Electric Control Patents (Class 303/20)
  • Patent number: 11938914
    Abstract: The present disclosure in some embodiments provides a vehicle braking apparatus including wheel brakes for providing a braking force to one or more front and rear wheels, a first actuator including a first hydraulic circuit supplying braking force to at least some of wheel brakes, a first master cylinder adjusting hydraulic pressure of the first hydraulic circuit, and a first motor, a second actuator including a second hydraulic circuit supplying a braking force to at least a remainder of the wheel brakes, a second master cylinder adjusting hydraulic pressure of the second hydraulic circuit, and a second motor, an EPB generating a braking force on rear wheels, a regenerative braking system generating a regenerative braking force, and an ECU for controlling at least one of the first actuator, second actuator, electronic parking brake, or regenerative braking system upon determining whether the first actuator and the second actuator malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ji Ho Yoo
  • Patent number: 11926307
    Abstract: A method for defining at least one characteristic curve which, in a pressure-actuated brake system of a vehicle, represents a relationship between a brake pressure and a brake demand), and for operating a pressure-actuated brake system of a vehicle, in which at least one brake cylinder can be supplied with a pressurized medium under a brake pressure, and in which the brake pressure is formed based on at least one such characteristic curve, and to a pressure-actuated brake system of a vehicle in which at least one brake cylinder can be supplied with a pressurized medium under a brake pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventors: Jonas Leibbrand, Oliver Jundt, Soeren Muennig
  • Patent number: 11926302
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electronically controlled pneumatic brake system for a utility vehicle, including a front-axle brake circuit with a single-channel front-axle modulator for the control of first and second front-axle service brake actuators, wherein first and second front-axle ABS valves are provided; a rear-axle brake circuit with a single-channel rear-axle modulator for the control of first and second rear-axle service brake actuators, wherein first and second rear-axle ABS valves are provided; a braking-value sensor which has an electrical terminal for the provision of an electronic brake demand signal; and a central electronic control unit which receives the electronic brake demand signal and controls the front-axle and rear-axle modulators. Here, it is provided that the central electronic control unit is formed as a structural unit with the rear-axle modulator and/or the front-axle modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Hannover GmbH
    Inventor: Arne Michaelsen
  • Patent number: 11919490
    Abstract: A hydraulic motor vehicle braking system includes a first functional unit, a second functional unit and a switching device. The first functional unit comprises at least one first valve arrangement designed to optionally connect or disconnect at least one first wheel brake associated with a first axle to or from an existing hydraulic pressure, and at least one second valve arrangement designed to optionally connect or disconnect at least one second wheel brake associated with a second axle to or from an existing hydraulic pressure. The second functional unit comprises at least one second electrical brake pressure generator, by means of which a brake pressure can be generated on at least the at least one second wheel brake, and a second control system which is designed to control the at least one second electrical brake pressure generator for a brake pressure regulation on at least the at least one second wheel brake in the event of a failure of the first functional unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Nicholas Alford, Andreas Marx, Oliver Wolf
  • Patent number: 11904839
    Abstract: A vehicle control device include a processor. The processor is configured to monitor a primary power source and a secondary power source for anomalies, the primary power source and the secondary power source supplying electrical power to a plurality of drive devices configured to control deceleration and steering of a vehicle, and in a case in which an anomaly has been detected in at least one of the primary power source or the secondary power source as a result of the monitoring, control the vehicle by supplying electrical power to a drive device having a lower electrical power consumption amount among the plurality of drive devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomokazu Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 11904821
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic parking brake device for a vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle. As a function of at least one operating state of a towing vehicle parking brake supply line and/or a trailer parking brake supply line, a towing vehicle parking brake control valve is activatable by a control unit in such a way that a towing vehicle parking brake supply line can be deaerated or aerated by the towing vehicle parking brake control valve. By manually actuating a trailer parking brake control element, a trailer parking brake control valve is activatable by the control unit in such a way that a trailer parking brake supply line can be deaerated or aerated by the trailer parking brake control valve. The present invention also relates to a method for operating the above electronic parking brake device for a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: David Nemeth-Nagy, AndrĂ¡s Fuchs
  • Patent number: 11845310
