Electromechanical brake system

• US 6,345,225 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Willimowski, Peter, Böhm, Jürgen, Stölzl, Stefan, Nell, Joachim, Oehler, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US09/554,795
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70, 701/71, 701/72, 701/78, 701/76, 701/79, 701/81-83, 701/92, 303/100, 303/92, 303/91, 303/11, 303/10, 303/113.4, 280/707, 180/79.1, 180/197, 180/243, 180/65.2, 180/242, 180/140, 180/142, 180/143, 731/26, 318/430, 748/66
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/74 with electrical assistance or drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/413 Plausibility monitoring, cross check, redundancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/321 deceleration B60T8/34, B60T8/52, B60T8/54, B60T8/56, B60T8/58, B60T8/72, B60T8/86, B60T8/88 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/885 using electrical circuitry

Abstract

This invention relates to an electromechanical brake system, in particular for automotive vehicles, which includes a pedal module and at least two brake modules. Further, a central module may be provided. Connection between the aforementioned modules can be made by a data bus. The data bus is provided redundantly. In one embodiment, the central module can evaluate signals of a sensor system and examine them for their errors. Further, the central module can emit a corresponding nominal braking value which then is emitted to the brake modules. Thereupon, the brake modules determine appropriate actuating signals for the actuators which interact with the wheels in order to realize the driver'"'"'s braking intention.

Claims

1. An electromechanical brake system, in particular for automotive vehicles, comprising:

a pedal module for redundant detection of a driver'"'"'s actuation of a brake pedal by means of a suitable sensor system,

a device for determining a nominal braking value on the basis of output signals of the sensor system,

at least one brake module for actuating at least one wheel brake on the basis of the nominal braking value,

a data transfer unit, which is provided redundantly and which establishes a data flow connection between the pedal module and the at least one brake module,

an error detection circuit which detects any errors in the determination of the nominal braking value,

a control unit for controlling superior functions of the brake system,

wherein upon a failure of the control unit, the nominal braking value is determined in an emergency function operation by way of the output signals of at least one sensor of the sensor system in the pedal module.

2. A brake system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed as central module or is integrated in the brake module.

3. A brake system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the central module or the control unit integrated in the brake module performs a data consolidation for the purpose of detecting troubles of the pedal module and/or of the control unit.

4. A brake system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pedal module includes at least two modules which convert analog signals and/or incremental signals of the sensor system into digital signals which are fed into a data bus by way of two bus couplings, separated in terms of safety technology, or are digitally processed further in the pedal module.

5. A brake system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device for determining normal braking value is provided in the pedal module.

6. A brake system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pedal module is eerror-tolerant and performs a data consolidation for the purpose of detecting troubles of the pedal module.

7. A brake system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data transfer unit is a data bus provided as a double bus at least between the pedal module and the wheel module.

8. A brake system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pedal module at least includes one pedal travel sensor and at least one pedal force sensor.

9. A brake system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the brake module features a failsafe design.

10. A brake system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the central module or the control unit include a fail-silent design.

11. A brake system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brake module performs an error detection on the basis of local actuator-specific signals and in case of a detected error, it emits a corresponding message to the brake system.

12. A brake system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the error detection is performed, model-assisted.

13. A brake system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the brake module includes a device for time-synchronous detection of a wheel speed and in that the wheel speed is fed into the data bus.

14. An electromechanical brake system, in particular for automotive vehicles, comprising:

a pedal module for redundant detection of a driver'"'"'s actuation of a brake pedal by means of a suitable sensor system,

a device for determining a nominal braking value on the basis of output signals of the sensor system,

at least one brake module for actuating at least one wheel brake on the basis of the nominal braking value,

a data transfer unit, which is provided redundantly and which establishes a data flow connection between the pedal module and the at least one brake module,

an error detection circuit which detects any errors in the determination of the nominal braking value,

wherein the pedal module includes at least two modules which convert analog signals and/or incremental signals of the sensor system into digital signals which are fed into a data bus by way of two bus couplings, separated in terms of safety technology, or are digitally processed further in the pedal module.