Method for Detecting a Malfunction of at Least One Sensor for Controlling a Restraining Device of a Vehicle, Control Apparatus and Vehicle

• US 20170116794A1
• Filed: 10/26/2016
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Gortsas, Nikolaos
• Granted Patent: US 10,262,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for detecting a malfunction of at least one sensor for controlling a restraining device of a vehicle. In this context, in a first step a vehicle state signal representing a vehicle state of the vehicle is read in. In a second step a fault detection function for detecting the malfunction using the vehicle state signal is changed in order to detect the malfunction with a sensitivity level which is dependent on the vehicle state.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a malfunction of at least one sensor for controlling a restraining device of a vehicle, the method comprising:

reading in a vehicle state signal representing a vehicle state of the vehicle; and

detecting the malfunction of the at least one sensor with a sensitivity level that is dependent on the vehicle state by changing a fault detection function for detecting the malfunction based on the vehicle state signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, the changing of the fault detection function further comprising:

changing a detection threshold to (i) a first threshold value in response to the vehicle state signal representing a parked position of the vehicle and (ii) to a second threshold value in response to the vehicle state signal representing a driving mode of the vehicle, the first threshold value representing a lower detection threshold than the second threshold value.

3. The method according to claim 2, the changing of the fault detection function further comprising:

changing the detection threshold to a third threshold value in response to the vehicle state signal representing a visit of the vehicle to a workshop, the third threshold value representing a lower detection threshold than the first threshold value.

4. The method according to claim 3, the changing of the fault detection function further comprising:

changing the detection threshold to the third threshold value in response to the vehicle state signal representing a horizontal position of the vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 2, the changing of the fault detection function further comprising:

changing the detection threshold to the first threshold value in response to the vehicle state signal representing a state of the vehicle in which at least one of;

an ignition system of the vehicle is deactivated;

a parking brake of the vehicle is activated;

a parking position of a transmission of the vehicle is activated;

a charging function for charging a battery of the vehicle is activated;

a door locking system of the vehicle is activated; and

all pedals of the vehicle are in a position of rest.

6. The method according to claim 2, the changing of the fault detection function further comprising:

changing an observation time during which the malfunction is observed to (i) a first time value in response to the vehicle state signal representing the parked position and (ii) a second time value in response to the vehicle state signal representing the driving mode, this first time value representing a shorter observation time than the second time value.

7. The method according to claim 6, the changing of the fault detection function further comprising:

changine the observation time to a third time value in response to the vehicle state signal representing a visit of the vehicle to a workshop, the third time value representing a shorter observation time than the first time value.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

reading in a sensor signal from the at least one sensor; and

checking the sensor signal for the malfunction using the fault detection function which has been changed based on the vehicle state signal.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is carried out by computer program.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the computer program is stored on a machine-readable storage medium.

9. A control apparatus comprising:

at least one unit configured to detect a malfunction of at least one sensor for controlling a restraining device of a vehicle, the at least one unit configured to;

read in a vehicle state signal representing a vehicle state of the vehicle; and

detect the malfunction of the at least one sensor with a sensitivity level that is dependent on the vehicle state by changing a fault detection function for detecting the malfunction based on the vehicle state signal.

10. A vehicle comprising

a restraining device;

at least one sensor; and

a control apparatus configured to detect a malfunction of the least one sensor for controlling the restraining device, the control apparatus configured to;

read in a vehicle state signal representing a vehicle state of the vehicle; and

detect the malfunction of the at least one sensor with a sensitivity level that is dependent on the vehicle state by changing a fault detection function for detecting the malfunction based on the vehicle state signal.