# US 11,077,837 B2 · Cruise control cancel, with brake precharge

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- Number: US 11,077,837 B2
- Document ID: US11077837B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/291,591
- Filed: 2019-03-04
- Published: 2020-06-18
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2018-12-12
- Assignees: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Matthew Conrad Tuhro
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077837B2

## CPC

- B60T 7/12: for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger {(limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00)}
- B60T 13/662: {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 speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator
- B60T 1/065: {employing disc (B60T1/062 takes precedence)}
- B60T 2201/12: Pre-actuation of braking systems without significant braking effect; Optimizing brake performance by reduction of play between brake pads and brake disc
- 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
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a second air gap located between the second side of the at least one rotor and the second of the plurality of brake pads;
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 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.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-charge function includes generating enough pressure in the at least one brake unit such that the first of the plurality of brake pads applies force the first side of the at least one rotor, and the second of the plurality of brake pads applies force to the second side of the at least one rotor, decreasing the rotational speed of the at least one rotor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a brake pedal in communication with the hydraulic electronic control unit, the hydraulic electronic control unit operable for controlling the pressure generated by the brake unit based on the amount of force applied to the brake pedal;
wherein the pre-charge function is activated prior to the driver of the vehicle applying force to the brake pedal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, the at least one brake unit is a plurality of brake units, wherein the pre-charge function further comprises generating pressure in each of the plurality of brake units when the cruise control function is deactivated.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-charge function is activated when the vehicle is travelling on an exit ramp of a highway.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-charge function is activated when a driver of the vehicle anticipates having to decelerate the vehicle.

### Claim 8

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.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The braking system for a vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:
a brake pedal in communication with the hydraulic electronic control unit, the hydraulic electronic control unit operable for controlling the pressure generated by the brake unit based on the amount of force applied to the brake pedal;
wherein the pre-charge function is activated prior to the driver of the vehicle applying force to the brake pedal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The braking system for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the pre-charge function is activated when the vehicle is travelling on an exit ramp of a highway.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The braking system for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the pre-charge function is activated when a driver of the vehicle anticipates having to decelerate the vehicle.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The braking system for a vehicle of claim 8, the at least one brake unit is a plurality of brake units, wherein the pre-charge function further comprises generating pressure in each of the plurality of brake units when the cruise control function is deactivated.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The braking system for a vehicle of claim 8, wherein the pre-charge function includes generating enough pressure in the at least one brake unit such that the first of the plurality of brake pads applies force the first side of the at least one rotor, and the second of the plurality of brake pads applies force to the second side of the at least one rotor, decreasing the rotational speed of the at least one rotor.

### Claim 14

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.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:
providing a brake pedal in communication with the hydraulic electronic control unit;
controlling the pressure generated by the brake unit based on the amount of force applied to the brake pedal using the hydraulic electronic control unit;
activating the pre-charge function prior to the driver of the vehicle applying force to the brake pedal.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of activating the pre-charge function when the vehicle is travelling on an exit ramp of a highway.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of activating the pre-charge function when a driver of the vehicle anticipates having to decelerate the vehicle.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:
providing the at least one brake unit as a plurality of brake units;
generating pressure in each of the plurality of brake units when the cruise control function is deactivated.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, the pre-charge function further comprising the steps of:
generating enough pressure in the at least one brake unit such that the first of the plurality of brake pads applies force the first side of the at least one rotor;
generating enough pressure in the at least one brake unit such that the second of the plurality of brake pads applies force to the second side of the at least one rotor;
decreasing the rotational speed of the at least one rotor as the first of the plurality of brake pads applies force the first side of the at least one rotor, and the second of the plurality of brake pads applies force to the second side of the at least one rotor.