Regenerative Brakes Patents (Class 303/152)
  • Publication number: 20020163249
    Abstract: Regenerative braking is actuated in an electrical vehicle during towing of the vehicle to recharge the battery and brake the vehicle. When a driver of a towing vehicle depresses the brakes of the vehicle (202), the electrical vehicle applies regenerative braking in proportion to a braking signal from the towing vehicle (206). Also, regenerative braking is applied to the electrical vehicle when the vehicle is inadvertently disconnected from a connector (110) that couples the electrical vehicle to the towing vehicle (208).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Melvin Douglas Palmer, William P. Milam
  • Publication number: 20020163250
    Abstract: A method of braking an electric or hybrid vehicle 7 is provided. The vehicle 7 has electric regenerative brakes and friction brakes 94. In a normal braking situation regenerative brakes are applied. If a wheel 42 slip condition is sensed, a selectively operable clutch 76 tortionally connects an undriven axle 60 to the driven axles 44, 45 to alleviate the slip condition. The alleviation of the slip condition prevents the electric regenerative brakes from being shut off in favor of an antilock friction brake application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Timothy Allen Huls, Steven Lee Napier
  • Publication number: 20020158509
    Abstract: A vehicle has at least one electrical traction motor, at least one additional user of electrical energy, a traction control system and a source of electrical energy. The traction motor is effectively connected with the traction control system so that in the event of a failure of the source of electrical energy, the vehicle is automatically decelerated in regenerative operation and the user is supplied with electrical energy by the traction motor which is operating in the regenerative mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Udo Herrmann
  • Patent number: 6454364
    Abstract: A braking force control apparatus and method control a braking force of a motor vehicle that has (a) regenerative braking devices for front wheels and rear wheels, respectively, and (b) a friction braking device for each of the front wheels and the rear wheels. A target braking force of the front wheels and a target braking force of the rear wheels are calculated, based on a braking requirement made by a driver of the vehicle and a ratio of braking forces of the front wheels and the rear wheels. Initially, the regenerative braking devices are controlled to generate regenerative braking forces at the front wheels and the rear wheels, and then, if necessary, the friction braking device is controlled to generate a friction braking force at each of the front wheels and rear wheels, so that a total braking force applied to the front wheels and a total braking force applied to the rear wheels are controlled to the front-wheel target braking force and the rear-wheel target braking force, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Niwa, Michihito Shimada, Junichi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6443535
    Abstract: A system or method for compensating for low vacuum levels in a brake-by-wire system includes continually monitoring the level of vacuum in a vacuum booster. The state or condition of the vacuum source is also monitored to determine whether it is on or off. When the vacuum source is off, the level of vacuum is measured to determine whether it is at or below a critical level. If the level of vacuum is critically low, the vacuum source is turned on. If the vacuum level is not critically low, the hydraulic boost gain is modified in order to provide more braking pressure in response to brake force exerted at the brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, Patrick Joseph Curran, Steven Lee Napier
  • Patent number: 6439674
    Abstract: In attaining a target vehicle braking force corresponding to a pedal depression force, an assigned braking force is obtained by subtracting a minimum braking force of a hydraulic braking device corresponding to the pedal depression force from the target vehicle braking force. Then, a distributive braking force of the hydraulic braking device is obtained by subtracting an actual regenerative braking force from the assigned braking force. And, a boost ratio of the hydraulic braking device is controlled based on a target hydraulic braking force which is a sum of the minimum braking force and the distributive braking force. Thus, the braking force of the hydraulic braking device is always utilized for attaining the target vehicle braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Niino
  • Patent number: 6438483
