Control and power supply network for vehicle braking system

• US 7,359,786 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haldex Brake Products AB (SAF-HOLLAND SE)
• Original Assignee: Haldex Brake Products AB (SAF-HOLLAND SE)
• Inventors: Lindqvist, Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Louie; Wae Lenny
• Application Number:
  US11/128,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20050288843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 701/48, 701/70, 701/71, 701/76, 701/81, 701/82, 701/83, 303/20, 303/122, 303/199, 303/155
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/74 with electrical assistance or drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/404 Brake-by-wire or X-by-wire failsafe
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/414 Power supply failure
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/885 using electrical circuitry

Abstract

An electrically controlled braking system includes a first control unit and a second control unit in electrical communication via a communication link and a human machine-interface manipulatable by a vehicle operator. The human-machine interface includes a first sensor and a second sensor, the first sensor providing an input signal to the first control unit, and the second sensor providing an input signal to the second control unit. The first control unit and the second control unit compare the input signal received from the first sensor with the input signal received from the second sensor, and generate control signals at least in part based upon the input signal received from the first sensor, the input signal received from the second sensor, and the comparison of the input signal received from the first sensor with the input signal received from the second sensor.

Claims

1. An electrically controlled braking system comprising:

a first control unit;

a second control unit;

wherein said first control unit and said second control unit are in electrical communication via a communication link;

a human machine-interface manipulatable by a vehicle operator, said human-machine interface comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, the first sensor providing an input signal to said first control unit, and the second sensor providing an input signal to said second control unit;

wherein said first control unit and said second control unit compare the input signal received from the first sensor with the input signal received from the second sensor, and generate control signals at least in part based upon the input signal received from the first sensor, the input signal received from the second sensor, and the comparison of the input signal received from the first sensor with the input signal received from the second sensor

a first brake component responsive to the control signals generated by said first control unit and said second control unit;

a second brake component responsive to the control signals generated by said first control unit and said second control unit;

a first control network electrically connecting said first control unit and said first brake component, said first control network adapted to transmit the control signals from said first control unit to said first brake component;

a second control network electrically connecting said second control unit and said second brake component, said second control network adapted to transmit the control signals from said second control unit to said second brake component; and

an auxiliary control link electrically connecting said first brake component and said second brake component, said auxiliary control link adapted to transmit the control signals between said first brake component and said second brake component when a failure occurs in one of said first control network or said second control network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said first control unit and said second control unit further determine whether the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor are valid.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the determination as to whether the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor are valid is based at least in part upon a determination as to whether the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor have values falling within an expected range.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising an error condition indicator, and wherein the error condition indicator is activated if at least one of the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor is invalid.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said first control unit and said second control unit generate control signals indicative of a demand for parking brake application if both of the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor are invalid.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the comparison of the input signal received from the first sensor with the input signal received from the second sensor is based at least in part upon a determination of whether a value of the input signal received from the first sensor differs from a value of the input signal received from the second sensor by more than an acceptable variance.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the comparison of the input signal received from the first sensor with the input signal received from the second sensor is further based at least in part upon a determination of whether a value of the input signal received from the second sensor differs from a value of the input signal received from the first sensor by more than an acceptable variance.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said human machine-interface comprises at least one of a pedal, a switch, a joystick, a lever, a button and a knob.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one power supply, said at least one power supply supplying electrical power;

a first brake component responsive to the control signals generated by said first control unit and said second control unit and at least partially operated by electrical power;

a second brake component responsive to the control signals generated by said first control unit and said second control unit and at least partially operated by electrical power;

a first power supply network electrically connecting said at least one power supply and said first brake component, said first power supply network adapted to transmit the electrical power from said at least one power supply to said first brake component; and

a second power supply network electrically connecting said at least one power supply and said second brake component, said second power supply network adapted to transmit the electrical power from said at least one power supply to said second brake component.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising an auxiliary power supply link activatable to electrically connect said first brake component and said second brake component when a failure occurs in one of said first power supply network or said second power supply network, said auxiliary power supply link adapted to transmit the electrical power between said first brake component and said second brake component when the failure occurs.

11. An electrically controlled braking system comprising:

at least one control unit, said at least one control unit generating control signals;

at least one power supply, said at least one power supply supplying electrical power;

a first brake component responsive to the control signals generated by said at least one control unit and at least partially operated by electrical power;

a second brake component responsive to the control signals generated by said at least one control unit and at least partially operated by electrical power;

a first control network electrically connecting said at least one control unit and said first brake component, said first control network adapted to transmit the control signals from said at least one control unit to said first brake component;

a second control network electrically connecting said at least one control unit and said second brake component, said second control network adapted to transmit the control signals from said at least one control unit to said second brake component;

an auxiliary control link electrically connecting said first brake component and said second brake component, said auxiliary control link adapted to transmit the control signals between said first brake component and said second brake component when a failure occurs in one of said first control network or said second control network;

a first power supply network electrically connecting said at least one power supply and said first brake component, said first power supply network adapted to transmit the electrical power from said at least one power supply to said first brake component;

a second power supply network electrically connecting said at least one power supply and said second brake component, said second power supply network adapted to transmit the electrical power from said at least one power supply to said second brake component; and

an auxiliary power supply link activatable to electrically connect said first brake component and said second brake component when a failure occurs in one of said first power supply network or said second power supply network, said auxiliary power supply link adapted to transmit the electrical power between said first brake component and said second brake component when the failure occurs.

