Continental Teves, Ag and Company Ohg

Markus Zenzen

Thomas Proger

Norbert Ehmer

Thomas Pr&ouml;ger

Michael Latarnik

Martin Griesser

Thomas Bauer

Thomas Knapp

A method of electronic brake force distribution in a two-axle four-wheel vehicle effects a compensation of the speed differences between left and right vehicle side during cornering. To this end, a compensation speed is calculated for the curve-inward rear wheel and added to the individual wheel speed of the rear wheel to be compared with a vehicle reference speed. The individual wheel reference speed of this wheel, which is this way increased in relation to the individual wheel speed of the curve-inward rear wheel , prevents a premature activation of electronic brake force distribution because the produced individual wheel reference speed is closer to the vehicle reference speed than the individual wheel speed. This permits better utilizing brake force during cornering.

Method of electronic brake force distribution while cornering

The invention provides a method of detecting a defective condition on a pressure switch arrangement which at least assumes a defective condition on the said pressure switch assembly whenever a signal arrives at an input of an electronic computing unit which cannot be associated either to the opened or to the closed condition of the pressure switch. Moreover, a defective condition on the pressure switch arrangement mounted in the brake system of a vehicle is assumed, once the pressure switch signal refers to an actuated brake although the vehicle is significantly accelerated. Conversely, a defective condition is also assumed if the vehicle significantly decelerates although the pressure switch signal refers to a lack of brake pressure. Also, an appropriate pressure switch arrangement is provided which, with the pressure switch closed, generates a rectangular signal and, with the pressure switch opened, generates a high level on the input II of an electronic computing unit. With an incoming low level, an error on the pressure switch arrangement is assumed.

Method and apparatus for detecting a defective pressure switch

In a method of controlling the braking pressure variation during EBD control, during a braking operation, the vehicle deceleration is sensed and evaluated as a control criterion, and an increase in the braking pressure in the rear-wheel brakes is only permitted if the vehicle deceleration after commencement has risen above a predetermined minimum value, or if there are criteria which indicate brake fading or a brake malfunction, or if the vehicle deceleration exceeds a defined limit value.

Method for controlling brake-pressure characteristics in the rear wheel brakes of a motor vehicle brake system with electronic regulation of brake power distribution

The present invention relates to a method of detecting pressure loss in vehicle tires, wherein a reference value is produced from signals, especially time measurement values, representative of the wheel rotational speeds of a plurality of vehicle wheels, and pressure loss is concluded from a comparison of a currently determined reference value with at least one comparative value in case the currently determined reference value exceeds or falls below the comparative value, and pressure loss in vehicle tires is detected by using at least one reference value which is produced by dividing the sums of respectively two signals representative of the wheel rotational speeds.

Method for using time measurements for detecting pressure loss in vehicle tires

The present invention discloses a brake system with electronic brake force distribution which includes additional criteria of deactivation of the electronic brake force distribution. Deactivation of the electronic brake force distribution is intended to occur, on the one hand, if a pressure increase phase lasts longer than a defined time ( ). On the other hand, another criterion of deactivation ( ) is deceleration-responsive, and an additional check is made whether or not braking is pedal operated ( ).

Method of terminating electronic brake force distribution

A method of electronic brake force distribution is applied to contribute to vehicle stability even in the event of failure of the system that detects failure of the front-axle brake circuit (,) in a vehicle (,). The method involves initiating a pressure maintenance or pressure reduction phase only after the standards with respect to a minimum vehicle deceleration upon brake circuit failure are met. This way, it is ensured that the standards are observed, on the one hand, and locking of the rear wheels (,) before the front wheels (,) is prevented with great likelihood, on the other hand. Thus, electronic brake force distribution (EBD) is switched over to less sensitive criteria. This makes allowance for both possibilities in the event of a failure of a pressure switch (,), i.e., that the front-axle brake circuit (,) is intact or that it is defective.

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Hattersheim, Germany

Markus Zenzen