Wheel Speed Sensor And Braking Pressure Sensor Patents (Class 303/166)
  • Patent number: 6614346
    Abstract: A method of generating an error signal (F) in a motor vehicle having a brake actuating means (16) that is actuatable by the vehicle's driver, through which a brake system is activated, and detection means (16a), through which actuation of the brake actuating means (16) is detected, a gas pedal (18), a gas pedal position detector (18a), wherein a time at which the gas pedal is released (T0) is determined, a vehicle deceleration (av) is determined, which represents the longitudinal deceleration of the vehicle, a braking status (BSon/off) is determined, which represents the operating status of the brake actuating means (16a), an elapsed time since gas pedal release (Telapse) is monitored, and an error signal (F) is generated as a function of the vehicle deceleration (av), the elapsed time (Telapse), and the braking status (BSon/off).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ian Faye
  • Publication number: 20030122419
    Abstract: When a method for operating a reference speed judges that an ABS control is being executed, the method judges whether the ABS control is being executed to a front wheel or not. When the method judges that the ABS control is not executed to the front wheel, the method considers that the lifting of a rear wheel does not occur, and makes the reference speed follow the fastest wheel speed VRH. When the method judges that the ABS control is being executed to the front wheel, and further judges that a reference body deceleration is a predetermined value or more, the method considers that the lifting of the rear wheel has occurred, and makes the reference speed follow a speed VRM. The speed VRM is a wheel speed calculated in accordance with the following formula: VRM=&agr;VRL+(1−&agr;)VRH (0<&agr;<1), where a character VRL indicates the slowest wheel speed, and a character &agr; indicates a default.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Tadashige Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20030111900
    Abstract: A brake control system includes an ECU having an estimate part which is so constructed as to: totalize an influent amount of fluid in a brake actuator in accordance with an output time of a valve opening drive signal of a control signal and a supply amount per unit time of fluid in a pressure control valve; estimate an amount of fluid in the brake actuator in accordance with the influent amount as totalized; estimate a value of the fluid pressure within the brake actuator in accordance with the amount of fluid as estimated; and carry out correction for obtaining a supply amount of fluid in the brake actuator when a time of retaining operation performed by the control signal is smaller than a predetermined value, correction being performed by adding a correction value corresponding to the time to the output time of the valve opening drive signal of the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: HITACHI UNISIA AUTOMOTIVE, LTD.
    Inventor: Gen Inoue
  • Patent number: 6578932
    Abstract: A vehicle hydraulic brake apparatus includes a controller and a hydraulic pressure detector which detects a master cylinder hydraulic pressure produced by a master cylinder. The controller compares the master cylinder hydraulic pressure detected by the hydraulic pressure detector with a predetermined pressure value, implements operation of the auxiliary hydraulic pressure source when the depressing operation of the brake operating member is judged to be in a stage where the detected master cylinder hydraulic pressure is above the predetermined pressure value, and terminates the operation of the auxiliary hydraulic pressure source when the master cylinder hydraulic pressure detected by the hydraulic pressure detector is stabilized at an approximately fixed pressure value after being increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunori Sakata
  • Publication number: 20030098613
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a control system for actuating an electronically controllable brake actuation system for motor vehicles, including a non-pressurized pressure fluid supply reservoir (4), at least one pressure source (20) that can be actuated by an electronic control unit (32) and whose pressure can be applied to wheel brakes (7, 8, 9, 10) of the vehicle, with pressure control valves (inlet valve 17, 18; outlet valve 27, 28) that can be actuated in an analog manner by means of an electric quantity being associated with said wheel brakes and connecting the wheel brakes (7 to 10) optionally with the pressure source (20) or the pressure fluid supply reservoir (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: J?uuml;rgen Bhm, Thorsten Ullrich
  • Patent number: 6554375
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a brake pressure control device, more particularly, for anti-lock pressure control and for automatic brake intervention for the purpose of traction slip control and/or driving dynamics control in automotive vehicle brake systems, including accommodating bores for pressure modulation valves arranged in a housing, pressure sensor connecting ports which lead into the housing and into which there are inserted pressure sensors that sense the pressure in a housing-side pressure fluid conduit respectively connected to a brake pressure generator. The pressure sensor connecting port either opens into the pressure fluid conduit between two accommodating bores that are directed into the housing, or is part of the pressure modulation valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., oHG
