METHOD FOR ADJUSTING OR CALIBRATING A VEHICLE SURROUNDING SENSOR, AND A VEHICLE SURROUNDING SENSOR ADJUSTMENT OR CALIBRATION SYSTEM

• US 20100318307A1
• Filed: 08/29/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beissbarth GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schommer, Stefan, Backes, Jochen, Macchia, Adriano, Wagmann, Christian, Kaefer, Stefan Markus
• Granted Patent: US 9,134,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/94
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/27 for testing the alignment of axes means for centering or aligning a light guide within a ferrule G02B6/3834
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/40 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52004 Means for monitoring or calibrating short-range imaging G01S7/5205

Abstract

A method according to the invention for adjusting or calibrating a vehicle surroundings sensor (15) comprises the steps of: attaching at least one target pair (20, 22) to the rear wheels (12, 14) of the motor vehicle (7); recording the target pair (20, 22) using at least one measuring unit (32, 46) and determining the vehicle axle (64) from the recording; placing at least one target (16, 18) in a known position relative to a vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62); recording the target (18) placed at the vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62) using the at least one measuring unit (32, 46) and determining the angular position of the vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62) relative to the vehicle axle (64); aligning the vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62) relative to the vehicle axis (64); and adjusting or calibrating the vehicle surroundings sensor (15) relative to the vehicle axis (64).

Claims

1. A method for adjusting or calibrating a vehicle surroundings sensor (15), comprising the following steps:

Attach at least one target pair (20, 22) to the rear wheels (12, 14) of a motor vehicle (7);

Record the target pair (20, 22) using at least one measuring unit (32, 46) and determine the vehicle axis (64) from the recording;

Place at least one target (16, 18) in a known position relative to a vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62);

Record the target (18) placed on the vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62) using the at least one measuring unit (32, 46) and determine the angular position of the vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62) relative to the vehicle axis (64);

Align the vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62) relative to the vehicle axis (64); and

Adjust or calibrate the vehicle surroundings sensor (15) relative to the vehicle axis (64).

2. The method according to claim 1, furthermore comprising the steps of attaching a target pair (16, 18) to the front wheels (8, 10) and the motor vehicle (7), recording the target pairs (16, 18;

20, 22) on the front wheels (8, 10) and the rear wheels (12, 14) using at least one measuring unit (32, 46), and determining the vehicle axis (64) based on the recording.

3. The method according to claim 1, furthermore comprising the step of determining the distance from the vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62) to the front axle.

4. A vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element comprising:

a target pair (20, 22) on the rear wheels (12, 14) of a motor vehicle (7);

a vehicle surroundings sensor (15);

a vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62) in front of or behind the motor vehicle (7);

at least one recording for placing a target (16, 18) in a known position relative to the vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62);

at least one measuring unit (32, 46) for detecting the targets (16, 18;

20, 22); and

a data processing unit designed to

calculate, on the basis of the recorded images of the targets (20, 22), the vehicle axis (64) of the motor vehicle (7); and

determine the angular position of the vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62) relative to the vehicle axis (64).

5. The vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element according to claim 4, wherein the data processing unit is furthermore designed to adjust or calibrate the vehicle surroundings sensor (15) relative to the vehicle axis (64) after the vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62) has been aligned relative to the vehicle axis (64).

6. The vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element according to claim 4, furthermore comprising a target pair (16, 18) on the front wheels (8, 10) and the motor vehicle (7).

7. The vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element according to claim 4, wherein the data processing unit is furthermore designed to determine the distance from the vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62) to the front axle.

8. The vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element according to claim 4, wherein the vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element (62) is disposed on a frame (60) in front of or behind the motor vehicle (7).

9. The vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element according to claim 8, wherein the frame (60) includes at least one laterally disposed, in particular, receptacle for a target (16, 18).

10. The vehicle surroundings sensor adjustment or calibration element according to claim 4, wherein the measuring units (32, 46) reference each other to determine the position of the measuring units (32, 46).