CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL SYSTEM CONTROLLING PROTECTIVE APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING PASSENGER OF VEHICLE OR PEDESTRIAN

• US 20160140784A1
• Filed: 05/19/2014
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Akanuma, Ryojiro, Matsuura, Keisuke, Arai, Kenji
• Granted Patent: US 10,032,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01068 between different sensors and airbag control unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01184 Fault detection or diagnostic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B

Abstract

An air bag ECU includes an ECU communication unit communicating with an external sensor (for example, a front right acceleration sensor) and a faulty sensor mount determination unit determining whether a faulty sensor having been diagnosed as being faulty before is connected to the air bag ECU based on failure history data indicating whether the external sensor has been diagnosed as being faulty before. The faulty sensor mount determination unit compares identification data recorded in, for example, a faulty sensor ID recording unit, for individually identifying an external sensor having been diagnosed as being faulty before with the identification data of the external sensor connected to the air bag ECU and determines whether a faulty sensor is connected to the air bag ECU.

Claims

1. A control apparatus configured to control a protective apparatus for protecting a passenger of a vehicle and a pedestrian, the control apparatus comprising:

a communication unit configured to communicate with an external sensor connected to the control apparatus; and

a determination unit configured to determine whether a faulty sensor having been diagnosed as being faulty before is connected to the control apparatus, based on failure history data indicating whether the external sensor has been diagnosed as being faulty before.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the determination unit is further configured to compare identification data for individually identifying the external sensor connected to the control apparatus with identification data for individually identifying a faulty sensor having been diagnosed as being faulty before and to determine whether the faulty sensor is connected to the control apparatus.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive sensing data detected by the external sensor and the identification data for individually identifying the external sensor,

wherein the control apparatus further comprises a sensor failure diagnosis unit, the sensor failure diagnosis unit configured to diagnose whether the external sensor is faulty based on the sensing data, and a faulty sensor ID recording unit, the faulty sensor ID recording unit configured to record, as the failure history data, the identification data of the external sensor diagnosed as being faulty by the sensor failure diagnosis unit, and

wherein the determination unit is further configured to compare the identification data recorded in the faulty sensor ID recording unit with the identification data received by the communication unit and to determine whether the faulty sensor is connected to the control apparatus.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive, from the external sensor, a diagnosis result indicating whether the external sensor is faulty and the identification data for individually identifying the external sensor,

wherein the control apparatus further comprises a sensor failure diagnosis unit, the sensor failure diagnosis unit configured to diagnose whether the external sensor is faulty based on the diagnosis result sent from the external sensor, and a faulty sensor ID recording unit, the faulty sensor ID recording unit configured to record, as the failure history data, the identification data of the external sensor diagnosed as being faulty by the sensor failure diagnosis unit, and

wherein the determination unit is further configured to compare the identification data recorded in the faulty sensor ID recording unit with the identification data received by the communication unit and to determine whether the faulty sensor is connected to the control apparatus.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the determination unit is further configured to determine whether the faulty sensor is connected to the control apparatus based on the failure history data recorded in a failure history recording unit provided in the external sensor.

6. The control apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive, from the external sensor, sensing data detected by the external sensor,

wherein the control apparatus further comprises a sensor failure diagnosis unit, the sensor failure diagnosis unit configured to diagnose whether the external sensor is faulty based on the sensing data and a writing requesting unit, the writing requesting unit configured to output, when the external sensor is diagnosed as being faulty by the sensor failure diagnosis unit, a request for recording, as the failure history data, failure information in a failure history recording unit provided in the external sensor diagnosed as being faulty,

wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive, from the external sensor, the failure information recorded in the failure history recording unit, and

wherein the determination unit is further configured to determine whether the faulty sensor is connected to the control apparatus based on the failure information received by the communication unit.

7. The control apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive, from the external sensor, a diagnosis result indicating whether the external sensor is faulty,

wherein the control apparatus further comprises a sensor failure diagnosis unit the sensor failure diagnosis unit configured to diagnose whether the external sensor is faulty based on the diagnosis result sent from the external sensor, and a writing requesting unit the writing requesting unit configured to output, when the external sensor is diagnosed as being faulty by the sensor failure diagnosis unit, a request for recording, as the failure history data, failure information in a failure history recording unit provided in the external sensor diagnosed as being faulty,

wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive, from the external sensor, the failure information recorded in the failure history recording unit, and

wherein the determination unit is further configured to determine whether the faulty sensor is connected to the control apparatus based on the failure information received by the communication unit.

8. The control apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive the failure history data from the external sensor, and

wherein the determination unit is further configured to determine whether the faulty sensor is connected to the control apparatus based on the failure history data received by the communication unit.

9. A control system including a control apparatus controlling a protective apparatus for protecting a passenger of a vehicle or a pedestrian and an external sensor connected to the control apparatus,

wherein the external sensor comprises a sensor communication unit communicating with the control apparatus and

the control apparatus comprising:

an apparatus communication unit configured to communicate with the external sensor; and

a determination unit configured to determine whether a faulty sensor having been diagnosed as being faulty before is connected to the control apparatus, based on failure history data indicating whether the external sensor has been diagnosed as being faulty before.

10. The control system according to claim 9,

wherein the determination unit is further configured to compare identification data for individually identifying the external sensor connected to the control apparatus with identification data for individually identifying a faulty sensor having been diagnosed as being faulty before and to determine whether the faulty sensor is connected to the control apparatus.

