DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a device for analyzing and managing data generated by a sensor-equipped braking system for vehicles.

As is known, vehicle braking devices normally comprise a block of friction material supported by a metallic support element.

Recently, there is the use of one or more piezoceramic sensors interposed between the block of friction material and the metallic support element in order to detect, during the use of the vehicle, the forces that are exchanged exclusively between the block of friction material and the element to be braked, a disk or drum, bound to the wheel.

By means of the detection of these forces it is possible to foresee, in a scientific way, only possible faults and defects within the braking system without there being any interaction, for example, between the braking system and one or more parts of the vehicle and/or the user of the same and/or the manufacturer and/or ancillary services relating to it.

From WO2014/170726A1 a vehicle braking system is known which includes a braking element, in particular a sensorized brake pad. The brake pad has the particularity of integrating at least one piezoceramic sensor operating at high temperatures and capable of emitting an electrical signal when subjected to mechanical stress. The brake pad thus structured is able to detect in a simple and economical way, without the need for an external energy source, the presence and extent of the mechanical stresses which can arise at the interface between said pad and the brake disc. Such a brake pad ultimately allows for the possibility of checking the braking in order to eliminate phenomena such as vibrations and noise and in order to report abnormal operating conditions.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a device for analyzing and managing data generated by a sensor-equipped braking system for vehicles which is able to interact in a single direction or bi-directionally with intrinsic and extrinsic mechanical and non mechanical vehicle data during use.

The objective of the present invention is also is to provide a device for analyzing and managing data generated by a sensor-equipped braking system for vehicles which is capable of guaranteeing an elevated amount of mechanical and non- mechanical intrinsic and extrinsic vehicle data, dependent and independent of its user, with an extremely high degree of precision.

The objective of the invention is also to provide a device for analyzing and managing data generated by a sensor-equipped braking system for vehicles which is capable of partially or completely replacing the action of the user and/or the owner of the vehicle both from a mechanical and a management point of view of said vehicle.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a device for analyzing and managing data generated by a sensor-equipped braking system for vehicles which is capable of simplifying and improving or even partially or totally eliminating mechanical and non-mechanical intrinsic and extrinsic vehicle problems during use whilst at the same time raising the level of road safety at an extremely low cost. These and other objectives are achieved by a device for analyzing and managing data generated by a sensor-equipped braking system for vehicles, comprising a support element, a block of friction material supported by the support element, and a sensor means supported by the support element and interposed between the block of friction material and the support element, characterized in that it comprises at least one central control unit capable of receiving in real time from said sensor means at least basic data related to the pressure of the activated braking system, the temperature of the activated braking system, the braking torque and/or the residual torque when the braking system is deactivated and the wear on the braking system during and after the activation thereof.

Further characteristics are claimed within the dependent claims and better clarify the technical solution of the present invention whose advantages will become clearer from the description that follows of a non-limiting embodiment given purely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a block view of the device for analyzing and managing data generated by a sensor-equipped braking system for vehicles according to the invention.

With reference to Figure 1 the device for analyzing and managing data generated by a sensor-equipped braking system for vehicles 100 is illustrated comprising a block of friction material 2, a support element 1 of the block of friction material 2, and sensor means comprising at least one temperature sensor and/or at least one piezoceramic pressure sensor 3 and/or at least one piezoceramic shear force sensor, interposed between the block of friction material 2 and the support element 1.

The device advantageously comprises at least one central control unit 5 capable of receiving in real time from the sensor means at least basic data related to the temperature and/or pressure generated by the shoes and, therefore, by the block of friction material against the disk or drum of the vehicle when the braking system is activated by the user.

The basic data preferably further comprise data relating to the pressure and temperature reached by the activated braking system and also data inherent to the braking torque.

In addition, the sensor means detect and transmit, together with the basic data, data relating to the residual torque when the braking system is deactivated, i.e. when the user no longer exerts any pressure on the brake pedal.

Not least, the sensor means detect and transmit data regarding the wear on the braking system, and in particular regarding the block of friction material, both during and after the activation thereof.

The central control unit 5 is simultaneously connected to a GPS 6 for sending geo- referenced data and to an accelerometer and/or a speed sensor 7 for receiving early ancillary data in order to simultaneously determine the exact position and the kinematic state of the vehicle.

The central control unit 5 also receives all of the on board data concerning the state of the vehicle acquired directly by the on board systems of the same and, after their analysis and management, transmits said data to at least one recording unit 8 which records said data in real time.

The recording unit 8 is connected on one side to a black box 9 for storing all the data managed by the control unit and on the other side to a long-range communication unit 10. The black box 9 is removably associated with the vehicle and preferably is a component of the onboard system of the vehicle and is capable of preserving all of the data described above that can thus be used in any context, for example, in the case of an accident.

In particular, the long-range communication unit 10 is preferably a component of the onboard system of the vehicle and comprises at least one Gsm/Gprs/UMTS/HSDPA radio module or M2M modules for the transmission

11 of the data over a telephone network of mobile telephone for the real-time communication of the same in full respect of regulations regarding privacy.

Furthermore, that which has been highlighted makes fraud more difficult allowing, for example, for customized insurance rates to be derived, resulting in substantial cost savings.

The communication unit 10 is connected to a service centre 14, which is able to communicate the data at least to the user of the vehicle and/or the automotive fleet management company and/or vehicle insurance company and/or statistics firm and/or traffic management company and/or vehicle maintenance company and/or vehicle production and sales company.

Advantageously each piezoceramic sensor comprises at least one protective element

12 to protect it preferably from high pressures, temperatures and forces acting upon it.

The protective element 12 is preferably made of electrically insulating material with mechanical properties such as to limit the force transmitted to the piezoceramic sensor 3 when an external force of compression is applied to the block of friction material 2. Furthermore, the protective element 12 is configured to direct said external force of compression at least in part onto an area of the support element surrounding the piezoceramic sensor 3.

Preferably, the temperature sensor also has a similar protective element.

The support element 1 has an electrically insulated electrical circuit 13 having electrical contacts which are connected to electrodes of the piezoceramic sensors for the acquisition of an electrical signal emitted by the same.

The electric circuit 13 is preferably screen printed on the support element 1 and has contacts connected to the electrodes by means of a high temperature solder paste.

Preferably, the temperature sensors provided are also mounted onto the electrically insulated electrical circuit 13 which is integrated in the support element 1, and the electrical circuit 13 also therefore has electrical contacts which are connected to the electrodes of these sensors.

The device thus conceived is subject to variations all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept and numerous and important advantages, amongst which the most evident is that of being capable of supplying immediate assistance in the case of an accident or technical fault as a function of the specific problem.

In the case of an impact, the device of the invention can understand the gravity of the incident, for example by verifying the opening or not of the airbags, and forward a call to an emergency call center using a preset number, transmitting precise information to the operators regarding the location of the accident and any other relevant information that may be useful in calling the emergency services.

The special arrangement and operation of the piezoceramic sensor 3 and the extremely low cost of the entire device of the invention allows the cross-section of users to be increased regarding the use of the black box and allows road safety to be increased on the roads.

The invention thus conceived can be associated with numerous modifications and variations all falling within the scope of the inventive concept.