WO2018000121A1

WO2018000121A1 - Vehicle braking system

Info

Publication number: WO2018000121A1
Application number: PCT/CN2016/087231
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhihong Guo
Original assignee: Orange
Priority date: 2016-06-27
Filing date: 2016-06-27
Publication date: 2018-01-04
Also published as: WO2018002714A1

Abstract

A vehicle (1) braking system (2) comprises a brake pedal (3), a first braking sensor (30) for detecting displacement of the brake pedal (3) when pressed by a foot (F) and a second braking sensor (31) for detecting proximity of said foot (F) before pressing the brake pedal (3). The braking system (2) can detect a braking operation ahead and collision accidents can be effectively avoided.

Description

VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of this invention is that of vehicle safety equipment.

More particularly, the invention relates to a braking system and method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Every vehicle is provided with brakes for inhibiting motion by absorbing energy when pressing a dedicated pedal.

Such brake pedal is associated (generally electronically) with a brake light display presenting bright red steady-burning rear lights (sometimes called stop lamps) , so as to be activated when the driver applies the vehicle's brakes.

The goal of such brake light display is to warn drivers on a road that the vehicle in front of them is slowing down or even stopping, so as to make them brake.

Any delay in detecting a vehicle hitting the brake is likely to cause an accident (the following vehicle impacting the leading one) .

Consequently, the detectability for drivers of a braking vehicle is critical, and a lot of research has been conducted for detecting as soon as possible the braking so as to improve safety.

For example, document KR 10515017 proposes to directly detecting braking intention by optically sensing a brake pedal operation. Similarly, document US 6573830 proposes a progressive brake light system in which an optical braking sensor is able to detect the distance and the direction of travel of the brake pedal. It allows controlling the brake light display accordingly.

Such techniques are satisfying, but considering the fact that the human reaction time is around one second, there is a need for a braking system which allows to detect even sooner a braking operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For these purposes, the present invention provides a vehicle braking system comprising:

-A brake pedal；

-A first braking sensor for detecting displacement of the brake pedal when pressed by a foot；

Wherein the braking system further comprises a second braking sensor for detecting proximity of said foot before pressing the brake pedal.

The use of a second senor allows to detect braking even before the driver presses the brake pedal, thereby anticipating the detection of brake actuation by a few moments, consequently sensibly improving the detectability for drivers on a road that the vehicle in front of them is about to hit the brakes.

Preferred but non limiting features of the present invention are as follow:

· said second braking sensor is configured to detect the foot approaching the brake pedal within a predetermined threshold；

· said second braking sensor is a proximity sensor；

· said proximity sensor is an optical proximity sensor；

· said second braking sensor is embedded in the brake pedal；

· the braking system further comprises a controller of a brake light display of the vehicle, the controller being configured to operate the brake light display according to a first lighting scenario if the first braking sensor detects displacement of the brake pedal, and according to a second lighting scenario if the second braking sensor detects proximity of said foot；

· said first lighting scenario is identical to said second lighting scenario；

· said first lighting scenario provides operating the brake light display in a more luminous way than said second lighting scenario；

· said first lighting scenario provides operating the brake light display in a different color than said second lighting scenario；

· said brake light display comprises a plurality of red lights mounted on the rear of said vehicle；

· the braking system comprises said brake light display.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a vehicle comprising the braking system according to the first aspect of the invention.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a method for controlling a brake light display of a vehicle comprising:

-operating the brake light display according to a first lighting scenario if detecting, by a first braking sensor, displacement of a brake pedal of the vehicle when pressed by a foot；

-operating the brake light display according to a second lighting scenario if detecting, by a second braking sensor, proximity of said foot before pressing the brake pedal.

According to a fourth and a fifth aspects, the invention provides a computer program product, comprising code instructions for executing a method according to the third aspect for controlling a brake light display of a vehicle； and a computer-readable medium, on which is stored a computer program product comprising code instructions for executing a method according to the third aspect for controlling a brake light display of a vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying figure 1 representing a car comprising an embodiment of the braking system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Braking system

The present invention relates to a braking system 2 of a vehicle 1. By braking system, it meant the command system for operating brakes 10 of the vehicle 1, said braking system 2 not necessarily comprising the brakes 10 themselves.

The vehicle 1 is preferably a car as represented by figure 1, but might be any wheeled vehicle with wheel brakes such as a truck, a motorcycle, a bus, etc.

