Load sensing device for electric brake

An actuator for an electric brake of a vehicle having a caliper assembly driven by a motor, comprising:

• a gear train for transferring torque from the motor to the caliper assembly to brake the vehicle, the gear train including an driven gear and a sun gear threadably connected to one another;
• a load sensing device aligned with a rotational axis of the sun gear, comprising:
• a cap;
• a load sensing member positioned between the cap and an axial end surface of the sun gear for measuring a thrust load applied by the sun gear in response to torque generated by the motor during a braking operation;
• and
• a controller connected to the load sensing device and configured to adjust the torque applied to the gear train in response to receiving signals from the load sensing device indicative of the thrust load.

A method of controlling a caliper assembly of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• applying current to a motor for actuating the caliper assembly to initiate a braking operation;
• monitoring rotation of the motor during the caliper assembly actuation;
• sensing a thrust load of a sun gear in a gear train transferring torque from the motor to the caliper assembly;
• and
• adjusting the current applied to the motor until the sensed thrust load reaches a predetermined amount.