    Inventors: Dieter Dinkel, Axel Hinz, Hans-Dieter Reinartz
  • Patent number: 6539297
    Abstract: A method and a device for evaluating a sensor signal. A value for the residual braking torque of the brake and/or a detection of a blockage of the wheel brake is derived as a function of this signal in the unbraked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Weiberle, Matthias Schanzenbach, Dieter Blattert
  • Patent number: 6499812
    Abstract: A method of brake pressure adjustment in a vehicle brake system equipped with an electric hydraulic pump comprises the following steps: detecting a prevailing brake pressure or determining a nominal pressure, and actuating the pump by degrees according to the detected brake pressure or the nominal pressure. In a method of opening an inlet valve of a hydraulic vehicle brake system, a pressure rise on the inlet side of the inlet valve is generated when the difference between the outlet-side and the inlet-side pressure on the inlet valve exceeds a positive threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Ralph Gronau, Tobias Scheller, Jürgen Woywod
  • Patent number: 6496768
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus has a braking member that is disposed so as to have a clearance with respect to a braked member that rotates together with a wheel, an electric motor that moves the braking member into contact with the braked member and then generates force for pressing the braking member against the braked member, and control means for controlling the force generated by the electric motor based on operation of a brake-operating pedal or the like. The control means detects a state of operation of the vehicle, and controls the force generated by the electric motor so that the speed of the braking member moving toward the braked member is changed in accordance with the operating state of the vehicle. For example, when the vehicle speed is high, the speed of the electric motor is increased to secure good braking responsiveness, and when the vehicle speed is low, the speed of the electric motor is decreased to reduce noises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20020185914
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising a chassis, a front axle means and a rear axle means and there being a towing means secured to the rear axle means by which an implement may be towed characterised in that each wheel of the vehicle is provided with a wheel sensor for each wheel, a controller responsive to wheel speed signals from said wheel speed sensors, for sensing skid conditions at said wheels and for generating skid control instructions, a wheel brake for each wheel, responsive to fluid pressure, hereinafter referred to as brake pressure, supplied thereto, from a fluid pressure supply in accordance with a brake demand signal and a skid control device controlled by said skid control instructions for modulating the brake demand signal to provide the brake pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Raymond Clay, Ian Michael Pettifor, David John Heelis, Ian Kipling Mould
  • Patent number: 6457783
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel brake apparatus having an electric motor, a rotation/translation conversion mechanism that can be driven to rotate by the electric motor, a hydraulic working piston that can be moved by the rotation/translation conversion mechanism, and a brake lining piston that can be hydraulically moved by the working piston. In order to permit an emergency actuation of the wheel brake apparatus in the event of a leak in the hydraulics, the invention proposes embodying the wheel brake apparatus so that the brake lining piston can also be mechanically moved by the working piston. This can be achieved by virtue of the fact that the two pistons are disposed coaxially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Schanzenbach, Dieter Blattert
  • Patent number: 6443539
    Abstract: The duration and average deceleration of a vehicle wheel are measured during a wheel speed departure and compared to duration and deceleration thresholds to determined if a wheel sneakdown condition exists for the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Thomas M. Atkins
  • Publication number: 20020084692
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Applicant: DELPHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Joan B. Arwine, Jon T. Zumberge
  • Publication number: 20020074856
    Abstract: A brake adjustment method and apparatus thereof are described which are capable of providing proper brake hydraulic pressure compensation without causing variations due to different adjusters and without lifting the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Suzuki, Shigeru Yamamoto, Tomohiro Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20020043875
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a braking system contained in a vehicle. The braking system includes at least one brake circuit. The brake circuit, on the output side, contains valve configurations, to which wheel brake cylinders allocated to the brake circuit are connected. The braking system furthermore has at least one pump capable of delivering braking medium to at least two wheel brake cylinders. During predetermined vehicle states, the at least one pump is actuated and the first valve configurations are driven by predefined driving signals. Ascertained for at least one wheel of the vehicle during the actuation of the pump and the first valve configurations is a wheel-performance variable which describes the wheel performance, in particular the wheel-rotation performance, of the corresponding wheel. The braking system is checked for a first and/or second fault as a function of this wheel-performance variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: KENYON & KENYON
