Electronic brake system for motor vehicle, motor vehicle and method for operating electronic brake system

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic brake system (12) for a motor vehicle (10), comprising: at least one first sensor (20, 22) for detecting a brake input on a brake pedal (14) of the motor vehicle (10); at least one first electronic computing device (16) for generating a control signal (36) as a function of the detected brake input, and at least one braking device (28, 30, 32, 34) for actuating the brake as a function of the generated control signal (36), characterized in that an additional electrical switching element (38) is provided, in the event of a fault, the electrical switching element generates an analog control signal (40) for actuating the brake system (28, 30, 32, 34). The invention further relates to a motor vehicle (10) and to a method for operating an electronic brake system (12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an electronic braking system for a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one sensor for detecting brake input on the brake pedal of the motor vehicle; at least one first electronic computing device for generating a control signal based on the detected brake input; and at least one braking device for operating the brakes based on the generated control signal. Furthermore, this invention relates to a motor vehicle including an electronic braking system and a method for operating the electronic braking system. Background Technology

[0002] Electronic braking systems are already known from existing technology. Specifically, it is specified here that, for example, a sensor detects the braking input from a person on the brake pedal, transmits the detected signal to an electronic computing device, and electronically transmits a corresponding control signal for the braking device, particularly for the brake caliper, to the brake caliper. Based on this control signal, braking then occurs. However, to ensure corresponding reliability, a redundant system is necessary so that, in the event of a failure in such an electronic braking system, basic braking functions, such as those for so-called minimum-risk operation, can be implemented.

[0003] EP2964499 relates to a brake pedal unit for a "Brake-By-Wire" motor vehicle braking device that includes a brake pedal-operable master brake cylinder.

[0004] DE102004055440B4 relates to a motor vehicle braking system having a first master cylinder including a first piston, the first master cylinder being moved according to the driver's braking operation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The objective of this invention is to provide an electronic braking system, a motor vehicle, and a method by virtue of which simple and redundant braking possibilities are provided for a motor vehicle.

[0006] This task is solved by the electronic braking system, motor vehicle, and method according to the independent claims. Advantageous design forms are given in the dependent claims.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention relates to an electronic braking system for a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one first sensor for detecting a brake input on the brake pedal of the motor vehicle; at least one first electronic computing device for generating a control signal based on the detected brake input; and at least one braking device for operating the brakes based on the generated control signal.

[0008] This provision includes an additional switching element that generates analog control signals for operating the braking device in case of a fault.

[0009] In particular, this provides a robust backup level in case of a failure, for example, within the electronic braking system. Specifically, the analog control signals can correspondingly operate the braking device. The electronic braking system is, in particular, a so-called Brake-By-Wire braking system. Here, corresponding mechanical connections between the various units are abandoned, and specifically, it is stipulated that, for example, the electronic computing device is configured to generate corresponding control signals based on the braking input. If, for example, a failure occurs within this communication, a robust backup level is needed. This is provided, in particular, by additional switching elements. These switching elements can be, in particular, an electrical switch, such as a potentiometer or other simple electronic component, which can generate analog control signals. The braking device is further operated according to these analog control signals. Thus, for example, basic braking functions can also be implemented based on the analog control signals.

[0010] In particular, braking can be achieved through the brake pedal with significantly reduced technical costs and in an environment with first-class electronic computing devices. This constitutes a robust function as an additional backup layer. Furthermore, the mechanical backup layer can be replicated through simple electronic mechanisms, particularly analog switches, such as the button braking via an electric parking brake.

[0011] Therefore, especially in existing technologies, such as recording failures of the main path via electronic computing devices, reliable minimum-risk operations can no longer be implemented because they are no longer sufficiently robust to the fault. According to the invention, it is now possible to move the vehicle with sufficient safety based on an additionally robust redundancy layer. This further provides the possibility of parking the vehicle in a reliable location.

[0012] In particular, the additional electrical switching element is therefore provided as a bypass to the first electronic computing device. This bypass is not used during normal operation and is only used in response to a fault.

