Access-protected control of an actuator of an electric parking brake

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11667263-B2
Application number	US-201815877921-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2018
Priority date	Feb 21, 2017
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

An actuator for an electric parking brake, EPB, is described. The actuator comprises a motor configured to actuate an actuating member of the EPB, as well as a reception interface configured to receive an enablement code. An enablement code is assigned to the EPB actuator which individualizes the EPB actuator against other EPB actuators. The actuator further comprises an evaluation unit configured to verify the received enablement code on the basis of the enablement code allocated to the EPB actuator and to enable a control of the motor in case of a positively verified enablement code. There is further provided a control device for the EPB actuator, an electric parking brake and a vehicle having the EPB actuator and corresponding operating methods.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An actuation system for an electric parking brake comprising:
a first subsystem being in fluid communication with wheel brakes each having an electronic parking brake;
a second subsystem having a master cylinder and a brake pedal, the second subsystem being in fluid communication with the first subsystem;
a control unit having an encoder module and a modulator module and being in communication with the first and second subsystems; and
electric parking brake actuators (EPB actuators) in electronic communication with the control unit and an electric parking brake associated with each EPB actuator, each EPB actuator including a motor and an evaluation unit;
wherein an encoder module of the control unit is configured to generate and send a control signal having a unique enablement code to each EPB actuator, each EPB actuator receiving a different unique enablement code;
the unique enablement code being necessary for each EPB actuator to actuate the associated electric parking brake and the unique enablement code is modulated onto the control signal; and
wherein the evaluation unit of each EPB actuator is configured to verify the unique enablement code and, upon verification, the EPB actuator enables a control of the associated motor.

2. The actuation assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a processor module and an electronic control unit (ECU) memory module which are disposed in the control unit wherein the memory module stores programming code which is implemented by the processor module; and
an EPB actuator memory module disposed in each EPB actuator;
wherein the evaluation unit of each EPB actuator has access to the EPB actuator memory module and is configured to verify the unique enablement code by comparing the unique enablement code received from the control unit against data stored in the EPB actuator memory module.

3. The actuation assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising for each EPB actuator:
a control line coupling the control unit to the EPB actuator and enabling direct electronic communication between the EPB actuator and the control unit; and
a switch which is arranged in the control line and is configured to switch into a closed position or remain in the closed position in order to enable a control of the motor upon positive verification of the unique enablement code received by the EPB actuator.

4. The actuation assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising for each EPB actuator:
a demodulator module disposed in the EPB actuator wherein the demodulator module is configured to separate the enablement code modulated onto the control signal from the control signal.

5. The actuation assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reception interface is formed by a control interface for the motor.

6. The actuation assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a control interface for the motor which is different from the reception interface.

7. The actuation assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the received enablement code is encrypted, and the evaluation unit is further configured to decrypt the encrypted enablement code.

Assignees

• Lucas Automotive Gmbh
• Zf Active Safety Gmbh

Inventors

• Kubb Andreas
• Kohrt Jens-Peter
• Kinder Ralf
• Grieser-Schmitz Stefan

Classifications

• B60R25/08 Primary

  operating on brakes or brake systems · CPC title

• B60R25/34

  of conditions of vehicle components, e.g. of windows, door locks or gear selectors · CPC title

• B60T13/741

  acting on an ultimate actuator · CPC title

• B60T1/005

  by locking of wheel or transmission rotation · CPC title

• B60T17/22

  Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices · CPC title