Apparatus and method for controlling regenerative braking of vehicle, and system and method for controlling regenerative braking between vehicles

A method for controlling regenerative braking of a towed vehicle by a control device mounted in a towing vehicle, the method comprising:

• determining, by the control device, a possibility of collision with an object based on detection information related to a surrounding of a host vehicle or determining a required braking amount based on vehicle state information of the host vehicle;
• and
• outputting, by the control device, a request for the regenerative braking for the towed vehicle based on the possibility of collision or the required braking amount,
• wherein the outputting includes outputting a regenerative braking entry request or an emergency regenerative braking request according to the possibility of collision or the required braking amount,
• wherein the determining of the possibility of collision includes:
• determining a time to collision (TTC) between the host vehicle and the object;
• and
• comparing the TTC to preset first and second thresholds,
• wherein the second threshold is smaller than the first threshold, and
• wherein the regenerative braking entry request is output in response that the TTC is smaller than or equal to the first threshold and greater than the second threshold, and the emergency regenerative braking request is output in response that the TTC is smaller than or equal to the second threshold.

An apparatus for controlling regenerative braking, which is mounted in a towed vehicle and configured to control the regenerative braking of a host vehicle according to a request from a towing vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a first control unit configured to receive a regenerative braking request from the towing vehicle and output a request corresponding to the regenerative braking request;
• and
• a second control unit operatively connected to the first control unit and configured to perform regenerative braking according to the request output from the first control unit,
• wherein the regenerative braking request includes a regenerative braking entry request or an emergency regenerative braking request,
• wherein the regenerative braking request includes a regenerative braking entry request or an emergency regenerative braking request,
• wherein, in response to the regenerative braking entry request, the second control unit is configured to perform the regenerative braking based on information related to a regenerative braking level provided together with the regenerative braking entry request from the first control unit, and
• wherein, in response to the emergency regenerative braking request, the second control unit is configured to generate a preset maximum braking force.

A method for controlling regenerative braking, which is configured to control regenerative braking of a host vehicle according to a request from a towing vehicle by a control device mounted in a towed vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving a regenerative braking request from the towing vehicle;
• and
• performing the regenerative braking according to the regenerative braking request,
• wherein the regenerative braking request includes a regenerative braking entry request or an emergency regenerative braking request,
• wherein, in response to the regenerative braking entry request, the performing includes performing the regenerative braking based on information related to a regenerative braking level provided together with the regenerative braking entry request, and
• wherein, in response to the emergency regenerative braking request, the performing includes generating a preset maximum braking force.

A system for controlling regenerative braking between vehicles, the system comprising:

• a first regenerative braking control apparatus mounted in a towing vehicle;
• and
• a second regenerative braking control apparatus mounted in a towed vehicle and operatively connected to the first regenerative braking control apparatus,
• wherein the first regenerative braking control apparatus is configured to determine a possibility of collision with an object based on detection information related to a surrounding of a host vehicle or determine a required braking amount based on vehicle state information of the host vehicle and output a regenerative braking request to the towed vehicle based on the possibility of collision or the required braking amount,
• wherein the second regenerative braking control apparatus is configured to perform regenerative braking of the host vehicle according to the regenerative braking request output from the first regenerative braking control apparatus,
• wherein the regenerative braking request includes a regenerative braking entry request or an emergency regenerative braking request,
• wherein the first regenerative braking control apparatus is further configured to determine a time to collision (TTC) between the host vehicle and the object, compare the TTC with preset first and second thresholds, and output the regenerative braking entry request in response that the TTC is smaller than or equal to the first threshold and greater than the second threshold and output the emergency regenerative braking request in response that the TTC is smaller than or equal to the second threshold, and
• wherein the second threshold is smaller than the first threshold.

A method of controlling regenerative braking of a towed vehicle by a towing vehicle, the method comprising:

• outputting, by a first regenerative braking control apparatus of a towing vehicle, a regenerative braking request to the towed vehicle based on a result of determining a possibility of collision with an object based on detection information related to a surrounding of a host vehicle or a result of determining a required braking amount based on vehicle state information of the host vehicle;
• and
• performing, by a second regenerative braking control apparatus of the towed vehicle which is operatively connected to the first regenerative braking control apparatus, regenerative braking of the host vehicle according to the regenerative braking request,
• wherein the outputting includes determining a time to collision (TTC) between the host vehicle and the object, comparing the TTC with preset first and second thresholds, outputting the regenerative braking entry request in response that the TTC is smaller than or equal to the first threshold and greater than the second threshold, and outputting an emergency regenerative braking request in response that the TTC is smaller than or equal to the second threshold, and
• wherein the second threshold is smaller than the first threshold.