Continental Teves, Ag and Company Ohg

Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.

Continental Teves, Inc.

J&uuml;rgen B&ouml;hm

Joachim Nell

Rainer Oehler

Stefan St&ouml;lzl

Peter Willimowski

Oliver Hoffmann

Ralf Schwarz

Thomas Berthold

Bernhard Giers

Karlheinz Bill

Martin Semsch

Jochen Leidech

J&uuml;rgen Balz

Tomasz Augustyniak

Peter Scheerer

The present invention relates to a device and a method for controlling an electrically actuated parking brake. Especially, a tip switch is provided which is movable to adopt a tensioning position, a release position, and a neutral position. For example, when the tip switch is moved by the driver to adopt the tensioning position, the control unit increases a nominal value of the actuating force of the parking brake. By actuating the tip switch, the driver is thus able to determine which actuating force is used to actuate the parking brake.

Device and method for controlling an electrically actuated parking brake

With electromechanically or electromotively operated brakes, adjusting a clearance presents a problem because with this type of brakes self-actuating reset means of the type provided for hydraulic brakes cannot be used. For adjustment, a neutral position of the actuator must first be determined in which at least one of the friction linings is in close proximity. To this end, the present invention provides for the change in the actuator current (I ) and the change in the actuator position (&phgr; ) to be evaluated so as to determine the contact.

System of controlling or regulating an electromechanical brake

The present invention relates to an electrically operable brake system and a method for its actuation. The brake system and the method are characterized in that the service brake system can be activated by two brake operating devices which are operable by the driver independently of each other. The main advantage which results is that upon failure of a brake operating device which is e.g. configured as a brake pedal module, braking of the vehicle can be achieved by means of the service brake system by way of the second brake operating device. The additional functions intended for the service brake system, such as ABS, TCS, driving dynamics control, brake assist system, etc., may then be implemented, if so desired. The redundant design of the actuation for the service brake permits achieving a high degree of operational safety because full braking functions can be maintained even in case of emergency braking.

Electrically controlled braking system and associated control method

A method of monitoring the motion of an actuator of a vehicle brake including establishing an actuator reference coordinate which is associated with a predetermined actuator reference position, defining an actuator actual coordinate in accordance with the actuator reference coordinate and in accordance with the motion of the actuator, establishing a first permitted actuator motion range from a permitted release end coordinate of the actuator for release of the brake and a first permitted brake application end coordinate of the actuator for application of the brake in accordance with the actuator reference coordinate and outputting a signal when the actuator actual coordinate lies outside the first permitted actuator motion range.

Method and device for monitoring the movements of an actuator

A method and system for controlling a brake for motor vehicles. The present invention relates to a method as well as a system for controlling a brake for motor vehicles, which can be electromechanically actuated by means of an actuator, consisting of an electric motor as well as a drive mechanism positioned downstream of the electric motor. In order to be able to increase motor speed under certain operating conditions, i.e. according to demand, without reducing the available torque, the invention provides for the slope of the speed-torque characteristic curve of the electric motor ( ) to be modified by weakening components of the electromagnetic field of said electric motor ( ), which affect the dynamics of same, in such a way that a higher speed (&ohgr;&prime; ) is obtained at the same torque (M ).

Method and system for controlling an electromechanically actuated brake for motor vehicles

With electromechanically or electromotively operated brakes, adjusting a clearance presents a problem because with this type of brakes self-actuating reset means of the type provided for hydraulic brakes cannot be used. For adjustment, a neutral position of the actuator must first be determined in which at least one of the friction linings is in close proximity. To this end, the present invention provides for the change in the actuator current (I ), the change in the actuator position (&phgr; ), and the rigidity of the system as derived from the actuator force as a function of actuator position to be evaluated so as to determine the contact.

