Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Moses Alexander Fridman

Ross Dykstra Pursifull

Ralph Wayne Cunningham

Dale Scott Crombez

Douglas Raymond Martin

Todd Anthony Rumpsa

Mansour Beshay

Davor Hrovat

Clifford E Maki

Timothy Mark Feldkamp

Yuri Anatoly Karpenko

Arthur Joseph Varady

Jahan Asgari

Mitch McConnell

Zachary Konchan

Peter Kowalow

Kevin Sallee

Cliff Maki

Jinkoo Lee

Craig Stephens

Todd Anthony Brittingham

Ravi Lanka

A vehicle includes a user-actuatable switch and a controller. When the switch is actuated, the controller is adapted to effect a regenerative braking command to actuate a regenerative brake system when a vehicle speed is above a threshold speed, and to effect a parking brake command to actuate an electric park brake when the vehicle speed is less than or equal to the threshold speed.

Electric parking brake with regenerative braking control system and method

A transportation vehicle provides a brake autohold function to maintain braking without requiring the driver to continuously apply pressure on a brake pedal. The vehicle comprises an autohold selector, a parking brake selector, a brake pedal, and an accelerator pedal. A braking system is adapted to enter an autohold event according to a pressed brake pedal at vehicle standstill during an active autohold mode toggled by the autohold selector. A controller is configured to terminate the autohold event in response to either a deactivation command using the parking brake selector or accelerator pedal movement, without deactivating the autohold mode. By manually terminating the brake autohold event the vehicle can begin to creep forward using only the torque generated by the engine at idle, thereby avoiding the additional torque that is generated when the accelerator pedal is used to terminate the brake autohold event.

Automatic brake hold release directly to vehicle creep

Methods for controlling vacuum within a brake booster by modifying powertrain operation include determining an intake manifold vacuum in response to actuation of a brake pedal. Increasing the intake manifold vacuum if the brake booster vacuum is less than a desired brake booster vacuum. In some embodiments, the transmission is downshifted to increase engine speed and intake manifold vacuum.

Vacuum boost for vehicle braking

Methods and apparatus to control braking of a vehicle during low deceleration operations are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a controller configured to determine a deceleration of a vehicle, compare the deceleration to a threshold, and modulate, at a predetermined frequency, a brake pressure of the vehicle in response to the deceleration being below the threshold.

Methods and apparatus to control braking of a vehicle during low deceleration operations

Methods for controlling vacuum within a brake booster by modifying powertrain operation include determining an intake manifold vacuum in response to actuation of a brake pedal. Increasing the intake manifold vacuum if the brake booster vacuum is less than a desired brake booster vacuum. In some embodiments, the transmission is downshifted to increase engine speed and intake manifold vacuum. In other embodiments, engine torque is reduced to increase intake manifold vacuum and the torque of the electric machine is increased to maintain a constant output torque.

A vacuum source arbitration system is disclosed. In one example, vacuum is supplied to a vacuum reservoir via an ejector during a first condition, and vacuum is supplied to the vacuum reservoir via an engine intake manifold during a second condition. The approach may provide a desired level of vacuum in a reservoir while reducing engine fuel consumption.

Method and system for providing vacuum

Methods and systems are provided to reduce a hard brake pedal feel. A brake control variable is adjusted in anticipation of a hard pedal condition to increase hydraulic brake line pressure and maintain a normal pedal feel. A pedal force is inferred from brake line pressure relative to brake booster vacuum.

Method and system for brake control

In the event that the brake pedal and accelerator pedal are depressed simultaneously, powertrain output is decreased monotonically with brake pedal input. In a lower range of brake pedal input, the brakes are prevented from actuating or are allowed to actuate minimally. In a higher range of pedal input, the powertrain output continues to be decreased and the brakes are allowed to actuate. In yet another higher range of pedal input, the powertrain output is substantially decreased such that a minimal powertrain output is achieved. The powertrain may include an internal combustion engine and/or an electric motor. The brake pedal input is determined based on a sensor associated with the brake pedal, the brake booster, or the master cylinder.

Control of a vehicle powertrain in response to brake pedal input

An on-board diagnostic system of a vehicle comprises disabling diagnostic operation, such as a misfire monitor, based on road roughness. In one example, the disabling of the diagnostic operation is based on brake actuation and degradation of an anti-lock braking system.

Growing community of inventors

West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

Moses Alexander Fridman