    Abstract: A system and method of vehicle stability enhancement control during ABS operation, the method comprising the steps of determining whether ABS mode is active; determining whether VSE is required; calculating a target wheel speed for each wheel if ABS mode is active and VSE is required; calculating an adjusted wheel slip for each wheel by subtracting the wheel speed for each wheel from the target wheel speed for each wheel and dividing the difference by the target wheel speed for each wheel; and determining an ABS control mode for each wheel using the adjusted wheel slip. The method further provides the step of calculating the target wheel speed for each wheel, in which the step of calculating the target wheel speed for each wheel further comprises adding a VSE modification term for each wheel to the vehicle speed to calculate the target wheel speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Loudon, Kevin A. O'Dea
  • Publication number: 20020105225
    Abstract: A first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump are respectively mounted to both ends of a rotary shaft in an electric motor, whereby it is possible to drive both of the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump by one electric motor. Since the electric motor is driven and controlled so as to have any higher rotational speed among a rotational speed of the first hydraulic pump for obtaining an amount of working fluid required in a hydraulic control circuit for a power steering apparatus and a rotational speed of the second hydraulic pump for obtaining an amount of working fluid required in a hydraulic control circuit for a power train by a hydraulic pump drive controlling portion, it is possible to necessarily and sufficiently secure the working fluids respectively required in the power steering hydraulic control circuit and the power train hydraulic control circuit which are independent from each other, by a little electric power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Tatsuya Ozeki, Akira Kasamatsu, Nobuyuki Nagashima, Mitsuhiro Umeyama, Hisanori Nomoto, Yuji Iwase, Akira Murakami, Mitsuhiro Nada
  • Patent number: 6425643
    Abstract: An electrically operated braking system of a motor vehicle, including a brake having a friction member movable to be forced onto a rotor rotating with a vehicle wheel and thereby braking the wheel. The friction member is forced onto the rotor by an electric motor operated by an electric power supplied from an electric power source. A controller determines an amount of the electric power to be supplied to the motor, depending upon an operating amount of the brake operating member, and a relationship estimated by a relationship estimating and utilizing device. The relationship estimating and utilizing device obtains an actual value of the electric power supplied to the motor during operation of the brake while the vehicle is running, and an actual value of a braking torque applied from the brake to the wheel during the brake operation, and estimate a relationship between the electric power to be supplied to the wheel on the basis of the actual values obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Shirai, Yasunori Yoshino
  • Patent number: 6406105
    Abstract: In a brake system of a hybrid type vehicle equipped with a front regeneration brake workable at a first regeneration efficiency, a rear regeneration brake workable at a second regeneration efficiency different from the first regeneration efficiency, a front friction brake, a rear friction brake and a control device for operating the front and rear regeneration brakes and the front and rear friction brakes, when the vehicle is braked at a controlled braking force, either of the front and rear regeneration brake workable at a higher regeneration efficiency than the other applies as much a braking force to the corresponding front or rear wheels as available thereby under a condition that a ratio of a braking force applied to the rear wheels to a braking force applied to the front wheels is not larger than a value predetermined therefor, with a remainder of the controlled braking force, if any, being applied by at least one of the other of the front and rear regeneration brakes and the front and rear friction bra
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michihito Shimada, Satoru Niwa, Junich Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20020038974
    Abstract: A brake control system for towed vehicles is disclosed which provides for controlled application of hydraulic brakes in a towed vehicle in response to the application of the brakes of the towing vehicle. The system is designed in two preferred embodiments. The first embodiment is a self-contained design adapted for use with rental trailers, for example, where a plurality of towed vehicles will be associated with a particular trailer. The second embodiment is intended for hard wiring in connection with the towed and towing vehicles. In each case, superior performance is obtained because the system operates the brake system of the towed vehicle in a unique manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: N.I.R., Inc.
