Low force level detection system and method
OwnerJon T. Zumbergeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for estimating a force exerted by a first body onto a second body including the steps of providing a motor having at least one detectable motor signal, wherein the motor is adapted to advance the first body into engagement with the second body, determining a first value for the motor signal prior to the first body engaging the second body, determining a second value for the motor signal after the first body engages the second body, and generating a force value based upon a comparison of the second value to the first value.
Claims7
A method for estimating a force value exerted by a brake pad onto a rotor comprising the steps of:
- providing an electric motor;
- actuating said electric motor to advance an actuator, said actuator being positioned to advance said brake pad into engagement with said rotor, wherein, upon actuation, said electric motor has a motor current;
- determining a first value of said motor current representative of a configuration in which said first body is disengaged from said second body during a no-load state of said electric motor;
- determining a second value of said motor current, said second value being different from said first value and representative of a second configuration in which said brake pad is engaged with said rotor during a load state of said electric motor;
- and
- calculating the force value according to
- F
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- wherein κ2 is a constant and IF0 is said second value of said motor current and INL is said first value of said motor current.
A brake system comprising:
- a rotor positioned between at least two brake pads;
- an actuator positioned to engage at least one of said brake pads to apply a clamping force to said rotor;
- an electric motor adapted to advance said actuator into selective engagement with at least one of said brake pads;
- at least one sensor in electrical communication with said electric motor for measuring a motor current of said electric motor;
- and
- a processor connected to said sensor, said processor being adapted to determine a first value of said motor current representative of a configuration in which said actuator does not engage said at least one of said brake pads and a second value of said motor current representative of a configuration in which said actuator does engage said at least one of said brake pads for calculating a force value according to
- F
- 0
- =
- κ
- 2
-
- (
- I
- F
-
-
- 0
- I
- NL
- -
- 1
- )
- ,
- wherein κ2 is a constant and IF0 said second value of said motor current and INL is said first value of said motor current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.