Brake Wear Signal Processing for Worn Brake Location Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle brake wear monitoring systems fail to identify which brake wear sensor is providing a worn brake signal, lacking information on the specific location of the worn brake.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising an interfacing device and a controller that processes multiple brake wear signals from a vehicle brake system, determining the location of a worn brake by analyzing the signals from a plurality of brake wear sensors, including potentiometer-based sensors, and providing a location signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a worn brake signal is provided when one of the brake wear sensors indicates a worn brake, then the brake wear monitoring function is achieved, but the information about which brake wear sensor is providing the worn brake signal is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring system into multiple independent sensor channels, each with its own identifier. The controller segments the processing by individually tracking which sensor is providing the worn brake signal, rather than treating all sensors as a single group. This segmentation preserves location information while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular signal handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring which specific sensor is providing the worn brake signal and using this information to generate appropriate location indicators. The controller receives feedback from each sensor channel and uses this feedback to determine the exact location of the worn brake, ensuring accurate location information is maintained throughout the monitoring process.
2Measurement precision
If multiple brake wear signals are processed to identify the location of a worn brake, then the location information is improved, but the processing complexity and wiring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal controller that can handle multiple sensor inputs through a standardized interface. The same controller unit processes signals from all brake wear sensors, providing multi-functionality that reduces the need for separate processing units for each sensor. This universal approach improves location identification precision while minimizing the increase in processing complexity through resource sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary signaling mechanism where each sensor channel is assigned a unique identifier that acts as a mediator between the physical sensor location and the controller's processing logic. This intermediary coding system allows the controller to precisely identify which sensor is providing the worn brake signal without requiring complex physical wiring configurations or multiple dedicated processing units for each sensor.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided for processing a plurality of brake wear signals from a corresponding plurality of brake wear sensors of a vehicle brake system. The apparatus comprises an interfacing device arranged to receive the plurality of brake wear signals corresponding to the plurality of brake wear sensors of the vehicle brake system. The apparatus also comprises a controller arranged to control the interfacing device to provide a location signal indicative of which one of the plurality of brake wear sensors is providing a brake wear signal indicative of a worn brake.