Device and method for calibrating a sensor

• US 20040154375A1
• Filed: 04/07/2004
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Groeger, Ulrike, Mattes, Bernhard
• Granted Patent: US 7,089,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.08
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01265 Seat belts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/01 Testing or calibrating of weighing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 25/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus for measuring force, torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/101 using sensors inserted into the flexible member

Abstract

In order to counteract age-related distortion of measured values, the present invention proposes a device and a method for calibrating a sensor in general and a force sensor and a belt-force sensor (5), in particular, which allow reliable calibration of the sensor in a simple manner.

The device according to the present invention for calibrating a sensor includes means for detecting at least one defined state of the sensor. Only when the sensor is in a defined state thusly detected, a corresponding adjustment of the measured value of the sensor is implemented within the framework of the method according to the present invention.

Claims

7-1. A method for calibrating a force sensor as recited in claim 7,

wherein it is detected with the aid of suitable means when the force sensor is in an unloaded state.

8. A method for calibrating a force sensor or a force-sensor array for detecting the weight of a vehicle occupant as recited in claim 8,

wherein the seat occupancy is ascertained and that it is detected on the basis of the seat occupancy when the force sensor or the force-sensor array is in an unloaded state.

10. A method for calibrating a belt-force sensor as recited in claim 8,

wherein the state of the belt buckle (4) is ascertained and that it is detected on the basis of the state of the belt buckle (4) when the belt-force sensor (5) is in an unloaded state.

9. The method as recited in claim 9,

wherein the seat occupancy is detected with the aid of a passenger-compartment camera.

11. The method as recited in claim 11,

wherein the state of the belt buckle (4) is ascertained with the aid of a belt-buckle contact (6).