Controlling device for a brake system of a vehicle and method for operating a brake system of a vehicle

A controlling device for a brake system of a vehicle, comprising:

• a first receiving device, by which a sensor signal regarding an actuating intensity of a manipulation of a brake actuating element of the brake system is received;
• a second receiving device, by which an information signal regarding at least one theoretically applicable generator braking torque of a generator of the braking system is received;
• a generator control device, with the aid of which a setpoint generator braking torque of the generator is set in view of the sensor signal and the information signal, and the generator is accordingly controlled;
• and
• a valve control device, by which:
• if the stipulated setpoint generator braking torque is equal to zero, at least one accumulator opening valve of a brake circuit of the brake system is forced into a first valve position in such a manner, that displacement of a brake fluid from a master brake cylinder of the brake system into at least one wheel brake caliper of the brake circuit is effected, and a displacement of the brake fluid from the master brake cylinder into an accumulator of the brake circuit is prevented, and
• if the stipulated setpoint generator braking torque is not equal to zero, the at least one accumulator opening valve may be forced into a second valve position in such a manner, that the displacement of the brake fluid from the master brake cylinder into the accumulator may be effected, wherein:
• according to the generator control device, the setpoint generator braking torque is set in view of the information signal and a function of a variable derived from the sensor signal, the function being at a maximum, when a variable derived from the sensor signal is equal to a minimum actuating intensity, at which a braking force of a driver applied to the brake actuating element is transmittable to a displaceable piston of the master brake cylinder.

A brake system for a vehicle, comprising:

• a controlling device for a brake system of a vehicle, including:
• a first receiving device, by which a sensor signal regarding an actuating intensity of a manipulation of a brake actuating element of the brake system is received;
• a second receiving device, by which an information signal regarding at least one theoretically applicable generator braking torque of a generator of the braking system is received;
• a generator control device, with the aid of which a setpoint generator braking torque of the generator is set in view of the sensor signal and the information signal, and the generator is accordingly controlled;
• and
• a valve control device, by which:
• if the stipulated setpoint generator braking torque is equal to zero, at least one accumulator opening valve of a brake circuit of the brake system is forced into a first valve position in such a manner, that displacement of a brake fluid from a master brake cylinder of the brake system into at least one wheel brake caliper of the brake circuit is effected, and a displacement of the brake fluid from the master brake cylinder into an accumulator of the brake circuit is prevented, and
• if the stipulated setpoint generator braking torque is not equal to zero, the at least one accumulator opening valve may be forced into a second valve position in such a manner, that the displacement of the brake fluid from the master brake cylinder into the accumulator may be effected, wherein:
• according to the generator control device, the setpoint generator braking torque is set in view of the information signal and a function of a variable derived from the sensor signal, the function being at a maximum, when a variable derived from the sensor signal is equal to a minimum actuating intensity, at which a braking force of a driver applied to the brake actuating element is transmittable to a displaceable piston of the master brake cylinder;
• the master brake cylinder;
• and
• the at least one brake circuit, which is hydraulically connected to the master brake cylinder and includes the at least one wheel brake caliper, the accumulator, and the at least one accumulator opening valve, wherein when the at least one accumulator opening valve is in a first valve position, displacement of the brake fluid from the master brake cylinder into the at least one wheel brake caliper may be effected, and the displacement of the brake fluid from the master brake cylinder into the accumulator is prevented;
• and wherein when the at least one accumulator opening valve is in a second valve position, the displacement of the brake fluid from the master brake cylinder into the accumulator may be effected.

A method for operating a brake system of a vehicle, comprising:

• setting a setpoint generator braking torque in view of an actuating intensity variable regarding an actuating intensity of a manipulation of a brake actuating element of the brake system, and in view of an information item regarding at least one theoretically applicable generator braking torque of a generator of the brake system;
• controlling the generator in view of the set setpoint braking torque;
• if the set setpoint generator braking torque is equal to zero, forcing at least one accumulator opening valve of a brake circuit of the brake system into a first valve position, through which a displacement of a brake fluid from a master brake cylinder of the brake system into at least one wheel brake caliper of the brake circuit is effected, and the displacement of the brake fluid from the master brake cylinder into an accumulator of the brake circuit is prevented;
• and
• if the set setpoint generator braking torque is not equal to zero, forcing the at least one accumulator opening valve into a second valve position, through which the displacement of the brake fluid from the master brake cylinder into the accumulator is effected;
• detecting an increased actuating intensity variable regarding an increased actuating intensity of the manipulation of the brake actuating element;
• comparing the increased actuating intensity variable to a threshold value regarding a minimum actuating intensity, at which a braking force of a driver applied to the brake actuating element is transmitted to a displaceable piston of the master brake cylinder;
• and
• if the increased actuating intensity variable exceeds the threshold value, one of holding constant and reducing the setpoint generator braking torque in spite of the increased actuating intensity variable.