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for warming vehicle tires prior to a vehicle launch event. In one example, a method may include, in response to an initiation of a burn out event while locking non-driven wheel brakes, adjusting a spinning of driven wheels based on vehicle performance parameters measured during a previous vehicle launch. In this way, a vehicle controller may control the tire warming to increase tire traction while reducing tire wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Glugla, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 11787373
    Abstract: Embodiments herein are directed to an emulator assembly. The assembly includes a housing with a cavity, a pedal arm, an elongated member, a carrier, an end plate and a compressible member. The pedal arm is at least partially received in the cavity and has a pedal pad on one end. The elongated member extends and couples to the pedal arm on one end and couples to a carrier on an opposite other end. The end plate is spaced apart from the carrier. The compressible member is positioned in the space between the carrier and the end plate. When the pedal pad is depressed, the elongated member moves the carrier in a direction towards the end plate which drives the carrier into the compressible member such that the compressible material compresses to generate a force feedback onto a foot positioned on the pedal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KSR IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Dan O'Neill
  • Patent number: 11766902
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powerplant, such as an engine, configured to power front and rear wheels, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, brake a first of the front wheels and a first of the rear wheels while powering a second of the front wheels and a second of the rear wheels to warm those tires, and subsequently brake the second front wheel and the second rear wheel while powering the first front wheel and the first rear wheel to warm those tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, James Fritz
  • Patent number: 11731594
    Abstract: A brake control unit includes a processor, a first high side driver and a second high side driver. The processor sends signals to the first high side driver and the second high side driver. The first and second high side drivers process the signals independent of each other. The processor diagnoses faults and locations of faults based on feedback from the high side drivers. The first high side driver controls the braking of a first trailer brake. The second high side driver controls the braking of a second trailer brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Albert Cekola, Dennis Michael Morse, Marvin Hoot, Yilong Chen, Srikanth Kadudula
  • Patent number: 11718248
    Abstract: It is an object to make a wire harness for connecting a vehicle body-side device and a wheel-side device suited to routing in a small space, and improve its flex resistance. A wire harness for connecting a vehicle body-side device and a wheel-side device includes: a first wiring member; and a second wiring member, and at least part of an outer path portion of the first wiring member, and at least part of an outer path portion of the second wiring member are separated from each other outside a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Murata
  • Patent number: 11691610
    Abstract: An electropneumatic trailer control-valve unit for a vehicle, including a storage port for coupling a store of compressed air for a trailer, a brake-pressure port, a brake-pressure pilot-control unit configured to output at least one first control pressure, a brake-pressure main-valve unit configured to receive the at least one first control pressure and to output a brake pressure at a brake-pressure port, a trailer operating-pressure port configured to receive a trailer operating pressure, and a pneumatically switched trailer protection valve with a protection-valve control port which is connected to the trailer operating-pressure port for receiving the trailer operating pressure, wherein the trailer protection valve switches from a first switching position into a second switching position if the trailer operating pressure exceeds a predetermined first threshold value, and wherein the trailer operating pressure is a supply control pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BV
    Inventor: Julian Van Thiel
  • Patent number: 11685345
    Abstract: A braking system for a motor vehicle includes a hydraulic service brake for braking the motor vehicle in driving operation, an electric parking brake for holding the motor vehicle at a standstill, and an electronic control system for automatically controlling the parking brake and the service brake. The electronic control system may be adapted to activate the parking brake, with the service brake activated, after the motor vehicle has been braked to the standstill via the activated service brake, and to at least partly deactivate the activated service brake after the parking brake has been activated. The electronic control system may also be adapted to deactivate the activated parking brake following operation of an accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Karl-Peter Hesseler, Olga Bergen, Christian Schmaler
  • Patent number: 11685366
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a controller programmed to implement performance mode control of first and second electric machines and wheel brakes associated with wheels of respective first and second axles to provide a braking force to a first axle while providing torque to the second axle to intentionally spin the tires of the second axle to provide a peelout and associated heating or smoking of the tires to improve traction and provide a visual display of power. The maneuver may be repeated for the first axle by providing torque to the first axle while applying braking force to the second axle. A sequential maneuver that spins tires of the first axle followed by tires of the second axle may be performed by specified manipulation of the brake pedal and accelerator pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Nithesh Maddi Reddy, Neil Hurst
  • Patent number: 11648923
