Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Indication or control of braking – acceleration – or deceleration
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-24
2001-05-01
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Indication or control of braking, acceleration, or deceleration
C701S083000, C701S110000, C188S072100, C188S072400, C303S010000, C303S015000, C303S020000, C303S155000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226586
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing brake control based on brake pedal travel and master cylinder pressure. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and method that blends a signal corresponding to brake pedal travel with a signal corresponding to master cylinder pressure in order to provide a brake control signal to a brake control loop.
Pressure control systems are necessary in order to control an amount of brake pressure to be applied and to be dumped from brake systems. Pressure control is used for electro-hydraulic brake (EHB) systems, which can also perform the control functions used for anti-lock brake systems (ABS), traction control systems (TC), and vehicle stability control systems (VSC).
A block diagram of a conventional braking system for a vehicle is shown in FIG.
1
. Such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,769, issued to Mark Luckevich, and which is incorporated herein by reference. The conventional braking system is a hydraulic system, and includes a brake pedal
212
, a brake switch
213
, a brake master cylinder
214
, control valves
216
, brake fluid conduits
218
,
220
,
222
,
224
and
226
, as well as a right front wheel
228
and a left front wheel
230
, and a pair of rear wheels
232
.
The conventional system includes a pair of vehicle wheel speed sensors
234
for measuring the speed of each of the front wheels
228
and
230
, and a pair of vehicle wheel speed sensors
236
for measuring the speed of each of the rear wheels
232
. The system further includes a brake system control unit
238
. Each of the wheel sensors
234
and
236
are operatively connected to the control unit
238
, which is itself operatively connected to the anti-lock brake system control valve
216
, via an electrical or fiber optic connection.
In conventional braking systems, such as that shown in
FIG. 1
, the driver input is through the brake pedal
212
to the master cylinder
214
. This is a mechanical system in which the brake command and power is provided by the mechanical motion of a master cylinder piston acting on the brake fluid. The pressure is then boosted (usually with a vacuum system) and actuated through the fluid to the brake calipers and rotors.
In conventional braking systems, a brake signal based on an amount of travel of the brake pedal
212
is provided to the control unit
238
. While this signal is useful in determining a desired amount of pressure to be applied at brake calipers, it is desired to have a signal that is more indicative of a desired amount of braking, as determined by activation of the brake pedal
212
by an operator of the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a signal that is indicative of an operator's desired amount of braking.
This and other objects are achieved by a method of providing a brake control signal. The method includes a step of measuring an amount of travel of a brake pedal and an amount of master cylinder pressure. The method also includes a step of determining the brake control signal based on the travel of the brake pedal and the master cylinder pressure.
The above-mentioned object and other objects are also achieved by an apparatus for providing a brake control signal. The apparatus includes a first detector for detecting an amount of travel of a brake pedal. The apparatus also includes a second detector for detecting an amount of master cylinder pressure. The apparatus further includes a control circuit for providing the brake control signal based on the outputs of the first and second detectors.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4093316 (1978-06-01), Reinecke
patent: 4435021 (1984-03-01), Hoenick
patent: 4602702 (1986-07-01), Ohta et al.
patent: 4690034 (1987-09-01), Ando et al.
patent: 4784442 (1988-11-01), Petersen
patent: 4818036 (1989-04-01), Reinecke
patent: 4919493 (1990-04-01), Leiber
patent: 4950028 (1990-08-01), Harrison
patent: 5040852 (1991-08-01), Takata
patent: 5230549 (1993-07-01), Osada et al.
patent: 5261730 (1993-11-01), Steiner et al.
patent: 5322352 (1994-06-01), Ohno et al.
patent: 5545929 (1996-08-01), Fijioka et al.
patent: 5558409 (1996-09-01), Walenty et al.
patent: 5884548 (1999-03-01), Ando et al.
patent: 5884986 (1999-03-01), Shimizu
patent: 5890776 (1999-04-01), Sawada
patent: 5941608 (1999-08-01), Campau et al.
patent: 5943937 (1999-08-01), Endo
patent: 5951116 (1999-09-01), Nagasaka et al.
patent: 6033035 (2000-03-01), Neumann et al.
patent: 0519287 (1992-12-01), None
patent: 60-107447 (1985-06-01), None
patent: WO 96/34784 (1996-11-01), None
patent: WO 98/33689 (1998-08-01), None
Kingston Andrew W.
Luckevich Mark S.
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Kelsey-Hayes Company
MacMillan Sobanski & Todd LLC
Mancho Ronnie
LandOfFree
Foundation brake control algorithm for electro-hydraulic... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Foundation brake control algorithm for electro-hydraulic..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Foundation brake control algorithm for electro-hydraulic... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2440831