Brake control apparatus for a vehicle
AssigneeDenso Corporation
InventorMamoru Sawada
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A booster and a pressure amplifying device are provided as devices performing a brake assist. Further a pressure sensor which detects master-cylinder pressure is provided. While the braking is applied to the vehicle, the malfunction of the booster can be detected based on master-cylinder pressure detected by the pressure sensor. If the malfunction of the booster is detected, a pump in the pressure amplifying device is driven as an substitute for the booster. As a result, a required brake assist can be performed to ensure high braking force. Accordingly, the brake control apparatus can enhance safety during vehicle operation.
Claims18
A brake control apparatus for a vehicle, said brake control apparatus comprising:
- a master cylinder which generates master-cylinder pressure to a wheel cylinder in accordance with a brake pedal operation applied by a driver of said vehicle, said brake pedal operation causing a depressing force to be applied to said brake pedal, said depressing force being translated to a force applied to a pressure-creating member causing an increase in said master-cylinder pressure;
- a booster which boosts said force applied to said pressure-creating member;
- a wheel cylinder which generates a wheel braking force in response to said master-cylinder pressure;
- a conduit disposed between and coupled to said master cylinder and said wheel cylinder;
- an assist mechanism disposed between and coupled to said master cylinder and said wheel cylinder via said conduit, said assist mechanism being actuated to apply to said wheel cylinder a brake fluid pressure higher than said master-cylinder pressure by moving brake fluid from said master cylinder into a portion of said conduit coupling said wheel cylinder to said assist mechanism;
- detecting means for detecting a malfunction of said booster;
- and
- control means for actuating said assist mechanism to increase said brake fluid pressure applied to said wheel cylinder when said detecting means detects said malfunction of said booster.
A brake control apparatus for a vehicle, said brake control apparatus comprising:
- a master cylinder which generates master-cylinder pressure to a wheel cylinder in accordance with a brake pedal operation applied by a driver of said vehicle, said brake pedal operation causing a depressing force to be applied to said brake pedal, said depressing force being translated to a force applied to a pressure-creating member causing an increase in said master-cylinder pressure;
- a booster which boosts said force applied to said pressure-creating member;
- a wheel cylinder which generates a wheel braking force in response to said master-cylinder pressure;
- a conduit disposed between and coupled to said master cylinder and said wheel cylinder;
- an assist mechanism disposed between and coupled to said master cylinder and said wheel cylinder via said conduit, said assist mechanism being actuated to apply to said wheel cylinder a brake fluid pressure higher than said master-cylinder pressure by moving brake fluid from said master cylinder into a portion of said conduit coupling said wheel cylinder to said assist mechanism;
- a malfunction signaler which signals a malfunction of said booster;
- and
- an actuator which actuates said assist mechanism to increase said brake fluid pressure applied to said wheel cylinder when said malfunction signaller signals said malfunction of said booster.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.