IP Library Granted Patent US 9,073,529
Granted Patent B2
US 9,073,529 · App. 13/196,786 · Granted Jul 7, 2015

Braking calibration for vehicles

Inventors: Douglas R. Koons (Brighton, MI); Patrick J. Monsere (Highland, MI)
Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
B60T13/662B60T8/4054B60T17/221
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,073,529
App. No.
13/196,786
Granted
Jul 7, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for calibrating a braking system of a vehicle. The braking system has an electric motor, a pump, and a hydraulic accumulator. A speed of the vehicle is obtained, and a pressure within the hydraulic accumulator is measured. The pump is operated via an electric motor to provide hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic accumulator based on the speed of the vehicle and the measure of pressure of the hydraulic accumulator.

Claims (44)

1. A method for calibrating a braking system of a vehicle, the braking system having an electric motor, a pump, and a hydraulic accumulator, the method comprising:

obtaining a speed of the vehicle;

obtaining a measure of pressure of the hydraulic accumulator; and

operating the pump via the electric motor to provide hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic accumulator based on the speed and the measure of pressure,

wherein the step of operating the pump comprises running the pump if one of the following conditions is satisfied, namely:

the measure of pressure is less than a first predetermined pressure threshold and the speed is less than a speed threshold; or

the measure of pressure is less than a second predetermined pressure threshold and the speed is greater than the speed threshold, the second predetermined pressure threshold being greater than the first predetermined pressure threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of operating the pump comprises the steps of:

running the pump for a first amount of time if the measure of pressure is less than the first predetermined pressure threshold and the speed is less than the speed threshold; and

running the pump for a second amount of time if the measure of pressure is less than the second predetermined pressure threshold and the speed is greater than the speed threshold, the second amount of time being greater than the first amount of time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of operating the pump comprises the steps of:

running the pump, if the measure of pressure is less than the first predetermined pressure threshold and the speed is less than the speed threshold, until the hydraulic pressure reaches a third predetermined pressure threshold; and

running the pump, if the measure of pressure is less than the second predetermined pressure threshold and the speed is greater than the speed threshold, until the hydraulic pressure reaches a fourth predetermined pressure threshold, the fourth predetermined pressure threshold being greater than the third predetermined pressure threshold.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of running the pump if the measure of pressure is less than the second predetermined pressure threshold and the speed is greater than the speed threshold comprises the step of:

running the pump, if the measure of pressure is less than the second predetermined pressure threshold and the speed is greater than the speed threshold, until the hydraulic pressure reaches a fourth predetermined pressure threshold, the fourth predetermined pressure threshold being greater than the third predetermined pressure threshold, wherein the third predetermined pressure threshold is approximately 20 bar greater than the first predetermined pressure threshold.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

the step of running the pump if the measure of pressure is less than the first predetermined pressure threshold comprises the step of running the pump, if the measure of pressure is less than the first predetermined pressure threshold and the speed is less than a speed threshold, until the hydraulic pressure reaches approximately 140 bar; and

the step of running the pump if the measure of pressure is less than the second predetermined pressure threshold and the speed is greater than the speed threshold comprises the step of running the pump, if the measure of pressure is less than the second predetermined pressure threshold and the speed is greater than the speed threshold, until the hydraulic pressure reaches approximately 180 bar.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the vehicle also includes an ignition, and the method further comprises the step of:

running the pump until the hydraulic pressure reaches the fourth predetermined pressure threshold, regardless of the speed and the measure of pressure, when the ignition is first turned on during a drive cycle.

