Electric Brake Architecture With Axle Modulators and Backup Signal Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle brake systems are complex and costly, requiring two central control units for redundancy, which increases complexity and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A simplified electric brake system with a single central control unit and axle modulators on each axle, where the central control unit generates brake signals for the axle modulators, and these modulators can also receive direct signals from a brake value encoder for redundancy, ensuring braking functionality even if the central control unit fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two central control units are used for redundancy, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake control system is segmented into a single central control unit and multiple axle modulators. The central control unit handles high-level braking decisions while axle modulators handle local brake actuation, distributing functionality to reduce overall system complexity while maintaining reliability through modular redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
Axle modulators serve as intermediary components between the central control unit and the brake actuators. Each axle modulator receives brake commands from the central control unit and independently manages brake application for its axle, providing local intelligence and reducing the communication burden on the central control unit.
2Reliability
If two central control units are used for redundancy, then reliability is improved, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The functions of two separate central control units are merged into a single central control unit that communicates with multiple axle modulators. This consolidation reduces the number of expensive redundant control units while maintaining reliability through the distributed architecture and fault detection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
Axle modulators act as cost-effective intermediaries that provide local control intelligence without requiring expensive redundant central control units. Each axle modulator can independently manage brake application, providing distributed reliability at lower cost.
3Reliability
If axle modulators receive direct brake signals from brake value encoder, then reliability is improved through redundancy, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The signal routing is segmented into two paths: a primary path through the central control unit for normal operation, and a direct path from the brake value encoder to axle modulators for redundancy. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity during normal operation while providing fault tolerance when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The direct signal path from the brake value encoder to axle modulators is established in advance as a backup pathway. In normal operation, this path remains dormant, but it is immediately available if the central control unit fails, providing preliminary preparedness for failure scenarios without affecting normal system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric brake system for a vehicle is provided, wherein the vehicle has a brake value encoder, at least one first axle having at least two wheels and a second axle having at least two wheels. A first axle modulator is associated with the first axle. A second axle modulator is associated with the second axle. A single central control unit is further provided, which generates and outputs a first brake signal for the first axle modulator and a second brake signal for the second axle modulator as a function of a brake signal from the brake value encoder or as a function of a further brake request. The first and second axle modulator are each configured to decelerate the wheels of the first and second axle as a function of the first and second brake signal from the central control unit.