Electric Brake Device With Three Control Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric brake systems require additional mechanical brakes, increasing vehicle cost and complexity, and are inefficient in controlling four-wheel braking mechanisms with fewer than four control units.
Innovation Solution
An electric brake device using at least three control units to manage four brake mechanisms, where non-defective units adjust braking force distribution to maintain proper braking force even in case of control unit failure, and employs dual batteries for power redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical brake is provided in addition to an electrically controlled brake system for failure recovery, then braking reliability is improved, but vehicle cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical brake system with an electrically controlled brake system that uses an electric actuator to apply braking force. The electric brake mechanism includes a brake pad, brake disk, and electric actuator, eliminating the need for separate mechanical brake components while maintaining braking functionality through electrical control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from mechanical linkage to electrical signals. The electric actuator converts electrical signals into mechanical motion to apply the brake pad against the brake disk, allowing for precise control of braking force through electrical parameters while reducing mechanical complexity.
2Reliability
If four control units are provided for four wheel braking mechanisms, then braking control reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions for multiple brake mechanisms into a single control unit. The control unit is configured to control at least any two of the four brake mechanisms, allowing one control unit to manage multiple wheels' braking operations, thereby reducing the total number of control units from four to three or fewer while maintaining braking control reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit is designed with multi-functional capability to control different brake mechanisms under various conditions. It can selectively control different combinations of brake mechanisms depending on braking requirements, vehicle state, and failure conditions, making a single control unit perform the work of multiple dedicated control units.
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 system effectively maintains braking force distribution and prevents wheel lock, reduces vehicle weight, and enhances redundancy by allowing three control units to manage four brake mechanisms and switching to backup power, thus improving safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a friction-applying member that moves while being powered by an electric actuator
Implementation Method 2
obtains the braking force by pressing the friction-applying member against the friction-receiving member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3~5B
AI summary
An electric brake device (10) has at least three control units: a first front wheel control unit (28) for controlling a front-left wheel brake mechanism (20) and a front-right wheel brake mechanism (22) ; a second front wheel control unit (30) again for controlling the front-left wheel brake mechanism (20) and the front-right wheel brake mechanism (22); and a rear wheel control unit (32) for controlling a rear-left wheel brake mechanism (24) and a rear-right wheel brake mechanism (26). In case of failure of at least one of the three control units (28), (30), (32), at least one of the non-defective other control units temporarily reduces the braking force of the target brake mechanism.