Electronic Parking Brake Control for Trailer-Aware Clamping Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
The electronic parking brake system cannot accurately determine if a trailer is attached, leading to excessive clamping force generation and increased manufacturing costs and reduced durability due to reliance on the ESC system, which does not provide direct signals for trailer detection.
Innovation Solution
An electronic parking brake system that uses wheel speed and longitudinal acceleration sensors to detect changes when passing a speed bump, determining trailer attachment through multiple conditions, including wheel disturbances and vehicle shaking, to adjust clamping force accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the electronic parking brake system uses the ESC system signal to determine trailer attachment, then the system structure remains simple, but the trailer detection accuracy deteriorates because the ESC system does not provide direct signals for trailer detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection mechanism using wheel speed sensors and longitudinal acceleration sensors to indirectly detect trailer attachment. Instead of relying on the ESC system's indirect signals, the system uses these sensors to monitor wheel disturbances and vehicle shaking when passing speed bumps, which serve as intermediaries to infer trailer presence. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple system structure while improving detection accuracy through intermediary observation of physical phenomena.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the reliance on electronic control system signals (ESC) with direct mechanical/physical measurements using wheel speed sensors and longitudinal acceleration sensors. By substituting electronic signal interpretation with direct mechanical measurement of wheel behavior and vehicle dynamics, the system achieves more accurate trailer detection without significantly increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If the electronic parking brake system generates excessive clamping force based on maximum GCVW, then the system ensures sufficient braking capacity for trailer-mounted vehicles, but manufacturing cost increases and durability decreases due to over-engineering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of clamping force based on real-time detection of trailer attachment status. Instead of using a fixed maximum clamping force designed for the heaviest possible load, the system dynamically adapts the braking force to match the actual vehicle configuration (with or without trailer). This resolves the contradiction by ensuring sufficient braking capacity when needed while reducing manufacturing costs and improving durability through appropriate force levels for each operating condition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameter (clamping force) based on detected conditions. The system monitors wheel speed and longitudinal acceleration to determine trailer presence, then adjusts the clamping force parameter accordingly - using higher forces when trailers are detected and lower forces when they are not. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between ensuring sufficient braking capacity and reducing manufacturing over-engineering.
3Measurement precision
If the electronic parking brake system uses multiple detection conditions (wheel disturbance, vehicle shaking) to determine trailer attachment, then the trailer detection accuracy improves, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection process into distinct analytical components: monitoring wheel speed for disturbance detection, measuring longitudinal acceleration for vehicle shaking detection, and evaluating the temporal relationship between these events. By dividing the complex detection task into separate measurable parameters and evaluation criteria, the system achieves high detection accuracy while managing control system complexity through structured analysis of individual parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously monitors wheel speed and longitudinal acceleration, compares detected patterns against expected behaviors for trailer-mounted versus non-trailer vehicles, and adjusts clamping force accordingly. This feedback loop enables accurate trailer detection through multiple conditions while managing system complexity through systematic comparison and decision-making based on sensor inputs.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic parking brake system that generates a clamping force required for parking of trailer-mounted towing vehicles includes an electronic parking brake provided on at least one of front and rear wheels of the towing vehicle; and a controller configured to receive a front wheel speed, a rear wheel speed, and a longitudinal acceleration of the towing vehicle, determine whether or not the trailer is mounted based on changes in the received front wheel speed, rear wheel speed, and longitudinal acceleration when the towing vehicle passes a speed bump, and determine the clamping force required for parking according to whether or not the trailer is mounted when parking is operated, and control the electronic parking brake to generate the determined clamping force.