    Inventors: Isidore I. Lamke, Robert D. Plummer, Michael E. Dinan, Eugene P. Reinhold
  • Patent number: 6364434
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for applying a coast-down braking torque to a vehicle coasting. The system provides a controlled regenerative braking torque automatically applied when the vehicle is coasting to simulate the feeling of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine. When the driver lets off the throttle when a vehicle is either on a flat grade or driving down a hill, the amount of regenerative braking is automatically controlled. When utilized with an electric or hybrid electric vehicle, the coast-down braking torque is converted to stored electric energy which improves the efficiency of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Min Sway-Tin, Mark R. Arcori, Kert L. Cartwright, Thaddeus Roterman, James R. McCoy
  • Publication number: 20020036429
    Abstract: A braking and driving force control apparatus and method are for a vehicle having a frictional braking device for applying a braking force individually to each wheel and a regenerative braking device for generating a common braking force to a plurality of wheels. A target braking force is calculated on the basis of a driver's braking operation or traction control. The regenerative braking device is controlled so as to achieve the smallest target braking force of the target braking forces of the plurality of wheels. The frictional braking device is controlled so as to achieve the target braking force of another wheel, different from the wheel having the smallest target braking force, in cooperation with the regenerative braking device. Thus, the efficiency of regenerating energy is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michihito Shimada, Satoru Niwa, Junichi Sakamoto, Masahiro Hara
  • Publication number: 20020030408
    Abstract: A braking force control apparatus and method control a braking force of a motor vehicle that has (a) regenerative braking devices for front wheels and rear wheels, respectively, and (b) a friction braking device for each of the front wheels and the rear wheels. A target braking force of the front wheels and a target braking force of the rear wheels are calculated, based on a braking requirement made by a driver of the vehicle and a ratio of braking forces of the front wheels and the rear wheels. Initially, the regenerative braking devices are controlled to generate regenerative braking forces at the front wheels and the rear wheels, and then, if necessary, the friction braking device is controlled to generate a friction braking force at each of the front wheels and rear wheels, so that a total braking force applied to the front wheels and a total braking force applied to the rear wheels are controlled to the front-wheel target braking force and the rear-wheel target braking force, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Niwa, Michihito Shimada, Junichi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6354672
    Abstract: A braking system including a brake cylinder, a first hydraulic pressure source having a first pump device for pressurizing a working fluid, a second hydraulic pressure source operable in response to an operation of a brake operating member, to pressurize the fluid to a pressure higher than a value corresponding to an operating force of the brake operating member, and a brake-cylinder-pressure control device operable when the brake cylinder is disconnected from the second hydraulic pressure source, to control the pressure of the fluid pressurized by the first hydraulic pressure source, such that the fluid pressure in the brake cylinder is controlled to a value determined on the basis of the operating force, and wherein an emergency communication device is operated when at least one of the brake-cylinder-pressure control device and the first pump device fails to normally function, to hold the brake cylinder in communication with the second hydraulic pressure source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Nakamura, Akihiro Otomo, Fumiaki Kawahata, Tetsuya Miyazaki, Hiroshi Toda
  • Patent number: 6353786
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with an electrical motor for driving the vehicle using a battery as a power source. A braking device of the vehicle maximizes the generation of a regenerative braking force of an electrical motor in a range of electricity supplied to the battery, while satisfying the required braking force in response to an applied braking amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yamada, Jun Yamada
  • Patent number: 6325470
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing regenerative and friction braking on a vehicle having one or more wheels driven by a drive motor includes a master cylinder (28), a hydraulic control unit (30), a brake control unit (38), a drive motor control unit (52) and a drive motor (18). The drive motor control unit determines a coast down regenerative torque signal and a driver brake command regenerative torque signal and commands the drive motor to regeneratively brake the driven left and right wheels in response to whichever of the coast down regenerative torque signal and the driver brake command regenerative torque signal is greatest, thereby maintaining a desirable proportioning of front to rear braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael John Schneider
  • Patent number: 6322166