Classically, said vehicle 1 braking system 2 comprises:

-A brake pedal 3 (generally between a clutch pedal and a gas pedal) , said brake pedal 3 being pressed by a foot F of the driver of the vehicle 1 when they wish to brake；

-A first braking sensor 30 for detecting displacement of the brake pedal 3 when pressed by the foot F (the first brake senor 30 may sense angle, speed and/or force applied on the pedal 3) ；

-A brake light display 5 (which typically comprises a plurality of red lights 50 mounted on the rear of said vehicle 1) ；

-A controller 4 (which for example consists in at least one processor and/or at least one microchip) for controlling the brake light display 5 so as to at least activate the brake light display 5 when the driver is braking (and warning other drivers) , and which is preferably able to perform a plurality of lighting scenarii of the brake light display 5 according to the braking conditions, as it will be explained later.

The brake pedal 3 is connected mechanically (in particular hydraulically) and/or electronically (i.e. through the first braking sensor 30) to the brakes 10 so as to actuate them. In other words, the brake pedal 3 activates the brakes 10 when pressed, generally in a progressive way, i.e. with a braking force proportional to the displacement of the brake pedal 3.

In a preferred embodiment, the controller 4, in addition to operating the brake light display 5, operates a brake assist system it the first braking sensor 30 detects displacement of the brake pedal 3.

Known brake assist systems comprise electronical actuators so as to either increase the braking force of at least one of the brake 10 (for example in case of emergency stop) , or decreasing the braking force of at least one of the brakes 10 (for example to prevent the wheels from locking up, i.e. Anti-lock Braking System –ABS) .

In particular, by interpreting the speed and force with which the brake pedal 3 is pushed (as sensed by the first braking sensor 30) , the controller 4 advantageously detects if the driver is trying to execute an emergency stop, and if the brake pedal 3 is not fully applied, the system overrides and fully applies the brakes until the ABS takes over to stop the wheels locking up.

It is to be noted that when used with a controller 4, the first braking sensor 30 either acts as a trigger (in such a case, it directly sends to the controller 4 data representative of a detection of the brake pedal 3 being pressed) , or as a sensor only acquiring data (value of angle, speed and/or force) , the controller 4 processing this data so as to itself detect pressing of the brake pedal 3, and possibly altering the brakes 10 operation in function of these data.

Invention

The present braking system 2 aims at foreseeing brake operation, i.e. detecting braking even prior to pressing of the brake pedal 3.

More precisely, the present braking system proposes to detect braking intent of the driver and thus to operate the brake light display 5 so as to warn other drivers that the brakes 10 of the vehicle 1 are about to be hit.

To this end, the braking system 2 further comprises a second braking sensor 31 for detecting proximity of said foot F before pressing the brake pedal 3. More precisely, said second braking sensor 31 is a proximity sensor, configured to detect the foot F approaching the brake pedal 3 within a predetermined threshold, for example 2 cm.

In other words, when the driver decides to brake, they start moving their foot F toward the pedal brake 3, triggering the second braking sensor 31. A few moments later, the foot F effectively reaches the pedal brake 3, and starts pressing it, triggering the first braking sensor 30. The second braking sensor 31 consequently allows anticipating the braking by a few moments (typically a few tenths of seconds) , therefore greatly increasing the detectability for other drivers.

It is to be understood that the second braking sensor 31 is not able to detect pressing of the brake pedal 3. Indeed, While the pedal 3 is being pressed, the distance between the foot F and the brake pedal 3 stays constant (and equal to zero) .

Said second braking sensor 31 is advantageously an optical proximity sensor (photometer) , preferably embedded in the brake pedal 3.

Such sensors are for instance available on phones to detect the phone getting closer to the face (during a call for example) to allow the phone processor to turn off the touch interface.

Alternatively, numerous technologies are known for proximity sensors, including for example capacitive or ultrasonic sensors.

It is to be noted that, like the first braking sensor 30, when used with a controller 4 the second braking sensor 31 either acts as a trigger (in such a case, it directly sends to the controller 4 data representative of a detection of proximity of said foot F) , or as a sensor only acquiring data (value of distance for example) , the controller 4 processing this data so as to itself detect proximity of said foot F (in particular by comparing the distance value with the predetermined threshold, stored by the controller 4) . It is to be noted that preferably the controller 4 is not allowed to alter the brakes 10 operation in function of the data from the second braking sensor 31 so that only physically pressing the brake pedal 3 could effectively make the brakes 10 to work (and never only approaching the foot F) , for safety reasons.

Lighting scenarii

In the preferred embodiment wherein the braking system 2 further comprising a controller 4 of a brake light display 5 of the vehicle 1, the controller 4 is configured to operate the brake light display 5 according to one a plurality of light scenario.

By light scenario, it meant a scheme of use of the red lights 50, this light scenario may for example define which one of the red lights are turned on, at which intensity, which color, possibly a frequency of blinking, etc.

