Accelerator actuated emergency braking system

• US 6,655,749 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Tellis, Levasseur, Ekmark, Jonas, Tarabishy, M. Nabeel, Engelman, Gerald H, Bond, John Vincent III, Jansson, Jonas L. Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORRES WILLIAMS, MELANIE
• Application Number:
  US09/683,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20030085612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 303/9, 303/3, 303/183, 303/113.1, 303/113.4, 303/113.5, 303/114.1, 303/115.2, 342/70, 342/71, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 307/10.1, 701/96
• US Class Current: 303/9
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/02 Active or adaptive cruise control system; Distance control
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/03 Brake assistants
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• 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: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/087 where the control system corrects or modifies a request from the driver

Abstract

An enhanced emergency brake assist system includes an accelerator pedal operated by the driver coupled to a braking system and used to control the overall vehicle speed. When a forward detection apparatus detects an imminent contact, the braking system automatically applies braking force to the vehicle after the driver fully releases the accelerator pedal. The braking force may be reduced when the driver or passenger are unbuckled.

Claims

1. An enchanced emergency brake assist apparatus comprising:

an accelerator pedal coupled to an accelerator position sensor, said accelerator position sensor being operative to generate an accelerator position signal;

a braking system coupled to a variable brake booster, said variable brake booster being operative to produce a variable brake booster force;

a driver seatbelt switch operative to generate a driver unbuckled signal when a drive seatbelt is unbuckled;

a forward detection apparatus having control logic operative to detect an imminent contact and generate an imminent contact signal; and

a controller coupled to said variable brake booster and said driver seatbelt switch, said controller being operative to receive said accelerator position signal, said driver unbuckled signal, and said imminent contact signal, said controller including control logic operative to automatically apply said variable brake booster force in response to said accelerator position signal and said imminent contact signal when said accelerator pedal transitions from a depressed position to a fully released position and reduce said automatic braking force when said driver seatbelt is unbuckled.

2. The enhanced emergency brake assist apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprising:

a brake pedal coupled to said variable brake booster, said brake pedal exerting a pedal force upon said variable brake booster wherein said braking system exerts a braking force proportional to said pedal force during normal operation; and

said controller including control logic operative to increase said variable brake booster force in response to said imminent contact signal, wherein said braking system exerts an amplified braking force proportional to said brake pedal force.

3. The enhanced emergency brake assist apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said braking system exerts an amplified braking force proportional to said brake pedal force when a cruise control function is active.

4. The enhanced emergency brake assist apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said forward detection apparatus includes a forward contact warning apparatus, said forward contact warning apparatus operative to notify a driver of said imminent contact.

5. The enhanced emergency brake assist apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a passenger present switch operative to generate a passenger present signal when a passenger is present in a passenger seat, said passenger present switch being coupled to said controller.

6. The enhanced emergency brake assist apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising a passenger seatbelt switch operative to generate a passenger unbuckled signal when a passenger seatbelt is unbuckled, said passenger seatbelt switch being coupled to said controller.

7. The enhanced emergency brake assist apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said controller includes control logic operative to reduce said automatic braking force when said passenger is present and said passenger seatbelt is unbuckled.

8. An enhanced emergency brake assist system for a vehicle comprising:

an accelerator pedal located in the vehicle and coupled to an accelerator position sensor, said accelerator position sensor being operative to generate an accelerator position signal;

a braking system located in the vehicle and coupled to a variable brake booster, said variable brake booster being operative to produce a variable brake booster force;

a driver seatbelt switch operative to generate a driver unbuckled signal when a driver seatbelt is unbuckled;

a forward detection apparatus located in the vehicle and having control logic operative to detect an imminent contact and generate an imminent contact signal, said forward detection apparatus operative to notify a driver of said imminent contact; and

a controller located in the vehicle, coupled to said variable brake booster and said driver seatbelt switch, said controller being operative to receive said accelerator position signal, said driver unbuckled signal, and said imminent contact signal, said controller including control logic operative to automatically apply said variable brake booster force in response to said accelerator position signal and said imminent contact signal when said accelerator pedal transitions from a depressed position to a fully released position and reduce said automatic braking force when said driver seatbelt is unbuckled.

9. The enhanced emergency brake assist system for a vehicle as recited in claim 8, comprising:

a brake pedal coupled to said variable brake booster, said brake pedal exerting a pedal force upon said variable brake booster wherein said braking system exerts a braking force proportional to said pedal force during normal operation; and

said controller including control logic operative to increase said variable brake booster force in response to said imminent contact signal, wherein said braking system exerts an amplified braking force proportional to said brake pedal force.

10. The enhanced emergency brake assist system for a vehicle as recited in claim 8, wherein said braking system exerts an amplified braking force proportional to said brake pedal force when a cruise control function is active.

11. The enhanced emergency brake assist system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a passenger present switch operative to generate a passenger present signal when a passenger is present in a passenger seat, said passenger present switch being coupled to said controller.

12. The enhanced emergency brake assist system as recited in claim 11, further comprising a passenger seatbelt switch operative to generate a passenger unbuckled signal when a passenger seatbelt is unbuckled, said passenger seatbelt switch being coupled to said controller.

13. The enhanced emergency brake assist system as recited in claim 12, wherein said controller includes control logic operative to reduce said automatic braking force when said passenger is present and said passenger seatbelt is unbuckled.