Method and system for controlling braking equipment

• US 7,092,809 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Endres, Franz-Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CUONG H
• Application Number:
  US10/850,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20040212247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 180/18.A, 180/179, 180/72.1, 180/282, 180/290, 701/70, 701/76, 701/81, 701/78, 303/3, 303/20, 303/112, 303/191, 303/192, 303/24.1, 303/122, 192/218
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and a system for controlling braking equipment with a function for the driveaway assistance of a motor vehicle. After setting an initial operating state of the braking equipment in which the function for the driveaway assistance is selectively switched on or off, an operating state of the motor vehicle in which the motor vehicle is stationary or nearly stationary is determined. If the motor vehicle is stationary and a characteristic control parameter capable of being influenced by the driver is detected, the braking equipment of the motor vehicle is controlled in such a way that, by switching on or off the function for the driveaway assistance of the motor vehicle, an operating state of the braking equipment differing from the initial operating state is produced.

Claims

1. Method for controlling braking equipment with a function for the driveaway assistance of a motor vehicle having the following steps:

selecting an initial operating state of the braking equipment in which a function for the driveaway assistance of the motor vehicle is selectively switched on or off,

detecting a characteristic control parameter capable of being influenced by a vehicle driver,

subsequently controlling the braking equipment in reaction to the detection of the control parameter, in order, by switching on or off the function for the driveaway assistance of the motor vehicle, to produce an operating state of the braking equipment differing from the initial operating state, wherein

if the selection was that the function for the driveaway assistance of the motor vehicle is switched off in the initial operating state of the braking equipment, this function is switched on, and

if the selection was that the function for the driveaway assistance of the motor vehicle is switched on in the initial operating state of the braking equipment, this function is switched off, and wherein subsequently

a production of the operating state of the braking equipment differing from the initial operating state takes place only in reaction to the detection of an operating state of the motor vehicle in which the motor vehicle is stationary or nearly stationary.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic control parameter is a characteristic brake-pressure which is initiated by the vehicle driver.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the brake-pressure is detected by means of a brake-pressure sensor.

4. Method according to claim 1, further including the step:

controlling the braking equipment in order, after producing the operating state of the braking equipment differing from the initial operating state by switching on or off the function for the driveaway assistance of the motor vehicle and after detection of a driveaway procedure, to restore the initial operating state of the braking equipment.

5. Method according to claim 1, further including the step:

indicating a current operating state of the braking equipment in which the function for the driveaway assistance of the motor vehicle is switched on or off.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the current operating state of the braking equipment is indicated by means of an acoustic or visual signal.

7. Method according to claim 1, further including the step:

controlling the braking equipment in reaction to the detection of the control parameter such that a function of the braking equipment is activated by means of which, independently of the braking equipment being actuated by the vehicle driver, braking forces are built up which keep the motor vehicle stationary.

8. System for controlling braking equipment with a function for the driveaway assistance of a motor vehicle having:

a control device and

detecting devices for detecting parameters characterising operating states of the motor vehicle and also a control parameter capable of being influenced by a vehicle driver, the control device being structured and configured to carry out the following steps;

selecting an initial operating state of the braking equipment in which the function for the driveaway assistance of the motor vehicle is selectively switched on or off,

detecting a characteristic control parameter capable of being influenced by a vehicle driver,

subsequently controlling the braking equipment in reaction to the detection of the control parameter, in order, by switching on or off the function for the driveaway assistance of the motor vehicle, to produce an operating state of the braking equipment differing from the initial operating state, wherein

if the selection was that the function for the driveaway assistance of the motor vehicle is switched off in the initial operating state of the braking equipment, this function is switched on, and

if the selection was that the function for the driveaway assistance of the motor vehicle is switched on in the initial operating state of the braking equipment, this function is switched off, and wherein subsequently

a production of the operating state of the braking equipment differing from the initial operating state takes place only in reaction to the detection of an operating state of the motor vehicle in which the motor vehicle is stationary or nearly stationary.

9. System according to claim 8, wherein the detecting device for detecting the control parameter capable of being influenced by a vehicle driver is a brake-pressure sensor.

10. System according to claim 8, further including an indicating device for indicating a current operating state of the braking equipment.

11. System according to claim 9, further including an indicating device for indicating a current operating state of the braking equipment.