[0013] According to an advantageous design, the braking device is operated based on a voltage drop in the analog control signal. In particular, it can therefore be implemented in a simple manner, with braking achieved via the analog voltage drop. Thus, no interruption occurs in the voltage for the braking device; instead, only the voltage drop is used to generate the corresponding analog control signal.

[0014] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous that the electrical voltage for the electric switching element is provided by the at least one braking device. The braking device is, in particular, a brake caliper. Each brake caliper preferably also has a separate power supply. Through this power supply, the voltage for the electric switching element can now be provided. Therefore, no additional power supply is needed, as the voltage is already provided by the braking device.

[0015] It has proven advantageous to store braking functions in the braking device, wherein the braking function is implemented via the electrical switching element when the braking device is operated. In other words, it is specified that the braking signal is not directly generated by the analog control signal. A function is stored specifying how to implement braking when the braking device receives the analog control signal. In particular, for example, it can be specified that a predetermined deceleration torque is provided by the function. If the analog control signal should now be transmitted to the braking device, deceleration is implemented according to the stored function. Thus, the basic braking function of a motor vehicle can be implemented in a simple yet robust manner.

[0016] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous to set the braking effect of the braking device based on the duration of the analog control signal. This can be implemented in conjunction with stored braking functions. For example, the intensity of the braking effect can be further set based on the duration. For instance, the longer the analog control signal persists, the more forcefully and strongly the vehicle decelerates. Therefore, a backup level can be provided in a simple manner.

[0017] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous to provide at least one second electronic computing device constituting the operation of the braking device. In other words, for example, the electronic braking system has at least one second sensor configured to detect braking input on the brake pedal. The second electronic computing device is configured to generate a control signal based on the detected braking input and transmit the control signal to the braking device. In particular, the second electronic computing device serves as a first backup layer for the first electronic computing device. The additional switching element is operated only when both the first and second electronic computing devices fail. Specifically, the analog control signal is triggered only when at least one fault in the first main path needs to pass through the first electronic computing device and a second fault in the second main path needs to be recorded by the second electronic computing device. This further enhances safety.

[0018] It should be mentioned here that the motor vehicle may have at least four braking devices. As already mentioned, these braking devices are in particular brake calipers. In other words, each wheel of the motor vehicle has a corresponding individual and independent braking device, which can be individually controlled not only through the main path of the electronic computing device but also through the analog control signals.

[0019] In another advantageous design, the braking device performs emergency maneuvers for the motor vehicle based on the analog control signal. Specifically, this emergency maneuver can be configured as a basic braking function, for example, as a so-called minimum-risk operation. In other words, braking can be performed by the braking device in such a way that, for example, the motor vehicle can be brought to a stop on the roadside. This improves safety in road traffic.

[0020] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous that the first electronic computing device is configured to monitor communication between the first sensor, the first electronic computing device, and the braking device, and to identify fault conditions based on this monitoring. Therefore, faults can be monitored internally within the electronic braking system via the electronic computing device. In the event of a fault, the analog control signal can also correspondingly generate a braking effect in the braking device.

[0021] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a motor vehicle including an electronic braking system according to the foregoing aspects.

[0022] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method for operating an electronic braking system according to the foregoing aspects. Communication between at least a first sensor, the first electronic computing device, and the braking device is monitored by means of a first electronic computing device. When a fault condition is detected by means of the first electronic computing device, an analog control signal for the braking device is generated by means of the additional electrical switching element.

[0023] The proposed method is particularly a computer-aided method. Therefore, another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product comprising a program code mechanism that, when executed by an electronic computing device, causes the electronic computing device to perform the method according to the foregoing aspects. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a computer-readable storage medium comprising at least one computer program product according to the foregoing aspects.

[0024] The advantageous design of the electronic braking system should be considered as an advantageous design of the motor vehicle and the method. The electronic braking system and the motor vehicle therefore have specific features to enable the implementation of the method.

