Brake fluid pressure control device

Abstract

A brake fluid pressure control device controls brake fluid pressures through control of fluid pressure control valves operated in accordance with control signals from, for example, a computer. Signal lines for supplying control signals to control circuits controlling coils of linear valve devices for some wheels (e.g., front-left and rear-right wheels) are connected to a brake ECU by a connector, and signal lines for supplying control signals to the control circuits controlling coils of linear valve devices for other wheels (e.g., front-right and rear-left wheels) are connected to the brake ECU by a different connector. Thus, even if one of the connectors starts operating abnormally, it is possible to supply control signals via the signal lines connected by the other connector and control linear valve devices for some of the wheels (e.g., a pair of diagonally located wheels).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A brake fluid pressure control device comprising: 
 a fluid pressure control unit that is operated by electric energy and has a plurality of fluid pressure control valves that control fluid pressures in a plurality of brakes to inhibit rotation of a plurality of wheels;    an electric energy supply device that includes a plurality of power sources and that supplies electric energy to the fluid pressure control valves;    the fluid pressure control valves are divided into a plurality of control valve groups; and    the electric energy supply device supplies electric energy from different ones of the plurality of power sources to different ones of the plurality of control valve groups.    
     
     
         2 . The brake fluid pressure control device according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each of the power sources connected to one fluid pressure control valve is provided exclusively for the one fluid pressure control valve.    
     
     
         3 . The brake fluid pressure control device according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the power sources have different rated voltages.    
     
     
         4 . The brake fluid pressure control device according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 each of the fluid pressure control valves includes a solenoid having a coil and a movable portion operated in accordance with a state of supply of electric energy to the coil; and    the solenoid of the fluid pressure control valves has a plurality of coils connected to power lines of the plurality of power sources.    
     
     
         5 . The brake fluid pressure control device according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the coils are formed by winding lead wires connected to the plurality of power sources; and    the coils are arranged in series.    
     
     
         6 . The brake fluid pressure control device according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the coils are formed by winding lead wires connected to the plurality of power sources; and    the coils are arranged in parallel.    
     
     
         7 . The brake fluid pressure control device according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a pump device that has a pump pressurizing and discharging operating fluid and a pump motor generating a driving force by electric energy and driving the pump by the driving force, wherein:    the fluid pressure control valves control fluid pressures in the brakes based on a fluid pressure in the pump device; and    the electric energy supply device supplies electric energy to the pump motor independently from the plurality of power sources.    
     
     
         8 . The brake fluid pressure control device according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the pump motor includes a coil disposed in at least one of a stator and a rotor and drives the pump by a driving force generated by supplying electric energy to the coil; and    the coil includes a plurality of coil members connected to power lines of the plurality of power sources.    
     
     
         9 . A brake fluid pressure control device comprising: 
 a fluid pressure control unit that is operated by electric energy and has a plurality of fluid pressure control valves that control fluid pressures in a plurality of brakes to inhibit rotation of a plurality of wheels;    an electric energy supply device that includes a plurality of power sources and that supplies electric energy to the fluid pressure control valves;    the electric energy supply device supplies electric energy to at least one of the fluid pressure control valves from at least two power sources of the plurality of power sources.    
     
     
         10 . The brake fluid pressure control device according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the power sources have different rated voltages.    
     
     
         11 . The brake pressure control device according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 each of the fluid pressure control valves includes a solenoid having a coil and a movable portion operated in accordance with a state of supply of electric energy to the coil;    the solenoid of the fluid pressure control valves has a plurality of coils connected to power lines of the plurality of power sources.    
     
     
         12 . The brake fluid pressure control device according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a pump device that has a pump that pressurizes and discharges operating fluid and a pump motor that generates a driving force by electric energy and drives the pump by the driving force, wherein:    the fluid pressure control valves control fluid pressures in the brakes based on a fluid pressure in the pump device; and    the electric energy supply device supplies electric energy to the pump motor independently from the plurality of power sources.    
     
     
         13 . The brake fluid pressure control device according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the pump motor includes a coil disposed in at least one of a stator and a rotor and drives the pump by a driving force generated by supplying electric energy to the coil; and    the coil includes a plurality of coil members connected to power lines of the plurality of power sources.    
     
     
         14 . A brake fluid pressure control device comprising: 
 a plurality of operation state detectors that detect an operation state of a brake actuating member and that are capable of detection through supply of electric energy;    an electric energy supply device that includes two or more power sources and that supplies electric energy to the plurality of operation state detectors;    a controller that controls fluid pressures in a plurality of brakes based on at least one of a plurality of values detected by the operation state detectors;    the operation state detectors are divided into a plurality of detector groups; and    the electric energy supply device supplies electric energy to the detector groups independently from different ones of the plurality of power sources.