Method for determining a clearance of an electromechanical brake, brake, and control unit

A control unit (8) for determining a clearance (L) of an electromechanical brake (100), comprising:

• an interface (10) for the signal-conducting connection (6) of the control unit (8) to an electromechanical brake actuator (2);
• a memory (12) and a processor (14),
• wherein the control unit (8) is configured:
• to activate a clearance determination cycle (202) for the electromechanical brake (100),
• to move the electromechanical brake actuator (2) via a drive motor (A) into a first end position (E1), in which the electromechanical brake (100) is in a non-applied state,
• to move the electromechanical brake actuator (2) via the drive motor (A) toward a second end position (E2), wherein the movement of the electromechanical brake actuator (2) applies at least one brake pad (103) of the electromechanical brake (100) toward a brake disc,
• to continuously determine at least one of a rotor position (φ) and a motor current (i) of the drive motor (A) during the movement of the electromechanical brake actuator (2) toward the second end position (E2),
• to determine a contact position (K), at which the brake pad (103) comes into contact with the brake disc, on the basis of at least one of the rotor position (φ) and the motor current (i), and
• to determine a clearance (L) and a degree of pad wear (VB) on the basis of the determined contact position (K).