    Abstract: An on-board brake system mounted in an autonomous vehicle comprises a brake unit, a first brake actuator and a second brake actuator for driving the brake unit, and a main ECU for controlling drive of the first and second brake actuators; the second brake actuator is an accumulating actuator; and when an emergency stop switch is depressed, the main ECU operates only the second brake actuator or operates the second brake actuator with precedence over the first brake actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ikuru Konno, Toru Nishitani, Takenori Kubo
  • Patent number: 11572049
    Abstract: A brake control device controls a hydraulic brake that generates hydraulic braking force and an electric parking brake that generates parking braking force different from the hydraulic braking force. The brake control device comprises: a detection unit that detects a parking brake operation for causing the electric parking brake to generate the parking braking force; and a control unit that causes the electric parking brake to generate the parking braking force when the hydraulic braking force per wheel generated by the hydraulic brake, after decreasing below the minimum first braking force per wheel required for maintaining the vehicle stop state only by the electric parking brake, is less than the first braking force, in association with the parking brake operation having been performed in a state where the stop state is maintained only by a hydraulic brake operation for causing the hydraulic brake to generate the hydraulic braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Urano, Keita Nakano, Terushige Uraoka
  • Patent number: 11565671
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an electric motor of a hydraulic brake system for a motor vehicle, wherein a first torque and a second torque are calculated and compared with one another. A fault can be detected on the basis of the comparison. The invention also relates to an associated electronic control module, to an associated hydraulic brake system and to an associated non-volatile computer-readable storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Inventors: Albert Cimpoesu, Bogdan Budianu, Eberhard MĂ¼nz, Tom Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 11535365
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a processor, an airframe, a pitch attitude flight control surface coupled with the airframe, a nose wheel coupled with the airframe, main wheels coupled with the airframe, and a brake system coupled with the main wheels. The processor is programmed to determine that the aircraft has entered a braking segment of a landing phase of a flight of the aircraft while the aircraft is on a ground surface and to command the pitch attitude flight control surface with a nose up command during the braking segment in response to determining that the aircraft has entered the braking segment. The nose up command causes the pitch attitude flight control surface to generate a downforce that increases traction between the main wheels and the ground surface due to a weight shift from the nose wheel to the main wheels and directly due to the downforce on the main wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Buethe, Thomas Landers, Alex Rummel
  • Patent number: 11518353
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a brake system including (a) a brake stack, (b) a force member moveable between a retracted position and an extended position in response to a brake command, wherein the force member contacts the brake stack in the extended position, and wherein the brake system includes a running clearance defined by a distance between the brake stack and the force member in the retracted position, (c) a sensor in communication with the brake stack to measure a force between the force member and the brake stack in response to the brake command, and (d) a brake control unit configured to determine a running clearance brake command defined as a percentage of a maximum braking force that causes the force member to contact the brake stack, wherein the running clearance brake command is determined based on the force measured by the sensor for a plurality of brake commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven E. Smith, David T. Yamamoto, Nima Forghani
  • Patent number: 11511711
    Abstract: An electronically controllable pneumatic brake system includes a service brake control module for controlling a first and a second service brake circuit, and a trailer control module with a trailer brake pressure connection point for connection to a trailer brake pressure coupling head. The trailer control module outputs a trailer brake pressure via the trailer brake pressure connection point. Upon a malfunction of the first and/or second service brake circuit, the first service brake pressure is controlled depending on the trailer brake pressure; and the second service brake pressure is controlled depending on the trailer brake pressure specified by the trailer control module; and/or the parking brake pressure is controlled directly or depending on the trailer brake pressure specified by the trailer control module. Upon a malfunction of the trailer control module, the trailer brake pressure is controlled depending on the first service brake pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventor: Julian Van Thiel
  • Patent number: 11479219
    Abstract: The system provides for the control of a railway train for the transport of goods, comprising a plurality of wagons a master locomotive at the head of the train and one or more slave locomotives distributed along the train. The train is equipped with a pneumatic brake pipe which extends along the whole train. The master locomotive is equipped with a master control system for controlling the train, and the at least one slave locomotive is equipped with a slave control system subordinated to the master control system. The master and slave systems can communicate with each other via a radio channel. Each slave system is designed to control traction apparatuses, apparatuses for controlling the pressure in the brake pipe and apparatuses for applying the emergency brake of the corresponding slave locomotive, and for retransmitting signals indicating the status of these apparatuses of the slave locomotive to the master system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: FAIVELEY TRANSPORT ITALIA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Angelo Grasso, Stefano Lucarelli, Roberto Tione