7. A system for calibrating a braking unit of a vehicle, the braking unit having an electric motor, a pump, and a hydraulic accumulator, the vehicle also having a wheel, the system comprising: a first sensor configured to measure a speed of the wheel; a second sensor configured to measure a pressure within the hydraulic accumulator; and a processor coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to: calculate a speed of the vehicle using the speed of the vehicle of the wheel; and operate the pump via the electric motor to provide hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic accumulator based on the speed of the vehicle and the measured pressure, wherein the processor is further configured to run the pump if one of the following conditions is satisfied, namely: the measured pressure is less than a first predetermined pressure threshold and the speed of the vehicle is less than a speed threshold; or the measured pressure is less than a second predetermined pressure threshold and the speed of the vehicle is greater than the speed threshold, the second predetermined pressure threshold being greater than the first predetermined pressure threshold.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

run the pump for a first amount of time if the measured pressure is less than the first predetermined pressure threshold and the speed of the vehicle is less than the speed threshold; and

run the pump for a second amount of time if the measured pressure is less than the second predetermined pressure threshold and the speed of the vehicle is greater than the speed threshold, the second amount of time being greater than the first amount of time.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

run the pump, if the measured pressure is less than the first predetermined pressure threshold and the speed of the vehicle is less than the speed threshold, until the hydraulic pressure reaches a third predetermined pressure threshold; and

run the pump, if the measured pressure is less than the second predetermined pressure threshold and the speed of the vehicle is greater than the speed threshold, until the hydraulic pressure reaches a fourth predetermined pressure threshold, the fourth predetermined pressure threshold being greater than the third predetermined pressure threshold.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the third predetermined pressure threshold is approximately 20 bar greater than the first predetermined pressure threshold.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the first predetermined pressure threshold is approximately equal to 120 bar of pressure; and

the third predetermined pressure threshold is approximately equal to 140 bar of pressure.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the vehicle also includes an ignition, and the processor is further configured to:

run the pump until the hydraulic pressure reaches the fourth predetermined pressure threshold, regardless of the speed of the vehicle and the measured pressure, when the ignition is first turned on during a drive cycle.

13. A vehicle comprising: a drive system; and a braking system coupled to the drive system, the braking system comprising: braking units; a hydraulic accumulator configured to provide hydraulic pressure to the braking units; a pump configured to provide the hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic accumulator; an electric motor coupled to the pump; and a controller coupled to the electric motor and configured to operate the pump via the electric motor to provide the hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic accumulator based on a speed of the vehicle and a measured pressure within the hydraulic accumulator, wherein the controller is further configured to run the pump if one of the following conditions is satisfied, namely: the measured pressure is less than a first predetermined pressure threshold and the speed of the vehicle is less than a speed threshold; or the measured pressure is less than a second predetermined pressure threshold and the speed of the vehicle is greater than the speed threshold, the second predetermined pressure threshold being greater than the first predetermined pressure threshold.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

run the pump for a first amount of time if the measured pressure is less than the first predetermined pressure threshold and the speed of the vehicle is less than the speed threshold; and

run the pump for a second amount of time if the measured pressure is less than the second predetermined pressure threshold and the speed of the vehicle is greater than the speed threshold, the second amount of time being greater than the first amount of time.

15. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

run the pump, if the measured pressure is less than the first predetermined pressure threshold and the speed of the vehicle is less than the speed threshold, until the hydraulic pressure reaches a third predetermined pressure threshold; and

run the pump, if the measured pressure is less than the second predetermined pressure threshold and the speed of the vehicle is greater than the speed threshold, until the hydraulic pressure reaches a fourth predetermined pressure threshold, the fourth predetermined pressure threshold being greater than the third predetermined pressure threshold.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein:

the first predetermined pressure threshold is approximately equal to 120 bar of pressure; and

the third predetermined pressure threshold is approximately equal to 140 bar of pressure.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle also includes an ignition, and the controller is further configured to run the pump until the hydraulic pressure reaches the fourth predetermined pressure threshold, regardless of the speed of the vehicle and the measured pressure, when the ignition is first turned on during a drive cycle.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034186/0776 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 28, 2012
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 028466/0870 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2011
From: KOONS, DOUGLAS R.; MONSERE, PATRICK J.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 026690/0258 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130032438A1 · Feb 7, 2013