Vehicular Brake Control Apparatus Managing Fluid Pressure Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brake control systems for vehicles, particularly those with adaptive cruise control, face issues such as reduced follow-up responsivity and inadequate shock absorption when auxiliary brakes are operated before the vehicle is fully stopped, leading to discomfort for passengers due to kickback and nose-dive during braking.
Innovation Solution
A brake control apparatus that includes a main brake controller to manage brake fluid pressure for the main brakes and an auxiliary brake controller to control parking auxiliary brakes, with a rapid reduction in brake fluid pressure followed by a gradual release, ensuring smooth operation and reduced shock during transitions from main to auxiliary braking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If auxiliary brakes are operated before the vehicle is fully stopped, then the main brakes can be released earlier to save energy, but the follow-up responsivity is reduced and acceleration performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary brakes are operated in advance before the main brakes are fully released, creating a seamless transition. This preliminary action ensures that braking force is maintained without interruption, allowing the main brakes to be released earlier for energy savings while preventing any gap in braking force that would affect acceleration response.
2Strength
If auxiliary brakes are operated before the vehicle is fully stopped, then the main brakes can be released to reduce load, but shock absorption capability is reduced and passenger comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary brakes are activated beforehand to provide a cushioning effect during the transition from main brake operation to complete stop. This preliminary engagement of auxiliary brakes absorbs the shock and kickback that would otherwise occur when the main brakes are released, ensuring passenger comfort while allowing the main brakes to be released for load reduction.
3Loss of time
If brake fluid pressure is rapidly reduced to save energy, then the transition to auxiliary brakes is faster, but control precision and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The brake fluid pressure reduction is performed dynamically with optimized timing and rate. The system rapidly reduces pressure to the extent needed for auxiliary brakes to take over, then maintains precise control at the threshold level. This dynamic approach achieves fast transition while preserving control precision through staged pressure management.
Data Source
AI summary
A brake control apparatus includes a main brake controller configured to control a brake fluid pressure supplied to main brakes provided to a vehicle's four wheels according to a proceeding vehicle's traveling conditions to automatically stop the vehicle using a braking operation of the main brakes and maintain the stop condition and an auxiliary brake controller configured to control parking auxiliary brakes provided to right and left front wheels or right and left rear wheels of the vehicle to perform a braking operation so as to maintain the stop condition of the vehicle. When the auxiliary brakes perform the braking operation while the brake fluid pressure is being supplied to the main brakes to stop the vehicle, the main brake controller rapidly reduces the brake fluid pressure to a predetermined fluid pressure value and then gradually reduces the brake fluid pressure before the main brakes are released.