E147 – Next-Generation Safety &
Control Architecture for BBW Systems
Brake-by-wire actuating device with inverted inlet valve wiring, check-valve-free fault-tolerant pressure control, and bidirectional volume/time-based pressure regulation. 3 invention complexes · 4 granted rights · EP · US · JP · CN
| Applicant | IPGATE AG, Churerstraße 160a, 8808 Pfäffikon (CH) |
| Inventors | Heinz Leiber, Dr. Thomas Leiber, Anton van Zanten |
| Priority / Filing Date | December 30, 2015 |
| PCT Application | PCT/EP2015/081403 (WO 2016/146224 A1, published September 22, 2016) |
| Technology | Inverted inlet valve wiring with volume control (ΔV) and/or time control (Δt) — check-valve-free, fault-tolerant pressure regulation; wheel-selective pressure maintenance and reduction via inlet valves |
| Innovations | 3 invention complexes (2× device + 1× method) · 4 property rights |
Inverted Inlet Valve Wiring &
Check-Valve-Free Fault-Tolerant BBW
Patent family E147 introduces a novel safety and control architecture for brake-by-wire systems in which brake pressure is regulated not directly, but via a combination of volume control (ΔV) and time control (Δt) of the inlet valves — with an inverted valve connection that eliminates the need for check valves while ensuring fail-safe pressure relief.
The central innovation of E147 is the special wiring of the inlet valves: the armature chamber (Ei) is hydraulically connected to the brake circuit (BK), while the valve seat outlet (Ea) leads to the wheel brake (RB). This "reverse" connection enables purely volume- and time-controlled pressure regulation during pressure build-up, extending degrees of freedom that are unavailable in conventional check-valve architectures.
Critically, this wiring means that a wheel brake pressure higher than the inlet pressure acts on the ball seat in the opening direction — so in the event of a power failure, the valve opens automatically and releases any enclosed pressure. For the first time, this delivers a check-valve-free, fault-tolerant architecture that ensures safe valve opening even at high differential pressures. The family is compatible with MUX, HDS, HDS 2.1, and other pressure control strategies (E87, E102, E141, E145, E146).
ABS History & the Check-Valve Problem
Since the introduction of ABS series production in 1978, brake pressure has been finely regulated during ABS control via PWM-controlled inlet valves (pulse width modulation). Check valves in parallel with the inlet valves ensure that no unintended excess pressure remains trapped in the wheel brake if supply pressure falls below wheel brake pressure and the power supply fails.
Furthermore, conventional check-valve architectures constrain pressure control to one direction: if the supply pressure is higher than any wheel brake pressure, each wheel can be individually maintained or raised via PWM. However, if the supply pressure drops — e.g., to service one wheel at low pressure — the check valve will automatically equalize all other wheel brakes downward. Maintaining asymmetric pressures during a supply-pressure decrease is impossible with check valves.
This solution ideally requires pressure-balanced valves that are resistant to closing under flow forces. Standard inlet valves can also be used, provided that pressure build-up dynamics are limited — either via passive throttling elements or by software-based volume flow limitation (e.g., limiting the drive motor speed of the pressure supply). The trade-off is that PWM pressure control during pressure build-up is eliminated; instead, pressure is regulated purely via volume control through the plunger, while PWM remains available during pressure reduction.
Three Invention Complexes
The 3 invention complexes of E147 cover the inverted-valve device architecture, a dual-circuit bypass-valve variant, and the fault-tolerant check-valve-free control method.
Invention Complexes, Descriptions & Keywords
3 invention complexes across 4 property rights (EP, US, JP, CN). Each complex covers one or more independent claims in the respective jurisdictions.
| Complex · References | Cat. | Description | Keyword |
|---|---|---|---|
| EK 1 – Inverted Valve Device EP 3271220 B1 (A1) · US 11,584,348 B2 (A1) · CN 107428317 A (A1) · CN 118560434 A (A1) |
Device | Actuating device for vehicle brake system with control device, piston-cylinder unit, and controllable pressure source. Control device regulates pressure build-up via volume control (ΔV) and/or time control (Δt) through inlet valves. Inverted circuitry: armature chamber (Ei) connected to brake circuit (BK) via hydraulic line; valve seat outlet (Ea) connected to wheel brake (RB). Pre-pressures set individually per wheel based on road friction coefficients; time-window control for EV opening/closing. | Inverted EV · Volume/Time Control · Wheel-selective pressure |
| EK 2 – Dual-Circuit Bypass US 11,584,348 B2 (A20) |
Device | Actuating device with dual-circuit pressure supply. Two working chambers of the controllable pressure source connected to brake circuits via shut-off valves. Pressure source outputs interconnected via bypass valve (before shut-off valves). Volume control and/or time-controlled inlet valve opening with pre-pressures adjusted per wheel friction coefficient. | Dual-circuit · Bypass valve · Shut-off valves |
| EK 3 – Fault-Tolerant Method EP 3271220 B1 (A15) · CN 107428317 A (A22) · CN 118560434 A (A20) |
Method | Method for operating the actuating device: control pre-pressure (pvor) ≤ 150 bar (in particular ≤ 130 bar) relative to actual wheel brake pressure. In MUX operation, valves release enclosed pressure in the event of a power failure without additional check valves. Eliminates safety-critical pressure trapping and enables wheel-selective pressure reduction solely via inlet valves. | pvor ≤ 150 bar · No check valves · Fail-safe relief |
Jurisdictions & Status
All members of the E147 patent family as of February 2026. 4 granted rights across 4 jurisdictions; 2 CN applications pending.
| File No. | Country | Status | Type | Registration No. | Filed | Grant No. | Granted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E147WOEP | EP | Granted | Patent | 15817915.0 | Dec. 30, 2015 | EP 3271220 B1 | Oct. 20, 2021 |
| E147WOUS | US | Granted | Patent | 15/558,438 | Dec. 30, 2015 | US 11,584,348 B2 | Feb. 21, 2023 |
| E147WOJP | JP | Granted | Patent | 2017-548871 | Dec. 30, 2015 | JP 6941056 B2 | Sep. 7, 2021 |
| E147WOCN | CN | Pending | Patent | 201580077959.8 | Dec. 30, 2015 | — | — |
| E147WOJP1 | JP | Granted | Divisional | 2021-144039 | Dec. 30, 2015 | JP 7239657 B2 | Mar. 6, 2023 |
| E147WOCN1 | CN | Pending | Divisional | 202410767729.5 | Dec. 30, 2015 | — | — |