    Abstract: A solenoid-valve controller provided with a solenoid valve C which is switchable between the full closed state where a plunger a abuts on a sheet face b and the full open state where the plunger separates from the sheet face, and control means e for carrying out energization to a coil d for driving the plunger a of the solenoid valve C by pulse width modulation control, configured such that there are arranged regenerative-current formation means e for forming a regenerative current in parallel with the coil d, and the control means e are arranged with regenerative-current detection means g for detecting the regenerative current, and the control means e carry out pulse width modulation control based on a detection value of the regenerative-current detection means g. This allows detection of the plunger position during actuation of the solenoid valve by a low-cost and small-sized technique requiring no enhancement of an attraction force of the coil of the solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Furuya, Yukio Sudou, Shinobu Kakizaki, Jyunichi Emura, Norihiro Saita, Toshihiko Seki, Katsuya Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 6321144
    Abstract: Requested brake torque and requested throttle torque are assigned opposite algebraic signs in both rollback and non-rollback states. In the non-rollback state, requested motor torque development includes a process step (206) in which requested brake torque and requested throttle torque are algebraically summed. In the rollback state, requested motor torque development includes a process step (218) in which requested throttle torque is substituted for the regeneration torque limit. In the rollback state, the difference between the requested throttle torque and the requested brake torque is compared with a zero vehicle speed regeneration torque limit (228) when the result of comparing the difference between requested throttle torque and the requested brake torque with the regeneration torque limit (222) discloses that the latter difference does not exceed the regeneration torque limit. The result is used to determine respective amounts of motor torque and friction brake torque (230, 232, 234, 236).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale Scott Crombez
  • Publication number: 20010024062
    Abstract: A coordinated regenerative brake system controls total brake torque to brake a vehicle in accordance with brake pedal operation and achieve deceleration intended by the driver's operation of the brakes when the accelerator is not depressed. In a vehicle speed range below specific speed V1, engine brake equivalent torque Ta is set to decrease gradually to zero in accordance with vehicle speed V. When brake operation starts at a vehicle speed exceeding V1, the desired total brake torque Tq working on the vehicle is the sum of brake torque Tb corresponding to brake operation, and engine brake equivalent torque Ta, until vehicle speed reaches specific speed V1. When vehicle speed is V1 or less, brake torque is controlled using as desired total brake torque Tq the sum of brake torque Tb corresponding to brake operation, and first engine brake equivalent torque Ta1, if brake operation amount Sb is greater than or equal to a first brake operation amount Sb1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Applicant: SUMITOMO (SEI) BRAKE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Masato Yoshino
  • Patent number: 6286637
    Abstract: A contactless eddy current brake for cars is disclosed. In the brake, two cores are arranged around the edge of a brake disc while being spaced apart from each other at an angle of 90°. Each of the cores is wound with a coil, thus forming an electric magnet. A speed sensor is positioned around the axle, thus sensing revolutions of the wheel. A control unit calculates a DC or AC control current in response to a speed signal output from the sensor, thus outputting an appropriate control current value to the coils. A current amplifier supplies the control current value from the control unit or a current value from a brake pedal to the coils of the cores. The control unit allows a DC current to be supplied to the coils when the car runs at a high speed or allows an AC current with different phases to be supplied to the coils when the car runs at a low speed or is stopped on a slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Kwangju Institute of Science & Technology
    Inventors: Kyi Hwan Park, Kap Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 6278930
    Abstract: A moving behavior control device for a vehicle calculates first target braking forces to be applied to the respective wheels for stabilizing the vehicle against a turn instability, second target braking forces to be applied to the respective wheels for stabilizing the vehicle against a roll instability, and target overall braking forces to be applied to the respective wheels by integrating the first and second target braking forces, and applies braking forces to the respective wheels according to the target overall braking forces, wherein the applied braking forces are decreased according to a first rate schedule by which the applied braking forces are decreased at a first rate according to an excess of the applied braking forces relative to the target overall braking forces when the vehicle is running at no probability of rolling beyond a predetermined threshold roll, and according to a second rate schedule by which the braking forces are lowered at a second rate smaller than the first rate according to the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noritaka Yamada, Akira Nagae
  • Patent number: 6275763
    Abstract: A braking system for a motor vehicle having braking wheels 16, 18, a service brake pedal, a friction braking system operative upon the braking wheels 16, 18 in response to actuation of the vehicle brake pedal 26, an anti-lock braking system cooperative with the friction braking system to control the friction braking force applied to the braking wheels 16, 18 upon detection of slippage of the braking wheels 16, 18, a regenerative braking system operative upon the braking wheels 16, 18 in response to actuation of the vehicle brake pedal 26 for selectively generating an applied regenerative braking force through the braking wheels 16, 18, and an ambient temperature sensor 52.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Eaglestar Electric Drive Systems LLP
