Redundant integrated parking brake release circuit
AssigneeContinental Automotive Systems, Inc.
InventorsMarjan Deljosevic, Ermal Gjoni, John Truax
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric motor-driven parking brake of a motor vehicle can be released in an emergency by applying emergency current from a parallel emergency current source to the motors controlling the parking brake. The direction of the emergency current is selected to reverse the motors, i.e., release the parking brake.
Claims15
An apparatus for releasing an electric motor-driven parking brake of a motor vehicle, the electric motor-driven parking brake comprising a mechanical parking brake, which is applied and released by controlling the operation and direction of an electric motor that is mechanically coupled to the mechanical parking brake, the electric motor being normally driven by a first electrical energy source, the apparatus comprising:
- a processor configured to receive a parking brake power supply failure signal, which when received, it indicates to the processor that the first electrical energy source is unable to provide electrical energy to the electric motor;
- an electronically controlled, normally-open switch connected between a second electrical energy source and the electric motor, the normally-open switch being operatively coupled to the processor and capable of closing and opening responsive to a control signal from the processor;
- wherein, the processor is configured to send a parking brake release control signal to the electronically controlled, normally-open switch upon the processor's receipt of the parking brake power supply failure signal, the parking brake release control signal causing the electronically controlled, normally-open switch to close and thereby provide electrical energy to the motor.
An electric motor-driven parking brake system for a motor vehicle comprising:
- a mechanical parking brake coupled to an electric motor, wherein the mechanical parking brake is applied and released by controlling operation and direction of the electric motor;
- an electric energy source driving operation of the electric motor;
- and
- a controller controlling operation of the electric motor to release the parking brake, the controller including, a processor configured to receive a parking brake power supply failure signal, which when received, it indicates to the processor that the first electrical energy source is unable to provide electrical energy to the electric motor, an electronically controlled, normally-open switch connected between a second electrical energy source and the electric motor, the normally-open switch being operatively coupled to the processor and capable of closing and opening responsive to a control signal from the processor, wherein, the processor is configured to send a parking brake release control signal to the electronically controlled, normally-open switch upon the processor's receipt of the parking brake power supply failure signal, the parking brake release control signal causing the electronically controlled, normally-open switch to close and thereby provide electrical energy to the motor.
A method of controlling an electric motor-driven parking brake system for a motor vehicle comprising:
- starting a timer in response to an action demonstrating an intention to move the motor vehicle;
- determining an operational state of an engine control unit;
- determining an operational state of an electric motor coupled to a parking brake;
- determining if the parking brake requires release;
- and
- providing a current to operate the electric motor to release the parking brake.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.