The electronic parking brake replaces the conventional mechanical lever and cable and will provide better assistance to the driver. It also frees the space in cockpit for other uses in most car models. The braking power is adjusted in the EPB electronics to match the requirements set by the longitudinal inclination. It locks the brakes when pushing the button and releases automatically when starting and accelerating the car.
It can also provide a low-speed-traction control and prevents the vehicle from moving on inclines, especially in conjunction with a manual gearbox. The signal can be connected to the distance sensor systems for safe parallel parking even in very tight spots. Integration with theft deterrence systems results in the most reliable immobilizers. The system is also often connected to door switches, preventing unintended movement of the car when people getting on and off the vehicle.
The measurement can be integrated into ESC by adding a high performance longitudinal measurement axis to the ESC sensor, or especially in the developing markets, as a standalone sensor into the EPB ECU. Better performance of the sensor enables more simple and robust software implementation, and improves the user experience. Critical parameters are offset performance over lifetime and temperature range, as well as vibration.