    Inventor: THOMAS BRAUN
  • Patent number: 6364436
    Abstract: A brake control device has a master cylinder, wheel cylinder, and a solenoid valve disposed in a conduit between the master cylinder and the wheel cylinder. When a brake pedal happens to be returned at sudden braking, at an idle stop or at vehicle stop on a sloping road, the solenoid valve is controlled at a duty rate based on a difference between a peak value of master cylinder and an actual value of master cylinder reducing so that wheel cylinder pressure is held to a value higher than master cylinder pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Mamoru Sawada
  • Patent number: 6341826
    Abstract: An antiskid brake system for an automotive vehicle is provided which includes a parameter determining circuit and a braking condition determining circuit. The parameter determining circuit determines a parameter reflecting on brake torque applied to a wheel of the vehicle. The braking condition determining circuit compares the phase of a change in speed of the wheel with the phase of a change in the parameter to determine a phase delay of the change in speed of the wheel and determines the braking condition based on the phase delay, thereby allowing a wheel skid used in the antiskid brake control precisely without employing parameters such as vehicle speed and wheel speed as employed in conventional antiskid brake systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Onogi
  • Patent number: 6341827
    Abstract: In an automotive vehicle brake system with an arrangement (rear-axle ABS) which controls or regulates the braking pressure or the brake force on the rear wheels and prevents locking of the rear wheels, the front wheels and the rear wheels are individually equipped with rotational speed sensors. Further, the distribution of the brake force to the front and rear axle (EBD function) is controlled or regulated on the basis of the rotational speed sensor signals and by means of the arrangement (rear-axle ABS) which prevents locking of the rear wheels. In addition, there is provision of an indicator and/or alarm device which signals the imminent locking of a front wheel or the second front wheel to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventor: Helmut Fennel
  • Publication number: 20010053953
    Abstract: This application discloses various methods of braking control and ABS systems based on acceleration comparison methods. The methods and ABS systems can have various embodiments. The preferred embodiments are acceleration sequence comparison method, acceleration difference comparison method, and acceleration sequence and difference comparison method. Various ABS systems can be constructed on the basis of the methods disclosed in this application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Shao-Wei Gong, Kwun-Lon Ting
  • Patent number: 6318815
    Abstract: A braking pressure boosting device is suggested, in particular for automotive vehicles, which includes a boost sensor for sensing or identifying the point of maximum boosting of the braking pressure boosting device. By using the boost sensor, ad signal is generated reporting the point of maximum boosting. This invention permits the manufacture of high-performance braking force boosting devices requiring minimal space and opens up new potential for economizing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Karlheinz Haupt, Hans Jörg Feigel, Horst Krämer
  • Patent number: 6315371
    Abstract: In a brake system, a controller closes solenoid shut-off valves to shut off a communication between a master cylinder and wheel cylinders by pressing a brake pedal, and at the same time, drives a pump and controls the operation of brake fluid pressure control means to supply brake fluid through the pump to the wheel cylinders, thereby performing braking action. Idle travels of the wheel cylinders can be cancelled by the brake fluid from the pump, and a very short pedal stroke can be obtained. Since the brake characteristics are set by considering three factors, i.e. pedal characteristics, travel of a brake pedal, and deceleration (brake fluid pressure) of a vehicle, the brake system has a very short stroke of the brake pedal as compared to a conventional one and has optimal brake characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Bosch Braking Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzi Wachi, Toshiaki Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20010035680
    Abstract: A control method of a hydraulic pressure source-driving type vehicle hydraulic brake system is provided in which water hammering or worsening of the brake feeling does not occur when brake liquid is replenished through a replenish passage. A motor for driving a pump is actuated at a full driving force with an on-off valve in the brake liquid replenish passage opened in the stage in which the hydraulic pressure difference between the master cylinder pressure and the brake hydraulic pressure is small. Also, in the stage in which the brake hydraulic pressure is increased, so that the hydraulic pressure difference from the master cylinder hydraulic pressure has entered a predetermined range, a solenoid valve in the replenish passage is closed to return to the normal control in which the driving force of the motor is controlled so as to correspond to the hydraulic pressure difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Applicant: SUMITOMO (SEI) BRAKE SYSTEMS, Inc.
