Method for operating a vehicle brake system
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsChristopher A. Kinser, Eric E. Krueger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for reducing or mitigating the effects of vibration in a vehicle brake system, particularly those that can lead to brake groan or other unwanted noise. According to an exemplary embodiment, when the vehicle brake system detects certain vibratory conditions, it makes slight braking adjustments (e.g., adjustments to fluid pressure, brake force, brake torque, etc.) that are aimed to address the brake groan. The vehicle brake system can then determine the effectiveness of the braking adjustments and, if need be, make additional braking adjustments. The method is particularly well suited for use with brake-by-wire systems, but can be used with a number of different vehicle braking systems.
Claims17
A method for operating a vehicle brake system, comprising the steps of:
- (a) measuring brake vibration data that includes at least one piece of data representative of vibrations, noise or other mechanical disturbances;
- (b) analyzing the brake vibration data and using the analyzed brake vibration data to determine if a brake vibration condition exists;
- (c) if the analyzed brake vibration data indicates that a brake vibration condition does exist, then generating a modified brake command signal that results in a braking adjustment;
- and
- (d) operating the vehicle brake system according to the modified brake command signal.
A method for operating a vehicle brake system, comprising the steps of:
- (a) gathering a vehicle speed, brake status information, and brake vibration data;
- (b) using the vehicle speed, brake status information, and the brake vibration data to determine if the vehicle brake system is producing brake groan noise;
- (c) if the vehicle brake system is producing brake groan noise, then making a first braking adjustment;
- (d) determining if the first braking adjustment is effective at reducing the brake groan noise;
- and
- (e) if the first braking adjustment is not effective at reducing the brake groan noise, then making a second braking adjustment.
A brake-by-wire vehicle brake system, comprising:
- a brake pedal sensor for providing brake pedal status information;
- one or more vibration sensor(s) for providing brake vibration data;
- an electronic brake control module (EBCM) coupled to the brake pedal sensor and to the vibration sensor(s);
- and
- one or more disk brake unit(s) having a brake pad and a brake rotor, wherein the EBCM uses the brake pedal status information and analyzes the brake vibration data to determine if a brake vibration condition exists and, if the brake pedal status information and the analyzed brake vibration data indicate that a brake vibration condition exists, then the EBCM generates a modified brake command signal that results in a braking adjustment by the disk brake unit(s).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.