# US 2014/0196994 A1 · Actuator system and operating method for an actuator system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196994 A1 - Document ID: US20140196994A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/127,036 - Filed: 2012-06-19 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-20 - Assignees: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG - Applicants: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG - Inventors: Heinz-Anton Schneider; Christof Maron - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196994A1 ## CPC - B60T 13/58: Combined or convertible systems - B60T 7/085: {by electrical means, e.g. travel, force sensors} - B60T 8/17: Using electrical or electronic regulation means to control braking {(detecting or indicating faulty operation B60T8/885)} - B60T 13/588: {both fluid and mechanical assistance or drive} - B60T 13/74: with electrical assistance or drive - B60T 13/741: {acting on an ultimate actuator} - B60T 17/22: Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices - B60T 17/221: {Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems (hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M)} - B60T 2270/40: Failsafe aspects of brake control systems - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES ## Abstract The invention relates to an actuator system, in particular an electromechanical parking brake system, comprising an actuator, wherein the actuator is driven by a direct current motor that can be driven in both directions of rotation, wherein a control unit for controlling the movement of the direct current motor in an open-loop or closed-loop manner is provided. The core of the invention is that one or more pieces of information are supplied to a control unit, said information allowing the application force exerted by the electromotive actuator to be determined and compared to a predetermined minimum application force, and wherein the control unit emits at least one piece of information, signal or the like for requesting an auxiliary actuation to peripheral systems, components and/or electronic control units after the target to actual value comparison has shown that the determined, set application force is smaller than the predetermined minimum application force. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An actuator system for a service or parking brake, comprising: at least one electronically controlled electromotive actuator; and at least one electronic control unit, which is connected via at least one electric supply line to the actuator, and wherein the control unit is connected to at least one of one or a plurality of switches, senders, sensors S and electric actuating elements and comprises at least one microprocessor with implemented software for performing a regulation strategy for controlled or regulated electrical supply of the actuator, and wherein the actuator system is an electromechanically operated motor vehicle brake system comprising an electrically operated wheel brake for generating a defined application force between friction partners, wherein one or a plurality of items of information is/are supplied to the control unit as input variables, which enable the controller unit to determine the application force exerted by the electromotive actuator and to compare the determined application force with a specified minimum application force, and wherein the control unit emits at least one item of information, signal or similar for demanding a boosting actuation to peripheral systems, components and/or electronic control units, after the target-actual value comparison has shown that the determined application force set by the actuator is smaller than the specified minimum application force. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The actuator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target-actual value comparison is repeatedly and regularly performed by the control unit in cycles, periodically, with a specified clocking frequency. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The actuator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the demand for a boosting actuation, depending on the target-actual value comparisons in the cycles, is continued and emitted in modified form. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The actuator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a current demand from the actuator is supplied to the control unit as an input variable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The actuator system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control unit detects and observes a change of the current demand from the actuator against time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The actuator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one item of information about the type and scope of a service brake operation is supplied to the control unit for performing the target-actual value comparison to determine the total application force. ### Claim 7 (depends on 15) The actuator system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one measured hydraulic pressure value correlates with a hydraulic pressure in a cylinder, such as especially a master cylinder and/or a wheel brake cylinder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The actuator system as claimed claim 1, wherein the minimum application force is provided in adaptively variable form, and that the electromotive actuator operation is performed with variable control or regulation depending on a plurality of target-actual value comparisons carried out in cycles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The actuator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the demand for boosting actuation is implemented with control or regulation depending on the operating, vehicle and/or peripheral conditions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The actuator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is provided with at least one networked electronic control unit of a service brake system, that the electronic control unit is provided for controlling a separate actuator, and that the electronic control unit specifies at least one target value for the electronic control unit for controlling the actuator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The actuator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target value defines a hydraulic pressure that is applied by the actuator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The actuator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target value is a defined fixed value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The actuator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target value is variably provided depending on the target-actual value comparison. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The actuator system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a demand for a boosting actuation is terminated or inhibited if the control unit has information that a demand for boosting actuation does not cause achievement of the minimal application force, and wherein the actuator system additionally emits an error message. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The actuator system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the item of information is at least one measured, hydraulic pressure value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The actuator system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cylinder is at least one of a master cylinder and a wheel brake cylinder. ### Claim 17 An actuator method of an actuator system for a service or parking brake having at least one electronically controlled electromotive actuator, the method comprising: connecting at least one electronic control unit via at least one electric supply line to the actuator; connecting the control unit to at least one of one or a plurality of switches, senders, sensors S and electric actuating elements; and performing a regulation strategy, by at least one microprocessor, for controlling or regulating an electrical supply of the actuator, wherein the actuator system is an electromechanically operated motor vehicle brake system comprising an electrically operated wheel brake for generating a defined application force between friction partners.