Method for operating a parking brake having an electromotively driven parking brake mechanism

• US 9,108,599 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2013
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Blattert, Dieter, Hauber, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US14/104,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20140172259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/70, 701/99, 903/903, 903/918, 180/65.21, 180/65.25, 180/65.265
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/741 acting on an ultimate actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/122 for locking of reverse movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for operating a parking brake with an electromotively driven parking brake mechanism includes applying the parking brake by the electric motor, switching off the electric motor in the state in which the parking brake is applied, switching on the electric motor after a prespecified time and reapplying the parking brake mechanism in the brake application direction. During the brake reapplication operation, an electrical variable of the electric motor is determined and compared with a reference value. The brake reapplication process is continued or terminated depending on whether the electrical variable, or a variable derived therefrom, is smaller or greater than the reference value.

Claims

1. A method for operating a parking brake having an electromotively driven parking brake mechanism, comprising:

applying the parking brake by use of the electric motor;

switching off the electric motor in the state in which the parking brake is applied;

switching on the electric motor after a prespecified time and starting a brake reapplication process by driving the parking brake mechanism in the brake application direction;

determining with a controller an electrical variable of the electric motor during the brake reapplication operation;

comparing with the controller the determined electrical variable, or a variable derived therefrom, with a reference value; and

continuing the brake reapplication process or terminating the brake reapplication process depending on the result of the comparison.

2. The method for operating a parking brake according to claim 1, wherein the reference value is a function of the current consumed by the electric motor at the switch-off time, or a variable that is proportional to the current.

3. The method for operating a parking brake according to claim 1, wherein the reference value is a function of a hydraulic brake pressure, or a variable that is dependent thereon, applied to the parking brake at the time at which the electric motor is switched off.

4. The method for operating a parking brake according to claim 1, wherein the reference value is determined in accordance with the following equation:

5. The method for operating a parking brake according claim 1, wherein the reference value is determined in accordance with the following equation:

6. The method for operating a parking brake according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor is switched on again, and the parking brake is reapplied, after a time period of from 3 mins to 15 mins.

7. The method for operating a parking brake according to claim 1, wherein the parking brake is reapplied until a prespecified brake application force is reached.

8. The method for operating a parking brake according to claim 1, wherein the parking brake is reapplied until a prespecified brake application force is reached, and wherein, as the criterion for the prespecified brake application force is reached, it is determined whether the current consumed by the electric motor satisfies the following equation:

I=I_t7=(I_ref−

I_limit)

where I_t7 is a minimum value for the current consumed by the electric motor when the parking brake is reapplied after a prespecified time,

I_ref is a reference value for the current consumed by the electric motor as a function of the current I_t4, and

I_limit is the theoretical minimum value for the current consumed by the electric motor when the parking brake is reapplied in the cold state.

10. The method for operating a parking brake according to claim 6, wherein the time period is approximately from 4 mins to 8 mins.

9. A controller including a device for carrying out a method for operating a parking brake having an electromotively driven parking brake mechanism, the method including:

applying the parking brake by use of the electric motor;

switching off the electric motor in the state in which the parking brake is applied;

switching on the electric motor after a prespecified time and starting a brake reapplication process by driving the parking brake mechanism in the brake application direction;

determining with the controller an electrical variable of the electric motor during the brake reapplication operation;

comparing with the controller the determined electrical variable, or a variable derived therefrom, with a reference value; and

continuing the brake reapplication process or terminating the brake reapplication process depending on the result of the comparison.