Fahrzeugbremssteuergerät

A brake control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a master cylinder (3) which generates master cylinder pressure in response to an operation of a brake pedal (1); a wheel cylinder (4,5) which generates wheel cylinder pressure for applying braking force to a wheel (FR,PL); a brake fluid conduit (A) which communicates the master cylinder with the wheel cylinder (4,5); a holding device (13) disposed on the brake fluid conduit (A) so that the brake fluid conduit (A) is divided into a first conduit (A1) conveying brake fluid between the master cylinder (3) and the holding device (13) at the master cylinder pressure and a second conduit (A2) conveying brake fluid between the holding device (13) and the wheel cylinder (FR,PL) at the wheel cylinder pressure, the holding device (13) being operative to cause the wheel cylinder pressure substantially equal to the master cylinder pressure normally, when the brake pedal (1) is depressed, while the holding device (13) is capable of holding the wheel cylinder pressure higher than the master cylinder pressure; an auxiliary conduit having an intake conduit connected to the first conduit (A1) and a discharge conduit connected to the second conduit (A2); a pump (15) disposed on the auxiliary conduit for taking in brake fluid from the first conduit (A1) via the intake conduit and discharging brake fluid to the second conduit (A2) via the discharge conduit, wherein, when the brake pedal (1) is depressed and at least one of predetermined conditions of the operation of the brake pedal (1) and vehicle behaviour for triggering brake assist control is satisfied, the pump (15) is operated to increase the wheel cylinder pressure to a value that is higher than and proportional to the master cylinder pressure in cooperation with the holding device (13).