In particular, each red light 50 may be composed of a plurality of LED (Light Electroluminescent Diode) . If so the luminosity may be lowered by turning on only a part of said LEDs.

Thus, the controller 4 is preferably configured to operate the brake light display 5 according first lighting scenario if the first braking sensor 30 detects displacement of the brake pedal 3, and according to a second lighting scenario if the second braking sensor 31 detects proximity of said foot F.

The first lighting scenario is the “normal” braking lighting scenario, it typically consists of a full activation of the red lights 50. The second lighting scenario is new and allows letting the driver following the vehicle 1 that the vehicle 1 is about to brake (but not already braking) .

The first lighting scenario generally follows the second scenario by a few moments. Therefore, according to a first embodiment, said first lighting scenario is identical to said second lighting scenario. In other words, in such an embodiment the brake light display 5 is just activated sooner.

It is to be noted that the first lighting scenario generally is not always following the second scenario by a few moments. For example, the second braking sensor 31 may detect that the vehicle’s 1 driver is keeping the foot F on the brake pedal 3 but without pressing it, meaning that the driver is cautious and fears having to urgently brake at this particular moment (for example if driving in front of a school) , which information might be useful to share with other drivers so as to invite them to be cautious as well. Thus, according to a second embodiment, said first lighting scenario is different from said second lighting scenario.

In such second embodiment, said first lighting scenario may provide operating the brake light display 5 in a more luminous way than said second lighting scenario (for example by turning on only a few of the LEDs of the red lights 50) , or operating the brake light display 5 in a different color than said second lighting scenario, or possibly by high frequency blinking of the brake light display 5.

Method and computer program

In another aspect, the present invention concerns the method for controlling a brake light display 5 of a vehicle 1, as performed by the braking system 2 as previously described.

This method comprises

-operating the brake light display 5 according to a first lighting scenario if detecting, by a first braking sensor 30, displacement of a brake pedal 3 of the vehicle when pressed by a foot F；

-operating the brake light display 5 according to a second lighting scenario if detecting, by a second braking sensor 31, proximity of said foot F before pressing the brake pedal 3

The invention further proposes a computer program product, comprising code instructions for executing (in particular with a controller 4 of the braking system 2) a method according to the first step of the invention for controlling a brake light display 5 of a vehicle 1； and a computer-readable medium (in particular a memory of the controller 4) , on which is stored a computer program product comprising code instructions for executing said method.

Claims

A vehicle (1) braking system (2) comprising:

-A brake pedal (3) ；

-A first braking sensor (30) for detecting displacement of the brake pedal (3) when pressed by a foot (F) ；

Wherein the braking system (2) further comprises a second braking sensor (31) for detecting proximity of said foot (F) before pressing the brake pedal (3) .
A braking system according to claim 1, wherein said second braking sensor (31) is configured to detect the foot (F) approaching the brake pedal (3) within a predetermined threshold.
A braking system according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein said second braking sensor (31) is a proximity sensor
A braking system according to claim 3, wherein the proximity sensor is an optical proximity sensor.
A braking system according to any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein said second braking sensor (31) is embedded in the brake pedal (3) .
A braking system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a controller (4) of a brake light display (5) of the vehicle (1) , the controller (4) being configured to operate the brake light display (5) according to a first lighting scenario if the first braking sensor (30) detects displacement of the brake pedal (3) , and according to a second lighting scenario if the second braking sensor (31) detects proximity of said foot.
A braking system according to claim 6, wherein said first lighting scenario is identical to said second lighting scenario.
A braking system according to claim 6, wherein said first lighting scenario provides operating the brake light display (5) in a more luminous way than said second lighting scenario.
A braking system according to claim 6, wherein said first lighting scenario provides operating the brake light display (5) in a different color than said second lighting scenario.
A braking system according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein said brake light display (5) comprises a plurality of red lights (50) mounted on the rear of said vehicle (1) .
A braking system according to any one of claims 5 to 10, comprising said brake light display (5) .
A vehicle (1) comprising the braking system (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
A method for controlling a brake light display (5) of a vehicle (1) comprising:

-operating the brake light display (5) according to a first lighting scenario if detecting, by a first braking sensor (30) , displacement of a brake pedal (3) of the vehicle when pressed by a foot (F) ；

-operating the brake light display (5) according to a second lighting scenario if detecting, by a second braking sensor (31) , proximity of said foot (F) before pressing the brake pedal (3) .
A computer program product, comprising code instructions for executing a method according to claim 13 for controlling a brake light display (5) of a vehicle (1) .
A computer-readable medium, on which is stored a computer program product comprising code instructions for executing a method according to claim 13 for controlling a brake light display (5) of a vehicle (1) .