Method and device for monitoring brake signals in a vehicle

1. A method for monitoring a brake system of a vehicle having a transmission control unit and an engine control unit comprising monitoring a plurality of brake signals to detect at least one of a brake system fault and a plausibility of a brake system fault wherein, in the monitoring of the brake signals, a plurality of signals are received and monitored by the transmission control unit where the signals are selected from a foot brake light signal from a vehicle network, a brake light signal from the vehicle network, and a brake light switch signal from the engine control unit.

2. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the brake signals are validated against each other using at least one logic circuit.

3. The method as described in claim 2 , wherein at least one AND-operator circuit and at least one OR-operator circuit are used to compare the brake signals to each other.

4. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the brake signals are monitored during a driving cycle, after the driving cycle or both during and after the driving cycle.

5. The method as described in claim 4 , wherein the length of the driving cycle is determined by observing at least one of whether a gear is engaged that is higher than second gear, the vehicle speed is greater than 16 km/h and the ignition is switched on for at least 2 minutes.

6. The method as described in claim 4 wherein, after the driving cycle is terminated, a check is made at each brake signal of whether a first brake actuated state (state “ 1 ”) and a second brake not actuated state (state “ 0 ”) have occurred during the driving cycle.

7. The method as described in claim 6 , wherein, in the monitoring of the brake signals, at least one braking state meter is used to detect and record braking states.

8. The method as described in claim 7 , wherein a number of faults recorded for each brake state meter may be increased if the brake signal does not reach both braking states “ 1 ” and “ 0 ” during a driving cycle.

9. The method as described in claim 8 , wherein if the braking state meter records a predetermined number of faults n, a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is set by the transmission control unit.

10. The method as described in claim 9 wherein the number of faults recorded by the braking state meter is increased by at least one for the detection of a loose contact.

11. The method as described in claim 10 wherein different fault types are taken into consideration.

12. The method as described in claim 11 , wherein at least one of fault types (A), (AC), (B) and (C) are detected where fault type (A) is detected during a driving cycle, wherein fault type (AC) is a vehicle network (CAN) fault in the vehicle network during a driving cycle, fault type (B) is a fault after a terminated driving cycle in which the braking state meter is evaluated and at least one brake signal has reached both braking states “ 0 ” and “ 1 ”, and fault type (C) is a fault after a terminated driving cycle in which the braking state meter is evaluated and no brake signal has reached both braking states “ 0 ” and “ 1 ”.

13. The method as described in claim 12 , wherein, if fault types (A) and (AC) are detected, a diagnostic fault code (DTC) is immediately set.

14. The method as described in claim 13 , wherein the diagnostic trouble code (DTC) for directly detected fault types (A) and (AC) is canceled if the brake signals are correctly received with respect to a subsequent driving cycle.

15. The method as described in claim 12 , wherein, if fault types (B) and (C) are detected, a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is set only after the evaluation of the braking state meter after the ignition is switched off if the fault meter adopts the value n.

16. The method as described in claim 15 , wherein, fault reactions caused by errors are canceled only after conclusion of a correct driving cycle.

17. The method as described in claim 15 , wherein, when fault types are indirectly determined, a corresponding brake signal is not considered at the beginning of the next driving cycle if the fault meter of the braking state meter does not adopt the value 0.

18. The method as described in claim 15 , wherein resetting of the braking state meter to the value 0 is different for the fault types (B) and (C), the signal being validated and reconsidered for the braking state evaluation if the braking state meter adopts the value 0.

19. The method as described in claim 18 , wherein the braking state meter is reset to the value 0 if for fault type (B) both states “ 0 ” and “ 1 ” have been reached during the driving cycle.

20. The method as described in claim 18 , wherein, when there is a fault type (C), the braking state meter is reset to 0 after the ignition is switched off if both states “ 1 ” and “ 0 ” have been reached during the driving cycle.

21. The method as described in claim 11 , wherein different replacement values are used as a function of the particular fault type.

22. The method as described in claim 21 , wherein, if all brake signals after the termination of the driving cycle have adopted only one state, replacement values are set accordingly.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein a fault detection and/or a plausibility check of the different brake signals is provided by the transmission control unit.

24. An apparatus for monitoring a brake system of a vehicle having a transmission control unit and an engine control unit, brake operation signals and circuitry for monitoring a plurality of brake signals to detect a brake system fault or a plausibility of a brake system fault wherein, the transmission control unit contains circuits for receiving a plurality of brake signals and monitoring them and a foot brake switch and a foot brake light signaling apparatus are provided for providing signals to the transmission control unit through a vehicle network, and for providing a brake light switch signal to the transmission control unit through the engine control unit.

25. The apparatus as described in claim 24 , wherein at least one logic circuit is provided within the transmission control unit for validating the brake signals against each other.