Patent ID: 7234784
Filing Date: 2007-06-26
Classification: B60T

Abstract:
1. A braking device for a motorcycle having a front wheel and a rear wheel, the braking device comprising: a front wheel braking mechanism operatively attached to said front wheel; a rear wheel braking mechanism operatively attached to said rear wheel; a vehicle speed sensor; a fluid pressure sensor operatively associated with the front wheel braking mechanism; a controller which is operable to control the rear wheel braking mechanism; an electric actuator which produces hydraulic pressure; a hydraulic modulator which regulates the hydraulic pressure applied to the rear wheel braking mechanism; a main brake passage having the hydraulic modulator operatively connected therewith at a middle portion thereof; a master cylinder and a caliper operatively connected to the main brake passage at respective end portions thereof; and an electromagnetic valve disposed in the main brake passage between the master cylinder and the caliper; wherein the controller is configured and adapted to automatically coordinate operation of the rear wheel braking mechanism with a manual front wheel braking operation, and the controller is operable to determine whether rear-wheel load is decreasing during the front wheel braking operation based on: vehicle speed signals received from the vehicle speed sensor during the front wheel braking operation, and hydraulic pressure signals received from said fluid pressure sensor and corresponding to a hydraulic pressure applied to the front wheel braking mechanism; wherein a reduction of the rear-wheel load is determined by the controller when a vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a pre-determined speed and a hydraulic pressure of the front wheel braking mechanism is greater than or equal to a pre-determined pressure; wherein, when the reduction of the rear-wheel load is determined, the controller is operable to control the rear wheel braking mechanism to suppress the reduction of the rear-wheel load; wherein when the reduction of the rear-wheel load is determined, the controller electrically controls the hydraulic modulator to control application of the hydraulic pressure to the rear wheel braking mechanism; and wherein the electromagnetic valve is closed when the hydraulic modulator is set to an on position.