Abstract: A system including a vehicle body having a plurality of wheels and a brake subsystem associated with each wheel. The system further includes a plurality of remote controllers, wherein each remote controller is associated with one of the brake subsystem and is configured to calculate basic braking functions for the associated brake subsystem and for each of the other brake subsystems. The remote controllers are operatively coupled together. The system further includes a central controller operatively coupled to each remote controller, wherein each remote controller has about the same or less processing capability than the central controller.

Abstract: A method for estimating a force exerted by a first body onto a second body including the steps of providing a motor having at least one detectable motor signal, wherein the motor is adapted to advance the first body into engagement with the second body, determining a first value for the motor signal prior to the first body engaging the second body, determining a second value for the motor signal after the first body engages the second body, and generating a force value based upon a comparison of the second value to the first value.

Abstract: The invention provides an electric brake system and method. The electric brake system includes an electric motor having a portion moveable along a path between a plurality of positions for moving a brake pad and applying a selectable amount of braking force on a brake rotor. One of the plurality of positions is a minimal contact position. The minimal contact position is operable to change among the plurality of positions over time. The electric brake system also includes an electric controller for controlling the electric motor to move the portion along the path between the minimal contact position and at least one other of the plurality of positions for moving the brake pad and for selecting the amount of braking force. The electric brake system also includes at least one sensor for sensing at least one of motor current, motor acceleration, controller voltage, motor speed, motor voltage, and motor temperature, and communicating a sensed condition to the controller.

Abstract: A force sensor system including at least one portion of piezo-electric material and a thrust bearing having at least one roller associated therewith, the roller being adapted to move relative to the thrust bearing and contact the portion of piezo-electric material when the thrust bearing is subjected to an external force.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electric brake system having a piston moveable by an electric motor is provided. The method includes the steps of storing data for correlating a position of the piston to a braking force applied by the piston, estimating a braking force associated with a specific position of the piston based upon the stored data, generating a control signal based upon the estimated braking force, determining a second braking force associated with the specific position and updating the stored data based upon a difference between the estimated braking force and the second braking force.

Abstract: An electrical system comprised of at least two control modules as well as at least one power supply module. The present invention improves functional reliability of electrical systems by configuring a power supply module as a smart device and connecting it to at least one of the control modules for the purpose of data exchange and, in case of a malfunction, transforming the control module(s) to one of a stand-alone operating mode and a cut-off state.

Abstract: A vehicle anti-lock brake system determines when an ABS failure condition has occurred, configures a failure condition operating mode of the ABS control, and, finally, activates the ABS control based on the failure condition operational mode. When a brake actuator failure occurs, this allows the system to configure the failure condition operating mode to exclude the wheel having the failed brake actuator. Alternately, the system may configure the failure condition operating mode to exclude wheel speed data when an invalid wheel speed indicator is determined for a wheel.

Abstract: A method for detecting a contact point of a brake mechanism. The brake mechanism includes an actuator controlled by a motor. The method includes the steps of establishing a parameter of the motor and a derivative of the parameter and, if the parameter has passed a previous value under no load conditions and the amplitude of the derivative of the parameter has passed a predetermined threshold, responsively establishing a zero position of the motor.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle anti-lock brake system is disclosed. The method includes determining an ABS failure condition has occurred, configuring a failure condition operating mode of the ABS control and, finally, activating the ABS control based on the failure condition operational mode. A computer readable medium storing a computer program for operating a vehicle ABS control is also described. Computer readable code for determining that an ABS failure condition has occurred, configuring a failure condition operating mode of the ABS control, and then activating the ABS based on the failure condition operational mode is described. A vehicle including an anti-lock brake system configured for operation when a failure condition occurs is described. Operating the anti-lock brake system comprises determining an ABS failure condition has occurred, configuring a failure condition operating mode of the ABS, and activating the ABS based on the failure condition operational mode.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for braking a motor vehicle having a wheel. The apparatus comprises a parking brake switch and a brake. The parking brake switch is actuatable by an operator. The brake is in electrical communication with the parking brake switch, and is adapted to apply a first braking force to the wheel when the parking brake switch is actuated and the vehicle is traveling at a first speed, and to apply a second braking force to the wheel when the parking brake switch is actuated and the vehicle is traveling at a second speed. The present invention also provides a method of controlling an electric parking brake of a motor vehicle having at least two wheels.

Abstract: A non-contact Hall Effect position sensor integral to a master cylinder for an automotive hydraulic braking system provides reliable brake pedal position information without regard to the geometry and placement of the brake pedal input, decreasing the complexity of integration into each type of automobile. Moreover, reliable performance of brake position sensing is provided by avoiding use of contact sensors that are subject to wear and performance variation.

Abstract: A non-contact Hall Effect position sensor integral to a master cylinder for an automotive hydraulic braking system provides reliable brake pedal position information without regard to the geometry and placement of the brake pedal input, decreasing the complexity of integration into each type of automobile. Moreover, reliable performance of brake position sensing is provided by avoiding use of contact sensors that are subject to wear and performance variation.

Abstract: A method is provided for use in an electronic processor-controlled vehicular braking system. When integrated into such a braking system, the need for downstream caliper pressure sensors, and any algorithms associated therewith, is eliminated. The method consists of generating and using estimated caliper pressure for comparison to command pressure, instead of actual caliper pressure. The method elicits a far quicker yet accurate response to the estimated caliper pressure in line with command pressure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to control a braking system. One method provides a command signal to a valve to control fluid pressure to a wheel brake in a braking system, includes determining a pressure signal based on a first set for control gains and a pressure command signal, determining a first current signal based upon the pressure command signal, subtracting an actual pressure signal from the pressure command signal to produce an error signal, and determining a second current signal based on the second set of control gains and the error signal. The method further includes subtracting a supply pressure actual signal from a supply pressure nominal signal to produce a pressure differential signal, multiplying the pressure differential signal by a selected gain to produce a third current signal, and summing the first current signal, the second current signal and the third current signal to produce an output signal.

Abstract: A method of the present invention is provided for use in an electronic processor controlled vehicular braking system. When integrated into such a braking system, the need for down-stream caliper pressure sensors, and any algorithms associated therewith, is eliminated, the method generating and using estimated caliper pressure, for comparison to command pressure instead of actual caliper pressure, and eliciting far quicker yet accurate response to be estimated caliper pressure in line with command pressure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to control a braking system. One method provides a command signal to a valve to control fluid pressure to a wheel brake in a braking system includes the steps of determining a pressure signal using a first control technique based on a first set for control gains and a pressure command signal, determining a first current signal based upon the pressure command signal, subtracting an actual pressure signal from the pressure command signal to produce an error signal, and determining a second current signal using a second control technique based on the second set of control gains and the error signal. The method further includes subtracting a supply pressure actual signal from a supply pressure nominal signal to produce a pressure differential signal, multiplying the pressure differential signal by a selected gain to produce a third current signal, and summing the first current signal, the second current signal and the third current signal to produce an output signal.

Abstract: A system and method for closed loop speed control for stop and go applications allowing adaptive cruise control operation at low speeds below vehicle idle speed by use of traction control system braking. The system comprises: proportional controller to hold the vehicle speed at the desired vehicle speed; integral controller to reduce vehicle speed when the adaptive cruise control cuts off speed control; stopped controller to overcome static friction after a vehicle stop; open loop controller to hold the vehicle speed a set speed below the vehicle idle speed. The system also provides a switch to set the torque command to zero for large positive speed control errors, such as when the desired speed is above the vehicle idle speed, and a transition logic to provide a smooth transition between alternate control mode operation and speed control mode operation.