Method for monitoring chassis functions and chassis components

• US 20060116799A1
• Filed: 08/22/2003
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Mahlo, Rudiger
• Application Number:
  US10/525,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20060116799A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0185 for failure detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/08 Failure or malfunction detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/80 Detection or control after a system or component failure
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/06 Active Suspension System
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/021 Means for detecting failure or malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/02 Ensuring safety in case of control system failures, e.g. by diagnosing, circumventing or fixing failures

Abstract

To monitor chassis functions and chassis components of a motor vehicle and/or to detect wear, wear trends, component defects or declining functions, information provided by control systems mounted in the vehicle and/or obtained by way of additional sensors is evaluated. Evaluations relating to vehicle dynamics are carried out on the basis of said information, with reproducible vehicle or driving conditions, and taken into account in order to statistically evaluate specific features, which directly or indirectly reflect chassis functions and/or the condition of chassis components, and to subsequently identify defects or malfunctions.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A method for monitoring chassis functions and chassis components of a motor vehicle, including the steps of

evaluating information provided by at least one of the elements of the group,

consisting of control systems mounted in the vehicle and additional sensors,

performing evaluations relating to vehicle dynamics on the basis of said information with reproducible conditions, and

taking into account the evaluations relating to driving dynamics in order to statistically evaluate specific features which reflect chassis-related conditions, and

to subsequently identify defects.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9,

wherein for detecting the vehicle or driving conditions and for carrying out evaluations, the following signals sent by sensors of an electronic brake system provided in the vehicle, are utilized:

wheel speed information,

transverse acceleration,

yaw rate, and

system pressure.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9,

wherein additionally at least one of the following quantities are determined and evaluated:

vehicle deceleration and

suspension travel.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9,

wherein at least one of the following reproducible specific conditions are detected and evaluated by a detection of patterns on the basis of the information supplied:

straight travel

cornering

stable vehicle

unstable vehicle

freely rolling vehicle

decelerated vehicle

accelerated vehicle

13. The method as claimed in claim 12,

wherein the detected specific conditions and anomalies induced by a defect and typical of a situation are taken into account when assessing and evaluating the obtained information.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13,

wherein the evaluation of the detected conditions and the anomalies induced by a defect and typical of a situation takes place only when the conditions satisfy predetermined qualitative and quantitative conditions.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13,

wherein the detected anomalies are accumulated related to features within a statistical program algorithm and considered and evaluated as a whole.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15,

wherein at least one of the two following actions are performed as soon as the anomalies are detected:

issuing a warning signal

making an error input in a memory.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15,

wherein at least one of the two following actions are performed as soon as the anomalies have exceeded a defined perception threshold:

issuing a warning signal

making an error input in a memory.