Brake pad life monitoring system

A brake pad life monitoring system for monitoring wear of a brake pad operatively coupled to a rotor, the brake pad life monitoring system comprising:

• a power supply;
• a plurality of wear sensors electrically connected to the power supply, the wear sensors being electrically connected to one another in series, wherein each of the wear sensors includes:
• an erodible, electrically non-conductive covering layer operatively coupled to the brake pad such that wear of the erodible, electrically non-conductive covering layer corresponds to the wear of the brake pad;
• an electrical circuit having a circuit path from the power supply to a ground, the electrical circuit being at least partially disposed on the erodible, electrically non-conductive covering layer, wherein the electrical circuit includes:
• a first resistor connected in series with the power supply;
• a first electrical conductor connected to the power supply, wherein the first resistor is connected to the first electrical conductor;
• a second electrical conductor connected to the ground;
• a second resistor electrically connected in parallel with the power supply;
• a third electrical conductor connected to the first resistor and the second electrical conductor;
• and
• a measuring device electrically connected to the electrical circuit such that the measuring device is capable of determining a circuit resistance value in the circuit path of the electrical circuit, wherein the first resistor has a first resistance value and is electrically connected to the power supply and the ground such that the circuit resistance value is equal to the first resistance value.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a rotor;
• a brake pad movably coupled to the rotor;
• an electronic brake control module including a power supply;
• a plurality of wear sensors electrically connected to one another in series, wherein each of the wear sensors includes:
• an erodible, electrically non-conductive covering layer operatively coupled to the brake pad such that wear of the erodible, electrically non-conductive covering layer corresponds to wear of the brake pad;
• an electrical circuit at least partially disposed on the erodible, electrically non-conductive covering layer, wherein the electrical circuit includes:
• a first electrical conductor electrically connected to the power supply;
• a first resistor having a first resistance value and being electrically connected to the first electrical conductor, the first resistor being connected in series with the power supply;
• a second electrical conductor electrically connected to a ground;
• a third electrical conductor electrically connected between the first resistor and the second electrical conductor;
• a second resistor having a second resistance value and being electrically connected in parallel with the electronic brake control module, the second resistor being connected to the first resistor and the second electrical conductor;
• and
• wherein the electronic brake control module includes a measuring device electrically connected to the electrical circuit such that the measuring device is capable of determining a circuit resistance value along a circuit path from the electronic brake control module to the second electrical conductor, wherein the first resistor has a first resistance value and is electrically connected to the power supply and the ground such that the circuit resistance value is equal to the first resistance value.