  • Patent number: 11440525
    Abstract: A method for setting an idling speed of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, in which the idling speed of the internal combustion engine is increased if a predetermined power request within an on-board power system of the motor vehicle is detected, wherein a generator for electrically supplying the on-board power system is driven by the internal combustion engine, and wherein the internal combustion engine is connected to a transmission of the motor vehicle, wherein the connection between the internal combustion engine and the transmission is disconnected, and/or a predetermined braking force is made available by means of at least one brake of the motor vehicle if the predetermined power request is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Michael Vogt
  • Patent number: 11407391
    Abstract: The braking control device generates braking force by operating an electric motor to press a friction member against a wheel-fixed rotary member. The braking control device includes: a wheel speed sensor detecting wheel speed; a rotation angle sensor detecting a motor rotation angle; a drive circuit driving the motor; and a controller controlling the drive circuit. The controller sets a current limit circle within d-axis/q-axis current characteristics of the motor based on specifications of the drive circuit, calculates a voltage limit circle within the d-axis/q-axis current characteristics based on the rotation angle, executes slip suppression control for reducing the degree of wheel slip based on the wheel speed, calculates d-axis and q-axis target current values based on intersection points of the current limit circle and the voltage limit circle when execution of slip suppression control begins, and controls the drive circuit based on the d-axis and q-axis target current values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hikaru Kawamura, Shun Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 11332106
    Abstract: A master pressure control device of an electric booster sets an upper limit of current supplied to an electric motor in accordance with an operation amount of an input member to a current limit value A when a condition for limiting the driving of the electric motor is satisfied due to a decrease of voltage of a vehicle power source. The master pressure control device sets the upper limit of the current supplied to the electric motor in accordance with the operation amount of the input member to a current limit value B when the condition for limiting the driving of the electric motor is cancelled due to restoration of the voltage of the vehicle power source to normal while a brake pedal is operated. The current limit value B is larger than the current limit value A used when the driving of the electric motor is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Takanori Mizusaki, Yasufumi Konishi
  • Patent number: 11305747
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the parking brakes of a vehicle are provided. The system comprises a first brake unit; a second brake unit; a third brake unit; a fourth brake unit; a first controller powered by a first power source; a second controller powered by a second power source and communicatively coupled to the first controller via a first and second communication link; and a third controller powered by the first power source and communicatively coupled to the first controller via a third communication link and to the second controller via a fourth communication link, wherein the second controller, based at least in part on a signal received from the first controller, operates the first brake unit and the fourth brake unit, and the third controller, based at least in part on the signal received from the first controller, operates the second brake unit and the third brake unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Clement Ching-Fai Lee, Collin MacGregor, Aaron Rosekind
  • Patent number: 11292440
    Abstract: An automatic parking control device includes an automatic parking controller that carries out automatic parking control, and a park-by-wire controller in which a park lock is automatically engaged when automatic parking is completed at a target stopping position by the automatic parking control. The park-by-wire controller determines whether a system abnormality would occur, in which the park-by-wire system does not operate normally during the automatic parking control. The automatic parking controller prohibits the starting of the automatic parking control upon determining that the system abnormality would occur before the automatic parking control is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Koshiba, Hidemitsu Nakagawara, Hisahiro Nabeshima, Yasuhiro Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11292439
    Abstract: A trailer mounted proportional brake controller for a towed vehicle and a method of controlling the brakes of a towed vehicle is described. The brake control unit may control the brakes of a towed vehicle. The brake control unit may include a power control unit and a hand control unit. The power control unit may be connected to the brakes of the towed vehicle and the power control unit may be capable of selectively controlling the brakes of the towed vehicle based on a set of braking parameters. The hand control unit may be configured to remotely communicate with the power control unit. The hand control unit may be capable of transmitting information to the power control unit to adjust at least one of the braking parameters and receiving information from the power control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Edward Smith, Mark William Austin, Richard Lyons Hilsbos, Chandrakumar Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 11273812