12. The system of claim 11:

wherein said at least one control unit comprises a first control unit and a second control unit and further comprising;

wherein said first control unit and said second control unit are in electrical communication via a communication link;

further comprising a human machine-interface manipulatable by a vehicle operator, said human-machine interface comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, the first sensor providing an input signal to said first control unit, and the second sensor providing an input signal to said second control unit; and

wherein said first control unit and said second control unit compare the input signal received from the first sensor with the input signal received from the second sensor, and generate control signals at least in part based upon the input signal received from the first sensor, the input signal received from the second sensor, and the comparison of the input signal received from the first sensor with the input signal received from the second sensor.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said first control unit and said second control unit further determine whether the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor are valid.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the determination as to whether the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor are valid is based at least in part upon a determination as to whether the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor have values falling within an expected range.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising an error condition indicator, and wherein the error condition indicator is activated if at least one of the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor is invalid.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said first control unit and said second control unit generate control signals indicative of a demand for parking brake application if both of the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor are invalid.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the comparison of the input signal received from the first sensor with the input signal received from the second sensor is based at least in part upon a determination of whether a value of the input signal received from the first sensor differs from a value of the input signal received from the second sensor by more than an acceptable variance.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the comparison of the input signal received from the first sensor with the input signal received from the second sensor is further based at least in part upon a determination of whether a value of the input signal received from the second sensor differs from a value of the input signal received from the first sensor by more than an acceptable variance.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein said human machine-interface comprises at least one of a pedal, a switch, a joystick, a lever, a button and a knob.

20. A method of controlling a braking system comprising the steps of:

providing a first control unit and a second control unit in electrical communication with one another via a communication link;

manipulating a human machine-interface having a first sensor and a second sensor;

providing an input signal from the first sensor to the first control unit;

providing an input signal from the second sensor to the second control unit;

comparing the input signal received from the first sensor with the input signal received from the second sensor;

generating control signals at least in part based upon the input signal received from the first sensor, the input signal received from the second sensor, and the comparison of the input signal received from the first sensor with the input signal received from the second sensor

providing a first brake component responsive to the control signals generated by the first control unit and the second control unit;

providing a second brake component responsive to the control signals generated by the first control unit and the second control unit;

electrically connecting the first control unit and the first brake component via a first control network, the first control network adapted to transmit the control signals from the first control unit to the first brake component;

electrically connecting the second control unit and the second brake component via a second control network, the second control network adapted to transmit the control signals from the second control unit to the second brake component; and

electrically connecting the first brake component and the second brake component via an auxiliary control link, the auxiliary control link adapted to transmit the control signals between the first brake component and the second brake component when a failure occurs in one of the first control network or the second control network.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of determining whether the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor are valid.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said step of determining whether the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor are valid is based at least in part upon a determination as to whether the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor have values falling within an expected range.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of activating an error condition indicator if at least one of the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor is invalid.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of generating control signals indicative of a demand for parking brake application if both of the input signal received from the first sensor and the input signal received from the second sensor are invalid.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein said step of comparing the input signal received from the first sensor with the input signal received from the second sensor is based at least in part upon a determination of whether a value of the input signal received from the first sensor differs from a value of the input signal received from the second sensor by more than an acceptable variance.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of comparing the input signal received from the first sensor with the input signal received from the second sensor is further based at least in part upon a determination of whether a value of the input signal received from the second sensor differs from a value of the input signal received from the first sensor by more than an acceptable variance.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein the human machine-interface comprises at least one of a pedal, a switch, a joystick, a lever, a button and a knob.

28. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of:

supplying electrical power with at least one power supply;

providing a first brake component responsive to the control signals generated by the first control unit and the second control unit and at least partially operated by electrical power;

providing a second brake component responsive to the control signals generated by the first control unit and the second control unit and at least partially operated by electrical power;

electrically connecting the at least one power supply and the first brake component via a first power supply network, the first power supply network adapted to transmit the electrical power from the at least one power supply to the first brake component; and

electrically connecting the at least one power supply and the second brake component via a second power supply network, the second power supply network adapted to transmit the electrical power from the at least one power supply to the second brake component.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of activating an auxiliary power supply link to electrically connect the first brake component and the second brake component when a failure occurs in one of the first power supply network or the second power supply network, the auxiliary power supply link adapted to transmit the electrical power between the first brake component and the second brake component when the failure occurs.