Author: claimsbot

1. A method in a network device comprising:
determining if a resource locator identifier (RLI) in a response indicates an appropriate request governing resource access protocol, wherein the appropriate request governing resource access protocol is the resource access protocol to govern a request for a resource indicated by the RLI, wherein the appropriate request governing resource access protocol is determined from a configuration file; and
rewriting the RLI to indicate the appropriate request governing resource access protocol if the RLI does not indicate the appropriate request governing resource access protocol; and
preventing a client that receives the response from relying on the content length indicated in the response by effectively removing a content length field in the response, wherein effectively removing the content length field comprises modifying the content length field in the response to be unrecognizable.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the appropriate request governing resource access protocol is a secure resource access protocol.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the appropriate request governing resource access protocol is a non-secure resource access protocol.
4. A method in a network device comprising:
modifying a response with a resource locator identifier (RLI) to indicate a first resource access protocol if the RLI indicates a second resource access protocol and the network device has been configured to insure that a request for a resource indicated by the RLI is in accordance with the first resource access protocol;
effectively removing a content length field in the response, wherein effectively removing the content length field comprises modifying the content length field in the response to be unrecognizable; and
transmitting the modified response to a client.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first resource access protocol is a secure resource access protocol and the second resource access protocol is a non-secure resource access protocol.
6. The method of claim 4 further comprising disabling persistent connection and chunked transfer encoding.
7. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
preserving persistent connection and chunked transfer encoding features available to the client; and
disabling chunked transfer encoding features for a resource host transmitting the response.
8. A method in a network security device comprising:
receiving a response with a resource locator identifier (RLI) that indicates a first resource access protocol;
determining that the first resource access protocol should not govern a request for a resource indicated by the RLI;
rewriting the RLI to indicate a second resource access protocol that should govern the request;
encapsulating a set of one or more fragments of the response with transport layer information;
effectively removing a content length field in the response, wherein effectively removing the content length field comprises modifying the content length field in the response to be unrecognizable; and
transmitting the encapsulated set of fragments to a client.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein rewriting the RLI includes adding port information to the RLI.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the first resource access protocol is a secure resource access protocol and the second resource access protocol is a non-secure resource access protocol.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising disabling persistent connection and chunked transfer encoding.
12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
preserving persistent connection and chunked transfer encoding features available to the client; and
disabling chunked transfer encoding features for a resource host transmitting the response.
13. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions, executable by a set of one or more processors to cause said set of processors to perform operations comprising:
receiving a resource response message;
scanning the resource response message for a set of one or more resource locator identifiers and determining if each of the set of resource locator identifiers indicates a resource access protocol that should govern a request for their indicated resource;
rewriting those of the set of resource locator identifiers that are determined to not indicate the resource access protocol that should govern a request for their indicated resource to indicate an appropriate request governing resource access protocol; and
effectively removing a content length indicated in the resource response message, wherein effectively removing the content length field comprises modifying the content length field in the resource response message to be unrecognizable.
14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 further comprising transmitting the response without scanning and rewriting if the content type of the response is not text.
15. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 further comprising transmitting the response without scanning and rewriting if the header of the response does not include a content encoding field.
16. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 wherein rewriting the set of resource locator identifiers comprises including a corresponding port.
17. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 wherein determining comprises comparing the resource host identifier of each of the set of resource locator identifiers against a configuration file that designates appropriate request governing resource access protocols for resource hosts.
18. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions, executable by a set of one or more processors to cause said set of processors to perform operations comprising:
determining if a resource locator identifier (RLI) in a response indicates an appropriate request governing resource access protocol, wherein the appropriate request governing resource access protocol is the resource access protocol to govern a request for a resource indicated by the RLI, wherein the appropriate request governing resource access protocol is determined from a configuration file; and
rewriting the RLI to indicate the appropriate request governing resource access protocol if the RLI does not indicate the appropriate request governing resource access protocol; and
preventing a client that receives the response from relying on the content length indicated in the response by effectively removing a content length field in the response, wherein effectively removing the content length field comprises modifying the content length field in the response to be unrecognizable.
19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the appropriate request governing resource access protocol is a secure resource access protocol.
20. The machine-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the appropriate request governing resource access protocol is a non-secure resource access protocol.
21. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions, executable by a set of one or more processors to cause said set of processors to perform operations comprising:
modifying a response with a resource locator identifier (RLI) to indicate a first resource access protocol if the RLI indicates a second resource access protocol and the network device has been configured to insure that a request for a resource indicated by the RLI is in accordance with the first resource access protocol;
effectively removing the content length field in the response, wherein effectively removing the content length field comprises modifying the content length field in the response to be unrecognizable; and
transmitting the modified response to a client.
22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21 wherein the first resource access protocol is a secure resource access protocol and the second resource access protocol is a non-secure resource access protocol.
23. The machine-readable medium of claim 21 further comprising disabling persistent connection and chunked transfer encoding.
24. The machine-readable medium of claim 21 further comprising:
preserving persistent connection and chunked transfer encoding features available to the client; and
disabling chunked transfer encoding features for a resource host transmitting the response.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A receiving apparatus for receiving two digital broadcast signals from different broadcast systems or a single broadcast system, the receiving apparatus comprising:
a first demodulation part and a second demodulation part for receiving two such digital broadcast signals, respectively, and for outputting two demodulated data and timing clock signals respectively synchronized with two such demodulated data;
a clock signal generating part based on said two timing clock signals outputted from the first and second demodulation parts, for generating and outputting such respective timing signals of two such demodulated data and for outputting control signals for multiplexing two such demodulated data; and
a multiplexing part for multiplexing by a byte two such demodulated data outputted from the first and second demodulation parts, based on such control signals outputted from the clock signal generating part.
2. A receiving apparatus for receiving two digital broadcast signals from different broadcast systems or a single broadcast system, the receiving apparatus comprising:
a first demodulation part and a second demodulation part for receiving two such digital broadcast signals, respectively, and for outputting two demodulated data and timing clock signals respectively synchronized with two such demodulated data;
a clock signal generating part based on said two timing clock signals outputted from the first and second demodulation parts, for generating and outputting such respective timing signals of two such demodulated data and for outputting control signals for multiplexing two such demodulated data and for outputting control signals for multiplexing two such demodulated data;
a multiplexing part for multiplexing by a byte two such demodulated data outputted from the first and second demodulation parts, based on such control signals outputted from the clock signal generating part; and
a first selection part for receiving from the first and second demodulation parts two such timing clock signals and two such demodulated data, and for selecting and outputting high-rate timing signals and high-rate demodulated data synchronized therewith, and low-rate timing signals and low-rate demodulated data synchronized therewith, alternatively from two such timing signals and two demodulated data outputted from the first and second demodulation parts.
3. The receiving apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
a rate determination part for comparing respective rates of such timing clock signals outputted from the first and second demodulation parts, for determining which clock signal has a higher rate, and for outputting a control signal to the first selection part based on such determination.
4. The receiving apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the rate determination part includes:
a first clock counting unit and a second clock counting unit for counting a respective number of clocks of two such timing clock signals outputted from the first and second demodulation parts, and for outputting first and second initialization signals, respectively, at a predetermined cycle, each of the first clock counting unit and the second clock counting unit being initialized by the outputting of such first or second initialization signal, respectively; and
an identification unit for receiving such first and second initialization signals respectively outputted from the first and second clock counting units, and for outputting as a control signal to the first selection part, a first logical value when an output of such first initialization signal is received before or simultaneously with such second initialization signal, and for outputting an opposite value of the first logical value when such second initialization signal is received before such first initialization signal.
5. The receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the clock signal generating part includes:
an edge detecting unit for receiving and outputting a high-rate timing clock signal outputted from the first selection part, for detecting simultaneous rises of a high-rate timing clock signal and a low-rate timing clock signal outputted from the first selection part, and for outputting a second logical value when rises of a high-rate timing clock signal and a low-rate timing clock signal are simultaneous, and an opposite value of the second logical value when such rises are not simultaneous as a selection signal;
a delaying unit for receiving a low-rate timing clock signal from the first selection part, and for outputting a delayed low-rate timing clock signal;
a second selection unit that for receiving a low-rate timing clock signal outputted from the first selection part and a delayed low-rate timing clock signal delayed by the delaying unit, for selecting as an output such low-rate timing clock signal delayed by the delaying unit when the selection signal from the edge detecting unit has the second logical value, and for selecting as an output a low-rate timing clock signal outputted from the first selection part when the selection signal from the edge detecting unit has the opposite value of the second logical value; and
a control signal generating unit for receiving a high-rate timing clock signal and a low-rate timing clock signal outputted from the second selection unit, for outputting to the multiplexing part as a control signal for multiplexing two demodulated data a third logical value when a high-rate timing clock signal rises, for outputting as a control signal an opposite value of the third logical value when a low-rate timing clock signal rises, and for holding an output value when a rise does not occur on either of a high-rate timing clock signal or a low-rate timing clock signal.