    Abstract: Brake system of a motor vehicle having front wheels and rear wheels having a hydraulic service brake device. The system further includes an electrically actuatable pressure-providing device, wherein the pressure-providing device is connected to the first and second wheel brakes, comprising a parking brake device having electric-motor-actuatable wheel brakes at the rear wheels, and an electronic open-loop and closed-loop control unit, wherein in a hydraulic fallback operating mode of the brake system, in the case of a brake pedal actuation by a vehicle driver, only the first wheel brakes are connected to the master brake cylinder and supplied with pressure by the driver by the master brake cylinder, while the rear wheels are braked by the electric-motor-actuatable wheel brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Paul Linhoff, Marco Besier, Stefan Drumm, Andreas Heise
  • Patent number: 11198416
    Abstract: A method for operating an automated locking brake in a motor vehicle includes setting a defined deceleration of the vehicle with the locking brake during a locking brake process, shutting-off activation of the locking brake when a shut-off condition has been satisfied, and taking into account at least one predicted value of the locking brake process in the shut-off condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Edith Mannherz, Philipp Schmaelzle
  • Patent number: 11130480
    Abstract: An apparatus for operating an electric parking brake of a vehicle includes a generator and a control device. The generator is designed to provide energy for supplying the electric parking brake of the vehicle with energy, and the control device is designed to activate the generator for supplying the electric parking brake with energy depending on a result of a monitoring of an energy supply to the electric parking brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Bohne, Matthew Nimmo, Norbert Kearney, Steffen Ackermann, Steffen Zechmeister
  • Patent number: 11124169
    Abstract: A motor vehicle system comprising a first electric parking brake actuation unit assigned to a first vehicle wheel, and a second electric parking brake actuation unit assigned to a second vehicle wheel. The system further comprises a first control unit which includes at least one first microprocessor and which is designed to control at least the first electric parking brake actuation unit and an anti-lock and/or vehicle stability control system. A second control unit of the system comprises at least one second microprocessor and is designed to control at least the second electric parking brake actuation unit and an electric braking power generator and/or an automatic transmission. In some variants, a separate parking brake control unit can be dispensed with as the braking brake control function is shared between control units that can be used for other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Michels, Benedikt Ohlig, Matthias Fuchs
  • Patent number: 11097700
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic brake system using an integrated sensor, which includes a hydraulic block configured to distribute and supply a fluid to a wheel brake, and having a through-hole penetrated at both sides thereof, a sensor module installed at one side of the hydraulic block having the through-hole, for sensing a linear displacement of a brake pedal and a position of a motor, and an electronic control unit installed to a side of the hydraulic block opposite to the sensor module, in order to determine a movement distance of the pedal, based on the linear displacement of the pedal sensed by the sensor module, and control rotation of the motor depending on the linear displacement of the pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Sung Hwan Shin, Min Seok Kwon
  • Patent number: 10960860
    Abstract: A brake controller has a control dial with a series of full color LEDs arranged around the dial. The dial with its LEDs is in a module mounted on the dash of the towing vehicle and connected by a cable to a main module mounted out of sight. The dial is a rotary encoder pushbutton mounted on the same circuit board as the LED chips. Status information is output using the LEDs primarily based on color. Substantially all setting input is provided solely by user manipulation of the dial, pushing the dial in to change setting input mode, with the value of the input reflected in the number of LEDs being lit in a color corresponding to the brake controller setting being changed, as the user rotates the dial either clockwise or counterclockwise to change setting values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: CURT Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Joecyl Sanchez, Harsh Desai, Robert Lange, III
  • Patent number: 10913435
    Abstract: A braking system includes a brake actuator, a control valve, a control assembly, at least one pressure sensor, and at least one flow sensor. The control valve is disposed to direct hydraulic fluid to the brake actuator at a rate corresponding to a magnitude of a control signal. The at least one flow sensor and the at least one pressure sensor, in communication with the control assembly, are disposed between the control valve and the brake actuator and configured to measure a respective flow rate and pressure of the hydraulic fluid to the brake actuator. The control assembly is configured to ramp the control signal from a first signal level to a second signal level at a predetermined rate of change. The control assembly is configured to determine a flow-based position of the brake actuator based on the flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Naison E. Mastrocola, Tyler Arsenault
  • Patent number: 10870422
