Vehicle Parking Brake Dual Control Unit Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking brake systems for vehicles lack a fail-safe mechanism that can reliably prevent rolling away and ensure secure release, often requiring redundant components and increased complexity, which raises costs and reduces reliability.
Innovation Solution
A parking brake system with two control units connected via separate lines and a data communication interface, where only one control unit is connected to an operating device, ensuring redundant power supply and coordinated actuation of wheel brakes, even in the event of failures, thereby eliminating the need for additional locking mechanisms and reducing overall vehicle design costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If both control units are connected to the operating device, then the system has redundant control paths, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides control functions into two separate control units with distinct roles: one control unit is connected to the operating device for direct control, while the other control unit operates independently or through data communication. This segmentation allows redundancy without requiring both units to be fully connected to the operating device, reducing wiring complexity while maintaining fail-safe operation
Solution Approach 2:
A data communication interface acts as an intermediary between the two control units, allowing them to exchange information and coordinate operations. This mediator enables the second control unit to function with partial independence, reducing the need for direct connections to the operating device while maintaining system reliability through coordinated control
2Reliability
If redundant power supply connections are made to both control units, then the system becomes fail-safe against power failures, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply architecture is segmented such that one control unit receives power from the primary power source connected to the operating device, while the second control unit receives power from a separate, independent power source. This segmentation provides fail-safe operation against power failures without requiring both control units to be doubly-connected to the same power source, thereby reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The second power source serves multiple functions: it powers the second control unit independently and can also serve as a backup for the first control unit if needed. This multi-functional approach provides comprehensive fail-safe protection without requiring separate dedicated power supplies for each control unit, optimizing the balance between reliability and complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A parking brake system for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, includes two control units, by means of which two actuators, which are designed to actuate respective wheel brakes, can be controlled. The control units are connected to a power source via separate lines, wherein exclusively one of the control units is connected to an operating device which is designed to transmit signals to the control unit for actuation of the wheel brakes. The control unit is designed to control at least one of the actuators, dependent on the signals for actuation of the wheel brakes.