Patent ID: 7976109

Claim:
A method for operating a hybrid brake apparatus having a front hydraulically actuated brake circuit including a master cylinder for providing pressurized fluid to the front brake circuit in response to an input applied to a brake pedal connected to the hybrid braking apparatus to apply a frictional front braking force, and a rear electrically actuated brake circuit actuated by a control signal from a controller to produce a frictional rear braking force, the method comprising: providing a pedal travel sensor for detecting the input to the brake pedal, said pedal travel sensor operatively connected to the controller, and generating a control signal by said controller in response to input detected by the pedal travel sensor; monitoring the pressurized fluid within the front brake circuit to determine performance of the front brake circuit, and comparing the monitored performance to parameters indicative of normal operation of the front brake circuit in response to the input; when the monitored performance indicates normal operation of the front brake circuit, providing the control signal to control the rear brake circuit in accordance with a first predetermined relationship between the input and rear braking force during normal operation of the front brake circuit; and when the monitored performance indicates degradation of the front brake circuit, providing the control signal to control the rear brake circuit in accordance with a second predetermined relationship between the input and the rear braking force, to thereby compensate for the degradation of front braking force.