IP Library Granted Patent US 12,420,767
Granted Patent B2
US 12,420,767 · App. 18/041,567 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Brake control system

Inventors: Zoltan Toth (Budapest, HU); Gabor Toth (Budaörs, HU); Oliver Udvardy (Budapest, HU); Richard Budafoki (Györ, HU)
Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
B60T17/22B60T8/885F16D66/00B60T13/66B60T13/746B60T2210/20B60T2210/32B60T2240/00B60T2270/406B60T2270/413B60T2270/88F16D2066/005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,420,767
App. No.
18/041,567
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A brake control system for issuing an early warning about a malfunction of a brake of a vehicle, in which the brake is configured to receive a brake signal and to perform a braking process after receiving the brake signal. The vehicle includes a sensor to generate sensor data, indicative of an actuation force of the brake. The brake control system includes a reception module to receive the brake signal and the sensor data, and by a processing module to monitor the sensor data during subsequent stages of the braking process, to detect, based on the monitored sensor data, a potential malfunction of the brake, and to issue a warning signal if the potential malfunction is detected.

Claims (70)

1. A brake control system for issuing a warning about a malfunction of a brake of a vehicle, comprising:

a reception module to receive a brake signal and sensor data, wherein the brake is configured to receive the brake signal and to perform a braking process after receiving the brake signal, and wherein the vehicle includes a sensor to generate the sensor data indicative of an actuation force of the brake; and

a processing module to monitor the sensor data during subsequent stages of the braking process, to detect, based on the monitored sensor data, a potential malfunction of the brake, and to issue a warning signal when the potential malfunction is detected, wherein the reception module is an interface to control data flow from and to the processing module;

wherein the processing module is configured to detect the potential malfunction of the brake based on a comparison of a progression of the sensor data with a characteristic, and

wherein the processing module is configured to store the sensor data, and to update the characteristic based on the stored sensor data.

2. The brake control system of claim 1 , wherein the brake includes a pneumatic brake with a brake cylinder having a pressure chamber, the sensor includes a pressure sensor, and the sensor data indicates a pressure in the pressure chamber.

3. The brake control system of claim 1 , wherein the brake is an electro-mechanical brake, and the sensor is a force sensor.

4. The brake control system of claim 1 , wherein the processing module is configured to detect the potential malfunction of the brake based on logistic regression of the monitored sensor data.

5. The brake control system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a further sensor configured to generate further sensor data from measuring a temperature,

and the processing module is configured to apply different characteristics, adapted to the temperature, to detect the potential malfunction of the brake.

6. The brake control system of claim 1 , wherein the processing module is configured to issue the warning signal to at least one of:

a driver,

surroundings of the vehicle, and/or

a further component of the vehicle.

7. The brake control system of claim 1 , wherein the processing module is configured to induce, when the potential malfunction is detected, a further attempt to perform the braking process.

8. The brake control system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the processing module is configured to detect, based on the monitored sensor data, the potential malfunction of the brake when the braking process is not yet complete,

the processing module is configured to issue the warning signal when the potential malfunction is detected to indicate that a successful completion of the braking system is not to be expected, and

the processing module is configured to induce, when the potential malfunction is detected, a further attempt to perform the braking process.

9. A brake unit for braking a wheel of a vehicle, comprising:

a brake to receive a brake signal and to perform a braking process after receiving the brake signal;

a sensor to generate sensor data indicative of an actuation force of the brake; and

a brake control system for issuing a warning about a malfunction of the brake of the vehicle, including:

a reception module to receive the brake signal and the sensor data, wherein the brake is configured to receive the brake signal and to perform a braking process after receiving the brake signal; and

a processing module to monitor the sensor data during subsequent stages of the braking process, to detect, based on the monitored sensor data, a potential malfunction of the brake, and to issue a warning signal when the potential malfunction is detected,

wherein the reception module is an interface to control data flow from and to the processing module;

wherein the processing module is configured to detect the potential malfunction of the brake based on a comparison of a progression of the sensor data with a characteristic, and

wherein the processing module is configured to store the sensor data, and to update the characteristic based on the stored sensor data.

