Electronic brake system, vehicle including the same, and method of operating the same

An electronic brake system comprising:

• a piston provided in a caliper housing to press a pad plate;
• a nut configured to move the piston forward or backward;
• a spindle configured to move the nut forward or backward by rotation and including a first groove formed to be recessed in an outer surface thereof;
• a rotation limit unit including a first protrusion formed to protrude from a position corresponding to the first groove to allow or block the rotation of the spindle and fixedly inserted into the first groove;
• and
• a drive unit configured to move the rotation limit unit forward or backward to a position at which the rotation of the spindle is allowed or blocked,
• wherein the rotation limit unit includes a body surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the spindle and a connector connected to the drive unit and configured to receive a driving force from the drive unit, and
• wherein the connector extends from the body and moves forward and backward along with the body by the driving force,
• wherein the drive unit includes a worm gear having an inner side engaged with the connector and configured to rotate so as to move the connector forward and backward.

An electronic brake system comprising:

• a piston provided in a caliper housing to press a pad plate;
• a nut configured to move the piston forward or backward;
• a spindle configured to move the nut forward or backward by rotation and including a first groove formed to be recessed in an outer surface thereof;
• a rotation limit unit including a first protrusion formed to protrude from a position corresponding to the first groove to allow or block the rotation of the spindle and fixedly inserted into the first groove;
• and
• a drive unit configured to move the rotation limit unit forward or backward to a position at which the rotation of the spindle is allowed or blocked,
• wherein the rotation limit unit includes a body surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the spindle and a connector connected to the drive unit and configured to receive a driving force from the drive unit, and
• wherein the connector extends from the body and moves forward and backward along with the body by the driving force,
• wherein the drive unit includes:
• a motor configured to generate power;
• and
• a reduction gear connected to a rotational shaft of the motor to transmit the driving force to the rotation limit unit, and
• wherein the reduction gear includes:
• a worm connected to the rotational shaft of the motor;
• and
• a worm gear having an outer side connected to the worm and an inner side connected to the connector.

A method of operating an electronic brake system, the method comprising:

• in a parking mode, transmitting, by an actuator, a first driving force to a spindle so that a nut presses a piston;
• transmitting, by a drive unit, a second driving force to a rotation limit unit and bringing a binder into close contact with a stepped portion;
• and
• upon releasing the parking mode, separating the binder from the stepped portion, and releasing a state in which the nut presses the piston,
• wherein, in the bringing of the binder into close contact with the stepped portion, the second driving force of the drive unit is transmitted to the rotation limit unit through a connector and a worm gear of the drive unit, the connector being connected to the drive unit and moving forward and backward by the second driving force, and the worm gear having an inner side engaged with the connector and configured to rotate so as to move the connector forward and backward.