Method for learning braking step threshold values of a sustained-action brake operated in braking steps, and braking system

A braking system for a commercial vehicle, the braking system comprising:

• a sustained-action brake, wherein the sustained-action brake is controllable with a braking setpoint for increasing or reducing a vehicle actual deceleration of the commercial vehicle by adjusting a braking effect variable of the sustained-action brake, and
• an assistance control module for specifying the braking requirement setpoint to the sustained-action brake, the assistance control module comprising a controller associated with one of an adaptive speed control system, an electronic stability program, or a cruise control system, wherein the assistance control module is configured to learn braking step threshold values of braking steps of the sustained-action brake by:
• controlling the sustained-action brake with the braking requirement setpoint to increase or reduce an actual deceleration of the commercial vehicle, thereby generating a braking effect variable of the sustained-action brake;
• detecting a sustained-action brake actual braking effect variable and a maximum sustained-action brake braking effect, wherein the sustained-action brake actual braking effect variable characterizes the braking effect variable generated by the sustained-action brake as a result of controlling the sustained-action brake with the braking requirement setpoint, and wherein the maximum sustained-action brake braking effect variable characterizes a maximum braking effect variable that can be produced by the sustained-action brake during controlling of the sustained-action brake with the braking requirement setpoint;
• forming a braking effect variable coefficient that characterizes a ratio of the sustained-action brake actual braking effect variable and the maximum sustained-action brake braking effect variable that results from controlling of the sustained-action brake with the braking requirement setpoint;
• assigning the braking effect variable coefficient to a braking step of the sustained-action brake such that each braking step is assigned only one braking effect variable;
• and
• storing the braking requirement setpoint that results in the braking effect variable coefficient, as the braking step threshold value of the braking step to which the braking effect variable coefficient is assigned, wherein the braking step threshold value indicates the braking requirement setpoint at which the respective braking step is activated or deactivated,
• wherein the assistance control module is configured, depending on the braking requirement, to determine and to output the braking requirement setpoint to the sustained-action brake.

A vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, with a braking system, the breaking system comprising:

• a sustained-action brake, wherein the sustained-action brake is controllable with a braking setpoint for increasing or reducing a vehicle actual deceleration of the commercial vehicle by adjusting a braking effect variable of the sustained-action brake, and
• an assistance control module for specifying the braking requirement setpoint to the sustained-action brake, the assistance control module comprising a controller associated with one of an adaptive speed control system, an electronic stability program, or a cruise control system, wherein the assistance control module is configured to learn braking step threshold values of braking steps of the sustained-action brake by:
• controlling the sustained-action brake with the braking requirement setpoint to increase or reduce an actual deceleration of the commercial vehicle, thereby generating a braking effect variable of the sustained-action brake;
• detecting a sustained-action brake actual braking effect variable and a maximum sustained-action brake braking effect, wherein the sustained-action brake actual braking effect variable characterizes the braking effect variable generated by the sustained-action brake as a result of controlling the sustained-action brake with the braking requirement setpoint, and wherein the maximum sustained-action brake braking effect variable characterizes a maximum braking effect variable that can be produced by the sustained-action brake during controlling of the sustained-action brake with the braking requirement setpoint;
• forming a braking effect variable coefficient that characterizes a ratio of the sustained-action brake actual braking effect variable and the maximum sustained-action brake braking effect variable that results from controlling of the sustained-action brake with the braking requirement setpoint;
• assigning the braking effect variable coefficient to a braking step of the sustained-action brake such that each braking step is assigned only one braking effect variable;
• and
• storing the braking requirement setpoint that results in the braking effect variable coefficient, as the braking step threshold value of the braking step to which the braking effect variable coefficient is assigned, wherein the braking step threshold value indicates the braking requirement setpoint at which the respective braking step is activated or deactivated,
• wherein the assistance control module is configured, depending on the braking requirement, to determine and to output the braking requirement setpoint to the sustained-action brake.