Brake Pressure Control for Covert Vehicle Theft Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle theft prevention systems can be easily circumvented by thieves who detect and disable the brake locking mechanism, making it necessary to develop a method that prevents theft without alerting the perpetrator.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control system that includes a torque adjustment process to increase the required driving torque and a brake fluid pressure adjustment process to compensate for this increase, making it difficult for thieves to realize the vehicle is being controlled, while also inducing a brake fade phenomenon to prevent further driving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the brake control unit mechanically locks the wheels using brake mechanisms to prevent theft, then the vehicle theft prevention capability is improved, but the thief can easily detect and disable the brake locking mechanism, reducing the reliability of the prevention system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetheft prevention capabilityVSAvoiddetectability of brake locking mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces torque adjustment as an intermediary mechanism between the accelerator operation and the actual driving torque. By adding an offset to the required driving torque, the system creates a hidden layer of control that prevents the thief from directly observing or disabling the brake locking mechanism, as the abnormal torque requirements mask the actual brake intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of driving torque by adding an offset that increases the required driving torque based on accelerator operation amount. This parameter change creates a subtle, hard-to-detect modification in vehicle behavior that prevents theft without alerting the perpetrator, while the hydraulic circuit simultaneously pressurizes brake fluid to compensate for the increased torque requirement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the brake control unit applies strong braking force to lock the wheels, then the theft prevention effect is improved, but the vehicle becomes difficult to control and may cause safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetheft prevention effectVSAvoidvehicle controllability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial braking action rather than full wheel locking. The brake fluid pressure is adjusted to compensate for the increased driving torque requirement, creating a subtle resistance that prevents theft without completely locking the wheels. This partial action maintains vehicle controllability while still achieving the theft prevention objective

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts brake fluid pressure parameters to match the offset torque requirements. By changing the brake pressure parameter in response to accelerator operation, the system maintains smooth vehicle operation and controllability while preventing theft through cumulative torque resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Effectively prevents vehicle theft by maintaining normal driving conditions without alerting the thief, while gradually reducing brake effectiveness to prevent the vehicle from being driven away, and ensuring it can be safely disabled and recovered.

Implementation Method 1

a brake fluid pressure adjustment process of applying control to the hydraulic circuit to pressurize the brake fluid so as to compensate for an increase in the required driving torque due to the offset

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

a brake mechanism configured to brake a wheel in accordance with a pressure of a brake fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS12187225B2Vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.01.07 SUBARU CORP
  • US12187225B2 patent drawing
  • US12187225B2 patent drawing
  • US12187225B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A vehicle includes: a brake mechanism configured to brake a wheel in accordance with a pressure of a brake fluid; a hydraulic circuit configured to adjust the pressure of the brake fluid and transfer the brake fluid to the brake mechanism; and a controller. The controller includes one or more processors to execute: a torque adjustment process of giving an offset to increase a required driving torque determined based on an operation amount of accelerator of the vehicle in a case where it is determined that the vehicle is in a stolen state; and a brake fluid pressure adjustment process of applying control to the hydraulic circuit to pressurize the brake fluid so as to compensate for an increase in the required driving torque due to the offset.