ELECTRIC BOOSTER
A brake operation sensor detects a position of an input member. An angle sensor detects a position of a power piston. An ECU drives and controls an electric motor based on a relative position between the input member and the power piston. Then, the input member and the power piston are subjected to a mechanical limitation on a relative displacement therebetween due to abutment with each other at a step. The ECU advances/retracts the power piston independently of the movement of the input member, and determines the abutment state between the input member and the power piston under the mechanical limitation based on the detected relative position. Then, the ECU corrects the relative position between the input member and the power piston based on this determination to control the electric motor.
1 . An electric booster comprising:
an input member configured to receive transmission of a part of a reaction force from a piston of a master cylinder coupled with a brake pedal;
an assist member advanceable and retractable relative to this input member;
an electric actuator configured to thrust the assist member forward by the movement of the input member;
a reaction force distribution member configured to combine thrust forces of the input member and the assist member to transmit them to the piston of the master cylinder, and distribute the reaction force from the piston to the input member and the assist member; and
a control device configured to detect a relative position between the input member and the assist member, and drive and control the electric actuator,
wherein the input member is subjected to a mechanical limitation on a displacement thereof relative to the assist member, and
wherein the control device moves forward/backward the assist member independently of the movement of the input member and determines an abutment state between the input member and the assist member under the mechanical limitation based on the detected relative position, and corrects the relative position between the input member and the assist member to control the electric actuator.
2 . The electric booster according to claim 1 , wherein, when thrusting the assist member forward independently of the movement of the input member, the control device determines that the input member and the assist member are brought into abutment with each other and the input member is moved under the mechanical limitation based on the detected relative position, and corrects the relative position based on the detected value at this time to control the electric actuator.
3 . The electric booster according to claim 1 , wherein the assist member of the electric actuator is biased in a retraction direction by a spring mounted between the assist member and a housing of the electric actuator, and is separated and permitted to be further retracted when being retracted and brought into abutment with the input member, and
wherein the control device includes a detection portion configured to detect an electric current increasing in proportion to a torque or a force generated by the electric actuator, and determines the separation/connection of the assist member due to the abutment with the input member based on the detected electric current and corrects the relative position based on the detected value at this time to control the electric actuator.
4 . The electric booster according to claim 2 , wherein the assist member of the electric actuator is biased in a retraction direction by a spring mounted between the assist member and a housing of the electric actuator, and is separated and permitted to be further retracted when being retracted and brought into abutment with the input member, and
wherein the control device includes a detection portion configured to detect an electric current increasing in proportion to a torque or a force generated by the electric actuator, and determines the separation/connection of the assist member due to the abutment with the input member based on the detected electric current and corrects the relative position based on the detected value at this time to control the electric actuator.