Electronically controlled braking system

• US 6,033,039 A
• Filed: 11/20/1998
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Dieringer, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SICONOLFI, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/196,846
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 303/31, 303/114.3, 303/115.3, 303/113.2, 303/113.3
• US Class Current: 303/114.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/72 in vacuum systems or vacuum booster units
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/3275 Systems with a braking assistant function, i.e. automatic full braking initiation in dependence of brake pedal velocity
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/4845 using a booster or a master cylinder for traction control

Abstract

In an electronically controllable braking system for motor vehicles with a brake pressure generator unit which comprises a master cylinder for generating a brake pressure, a brake pedal via which an actuation force can be introduced into the brake pressure generator unit for actuating the brake pressure generator unit, an electronically controllable brake booster, either for amplifying the actuation force introduced via the brake pedal for the actuation of the brake pressure generator unit, or for effecting an actuation of the brake pressure generator unit, as well as sensors which sense the brake pressure generated by the brake pressure generator unit and a parameter for an electronic control unit, which is related to the amplification of the electronically controllable brake pressure booster, there is provided, in order to comply with a very high safety standard at relatively low cost expenditures, that the electronic control unit determines the actuation force which is introduced via the brake pedal from the brake pressure generated by the brake pressure generator unit and the parameter which is related to the amplification of the electronically controllable brake booster. This results in the advantage that the actuation force which is introduced via the brake pedal can be determined reliably and safely without necessitating the employment of a force sensor.

Claims

1. An electronically controllable braking system for motor vehicles comprising:

a brake pressure generator unit with a master cylinder for the generation of a brake pressure;

a brake pedal via which an actuation force can be introduced into the brake pressure generator unit in order to actuate the brake pressure generator unit;

an electronically controllable brake booster either for amplifying the actuation force which is introduced via the brake pedal for the actuation of the brake pressure generator unit, or for effecting an actuation of the brake pressure generator unit;

a first sensor which senses a parameter for an amplification of the electronically controllable brake booster,

a second sensor which senses the brake pressure generated by the brake pressure generator unit; and

an electronic control unit that determines the actuation force which is introduced via the brake pedal from the brake pressure generated by the brake pressure generator unit and the parameter which is related to the amplification of the electronically controllable brake booster, the electronic control unit (ECU) evaluating the actuation force (F) which is introduced via the brake pedal (1) in order to decide whether a driving dynamics control process is to be continued or whether the driving dynamics control process is to be aborted and an emergency braking operation or an intentional braking operation, respectively, is to be carried out.

2. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 1, characterized in that

the electronically controllable brake booster (21) comprises at least one movable wall (22) which can be subjected to a differential pressure (dp₄₇).

3. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 2, characterized in that

the parameter (dp₄₇) which is related to the amplification of the electronically controllable brake booster (21) is the differential pressure (dp₄₇) which acts upon the movable wall (22).

4. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 3, characterized in that

the electronic control unit (ECU) determines the actuation force (F) which is introduced via the brake pedal (1) under consideration of the working surface (A₂₈) of the master cylinder (25) and the working surface (A₂₂) of the movable wall (22).

5. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 4, characterized in that

the electronic control unit (ECU) includes at least one correction value (K_A) and/or at least one correction factor (K_M) in the determination of the actuation force (F) which is introduced via the brake pedal (1).

6. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 5, characterized in that

interference influences arising from friction, inertia and tension forces can be compensated by taking the correction value (K_A) into consideration.

7. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 5, characterized in that

interference influences arising from friction, inertia and tension forces can be compensated by taking the correction factor (K_M) into consideration.

8. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 7, characterized in that

the electronic control unit (ECU) continuously determines the actuation force (F) which is introduced via the brake pedal (1).

9. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 1 wherein said electronically controllable brake booster is one of a vacuum booster and a hydraulic booster.

10. An electronically controllable braking system for motor vehicles comprising:

a brake pressure generator unit with a master cylinder for the generation of a brake pressure;

an electronically controllable brake booster for applying an input force to the brake pressure generator unit in order to actuate the brake pressure generator unit;

a brake pedal via which an actuation force can be introduced via the electronically controllable brake booster into the brake pressure generator unit in order to actuate the brake pressure generator unit;

a first sensor which senses a parameter for an amplification of the electronically controllable brake booster,

a second sensor which senses the brake pressure generated by the brake pressure generator unit; and

an electronic control unit that determines the actuation force that is introduced via the brake pedal from the brake pressure generated by the brake pressure generator unit and the parameter which is related to the amplification of the electronically controllable brake booster, wherein, during a driving dynamics control process, the electronic control unit evaluates the actuation force which is introduced via the brake pedal in order to decide to perform one of continuing the driving dynamics control process and aborting the driving dynamics control process.

11. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 10, wherein, during a driving dynamics control process, the electronic control unit evaluates the actuation force which is introduced via the brake pedal as a factor in deciding to perform one of continuing the driving dynamics control process and aborting the driving dynamics control process to begin an emergency braking operation.

12. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 10, wherein, during a driving dynamics control process, the electronic control unit evaluates the actuation force which is introduced via the brake pedal as a factor in deciding to perform one of continuing the driving dynamics control process and aborting the driving dynamics control process to begin an intentional braking operation.

13. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 10, wherein said electronically controllable brake booster is one of a vacuum booster and a hydraulic booster.

14. An electronically controllable braking system for motor vehicles comprising:

a brake pressure generator unit with a master cylinder for the generation of a brake pressure;

a brake booster for applying an input force to the brake pressure generator unit in order to actuate the brake pressure generator unit;

a brake pedal via which an actuation force can be introduced via the brake booster into the brake pressure generator unit in order to actuate the brake pressure generator unit;

a first sensor which senses a differential pressure of the brake booster;

a second sensor which senses the brake pressure generated by the brake pressure generator unit; and

an electronic control unit that determines the actuation force that is introduced via the brake pedal from the brake pressure generated by the brake pressure generator unit and the differential pressure of the brake booster, the electronic control unit further being programmed with the known transmission ratio of the brake booster and performing error detection monitoring of said first sensor and said second sensor to detect a error.

15. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 14, wherein said electronic control unit uses an error program to control a braking operation when an error is detected and the braking operation is commenced.

16. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 15, said electronic control unit being programmed with at least one of a maximum permissible time for an emergency braking operation and a vehicle deceleration which is normally set for an emergency braking operation, said error program controlling an emergency baking operation, when an error is detected and the emergency braking operation is commenced, to do one of shortening said maximum permissible time for the emergency braking operation and reducing said vehicle deceleration which is normally set for the emergency braking operation.

17. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 15, said electronic control unit being programmed with at least one of a maximum permissible time for an intentional braking operation and a vehicle deceleration which is normally set for an intentional braking operation, said error program controlling an intentional baking operation, when an error is detected and the intentional braking operation is commenced, to do one of shortening said maximum permissible time for the intentional braking operation and reducing said vehicle deceleration which is normally set for the intentional braking operation.

18. The electronically controllable braking system according to claim 14, wherein said brake booster is one of a vacuum booster and a hydraulic booster.