    Inventor: Keita Nakano
  • Publication number: 20010026097
    Abstract: A method of controlling a hydraulic pressure source-drive type vehicle hydraulic brake system which would not make the driver feel a delay in the effect of braking, and in which the braking force acts quickly and reliably even during urgent braking. A stroke sensor for detecting the pedal depressed amount in the initial play area is provided. By activating a motor for a pump for supplying brake fluid to a wheel cylinder beforehand when the stroke sensor detects that the pedal depressed amount has reached a predetermined threshold, the time needed to depress the brake pedal to the terminal position of the initial play area and the delay time in response of the actuation of the motor are overlapped to shorten the time from the start of depressing of the brake pedal to the actuation of the brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: SUMITOMO (SEI) BRAKE SYSTEMS, Inc.
    Inventor: Keita Nakano
  • Patent number: 6280002
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake system wherein a portion of a volume of a first fluid supplied to a steering system by a pump is selectively diverted to an actuator assembly for a master cylinder to develop an force for actuating a master cylinder to pressurize fluid which is supplied to wheel brakes. An electronic control unit (ECU) for the brake system receives a first input signal indicative of the flow of fluid from the pump in the steering system, a second input signal indicative of the input force applied by the operator and a third input signal indicative of the speed of the wheels of the vehicle for developing a pulse modulated operational signal. The electronic control develops an operational signal which is supplied as the pulse modulated operational signal to a magnetic responsive valve. The pulse modulated operational signal creates a variable orifice in the magnetic responsive valve to restrict the flow of the first fluid to the steering gear and increases the fluid pressure of the first fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Paul Goodzey, Bryan Frances Heinz, Timothy Jay Albert
  • Patent number: 6278929
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vehicle motion control system, which includes a hydraulic braking pressure control apparatus for controlling braking force applied to each wheel of a vehicle at least in response to depression of a brake pedal. A vehicle condition monitor is disposed in the vehicle for monitoring a condition of the vehicle in motion, and a vehicle condition determining device is provided for determining stability of the vehicle in motion, including a turning motion of the vehicle on the basis of the output of the monitor. A braking force controller is provided for controlling the pressure control apparatus in response to the result of determination of the vehicle condition determining device to control the braking force applied to each wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Tozu, Takayuki Itoh
  • Patent number: 6253123
    Abstract: A method for stabilizing a vehicle that avoids one of a vehicle rolling over with respect to a vehicle axis oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the vehicle skidding in a transverse direction. The method determines a vehicle speed and at least two limit values for the vehicle speed, and selects one of the limit values as a reference quantity. In particular, the limit value with the smaller value may be selected as the reference quantity. The method also compares a speed quantity and the reference quantity, and implements measures to stabilize the vehicle based on the comparison. In particular, if the speed quantity is greater than the reference quantity, then the vehicle speed is reduced by intervening in at least one of a retarder operation, an engine operation and a braking operation until the speed quantity is reduced below the reference quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Schramm, Ian Faye
  • Publication number: 20010004168
    Abstract: An antiskid brake system for an automotive vehicle is provided which includes a parameter determining circuit and a braking condition determining circuit. The parameter determining circuit determines a parameter reflecting on brake torque applied to a wheel of the vehicle. The braking condition determining circuit compares the phase of a change in speed of the wheel with the phase of a change in the parameter to determine a phase delay of the change in speed of the wheel and determines the braking condition based on the phase delay, thereby allowing a wheel skid used in the antiskid brake control precisely without employing parameters such as vehicle speed and wheel speed as employed in conventional antiskid brake systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Onogi
  • Patent number: 6244672
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a brake system, the brake pressure of at least one wheel brake being controlled electrically as a function of at least the braking request of the driver. The brake system includes a high-pressure reservoir, whose pressure is detected and taken into consideration in controlling the brake system. In case of failure of the reservoir pressure detection system, the reservoir pressure is estimated on the basis of a model, and the estimated reservoir pressure is taken into consideration in controlling the brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Hachtel
  • Patent number: 6238017