    Abstract: A method for detecting a fail of an electronic parking brake may include: detecting, by an electronic control unit (ECU), a current applied to a motor during a parking operation of an eDIH parking brake, and detecting a current inflection point at which the slope of the current is changed, the slope of the current having started to rise in a load generation section following a no-load section after a starting current of the motor was generated; and comparing, by the ECU, the current value of the detected current inflection point to a current value of a preset reference current inflection point, and recognizing that a fail occurred during the parking operation of the eDIH parking brake, when the current value of the detected current inflection point is different by a preset error range or more from the current value of the reference current inflection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi Hoon Jo, Min Kyu Jung
  • Patent number: 10829101
    Abstract: An electric motor-driven parking brake of a motor vehicle can be released in an emergency by applying emergency current from a parallel emergency current source to the motors controlling the parking brake. The direction of the emergency current is selected to reverse the motors, i.e., release the parking brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Marjan Deljosevic, Ermal Gjoni, John Truax
  • Patent number: 10800385
    Abstract: A method for operating a brake system with an automated parking brake for a motor vehicle, includes detecting a defined fault. The method further includes activating a parking mode of the parking brake automatically when the defined fault is detected. The automated parking brake is operable in different operating modes, a first operating mode corresponding to a drive mode and a second operating mode corresponding to the parking mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Blattert, Frank Baehrle-Miller
  • Patent number: 10792821
    Abstract: A method for decelerating a robot axis arrangement having at least one output link includes steps of applying a braking force on the output link with a brake and, in so doing, controlling a driving force of a drive that acts on the output link, and/or controlling the braking force on the basis of a dynamic variable of the output link, wherein the dynamic variable is a function of the braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Hartmut Keyl, Michael Thummel, Dietmar Tscharnuter, Tobias Weiser
  • Patent number: 10795849
    Abstract: A system of automation components, having a control unit, having a memory area which includes a parameter data record, and a key memory, which is able to be connected to the control unit via an unambiguously allocatable, electrically conductive connection. The key memory is location-bound, in particular able to be spatially fixedly allocatable to a specific point in a system as a whole, the key memory having at least one non-volatile memory area, including an unambiguous item of identifying information. The control unit is able to read out the identifying information. The system also includes an external data memory, which is able to be directly accessed, and data is able to be exchanged between the control unit and the external data memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Benjamin Norenburg, Christian Senft, Sebastian Richter
  • Patent number: 10737673
    Abstract: An electric-brake controller includes an antilock controller configured to control a pressing force of an electric brake. The electric brake includes a pressing member that is advanced by rotation of an electric motor in a forward direction to press a friction member against a brake rotation member. The electric brake includes a return spring that applies a spring force such that the pressing member is moved away from the brake rotation member. The antilock controller includes a pressing-force reducer that reduces the pressing force. The pressing-force reducer includes: a reverse-rotation-current supplier that supplies reverse-rotation current for rotating the electric motor in a reverse direction for a reverse-rotation-current supply time; and a forward-rotation-current supplier that supplies forward-rotation current, for rotating the electric motor in the forward direction, to the electric motor after the reverse-rotation current is supplied for the reverse-rotation-current supply time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 10731720
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for non-contact brake pad wear determination of one or more brake pads associated with a vehicle are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Hall
  • Patent number: 10723329
    Abstract: A trailer mounted proportional brake controller for a towed vehicle and a method of controlling the brakes of a towed vehicle is described. The brake control unit may control the brakes of a towed vehicle. The brake control unit may include a power control unit and a hand control unit. The power control unit may be connected to the brakes of the towed vehicle and the power control unit may be capable of selectively controlling the brakes of the towed vehicle based on a set of braking parameters. The hand control unit may be configured to remotely communicate with the power control unit. The hand control unit may be capable of transmitting information to the power control unit to adjust at least one of the braking parameters and receiving information from the power control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Edward Smith, Mark William Austin, Richard Lyons Hilsbos, Chandrakumar Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 10717423
