Patent ID: 6179396
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: B60T

Abstract:
A brake control apparatus comprising:a wheel cylinder for applying a brake force to a wheel;a master cylinder for generating pressurized brake fluid in accordance with operation of a brake pedal;a main line connecting the master cylinder to the wheel cylinder;a first valve for opening and closing the main line;a pump having an inlet port and an outlet port to supply a pressurized brake fluid to a point of the main line between the first valve and the wheel cylinder;an auxiliary line connecting the inlet port of the pump to the master cylinder;a second valve for opening and closing the auxiliary line;a brake operation sensor for detecting operation of the brake pedal;initiation judging means for judging a need for brake assist control based on a detection by the brake operation sensor of the operation of the brake pedal;a controller to control the first valve, the second valve and the pump to perform the brake assist control when the initiation judging means judges a need for brake assist control;the controller including duty determination means for determining a duty ratio for the second valve based on a change rate of an operation amount of the brake pedal and duty control means for controlling the second valve with the duty ratio determined by the duty ratio determination means.