Fluid-pressure and analogous brake systems – Electric control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-02
2001-03-27
Schwartz, Chris (Department: 3613)
Fluid-pressure and analogous brake systems
Electric control
C303S003000, C303S015000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206482
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to brake management systems, and more particularly to an electronic brake management system for controlling the hydraulics for vehicle brakes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention comprises an electronic brake management system for controlling the application of brakes to wheels on a vehicle. The system comprises a plurality of hydraulic valves for controlling the application of brakes to the wheels on the vehicle; a plurality of valve drivers for controlling the valves in accordance with respective electrical valve control signals for the plurality of valves; a valve signal modulation controller for applying the electrical valve control signals to the valve drivers, wherein the electrical valve control signals are modulated to reduce the amount of electrical power supplied by a given one of the electrical valve control signals once the valve associated with the given one of the electrical valve control signals has changed its opening to a desired position. This invention further includes a motor signal modulation controller for generating a motor speed control signal, and a brushless motor for driving a hydraulic pump for supplying fluid to the brakes in accordance with the motor speed control signal from the motor signal modulation controller. The brushless motor provides a feedback signal to the motor signal modulation controller indicative of the position of the brushless motor rotor. Accordingly, the motor signal modulation controller controls the speed of the brushless motor via the motor position control signal and an internal algorithm.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the valve signal modulation controller comprises a pulse width modulator. Likewise, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the motor signal modulation controller is comprised of a pulse width modulator.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the brushless motor may be comprised of a DC brushless motor or a switched reluctance motor.
In a yet further aspect of the present invention, the brake management system may include at least one proportional valve, with at least one proportional valve driver for controlling the at least one proportional valve. The system further includes a proportional valve signal modulation controller for generating a proportional valve control signal to control the at least one proportional valve driver.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the plurality of valve drivers include structure to generate feedback signals to the valve signal modulation controller, which feedback signals are indicative of the electrical control signals applied to the valves.
In a yet further aspect of the present invention, a method is disclosed for controlling the application of brake fluid pressure to brakes associated with wheels on a vehicle, comprising the steps of: controlling hydraulic valves that apply brake fluid pressure to respective brakes in accordance with respective modulated valve control signals; controlling the speed of a brushless motor that drives a hydraulic pump for supplying the fluid pressure to the brakes in accordance with a motor position control signal; and generating the motor speed control signal in accordance with a feedback signal indicative of the position of the brushless motor and in accordance with an internal algorithm.
In a preferred embodiment of the present inventive method, the motor speed control generating step comprises a step of generating a pulse width modulated signal, as the motor speed control signal. Further, the step of controlling the hydraulic valves comprises the step of generating a pulse width modulated signal as the modulated valve control signal.
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SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, Automotive Products Databook 2ndEdition, Jan. 1993, pp. 75-85.
Motorola, Linear/Interface Ics Device Data, vol. 1, DL 128/D Rev. 4, Series H, First Printing 1993, pp. 4-4, 4-5, 4-36 through 4-78.
Campau Gregory P.
Cotner John D.
Hornback Edward R.
Lowman Clark E.
Luckevich Mark S.
Kelsey-Hayes Company
MacMillan Sobanski & Todd LLC
Schwartz Chris
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