[0025] A computing unit / electronic computing device can be understood in particular as a data processing device containing processing circuitry. That is, the computing unit is specifically capable of processing data for performing computational operations. Operations for performing index access to data structures, such as look-up tables (LUTs), are also included if necessary.

[0026] The computing unit may, in particular, include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers and / or one or more integrated circuits, such as one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and / or one or more system-on-a-chip (SoCs). The computing unit may also include one or more processors, such as one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more graphics processing units (GPUs), and / or one or more signal processors, particularly one or more digital signal processors (DSPs). The computing unit may also include a physical or virtual combination of the computer or other units within the unit.

[0027] In different embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more storage units.

[0028] The storage cell can be designed as volatile data memory, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or static random access memory (SRAM), or as non-volatile data memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or flash EPROM, ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM), or phase-change random access memory (PCRAM).

[0029] Other features of the invention are derived from the claims, the drawings, and the description of the drawings. The features and combinations thereof described above in the specification, and subsequently described in the description of the drawings and / or shown in the drawings, may be included by the invention not only in the combinations given but also in other combinations. The invention may also include, in particular, embodiments and combinations of features that do not have all the features of the initially defined claims. Furthermore, embodiments and combinations of features that go beyond or deviate from the combinations of features recited in the references to the claims may be included in the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The only illustration here is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a motor vehicle, including an electronic braking system.

[0031] The invention is described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying diagrams. In the drawings, identical or functionally identical elements may be given the same reference numerals. Descriptions of identical or functionally identical elements need not be repeated in different drawings if necessary. Detailed Implementation

[0032] Figure 1 A schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a motor vehicle 10 including an electronic braking system 12 is shown. The electronic braking system 12 has a brake pedal 14, particularly in the form of an electronic brake pedal. In the following embodiments, the electronic braking system 12 further includes a first electronic computing device 16 and a redundant second electronic computing device 18. The first electronic computing device 16 communicates with a first sensor 20 and a first second sensor 22 on the brake pedal 14.

[0033] The second electronic computing device 18 communicates with the second first sensor 24 and the second second sensor 26 on the brake pedal 14.

[0034] Furthermore, four braking devices 28, 30, 32, and 34 are shown in particular. A first braking device 28, for example, is shown for the left front wheel. A second braking device 30 is shown for the right rear wheel. A third braking device 32 is shown for the right front wheel. A fourth braking device 34 is shown for the left rear wheel.

[0035] The first electronic computing device 16 and the second electronic computing device 18 communicate redundantly with the braking devices 28, 30, 32 and 34. In particular, in the event of a failure of the main path through the first electronic computing device 16, the second electronic computing device 18 can additionally assume the braking of the vehicle 10.

[0036] Therefore especially Figure 1As shown, the first sensors 20 and 22 are configured to detect brake input on the brake pedal 14. The first electronic computing device 16 is further configured to generate a control signal 36 based on the detected brake input and transmit it to the braking devices 28, 30, 32, and 34, and thus operate the braking devices 28, 30, 32, and 34.

[0037] Figure 1 Furthermore, according to the present invention, an additional switching element 38 is provided, which generates an analog control signal 40 for operating the braking devices 28, 30, 32, 34 in the event of a malfunction.

[0038] Specifically, it is specified that the braking devices 28, 30, 32, and 34 are operated based on the voltage drop in the analog control signal 40. Furthermore, the electrical voltage for the electrical switching element 38 can be provided by the at least one braking device 28, 30, 32, and 34. It is also specified that a braking function 42 is stored in the braking devices 28, 30, 32, and 34, wherein the braking function 42 is implemented via the electrical switching element 38 when the braking devices 28, 30, 32, and 34 are operated. Furthermore, it is specified that the braking effect of the braking devices 28, 30, 32, and 34 is set based on the duration of the analog control signal 40.