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling brakes in a trailer vehicle comprising a pneumatic brake system, service brakes and an electronic brake system with anti-lock control, wherein at least one axle of the trailer vehicle is fitted with spring-loaded brakes and revolution rate sensors. The method comprises: monitoring with the electronic brake system whether there is a braking demand, monitoring with the electronic brake system whether at least one wheel of at least one axle is locking up, and if there is no braking demand and at least one wheel of the at least one axle is locked while traveling, controlling the pneumatic braking system with the electronic brake system to pressurize the spring-loaded brakes and to brake the trailer vehicle by the service brakes automatically and with anti-lock control. A valve arrangement is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Risse, Armin Sieker, Axel Stender
  • Patent number: 10668810
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for vehicle stabilization of a hybrid vehicle in an event of brake slip of the drive wheels or an increased risk thereof. The method presupposes that the hybrid vehicle includes, between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, a clutch by which the torque of the internal combustion engine can be decoupled from the drive wheels. With the clutch engaged, the resulting torque on the electric motor is produced by the torque of the internal combustion engine and the torque of the electric motor. The presence of a specific vehicle condition indicative of brake slip of the drive wheels or a risk thereof is recognized. If such a vehicle condition is recognized, the clutch between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor is released and the torque of the electric motor is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian Schnappauf, Michael Prommnitz, Stephan Capellaro, Thomas Baer, Jerome Willot, Johann Knoeferl, Thomas Hardtke
  • Patent number: 10661769
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for automatically controlling brakes in a trailer vehicle having antilock control, wherein wheel rotational speeds are continuously monitored and evaluated at wheels having antilock control. According to the method, lateral acceleration and longitudinal acceleration of the trailer vehicle are determined. If a predefined, critical lateral acceleration is exceeded, an automatic braking process occurs. A control unit and trailer vehicle are also disclosed in connection with the inventive method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Czaja, Hauke Diers, Axel Stender
  • Patent number: 10630128
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an electric motor. A flow of an alternating current through stator coils in the electric motor is controlled based on a position of a rotor in the electric motor such that a repulsive force between a rotor and a stator coil in the stator coils occurs when the alternating current flows through the stator coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brian Jay Tillotson, Peng Zeng
  • Patent number: 10532724
    Abstract: A method for operating an electric parking brake includes determining a fault relating to a first control unit which in a normal operating mode operates the electric parking brake. The method further includes operating a second control unit in an emergency operating mode as a function of the determined fault and determining a state for an operator control element of the parking brake using the second control unit and operating the parking brake as a first function of the determined state of the operator control element using the second control unit in the emergency operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Rebholz-Goldmann, Toni Frenzel
  • Patent number: 10518760
    Abstract: The system provides for the control of a railway train for the transport of goods, comprising a plurality of wagons a master locomotive at the head of the train and one or more slave locomotives distributed along the train. The train is equipped with a pneumatic brake pipe which extends along the whole train. The master locomotive is equipped with a master control system for controlling the train, and the at least one slave locomotive is equipped with a slave control system subordinated to the master control system. The master and slave systems can communicate with each other via a radio channel. The or each slave system is designed to control traction apparatuses, apparatuses for controlling the pressure in the brake pipe and apparatuses for applying the emergency brake of the corresponding slave locomotive, and for retransmitting signals indicating the status of these apparatuses of the slave locomotive to the master system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: FAIVELEY TRANSPORT ITALIA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Angelo Grasso, Stefano Lucarelli, Roberto Tione
  • Patent number: 10494003
    Abstract: An intelligent locomotive brake control system which selects and optimizes use of dynamic, independent, and automatic brakes on the locomotive to assure intended brake power, to minimize in-train forces, minimize brake component wear, and to automate standard train brake protocol. The system may be programmed to alter an automatic brake application commanded by a train driver to omit or reduce the amount of the automatic brake application in favor of a dynamic brake application, and independent brake application, or combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: NEW YORK AIR BRAKE, LLC
    Inventors: Eric C. Wright, John M. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 10486660
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating at least one parking brake of a motor vehicle, which parking brake can be activated and deactivated in an automated manner, wherein, for the purpose of automated operation of the parking brake, state values of the motor vehicle are monitored and compared with prespecifiable conditions, and wherein the parking brake is activated when a first group of the conditions is met and is deactivated when a second group of the conditions is met. It is provided that the parking brake is activated only when all of the conditions of the second group can be successfully checked for compliance or non-compliance with the respective condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Edith Mannherz, Helmut Wolff