Secondary Electric Vacuum Pump Control for Brake Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicle braking systems are compromised when the primary electric vacuum pump (EVP) is disabled, requiring additional driver effort for braking due to the inability of the brake system vacuum booster to provide boost.
Innovation Solution
An electric vacuum pump backup control system and method that includes a secondary electric vacuum pump control to take over operation when the primary EVP control is disabled, with seamless transfer and restoration of control upon communication restoration, ensuring continuous brake functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a primary electric vacuum pump control is used to operate the electric vacuum pump, then the brake system can provide vacuum pressure for braking, but if the primary control is disabled or compromised, the brake system vacuum booster loses functionality requiring increased driver effort
Solution Approach 1:
A secondary electric vacuum pump control is pre-configured in the system but remains dormant during normal operation. When the primary control becomes disabled or compromised, the secondary control automatically activates to take over operation of the electric vacuum pump, ensuring continuous brake system functionality without requiring driver intervention or increased effort
2Device complexity
If a single primary electric vacuum pump control is used, then the system structure remains simple, but the system becomes vulnerable to failures when communication with the ECU is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into a primary electric vacuum pump control and a secondary electric vacuum pump control. The primary control handles normal operation while the secondary control serves as a redundant backup. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity during normal operation while providing enhanced reliability through the dormant secondary control that activates only when the primary control fails
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operational state of the secondary control based on communication status with the ECU. When communication is lost and the primary control becomes disabled, the secondary control transitions from a dormant state to an active operational state, changing the system's control parameters to maintain brake functionality
Data Source
AI summary
An electric vacuum pump backup control system includes a brake on/off switch, a primary electric vacuum pump control interfacing with the brake on/off switch, a secondary electric vacuum pump control interfacing with the brake on/off switch and the primary electric vacuum pump control and an electric vacuum pump interfacing with the primary electric vacuum pump control.