Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device and a method for controlling an electrically actuated parking brake. Especially, a tip switch is provided which is movable to adopt a tensioning position, a release position, and a neutral position. For example, when the tip switch is moved by the driver to adopt the tensioning position, the control unit increases a nominal value of the actuating force of the parking brake. By actuating the tip switch, the driver is thus able to determine which actuating force is used to actuate the parking brake.

Description:
This application is a 371 of PCT/EP99/03792 filed Jun. 1, 1999. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to vehicle brake systems, and more particularly relates to a device and a method for controlling an electrically actuated parking brake. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Parking brake systems are disclosed in the state of the art which are connected to a device that is activated by the physical strength of the driver by way of cables and linkage. The said muscular-power operated actuated device is typically a pedal activated by the driver&#39;s foot or a hand brake lever activated by the driver&#39;s hand. 
     Recently, parking brakes have become known wherein an electromotive brake actuation is provided. For example, DE 4129919 A1 describes that electric motors are arranged on the wheel brakes, respectively, and can be actuated by way of a corresponding signal so that the parking brake is activated. 
     However, the electrically actuated parking brake suffers from the disadvantage that the driver&#39;s request is not taken into account appropriately (e.g. upon an actuation or activation of the parking brake, a maximum tensioning force would always be adjusted, with the result of excessive stress acting on the brake system at an early time.) This, in turn, would necessitate a more sophisticated construction of the parking brake system to withstand these stresses, which sophistication inevitably increases the price for its manufacture. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for controlling an electrically actuated parking brake which detect a driver&#39;s request by way of an operating element and convert it into corresponding nominal values for the actuating force. 
     The present invention arranges for a device for actuation of an electrically actuated parking brake which may include input means for a driver&#39;s request relating to an actuation of the parking brake. Further, the device of the present invention can comprise a control unit for detecting the driver&#39;s request by way of a corresponding output signal of the input means. Still further, the control means can determine a nominal value FS_soll corresponding to the driver&#39;s request and issue a control signal to an actuator of the parking brake corresponding to the determined nominal value FS_soll. 
     The solution according to the present invention permits converting the driver&#39;s request directly into a corresponding nominal value FS_soll of the actuating force of the parking brake. The actuating force may roughly correspond to a tensioning force or a cable force. The actuator may be an electric motor which directly applies a brake shoe against a rotating part of the wheel brake. However, it is also possible that a Bowden cable is actuated by the electric motor or the actuator which will then actuate the wheel brake or the parking brake by way of corresponding deflection means. 
     The fact that a nominal value corresponding to the driver&#39;s request is produced permits realizing a system which basically corresponds to that of the conventional, muscular-power operated parking brake. Thus, the driver hardly needs to adapt to a different way of braking because he/she is in a position to indicate by way of the input means a respective actuating force in conformity with his/her request. When the driver parks the vehicle e.g. on a flat underground, he/she is able to actuate the electrically actuated parking brake only to a slight degree according to his/her request. When the driver parks the vehicle on a steep downgrade, e.g. on a slope with a gradient of 30%, he/she may now adjust the maximum actuating force. Hence, the parking brake is loaded with the maximum actuating force only when this is absolutely necessary. Of course, this prolongs the service life of the brake system. Further, the driver may also use the parking brake according to the present invention as a hill holder on gradients when he/she chooses the actuating force to be low. 
     According to the present invention, the input means can be actuated by the driver to adopt a tensioning position, a release position, and a neutral position. Additionally, the input means can be designed as a tip switch, and the tip switch is redundant. This allows further enhancing the safety of actuation, and it is possible to detect potential defects. 
     When the input means has adopted a neutral position according to the present invention, an actual value FS_ist of the parking brake can be maintained. Once the input means has adopted the release position, the nominal value FS_soll is set to zero. When, in addition, the input means has adopted the tensioning position, the nominal value FS_soll will be increased starting from the actual value FS_ist. 
     The nominal value FS_soll can be increased gradually in a tensioning position until a limit value FS_max. It is, of course, also possible to infinitely variably increase the nominal value FS_soll, if desired. 
     It shall be noted in this respect that the above-mentioned example of the design of the input means as tip switch is meant as an option only. It is also feasible to provide a slider switch which indicates the nominal value FS_soll. Still other input means may be used, however, attention should be paid that the input means permits a haptic feedback. When the input means is actuated, this provides the driver with a feedback about which condition the parking brake is in right now and which nominal value is indicated at that moment. 