10. The brake unit of claim 9 , wherein the brake includes a parking brake.

11. The brake unit according to claim 9 , wherein:

the processing module is configured to detect, based on the monitored sensor data, the potential malfunction of the brake when the braking process is not yet complete,

the processing module is configured to issue the warning signal when the potential malfunction is detected to indicate that a successful completion of the braking system is not to be expected, and

the processing module is configured to induce, when the potential malfunction is detected, a further attempt to perform the braking process.

12. A vehicle, comprising:

a brake unit for braking a wheel of a vehicle, including:

a brake to receive a brake signal and to perform a braking process after receiving the brake signal;

a sensor to generate sensor data indicative of an actuation force of the brake; and

a brake control system for issuing a warning about a malfunction of the brake of the vehicle, including:

a reception module to receive the brake signal and the sensor data,

wherein the brake is configured to receive the brake signal and to perform a braking process after receiving the brake signal; and

a processing module to monitor the sensor data during subsequent stages of the braking process, to detect, based on the monitored sensor data, a potential malfunction of the brake, and to issue a warning signal when the potential malfunction is detected, wherein the reception module is an interface to control data flow from and to the processing module;

wherein the processing module is configured to detect the potential malfunction of the brake based on a comparison of a progression of the sensor data with a characteristic, and

wherein the processing module is configured to store the sensor data, and to update the characteristic based on the stored sensor data.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein:

the processing module is configured to detect, based on the monitored sensor data, the potential malfunction of the brake when the braking process is not yet complete,

the processing module is configured to issue the warning signal when the potential malfunction is detected to indicate that a successful completion of the braking system is not to be expected, and

the processing module is configured to induce, when the potential malfunction is detected, a further attempt to perform the braking process.

14. A method for issuing an early warning about a malfunction of a brake of a vehicle, the method comprising:

monitoring sensor data during subsequent stages of a braking process, wherein the brake is configured to perform a braking process, and wherein the vehicle includes a sensor to generate the sensor data indicative of an actuation force of the brake;

detecting, based on the monitored sensor data, a potential malfunction of the brake; and

issuing a warning signal when the potential malfunction is detected;

wherein the detecting of the potential malfunction of the brake is based on a comparison of a progression of the sensor data with a characteristic, and

wherein the method further includes storing the sensor data, and updating the characteristic based on the stored sensor data.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein:

the detecting, based on the monitored sensor data, of the potential malfunction of the brake is performed when the braking process is not yet complete,

the warning signal indicates that a successful completion of the braking process is not to be expected, and

the method further comprises:

inducing, when the braking process malfunction is detected, a further attempt to perform the braking process.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising:

a program code arrangement having program code for issuing a warning about a malfunction of a brake of a vehicle, the program code, when executed by the processor, causing the processor to perform the following steps:

monitoring sensor data during subsequent stages of a braking process, wherein the brake is configured to perform a braking process, and wherein the vehicle includes a sensor to generate the sensor data indicative of an actuation force of the brake;

detecting, based on the monitored sensor data, a potential malfunction of the brake; and

issuing a warning signal when the potential malfunction is detected;

wherein the detecting of the potential malfunction of the brake is based on a comparison of a progression of the sensor data with a characteristic, and

wherein the program code further causes the processor to perform storing the sensor data, and updating the characteristic based on the stored sensor data.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16 , wherein:

the detecting, based on the monitored sensor data, of the potential malfunction of the brake is performed when the braking process is not yet complete,

the warning signal indicates that a successful completion of the braking process is not to be expected, and

the program code further causes the processor to perform:

inducing, when the braking process malfunction is detected, a further attempt to perform the braking process.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2023
From: TOTH, ZOLTAN; TOTH, GABOR; UDVARDY, OLIVER; BUDAFOKI, RICHARD
To: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
Reel/Frame 063415/0477 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 20194977 · Sep 8, 2020 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230303050A1 · Sep 28, 2023
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