Vehicle Brake Control Apparatus for Torque Fluctuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle brake control devices face challenges in effectively suppressing braking torque fluctuations caused by disc rotor thickness variations, leading to vibrations and increased power consumption due to complex control over electric motors.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle brake control device that includes operation amount acquisition, braking means, pressing-force acquisition, and control means to calculate a target energization amount based on operation and pressing force, with a limit value to suppress pressing force fluctuations, ensuring stable control by differentiating between operational and noise components of pressing force changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If feedback control is executed based on actual pressing force to suppress braking torque fluctuation, then braking torque stability is improved, but system complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking torque stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary component of pressing force information (temporal change amount) for control purposes, rather than using the complete pressing force signal. This selective extraction simplifies the control system while maintaining the ability to suppress braking torque fluctuations caused by disc rotor thickness variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing force signal is segmented into different components: the temporal change amount (dFba/dt) which contains information about disc rotor thickness variation, and the steady-state component. The control system processes only the temporal change amount to generate the target energization amount, reducing computational complexity while maintaining control effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the electric motor is controlled to follow pressing force fluctuations without delay, then braking torque fluctuation is reduced, but control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking torque stabilityVSAvoidcontrol algorithm complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical feedback control with a simplified computational approach. Instead of using complex feedback control algorithms to track pressing force fluctuations, the system calculates the temporal change amount of pressing force and uses this derivative information to directly determine the target energization amount, achieving the same effect with simpler computation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the pressing force fluctuation is suppressed actively, then vibration is reduced, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevibrationVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by using only the temporal change amount of pressing force (dFba/dt) rather than the complete pressing force signal for control. This partial use of information is sufficient to suppress vibrations caused by disc rotor thickness variation while minimizing the energization adjustments needed, thereby reducing power consumption compared to full feedback control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces braking torque fluctuations and stabilizes control over the electric motor, ensuring responsiveness and efficient energy use by distinguishing between operational and noise-induced pressing force changes, thereby suppressing vibrations and power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

braking means for pressing a friction member against a rotating member through intermediation of an electric motor to generate a braking torque

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 2

friction member (MSB) against a rotating member (KTB) to generate a braking torque

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2799297B1Brake control apparatus for vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.06.06 ADVICS CO LTD
  • EP2799297B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2799297B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2799297B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Based on a difference between a target value and an actual value of a force of a friction member to press a brake disc, feedback control over the pressing force is executed. As the actual value, a detection value (Fba) of the pressing force itself is not used, but a "limit pressing force (Fbs) obtained by placing a limitation on a temporal change amount of the Fba based on of a limit value (Lmt)" is used. The limit value (Lmt) is set based on an electric motor speed (dMkt, dMka), a wheel speed (Vwa), and a temporal change amount (ΔTmp) of a temperature of the friction member. The Lmt is set so as to increase as the dMkt (dMka) increases and the temporal change amount (ΔTmp) of the temperature increases, and so as to also increase as the wheel speed (Vwa) decreases. Thus, in a vehicle brake control device configured to generate a braking torque by an electric motor, even when a rotating member (brake disc) is deformed, braking torque control can be appropriately executed without accelerating a fluctuation of a braking torque on the wheel.