    Abstract: A motorcycle chassis embodies novel techniques, geometries, and configurations to provide enhanced performance, including new techniques to enhance braking performance. A first feature facilitates the application of braking force to each wheel in proportion to its traction capability. Maximum deceleration rates are provided prior to wheel lockup. A second feature applies liquid cooling to a brake disk. Liquid cooling eliminates brake fade caused by overheating of the brake pad material. Aerodynamic control features in concert with unique component arrangement better protect the rider from wind forces and also reduce aerodynamic drag. Narrow steering bars enclosed by bodywork and deep leg notches in the fairing contour largely remove rider induced air flow trips. The leg notches serve to brace the rider during deceleration, unloading his wrists from much of the braking force. An exhaust system routed over the engine permits a totally smooth body undercarriage to reduce aerodynamic drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Frederick G. Eitel
  • Patent number: 6203122
    Abstract: A method of electronic brake force distribution is applied to contribute to vehicle stability even in the event of failure of the system that detects failure of the front-axle brake circuit (13) in a vehicle (1). The method involves initiating a pressure maintenance or pressure reduction phase only after the standards with respect to a minimum vehicle deceleration upon brake circuit failure are met. This way, it is ensured that the standards are observed, on the one hand, and locking of the rear wheels (6,7) before the front wheels (4,5) is prevented with great likelihood, on the other hand. Thus, electronic brake force distribution (EBD) is switched over to less sensitive criteria. This makes allowance for both possibilities in the event of a failure of a pressure switch (15), i.e., that the front-axle brake circuit (13) is intact or that it is defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Norbert Ehmer, Thomas Pröger, Markus Zenzen
  • Patent number: 6199964
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a braking control system for controlling a braking force applied to each wheel of a vehicle. A steep slope detector GD is provided for determining whether the vehicle is on a steep slope, when the rear end of the vehicle is located downward. The wheel speeds of rear wheels RR, RL are held to be zero by a stop holding device SH which is adapted to supply the hydraulic braking pressure discharged from an auxiliary pressure source AS to the rear wheel brake cylinders RR, RL, when the steep slope detector GD determines that the vehicle is on the steep hill, with the rear end of the vehicle located downward, and a braking operation sensor BD detects the depression of the brake pedal BP, with the rear end of the vehicle located downward, and when it is determined that the wheel speeds of front wheels FR, FL are zero and that the wheel speeds of the rear wheels RR, RL are not zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshinobu Ota, Yosuke Takahira
  • Patent number: 6196643
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus includes a first valve to open and close a main line between a master cylinder and a wheel cylinder, a pump connected between a first valve and the wheel cylinder to supply pressurized brake fluid to the wheel cylinder, an auxiliary line connecting the inlet side of the pump to a master cylinder, a second valve to open and close the auxiliary line, a pressure sensor to detect the output pressure of the master cylinder and an electronic control unit which controls the first valve, the second valve, and the pump based upon the pressure detected by the pressure sensor so that the wheel cylinder receives a higher pressure than that of the master cylinder. The electronic control unit also closes the second valve while the pressure sensor detects the pressure over a certain pressure determined by the road surface condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Yokoyama, Kenji Tozu, Masanobu Fukami, Takayuki Itoh
  • Patent number: 6129423
    Abstract: In a brake force control apparatus selectively performing a brake assist (BA) control for generating a brake force greater than that of a normal control time, an unnecessary restart of the BA control immediately after the BA control is terminated is prevented. The BA control is terminated when it is determined that an emergency braking is unnecessary since a master cylinder pressure (PM/C) has been reduced to a value less than a predetermined value. A restart of the BA control which is caused by a sharp change in the master cylinder pressure (PM/C) and a rate of change (.DELTA.PM/C) thereof due to a rapid decrease in a fluid pressure when the BA control is terminated is prohibited until a predetermined time has been passed after the BA control was terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6122585
    Abstract: An anti-lock braking system includes a friction torque gradient estimating unit for estimating, from a small number of parameters, the gradient of friction torque with respect to a slip speed, and controls a braking force acting on wheels on the basis of the friction torque gradient estimated by the friction torque gradient estimating unit. The friction torque gradient estimating unit may employ several types of estimating methods; e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Eiichi Ono, Katsuhiro Asano, Takaji Umeno, Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Masaru Sugai
  • Patent number: 6120112
    Abstract: A brake pressure control device for a vehicle includes a wheel brake, a reservoir, a master cylinder, an accumulator which stores the fluid pressure at a pressure higher than the fluid pressure generated by the master cylinder, and a fluid pump which discharges fluid pressure higher than the fluid pressure in the accumulator. A first fluid conduit connects the master cylinder to the wheel brake, a second fluid conduit connects the fluid pump to the wheel brake, a third fluid conduit connects the fluid pump to the accumulator, a fourth fluid conduit connects the accumulator to the suction port of the fluid pump, and a fifth fluid conduit connects the wheel brake to the reservoir. A first valve opens and closes the first fluid conduit, a second valve opens and closes the second fluid conduit, a third valve opens and closes the third fluid conduit, a fourth valve opens and closes the fourth fluid conduit, and a fifth valve opens and closes the fifth fluid conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toda, Akihito Kusano, Hiroaki Aizawa
