Trw Limited

Lucas Industries Public Limited Company

Lucas Industries Limited

Zf Active Safety Gmbh

Lucas Automotive Gmbh

Kenneth Vincent

David Charles Hurst

James Henton Wilson

Stefan Grieser-Schmitz

Michael Keller

John B Phoenix

Peter J Knight

A technique is described for the redundant registering of an actuation of a motor-vehicle brake system. A device which is provided for this purpose comprises a first sensor for generating a first sensor signal which indicates a movement of a mechanical input component of the brake system, and a second sensor for generating a second sensor signal which indicates a hydraulic pressure in the brake system. A processing device which is coupled to the two sensors is configured for selectively outputting an actuation signal which is generated on the basis of the first sensor signal or an actuation signal which is generated on the basis of the second sensor signal. The actuation signal indicates an actuation of the brake system.

Technique for redundant registration of an actuation of a motor-vehicle braking system

A drive circuit for an electric motor of the type which forms part of a pump in a hydraulic braking circuit of a vehicle comprises an input node, an output node and a voltage and current regulating circuit which connects the nodes and which varies the voltage and current supplied to the output node from the input node in response to a modulation strategy, the input node in use being connected to a battery supply of a vehicle and the output node connected to one side of the electric motor. The voltage and current regulating circuit comprises a switch mode power supply circuit capable of providing at the output node a voltage that is either above or below the battery supply voltage at the input node.

Method and apparatus for controlling an electric pump of a hydraulic braking circuit

A circuit arrangement for the fast dissipation of the stored magnetic energy in an inductive load controlled by a first switch, comprising a high voltage-drop energy dissipation path disposed across the first switch and a second switch by which a constant-voltage diode drop path across the load can be selectively opened.

Fast current control of inductive loads

An arrangement for monioring multiple channel solenoid currents wherein a plurality of separately controllable solenoid coils are coupled commonly by a single current measurement element to one side of a current supply.

Multiple-channel solenoid current monitor

An output stage for an electronic sensor including two transistors connected in series to a junction therebetween to form a push/pull arrangement relative to a pair of supply lines provided with fixed supply voltages that are different for each line that are connected with different ones of the two transistors. The junction between the two transistors being connected to a sensor output line. Each of the transistors is driven by a respective drive line from an amplifier which receives an input signal corresponding to a sensor input signal. A fault detecting circuit is provided which includes circuitry to detect an open circuit fault condition in either of the two fixed voltage supply lines to disconnect the signal drive line leading to the associated one of the two transistors which is connected to the respective supply line that has been detected to have an open circuit fault. This disconnecting of the drive line from the associated transistor prevents back feed from the sensor output line from being coupled back to through the transistor and its drive line to the electronic sensor.

Fault error generation in electronic sensors

A system for measuring loads in a vehicle comprising strain and/or displacement sensing elements and a local electronic interface which are adapted to be linked to a main electronic unit in a vehicle with which the load measuring system is associated. The load measuring system comprises an internal micro-controller within the interface which is adapted to receive signals from the main electronic unit to switch elements of the load measuring system into both zero setting and calibration modes. The micro-controller has electrically alterable, non-volatile memory which is adapted to store zero setting and calibration data for subsequent use in a normal operating, load measurement mode of the system.

Vehicle load measuring systems

A microprocessor system having two microprocessors, each of which has its own reset circuit, and a circuit being provided which detects under-voltage in the system supply voltage, each of said microprocessors having circuitry associated with it for inducing a simulated low voltage condition on the reset circuit of the other microprocessor to test said under-voltage detection circuit and to measure the resulting reset period generated.

Growing community of inventors

Alcester, United Kingdom

Kenneth Vincent