6. A receiving apparatus for receiving two digital broadcasting signals from different broadcast systems or from a single broadcasting system, the receiving apparatus comprising:
a first demodulating part and a second demodulating part for respectively receiving two such digital broadcasting signals, and for outputting demodulated data thereof and timing clock signals respectively synchronized with such demodulated data, one of such timing clock signals being a first low-rate timing clock signal and another of such timing clock signals being a first high-rate timing clock signal;
a clock signal generating part for outputting a second high-rate timing clock signal corresponding to a first high-rate timing clock signal outputted from the first and second demodulation parts and a second low-rate timing clock signal having a same average frequency as a first low-rate timing clock signal outputted from the first and second demodulation parts, a second low-rate timing clock signal being synchronized with the second high-rate timing clock signal; and
a multiplexing part that multiplexes, by a byte, demodulated data outputted from the first and second demodulation parts, based on said second low-rate timing clock signal outputted from the clock generating part.
7. A receiving apparatus for receiving two digital broadcasting signals from different broadcast systems or from a single broadcasting system, the receiving apparatus comprising:
a first demodulating part and a second demodulating part for respectively receiving two such digital broadcasting signals, and for outputting demodulated data thereof and timing clock signals respectively synchronized with such demodulated data, one of such timing clock signals being a first low-rate timing clock signal and another of such timing clock signals being a first high-rate timing clock signal;
a clock signal generating part for outputting a second high-rate timing clock signal corresponding to a first high-rate timing clock signal outputted from the first and second demodulation parts and a second low-rate timing clock signal having a same average frequency as a first low-rate timing clock signal outputted from the first and second demodulation parts, a second low-rate timing clock signal being synchronized with the second high-rate timing clock signal;
a multiplexing part that multiplexes, by a byte, demodulated data outputted from the first and second demodulation parts, based on said second low-rate timing clock signal outputted from the clock generating part;
a first clock counting part and a second clock counting part, each for counting a respective number of clock signals of two such timing clock signals outputted from the first and second demodulation parts and for outputting a first and second counted number, each counted number having a respective counting value, and for outputting a first initialization signal and a second initialization signal at a predetermined cycle, each of the first and second clock counting parts being initialized by the outputting of a respective initialization signal;
an identification part for receiving as inputs such first and second initialization signals respectively outputted from the first and second clock counting parts, and for outputting a control signal with a first logical value when such first initialization signal is received before or simultaneously with such second initialization signal, and for outputting a control signal with an opposite value of the first logical value when such second initialization signal is received before such first initialization signal; and
a first selection part for receiving such first and second demodulated data and first and second timing clock signals, associated with such digital broadcast signals, from the first and second demodulation parts, and for outputting a first timing clock signal as the high-rate timing clock signal and first demodulated data as the high-rate demodulated data when such control signal has the first logical value, and for outputting such second demodulated data as the high-rate demodulated data when such control signal has the opposite value of the first logical value.
