Single-Track Vehicle Comprising a Brake Control Unit

Abstract

A single-track vehicle comprising a brake control unit, wherein the brake control unit includes a means for actively assisting the driver by means of an active variation or limitation of a vehicle speed or of a quantity derived therefrom, in particular vehicle acceleration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in detail by making reference to three illustrations (FIGS. 1 to 3).

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing depicting a driving situation of a vehicle without other traffic participants in close vicinity.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing depicting a driving situation of a single-track vehicle with a motor vehicle driving ahead in close vicinity.

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing depicting a driving situation of a single-track vehicle in a stop-and-go situation with a motor vehicle driving ahead and a vehicle following in the rear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a driving situation of a vehicle without other traffic participants in close vicinity.

The single-track vehicle 1 includes a brake control unit with a longitudinal controller, which determines a longitudinal acceleration demand internally or obtains it from an external unit, such as an ECU, herein e.g. an ACC system and a cruise control for a stop-and-go driving situation (stop-and-go system, S & G). The controller then calculates a corresponding pressure requirement for a brake system or a corresponding demand of an engine torque to an engine control system, depending on the instantaneous situation, such as acceleration demand, current acceleration, vehicle speed, or roadway. The brakes of the vehicle are controlled by setting the internal brake pressure requirement using a brake pressure controller, which controls a pressure source for hydraulic brake force boosting.

In this situation according to FIG. 1, the driver can be assisted by a cruise control function of the ACC system, that means an automatic vehicle speed control, in order to adjust and maintain a desired vehicle speed V without effort on the driver's part.

FIG. 2 shows a driving situation of the single-track vehicle 1 with a motor vehicle 2 driving ahead in close vicinity, which is detected by a sensor system using sensor signals 3.

In this situation, the driver can be assisted by a cruise control function, i.e. automatically maintaining a sufficient distance A from vehicle 2, and the vehicle speed VI of the vehicle 1 is automatically limited to preserve the distance A.

FIG. 3 illustrates a driving situation of the single-track vehicle 1 in a stop-and-go situation in which a motor vehicle 3 driving ahead and a vehicle 4 following in the rear are in the ambient field. The motor vehicle 3 driving ahead is detected by sensor signals 3. The driver is assisted in this situation in order to preserve a sufficient distance A from the vehicle 3 in that the vehicle speed Vvar is adjusted automatically in conformity with an optimal distance A by way of a corresponding pressure requirement to the brake system and/or a corresponding demand for an engine torque to the engine control system. Therefore, the vehicle 1 can be automatically accelerated or slowed down in this function. Thus, the driver is relieved in steering the vehicle, on the one hand, while a sufficient safety distance from vehicle 3 or 4 is preserved, on the other hand. This condition helps avoiding rear-end collisions.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. Single-track vehicle comprising: a brake control unit, including means for actively assisting a driver of the single-track vehicle by means of an active variation or limitation of a vehicle speed or of a quantity derived therefrom.

12. Single track vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the quantity derived is acceleration.

13. Single-track vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the brake control unit is equipped with a vehicle speed controller for adjusting a desired vehicle speed by means of an automatic intervention into brake control or driving engine control, or a combination thereof.

14. Single-track vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the brake control unit includes a vehicle acceleration controller for adjusting a desired vehicle acceleration by means of an automatic intervention into brake control or driving engine control, or a combination thereof.

15. Single-track vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the brake control unit comprises: a vehicle acceleration controller; anda longitudinal controller for actuating the vehicle acceleration controller according to a desired vehicle acceleration, a current vehicle acceleration, a current driving engine torque, and a current brake pressure.

16. Single-track vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for actively assisting the driver comprise a cruise control system.

17. Single track vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cruise control system is selected from the group consisting of an adaptive cruise control system, an intelligent cruise control system and an autonomous intelligent cruise control system.

18. Single-track vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for actively assisting the driver comprise a device for vehicle drive-away assistance or for vehicle hold assistance, or a combination thereof.

19. Single-track vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for actively assisting the driver includes a device for stop-and-go control.

20. Single-track vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for actively assisting the driver includes a device for automatically conditioning the brake system depending on a risk potential.

21. Single-track vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for actively assisting the driver include a device for an automatic ‘braking to become dry’ of brake discs of the brake system.

22. Single-track vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for actively assisting the driver include a device for automatic vehicle deceleration for stabilization of the vehicle.

23. Single-track vehicle system, comprising: a single track vehicle; anda brake control unit, including means for actively assisting the driver by means of an active variation or limitation of a vehicle speed or of a quantity derived therefrom.