Method and apparatus for automatic determination of the assignment of directional sensors to the moving directions of a vehicle

• US 5,416,703 A
• Filed: 08/06/1992
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mannesmann Kienzle GmbH
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann Kienzle GmbH
• Inventors: Jeschonneck, Harald, Gruler, Martin, Hilger, Gernot
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/927,033
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.01, 364/424.03, 364/424.04, 364/424.05, 364/436, 340/436, 340/438, 340/439
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/127 for acceleration values
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the automatic determination of the assignment of directional sensors to the moving directions of a vehicle is described wherein signals and/or their time derivatives, obtained during specific time intervals, from sensors associated with a measuring device which are utilized for acquiring the dynamics of a vehicle are linked-up with signals generated by a system of the vehicle which is assigned, in an explicit and previously known manner, to the movement direction of the vehicle. The method and apparatus achieves, in the operation of the data acquisition apparatus, the automatic assignment of the moving directions of the vehicle to the sensors of the measuring device.

Claims

1. A method for the automatic determination of the assignment of directional sensors which are associated with the movement direction of a vehicle which comprises the steps of:

generating at least two first signals from similar sensors which are indicative of said movement direction of the vehicle;

storing said first signals;

logically coupling said first signals of the similar sensors with a second signal which is generated by a vehicle subsystem which is associated with the movement direction of the vehicle; and

determining which one of the similar sensors is associated with said vehicle movement direction defined by said second signal, wherein the determined similar sensor is associated with one of the first signals which has the greatest value among the measured values of the first signals and the time derivatives of the first signals generated by the similar sensors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second signal is one of a directional and turn signals of said vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said second signal is a brake signal of said vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said second signal is generated by a rotary angle transmitting device of said vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said second signal is generated in connection with a curved travel of said vehicle.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said second signal is generated in connection with a curved travel of said vehicle.

7. The method in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the determining of the similar sensor, which is associated with the direction of vehicle movement takes place during a time period when said vehicle subsystem provides said second signal in a predetermined position.

8. An apparatus for the automatic determination of the assignment of directional sensors which are associated with the movement direction of a vehicle which comprises:

at least two similar sensors each generating a first signal which is indicative of said vehicle direction of movement;

a means for storing said first signals;

a means for generating a second signal which is associated with a vehicle subsystem and the direction of movement of the vehicle;

a means for logically coupling each of said first signals of the similar sensors with said second signal; and

a means for determining which one of the similar sensors is associated with said vehicle movement direction defined by said second signal, wherein the determined similar sensor has one of the first signals which has the greatest measured value of at least one of the first signals and a time derivative of the first signals generated by said similar sensors.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for generating a second signal is a directional turn switch of said vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for generating a second signal is a brake device of said vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for generating a second signal is a rotary angle transmitting device of said vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rotary angle transmitting device operates in connection with the curved travel of the vehicle.