     Further, it is possible to represent the actual value FS_ist and/or the nominal value FS_soll by an optical display device. Such an optical display device could be light-emitting diodes or similar means that indicate to the driver which actuating force of the parking brake prevails at the moment or which actuating force of the parking brake is or was just input as nominal value by way of the input means. 
     Further, the control unit can induce an actuating electronics of the parking brake to switch to an inactive condition with a minimum power absorption upon expiry of a predetermined duration T rest  after the last actuation of the input means. It is thereby possible to achieve a delay in disconnecting which switches the actuating electronics or the control unit into an operating mode with a minimum power absorption. It shall be noted in this respect that a separate control unit for the electrically actuated parking brake can be realized. However, it is also possible to integrate the control unit or the actuating electronics for the parking brake into an existing control unit, for example, into the control unit for the ABS brake system. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a device according to the present invention. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 show a graph of a variation of the nominal value FS_soll plotted against time. 
     FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of a processing operation in the control unit according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The embodiment of FIG. 1 shows a tip switch  1  which, unless operated, remains in its neutral position. This neutral position is illustrated in FIG.  1 . In case the tip switch  1  would be actuated on its left-hand side by a driver, the tip switch  1  would move into a tensioning position, and with an actuation of the tip switch  1  on its right-hand side, a release position would be provided. 
     The tip switch  1  is redundant and respectively designed as a change-over switch which represents an actuating element of digital operation. The neutral position illustrated in FIG. 1 corresponds to the switch position S 1 =0 (open), S 1 ′=1 (closed), S 2 ′=0 (open) and S 2 =1 (closed). 
     S 1 =1 and S 2 =0 applies in the tensioning position, and S 1 =0 and S 2 =1 applies in the release position. If S 1 =1 and S 2 =1 applies, this indicates an undefined state and, thus, a defect of the tip switch  1  or a control unit  2 , and in this case the control unit  2  would cause no actuation of the parking brake  3  and, thus, no variation of the current actual value. Besides, an error report could be submitted to a diagnosis unit in this case, and a corresponding warning lamp could be activated. 
     The tip switch  1  is electrically connected to the control unit  2  so that the driver&#39;s request can be converted into corresponding actuating signals for an activation of the parking brake  3 . 
     The parking brake  3  includes an electric motor  6  and  7 , respectively, on at least two wheel brakes  4  and  5 . The electric motor  6  can be actuated by way of an actuation line  8 , and the electric motor  7  can be actuated by way of an actuation line  9 . Corresponding commands can be output to the electric motors  6  and  7  by way of the actuation lines  8  and  9  so that the motors adjust the requested actuating force FS_soll. The electric motors  6  and  7  also include feedback lines  10  and  11  which transmit the actual position and/or the actual actuating force to one microcomputer  12 ,  13 , respectively. The microcomputer  12 ,  13  is now in a position to ensure that the nominal value predetermined by way of the lines  8 ,  9  is achieved. The actuation of the electric motors  6  and  7  is effected by corresponding amplifiers  14  and  15 . 
     In addition, there is provision of an emergency circuit  16  which energizes the amplifiers  14  and  15 . The emergency circuit  16  can safeguard the current supply by means of an auxiliary battery  18  when a main battery  17  fails. 
     The entire system illustrated in FIG. 1 has a redundant design so that the reliability in operation is ensured even upon failure of an element or component. 
     Also, it shall be noted in this respect that a signal of a Controller-Area-Network (CAN) can still be superposed on the tip switch  1  or the input means in order to activate the parking brake, e.g. according to a hill-holder function, or to adjust the actuating force in conformity with a measured gradient. 
     The position of the switch SI plotted against time t is shown in the top illustration in FIG. 2, and the nominal value FS_soll plotted against time t is shown in the bottom illustration. The same applies to FIG.  3 . 
     Switch S 2  is open, i.e., S 2 =0, applies to both Figures or illustrations. 
     It is illustrated in FIG. 2 that switch  1  is closed at a certain point of time, what corresponds to a digital  1 . When the control unit  2  senses this signal, it increases the nominal value of the actuating force by an amount ΔF 0 . When the tip switch remains in the tensioning position, the nominal value FS_soll is increased by another amount ΔF 1  upon expiry of a predetermined time period Δt 1 . Upon expiry of another time period Δt 2 , the nominal value FS_soll is increased by another amount ΔF 2 , etc. It shall be mentioned in this respect that the amounts of increase of the nominal value and the time periods of maintaining the increases are not equidistant. For example, it may be favorable that the initial amount ΔF 0  is higher than the following amounts ΔF 1 , ΔF 2 , ΔF 3 , etc. This permits a rapid initial activation of the parking brake system, wherein it is avoided, however, that the maximum value prevails too early. The maximum value can be achieved only after a longer actuation of the tip switch  1 . 
