Electric Parking Brake Force Control via Real-Time Disk Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
General electric parking brakes face challenges in maintaining a stable parking state, especially when a vehicle is parked on a hot disk, leading to decreased parking force and reduced convenience due to the need for continuous monitoring of the parking state.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that includes a calculation unit to determine the current parking force loss based on real-time disk temperature and road surface inclination, a determination unit to assess if the parking force is within a preset range, and a driving unit to re-clamp the parking operation to maintain a target force, with a communication unit to notify the driver of the parking state's stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If general electric parking brakes are used, then the brake automatically operates when ignition is turned off and automatically releases when ignition is turned on and accelerator is hit, improving convenience of parking, but when the disk is at high temperature, the brake pad contracts as time goes by and parking force decreases, making it difficult to efficiently maintain parking function
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of parking force loss based on disk temperature before parking is actually compromised. The calculation unit computes expected parking force loss using temperature data, and the control unit proactively notifies the driver of potential instability before it occurs, allowing preventive action rather than reactive correction
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the sensing apparatus continuously monitors disk temperature, the calculation unit processes this data to determine parking force loss, and the control unit provides feedback to the driver through notifications. This closed-loop feedback enables the system to track and communicate parking stability status in real-time
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring of parking state is performed to ensure stability, then reliability of parking is improved, but the system complexity and need for continuous driver attention increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-assessment of its own parking force status by automatically calculating parking force loss based on temperature data. The calculation unit independently evaluates whether parking force will be insufficient, and the control unit autonomously notifies the driver, eliminating the need for complex external monitoring systems or continuous driver intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors changes in physical parameters (disk temperature) that correlate with parking force degradation. By tracking temperature as a proxy parameter rather than directly measuring complex mechanical forces, the system achieves reliable monitoring with simpler sensing and calculation mechanisms
3Reliability
If the brake pad contracts due to high disk temperature, then the parking force decreases over time, but the driver is not immediately notified of the instability, reducing ability to respond quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates and predicts parking force loss before actual parking instability occurs. By using the temperature increase model and parking force loss calculation, the system identifies potential problems in advance and notifies the driver proactively, giving them time to respond before the parking state actually deteriorates
Solution Approach 2:
The system skips the intermediate stage of actual parking force degradation by directly calculating expected loss from temperature data. Rather than waiting for the brake pad to physically contract and for force to actually decrease, the system rushes through the detection process by using temperature as a leading indicator, providing early warning to the driver
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
This solution improves parking convenience by automatically adjusting the parking force and notifying the driver of the parking state's stability, enhancing the reliability of the parking system without continuous monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
based on a current disk temperature sensed in real time by a sensing apparatus
Implementation Method 2
The current disk temperature may be calculated using a temperature increase model caused by brake-frictional energy
Implementation Method 3
a temperature cooling model caused by a convective process of an ambient temperature
Implementation Method 4
when a vehicle is parked with a disk at a currently high temperature, since a brake pad contracts as time goes by and a parking force decreases
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for controlling an electric parking brake. The apparatus for controlling an electric parking brake includes a calculation unit which calculates, when a parking operation is clamped to park, based on a current disk temperature sensed in real time by a sensing apparatus, a current parking force loss amount after parking according to the current disk temperature in real time, a determination unit which determines whether the calculated current parking force loss amount is out of a preset reference parking force loss amount range, a driving unit which drives, when the current parking force loss amount is out of the reference parking force loss amount range, the electric parking brake to re-clamp the parking operation according to a target parking force range preset in the calculation unit, and a control unit which receives the current disk temperature, transmits a calculation command to the calculation unit, transmits a determination command to the determination unit, and transmits a driving command to the driving unit.