Method and device for ascertaining the laden state of a vehicle

• US 20020019685A1
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Ries-Mueller, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 6,604,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00 Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/52 in tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/60 Load
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/702 Improving accuracy of a sensor signal
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/58 responsive to speed and another condition or to plural speed conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 37/00 Stabilising vehicle bodies without controlling suspension arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles

Abstract

A method for ascertaining the laden state of a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, the pressure in at least one tire of the vehicle being measured, and the laden state being ascertained in view of the measured tire pressure.

Claims

1. A method for ascertaining a laden state of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

measuring a tire pressure in at least one tire of the vehicle; and

ascertaining the laden state in view of the measured tire pressure.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle corresponds to a motor vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the step of measuring is performed on each of the at least one tire of the vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the step of measuring is performed continuously over a predetermined period of time, and

the step of ascertaining the laden state is performed in view of a change in the measured tire pressure as a function of time.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

ascertaining an absolute load of the vehicle in accordance with at least one of a a tire temperature, an ambient pressure, and an ambient temperature.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

monitoring the vehicle for a rollover in accordance with the measured tire pressure.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining and evaluating one of a known change and a calculable change in a vehicle mass within a framework of ascertaining the laden state.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of:

calculating a change in mass by calculating a mass of a fuel quantity supplied to a vehicle fuel tank.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein:

a known mass of a vehicle driver is used as the change in mass.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of:

calibrating the laden state of the vehicle in accordance with the change in mass.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

compensating for an environmental influence on the tire pressure of each of the at least one tire in use in accordance with a tire pressure of a reserve wheel.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ascertained laden state is used for at least one of:

headlight-leveling control,

a transmission-shift control,

an ABS control,

a support of a brake assistant,

a support of an ESP control unit, and

an active influencing of a chassis.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

placing changes in pressure of individual ones of the at least one tire in a logical relation ship to one another in such a way that only tire-pressure changes relevant for a load are taken into account.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein:

the vehicle corresponds to a motor vehicle.

16. The device according to claim 14, further comprising:

an arrangement for determining one of a known change and a calculable change in a mass of the vehicle; and

an arrangement for ascertaining the laden state in view of the one of the known change and the calculated change in the mass of the vehicle.

17. The device according to claim 16, further comprising:

an arrangement for measuring a mass of a fuel quantity supplied to a vehicle fuel tank.

18. The device according to claim 16, further comprising:

an arrangement for determining that a vehicle driver has entered the vehicle, one of a mass and a weight of the vehicle driver being known to the means for determining.

14. A device for ascertaining a laden state of a vehicle, comprising:

an arrangement for measuring a pressure in at least one tire of the vehicle; and

an arrangement for ascertaining the laden state in view of the measured tire pressure.