Patent ID: 6655751
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: B60T,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of controlling a vehicle hydraulic brake system comprising a brake operating member, a master cylinder for producing hydraulic pressure corresponding to a brake operating force applied to said brake operating member, a wheel cylinder, a hydraulic pressure source for producing brake hydraulic pressure in said wheel cylinder, a driving device for said hydraulic pressure source, a fluid passage bringing said hydraulic pressure source and said wheel cylinder into communication with each other, a master cylinder passage bringing said master cylinder and said wheel cylinder into communication with each other through a first on-off valve, a relief passage having a second on-off valve for releasing pressure in said wheel cylinder into a reservoir by opening said second on-off valve, and a brake operating force detector that detects the brake operating force applied to said brake operating member, wherein while said hydraulic pressure source functions normally, the first on-off valve in said master cylinder passage is closed, and said driving device for said hydraulic pressure source is actuated based on a detection signal from said brake operating force detector, characterized in that a vehicle stoppage detector that detects stoppage of a vehicle is provided, and when said vehicle stoppage detector detects stoppage of the vehicle, said driving device for said hydraulic pressure source is stopped and the first on-off valve in said master cylinder passage is opened;wherein the brake operating force detector is a master cylinder hydraulic pressure detector that detects hydraulic pressure produced in said master cylinder, and a brake hydraulic pressure detector that detects the brake hydraulic pressure in said wheel cylinder is provided, and, while said vehicle stoppage detector is detecting stoppage of the vehicle, if the pressure difference between the hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder detected by said master cylinder hydraulic pressure detector and the brake hydraulic pressure detected by said brake hydraulic pressure detector is below a predetermined threshold, the first on-off valve in said master cylinder passage is opened, and if the pressure difference between the hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder detected by said master cylinder hydraulic pressure detector and the brake hydraulic pressure detected by said brake hydraulic pressure detector is not below said predetermined threshold, the first on-off valve in the master cylinder passage is not opened.