A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies, and a brake request input device. Each brake assembly is coupled to a respective wheel of the vehicle and is configured to control braking of the respective wheel. The brake request input device is configured to output an electronic brake request signal indicating a request to brake at least one of the wheels. Each brake assembly has integrated therein an enhanced smart actuator unit that includes an electronic actuator controller configured to control a braking torque applied to the respective wheel in response to receiving the brake request signal.

A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies and a plurality of electronic brake system (EBS) controllers. The brake assemblies each include an electro-mechanical actuator configured to adjust a torque force applied to a wheel of the vehicle. The EBS controllers are located remotely from one another. Each EBS controller has integrated therein an electronic actuator driver unit that includes an electronic power circuit configured to drive at least one of the electro-mechanical actuators. A first EBS controller is configured to drive a first group of electro-mechanical actuators, and a second EBS controller is configured to drive a second group of electro-mechanical actuators that exclude the electro-mechanical actuators of the first group.

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 electronic brake system (EBS) controllers configured to detect at least one braking event, and a plurality of brake assemblies. Each brake assembly is coupled to a respective wheel of the vehicle and includes an enhanced smart actuator. The enhanced smart actuator further includes an electro-mechanical actuator, and at least one power circuit. The electro-mechanical actuator is configured to adjust a torque force applied to the respective wheel. The at least one electronic power circuit is configured to output a high-frequency switched high-power current drive signal that drives the electro-mechanical actuator. The EBS controllers control a first group of enhanced smart actuators independently from a second group of enhanced smart actuators that exclude the enhanced smart actuators of the first group.

A vehicle with a fault tolerant electronic brake-by-wire (BBW) system includes a plurality of brake assemblies that control braking of a respective wheel of the vehicle. The brake assemblies include a first brake assembly and a second brake assembly. The first brake assembly is integrated with at least one enhanced brake actuator assembly including a first electronic actuator driver circuit in signal communication with a first electro-mechanical actuator. The first brake assembly is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a first wheel of the vehicle. The second brake assembly is integrated with at least one enhanced smart brake actuator assembly including a first actuator controller in signal communication with a second electronic actuator driver circuit. The second electronic actuator driver circuit is in signal communication with a second electro-mechanical actuator that is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a second wheel of the vehicle.

An apparatus for controlling an electro-mechanical braking system includes a first braking control module configured to receive at least one of an electronic parking brake (EPB) switch signal, a braking control signal, or a cylinder pressure value and to operate a parking brake and an additional braking valve; a second braking control module configured to receive at least one of a brake pedal signal, the braking control signal, or the cylinder pressure value and to operate a braking motor and a main braking valve, a first power module configured to supply power to the first braking control module, a second power module configured to supply power to the second braking control module, an integrated switch configured to integrate output powers of the first power module and the second power module, and a connection bus configured to transfer transmission and reception signals, and a method thereof.

An electromechanical braking system for a vehicle, having at least one first actuator, at least one first and one second energy supply device, wherein one of the energy supply devices is assigned to the first actuator as a primary source for supplying it with electrical energy, and the first actuator has a connection to this primary source. The first actuator additionally has a connection to an energy supply device which is assigned to said actuator as a secondary source and is intended to supply the first actuator with electrical energy from the primary source. An actuator having a primary and a secondary energy absorption device, each for connection to an energy supply device. Vehicle, trailer or utility vehicle combination having such a braking system and/or such an actuator.

A diagnostic tool connected to an anti-lock braking system (ABS system) is described. The diagnostic tool is capable of powering on the ABS system and measuring the load current of the ABS system while the ABS system starts up. This startup load current signature is then compared to what is considered a normal startup load current signature. Such a comparison allows the diagnostic tool to determine whether the ABS system is functioning properly or whether there is a fault with the ABS system. Additional features on the diagnostic tool also allow the tool to communicate with the ABS system via power-line communications (PLC communications) and to determine whether there are any issues with those communications. Finally, the diagnostic tool is able to receive and translate any stored or active ABS fault codes generated by the ABS system and to display those fault codes to the user.

A braking system for a motor vehicle has a plurality of hydraulic brake units for braking each braking one wheel of the motor vehicle and a first electric parking brake actuator for braking a first wheel and a second electric parking brake actuator for braking a second wheel. A first control device comprises a first hydraulic controller which is designed and set up to drive the plurality of hydraulic brake units. In order to ensure parking brake redundancy, the first control device has a driver for driving the first parking brake actuator. A second control device is also provided, which comprises a driver for driving the first parking brake actuator and a driver for driving the second parking brake actuator.

A method of controlling brake pressures in a trailer vehicle braking system which has a trailer brake module for controlling a braking force on a wheel or wheels on the trailer. The trailer brake module receives data inputs from sensors on the trailer and a control pressure from a towing vehicle in a control line. The braking system has a second ECU configured to receive sensor inputs from sensors on the trailer to communicate with the trailer brake module and with the towing vehicle. If the second ECU determines that the control pressure should be increased or decreased, the second ECU sends a request to the towing vehicle to increase or decrease the control pressure, respectively.