US 11,077,837 B2Granted

Cruise control cancel, with brake precharge

AssigneeContinental Automotive Systems, Inc.

InventorMatthew Conrad Tuhro

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Abstract

A hydraulic brake system for a vehicle which has expanded functionality, where a pre-charge occurs in the brake system upon deactivation of the cruise control, reducing the time needed to generate pressure in each brake unit, reducing stopping distance. The pre-charge function involves generating pressure in each caliper of the brake system upon deactivation of the cruise control function of the vehicle, such that the hydraulic brake system is pre-charged prior to the driver of the vehicle applying force to the brake pedal, which reduces stopping distance. One aspect of the pre-charge function includes generating enough pressure such that the brake pads contact each corresponding rotor. Another aspect of the pre-charge function includes generating enough pressure such that the brake pads apply force to each corresponding rotor, providing a minimum amount of deceleration prior to the driver of the vehicle applying force to the brake pedal.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

a braking system for a vehicle, including:
a hydraulic electronic control unit;
at least one brake unit operable for being controlled by the hydraulic electronic control unit;
a cruise control function operable for configuring the vehicle to maintain a constant speed;
at least one rotor;
a plurality of brake pads, a first of the plurality of brake pads located on a first side of the at least one rotor, and a second of the plurality of brake pads located on a second side of the at least one rotor, the brake unit operable for configuring the plurality of brake pads to selectively apply force to the at least one rotor;
and
a first air gap located between the first side of the at least one rotor and the first of the plurality of brake pads;
a pre-charge function which includes generating pressure in the at least one brake unit;
wherein the pre-charge function is activated by the hydraulic electronic control unit when the cruise control function is deactivated;
wherein the pre-charge function includes generating pressure in the at least one brake unit such that the first of the plurality of brake pads is in contact with the first side of the at least one rotor, and the second of the plurality of brake pads is in contact with the second side of the at least one rotor;
and
wherein upon deactivation of the cruise control function and activation of the pre-charge function, as the pressure is generated in the at least one brake-unit, the first of the plurality of brake pads is moved towards the first side of the at least one rotor such that the first air gap is eliminated.

10 more elements

A braking system for a vehicle, comprising:

a hydraulic electronic control unit;
at least one brake unit operable for being controlled by the hydraulic electronic control unit;
at least one rotor;
a plurality of brake pads being part of the at least one brake unit, a first of the plurality of brake pads located on a first side of the at least one rotor, and a second of the plurality of brake pads located on a second side of the at least one rotor, the brake unit operable for configuring the plurality of brake pads to selectively apply force to the at least one rotor;
a cruise control function operable for configuring the vehicle to maintain a constant speed;
a pre-charge function which includes generating pressure in the at least one brake unit such that the first of the plurality of brake pads is in contact with the first side of the at least one rotor, and the second of the plurality of brake pads is in contact with the second side of the at least one rotor;
wherein the pre-charge function is activated by the hydraulic electronic control unit when the cruise control function is deactivated;
a first air dap located between the first side of the at least one rotor and the first of the plurality of brake pads;
a second air gap located between the second side of the at least one rotor and the second of the plurality of brake pads;
and
wherein upon deactivation of the cruise control function and activation of the pre-charge function, as the pressure is generated in the at least one brake-unit, the first of the plurality of brake pads is moved towards the first side of the at least one rotor such that the first air gap is eliminated, and the second of the plurality of brake pads is moved towards the second side of the at least one rotor such that the second air gap is eliminated.

8 more elements

A method for reducing the stopping distance of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

providing braking system for a vehicle;
providing a hydraulic electronic control unit being part of the braking system of the vehicle;
providing at least one brake unit being part of the braking system, the at least one brake unit operable for being controlled by the hydraulic electronic control unit;
providing at least one rotor being part of the braking system;
providing a plurality of brake pads being part of the at least one brake unit, a first of the plurality of brake pads located on a first side of the at least one rotor, and a second of the plurality of brake pads located on a second side of the at least one rotor, the brake unit operable for configuring the plurality of brake pads to selectively apply force to the at least one rotor;
providing a cruise control function operable for configuring the vehicle to maintain a constant speed;
and
providing a pre-charge function being part of the braking system, the pre-charge function being activated by the hydraulic electronic control unit;
activating the pre-charge function after the cruise control function is deactivated, the pre-charge function generating pressure in the at least one brake unit such that the first of the plurality of brake pads is placed in contact with the first side of the at least one rotor, and the second of the plurality of brake pads is placed in contact with the second side of the at least one rotor;
providing a first air gap located between the first side of the at least one rotor and the first of the plurality of brake pads;
providing a second air gap located between the second side of the at least one rotor and the second of the plurality of brake pads;
deactivating the cruise control function;
eliminating the first air gap by moving the first of the plurality of brake pads towards the first side of the at least one rotor upon deactivation of the cruise control function and activation of the pre-charge function;
and
eliminating the second air gap by moving the second of the plurality of brake pads towards the second side of the at least one rotor upon deactivation of the cruise control function and activation of the pre-charge function.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/291,591Filed 4 Mar 2019 · us provisional application
Priority: 12 Dec 2018
Published: US 2020/0189544 A118 Jun 2020
Granted: 3 Aug 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B60T 7/12
Brake-action initiating means: for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger
B60T 13/662
Electrical control in fluid-pressure brake systems: characterised by specified functions of the control system components
B60K 31/00
Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle
B60T 1/065
Acting otherwise than on tread, e.g. employing rim, drum, disc, or transmission or on double wheels: employing disc

Family

Application62/778,672Us provisional application · filed 12 Dec 2018
US 2020/0189544 A1Pre-grant publication · published 18 Jun 2020
US 11,077,837 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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