11. The control system according to claim 10,

wherein the external sensor further comprises a sensor ID recording unit configured to record the identification data for individually identifying the external sensor, and a detection unit configured to detect data used to determine whether the protective apparatus is activated,

wherein the apparatus communication unit is further configured to receive, from the sensor communication unit, sensing data detected by the detection unit and the identification data recorded in the sensor ID recording unit,

wherein the control apparatus further comprises a sensor failure diagnosis unit the sensor failure diagnosis unit configured to diagnose whether the external sensor is faulty based on the sensing data, and a faulty sensor ID recording unit, the faulty sensor ID recording unit configured to record, as the failure history data, the identification data of the external sensor diagnosed as being faulty by the sensor failure diagnosis unit, and

wherein the determination unit is further configured to compare the identification data recorded in the faulty sensor ID recording unit with the identification data received by the apparatus communication unit and to determine whether the faulty sensor is connected to the control apparatus.

12. The control system according to claim 11,

wherein the control apparatus further includes comprises an installed sensor ID recording unit configured to record the identification data for individually identifying the external sensor currently connected to the control apparatus, and

wherein the control system further comprises a failure diagnosis apparatus including an installed sensor ID recording unit configured to read the identification data recorded in the installed sensor ID recording unit, a faulty sensor ID reading unit configured to read the identification data recorded in the faulty sensor ID recording unit, and a display unit configured to display the identification data read by the installed sensor ID reading unit and the identification data read by the faulty sensor ID reading unit.

13. The control system according to claim 10,

wherein the external sensor further comprises a sensor ID recording unit configured to record the identification data for individually identifying the external sensor is recorded and an in-sensor failure diagnosis unit diagnosing configured to diagnose whether the external sensor is faulty,

wherein the apparatus communication unit is further configured to receive, from the sensor communication unit, a diagnosis result by the in-sensor failure diagnosis unit and the identification data recorded in the sensor ID recording unit,

wherein the control apparatus further comprises a sensor failure diagnosis unit the sensor failure diagnosis unit configured to diagnose whether the external sensor is faulty based on the diagnosis result sent from the external sensor, and a faulty sensor ID recording unit, the faulty sensor ID recording unit configured to record, as the failure history data, the identification data of the external sensor diagnosed as being faulty by the sensor failure diagnosis unit, and

wherein the determination unit is further configured to compare the identification data recorded in the faulty sensor ID recording unit with the identification data received by the apparatus communication unit and to determine whether the faulty sensor is connected to the control apparatus.

14. The control system according to claim 13,

wherein the control apparatus further comprises an installed sensor ID recording unit in which identification data for individually identifying the external sensor currently connected to the control apparatus and

wherein the control system further comprises a failure diagnosis apparatus including an installed sensor ID reading unit configured to read the identification data recorded in the installed sensor ID recording unit, a faulty sensor ID reading unit configured to read the identification data recorded in the faulty sensor ID recording unit, and a display unit configured to display the identification data read by the installed sensor ID reading unit and the identification data read by the faulty sensor ID reading unit.

15. The control system according to claim 9,

wherein the determination unit determines whether the faulty sensor is connected to the control apparatus based on failure history data recorded in a failure history recording unit provided in the external sensor.

16. The control system according to claim 15,

wherein the external sensor further comprises a detection unit configured to detect data used to determine whether the protective apparatus is activated and a failure history recording unit configured to record the failure history data,

wherein the apparatus communication unit is further configured to receive, from the sensor communication unit, sensing data detected by the detection unit,

wherein the control apparatus further includes comprises a sensor failure diagnosis unit the sensor failure diagnosis unit configured to diagnose whether the external sensor is faulty based on the sensing data, and a writing requesting unit, the writing requesting unit configured to output, when the external sensor is diagnosed as being faulty by the sensor failure diagnosis unit, a request for recording, as the failure history data, failure information in the failure history recording unit provided in the external sensor diagnosed as being faulty,

wherein the apparatus communication unit is further configured to receive, from the sensor communication unit, the failure information recorded in the failure history recording unit, and

wherein the determination unit is further configured to determine whether the faulty sensor is connected to the control apparatus based on the failure information received by the apparatus communication unit.

17. The control system according to claim 15,

wherein the external sensor further comprises an in-sensor failure diagnosis unit configured to diagnose whether the external sensor is faulty and the failure history recording unit in which the failure history data is recorded,

wherein the apparatus communication unit is further configured to receive, from the sensor communication unit, a diagnosis result indicating whether the external sensor is faulty,

wherein the control apparatus further comprises a sensor failure diagnosis unit the sensor failure diagnosis unit configured to diagnose whether the external sensor is faulty based on the diagnosis result sent from the external sensor and a writing requesting unit the writing requesting unit configured to output, when the external sensor is diagnosed as being faulty by the sensor failure diagnosis unit, a request for recording, as the failure history data, failure information in the failure history recording unit provided in the external sensor diagnosed as being faulty,

wherein the apparatus communication unit is further configured to receive, from the sensor communication unit, the failure information recorded in the failure history recording unit, and

wherein the determination unit is further configured to determine whether the faulty sensor is connected to the control apparatus based on the failure information received by the apparatus communication unit.

18. The control system according to claim 15,

wherein the external sensor further comprises an in-sensor failure diagnosis unit, the in-sensor failure diagnosis unit configured to diagnose whether the external sensor is fault, and a failure history recording unit, the failure history recording unit configured to record failure information as the failure history data when the external sensor is diagnosed as being faulty by the in-sensor failure diagnosis unit,

wherein the apparatus communication unit is further configured to receive the failure history data from the sensor communication unit, and

wherein the determination unit is further configured to determine whether the faulty sensor is connected to the control apparatus based on the failure history data received by the apparatus communication unit.