8. The receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the clock signal generating part includes:
a third selection unit for receiving first and second counting values from the first and second clock counting parts, and a control signal from the identification part, and for outputting a third counting value corresponding to a counting value of the first clock counting part when such control signal has the first logical value, and corresponding to a counting value of the second clock counting part when such control signal has the opposite value of the first logical value;
a storing unit for receiving first and second counting values, first and second initialization signals, and a control signal from the identification part, and for storing and outputting a counting value of the second clock counting value as a control value when such control signal has the first logical value, and for storing and outputting a control value corresponding to the counting value of the first clock counting value when such control signal has the opposite value of the first logical value;
a mask signal generating unit for receiving a control value from the storing unit and a third counting value from the third selection unit, and for outputting a mask signal corresponding to a fourth logical value when the third counting value is not larger than the control value, and for outputting such mask signal corresponding to an opposite value of the fourth logical value when the counting value of the third selection unit is larger than the control value;
a mask unit for receiving such mask signal from the mask signal generating unit and a high-rate timing clock signal from the selection part, for outputting a timing clock signal corresponding to such high-rate timing clock signal when such mask signal has the fourth logical value, and for outputting a logical value \u201cL\u201d low-rate timing clock when the mask signal has the opposite value of the fourth logical value; and
a logic inverting circuit that logic-inverts a high-rate timing clock signal outputted from the first selection part, and outputs a logic-inverted clock signal as a high-rate timing clock signal.
9. A receiving apparatus for receiving first and second digital broadcasting signals from different broadcast systems or a single broadcast system, the receiving apparatus comprising:
a first demodulation part and a second demodulation part for respectively receiving first and second digital broadcasting signals, and for outputting demodulated data and timing signals respectively synchronized with the demodulated data of such first and second digital broadcast signals;
a first data extension part for receiving demodulated data and a timing clock signal from the first demodulation part, and for outputting first odd-time timing clock signals and first odd-time demodulated data synchronized therewith, and first even-time timing clock signals and first even-time demodulated data synchronized therewith;
a second data extension part for receiving demodulated data and timing clock signals from the second demodulation part, and for outputting second odd-time timing signals and second odd-time demodulated data synchronized therewith, and second even-time timing signals and second even-time demodulated data synchronized therewith;
a control signal generating part for receiving first and second odd-time timing clock signals and first and second even-time timing clock signals from the first and second data extension parts, and a control timing clock signal having a cycle not larger than a shortest cycle of all such timing clock signals outputted from the first and second demodulation parts, for detecting a rise of first and second odd-time timing clock signals and first and second even-time timing clock signals from the first and second data extension parts within the control timing clock cycle, and for outputting an identification control signal in a next cycle after a cycle in which a rise is detected;
a multiplexing part for selecting, based on an identification control signal outputted from the control signal generating part, demodulated data synchronized with such identification control signal and outputted from the first and second data extension parts;
a first clock signal generating part for receiving a first odd-time timing clock signal, a first even-time timing clock signal, and a control timing clock signal, for detecting a rise of such first odd-time timing clock or such first even-time timing clock within a control timing clock cycle, and for generating a first multiplexed timing clock signal having a rising edge within a next cycle of such identification control signal; and
a second clock signal generating part for receiving a second odd-time timing clock signal, a second even-time timing clock signal, and a control timing clock signal, for detecting a rise of such second odd-time timing clock signal or such second even-time timing clock signal within the control timing clock cycle, and for generating a second multiplexed timing clock signal having a rising edge within a next cycle of such identification control signal.
10. A receiving apparatus comprising 2n (n=positive integer \u22671) units of receiving apparatuses according to claim 1 arranged in parallel, wherein
the receiving apparatus inputs 4n-type received signal, and generates and outputs 4n-type timing clock signals and 2n-type multiplexed data.
11. A receiving apparatus comprising:
receiving apparatus according to claim 1; and
a video signal processing device that inputs multiplexed data of two demodulated data outputted from the receiving apparatus and respective timing clock signals of the multiplexed two demodulated data, and uses at least one of the two demodulated data out of the multiplexed data as received data.
