# US 8,739,938 B2 · Friction brake with a resistive sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,938 B2 - Document ID: US8739938B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/363,826 - Filed: 2012-02-01 - Published: 2013-08-01 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-01 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: Brian T. King; Jerome A. Schneider; Timothy J. Guse - Inventors: Brian T. King; Jerome A. Schneider; Timothy J. Guse - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739938B2 ## CPC - F16D 66/027: {Sensors therefor} - B60T 17/221: {Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems (hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M)} - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES ## Abstract A brake component for retarding a rotor includes a wearable friction segment having a thickness, wherein the friction segment is configured to be pressed into contact with the rotor. The brake component also includes a first resistive sensor having an electric resistance and a feature determinative of the electric resistance. The first resistive sensor is mounted on the friction segment and includes an electric connection for communication with an external device. The feature is configured to wear along with the friction segment thereby increasing the electric resistance of the first resistive sensor. A braking system employing the friction brake component to retard rotation of a wheel and for decelerating a motor vehicle is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A braking system for retarding rotation of a wheel, comprising: an energy storage device; a rotor configured to synchronously rotate with the wheel; an actuator configured to generate an actuator force; a brake component having a wearable friction segment, wherein the friction segment includes a thickness and is configured to be pressed into contact with the rotor by the actuator force for retarding rotation of the wheel; a sending unit in electric communication with the energy storage device, arranged relative to the braking component; and a first resistive sensor having an electric resistance and a feature determinative of the electric resistance; wherein: the first resistive sensor is configured as an ink film applied directly onto the friction segment; the first resistive sensor is in electric communication with the sending unit; the sending unit is configured to transmit a signal indicative of the electric resistance of the first resistive sensor; and the feature is configured to wear along with the friction segment, thereby increasing the electric resistance of the first resistive sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller in electric communication with the energy storage device, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the electric resistance of the first resistive sensor and determine the thickness of the friction segment according to the electric resistance of the first resistive sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, further comprising a second resistive sensor having an electric resistance, wherein the second resistive sensor is mounted on the brake component relative to the friction segment in electric communication with the sending unit, and wherein the electric resistance of the second resistive sensor is indicative of a temperature of the friction segment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the electric resistance of the second resistive sensor and determine the temperature of the friction segment according to the electric resistance of the second resistive sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system according to claim 4, wherein the controller generates a first signal indicative of the determined thickness of the friction segment and a second signal indicative of the determined temperature of the friction segment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, wherein the first resistive sensor and the second resistive sensor are combined into a unitary sensor element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, wherein the second resistive sensor is printed directly onto the braking component or configured as an ink film applied directly onto the braking component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the rotor is configured as one of a disc rotor and a brake drum, and the brake component is correspondingly configured as one of a disc brake pad and a drum brake shoe. ### Claim 9 A motor vehicle comprising: an energy storage device; a road wheel; and a braking system operatively connected to the road wheel for decelerating the vehicle, the braking system including: a rotor configured to synchronously rotate with the road wheel; an actuator configured to generate an actuator force; a brake component having a wearable friction segment, wherein the friction segment includes a thickness and is configured to be pressed into contact with the rotor by the actuator force for retarding rotation of the road wheel; a sending unit in electric communication with the energy storage device and arranged relative to the braking component; and a first resistive sensor having an electric resistance and a feature determinative of the electric resistance; wherein: the first resistive sensor is configured as an ink film applied directly onto the friction segment; the first resistive sensor is in electric communication with the sending unit; the sending unit is configured to transmit a signal indicative of the electric resistance of the first resistive sensor; and the feature is configured to wear along with the friction segment, thereby increasing the electric resistance of the first resistive sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising a controller in electric communication with the energy storage device, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the electric resistance of the first resistive sensor and determine the thickness of the friction segment according to the electric resistance of the first resistive sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising a second resistive sensor having an electric resistance, wherein the second resistive sensor is mounted on the brake component relative to the friction segment in electric communication with the sending unit, and wherein the electric resistance of the second resistive sensor is indicative of a temperature of the friction segment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the electric resistance of the second resistive sensor and determine the temperature of the friction segment according to the electric resistance of the second resistive sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the controller generates a first signal indicative of the determined thickness of the friction segment and a second signal indicative of the determined temperature of the friction segment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the first resistive sensor and the second resistive sensor are combined into a unitary sensor element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the second resistive sensor is printed directly onto the braking component or configured as an ink film applied directly onto the braking component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the rotor is configured as one of a disc rotor and a brake drum, and the brake component is correspondingly configured as one of a disc brake pad and a drum brake shoe. ### Claim 17 A brake component for retarding a rotor, comprising: a wearable friction segment having a thickness, wherein the friction segment is configured to be pressed into contact with the rotor; a first resistive sensor having an electric resistance and a feature determinative of the electric resistance; wherein: the first resistive sensor is configured as an ink film applied directly onto the friction segment and includes an electric connection for communication with an external device; and the feature is configured to wear along with the friction segment thereby increasing the electric resistance of the first resistive sensor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The brake component according to claim 17, further comprising a second resistive sensor having an electric resistance, wherein the second resistive sensor includes an electric connection for communication with the external device, is mounted relative to the friction segment, and the electric resistance of the second resistive sensor is indicative of a temperature of the friction segment. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The brake component according to claim 18, wherein the first resistive sensor and the second resistive sensor are combined into a unitary sensor element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The brake component according to claim 18, wherein the second resistive sensor is printed on a substrate and the substrate is affixed to the braking component, printed directly onto the braking component, or configured as an ink film applied directly onto the braking component.