Patent ID: 7344200
Filing Date: 2008-03-18
Classification: B60T,B60W

Abstract:
1. A braking system for a vehicle comprising: an actuator operatively connectable to a wheel and configured to selectively generate a predetermined mechanical response to cause resistance to the rotation of the wheel; a hand-operable braking system input device effective to cause the actuator to generate the predetermined mechanical response only when at least one predetermined condition is satisfied, wherein said at least one predetermined condition is selected from the group of elevated risk of collision of said vehicle and stop-and-go traffic conditions; a brake pedal effective to cause the actuator to generate the predetermined mechanical response irrespective of the satisfaction of said at least one predetermined condition; a first controller; a second controller; a first system having sensors configured for monitoring an environment of said vehicle for the presence of an object in the path of said vehicle indicative of one of said at least one predetermined conditions, said first system being operable to transmit to said first controller a first set of signals related to said presence of said object; a second system having sensors configured for monitoring an acceleration and a deceleration of said vehicle for determining the satisfaction of one of said at least one predetermined conditions, said second system being operable to transmit to said second controller a second set of signals related to said monitored acceleration and deceleration; wherein at least one of said hand-operable braking system input device and said brake pedal is operable by-wire.