PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAVING FORCE SENSING

1 . A pedal assembly comprising:

a housing having a cavity, the housing including an upper housing member separated from a lower housing member;

a pedal arm at least partially received in the cavity, the pedal arm configured to move within the cavity and apply a force to the upper housing member;

a pair of fixed magnets fixedly attached to the upper housing member and to the lower housing member respectively, and both fixed magnets are orientated with similar polarity facing in the same direction;

a moveable magnetic positioned between the pair of fixed magnets the moveable magnet positioned with a polarity that is opposite of the pair of fixed magnets,

a magnetic sensor positioned in the housing;

wherein when a load is applied to the pedal arm, the pedal arm applies a force to the upper housing member moving the moveable magnet in the housing wherein the magnetic sensor senses movement of the moveable magnet indicative of the amount of depression of the pedal arm.

2 . The pedal assembly of claim 1 , including a biasing member positioned between the pedal arm and the upper housing.

3 . The pedal assembly of claim 2 wherein the biasing member includes a conical shape that tapers in a direction toward the upper housing.

4 . The pedal assembly of claim 2 including a strain gauge sensor attached to the biasing member and configured to sense an amount of deflection of the biasing member.

5 . The pedal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing is mounted to a floor.

6 . The pedal assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper housing member includes a first circular body having an upper cavity formed therein, the first circular body including a rim having a plurality of holes formed therein.

7 . The pedal assembly of claim 6 wherein the lower housing member includes a second circular body having a lower cavity formed therein, the second circular body including a rim having a plurality of pins attached thereon to pass through the holes in the upper housing.

8 . A pedal assembly comprising:

a housing having a cavity, the housing including an upper housing member separated from a lower housing member;

a pedal arm at least partially received in the cavity, the pedal arm configured to move within the cavity and apply a force to the upper housing member;

a biasing member positioned between the pedal arm and the upper housing;

a pair of fixed magnets fixedly attached to the upper housing member and to the lower housing member respectively, and both fixed magnets are orientated with similar polarity facing in the same direction;

a moveable magnetic positioned between the pair of fixed magnets the moveable magnet positioned with a polarity that is opposite of the pair of fixed magnets,

a magnetic sensor positioned in the housing;

wherein when a load is applied to the pedal arm, the pedal arm applies a force to the upper housing member moving the moveable magnet in the housing wherein the magnetic sensor senses movement of the moveable magnet indicative of the amount of depression of the pedal arm.

9 . The pedal assembly of claim 8 wherein the biasing member includes a conical shape that tapers in a direction toward the upper housing.

10 . The pedal assembly of claim 8 including a strain gauge sensor attached to the biasing member and configured to sense an amount of deflection of the biasing member.

11 . The pedal assembly of claim 8 , wherein the housing is mounted to a floor.

12 . The pedal assembly of claim 8 wherein the upper housing member includes a first circular body having an upper cavity formed therein, the first circular body including a rim having a plurality of holes formed therein.

13 . The pedal assembly of claim 12 wherein the lower housing member includes a second circular body having a lower cavity formed therein, the second circular body including a rim having a plurality of pins attached thereon to pass through the holes in the upper housing.

14 . A pedal assembly comprising:

a housing having a cavity, the housing including an upper housing member separated from a lower housing member;

a pedal arm at least partially received in the cavity, the pedal arm configured to move within the cavity and apply a force to the upper housing member;

a biasing member positioned between the pedal arm and the upper housing;

a strain gauge sensor attached to the biasing member;

a pair of fixed magnets fixedly attached to the upper housing member and to the lower housing member respectively, and both fixed magnets are orientated with similar polarity facing in the same direction;

a moveable magnetic positioned between the pair of fixed magnets the moveable magnet positioned with a polarity that is opposite of the pair of fixed magnets,

a magnetic sensor positioned in the housing;

wherein when a load is applied to the pedal arm, the pedal arm applies a force to the upper housing member moving the moveable magnet in the housing wherein the magnetic sensor senses movement of the moveable magnet indicative of the amount of depression of the pedal arm and wherein the strain gauge sensor is configured to sense an amount of deflection of the biasing member indicative of the amount of depression of the pedal arm.

15 . The pedal assembly of claim 14 wherein the biasing member includes a conical shape that tapers in a direction toward the upper housing.

16 . The pedal assembly of claim 14 , wherein the housing is mounted to a floor.

17 . The pedal assembly of claim 14 wherein the upper housing member includes a first circular body having an upper cavity formed therein, the first circular body including a rim having a plurality of holes formed therein.

18 . The pedal assembly of claim 17 wherein the lower housing member includes a second circular body having a lower cavity formed therein, the second circular body including a rim having a plurality of pins attached thereon to pass through the holes in the upper housing.