  • Patent number: 6120110
    Abstract: A brake assist control for generating a brake force greater than that of a normal time is performed. It is determined (102) that a brake pedal is operated at a high speed when a rate of change .DELTA.PM/C of a master cylinder pressure PM/C exceeds a first threshold value .alpha.. When the cause of the braking operation is an external disturbance, the rate of change .DELTA.PM/C the rate of change .DELTA.PM/C changes immediately thereafter. When a period during which the rate of change .DELTA.PM/C becomes less than a second threshold value .beta. is shorter than a predetermined period T0, it is determined that the cause of the braking operation is the external disturbance such as a rough road or a step and an execution of the brake assist control is prohibited (104, 108, 110, 112).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6085141
    Abstract: An anti-skid control apparatus includes a fluid pressure control valve positioned between a master cylinder and a wheel cylinder of each wheel. The fluid pressure control valve controls the wheel pressure cylinder. A reservoir is provided for temporarily storing brake fluid expelled from the wheel cylinder during an anti-skid control. A pumpless fluid pressure control device is also provided for circulating brake fluid stored in the reservoir back to a master cylinder without using a pump. A flow control valve for maintaining a constant flow of brake fluid is positioned between the master cylinder and the wheel cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Fujioka, Takato Ohgaki, Kazumi Yasuzumi
  • Patent number: 6079801
    Abstract: Electrical, continuously acting wheel brake actuators are individually controlled. The following calculation and control procedures are carried out in a control unit: the wheel slip and the wheel acceleration are calculated for each wheel; if the wheel slip or the wheel acceleration exceed a predefined first threshold value, then the respective actual value of the brake pressure is stored; the quotient of the stored actual value and a pressure value which is characteristic of the vehicle is formed for the respective wheel, and the coefficient of friction .mu. is thus estimated; and an ABS brake-pressure closed-loop control operation is carried out at the individual wheels using the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dirk Zittlau
  • Patent number: 6053584
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a brake system, in which the braking force is regulated in at least one wheel as a function of a driver's command. In an operating state where transition to vehicle standstill is to be expected, the braking force in this at least one wheel is reduced independently of the driver's command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eberhardt Schunck, Ulrich Gottwick
  • Patent number: 6030055
    Abstract: A method and device for regulating the pressure in at least one wheel brake, such that a controller is provided for pressure regulation which forms at least one activation signal magnitude for a pressure-influencing valve arrangement on the basis of, among other things, a stored correlation between the activation signal magnitude and the pressure conditions at the valve arrangement. The method and device allow for the correlation to be adapted to changes to the braking system during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Schubert
  • Patent number: 6003960
    Abstract: A brake system with electronic braking pressure control, including a braking pressure generator, electrically operable hydraulic valves, and an electronic analyzing, is provided with an acoustic sensor which is used to determine the change-over behavior of the hydraulic valves for the approximate determination of the braking pressure prevailing in the braking pressure generator and/or in the wheel brakes. The measured pressure values, in the capacity of control quantities, are taken into account for braking pressure control or analyzed for monitoring purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Gronau, Gunther Buschmann
  • Patent number: 5979997
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake control apparatus includes a pressure supply inhibiting unit which inhibits supply of a brake fluid pressure to wheel cylinders by a first pressure supplying unit when a defect in a brake fluid path between a first flow control unit and the wheel cylinders has occurred, and inhibits supply of a brake fluid pressure to the wheel cylinders by a second pressure supplying unit when a defect in a brake fluid path between a second flow control unit and the wheel cylinders has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayasu Ohkubo, Fumiaki Kawahata, Amane Shimura, Hirohiko Morikawa, Akira Sakai, Akihiro Ohtomo
  • Patent number: 5971502
    Abstract: A secondary source of braking for large hydraulically braked vehicles utilizing the available power source (38) provided by typically available anti-skid and traction control braking systems. The invention improves the time response of a secondary braking traction control system by utilizing stored fluid in the low pressure anti-skid braking system accumulators (34) to provide for faster build of pressure by the pump motor (38). Fluid is stored and utilized based on vehicle behavior and operational states and is based upon the principal the traction control, anti-skid braking and secondary braking requirements are generally mutually exclusive. This allows for a decreased response time of the secondary braking system and also provides for improved initial cycle response of typical traction control events that utilize the system configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Technology Corp
