Method for monitoring the performance reliability of a control unit and diagnostic device

• US 20070043485A1
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Meissner, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01322 comprising variable thresholds, e.g. depending from other collision parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0156 by deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01562 by speed

Abstract

The present arrangement provides a method for monitoring the performance reliability of a control unit and/or at least one sensor of a safety device for the protection of vehicle occupants, comprising the steps that a negative acceleration or velocity caused by an impact, in particular, be recorded; a value for the impact severity be derived from the recorded acceleration or velocity; and the value for the impact severity be compared to a predefined threshold value. If the value for the impact severity exceeds the predefined threshold value, an error-function signal will be output, which indicates that the proper functioning can no longer be ensured for the control unit and/or for at least one sensor. The present arrangement also relates to a diagnostic device for such a method.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method for monitoring a performance reliability of at least one of a control unit and at least one sensor of a safety device for protecting a vehicle occupant, comprising the steps:

a) recording a value corresponding to at least one of a negative acceleration, a velocity, and a pressure, caused by an impact;

b) deriving a value for an impact severity from the recorded value;

c) comparing a value for the impact severity to a predefined threshold value; and

d) outputting an error-function signal in the event that the value for the impact severity exceeds the predefined threshold value, the error-function signal indicating that a proper functioning can no longer be ensured for the at least one of the control unit and the at least one sensor.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

calculating the value for the impact severity for each of the at least one of the control unit and the at least one sensor; and

comparing each calculated value to a respective predefined threshold value for each of the at least one of the control unit and the at least one sensor.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein information from a plurality of impact processes is taken into consideration in determining one of the value for the impact severity of the control unit and the predefined threshold value associated with the value for the impact severity.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

lowering the predefined threshold value with an increasing operating time of the safety device.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

determining the predefined threshold value from at least one of a crash test and one of calculations and findings derived therefrom.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

implementing a read-out and an analysis of an output error-function signal by at least one of the control unit and a service facility testing device.

17. A diagnostic device for monitoring a performance reliability of at least one of a control unit and at least one sensor of a safety device for protecting a vehicle occupant, comprising:

an arrangement for coupling to the at least one sensor of the safety device to record an impact, the diagnostic device being arranged in a motor vehicle together with the control unit and the at least one sensor;

a comparator that provides at least one predefined threshold value for a proper functioning of the at least one of the control unit and the at least one sensor, the comparator comparing a value for an impact severity derived from the impact to the predefined threshold value; and

an output device that outputs an error-function signal in the event that the value for the impact severity exceeds the at least one predefined threshold value, the error-function signal indicating that a future proper functioning is no longer ensured for the at least one of the control unit and the at least one sensor.

18. The diagnostic device as recited in claim 17, wherein a functionality of the diagnostic device is implemented in the control unit, either entirely or partially.

19. The diagnostic device as recited in claim 17, wherein, for each one of the at least one of the control unit and the at least one sensor, a respective threshold value is predefined that is typical for one of the control unit and the at least one sensor.

20. The diagnostic device as recited in claim 17, wherein the predefined threshold value is lower than a threshold value provided for a triggering of a restraining arrangement assigned to the at least one of the control unit and the at least one sensor.