I was training my teen student driver on the road when I came up with this brilliant yet innovative idea. It is very hard to control the vehicle by just merely yelling BRAKE to the student driver. It is unfair to other motorists the risk they are unknowingly taking without an absolute control of the vehicle of a professional driver who is just sitting on the passenger side. In view of this unsafe training condition, I designed and fabricated a Famor Extension Brake. It is a mechanical device that is easily installed on any motor vehicle without modifications. Using this device, the passenger can independently apply the brake to the vehicle when the driver fails to do so. These can be a student, old or destructed drivers.

A method for characterizing an electromechanical actuator unit for a vehicle brake, the electromechanical actuator unit comprising an electric motor and an actuator coupled to the electric motor. The actuator can be moved over a first area of movement without generation of a brake force and over a second area of movement with modification of a brake force. The method is carried out when the actuator moves within the first area of movement, and comprises the following steps: a) a voltage applied to the electric motor is interrupted, b) at least one parameter is determined while the electric motor runs in the generator mode, and c) at least one value is determined for a motor constant of the electric motor on the basis of the at least one parameter. The invention also relates to a vehicle brake, as well as to a computer program and a control unit for implementing the method.

A method for characterizing an electromechanical actuator unit for a vehicle brake, the electromechanical actuator unit comprising an electric motor and an actuator coupled to the electric motor. The actuator can be moved over a first area of movement without generation of a brake force and over a second area of movement with modification of a brake force. The method is carried out when the actuator moves within the first area of movement, and comprises the following steps: a) a voltage applied to the electric motor is interrupted, b) at least one parameter is determined while the electric motor runs in the generator mode, and c) at least one value is determined for a motor constant of the electric motor on the basis of the at least one parameter. The invention also relates to a vehicle brake, as well as to a computer program and a control unit for implementing the method.

The invention relates to a brake master cylinder arrangement for a motor vehicle brake system, comprising at least one piston arrangement with: a pressure piston unit that can be moved along a movement axis (V) and, together with a housing arrangement of the brake master cylinder arrangement, defines a pressure chamber; and a force input member that can be moved according to the actuation of the brake pedal and is coupled, or can be coupled, to the pressure piston unit so as to move therewith, the brake master cylinder also comprising: a position transmitter element that can be moved according to the actuation of the force input member; a detection unit designed to detect a movement of the position transmitter element; and a coupling arrangement designed to couple the position transmitter element to at least one element of the piston arrangement in a substantially rigid manner, along the movement axis (V), the coupling arrangement also being designed to allow a rotation of the at least one element of the piston arrangement in relation to the position transmitter element about the movement axis (V).

Disclosed are an emergency brake control method, device, ECU and vehicle. The method includes: when receiving a first trigger signal indicating that a vehicle enters a driving accompanying mode, activating the driving accompanying mode; and in the driving accompanying mode, when receiving an emergency brake command, controlling an Electronic Stability Program ESP to decelerate the vehicle at a preset deceleration in the driving accompanying mode, and sending a fuel cut-off request signal to an Engine Management System EMS to cut off a torque output of an engine.

A method for operating a brake system with an automated parking brake for a motor vehicle, includes detecting a defined fault. The method further includes activating a parking mode of the parking brake automatically when the defined fault is detected. The automated parking brake is operable in different operating modes, a first operating mode corresponding to a drive mode and a second operating mode corresponding to the parking mode.

A method for operating a brake system with an automated parking brake for a motor vehicle, includes detecting a defined fault. The method further includes activating a parking mode of the parking brake automatically when the defined fault is detected. The automated parking brake is operable in different operating modes, a first operating mode corresponding to a drive mode and a second operating mode corresponding to the parking mode.

In a hydraulic brake system, when a main power supply is in an abnormal condition in which it cannot supply electric power to a pump motor, etc., the pump motor is operated with electric power supplied from an auxiliary power supply, irrespective of the presence of a braking request. Thus, when the main power supply is in the abnormal condition, the number of times inrush current flows is reduced. As a result, the voltage of the auxiliary power supply is less likely to be lower than an operation minimum voltage, and the hydraulic brake system is less likely to be unable to be operated.

An apparatus, system and method for checking brake operation suitable to be executed by a single person is disclosed. A trigger is received from a trigger device. In response to the trigger, it is determined whether the vehicle is in motion. If the vehicle is determined to be substantially not in motion entering the test mode. In the test mode, sending a waveform to a brake actuator and causing the brake actuator to generate a sound audible to the person performing the test if a brake circuit is operational.

A vehicle control device controls a vehicle control system, which includes a shift range switching system configured to switch a shift range by controlling a drive of a shift actuator, and an electric brake system configured to brake a vehicle by controlling a drive of a brake actuator. The vehicle control device includes a drive control unit, an abnormality monitoring unit, and a presence determination unit. The drive control unit controls a drive of a shift actuator. The abnormality monitoring unit monitors an abnormality of the shift range switching system. The presence determination unit determines whether the driver is in the driver's seat. When the abnormality of the range mismatch, which the actual shift range does not match the target shift range in a state where the driver is absent, the vehicle control device executes the fail safe process different from the fail safe process when the driver is present.