     It is illustrated in FIG. 3 that the tip switch  1  is initially moved to adopt a tensioning position until a time T. Subsequently, the tip switch  1  will be no longer actuated and passes over into its neutral position. This implies that the nominal value FS_Soll is maintained constant. When the tip switch  1  is thereafter moved to adopt the tensioning position again, the nominal value FS_soll is increased by an amount ΔF 0 , namely starting from the actual value of the actuating force FS_ist. 
     It shall be noted that a continuous increase of the nominal value FS_soll is, of course, also possible. The same applies to an adjustment of identical force increments ΔF 0,1,2  . . . and time incrementsΔt 1,2,3  . . . . 
     FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a processing operation as it can be performed in the control unit  2  or in the microprocessors  12  and  13 . 
     The processing operation is initialized and a timer is cleared in a step  100 . Further, a default value for FS_soll is loaded. This default value can mean a predetermined actuation or movement of the brake shoes in the direction of the rotating part of the parking brake  3  in order to minimize the actuating travels of the parking brake. Polling is made in step  101  whether switch SI of the tip switch  1  is actuated (S 1 =1). If S 1  is actuated, it is concluded that the tip switch  1  is in a tensioning position, whereupon a polling is made in step  102  whether switch S 2  is additionally actuated (S 2 =1). If this is the case, a defect of the system or the tip switch  1  is assumed, and the processing operation moves back between the steps  100  and  101 . This means that the parking brake  3  is not activated and/or its condition is not changed. 
     When it is judged in step  102  that switch S 2  is not actuated, the timer is started in step  103 . A polling is made in step  104  whether a predetermined time interval ΔT i  is reached. If this is the case, the nominal value FS_Soil is increased by ΔF 1 , and the values ΔF i+1  and ΔT i+1  are loaded for the next step of increase. The timer is reset. It is subsequently checked in a step  106  whether the nominal value FS_soll has reached a maximum value FS_max and, if yes, the nominal value FS_soll is limited to this maximum value FS_max. Thereafter, the calculated nominal value is output in a step  107 , and the processing operation branches back between steps  100  and  101 . 
     When it was judged in step  104  that the time interval ΔT i  is not reached, a branching between steps  106  and  107  occurs. This means that the nominal value is kept constant still because the predefined time interval ΔT i  has not yet expired. 
     When it is judged in step  101  that the switch S 1  is not actuated, the timer is reset or cleared once again in a step  108 . Then, the value ΔF 0  for the start increase step and ΔT 0  for the start time interval is loaded in a step  109  (increase step=0). It is then checked in a step  110  whether the switch S 2  is actuated (S 2 =1). When the switch S 2  is actuated, a release position of the tip switch  1  is concluded, and a command to release the electrically actuated parking brake is output in step  111 , with the value FS_soll being set to zero. The processing operation will then have a branch back between steps  100  and  101 . 
     When it is judged in step  110  that the switch  52  is not actuated (S 2 =0), it is concluded that the tip switch  1  has adopted its neutral position. The nominal value FS_soll calculated the last will then be output to the parking brake  3  in a step  112 , i.e., the actual condition is maintained. 
     As is shown hereinabove, a neutral position is inferred from a non-actuation of the input means or the tip switch (S 1 =0, S 2 =0). Thus, the current actuating condition of the parking brake  3  is maintained, and the nominal value (FS_soil) defined as last for the electric parking brake  3  is maintained and/or adjusted by means of the corresponding control. 
     When the tip switch is moved to assume a release position (S 1 =0, S 2 =1), a command for release is output to the control (FS_soll=0) irrespective of the current actuating condition of the parking brake  3 . Subsequently, the electric parking brake is released, and a lining clearance is adjusted (for minimizing the actuating travels). It is not necessary to keep the output means or the tip switch depressed in the release position during the entire release operation of the parking brake  3 . Rather, it is sufficient to initiate the release of the parking brake  3  by a short actuation of the switch into the release position. 
     When the tip switch is moved to assume its tensioning position (S 1 =1, S 2 =0), the nominal value FS_soll which prevails before the commencement of the tip switch actuation will be increased gradually as long as the tip switch is actuated. When the switch is released again after a predetermined time T, i.e., the tip switch passes over into the neutral position, and is then actuated again, the procedure of the stepwise nominal value increase will be initialized and started again (until the maximum nominal value FS_max is reached or as long as the tip switch remains in its tensioning position).