12. A method of receiving two digital broadcasting signals from different broadcast systems or a single broadcast system, the method comprising:
providing a receiving apparatus comprising inputs for receiving digital broadcast signals, at least one memory for storing instructions and data, at least one CPU for executing instructions, and at least one output;
receiving two digital broadcasting signals at the inputs of the receiving apparatus;
demodulating the two digital broadcasting signals according to the broadcast system sending the signal;
generating demodulated data of each of the two received signals by a byte;
generating two timing clock signals respectively synchronized with the two digital broadcasting signals;
determining rates of the two generated timing clock signals;
outputting two timing clock signals corresponding to the two generated timing clock signals, respectively, as a high-rate timing clock signal and a low-rate timing clock signal, and outputting the two generated demodulated data as high-rate demodulated data and low-rate demodulated data synchronized with the high-rate timing clock signal and the low-rate timing clock signal, respectively;
storing a counting value of the low-rate timing clock signal counted at every predetermined cycle of the high-rate timing clock signal as a control value;
outputting as a mask value a logical value \u201c1\u201d when the counting value of the high-rate timing clock signal is not larger than the stored control value and a logical value \u201c0\u201d when the counting value is larger than the control value;
outputting the high-rate timing clock signal when the mask signal has a logical value \u201c1\u201d, and the logical value \u201cL\u201d as the low-rate timing clock signal when the low-rate timing clock signal has a logical value \u201c0\u201d; and
selecting and outputting at the output of the receiving apparatus the low-rate demodulated data when the low-rate timing clock signal has a logical value \u201c1\u201d, and the high-rate demodulated data when the low-rate timing clock signal has a logical value \u201c0\u201d.

1. A polycrystalline silicon chunk having a concentration of 1-50 ppta of boron and a concentration of 1-50 ppta of phosphorus at a surface of the polycrystalline silicon chunk.
2. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concentration of boron at the surface is 1-30 ppta.
3. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concentration of phosphorus at the surface is 1-25 ppta.
4. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 1, having a concentration of arsenic of 0.01-10 ppta at the surface.
5. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 1, having a concentration of aluminum of 0.01-10 ppta at the surface.
6. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 1, having a concentration of metals at the surface of 10-200 pptw.
7. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 1, having the following metal concentrations at the surface:
Fe: 1-40 pptw;
Cr: 0.1-5 pptw;
Cu: 0.1-5 pptw;
Na: 1-30 pptw;
Ni: 0.1-5 pptw;
Ca: 0.1-10 pptw;
Ti: 0.1-10 pptw;
W: 0.1-10 pptw; and
Zn: 0.1-10 pptw.
8. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 7, wherein the concentration of Fe at the surface is 1-20 pptw.
9. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 1, wherein dopants are present in a bulk in the following concentrations: phosphorus 1-20 ppta, boron 1-10 ppta and arsenic 1-10 ppta.
10. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 9, wherein the dopants are present in the bulk in the following concentrations: phosphorus 1-10 ppta, boron 1-5 ppta and arsenic 1-5 ppta.
11. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 2, wherein the concentration of phosphorus at the surface is 1-25 ppta.
12. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 11, having a concentration of arsenic of 0.01-10 ppta at the surface.
13. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 12, having a concentration of aluminum of 0.01-10 ppta at the surface.
14. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 13, having a concentration of metals at the surface of 10-200 pptw.
15. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 14, having the following metal concentrations at the surface:
Fe: 1-40 pptw;
Cr: 0.1-5 pptw;
Cu: 0.1-5 pptw;
Na: 1-30 pptw;
Ni: 0.1-5 pptw;
Ca: 0.1-10 pptw;
Ti: 0.1-10 pptw;
W: 0.1-10 pptw; and
Zn: 0.1-10 pptw.
16. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 15, wherein the concentration of Fe at the surface is 1-20 pptw.
17. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 16, wherein dopants are present in a bulk in the following concentrations: phosphorus 1-20 ppta, boron 1-10 ppta and arsenic 1-10 ppta.
18. The polycrystalline silicon chunk as claimed in claim 17, wherein the dopants are present in the bulk in the following concentrations: phosphorus 1-10 ppta, boron 1-5 ppta and arsenic 1-5 ppta.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A pedal assembly for use in association with a vehicle, comprising:
a pedal support adapted for mounting to the vehicle;
a pedal member including a lever portion and a mounting portion, said mounting portion rotatably coupled to said pedal support to allow pivotal movement of said pedal member about a first pivot axis;
a friction member having a bearing surface;
a clamp member pivotally engaged with said pedal member by at least one pivot element to provide pivotal displacement of said clamp member relative to said pedal member about a second pivot axis offset from said first pivot axis, said clamp member having an engagement surface abutting said bearing surface of said friction member to define at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions angularly offset from one another relative to said first pivot axis, wherein said clamp member includes at least two raised projections that are positioned in abutment against said bearing surface of said friction member to define said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions, and wherein said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions are arranged along a common circumferential axis extending about said first pivot axis, and wherein said surface contact regions are separated from one another by a circumferential gap defined between said clamp member and said friction member and extending along said circumferential axis, said circumferential gap including an inner non-contact surface region that is radially spaced from said friction member when said contact regions are engaged with said friction member.
2. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein said clamp member is engaged with said pedal member by a sliding pivot configured to allow said clamp member to be pivotally and slidably displaced relative to said pedal member during said pivotal movement of said pedal member.
3. The pedal assembly of claim 2, wherein said at least one pivot element of said clamp member comprises at least one fulcrum member, said pedal member including at least one abutment, said fulcrum member engaged with said abutment to provide said sliding pivot.
4. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions are angularly offset from one another by an angle falling within a range of between about 45 degrees and about 135 degrees.
5. The pedal assembly of claim 4, wherein said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions are angularly offset from one another by an angle falling within a range of between about 60 degrees and about 120 degrees.
6. The pedal assembly of claim 5, wherein said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions are angularly offset from one another by about 90 degrees.
7. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein said second pivot axis comprises a variable pivot axis wherein said clamp member is allowed to be pivotally and slidably displaced relative to said pedal member during said pivotal movement of said pedal member.
8. The pedal assembly of claim 7, wherein said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions extend along a common circumferential plane extending about said first pivot axis.
9. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein said circumferential gap extends annularly about said first pivot axis.
10. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein application of an activation force onto said lever portion imparts pivotal movement of said pedal member about said first pivot axis, said pivotal movement imparting rotational movement of said clamp member about said first pivot axis while maintaining said frictional engagement along said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions, said rotational movement increasing a biasing force applied to said clamp member by a biasing member to correspondingly increase said frictional engagement along said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions to provide increased resistance to further pivotal movement of said pedal member about said first pivot axis; and
wherein a reduction in said activation force onto said lever portion of said pedal member allows said biasing member to pivot said pedal member about said first pivot axis toward an at rest position, said pivotal movement of said pedal member toward said at rest position decreasing said biasing force exerted onto said clamp member by said biasing member to correspondingly decrease said frictional engagement along said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions to provide decreased resistance to further pivotal movement of said pedal member about said first pivot axis toward said at rest position.
11. The pedal assembly of claim 10, wherein said biasing member comprises at least one compression spring.
12. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein said friction member is integral with said pedal support.
13. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein said clamp member includes a yoke portion defined by pair of pedal mounting portions that are laterally interconnected by a bearing portion defining said engagement surface, said lever portion of said pedal member positioned within said yoke portion with said mounting portions engaged with corresponding portions of said lever portion.
14. The pedal assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a magnetic field generator providing a magnetic field, said magnetic field generator coupled to said pedal member and arranged generally along said first pivot axis such that said pivotal movement of said pedal member results in corresponding rotational displacement of said magnetic field about said first pivot axis; and
a magnetic sensor device comprising at least one magnetic flux sensor arranged generally along said first pivot axis and positioned within said magnetic field to sense variations in said magnetic field during said rotational displacement and to generate an output signal representative of a rotational position of said magnetic field relative to said at least one magnetic flux sensor.
15. The pedal assembly of claim 14, further comprising a pivot member extending along said first pivot axis, said pivot member non-rotatably coupled with said mounting portion of said pedal member and rotatably coupled to said pedal support to allow said pivotal movement of said pedal member about said first pivot axis, said magnetic field coupled with said pivot member such that said pivotal movement of said pedal member results in said rotational displacement of said magnetic field about said first pivot axis.
16. The pedal assembly of claim 15, wherein said magnetic field generator is integrally engaged directly with said pivot member.
17. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein said clamp member includes a yoke opening arranged along a longitudinal axis and defined between a pair of pedal mounting portions positioned on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis, said lever portion of said pedal member positioned within said yoke opening with said mounting portions positioned in engagement with corresponding portions of said lever portion, said clamp member including a bearing portion laterally interconnecting said mounting portions and defining said engagement surface abutting said bearing surface of said friction member, said clamp member including a central flange portion extending axially from said bearing portion and centrally positioned between said mounting portions along said longitudinal axis and generally aligned with said yoke opening; and
a biasing member arranged along said longitudinal axis and exerting a centralized biasing force to said central flange portion of said clamp member to bias said clamp member toward said friction member to provide frictional engagement between said engagement surface and said bearing surface to resist said pivotal movement of said pedal member.
