METHOD FOR OPERATING A BRAKE SYSTEM, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT AND CONTROL UNIT

Abstract

A method for operating a brake system of a motor vehicle is disclosed, wherein the brake system comprises a drive arrangement for driving at least one actuating device designed to actuate a hydraulic pressure generator. The drive arrangement has an electric drive. The hydraulic pressure generator is designed to build up a hydraulic pressure on at least one wheel brake of the motor vehicle. The method comprises the steps of: monitoring the drive arrangement and/or brake system to detect a state, such as an error state, of the drive arrangement and/or brake system; detecting a state, such as an error state, of the drive arrangement and/or brake system; and controlling the hydraulic pressure based on the detected state, such as an error state. A computer program product and control unit or system having multiple control units is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for operating a brake system of a motor vehicle, wherein the brake system comprises a drive arrangement for driving at least one actuating device designed to actuate a hydraulic pressure generator, wherein the drive arrangement has an electric drive and the hydraulic pressure generator is designed to build up a hydraulic pressure on at least one wheel brake of the motor vehicle, wherein the method comprises the steps: monitoring the drive arrangement and/or brake system to detect a state of the drive arrangement and/or brake system; detecting a state of the drive arrangement and/or brake system; and controlling the hydraulic pressure based on the detected state.

2. The method according to claim 11, wherein, in the case of a detected error state, the currently prevailing hydraulic pressure is maintained by closing at least one valve.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in an event of a detected error state, the hydraulic pressure is decreased or reduced by opening the at least one valve and/or by pumping hydraulic fluid into a low-pressure reservoir.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in an event of a detected error state, the hydraulic pressure is firstly maintained by closing at least one valve, and then controlled, in particular decreased or reduced by opening the at least one valve and/or by pumping hydraulic fluid into a low-pressure reservoir.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in a case of a detected error state, a switch from a first sensor signal, to a second sensor signal, takes place and/or the drive arrangement is regulated based on the second sensor signal.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein in a case of a detected error state, the hydraulic pressure is firstly maintained by closing at least one valve, and then, after reaching a drive speed, of the drive arrangement, of substantially zero, a switch from a first sensor signal, to a second sensor signal, takes place.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, after the switch to the second sensor signal, the at least one valve is opened again and/or the drive arrangement is regulated based on the second sensor signal.

8. The method according to claim 11, wherein the error state is based on a failure and/or defect of a control unit and/or the drive arrangement and/or the electric drive thereof, and/or of, electronic components, and/or of sensor signals.

9. A computer program, comprising a program code to carry out a method according to claim 1, when the computer program is executed on a processor.

10. A control unit or system comprising multiple control units for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one processor and the computer program according to claim 9.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the state monitored and detected is an error state.

12. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one valve is a holding valve.

13. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first signal is a first motor position signal and the second signal is a second motor position signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] Exemplary arrangements of the disclosure are described in more detail below with reference to figures in which, in a schematic representation and by way of example:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a method for operating a brake system of a motor vehicle; and

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a control unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic representation, a flow chart of a method for operating a brake system of a motor vehicle.

[0032] The brake system has a drive arrangement for driving at least one actuating device designed to actuate a hydraulic pressure generator. The drive arrangement has an electric drive, such as an electric motor, and a gear. The hydraulic pressure generator is designed to build up a hydraulic pressure on at least one wheel brake of the motor vehicle.

[0033] In a step S1, the drive arrangement and/or brake system is monitored to detect a state, such as an error state, of the drive arrangement and/or brake system.

[0034] In a step S2, a state, such as an error state, of the drive arrangement and/or brake system is detected and/or recorded.

[0035] In a step S3, the hydraulic pressure is controlled based on the detected state, such as an error state. In the case of a detected error state, the hydraulic pressure is hereby firstly maintained, for example by closing at least one valve, such as a holding valve, and then controlled, in particular decreased or reduced by opening the at least one valve and/or by pumping hydraulic fluid into a low-pressure reservoir. The electric drive of the drive arrangement may thus be reversed in a slow and controlled manner and damage or destruction caused by an abrupt reversal of the piston of the hydraulic pressure generator owing to the hydraulic pressure may therefore be prevented.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows, in a schematic representation, a control unit 1, which is developed and intended for use in a motor vehicle. The control unit 1 has a processor 2 and a computer program product. The computer program product comprises a program code to carry out the method described above and/or below when the computer program product is executed on the processor 2.

[0037] Moreover, please refer additionally to FIG. 1 and the associated description.

[0038] The word “may” refers in particular to optional features of the disclosure. Consequently, there are also developments and/or exemplary arrangements of the disclosure which additionally or alternatively have the respective feature or the respective features.

[0039] Isolated features may also be extracted as required from the feature combinations disclosed in the present case and, by eliminating a structural and/or functional connection which is possibly present between the features, may be used in combination with other features to define the subject matter of a claim. The sequence and/or number of all steps of the method may be varied.