Electronic Parking Brake Redundancy for Switch Signal Failures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle brake systems, particularly electronic parking brake (EPB) systems, lack redundancy in switch components, leading to reliability issues even when an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) has a redundancy structure, as they do not account for failures in the switch generating the drive signal.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a first and second switching member, along with corresponding controllers, to receive and transmit drive signals and switch fail signals, ensuring the electronic parking brake motor can be controlled even if one of the drive signals becomes abnormal, utilizing a digital signal transmission line for rapid communication between controllers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dual switching members are incorporated, then reliability for switch failures is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple switching members into a unified control architecture where both switching members feed into the same ECU. This merging allows the system to maintain redundancy while using a single control unit, reducing overall system complexity compared to having separate control paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The ECU is designed with universal input capability to receive drive signals from either the first or second switching member. This multi-functionality allows the single ECU to handle both redundant input sources, reducing the need for additional control units and simplifying the overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an apparatus for controlling braking of a vehicle, comprising: a first switching member configured to receive a parking start signal and generate a first drive signal; a second switching member configured to receive the parking start signal and generate a second drive signal; a first controller configured to receive the first drive signal; a second controller configured to receive the second drive signal, the first and second controllers further configured to transceive a switch fail signal with each other; and an electronic parking brake motor configured to be controlled by at least one of the first and second controllers, wherein, when at least one of the first and second drive signals is abnormal, the electronic parking brake motor is controlled by at least one of the first and second controllers based on the switch fail signal.