Brake apparatus for vehicle, and methods of using same

A brake apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

• a master cylinder for generating hydraulic pressure according to a brake operation force applied by an operator of said vehicle;
• a main pipe having a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe each branched therefrom;
• a brake caliper operatively connected with the master cylinder via said main pipe;
• a fluid loss simulator operatively connected to an end portion of the first branch pipe;
• a first solenoid valve which is normally closed, and which is disposed in a middle portion of the first branch pipe;
• said first solenoid valve being operable to selectively connect the master cylinder with the fluid loss simulator;
• a hydraulic modulator operatively connected to an end portion of said second branch pipe on a brake caliper side with respect to the first branch pipe;
• said hydraulic modulator being operable to apply hydraulic pressure, generated by a driving force of an actuator, to the brake caliper;
• a second solenoid valve which is normally closed, and which is disposed in a middle portion of the second branch pipe;
• said second solenoid valve being operable to selectively connect the hydraulic modulator with said the brake caliper;
• a third solenoid valve which is normally open, and which disposed in a middle portion of the main pipe;
• said third solenoid valve being operable to selectively connect the master cylinder with the brake caliper;
• a first pressure sensor disposed on said main pipe between the master cylinder and the third solenoid valve;
• a second pressure sensor disposed on the first branch pipe between the first solenoid valve and the fluid loss simulator;
• a third pressure sensor disposed on the second branch pipe between the second solenoid valve and the hydraulic modulator;
• and
• a control unit for detecting output values of the first, second, and third pressure sensors;
• wherein a resolution of the second pressure sensor is set at a higher value than resolutions of the first and third pressure sensors;
• wherein the control unit is operable to energize the first solenoid valve to an opened state, and to detect the output value of the second pressure sensor;
• and
• wherein when the output value of the second pressure sensor is less than a predetermined value, the control unit executes a zero-point correction by storing respective detected output values of the first, second, and third pressure sensors as reference points for the first, second and third pressure sensors, respectively.

A method of establishing reference values for multiple pressure sensors of a brake apparatus of a motorcycle;

• said brake apparatus comprising:
• a master cylinder for generating hydraulic pressure according to a brake operation force applied by an operator of the vehicle;
• a main pipe having a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe each branched therefrom;
• a brake caliper connected with the master cylinder via said main pipe;
• a fluid loss simulator connected to an end portion of the first branch pipe;
• a first solenoid valve which is normally closed, and which is disposed in a middle portion of the first branch pipe;
• said first solenoid valve being operable to selectively connect the master cylinder with the fluid loss simulator;
• a hydraulic modulator operatively connected to an end portion of said second branch pipe on a brake caliper side with respect to the first branch pipe;
• said hydraulic modulator being operable to apply hydraulic pressure, generated by a driving force of an actuator, to the brake caliper;
• a second solenoid valve which is normally closed, and which is disposed in a middle portion of the second branch pipe;
• said second solenoid valve being operable to selectively connect the hydraulic modulator with said the brake caliper;
• a third solenoid valve which is normally open, and which is disposed in a middle portion of the main pipe;
• said third solenoid valve being operable to selectively connect the master cylinder with the brake caliper;
• a first pressure sensor disposed on said main pipe between the master cylinder and the third solenoid valve;
• a second pressure sensor disposed on the first branch pipe between the first solenoid valve and the fluid loss simulator;
• a third pressure sensor disposed on the second branch pipe between the second solenoid valve and the hydraulic modulator;
• and
• a control unit for detecting output values of the first, second, and third pressure sensors;
• wherein a resolution of the second pressure sensor is set at a higher value than resolutions of the first and third pressure sensors;
• said method comprising the steps of
• energizing the first solenoid valve by the control unit to place the valve into an opened state;
• detecting an output value of the second pressure sensor;
• when the detected output value of the second pressure sensor is less than a predetermined value, executing a zero-point correction by storing detected output values of the first, second, and third pressure sensors as reference values for said first, second and third sensors, respectively.