surface of the pad. The sensing assembly may advantageously include a reference capacitor which is mounted near the sensing capacitor but not subjected to pressure.
1 . A pedal force sensing assembly for sensing pressure on a pedal pad, the sensing assembly.
comprising:
a pedal arm;
a pad body supported on the pedal arm, the pad body having a force sensing capacitor, the force capacitor having an upper plate and a lower plate, a sensing module electrically connected to each of sensor capacitor, the sensing module adapted to determine pressure on the pad by sensing a change of capacitance of the pressure sensing capacitor occurring when force is applied to the pedal pad.
2 . The sensing assembly of claim 1 further comprises:
a reference capacitor.
3 . The sensing assembly of claim 1 wherein the lower plate is mounted to an end of the pedal arm.
4 . The sensing assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper conductive plate is over molded in the pad body.
5 . The sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein the pad body is formed of an elastomer.
6 . The sensing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the reference capacitor has generally the same capacitance as the force sensing capacitor when not subject to pressure.
7 . The sensing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the pad body has a center void and the reference capacitor is positioned within the center void.
8 . The sensing assembly of claim 2 wherein the reference capacitor is formed with a portion of the lower plate
9 . The sensing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pedal arm conducts an electrical signal between the lower plate and the sensor module.
10 . The sensing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensing module includes a housing mounted to the bracket and electronic circuitry.
11 . The sensing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the serving module is adapted to capacitance.
12 . A pedal assembly comprising:
a bracket;
a pedal arm pivotally mounted to the bracket;
at least one dashpot having a rod connected to the pedal arm to control return of the pedal arm after depression.
13 . The pedal assembly of claim 12 comprising a position sensor to determine a rotational position of the arm.
14 . The pedal assembly of claim 13 further comprising a hysteresis assembly.