Parking Lock Position Determination via Current Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining the actuating position of a parking brake in vehicles are unreliable in the event of electronic failures and fail to adapt to degradation phenomena such as brake disc wear or pawl deformations, leading to decreased actuating precision.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines the position of a first actuating element by measuring current input and energy consumption during its movement on a spindle, using reference points to accurately calculate its axial position without the need for costly sensors, allowing the parking lock device to adapt to mechanical changes and maintain precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods use extensive structural data from vehicle electronics to determine parking brake position, then initial positioning can be achieved, but the system becomes unreliable in the event of electronic failure and cannot adapt to mechanical degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically detecting mechanical reference points (stop and pawl engagement) through current monitoring during actuation cycles. This self-service mechanism eliminates dependence on external electronic data and enables automatic adaptation to mechanical wear and degradation without manual intervention or additional sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors current consumption during actuator movement and uses feedback from detected reference points to dynamically recalculate the relationship between actuator position and parking brake force. This feedback loop enables real-time adaptation to mechanical changes while maintaining reliable position determination independent of vehicle electronics.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are installed on the actuating element to precisely determine its position, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical position sensors with an electrical measurement approach, monitoring current consumption of the actuator motor to infer position. By detecting characteristic current patterns at reference points (stop engagement and pawl contact), the system achieves precise position determination without adding mechanical sensing components, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses current consumption as an intermediary parameter to indirectly determine actuator position. Instead of directly measuring position with sensors, the system measures the easily accessible current signal and uses it as a mediator to calculate position based on the known relationship between current and mechanical state during actuation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the parking lock structure is simplified to reduce cost, then manufacturing efficiency improves, but the ability to accurately detect position and adapt to wear decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains measurement precision by using the existing mechanical structure's inherent features (stop and pawl engagement points) as reference markers. The actuator's own current consumption serves as the measurement signal, eliminating the need for additional precision components. This self-service approach allows accurate position detection using only the basic mechanical elements already present in simplified designs.
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 method ensures robustness against electronic failures and mechanical degradation, providing precise actuation and simplified integration with spatial separation of the actuating mechanism, reducing the need for additional sensors and enhancing resilience and economic efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The current input and the energy consumption of the driver are captured during this movement. The current input represents a measure of the mechanical resistance that must be overcome when the first actuating element is moved.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining the position of a first actuating element of an electrical parking lock device of a motor vehicle, wherein the first actuating element is mounted on a spindle in an axially mobile manner, where the method includes a step in which the first actuating element is moved in an opening direction to a stop, the spindle is then rotated to move the first actuating element in a closing direction, the current input and the energy consumption of a driver are captured at this point, provision is then made for identifying a first reference point if the current input of the spindle drive increases or decreases by at least a first threshold value, the first reference point is assigned to the energy consumption that has been captured, where the first reference point corresponds to the first actuating element coming into contact with an actuating pawl.