Method for monitoring a weight-sensing system

• US 20060124364A1
• Filed: 10/07/2003
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Loewen, Klaus-Dieter, Rudolf, Harald, Provoznik, Mark, Schweizer, Karl
• Application Number:
  US10/532,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20060124364A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01122 Prevention of malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges

Abstract

In the case of a process for monitoring the operability of a weight-sensing system in a vehicle with at least one force sensor (2, 4, 6, 8), the weight-sensing system emits a warning message when a threshold value for the force acting upon the force sensor (2, 4, 6, 8) is exceeded, which warning message points to a possible damage to the weight-sensing system. This measure ensures a reliable detection of a possible failure of the weight-sensing system.

Claims

1. Method of monitoring the operatability of a weight-sensing system in a vehicle having at least one force sensor,

comprising the steps:

detecting force acting on said at least one sensor;

emitting a first warning message when a threshold value for the force acting upon the at least one force sensor is exceeded, wherein said warning message indicates possible damage to the weight-sensing system.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein,

in the event of an impact of the vehicle, a second warning message independent of said first warning message is emitted by another sensor of the vehicle sensing the impact.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein,

when the given value of the force acting upon the at least one force sensor (2, 4, 6, 8) in the event of an impact of the vehicle is not reached, another warning message is emitted by an occupant protection system sensing the impact.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein,

the warning message is displayed in a combination instrument of the vehicle.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein,

the warning message is at least one of set on a CAN (car area network) bus and filed in a fault memory.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one force sensor is a strain gauge force transducer, an inductive sensor or a piezoelectric sensor.

12. The method according to claim 4, wherein,

said warning message is a text or a signal light.

7. A method of monitoring a vehicle weight sensing system comprising the steps:

providing a force sensor arrangement in said vehicle independent of an impact sensor arrangement,

measuring a force applied to said sensor arrangement,

comparing said measured force to a predetermined value,

outputting a warning signal when said measured force exceeds said predetermined value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said force system arrangement includes at least one force sensor.

9. Method according to claim 7, wherein,

the warning message is at least one of set on a CAN (car area network) bus and filed in a fault memory.

10. Method according to claim 8, wherein said at least one force sensor is a strain gauge force transducer, an inductive sensor or a piezoelectric sensor.

11. Method according to claim 7, wherein,

the warning message is displayed in a combination instrument of the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein,

said warning message is a text or a signal light.