    Inventors: David James Lotito, Clement Newman Sagan, Jack H. Xu
  • Patent number: 6270172
    Abstract: An electrically operated braking system of a motor vehicle, including a brake having a friction member movable to be forced onto a rotor rotating with a vehicle wheel and thereby braking the wheel. The friction member is forced onto the rotor by an electric motor operated by an electric power supplied from an electric power source. A controller determines an amount of the electric power to be supplied to the motor, depending upon an operating amount of the brake operating member, and a relationship estimated by a relationship estimating and utilizing device. The relationship estimating and utilizing device obtains an actual value of the electric power supplied to the motor during operation of the brake while the vehicle is running, and an actual value of a braking torque applied from the brake to the wheel during the brake operation, and estimate a relationship between the electric power to be supplied to the wheel on the basis of the actual values obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Shirai, Yasunori Yoshino
  • Patent number: 6266602
    Abstract: A road surface condition determination system for an automotive vehicle comprises wheel-speed sensors, and a control unit being configured to be electrically connected to the wheel-speed sensors for data-processing a wheel-speed data signal. The control unit calculates a wheel-speed fluctuation of each of the road wheels on the basis of a previous value of the wheel-speed data signal and a current value of the wheel-speed data signal, and calculates an absolute value of the wheel-speed fluctuation of each of the road wheels. A integration circuit is provided to produce a first integrated value of the absolute values of the wheel-speed fluctuations of the road wheels. A smoothing circuit is provided to make a smoothing operation to the integrated value to produce a smoothed value. A road-surface condition determining section is also provided to determine a road surface condition on the basis of the smoothed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventor: Tamotsu Yamaura
  • Patent number: 6244674
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a brake control system for an electrically operated vehicle, which is adapted to reduce a regenerative braking torque and add a hydraulic braking force. A motor control unit is provided for controlling an electric motor to apply a rotating force to a wheel and apply the regenerative braking torque to the wheel. A pressure control device is provided for controlling a hydraulic braking pressure generated by a pressure generator in response to operation of a manually operated braking member, and supplied to a wheel brake cylinder, which is operatively mounted on the wheel for applying a hydraulic braking force to the wheel. The regenerative braking torque is reduced in response to a braking condition monitored by a monitor. A pressure difference is detected between the hydraulic braking pressure of the brake fluid discharged from the pressure generator and the hydraulic braking pressure in the wheel brake cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kuno, Tadashi Terazawa, Yoshinori Suzuki, Harumi Ohori, Shingo Urababa
  • Patent number: 6231134
    Abstract: A vehicle braking system including a frictional braking device for applying a frictional braking torque to each of a plurality of wheels of the vehicle, a regenerative braking device including at least one electric motor for applying a regenerative braking torque to at least one drive wheel of the vehicle, and a total braking torque control device for controlling a total braking torque including one or both of the regenerative braking torque and the frictional braking torque which are applied to each of the wheels. When the total braking torque of at least one of the wheels has exceeded an upper limit corresponding to a friction coefficient of a road surface on which the motor vehicle is running, the total braking torque control device operates to zero the regenerative braking torque of each of the above-indicated at least one wheel and control the frictional braking torque of this wheel while reducing an influence of the zeroing of the regenerative braking torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsukasa Fukasawa, Akira Sakai, Hiroki Asada, Junichi Sakamoto, Shingo Urababa, Yoshinori Suzuki, Toshiyuki Sakai, Naoyasu Enomoto
  • Patent number: 6231135
    Abstract: A hybrid brake system for a vehicle propelled at least by a rotating electric motor powered by a storage battery and in communication with at least one ground-engaging wheel. The hybrid brake system includes a vehicle braking control device and an electrical brake system including the electric motor and the battery, the battery providing an electrical load on the motor during times when the vehicle braking control device is actuated. Rotation of the motor during actuation of the vehicle braking control device provides electrical power to the battery, whereby the battery receives an electrical charge. The motor rotation is slowed by the electrical load, whereby the vehicle is braked by the motor. The hybrid brake system also includes a mechanical brake system including a hydraulic cylinder, a piston sealably and slidably disposed therein and partially defining with the cylinder a chamber of variable volume, the pressure of the fluid in the chamber varying with movement of the piston in the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Glenn R. Bower, Michael D. Koplin
  • Patent number: 6216808
