# US 2017/0282874 A1 · Apparatus for enhancing vehicle performance along inclined surfaces, and methods of use and manufacture thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282874 A1 - Document ID: US20170282874A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/085,785 - Filed: 2016-03-30 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-30 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Matthew J. ALEXANDER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282874A1 ## CPC - B60T 7/042: {by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors} - B60T 7/085: {by electrical means, e.g. travel, force sensors} - B60T 7/122: {for locking of reverse movement} - B60T 2201/06: Hill holder; Start aid systems on inclined road - B60T 2210/16: Off-road driving conditions - 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 Some embodiments relate to apparatus for enhancing vehicle performance along an inclined surface. The apparatus can include a brake modulator that is controllable to reduce or limit the vehicle speed. A controller can control the brake modulator to selectively operate in a hill start assist mode. In the hill start assist mode, the controller can control the brake modulator to hold the vehicle stationary after the vehicle is initially stopped while traveling along the inclined surface, until an acceleration input member is manually operated to control a power source to propel the vehicle. The controller can control the brake modulator to release fluid pressure at the friction members at a pressure release rate that is based on a current position of the acceleration input member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A brake control system for enhancing performance of a vehicle traveling along an inclined surface, the vehicle including a vehicle braking system that includes friction members for reducing or limiting vehicle speed based on application of fluid pressure, the vehicle also including a power source assembly and a manually operated acceleration input member that controls the power source assembly to propel the vehicle along the inclined surface, the brake control system comprising: a manually actuated braking input member movable between an actuated position that reduces or limits vehicle speed and a released position that does not reduce or limit vehicle speed; a brake modulator that is controllable to manipulate the vehicle braking system to maintain the vehicle in a stationary position by maintaining an amount of fluid pressure supplied to the friction members if the braking input member is in the released position; and a controller that controls the brake modulator to selectively operate in a hill start assist mode such that the controller controls the brake modulator to adjust fluid pressure at the friction members to hold the vehicle stationary after the vehicle is initially stopped while traveling along the inclined surface, the vehicle being held stationary until the acceleration input member is manually operated to control the power source assembly to propel the vehicle, and the controller controls the brake modulator to release fluid pressure at the friction members at a pressure release rate that is based on a current position of the acceleration input member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The brake control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured receive data indicative of the current position of the acceleration input member, and is configured to select one of a plurality of different fluid pressure release rates based on the data indicative of the current position of the acceleration input member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The brake control system of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of fluid pressure release rates corresponds to a respective range of positions of the acceleration input member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The brake control system of claim 1, wherein the acceleration input member is movable between a fully closed position and a fully opened position, and the controller controls the brake modulator to release fluid pressure at the friction members such that the pressure release rate increases as the acceleration input member moves toward the fully opened position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The brake control system of claim 1, further comprising an accelerator position sensor in electrical communication with the controller and configured to output data indicative of the current position of the acceleration input member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The brake control system of claim 5, wherein the power source includes an internal combustion engine, the acceleration input member includes a throttle valve, and the accelerator position sensor is configured to output data indicative of the angular position of the throttle valve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The brake control system of claim 1, further comprising a single manually operated switch configured to selectively instruct the controller to activate and deactivate the hill start assist mode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The brake control system of claim 7, wherein the switch is configured such that manual application of pressure for a period substantially equal to or exceeding 0.5 seconds actuates the switch in an activate position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The brake control system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle braking system includes a brake position sensor that senses the position of the braking input member, and the controller controlling the brake modulator to operate in the hill start assist mode if the brake position sensor senses that the braking input member is in the released state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The brake control system of claim 1, further including a timer that determines an amount of time that elapses subsequent to movement of the braking input member into the released state, the controller comparing the time elapsed to a predetermined time threshold, and controlling the brake modulator to cease operating in the hill start assist mode if the elapsed time exceeds the predetermined time threshold. ### Claim 11 A vehicle comprising: a power source assembly; a manually operated acceleration input member that controls the power source assembly to propel the vehicle along an inclined surface; and a vehicle braking system that includes friction members for reducing or limiting vehicle speed based on application of fluid pressure; and a brake control system for enhancing performance of a vehicle traveling along an inclined surface, the brake control system including: a manually actuated braking input member being movable between an actuated position that reduces or limits vehicle speed and a released position that does not reduce or limit vehicle speed; a brake modulator that is controllable to manipulate the vehicle braking system to maintain the vehicle in a stationary position by maintaining an amount of fluid pressure supplied to the friction members if the braking input member is in the released position; and a controller that controls the brake modulator to selectively operate in a hill start assist system mode such that the controller controls the brake modulator to adjust fluid pressure at the friction members to hold the vehicle stationary after the vehicle is initially stopped while traveling along the inclined surface, the vehicle being held stationary until the acceleration input member is manually operated to control the power source to propel the vehicle, and the controller controls the brake modulator to release fluid pressure at the friction members at a pressure release rate that is based on a current position of the acceleration input member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured receive data indicative of the current position of the acceleration input member, and is configured to select one of a plurality of different fluid pressure release rates based on the data indicative of the current position of the acceleration input member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of fluid pressure release rates corresponds to a respective range of positions of the acceleration input member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the acceleration input member is movable between a fully closed position and a fully opened position, and the controller controls the brake modulator to release fluid pressure at the friction members such that the pressure release rate increases as the acceleration input member moves toward the fully opened position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising an accelerator position sensor in electrical communication with the controller and configured to output data indicative of the current position of the acceleration input member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the power source includes an internal combustion engine, the acceleration input member includes a throttle valve, and the accelerator position sensor is configured to output data indicative of the angular position of the throttle valve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a single manually operated switch configured to selectively instruct the controller to activate and deactivate the hill start assist system mode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the vehicle braking system includes a brake position sensor that senses the position of the braking input member, the controller controlling the brake modulator to operate in the hill start assist system mode if the brake position sensor senses that the braking input member is in the released state. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle of claim 18, further including a timer that determines an amount of time that elapses subsequent to movement of the brake input member into the released state, the controller comparing the time elapsed to a predetermined time threshold, and controlling the brake modulator to cease operating in the hill start assist system mode if the elapsed time exceeds the predetermined time threshold. ### Claim 20 A method of enhancing performance of a vehicle traveling along an inclined surface, the vehicle including a vehicle braking system that includes friction members for reducing or limiting vehicle speed based on application of fluid pressure, a brake modulator that is controllable to manipulate the vehicle braking system to reduce or limit the vehicle speed by controlling an amount of fluid pressure supplied to the friction members, and a manually actuated braking input member being movable between an actuated position that reduces or limits vehicle speed and a released position that does not reduce or limit vehicle speed, the vehicle including a power source assembly and a manually operated acceleration input member that controls the power source assembly to propel the vehicle along the inclined surface, the method comprising: detecting the released position of the braking input member; selectively instructing activation and deactivation of a hill start assist system mode; and controlling the brake modulator to manipulate the vehicle braking system to selectively operate in a hill start assist mode such that the brake modulator adjusts fluid pressure at the friction members to hold the vehicle stationary after the vehicle is initially stopped while traveling along the inclined surface, the vehicle being held stationary until the acceleration input member is manually operated to control the power source assembly to propel the vehicle, and the controller controls the brake modulator to release fluid pressure at the friction members at a pressure release rate that is based on a current position of the acceleration input member.