Patent ID: 6460942
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: B60T

Abstract:
A brake force control apparatus having an operation fluid pressure generating mechanism (32; 206) generating an operation fluid pressure depending on the degree of operation of a brake pedal by a driver, a high pressure source (12, 20; 226) generating a control fluid pressure higher than that of the fluid pressure generated by said operation fluid pressure generating mechanism, a switch mechanism (46, 48, 54; 214) for selectively connecting one of the operation fluid pressure generating mechanism and the high pressure source to a wheel cylinder (44FR, 44FL, 44RR, 44RL; 218), and emergency braking detection means (102, 106) for detecting execution of an emergency braking, wherein when an emergency braking is performed by the driver, a brake assist control for boosting a wheel cylinder pressure is executed in such a way that the high-pressure source serves as a fluid pressure source, there are providedstart timing detection means (104, 108, 110, 112, 114) for calculating a start time of brake assist control as the time after the execution of the emergency braking has been detected when a controlled pressure increasing slope obtained by boosting the wheel cylinder pressure with the high-pressure source used as the fluid pressure source will exceed a normal pressure increasing slope obtained by boosting the wheel cylinder pressure with the operation fluid pressure generating mechanism used as the fluid pressure source, and brake assist control execution means (116; 120, 128) for starting the brake assist control after the emergency braking is detected and the start time is reached.