Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Phanu Amatyakul

Paul S Shaub

Mutasim Abdurrahman Salman

Yuen-Kwok Chin

Eric Edward Krueger

Chih-Hung Yen

Mark T Riefe

Joseph K Moore

Mark N Howell

Steven J Weber

Stephen R Pastor

Michael Douglas Rizzo

Mark J Rychlinski

Robert L Nisonger

Michael L Holly

Keun Jae Kim

Douglas N Reed

Robert G Sutherlin

Todd D Albertson

Anthony J Rifici

John W Pennala

Stacey M Blundell

Vincent R Sicilia

William P Job

Mauricio Vazquez Camarena

Josef Mack

John P Whaite, Jr

A vehicle includes at least one brake assembly configured to brake at least one wheel of the vehicle in response to an applied voltage. A power supply is in signal communication with the at least one brake assembly. The power supply is configured to operate in a first mode that outputs a first voltage and a second mode that outputs a second voltage greater than the first voltage. A brake control system is in signal communication with the at least one brake assembly and the power supply. The brake control system is configured to determine a driving state of the vehicle, and is configured to output a brake boost request signal to initiate the second mode of the power supply in response to detecting the driving state, wherein a braking response time of the at least one brake assembly is improved in response to applying the second voltage.

Vehicle brake control system including eBoost regulated voltage control

A brake pad monitoring sensor includes an erodible, electrically non-conductive body, and an electrical circuit disposed within the body. The electrical circuit includes a first wear indicating portion. Electrical continuity of the first wear indicating portion is broken when the body erodes, in response to abrasion against a brake rotor, beyond a first depth relative to a contact surface of the body, to sense a first degree of wear. The electrical circuit includes a first thermocouple that is operable to generate a temperature dependent voltage signal for sensing a temperature of the brake pad. The brake pad monitoring sensor may be used to determine both brake pad wear, and brake pad temperature.

Brake pad wear and temperature sensor

Methods and systems are provided for aligning a steering system of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining when the vehicle is driving a straight-line path; determining a steering wheel position error when the vehicle is driving the straight-line path; computing a rear wheel steering offset based on the steering wheel position error and a closed loop control method; and generating a control signal to a rear wheel steering system based on the rear wheel steering offset.

Methods and systems for aligning a steering system of a vehicle

A brake pad life monitoring system can monitor the wear of a brake pad operatively coupled to a rotor. The brake pad life monitoring system includes an erodible, electrically non-conductive covering layer operatively coupled to the brake pad such that wear of the erodible, electrically non-conductive covering layer corresponds to the wear of the brake pad. Further, the brake pad life monitoring system includes an electrical circuit having a circuit path from a power supply to a ground. The electrical circuit is at least partially disposed on the erodible, electrically non-conductive covering layer and includes a first resistor connected in series with the power supply and a second resistor electrically connected in parallel with the power supply. The brake pad life monitoring system additionally includes a measuring device electrically connected to the electrical circuit.

Brake pad life monitoring system

A wheel assembly for a non-driven wheel includes a rotating wheel hub with a shaft portion supporting a bearing inner race. A magnetic encoder is mounted for rotation with the shaft portion. A non-rotating component radially surrounds the shaft portion and has a bearing outer race. A cap is secured to the non-rotating component and covers the outer and inner races, the shaft portion and the magnetic encoder inboard of the races to seal an inboard side of the outer and inner races. A sensor is mounted to a non-rotating vehicle steering member externally to, not covered by, and not extending through the cap. The sensor is configured to deflect to be biased into continuous contact with an outer surface of the cap to read the magnetic encoder through the cap without extending through the cap.

Flexible wheel speed sensor external to capped wheel bearing

A method for providing an estimate of brake pad thickness. The method employs fusion of sensors, if used, and driver brake modeling to predict the vehicle brake pad life. An algorithm is employed that uses various inputs, such as brake pad friction material properties, brake pad cooling rate, brake temperature, vehicle mass, road grade, weight distribution, brake pressure, brake energy, braking power, etc. to provide the estimation. The method calculates brake work using total work minus losses, such as aerodynamic drag resistance, engine braking and/or braking power as braking torque times velocity divided by rolling resistance to determine the brake rotor and lining temperature. The method then uses the brake temperature to determine the brake pad wear, where the wear is accumulated for each braking event. A brake pad sensor can be included to provide one or more indications of brake pad thickness from which the estimation can be revised.

Brake pad prognosis system

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Brighton, MI, United States of America

Phanu Amatyakul