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a brake control system for an electrically operated vehicle which is adapted to reduce a regenerative braking torque and add a hydraulic braking force to compensate for lack of the regenerative braking torque, when voltage of a battery exceeds an upper limit. A motor control unit is provided for controlling an electric motor to apply a rotating force to a wheel and apply the regenerative braking torque to the wheel. A pressure control device is provided for supplying pressurized brake fluid to a wheel brake cylinder in response to operation of a manually operated braking member to apply the hydraulic braking force to the wheel. A reducing device is provided for reducing the regenerative braking torque when the voltage of the battery exceeds a predetermined upper limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kuno, Tadashi Terazawa, Shingo Urababa, Harumi Ohori, Kenji Asano
  • Patent number: 6213571
    Abstract: Problems of a dead-time due to a make-contact delay time until the closure of the regeneration contactor and a drop of torque occurring in the prior art controller for an electric vehicle are solved by the invention, thereby providing an improved drive feeling during transition from its regenerating braking to plugging braking. Specifically, a regeneration contactor's contact voltage is entered to the arithmetic unit, upon set-up of a condition for stopping the regenerating braking, the control for closing the regeneration contactor is executed, and immediately upon detection of the actual closure thereof, the switching operation is cut off at a timing faster than the switching cycle thereby allowing for the transition to the plugging braking to be enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamada, Nobuyoshi Takahashi, Kenichi Maehara, Minoru Kaminaga
  • Patent number: 6189981
    Abstract: A brake system for a motor vehicle includes a pedal unit through which activations of a brake pedal are sensed, two central units and electromechanical brake actuators assigned to wheels. Sensor signals are transmitted to the central units by the pedal unit. In the central units, brake engagement setpoint values are calculated and serially encoded together with the sensor signals, and control signals for supplementary brake functions are generated. The encoded signals are each transmitted to two respective brake actuators through data buses. The control units of the brake actuators make a majority decision and control the brake actuators accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ernst Niedermeier
  • Patent number: 6179395
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing regenerative and friction braking on a vehicle having one or more wheels driven by a drive motor includes a master cylinder (28), a hydraulic control unit (30), a brake control unit (38), a drive motor control unit (52) and a drive motor (18). The brake control unit commands build and dump valve pairs (31, 35) such that brake forces generated at the driven left and right wheels (14, 16) are a combination of the regenerative braking and hydraulic braking, the hydraulic braking being gradually reduced and the regenerative braking being gradually increased during transitions from anti-skid braking control to wheel speed based proportioning and regenerative braking control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael John Schneider
  • Patent number: 6176556
    Abstract: A pedal modifier regenerative braking system is provided for an electric or hybrid electric vehicle having regenerative braking system. The pedal modifier regenerative braking system provides a mechanism for superimposing on a traditional vacuum power hydraulic system a reduction in the energy introduced by the vehicle driver into the friction brake system by an amount that is a function of the vehicle braking provided by an electric motor in a regeneration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas L. Kizer
  • Patent number: 6155365
    Abstract: A hybrid electric powertrain system is provided including a transmission for driving a pair of wheels of a vehicle and a heat engine and an electric motor/generator coupled to the transmission. A friction brake system is provided for applying a braking torque to said vehicle. A controller unit generates control signals to the electric motor/generator and the friction brake system for controllably braking the vehicle in response to a drivers brake command. The controller unit determines and amount of regenerative torque available and compares this value to a determined amount of brake torque requested for determining the control signals to the electric motor/generator and the friction brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Evan S. Boberg
  • Patent number: 6142586
    Abstract: A brake force control apparatus having a hydraulic brake unit for generating a hydraulic brake force and a regenerative brake unit for generating a regenerative brake force is provided which can prevent a driver from having an unnatural feeling due to a discontinuous change in the hydraulic brake force. A brake controller controls the hydraulic brake unit so that at least a predetermined fluid pressure is always supplied to a wheel cylinder while a brake operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Sakai
  • Patent number: 6132015
    Abstract: A control circuit performs regenerative co-operative control during regenerative braking so that a total braking force does not vary before and after regenerative braking. If antilock brake control is started on one of the wheels, the control circuit stops regenerative co-operative control, and gradually increases fluid pressure to the wheel cylinders of the wheels for which antilock brake control is not carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6126251
