DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to parking brakes in vehicles, and more particularly actuating of the parking brake in vehicles.

BACKGROUND
[002] Parking brake, also called as hand brake or emergency brake or e-brake, is a latching brake usually used to keep the vehicle stationary. The parking brakes are mostly actuated to avoid accidental roll of vehicle at slope surfaces. The parking brakes are mechanical parking brakes that are connected, for example, by way of a cable pull to an actuating element in the vehicle internal space. The driver actuates the actuating element, i.e. pulls the hand brake lever upwards or depresses the foot lever, so that a moment of force is generated, which is converted by way of the cable pull into a tensile force, and the clamping force of the parking brake is generated.
[003] Conventional parking brakes in vehicles fitted with traditional pneumatic braking systems is to have a connection, either pneumatically, hydraulically or by a cable, between a manually operated actuating device, such as a lever or valve, and some form of braking device at the individual wheels.
[004] Another conventional parking brake systems, which are electrically triggered, includes an operating element for actuating the parking brake system and at least one control unit which triggers an actuator of the parking brake system in response to actuation of the operating element. However, the configuration and communication of control units are relatively costly and require a relatively complex interface.

OBJECT
[005] The principal object of the embodiments herein is to provide a simple and effective method for utilizing the brake pressure generated by Electronic Stability Program (ESP) to actuate the parking brake of vehicles.
[006] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by different way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[007] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[008] FIG. 1 depicts a diagrammatic view of an example parking brake system 100, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[009] FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a parking brake controller, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0010] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram 300 depicting a method of actuating the parking brake of vehicles, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein
[0012] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
[0013] Embodiments herein provide systems and methods for actuating the parking brake in a vehicle. The system is provided for utilizing the brake pressure generated by the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) in the vehicle to actuate the parking brake of the vehicle.
[0014] In an example embodiment, the vehicle as disclosed herein can be at least one of a car, a truck, a bus, a van, or any other vehicle, which comprises of a parking brake..
[0015] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a diagrammatic view of an example parking brake system 100, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The parking brake system 100 comprises of a parking brake switch 101, a parking brake controller 102, an ESP 103, and a plurality of parking brake valves 104a, 104b, 104c and 104d mounted on the front wheels and rear wheels respectively.
[0017] The parking brake switch 101 acts as an interface to the driver for activation or de-activation of parking brake function of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the parking brake switch 101 can be an automatic or manually operable switch, which can be mounted in the instrument panel, on the steering wheel, beside the driver seat or any other appropriate location such that the parking brake switch 101 is accessible to a driver of the vehicle. An electrical signal is generated and directed to the parking brake controller 102, once the parking brake switch 101 is activated. The parking brake controller 102 is configured to regulate the parking brake function. The parking brake controller 102 is electrically connected with the ESP 103 and the parking brake valves 104a, 104b, 104c and 104d. In an embodiment, the connection can be wired or wireless. The parking brake valves 104a, 104b, 104c and 104d can be mounted on front wheels and rear wheels. The front wheels and rear wheels are respectively provided with wheel brakes. Further, the parking brake valves 104a, 104b, 104c and 104d are connected with the ESP 103, wherein the connection is hydraulic. The control unit of the ESP 103 activates a pump-motor to build brake pressure and directs the control signals to the parking brake controller 102. The parking brake valves 104a, 104b, 104c and 104d are latchable; i.e., the parking brake valves 104a, 104b, 104c and 104d maintain the current state, even when ignition is turned-off after moving it to the new state. Thereby, isolation of brake pressure takes place even after ignition is tuned-off.
[0018] FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of the parking brake controller 102, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The parking brake controller 102 comprises of a parking brake management module 201, memory module 202 and a communication interface module 203.
[0019] The parking brake management module 201 regulates the parking brake function of the parking brake system 100. The parking brake management module 201 may include a means for determining that the vehicle is going to move. That the vehicle is going to move can be determined from actions such as; putting the vehicle in gear, pressing the accelerator, deactivating the parking brake and so on. The means can detect the driver’s intention using a suitable means such as drive torque or drive-train status or the driver’s action (such as when the driver activated the parking brake switch 101), and so on. In an embodiment, the parking brake management module 201 can have a processor and be configured to execute programming instructions.
[0020] The parking brake controller 102 includes a memory module 202. The memory module 202 is configured to store and execute programming instructions stored thereon (or in another computer-readable medium) in order to control various aspects of the operation of the parking brake system 100.
[0021] The parking brake controller 102 includes a communication interface module 203. The communication interface module 203 is configured to provide an interface for receiving electrical signal communication from the parking brake switch 101. Further the interface module 203 is configured for communicating the control signal between the parking brake controller 102 and the ESP 103. Furthermore, the interface is configured for sending the control signal from the parking brake controller 102 to the parking valves 104a, 104b, 104c and 104d. The communication interface module 203 may use at least one of a wired or a wireless means for communication.
[0022] In an embodiment, the parking brake controller 102 and the ESP 103 may also be integrated in a single control unit.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram 300 depicting a method of actuating the parking brake of vehicles, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. As shown, in step 301, the parking brake controller 102 receives input from the parking brake switch 101 to actuate the parking brake function of the vehicle. In step 302, the parking brake controller 102 communicates the received input (also referred to herein as a first control signal) to the ESP 103. The control unit of the ESP 103 activates the pump motor to build the desired brake pressure to be applied. In step 303, the ESP 103 sends the control signal (also referred to herein as a second control signal) to the parking brake controller 102, which indicates the parking brake controller 102 that the desired brake pressure is developed. In step 304, the parking brake controller 102 generates the electrical control signal (also referred to herein as a third control signal) to activate the parking brake valves 104a, 104b, 104c and 104d on receiving the second control signal from the ESP 103, where the parking valves 104a, 104b, 104c and 104d apply built pressure to the corresponding wheels in accordance to the received third control signal from the parking brake controller 102, and i.e., the ESP 103 directs the desired brake pressure to the wheels brake on communication from the parking brake controller 102 and the parking brake valves 104a, 104b, 104c and 104d hold or release the brake pressure based on the third control signals from the parking brake controller 102, by either isolating or connecting the wheel brakes to a hydraulic circuit controlled by the ESP 103.
[0024] In an embodiment, the parking brake valves 104a, 104b, 104c and 104d maintain the state even ignition of the vehicle is turned-off.. Thus, the vehicle parking function works even when ignition is tuned-off. Further, upon receiving the input from the driver, if the parking brake controller 102 determines that the vehicle is going to move, the parking brake controller 102 activates the corresponding parking brake valves 104a, 104b, 104c and 104d to move them to open position to connect the wheel brakes to the hydraulic circuit controlled by the ESP 103. As a result, the vehicle parking function is de-activated by releasing the isolated brake pressure.
[0025] The various actions in method 300 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some actions listed in FIG. 3 may be omitted.
[0026] The parking brake system 100 does not require any mechanical linkages and components between the parking brake controller and wheels of the vehicle. Thus, the parking brake system 100 implementation does not require additional cost for the function implementation for parking brake function of the vehicle.
[0027] Based upon the foregoing description, it can be appreciated that embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied with relatively few components and it is adaptable for installation both as original equipment in a new vehicle and for retrofit purposes in vehicles already in service.
[0028] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

