# US 8,770,674 B2 · Modulator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,674 B2 - Document ID: US8770674B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/451,036 - Filed: 2008-04-26 - Published: 2010-06-10 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-09 - Assignees: WABCO GmbH - Applicants: Christoph Brockmann; Claudia Deike; Matthias Grimm; Hartmut Rosendahl; Ingo Torhoff; Hans-Klaus Wolff - Inventors: Christoph Brockmann; Claudia Deike; Matthias Grimm; Hartmut Rosendahl; Ingo Torhoff; Hans-Klaus Wolff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770674B2 ## CPC - B60T 8/327: {Pneumatic systems} - B60G 17/0523: {Regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs} - B60T 8/321: {deceleration (B60T8/34, B60T8/52, B60T8/54, B60T8/56, B60T8/58, B60T8/72, B60T8/86, B60T8/88 take precedence)} - B60T 8/3605: {wherein the pilot valve is mounted in a circuit controlling the working fluid system} - B60T 2270/82: Brake-by-Wire, EHB - 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 - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract A modulator for a vehicle brake system connected to a central module via a data bus, includes at least one input for capturing measured values and at least one output for controlling at least one electromagnetic valve. A control circuit for actuating the valve is connected by the bus such that the measured values are transmitted to the central module. Control commands for actuating the valve are calculated from the measured values in the central module, and are transmitted via the data bus to the modulator so that the it selects the valve as a function of the commands. A vehicle system has at least two modulators and a central module integrated in a modulator. The modulator can be used as a pressure modulator in an air suspension system or in an electronic braking system or in a conventional braking system with an anti-lock braking system or an electronic stability program. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modulator for a pneumatic brake system of a vehicle, the modulator being connectable to a central module via a data bus and configured to reside in a valve block of the pneumatic brake system to combine with at least one solenoid valve in the valve block when the modulator is operatively disposed in the valve block, the modulator comprising at least one input for acquiring measured values and at least one output for actuating the at least one solenoid valve in the valve block, the modulator being configured to be a part of a control circuit and to first close the control circuit when the modulator is connected to the central module via the data bus to effect transmission of the measured values to the central module, and to receive control commands from the central module in the form of ON/OFF signals generated in the central module based on the measured values and operative to cause the modulator to actuate and deactuate the at least one solenoid valve via the at least one output. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modulator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), a voltage supply input and at least one input/output for said data bus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The modulator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ASIC includes a main processor and output stages for actuating said at least one solenoid valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The modulator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ASIC includes a main processor operable to actuate output stages arranged outside said ASIC. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control commands are ON/OFF signals. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data bus has a transmission rate ≧1 Mbit/s. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The modulator as claimed in claim 6, wherein said data bus transmits said control commands with a repetition rate ≦5 ms. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The modulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data bus employs an automotive network communications protocol. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A vehicle system, comprising at least two modulators as claimed in claim 1, said central module being integrated into one of said modulators. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A vehicle pneumatic suspension system, comprising a modulator as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An actuator for actuating electric motors having at least one of travel sensors and force sensors, said actuator comprising a modulator as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An electronic brake system, comprising a modulator as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A vehicle brake system, comprising a modulator as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle brake system as claimed in claim 13, comprising at least one of an anti-lock brake system and an electronic stability pro gram. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The modulator as claimed in claim 1, said modulator being integrated with a second substantially identical modulator, said second modulator being configured to reside in said valve block to combine with said modulator and said at least one solenoid valve in said valve block. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The modulator as claimed in claim 15, said modulator being integrated with said second modulator to form a single 2-channel modulator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The modulator as claimed in claim 15, said at least one solenoid valve comprising at least two solenoid valves, each of said modulator and said second modulator being associated with a respective one of said at least two solenoid valves in said valve block. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The modulator as claimed in claim 1, said central module being integrated in said modulator and configured to communicate with at least one other modulator of said pneumatic brake system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The modulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pneumatic brake system comprises at least one air vessel for storing compressed air, said modulator being further configured to couple said at least one air vessel to at least one brake cylinder of said vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The modulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modulator is integrated into the at least one solenoid valve.