Brake device
A brake device for a brake-by-wire system includes a brake pedal, a sensor, a reaction force generator, and a reaction force changing mechanism. The brake pedal is rotatably mounted on a housing and not mechanically connected to a hydraulic pressure generator. The sensor outputs a signal corresponding to a stroke amount of the brake pedal to an electronic control unit. The reaction force generator has one end connected to the brake pedal and the other end connected to the housing so as to generate a reaction force against a depression force applied to the brake pedal by a driver. The reaction force changing mechanism generates a reaction force against a depression force applied to the brake pedal by the driver, and is able to change a magnitude of the reaction force in advance according to the driver.
1 . A brake device for a brake-by-wire system in which a hydraulic pressure generator is driven by an electronic control unit to generate hydraulic pressure in a brake circuit of a vehicle, the brake device comprising:
a housing attached to a body of the vehicle;
a brake pedal rotatably mounted on the housing and not mechanically connected to the hydraulic pressure generator;
a sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to a stroke amount of the brake pedal to the electronic control unit;
a reaction force generator having one end connected to the brake pedal and the other end connected to the housing so as to generate a reaction force against a depression force applied to the brake pedal by a driver; and
a reaction force changing mechanism configured to generate a reaction force against a depression force applied to the brake pedal by the driver, wherein the reaction force changing mechanism is able to change a magnitude of the reaction force in advance according to the driver without change in an initial position of the brake pedal; and
the reaction force changing mechanism includes:
an elastic member configured to generate a reaction force against a depression force applied to the brake pedal by the driver; and
a position changing portion capable of changing a preset position of an end portion of the elastic member opposite to the brake pedal; wherein:
the one end of the reaction force generator is connected to the brake pedal at a first portion of the brake pedal at a first position;
the elastic member is connected to a second portion of the brake pedal at a second position;
the first and second positions are different from each other;
the brake pedal is configured to rotate about a rotational axis; and
the second position is closer to the rotational axis than the first position.
2 . A brake device for a brake-by-wire system in which a hydraulic pressure generator is driven by an electronic control unit to generate hydraulic pressure in a brake circuit of a vehicle, the brake device comprising:
a housing attached to a body of the vehicle;
a brake pedal rotatably mounted on the housing and not mechanically connected to the hydraulic pressure generator;
a sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to a stroke amount of the brake pedal to the electronic control unit;
a reaction force generator having one end connected to the brake pedal and the other end connected to the housing so as to generate a reaction force against a depression force applied to the brake pedal by a driver; and
a reaction force changing mechanism configured to generate a reaction force against a depression force applied to the brake pedal by the driver, wherein the reaction force changing mechanism is able to change a magnitude of the reaction force in advance according to the driver without change in an initial position of the brake pedal; and
the reaction force changing mechanism includes:
an elastic member configured to generate a reaction force against a depression force applied to the brake pedal by the driver; and
a position changing portion capable of changing a preset position of an end portion of the elastic member opposite to the brake pedal; wherein:
the reaction force generator is a first spring and the elastic member is a second spring;
the brake pedal is configured to rotate about a rotational axis;
each of the first and second springs are connected to the brake pedal; and
the second spring is connected to the brake pedal at a position that is closer to the rotational axis than a position at which the first spring is connected to the brake pedal.
3 . A brake device for a brake-by-wire system in which a hydraulic pressure generator is driven by an electronic control unit to generate hydraulic pressure in a brake circuit of a vehicle, the brake device comprising:
a housing attached to a body of the vehicle;
a brake pedal rotatably mounted on the housing and not mechanically connected to the hydraulic pressure generator;
a sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to a stroke amount of the brake pedal to the electronic control unit;
a reaction force generator having one end connected to the brake pedal and the other end connected to the housing so as to generate a reaction force against a depression force applied to the brake pedal by a driver; and
a reaction force changing mechanism configured to generate a reaction force against a depression force applied to the brake pedal by the driver, wherein the reaction force changing mechanism is able to change a magnitude of the reaction force in advance according to the driver without change in an initial position of the brake pedal; and
the reaction force changing mechanism includes:
an elastic member configured to generate a reaction force against a depression force applied to the brake pedal by the driver; and
a position changing portion capable of changing a preset position of an end portion of the elastic member opposite to the brake pedal; wherein:
a support plate is fixed to an end of the elastic member;
the support plate is configured to contact a portion of the housing; and
the position changing portion is configured to change a position of the support plate so that the support plate is separated from contact with the housing.