Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Indication or control of braking – acceleration – or deceleration
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-06
2001-03-13
Nguyen, Tan (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Indication or control of braking, acceleration, or deceleration
C303S020000, C188S18100R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202018
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process and device for controlling a vehicle brake system.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A conventional brake system is described in “Elektronisch geregelte Druckluftbremsanlage für Nutzfahrzeuge” (Electronically Controlled Compressed Air Braking System for Commercial Vehicles), Fisita 1992, by J. Wrede, W. Stumpe, I. Grauel, J. Bräuninger, A. Schlichenmaier and H. Kächele. This conventional brake system includes a central controller having at least one microcomputer mounted thereto. Pressure regulation modules are provided in this conventional brake system for controlling the wheel brakes. The pressure regulation modules function as a pressure regulation valve and include a microcomputer. Thus, the pressure regulation modules control pressure in the associated wheel brake and generate sensor signals. The central controller is connected to the at least one microcomputer of the pressure control modules for providing information and data exchange via a communication system (e.g., “CAN”—Controller Area Network). The conventional brake system has pneumatic emergency brake circuits which can be activated, instead of the electrical system, in case of a malfunction, and which enable a control of a braking force by a driver in a conventional pneumatic manner.
When the voltage supply is switched on, the conventional brake system is initialized according to a predetermined procedure. In this initialization phase, the pressure control modules are assigned successive addresses by the central controller, which assigns the individual components their respective predetermined application. As an example, an address is assigned to the pressure control module corresponding to the left front wheel, which is specified as a left front wheel module. Depending on this address, the corresponding reference values and functions (e.g., ABS, etc.) are assigned to this pressure regulation module. An example of this type of initializing process is described in German Patent Application No. 42 14 644. Only after the initialization procedure has been completed and the electronic brake system is completely configured, the electronic brake system becomes available. Actions that lead to an increase in the braking force during a brake pedal actuation by the driver during the initialization phase are not described therein.
What is especially problematic is that the electronic system is switched on during the braking force, for example, after an electrical supply interruption (e.g., because of a loose contact). Thus, the electronic brake system is not available during a subsequent initialization phase.
Therefore, it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide measures which improve an operating behavior of an electronic brake system during the initialization phase after the voltage supply is switched on and/or after the voltage supply is switched on again.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, it is advantageous for an operation of the electronic brake system to be ensured during the initialization phase, even if this operation is limited. Thus, the braking force is incremented electronically in an advantageous manner, even during the initialization phase. It is also advantageous that, during an interruption of the electrical supply during the braking action, the electronic brake system can still be controlled electronically, possibly with a limited function. Accordingly, the driver does not notice a brief interruption of the electrical supply since in a normal braking situation, the brake control occurs electronically (even during the initialization phase). Switching to a pneumatic emergency brake circuit, and transition difficulties and limitations associated with such switching, is not required, at least during brief interruptions.
According to the present invention, it is also advantageous that with identical pressure regulation modules, the brake control occurs at a predetermined reference value dependent on the brake pedal actuation by the driver, which is the same for all identical pressure regulation modules. Therefore, the brake control is advantageously limited for the duration of the initialization phase in such a way that a locking of wheels (in particular, the rear wheels) is unlikely.
In the systems having different construction types of the front axle and rear axle modules, this module is given a predefined assignment when the brake system is installed in the vehicle. In these brake systems, it is advantageous that during the initialization phase, different brake pressure reference values are output to the front and rear axle modules which consider the specified brake force distribution (in particular, the load-dependent brake force distribution).
The output reference pressure values are regulated in the pressure regulation modules that have not yet been initialized using the pressure control circuit implemented therein or implemented according to an open control chain by assigning the control signal variable for the valve arrangement as a function of the output reference pressure values. In this manner, a braking effect desired by the driver can also be electronically set in the initializing phase.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4338667 (1982-07-01), Cook et al.
patent: 4750125 (1988-06-01), Leppek et al.
patent: 5273349 (1993-12-01), Kidston
patent: 5315518 (1994-05-01), Lin
patent: 5366281 (1994-11-01), Littlejohn
patent: 42 14 644 (1993-11-01), None
J. Werde et al., “Electronically controlled compressed-air braking system for commercial vehicles”, IMechE 1992, pp. 113-121.
Braeuninger Juergen
Stumpe Werner
Kenyon & Kenyon
Nguyen Tan
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Tran Dalena
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