[0039] Figure 1 It is also shown that the second electronic computing device 18 may generate another control signal 44, for example, when the first electronic computing device 16 fails, the other control signal 44 may be generated first, for example, when the first electronic computing device 16 fails, the other control signal may be transmitted to the braking devices 28, 30, 32, 34.

[0040] In particular, it can be specified that the braking devices 28, 30, 32, and 34 are operated based on the analog control signal 40 to perform emergency maneuvers on the motor vehicle 10.

[0041] In particular, to achieve braking via the brake pedal 14 with significantly reduced technical costs while bypassing the two main paths via the first electronic computing device 16 and the second electronic computing device 18, an electronic switching element 38 is provided. This thus provides a robust function as an additional backup layer. In particular, braking can be implemented by replicating this mechanical backup layer using a simple electronic mechanism (e.g., the switching element 38 configured as an analog switch). Figure 1 The background of the embodiments is that, for example, one or both main paths of the two main paths of the first electronic computing device 16 and the second electronic computing device 18 fail, which results in a redundancy layer and requires the vehicle 10 to be parked as quickly as possible, because it is no longer sufficient to provide robustness against double failures.

[0042] With this invention, vehicle 10 can still move safely on a robust redundancy layer. This also provides the possibility of parking the vehicle in a reliable position.

[0043] List of reference numerals

[0044] 10 motor vehicles

[0045] 12 Electronic Braking Systems

[0046] 14 Brake Pedal

[0047] 16 First Electronic Computing Equipment

[0048] 18 Second Electronic Computing Equipment

[0049] 20 First Sensors

[0050] 22 First Second Sensor

[0051] 24 Second First Sensor

[0052] 26 The second sensor

[0053] 28 First braking device

[0054] 30 Second braking device

[0055] 32 Third Braking Equipment

[0056] 34. Fourth braking device

[0057] 36 control signals

[0058] 38 electrical switching components

[0059] 40 Analog Control Signals

[0060] 42 Braking function

[0061] 44 Another control signal

Claims

1. An electronic braking system (12) for a motor vehicle (10), comprising: At least one first sensor (20, 22) for detecting brake input on brake pedal (14) of the motor vehicle (10); at least one first electronic computing device (16) for generating a control signal (36) based on the detected brake input; and at least one braking device (28, 30, 32, 34) for operating the brakes based on the generated control signal (36), characterized in that an additional electric switching element (38) is provided, which generates an analog control signal (40) for operating the braking device (28, 30, 32, 34) in the event of a malfunction.

2. The electronic braking system (12) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The braking devices (28, 30, 32, 34) are operated according to the voltage drop in the analog control signal (40).

3. The electronic braking system (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The electrical voltage for the electrical switching element (38) is provided by the at least one braking device (28, 30, 32, 34).

4. The electronic braking system (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The braking function (42) is stored in the braking device (28, 30, 32, 34), and the braking function (42) is implemented by the electric switching element (38) when the braking device (28, 30, 32, 34) is operated.

5. The electronic braking system (12) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The braking effect of the braking device (28, 30, 32, 34) is set according to the duration of the analog control signal (40).

6. The electronic braking system (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, At least one second electronic computing device (18) is provided, the second electronic computing device being configured to operate the braking device (28, 30, 32, 34).

7. The electronic braking system (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Based on the analog control signal (40), the braking devices (28, 30, 32, 34) perform emergency maneuvers for the motor vehicle (10).

8. The electronic braking system (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The first electronic computing device (16) is configured to monitor communication between the first sensor (20, 22), the first electronic computing device (16) and the braking device (28, 30, 32, 34), and to identify fault conditions based on the monitoring.

9. A motor vehicle (10) including an electronic braking system (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A method for operating an electronic braking system (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the method comprising the steps of: - The communication between at least the first sensor (20, 22), the first electronic computing device (16), and the braking device (28, 30, 32, 34) is monitored by means of a first electronic computing device (16); and - When a fault condition is detected by means of the first electronic computing device (16), an analog control signal (40) for the braking device (28, 30, 32, 34) is generated by means of the additional electrical switching element (38).

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