Braking system having switching device for supplying energy to electrically controlled through brake controller upon operation of brake operating member

• US 6,749,269 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2000
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Niwa, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Burch, Melody M.
• Application Number:
  US09/495,447
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 303/3, 303/15, 303/20, 303/115.2, 303/9.61, 303/122.03, 303/122.04, 303/122.05, 303/189, 303/199, 303/113.4, 303/DIG.10, 701/70
• US Class Current: 303/20
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/741 acting on an ultimate actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2220/04 Pedal travel sensor, stroke sensor; Sensing brake request

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an electrically controlled braking system including an electrically controlled brake for braking a vehicle wheel, an electric power source device, and a brake control apparatus for controlling an electric energy to be supplied from the electric power source device to the brake, for thereby controlling an operation of the brake, when a brake operating member is operated. A switching device is disposed between the electric power source device and the brake control apparatus. The switching device is turned on for connecting the electric power source device to the brake control apparatus, in response to an operation of the brake operating member.

Claims

1. An electrically controlled braking system including an electrically controlled brake for braking a wheel of an automotive vehicle, an electric power source device, a brake operating member, and a brake control apparatus for controlling an electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source device to said brake, for thereby controlling an operation of said brake, when said brake operating member is operated, said braking system comprising:

a switching device disposed between said electric power source device and at least said brake control apparatus, said switching device being turned on for connecting said electric power source device to said at least said brake control apparatus, in response to an operation of said brake operating member,

wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a front brake for braking a front wheel,

wherein said brake control apparatus includes a front brake control device for controlling an operation of said front brake,

wherein said electric power source device includes a plurality of electric power sources which are arranged to supply electric energies to said front brake control device independently of each other,

and wherein said switching device includes a plurality of switching devices each of which is provided for a corresponding one of said plurality of electric power sources so as to selectively permit and inhibit supply of the electric energy by the corresponding one of said plurality of electric power sources.

2. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 1, wherein said rear brake includes a first rear brake and a second rear brake, and said rear brake control device includes a first rear brake control device for controlling said first rear brake and a second rear brake control device for controlling said second rear brake, said first rear brake being connected to one of said plurality of electric power sources while said second rear brake control device being connected to another of said plurality of electric power sources.

3. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 1, wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a rotor for rotating with said wheel, a friction member, and an electric motor for forcing said friction member onto said rotor, and said brake control apparatus includes a motor control device for controlling the electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source device to said electric motor.

4. An electrically controlled braking system including an electrically controlled brake for braking a wheel of an automotive vehicle, an electric power source device, a brake operating member, and a brake control apparatus for controlling an electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source device to said brake, for thereby controlling an operation of said brake, when said brake operating member is operated, said braking system comprising:

a switching device disposed between said electric power source device, and at least one of said brake control apparatus and said brake, said switching device being turned on for connecting said electric power source device to said at least one of said brake control apparatus and said brake, in response to an operation of said brake operating member,

wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a front left brake for braking a front left wheel, a front right brake for braking a front right wheel, a rear left brake for braking a rear left wheel and a rear right brake for braking a rear right wheel,

wherein said brake control apparatus includes a front left brake control device for controlling said front left brake, a front right brake control device for controlling said front right brake, a rear left brake control device for controlling said rear left brake and a rear right brake control device for controlling said rear right brake,

and wherein said electric power source device includes a front left brake power source arranged to supply the electric energy to said front left brake control device without supplying the electric energy to said front right brake control device, a front right brake power source arranged to supply the electric energy to said front right brake control device without supplying the electric energy to said front left brake control device, and a common rear brake power source arranged to supply an electric energy to both of said rear left and right brake control devices.

5. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 4, wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a rotor for rotating with said wheel, a friction member, and an electric motor for forcing said friction member onto said rotor, and said brake control apparatus includes a motor control device for controlling the electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source device to said electric motor.

6. An electrically controlled braking system including an electrically controlled brake for braking a wheel of an automotive vehicle, an electric power source device, a brake operating member, and a brake control apparatus for controlling an electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source device to said brake, for thereby controlling an operation of said brake, when said brake operating member is operated, said braking system comprising:

a switching device disposed between said electric power source device, and at least said brake, said switching device being turned on for connecting said electric power source device to said at least said brake, in response to an operation of said brake operating member,

wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a front rotor rotating with a front wheel, a front friction member, and an electrically operated front brake actuator for forcing said front friction member onto said front rotor,

wherein said electric power source device includes a plurality of electric power sources including at least two electric power sources arranged to supply electric energies to said front brake actuator independently of each other,

and wherein said switching device includes a plurality of switching devices each of which is provided for a corresponding one of said plurality of electric power sources so as to selectively permit and inhibit supply of the electric energy by the corresponding one of said plurality of electric power sources.

7. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 6,

wherein said electrically controlled brake further includes two electrically operated rear brake actuators each of which is arranged to force a rear friction member onto a rear rotor rotating with a corresponding one of rear left and right wheels,

and wherein said plurality of electric power sources include two electric power sources provided for said two rear brake actuators, respectively.

8. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 6, wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a rotor for rotating with said wheel, a friction member, and an electric motor for forcing said friction member onto said rotor, and said brake control apparatus includes a motor control device for controlling the electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source device to said electric motor.

9. An electrically controlled braking system including an electrically controlled brake for braking a wheel of an automotive vehicle, an electric power source device, a brake operating member, and a brake control apparatus for controlling an electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source device to said brake, for thereby controlling an operation of said brake, when said brake operating member is operated, said braking system comprising:

a switching device disposed between said electric power source device, and at least one of said brake control apparatus and said brake, said switching device being turned on for connecting said electric power source device to said at least one of said brake control apparatus and said brake, in response to an operation of said brake operating member,

wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a plurality of brakes for braking respective wheels of the automotive vehicle, said brakes including respective electrically operated electric motors each of which is arranged to force a friction member onto a rotor rotating with a corresponding one of the wheels, said braking system further comprising a plurality of actuator switching devices each of which is disposed between said electric power source device and a corresponding one of said electric motors, each of said actuator switching devices being operable between a connecting state for connecting said electric power source device to the corresponding electric motor, and a disconnecting state for disconnecting said electric power source device from said corresponding electric motor,

and wherein said brake control apparatus includes motor control devices for controlling said electric motors, respectively, and each of said plurality of actuator switching devices includes two switches connected in series with each other, one of said two switches of said each of said actuator switching devices being turned off when the corresponding electric motor becomes abnormal, the other of said two switches being turned off when the corresponding motor control device becomes abnormal.

10. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 9, wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a rotor for rotating with said wheel, a friction member, and an electric motor for forcing said friction member onto said rotor, and said brake control apparatus includes a motor control device for controlling the electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source device to said electric motor.

11. An electrically controlled braking system including an electrically controlled brake for braking a wheel of an automotive vehicle, an electric power source device, a brake operating member, and a brake control apparatus for controlling an electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source device to said brake, for thereby controlling an operation of said brake, when said brake operating member is operated, said braking system comprising:

a switching device disposed between said electric power source device and said brake,

wherein said switching device includes a first switch and a second switch which are connected in parallel with each other, said first switch comprising at least one of an ignition switch of the automotive vehicle, and a switch which is turned on and off in response to an operation of said ignition switch, said second switch being turned on and off in response to an operation of said brake operating member, said switching device being turned on for connecting said electric power source device to said brake, in response to either one of the operations of said ignition switch and said brake operating member.

12. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 11, wherein said first switch comprises said switch which is turned on and off in response to the operation of said ignition switch.

13. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 11, wherein said first switch comprises said ignition switch.

14. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 11, wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a rotor for rotating with said wheel, a friction member, and an electric motor for forcing said friction member onto said rotor, and said brake control apparatus includes a motor control device for controlling the electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source device to said electric motor.

15. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 11, wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a rotor for rotating with said wheel, a friction member, and an electrically operated actuator for forcing said friction member onto said rotor, said switching device is disposed between said electric power source device and said actuator.

16. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 11, wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a rotor for rotating with said wheel, a friction member, and an electrically operated actuator for forcing said friction member onto said rotor, said braking system further comprising another switching device disposed between said electric power source device and said actuator, said another switching device being turned on to connect said electric power source device to said actuator in response to an operation of said brake operating member.

17. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 11, wherein said brake control apparatus includes a plurality of control devices each of which is principally constituted by a computer, and said electric power source device includes a plurality of electric power sources corresponding to said plurality of control devices, respectively.

18. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of control devices are substantially identical with each other.

19. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 17, wherein said brake control apparatus includes a control on/off device for continuing a control of the electrically controlled braking system when at least one predetermined control device of said plurality of control devices is normal, and stopping the control of said electrically controlled braking system when said at least one predetermined control device is not normal.

20. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 17, wherein said brake control apparatus includes an abnormality detecting device for detecting that at least one of said plurality of control devices is abnormal.

21. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 20, wherein each of said plurality of control devices includes a plurality of central processing units, and said abnormality detecting device includes a CPU abnormality detecting device for detecting that at least one of said plurality of central processing units is abnormal.

22. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 11, wherein said brake control apparatus includes at least three control devices each of which is principally constituted by a computer.

23. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 11, wherein said brake control apparatus includes at least one control device each of which is principally constituted by a computer, and said electric power source device includes a plurality of electric power sources which are arranged to supply electric energies to each of said at least one control device independently of each other.

24. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 11, wherein said electrically controlled brake includes an electrically operated front brake actuator for forcing a friction member onto a rotor rotating with a front wheel, and an electrically operated rear brake actuator for forcing a friction member onto a rotor for rotating with a rear wheel, and said electric power source device includes a front brake power source for supplying an electric energy to said electrically operated front brake actuator and a rear brake power source for supplying an electric energy to said electrically operated rear brake actuator.

25. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 11, wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a plurality of brakes for braking respective wheels of the automotive vehicle, said brakes including respective electrically operated electric motors each of which is arranged to force a friction member onto a rotor for rotating with a corresponding one of the wheels, said braking system further comprising a plurality of actuator switching devices each of which is disposed between said electric power source device and a corresponding one of said electric motors, each of said actuator switching devices being operable between a connecting state for connecting said electric power source device to the corresponding electric motor, and a disconnecting state for disconnecting said electric power source device from said corresponding electric motor.

26. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 11, wherein said electrically controlled bake includes a rotor for rotating with said wheel, a friction member, and an electrically operated actuator for forcing said friction member onto said rotor, and said brake control apparatus includes a main control device which determines a physical quantity relating to a desired value of a braking force to be produced by said brake and generates a control command representative of the determined physical quantity, and an actuator control device which controls said electrically operated actuator according to said control command and generates a signal representative of a physical quantity relating to an actual value of the braking force produced by said brake.

27. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 26, wherein said actuator control device is spaced from said main control device and disposed on a sprung member of the automotive vehicle such that said actuator control device is located near said actuator, said main control device and said actuator control device have means for data communication therebetween through a local area network (LAN).

28. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 26, wherein said main control device includes an abnormality detecting device for detecting an abnormality of said actuator control device, on the basis of said signal representative of the physical quantity relating to said actual value of the braking force produced by said brake.

29. An electrically controlled brake system according to claim 11, further including a mechanically operated brake mechanically operated by said brake operating member, and wherein said brake control apparatus includes a switching mechanism operable between a connecting state in which an operating force applied to said brake operating member upon operation of said brake operating member is transmitted to said mechanically operated brake and a disconnecting state in which said operating force is not transmitted to said mechanically operated brake, said brake control apparatus further including a switching control device which is normally placed in said disconnecting state, and is brought into said connecting state when an electrical abnormality of the electrically braking system takes place.

30. An electrically controlled braking system including an electrically controlled brake for braking a wheel of an automotive vehicle, an electric power source device, a brake operating member, and a brake control apparatus for controlling an electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source to said brake, for thereby controlling an operation of said brake, when said brake operating member is operated, said braking system comprising:

a switching device disposed between said electric power source device, and at least one of said brake control apparatus and said brake,

wherein said switching device includes a first switch and a second switch which are connected in parallel with each other, said first switch comprising at least one of an ignition switch of the automotive vehicle, and a switch which is turned on and off in response to an operation of said ignition switch, said second switch being turned on and off in response to an operation of said brake operating member, said switching device being turned on for connecting said electric power source device to at least one of said brake control apparatus and said brake, in response to either one of the operations of said ignition switch and said brake operating member,

and wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a rotor for rotating with said wheel, a friction member, and an electrically operated actuator for forcing said friction member onto said rotor.

31. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 30, wherein said first switch comprises said switch which is turned on and off in response to the operation of said ignition switch.

32. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 30, wherein said first switch comprises said ignition switch.

33. An electrically controlled braking system including an electrically controlled brake for braking a wheel of an automotive vehicle, an electric power source device, a brake operating member, and a brake control apparatus for controlling an electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source to said brake, for thereby controlling an operation of said brake, when said brake operating member is operated, said braking system comprising:

a switching device disposed between said electric power source device, and at least one of said brake control apparatus and said brake; and

a detecting device which detects at least one of an operating stroke of said brake operating member and a depression force acting on said brake operating member,

wherein said switching device includes a first switch and a second switch which are connected in parallel with each other, said first switch comprising at least one of an ignition switch of the automotive vehicle, and a switch which is turned on and off in response to an operation of said ignition switch, said second switch being turned on and off in response to an operation of said brake operating member, said switching device being turned on for connecting said electric power source device to at least one of said brake control apparatus and said brake, in response to either one of the operations of said ignition switch and said brake operating member,

and wherein said brake control apparatus determines a desired braking force to be produced by said brake, on the basis of at least one of said operating stroke and said depression force detected by said detecting device, and controls said electric energy such that said desired braking force is produced by said brake.

34. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 33, wherein said first switch comprises said switch which is turned on and off in response to the operation of said ignition switch.

35. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 33, wherein said first switch comprises said ignition switch.

36. An electrically controlled braking system including an electrically controlled brake for braking a wheel of an automotive vehicle, an electric power source device, a brake operating member, and a brake control apparatus for controlling an electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source device to said brake, for thereby controlling an operation of said brake, when said brake operating member is operated, said braking system comprising:

a switching device disposed between said electric power source device and at least one of said brake control apparatus and said brake, said switching device being turned on for connecting said electric power source device to said at least one of said brake control apparatus and said brake, in response to an operation of said brake operating member,

wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a rotor rotating with said wheel, a friction member, and an electrically operated actuator for forcing said friction member onto said rotor, said braking system comprising an electric circuit in which said actuator and said brake control apparatus are connected to said electric power device such that said actuator and said brake control apparatus are connected in parallel with each other, and wherein said switching device is disposed in a common portion of said electric circuit which serves to connect said electric power source device to both of said actuator and said brake control apparatus.

37. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 36, further comprising a controller switching device which is turned off to disconnect said electrically operated actuator from said electric power source device when said brake control apparatus is abnormal, said controller switching device being disposed in an exclusive portion of said electric circuit which serves to connect said electric power source device to only said actuator.

38. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 37, wherein said controller switching device includes a plurality of switches connected in parallel with each other, and said brake control apparatus includes a plurality of control devices which are principally constituted by respective computers and which correspond to said plurality of switches, respectively, and a switch control device for turning off one of said plurality of switches of said controller switching device when one of said control devices which corresponds to said one of said plurality of switches becomes abnormal.

39. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 36, wherein said electric power source device includes a plurality of electric power sources, and said switching device includes a main switch provided in said common portion of said electric circuit which includes one of said electric power sources, a plurality of coils which are energized and de-energized to turn on and off said main switch, a plurality of coil connecting circuits for connecting said plurality of coils to said plurality of electric power sources, and a plurality of brake switches which are respectively provided in said coil connecting circuits and which are turned on when said brake operating member is operated.

40. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 36, wherein said electric power source device includes a plurality of electric power sources, and said electrically controlled brake includes a plurality of electrically operated actuators, said brake control apparatus including a plurality of actuator control devices for controlling said plurality of actuators, respectively, said braking system comprising a plurality of electric circuits each of which includes a corresponding one of said electric power sources, a corresponding one of said actuators and a corresponding one of said actuator control devices, said switching device including a main switch provided in each of said plurality of electric circuits, a coil which is energized and de-energized to turn on and off said main switch, a coil connecting circuit for connecting said coil to said corresponding one of said electric power sources, and a brake switch which is provided in said coil connecting circuit and which is turned on when said brake operating member is operated.

41. An electrically controlled braking system according to claim 36, wherein said electrically controlled brake includes a rotor for rotating with said wheel, a friction member, and an electric motor for forcing said friction member onto said rotor, and said brake control apparatus includes a motor control device for controlling the electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source device to said electric motor.

42. An electrically controlled braking system including an electrically controlled brake for braking a wheel of an automotive vehicle, an electric power source device, a brake operating member, and a brake control apparatus for controlling an electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source device to said brake, for thereby controlling an operation of said brake, when said brake operating member is operated, said braking system comprising:

a switching device disposed between said electric power source device, and at least one of said brake control apparatus and said brake, said switching device being turned on for connecting said electric power source device to said at least one of said brake control apparatus and said brake, in response to an operation of said brake operating member,

wherein said switching device includes a plurality of switches which are connected in series with each other and which are turned on in response to the operation of said brake operating member that is common to said plurality of switches,

wherein said brake control apparatus includes a main control device which determines a physical quantity relating to a desired value of a braking force to be produced by said brake, on the basis of at least one of an operation stroke of said brake operating member and an operation force acting on said brake operating member,

and wherein said switching device including said plurality of switches is disposed between said electric power source and said main control device.

43. An electrically controlled braking system including an electrically controlled brake for braking a wheel of an automotive vehicle, an electric power source device, a brake operating member, and a brake control apparatus for controlling an electric energy to be supplied from said electric power source device to said brake, for thereby controlling an operation of said brake, when said brake operating member is operated, said braking system comprising:

a switching device disposed between said electric power source device, and at least one of said brake control apparatus and said brake, said switching device being turned on for connecting said electric power source device to said at least one of said brake control apparatus and said brake, in response to an operation of said brake operating member,

wherein said switching device includes a plurality of switches which are connected in series with each other and which are turned on in response to the operation of said brake operating member that is common to said plurality of switches,

and wherein said brake operating member is a brake pedal.