    Abstract: A brake controlling apparatus for electric vehicles provided with a transmission between an electric motor and wheels. Regenerative brake control furnishes a regenerative braking force to the vehicle. A transmission control switches a stage of gear of the transmission the basis of driver operation. A friction brake control furnishes a friction braking force to the vehicle by controlling a friction brake. During gear shifting control, the regenerative brake control sets a regenerative torque essentially to zero, and the friction brake control supplements the regenerative braking force that was furnished to the vehicle prior to gear shifting control with the friction braking force. Therefore, there is no drop in deceleration during gear shifting control, even if the driver downshifts during regenerative braking. Smooth gear shifting is then possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kinya Yoshii, Eiji Ichioka, Takeharu Koide
  • Patent number: 6120115
    Abstract: In a braking energy control apparatus and method for a vehicle equipped with an electric motor, a predetermined amount of braking energy can be achieved, regardless of the charged condition of a battery, when a brake pedal is off. Drive wheels are driven by a drive force from an engine and the motor. A braking energy control device performs ensemble control of a regenerative braking energy control device that controls the motor and a friction braking energy control device that controls liquid pressure supplied to wheel cylinders, and thereby controls the braking energy when the brake pedal is on or off. The coordinate control of regenerative braking energy and friction braking energy is performed not only when the brake pedal is on but also when the brake pedal is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kouta Manabe
  • Patent number: 6116704
    Abstract: A regenerative braking apparatus for a battery operated vehicle includes rotation direction detection devices for detecting the rotation directions of respective axles of two front wheels, a current direction judgment device for judging respective field current directions of two propulsion motors based on respective outputs from the rotation direction detection devices, and a current direction control device for controlling the field current direction of the propulsion motors based on the output from the current direction judgment device. In this way, even when close to the steering angle for inner wheel stop turning, concern for external action rotation of the propulsion motor for driving the inner wheel is eliminated, enabling control of regeneration at the time of turning to be carried out with good efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Nakakita, Kazuya Fukuda
  • Patent number: 6099089
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing regenerative and friction braking on a vehicle having one or more wheels driven by a drive motor includes a master cylinder (28), a hydraulic control unit (30), a brake control unit (38), a drive motor control unit (52) and a drive motor (18). The drive motor control unit determines a coast down regenerative torque signal in response to an acceleration signal and a driver brake command regenerative torque signal in response to a pressure signal and a drive motor deceleration signal and commands the drive motor to regeneratively brake the driven left and right wheels in response thereto, thereby providing a desirable proportioning of front to rear braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Michael John Schneider
  • Patent number: 6086166
    Abstract: A braking torque control system has a regenerative braking torque generator and a frictional braking torque generator and can control a total braking torque when there is failure in exchanging data between the regenerative braking torque generator and the hydraulic braking torque generator. In particular, when there is an abnormality in the exchanging of data, the target regenerative braking torque is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsukasa Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 6076899
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the brake system of electric drive vehicles are proposed, in which the control of a friction brake and of an electric regenerative brake is divided between two pedals. The regenerative brake is controlled as a function of the actuation of the accelerator, independently of the extent to which the brake pedal is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Isella
  • Patent number: 6070953
    Abstract: A braking system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a hydraulic braking unit that generates a hydraulic braking force and a regenerative braking unit that generates a regenerative braking force regenerating braking energy as regenerative electric power. The system detects a target-braking force required by a driver and controls the hydraulic braking force to the target-braking force. The system controls the regenerative braking force to a first predetermined value while the vehicle is traveling straight. On the other hand, the system controls the regenerative braking force to a second predetermined value, which is smaller than the first predetermined value, while the vehicle is turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shouichi Miyago
  • Patent number: 6070954
    Abstract: In an electrically operated vehicle in which a regenerative braking operation is performed to apply a regenerative braking torque to a wheel, if the regenerative braking torque reaches its maximum value and is insufficient to brake the wheel, a static hydraulic pressure outputted from a master cylinder is supplied to the wheel brake cylinder mounted on the wheel until the brake pedal reaches a retained position. Thereafter, a dynamic hydraulic pressure is supplied to the wheel brake cylinder. While the brake pedal is in movement from the rest position to the retained position, the wheel brake cylinder is supplied with only the static hydraulic pressure and while the brake pedal is being retained at the retained position the wheel brake cylinder is supplied with the static hydraulic pressure and the dynamic hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Urababa, Harumi Ohori, Tetsuya Kuno, Tadashi Terazawa
