Electric Motor Backup Braking for Parked Vehicle Rollaway

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric and hybrid vehicles often require redundant electronically activated parking brakes due to the risk of malfunction, increasing integration complexity and cost.

Innovation Solution

A single electronically activated locking device combined with a detection system and control unit to determine vehicle movement, activating an electric motor to prevent rolling away in case of malfunction, eliminating the need for a redundant system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single electronically activated locking device is used to prevent vehicle movement, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to the risk of malfunction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration effortVSAvoidprevention of rolling away
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The detection device acts as an intermediary between the locking device and the electric motor. It monitors whether the vehicle is moving while the locking device is activated and triggers the electric motor as a mediator to stop the vehicle if malfunction is detected, thereby maintaining reliability without requiring a redundant locking device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the vehicle's own electric motor to serve as a backup braking mechanism. When the detection device identifies that the vehicle is moving despite the locking device being activated, the control device automatically activates the electric motor to stop the vehicle, allowing the system to self-correct without external intervention or redundant components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If two electronically activated parking brakes are installed as redundant system, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of rolling awayVSAvoidintegration effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electric motor is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the primary drive for vehicle movement and simultaneously acts as a backup braking mechanism when the locking device malfunctions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a second dedicated parking brake while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding the electric motor after its primary function, the system recovers and repurposes it as a safety mechanism. The electric motor is activated in reverse or as a generator to provide braking force when the locking device fails, transforming a single-function component into a dual-purpose safety system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

Ensures reliable prevention of vehicle rolling away with reduced integration effort and energy consumption by using a single locking device, while informing users of malfunctions.

Implementation Method 1

controlling an electric motor (102) of the vehicle to drive the vehicle in order to stop the movement of the vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 2

The detection device is designed to detect the rotational position of a rotor of the electric motor and/or the rotational speed of a wheel of the vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotational position detection: Hall Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4408711B1Device and method for preventing a parked vehicle from rolling away
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG
  • EP4408711B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4408711B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A device for preventing a parked vehicle (100), in particular an electric or hybrid vehicle, from rolling away has a blocking device (110, 111, 112) which can be activated by means of electronic control and is intended to block a movement of the vehicle (100), a determination device (15) which is configured to determine whether or not the vehicle (100) is moving, and a control device (10) which is configured to determine whether or not the blocking device (110, 111, 112) has been activated and, if the blocking device (110, 111, 112) has been activated, to prompt the determination device (15) to determine whether or not the vehicle (100) is moving, and, when the determination device (15) determines that the vehicle (100) is moving, to control an electric motor (102) of the vehicle (100) to drive the vehicle (100) in order to stop the movement of the vehicle (100), and to maintain the stopped state of the vehicle (100).