# US 10,501,011 B2 · Dynamic brake force indicator

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,501,011 B2
- Document ID: US10501011B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/994,156
- Filed: 2016-01-13
- Published: 2017-07-06
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-30
- Applicants: Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited
- Inventors: Jia-Wei Ding
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501011B2

## CPC

- B60Q 1/444: {with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication (B60Q1/1407, B60Q1/442, B60Q1/447 take precedence)}
- B60T 7/042: {by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors}
- B60T 17/22: Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES

## Abstract

Dynamically displaying of a brake force is disclosed. A brake pedal force sensor can be used to generate signals indicating an amount or a level of brake force exerted on a brake pedal of a driving apparatus. Such signals can be processed to determine degrees of the brake force exerted. A set of display parameter values can be determined based on the determined degree of the brake force. The set of display parameters can include at least one value for illumination brightness, illumination area, illumination frequency, illumination color, and/or illumination style on a brake light of the driving apparatus. In certain embodiments, the display of the brake force is in a form of sliding bar and/or circular ring, and the brightness and/or the illumination area of the brake light is proportional to the determined degree of the brake force.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method for visually displaying brake force through a brake light installed on a driving apparatus, the method comprising:
receiving, from a pedal force sensor, an input signal reflecting a brake force applied by an operator of the driving apparatus to a brake force pedal of the driving apparatus, wherein the input signal does not indicate an absolute value of the brake force;
determining, based on the input signal, a predetermined brake force range the brake force applied by the operator belongs to, wherein the predetermined brake force range reflects a percentage value indicating a percentage relationship between the applied brake force and a maximum brake force applicable to the brake force pedal;
determining a set of one or more display parameter values based on the predetermined brake force range;
querying a status and/or a capability of the brake light;
determining whether the parameter values are implementable by the brake light based on a result of the querying; and
in response to a determination that the parameter values are implementable by the brake light, effectuating a display of the brake light using the set of one or more display parameter and a display of the percentage value in a numeric format.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the set of the one or more parameter values include at least one value for illumination brightness, illumination area, illumination frequency, illumination color, and/or illumination style.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the input is an analog signal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the input is a digital signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determined value of the brake force is a value indicating an amount of force exerted by the operator on the brake pedal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising determining a text warning for display on the brake light when the predetermined brake force range exceeds a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the display of the brake force is in a form of sliding bar and/or circular ring, wherein the brightness and/or the illumination area of the brake light is proportional to the brake force.

### Claim 8

A system for visually displaying brake force through a brake light installed on a driving apparatus, the system comprising one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions to perform:
receiving, from a pedal force sensor, an input signal reflecting a brake force applied by an operator of the driving apparatus to a brake force pedal of the driving apparatus, wherein the input signal does not indicate an absolute value of the brake force;
determining, based on the input signal, a predetermined brake force range the brake force applied by the operator belongs to, wherein the predetermined brake force range reflects a percentage value indicating a percentage relationship between the applied brake force and a maximum brake force applicable to the brake force pedal;
determining a set of one or more display parameter values based on the predetermined brake force range;
querying a status and/or a capability of the brake light; and
determining whether the parameter values are implementable by the brake light based on a result of the querying; and
in response to a determination that the parameter values are implementable by the brake light, effectuating a display of the brake light using the set of one or more display parameter and a display of the percentage value in a numeric format.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the set of the one or more parameter values include at least one value for illumination brightness, illumination area, illumination frequency, illumination color, and/or illumination style.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the input is an analog signal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the input includes digital signals.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the determined value of the brake force is a value indicating an amount of force exerted by the operator on the brake pedal.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, the processors are further configured to perform determining a text warning for display on the brake light when the brake force exceeds a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the display of the brake force is in a form of sliding bar and/or circular ring, wherein the brightness and/or the illumination area of the brake light is proportional to the brake force.