System for controlling or regulating an electromechanical brake

A device for determining set values for the braking forces or braking torque of the brake system of a vehicle comprising an electric drive, a friction brake applying braking forces to all wheels according to corresponding set values, an electrodynamic regenerative brake applying braking forces to at least one axle according to corresponding set values, and an element for determining the set values according to the desired vehicle deceleration, wherein such element for determining the set values according to the deceleration requirement either makes the set value for the electric regenerative as large as possible or sets the set values for the electrodynamic regenerative brake and for the friction brake primarily according to criteria concerning the distribution of the braking forces on the axles. In addition, an element for correcting a set value for the friction brake, preferably at the front axle according to the dynamic behavior of the electrodynamic regenerative brake may be provided.

Method and device for statically or dynamically determining set values concerning braking forces or braking torque

A controlled brake booster that may have an external trigger is provided. The brake booster includes a control circuit, an electromagnet positioned within the control circuit that activates the brake booster, a superordinated function unit and at least one signal processing device for determining a parameter that is related to the temperature of the electromagnet from values processed in the control circuit. Nominal value for the electromagnet, in the form of a mathematical model, and actual values pertaining to the electromagnet are processed in the control circuit. A preferred embodiment of the booster utilizes internal magnetic signals without requiring special temperature sensory equipment.

Externally controllable regulated brake-booster and operating method therefor

Electrical direct current actuators, which have a distinct low-pass behavior with respect to the actuating signal, are frequently used in electronic control and regulation devices. Typical examples of such actuators are d.c. motors or electromagnets. In order to minimize the power losses when controlling such electric d.c. actuators, the associated power amplifiers usually are controlled by a pulse-width modulated actuating signal in the kHz frequency. In order to ensure that the actuator also is activated with the predefined actuating signal when there are variations in the supply direct voltage, the calculated actuating signal is multiplied by a scaling factor in a first functional module, with this scaling factor being obtained in another functional module on the basis of the relationship between the actual supply voltage and the nominal supply voltage. This rescaled actuating signal is then fed to the pulse-width modulator instead of the output actuating voltage causing the pulse duty factor to be adapted to the actual supply voltage.

Method and circuit for generating a pulse-width modulated actuating signal for a direct current actuator

This invention relates to an electromechanical brake system, in particular for automotive vehicles, which includes a pedal module and at least two brake modules. Further, a central module may be provided. Connection between the aforementioned modules can be made by a data bus. The data bus is provided redundantly. In one embodiment, the central module can evaluate signals of a sensor system and examine them for their errors. Further, the central module can emit a corresponding nominal braking value which then is emitted to the brake modules. Thereupon, the brake modules determine appropriate actuating signals for the actuators which interact with the wheels in order to realize the driver's braking intention.

Electromechanical brake system

Electronic brake systems are functionally split-up safety-critical real-time systems which are subject to high standards with regard to error detection and error handling. This invention describes a method and corresponding device for error handling in such systems which permits only a few defined system conditions, inclusive of a pre-check, with the transition from one system condition to the next condition only being possible if certain defined events take place.

Method for handling errors in an electronic brake system and corresponding device

An electromechanical brake system, particularly for motor vehicles, with a pedal simulator and brake modules is disclosed. A central module is also provided. The connection between the aforesaid modules can be provided by a data bus. The central module evaluates the braking request signals from a sensor device and checks them for errors. Also, a central module supplies and appropriate desired braking value based on the braking request and possibly higher functions such as ABS or ASR. The desired braking value is then conveyed on to the brake module, which then determines the corresponding control signals for the actuators, which interact with the wheels in order to brake the vehicle as the driver requires.

System for controlling or adjusting an electromechanical brake

The present invention relates to a method for actuating a parking brake which is electromechanically operable by an actuator by way of a force-transmitting element, the actuator being composed of an electric motor and a self-locking gear which is interposed between the electric motor and the force-transmitting element, and it also relates to a system for actuating an electromechanically operable parking brake. To permit an adjustment of necessary actuating force nominal values, according to the present invention, the current to be supplied to the actuator and the actuator position are evaluated to determine a voltage that is to be applied to the actuator corresponding to the desired actuating force and the actuating force gradient.

Growing community of inventors

Oberneisen, Germany

Jürgen Böhm

Growing community of inventors

Oberneisen, Germany

J&uuml;rgen B&ouml;hm

Jürgen Böhm