  • Patent number: 6033041
    Abstract: A regenerative braking control system for an electric vehicle which can be driven by operating an electric motor with electric energy supplied from an electric energy supply source mounted on the vehicle. A control unit (7) is designed so that regenerative braking force of the electric motor (2) is controlled in accordance with an inclination detected by an inclination detecting unit (28). This has made it possible to provide the electric vehicle with improved drivability and running performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisamitsu Koga, Kazunori Handa, Nobuyuki Kawai, Kenichi Saga, Nobuya Furukawa, Akira Maeda, Tomiji Oowada, Hiroaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6033042
    Abstract: A friction brake system in a vehicle has a spring apply force, a pressure release force and a solenoid release force. The solenoid release force is determined by the electrical dynamic brake capacity available at the vehicle powertrain. Under full braking conditions, when the electric dynamic brake absorption capacity is high, the solenoid release force is high and vice versa. The overall brake force requested is established by an operator input signal. The amount of dynamic braking, the amount of pressure release force and the amount of spring apply force are determined by the requested braking effort from the operator and the amount of dynamic braking that can be absorbed in an energy storage unit associated with the powertrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Donald Klemen
  • Patent number: 6021365
    Abstract: In an electric vehicle having front wheels braked by regenerative braking and hydraulic braking and rear wheels hydraulically braked, it is possible to check the magnitude of the regenerative braking force easily and accurately, by using a two-axle chassis dynamometer. Assuming that the front wheel braking force F.sub.2 ' detected by the chassis dynamometer is the total braking force C.sub.2 ' of the front and rear wheels, the total braking force C2' is broken down into component forces according to braking force distribution ratio data previously stored in a memory, to calculate a reference regenerative braking force A.sub.2 'D.sub.2 '. Based on the actually detected pedal depressing force A.sub.2 and the distribution ratio data, an imaginary pedal depressing force A.sub.2 ' is calculated that is required to produce a total braking force of the driven wheels and follower wheels equal to the braking force F.sub.2 ', generated by the driven wheels in the actual pedal depressing force A.sub.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihisa Ishii, Hiroyuki Matsuo, Yasushi Aoki
  • Patent number: 5997107
    Abstract: According to the present invention, the operating amount of the brake is detected, and the target value of the regenerative torque is set in accordance with the detected operating amount. In the meantime, the change in the detected operating amount along with time is detected, and the rise speed of the regenerative torque is set in accordance with the detected change along with time. The regenerative torque is controlled in accordance with the set target value of the regenerative torque and the set rise speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisamitsu Koga, Tomiji Owada, Masaaki Kato, Nobuyuki Kawamura, Naotake Kumagai, Nobuya Furukawa
  • Patent number: 5984432
    Abstract: Hydraulic pressure control apparatus wherein a pressure difference across a seating valve disposed in a fluid passage acts on a valve member for placing the seating valve in an open state, while an elastic member biases the valve member for placing the seating valve in a closed state, and a valve driving device operated with an electric current applied thereto generates a drive force acting on the valve member so as to open the seating valve. A control device for controlling the electric current includes a stepping controller for incrementing the amount of the electric current when the seating valve is operated from the closed state into the open state, such that an increment of the electric current decreases with an increase in the pressure difference. The hydraulic pressure control apparatus may be suitably used in a vehicle braking system, for controlling fluid pressure in wheel brake cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Otomo, Kiyoharu Nakamura, Fumiaki Kawahata, Akira Sakai, Shinichi Soejima
  • Patent number: 5975649
    Abstract: A brake monitoring device for railroad cars is provided with a first comparison device which compares the electrical brake power equivalent signal with a first standard value, judges whether or not electrical brake power is generated and closes the locomotive brake deficit check circuit with an interlock device when such electrical brake power equivalent signal is smaller than such first standard value and which opens the locomotive brake deficit check circuit when it is larger. Such brake monitoring device also includes a second comparison device which compares the electrical brake power equivalent signal with a second standard value which judges whether or not electrical brake power is supplied to the brake power of the trailer car. Such device closes the trailer car brake deficit check circuit with such interlock device when the electrical brake power equivalent signal is smaller than the second standard value and opens the trailer car brake deficit check circuit when it is larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Nabco, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiki Maruta, Shigeaki Doto