    Inventors: Timothy Jay Albert, Gregory Paul Goodzey
  • Patent number: 5951120
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake control apparatus in which a master cylinder is connected to wheel cylinders via a master cylinder cut valve, and the wheel cylinders are connected to a reservoir tank via a switching valve, includes a check valve provided between the master cylinder and the wheel cylinders in parallel with the master cylinder cut valve, the check valve provided in a bypass passage of the master cylinder cut valve, the check valve allowing a flow of a brake fluid from the master cylinder to the wheel cylinders and inhibiting a flow of the brake fluid from the wheel cylinders to the master cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Amane Shimura, Hirohiko Morikawa, Fumiaki Kawahata, Kiyoharu Nakamura, Akira Sakai, Akihiro Ohtomo
  • Patent number: 5951119
    Abstract: A brake system includes a controllable a pneumatic brake booster, whose control valve can be actuated independently of the driver's will by a solenoid. A control structure consisting of a brake pressure controller and a control valve positioning controller generate signals which represent the electrical current to be applied to the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred Eckert
  • Patent number: 5948036
    Abstract: An anti-lock control method whereby a control period of pressurization/pressure-reduction during anti-lock control is maintained constant. In the anti-lock control method, a control period T(n) from a high peak of a body velocity to a next high peak is measured, a difference between a target control period time (Tset) and the control period time T(n) is obtained when the control period time is shorter than the target control period time (Tset), the difference is added to a current pressurization start delay time Twait(n-1) to obtain a next pressurization start delay time Twait(n), and a next pressurization start time is delayed by the obtained pressurization start delay time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satomi Okubo
  • Patent number: 5927830
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vehicle motion control system for maintaining vehicle stability by controlling the braking force applied to at least one wheel of a vehicle. A vehicle condition monitor is provided for monitoring a condition of the vehicle in motion. The braking force is applied by a braking apparatus to each wheel in response to depression of a brake pedal, and on the basis of an output of the monitor and irrespective of depression of the brake pedal. A control variable is provided for actuating the braking apparatus and set in accordance with at least a first parameter (e.g., wheel acceleration) and a second parameter (e.g., slip rate) which are provided on the basis of the output of the monitor, respectively, so that the control variable is varied in response to the output of the monitor. The control variable is integrated during the braking apparatus is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Tozu, Yoshiyuki Yasui, Masanobu Fukami, Takayuki Itoh, Norio Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 5890776
    Abstract: When a driver wants to stop a vehicle quickly, the driver depresses a braking pedal strongly. A stop switch is turned on. The deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value. In this case, an electronic control unit ECU actuates a pump to send brake fluid from a master cylinder to a wheel cylinder. Thus, the hydraulic braking pressure applied to the wheel cylinder is increased to a level higher than that obtained by a driver's braking pedal depression. Accordingly, the braking force increases at a speed exceeding a driver's foot braking operation without any further burden on the driver. The braking performance can be improved with a prompt increase of the braking force in response to a strong braking operation. Furthermore, utilizing an increased braking force makes it possible to eliminate an imbalance between wheel braking behaviors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Mamoru Sawada
  • Patent number: 5816667
    Abstract: In a method of controlling the braking pressure as a function of the rate of pedal actuation, by way of a braking pressure generator which is driven by an independent force when an actuation threshold is exceeded, the actual values of the pedal travel and the vehicle deceleration or the braking pressure are determined during partial braking operations, and the actual values are compared with the nominal values or series mean values. Correction factors are derived from the respective deviation of the actual values from the nominal values, and an adaptation factor is determined in a learning process over successive partial braking operations. To determine the actuation threshold, the basic value of the threshold is multiplied by the adaptation factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
    Inventor: Mile Jokic
  • Patent number: 5806938
    Abstract: In a selected operating situation, the automatic control circuit, which is closed during normal operation, is opened, the final control element of the wheel brake being actuated within the scope of an open-loop control process. The drive signal value for the wheel brake changes in accordance with a predetermined time function, and the application pressure or release pressure is found on the basis of the characteristic behavior of a value representing the braking action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Stumpe, Roland Karrelmeyer, Juergen Wrede, Matthias Horn