Various embodiments of a tractor controller for monitoring trailer brake applications is disclosed. The control logic of the tractor control is capable of receiving a signal indicative of a trailer brake application; receiving a signal indicative of a foot brake application; totaling a number of signals indicative of a trailer brake application for a predetermined time period; and totaling a number of signals indicative of a foot brake application for the predetermined time period. The control logic then compares the total number of signals indicative of a trailer brake application with the total number of signals indicative of a foot brake application. The control logic records a flag in response to the total number of signals indicative of a trailer brake application being greater than the total number of signals indicative of a foot brake application.

A speed control system for a vehicle includes an electronic controller configured to automatically cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value. The electronic controller is further configured to receive information relating to movement of at least a portion of a vehicle body or at least a portion of a body of an occupant relative to a vehicle, and to automatically adjust the value of the target speed value in dependence on the received information.

A method for operating a speed control system of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises detecting an external force acting on the vehicle wherein the external force has an accelerating or decelerating effect on the vehicle. The method further comprises automatically adjusting a rate of change of at least one component of a net torque being applied to one or more wheels of the vehicle to compensate for the accelerating or decelerating effect of the external force on the vehicle. A system for controlling the speed of a vehicle comprising an electronic control unit configured to perform the above-described methodology is also provided.

A vehicle brake device is provided with: an acquisition unit that acquires travel resistance force produced between a vehicle wheel and a road surface touched by the wheel when, for example, a vehicle having the wheel travels, on the basis of driving force of the vehicle and acceleration of the vehicle; and a control unit that starts a control for supplying braking force to the wheel of the vehicle when a difference between the travel resistance force and a predetermined value exceeds a first threshold value and a differential value of the travel resistance force exceeds a second threshold value.

In an emergency stop situation, the regenerative braking system is used to assist in rapid deceleration, by combining regenerative braking with conventional friction brakes. Sensors can also be used to trigger the braking systems, even before the driver is able to react. These sensors might include external cameras, ABS activation detection, radar and ultrasound.

A brake system comprises a cylinder-piston unit movable by an electromechanical actuator. Wheel brakes associated with at least one axle can be supplied with braking pressure via the hydraulic pressure chamber. The electromechanical actuator comprises a rotation-translation transmission and an electronically commutated synchronous machine having a stator with at least two phase windings, a rotor comprising at least one permanent magnet and at least one rotor position sensor. A torque-forming current and/or a magnetic field attenuating current are adjusted in a co-ordinate system which is fixed relative to the rotor. Voltages in the co-ordinate system are detected to serve as control variables and are transformed into a voltage phasor, which indicates for each phase winding of the stator, a voltage to be applied, and a set value for the magnetic field attenuating current is limited to a maximum value being determined from a predetermined characteristic map.

A device includes at least one of a brake position sensor operationally coupled to a brake and providing a brake position signal, or a clutch position sensor operationally coupled to a clutch and providing a clutch position signal. The device further includes a controller having a communication module structured to interpret the at least one of the brake position signal or the clutch position signal, and a collection module structured to collect vehicle dynamics information. The controller further includes a vehicle dynamics module structured to interpret the vehicle dynamics information, and a sensor diagnostics module structured to determine a failure of at least one of the clutch position sensor or the brake position sensor in response to the vehicle dynamics information and at least one of the clutch signal or the brake signal.

A machine includes: an axle having wheels mounted to it; a brake system configured to provide service braking to the wheels; a brake pedal operatively connected to the brake system to provide a braking power to the wheels in proportion to the position of the brake pedal; a pedal sensor operatively connected to the brake pedal to sense the position of the brake pedal; a retarder system configured to selectively slow the wheels down; a speed sensor operatively connected to the machine to detect a speed associated with the machine; a controller operatively connected to the speed sensor, brake pedal position sensor, and retarder system wherein the controller is configured to operate the retarder system based on signals received from the speed sensor and brake pedal position sensor. A method for providing an indication to an operator may also be included.

A brake light sensor module includes: a retainer which is provided to move together with an operation element of a master cylinder in response to a depression of a brake pedal; an operation rod which is connected to the retainer so as to move together with the retainer; an elastic member which is installed in the master cylinder; a signal transmitting element which is installed in the master cylinder, one end of the signal transmitting element being elastically supported by the elastic member, and the other end of the signal transmitting element being supported by the operation rod; and a sensor which is installed in the master cylinder so as to be operated by the signal transmitting element.

A brake system for a motor vehicle includes an electrohydraulic partial brake system, an electromechanical partial brake system, a redundant power supply, and an actuating device (124). The actuating device is configured to determine an actuation signal quantifying a brake request as a result of an actuation by a vehicle driver. The brake system includes a brake control unit (118) with at least two mutually independent partitions. Both partitions are each configured for controlling the electromechanical partial brake system and the electrohydraulic partial brake system on the basis of an actuating signal received from the actuating device.