Electronic brake pedal adjustment apparatus and method therefor

• US 5,378,052 A
• Filed: 07/22/1993
• Issued: 01/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advics Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshino, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US08/095,701
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 303/20, 303/3, 303/93, 303/91, 303/101, 303/15-18, 303/2, 303/113.4, 303/100, 303/97, 303/99, 303/DIG. 3, 303/DIG. 4, 188/1.11, 188/156, 188/158-165, 340/438, 340/453, 340/454, 340/460-467
• US Class Current: 303/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/66 Electrical control in fluid-pressure brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/042 by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 303/04 Pressure signal used in electrical speed controlled braking circuit

Abstract

An electronic brake pedal adjustment apparatus has an apparatus for setting braking characteristics by which the driver can enter the relationship between the desired brake fluid pressure with respect to a given brake pedal effort, a detector for detecting an actual brake pedal pressure; and a computer for calculating a desired brake fluid pressure based on the set braking characteristics for the detected brake pedal effort. A brake fluid pressure control device is also provided so as to make the actual brake fluid pressure commensurate with the calculated brake fluid pressure. The relationship between the desired brake fluid pressure and the given brake pedal effort is shown on a display.

Claims

1. An electronic brake pedal adjustment apparatus comprising:

means for setting a braking characteristic which defines a relationship between a desired brake fluid pressure with respect to a given brake pedal effort;

brake pedal effort detection means for detecting an actual brake pedal effort;

control means for calculating a desired brake fluid pressure based on the set braking characteristics of the detected brake pedal effort; and

brake fluid pressure control means for controlling an actual brake fluid pressure commensurate with the calculated brake fluid pressure.

2. An electronic brake pedal adjustment apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display means for displaying said desired braking characteristics which defines the relationship between a desired brake fluid pressure with respect to a given brake pedal effort.

3. An electronic brake pedal adjustment apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said display means comprises LEDs.

4. An electronic brake pedal adjustment apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said display means comprises a liquid crystal display.

5. An electronic brake pedal adjustment apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said display means comprises a cathode ray tube.

6. An electronic brake pedal adjustment apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said display means comprises flexible optical fiber.

7. An electronic brake pedal adjustment apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising brake fluid pressure detection means for detecting an actual brake fluid pressure.

8. An electronic brake pedal adjustment apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said display means further displays the actual brake fluid pressure with respect to the actual brake pedal effort.

9. An electronic brake pedal adjustment apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said braking characteristics setting means comprises an input means for inputting a mid point data and calculation means for calculating said relationship at different regions divided by said mid point data.

10. An electronic brake pedal adjustment apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said input means comprises a variable resistor.

11. An electronic brake pedal adjustment apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said input means further comprises a knob which slides along said variable resistor.

12. An electronic brake pedal adjustment method comprising:

(a) setting a braking characteristic which defines a relationship between a desired brake fluid pressure with respect to a given brake pedal effort;

(b) detecting an actual brake pedal effort;

(c) calculating a desired brake fluid pressure based on the set braking characteristics for the detected brake pedal effort; and

(d) controlling an actual brake fluid pressure commensurate with the calculated brake fluid pressure.