18. The pedal assembly of claim 17, wherein said clamp member includes a pair of opposing fulcrum portions extending inwardly from said pedal mounting portions and into said yoke opening, said fulcrum portions engaged against corresponding abutments defined by said lever portion.
19. The pedal assembly of claim 17, wherein said mounting portions of said clamp ann and said corresponding portions of said lever portion are configured to provide a sliding pivot to allow said clamp member to be pivotally and slidably displaced relative to said pedal member during said pivotal movement of said pedal arm.
20. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions are non-symmetrically angularly offset from one another along said circumferential axis.
21. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least two raised projections of said clamp member are simultaneously compressed against said bearing surface of said friction member to provide said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions.
22. A pedal assembly for use in association with a vehicle, comprising:
a pedal support adapted for mounting to the vehicle;
a pedal member including a lever portion and a mounting portion, said mounting portion pivotally coupled to said pedal support to allow pivotal movement of said pedal member relative to said pedal support about a first pivot axis;
a friction member having a bearing surface; and
a clamp member pivotally engaged with said pedal member to provide pivotal displacement of said clamp member relative to said pedal member about a second pivot axis, said clamp member having an engagement surface abutting said bearing surface of said friction member to define at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions angularly offset from one another relative to said first pivot axis and arranged along a common circumferential axis extending about said first pivot axis, wherein said clamp member includes at least two raised projections that are positioned in abutment against said bearing surface of said friction member to define said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions, and wherein said surface contact regions are separated from one another by a circumferential gap extending along said circumferential axis and including an inner non-contact surface region that is radially spaced from said friction member when said contact regions are engaged with said friction member.
23. The pedal assembly of claim 22, further comprising a pivot member non-rotatably coupled with said mounting portion of said pedal member and rotatably coupled to said pedal support to allow said pivotal movement of said pedal member relative to said pedal support about said first pivot axis.
24. The pedal assembly of claim 23, further comprising:
a magnetic field generator providing a magnetic field, said magnetic field generator coupled to said pivot member and arranged generally along said first pivot axis such that said pivotal movement of said pedal member results in corresponding rotational displacement of said magnetic field about said first pivot axis; and
a magnetic sensor device comprising at least one magnetic flux sensor arranged generally along said first pivot axis and positioned within said magnetic field to sense variations in said magnetic field during said rotational displacement and to generate an output signal representative of a rotational position of said magnetic field relative to said at least one magnetic flux sensor;
wherein said magnetic field generator includes at least one magnet and a loop pole piece defining an inner region, said magnet cooperating with said loop pole piece to generate said magnetic field within said inner region, said inner region of said loop pole piece positioned along said first pivot axis with said magnetic field transversely intersecting said first pivot axis; and
wherein said loop pole piece comprises a flux ring extending about said inner region with said first pivot axis intersecting said inner region and with said magnet positioned within said inner region.
25. The pedal assembly of claim 23, wherein said mounting portion of said pedal member defines a non-circular keyed passage extending along said first pivot axis, said pivot member including a non-circular keyed shaft extending through said non-circular keyed passage to non-rotatably couple said pivot member with said pedal member.
26. The pedal assembly of claim 22, further comprising a biasing member arranged to apply a biasing force to said clamp member to bias said clamp member toward said friction member to provide frictional engagement between said engagement surface and said bearing surface to resist said pivotal movement of said pedal member.
27. The pedal assembly of claim 22, wherein said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions extend along a common circumferential plane extending about said first pivot axis.
28. The pedal assembly of claim 22, wherein said circumferential gap extends annularly about said first pivot axis.
29. The pedal assembly of claim 22, wherein said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions are non-symmetrically angularly offset from one another along said circumferential axis.
30. The pedal assembly of claim 22, wherein said at least two raised projections of said clamp member are simultaneously compressed against said bearing surface of said friction member to provide said at least two separate and distinct surface contact regions.