,CLAIMS:CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A method for actuating a parking brake in a vehicle, the method comprising:
sending a first control signal, by a parking brake controller to an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) to build parking brake pressure, on receiving an indication, by the parking brake controller that the parking brakes have been activated;
receiving a second control signal, by the parking brake controller from the ESP on building of the brake pressure;
sending a third control signal, by the parking controller to the parking brake valves; and
applying the parking brake pressure, by the parking brake valves to wheels of the vehicle, on receiving the third control signal from the parking brake controller.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parking brake pressure is built by a pump-motor of the ESP.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pump motor builds the desired parking brake pressure to be applied to the wheels.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parking brake controller activates the parking brake valves to hold or release the parking brake pressure, by isolating or connecting wheel brakes to a hydraulic circuit controlled by the ESP.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parking brake valves are latchable.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parking brake controller activates the parking brake valves to move them to an open position to connect the wheel brakes to the hydraulic circuit controlled by the ESP, on determining that the vehicle is going to move.
7. A system for actuating a parking brake in a vehicle, the system comprising:
a parking brake switch connected to a parking brake controller;
the parking brake controller connected to an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a plurality of parking brake valves mounted on wheels of the vehicle; wherein, the parking brake controller is configured to:
send a first control signal to the ESP to build parking brake pressure, on receiving an indication that the parking brakes have been activated;
receive a second control signal from the ESP on building of the brake pressure; and
send a third control signal to the parking brake valves; and
the parking brake valves are configured to apply the parking brake pressure to wheels of the vehicle, on receiving the third control signal from the parking brake controller.
8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the parking brake pressure is built by a pump-motor of the ESP
9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pump motor builds the desired parking brake pressure to be applied to the wheels.
10. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the parking brake controller activates the parking brake valves to hold or release the parking brake pressure, by isolating or connecting wheel brakes to a hydraulic circuit controlled by the ESP.
11. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the parking brake valves are latchable.

12. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the parking brake controller activates the parking brake valves to move them to open position to connect the wheel brakes to the hydraulic circuit controlled by the ESP, on determining that the vehicle is going to move