Method for detecting a malfunction of at least one sensor for controlling a restraining device of a vehicle, control apparatus and vehicle

• US 10,262,474 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2016
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Gortsas, Nikolaos
• Primary Examiner(s): Merlino, David P.
• Application Number:
  US15/334,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20170116794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for detecting a malfunction of at least one sensor for controlling a restraining device of a vehicle. In this context, in a first step a vehicle state signal representing a vehicle state of the vehicle is read in. In a second step a fault detection function for detecting the malfunction using the vehicle state signal is changed in order to detect the malfunction with a sensitivity level which is dependent on the vehicle state.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a malfunction of at least one sensor configured to control activation of an airbag of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a sensor signal from the at least one sensor;

receiving a vehicle state signal representing a vehicle state of the vehicle;

setting a detection threshold depending on the vehicle state signal;

detecting the malfunction of the at least one sensor in response to an amplitude of the sensor signal exceeding the detection threshold; and

disabling activation of the airbag in response to detecting the malfunction of the at least one sensor.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

changing the detection threshold to (i) a first threshold value in response to the vehicle state signal representing a parked position of the vehicle and (ii) a second threshold value in response to the vehicle state signal representing a driving mode of the vehicle, the first threshold value being less than the second threshold value.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

changing the detection threshold to a third threshold value in response to the vehicle state signal representing a visit of the vehicle to a workshop, the third threshold value being less than the first threshold value.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

changing the detection threshold to the third threshold value in response to the vehicle state signal representing that a corresponding switch has been manually activated.

5. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

changing the detection threshold to the first threshold value in response to the vehicle state signal representing a state of the vehicle in which at least one of;

an ignition system of the vehicle is deactivated;

a parking brake of the vehicle is activated;

a parking position of a transmission of the vehicle is activated;

a charging function for charging a battery of the vehicle is activated;

a door locking system of the vehicle is activated; and

all pedals of the vehicle are in a position of rest.

6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

changing an observation time during which the malfunction is observed to (i) a first time value in response to the vehicle state signal representing the parked position and (ii) a second time value in response to the vehicle state signal representing the driving mode, the first time value representing a shorter observation time than the second time value.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

changing the observation time to a third time value in response to the vehicle state signal representing a visit of the vehicle to a workshop, the third time value representing a shorter observation time than the first time value.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is carried out by computer program.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the computer program is stored on a machine-readable storage medium.

10. A control apparatus comprising:

a controller operably connected to at least one sensor configured to control activation of an airbag, the controller configured to;

receive a sensor signal from the at least one sensor;

receive a vehicle state signal representing a vehicle state of the vehicle;

set a detection threshold depending on the vehicle state signal;

detect a malfunction of the at least one sensor in response to an amplitude of the sensor signal exceeding the detection threshold; and

disable activation of the airbag in response to detecting the malfunction of the at least one sensor.

11. A vehicle comprising

an airbag;

at least one sensor configured to control activation of the airbag; and

a controller operably connected to the at least one sensor, the controller configured to;

receive a sensor signal from the at least one sensor;

receive a vehicle state signal representing a vehicle state of the vehicle; and

set a detection threshold depending on the vehicle state signal;

detect a malfunction of the at least one sensor in response to an amplitude of the sensor signal exceeding the detection threshold; and

disable activation of the airbag in response to detecting the malfunction of the at least one sensor.