A highly reliable vehicle brake system that includes an electric brake and achieves redundancy at low cost is provided.

A vehicle brake system (1) is provided to a wheel (Wa) of a vehicle (VB), and includes an electric brake (16a) provided with a motor (80), a driver (60) that drives the motor (80), and a first control device (10) provided with a master controller (30) and a first sub-controller (40) connected to each other. The electric brake (16a) is controllable by both the master controller (30) and the first sub-controller (40).

A highly reliable vehicle brake system that includes an electric brake and achieves redundancy at low cost is provided.

A vehicle brake system (1) includes electric brakes (16a to 16d) that include at least one unit of motors (80 and 81), and first and second control devices (10 and 11) that include a master controller (30) and a first sub-controller (40) that are connected to one another. The master controller (30) includes a driver control unit (301) that can control drivers (61 and 63), and a braking force calculation unit that calculates braking force of the electric brakes (16a to 16d). The first sub-controller (40) includes a driver control unit that controls a driver (60), and a braking force calculation unit that calculates braking force of the electric brakes (16a to 16d). The master controller (30) and the first sub-controller (40) include a determination unit that compares braking force calculation results of other controllers to determine braking force.

A highly reliable vehicle brake system that includes an electric brake and achieves redundancy at low cost is provided.

A vehicle brake system (1) includes electric brakes (16a to 16d) that include at least one unit of motors (80 and 81), and first and second control devices (10 and 11) that include a master controller (30) and a first sub-controller (40) that are connected to one another. The master controller (30) includes a driver control unit (301) that can control drivers (61 and 63), and a braking force calculation unit that calculates braking force of the electric brakes (16a to 16d). The first sub-controller (40) includes a driver control unit that controls a driver (60), and a braking force calculation unit that calculates braking force of the electric brakes (16a to 16d). The master controller (30) and the first sub-controller (40) include a determination unit that compares braking force calculation results of other controllers to determine braking force.

A method for operating an electric parking brake includes determining a fault relating to a first control unit which in a normal operating mode operates the electric parking brake. The method further includes operating a second control unit in an emergency operating mode as a function of the determined fault and determining a state for an operator control element of the parking brake using the second control unit and operating the parking brake as a first function of the determined state of the operator control element using the second control unit in the emergency operating mode.

A method for operating an electric parking brake includes determining a fault relating to a first control unit which in a normal operating mode operates the electric parking brake. The method further includes operating a second control unit in an emergency operating mode as a function of the determined fault and determining a state for an operator control element of the parking brake using the second control unit and operating the parking brake as a first function of the determined state of the operator control element using the second control unit in the emergency operating mode.

An automatic brake subsystem (24) includes second accumulators (25F, 25R), a front second line (28) and a rear second line (29), second brake valves (30F, 30R), a first solenoid switching valve (32), first shuttle valves (33F, 33R), and a controller 37. A second solenoid switching valve (34F) and a pressure sensor (35F) are provided in the front second line (28), and a second solenoid switching valve (34R) and a pressure sensor (35R) are provided in the rear second line (29). In a case where it is determined that each of the second brake valve (30F, 30R) is not performing normally based upon a pressure of a hydraulic fluid detected by each of the pressure sensors (35F, 35R) and an operating signal supplied to the first solenoid switching valve (32) or each of the second brake valves (30F, 30R), a controller 37 performs control to switch each of the second solenoid switching valves (34F, 34R).

An automatic brake subsystem (24) includes second accumulators (25F, 25R), a front second line (28) and a rear second line (29), second brake valves (30F, 30R), a first solenoid switching valve (32), first shuttle valves (33F, 33R), and a controller 37. A second solenoid switching valve (34F) and a pressure sensor (35F) are provided in the front second line (28), and a second solenoid switching valve (34R) and a pressure sensor (35R) are provided in the rear second line (29). In a case where it is determined that each of the second brake valve (30F, 30R) is not performing normally based upon a pressure of a hydraulic fluid detected by each of the pressure sensors (35F, 35R) and an operating signal supplied to the first solenoid switching valve (32) or each of the second brake valves (30F, 30R), a controller 37 performs control to switch each of the second solenoid switching valves (34F, 34R).

A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies configured to control braking of a respective wheel of the vehicle. The brake assemblies includes a first brake assembly integrated with a smart actuator unit including a first actuator controller and a first electro-mechanical actuator that is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a first wheel coupled to the first brake assembly. A second brake assembly excludes an actuator controller and has installed therein a second electro-mechanical actuator that is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a second wheel coupled to the second brake assembly. At least one electronic actuator driver unit is remotely located from the first and second brake assemblies, and is configured to output a high-power signal that drives the first and second electro-mechanical actuators in response to receiving a digital command signal from the first actuator controller.

A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies configured to control braking of a respective wheel of the vehicle. The brake assemblies includes a first brake assembly integrated with a smart actuator unit including a first actuator controller and a first electro-mechanical actuator that is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a first wheel coupled to the first brake assembly. A second brake assembly excludes an actuator controller and has installed therein a second electro-mechanical actuator that is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a second wheel coupled to the second brake assembly. At least one electronic actuator driver unit is remotely located from the first and second brake assemblies, and is configured to output a high-power signal that drives the first and second electro-mechanical actuators in response to receiving a digital command signal from the first actuator controller.

A remote start-up operating method and a method for preventing parking malfunction during remote start-up is provided. The method includes determining whether a remote start-up ECU receives a remote start-up signal and determining whether the remote start-up ECU receives an electrical signal that indicates whether to operate a parking valve based on a position of a parking lever. An engine start-up signal is then transmitted to an engine ECU.