IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,420,633
Granted Patent B2
US 12,420,633 · App. 18/496,506 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Pedal unit for a vehicle

Inventors: Heiko Walter (Untergruppenbach, DE); Christoph Diekmann (Besigheim, DE); David Volkmer (Marbach Am Neckar, DE); Marcel Bastian (Tamm, DE); Maximilian Bayer (Tamm, DE); Michael Hofmann (Mannheim, DE); Philipp Seibold (Fellbach, DE); Sebastian Stolz (Neckarwestheim, DE); Thorsten Maucher (Neckarwestheim, DE)
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
B60K26/02B60T7/042G05G1/305G05G1/38G05G5/03B60Y2400/301G05G2505/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,420,633
App. No.
18/496,506
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pedal unit for a vehicle has a sensor surface which includes at least two functional regions and is designed to detect an actuation by the driver. The pedal unit also has at least one evaluation and control unit coupled to the sensor surface and designed to evaluate an actuation of one of the at least two functional regions detected by the sensor surface and, as a function of this evaluation, control a vehicle function associated with the corresponding functional region of the sensor surface. At least one region of the sensor surface is raised or lowered and enables a haptic differentiation between the at least two functional regions of the sensor surface.

Claims (20)

1. A pedal unit for a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor surface which comprises at least two functional regions and is configured to detect an actuation by a driver; and

at least one evaluation and control unit coupled to said sensor surface and configured to evaluate an actuation of one of the at least two functional regions detected by the sensor surface and, as a function of the evaluation, control a vehicle function associated with the corresponding functional region of the sensor surface,

wherein at least one region of the sensor surface is raised or lowered and enables a haptic differentiation between the at least two functional regions of the sensor surface.

2. The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein a first functional region of the at least two functional regions of the sensor surface is associated with a braking function as a first vehicle function.

3. The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein a second functional region of the at least two functional regions of the sensor surface is associated with an acceleration function as a second vehicle function.

4. The pedal unit according to claim 2 , wherein a second functional region of the at least two functional regions of the sensor surface is associated with an acceleration function as a second vehicle function, and a resting region is arranged between the first functional region and the second functional region.

5. The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one region is configured to be raised from a resting position to an operating position and lowered from the operating position to the resting position.

6. The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one region is configured to be lowered from a resting position to an operating position and raised from the operating position to the resting position.

7. The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one region is configured to be raised from a resting position to an operating position and lowered from the operating position to the resting position, or the at least one region is configured to be lowered from the resting position to the operating position and raised from the operating position to the resting position, and

the at least one evaluation and control unit is further configured to raise or lower the at least one region of the sensor surface as a function of a current driving operation mode.

8. The pedal unit according to claim 7 , wherein the evaluation and control unit is further designed to control at least one actuator which raises or lowers the at least one raisable or lowerable region of the sensor surface.

9. The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one region is configured to be raised from a resting position to an operating position and lowered from the operating position to the resting position, or the at least one region is configured to be lowered from the resting position to the operating position and raised from the operating position to the resting position, and

the at least one raisable or lowerable region of the sensor surface is configured as an inflatable cushion, an extendable bar, or an extendable frame.

10. The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one raised or lowered region of the sensor surface forms at least part of at least one of the at least two functional regions of the sensor surface.

11. The pedal unit according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one raised or lowered region of the sensor surface is arranged on at least one edge of the at least one of the at least two functional regions of the sensor surface.

12. The pedal unit according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one raised or lowered region of the sensor surface forms the at least one of the at least two functional regions of the sensor surface.

13. The pedal unit according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one raised or lowered region of the sensor surface is arranged between the at least two functional regions of the sensor surface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2024
From: WALTER, HEIKO; DIEKMANN, CHRISTOPH; VOLKMER, DAVID; BASTIAN, MARCEL; BAYER, MAXIMILIAN; HOFMANN, MICHAEL; SEIBOLD, PHILIPP; STOLZ, SEBASTIAN; MAUCHER, THORSTEN
To: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
Reel/Frame 066426/0643 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2022 212 761.7 · Nov 29, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240174081A1 · May 30, 2024
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Cited By (1)
US 12,547,254