Method and arrangement for operating an actuator in a vehicle

• US 6,295,490 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch
• Inventors: Streib, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US09/662,125
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/34, 701/36, 701/39, 701/37, 701/41, 701/70, 701/43, 701/76, 701/77, 701/78, 701/93, 701/97, 708/530
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/402 Back-up
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/404 Brake-by-wire or X-by-wire failsafe
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/413 Plausibility monitoring, cross check, redundancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/885 using electrical circuitry

Abstract

A method and an arrangement for operating an actuator in a motor vehicle are proposed. A first and/or a second operating variable signal is determined and a fault check thereof is carried out. When a fault occurs, a first reaction is immediately initiated, which can represent, for example, a limiting of the adjusting speed and/or of the acceleration of the actuator. When the fault condition has been present for a longer time, a second reaction is initiated, which applies a substitute signal instead of the faulty one for control or which consists of a switching off of the actuator operation.

Claims

1. A method for operating an actuator in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first operating quantity;

actuating said actuator in dependence upon at least said first operating quantity;

doing one of the following;

detecting said first operating quantity redundantly or detecting a second operating quantity having a clear relationship to said first;

operating quantity;

comparing said first operating quantity to the redundantly detected first operating quantity or to said second operating quantity in the context of a plausibility check;

for implausibility, initiating a first fault reaction operation; and

,

for a continued presence of said implausibility, initiating a second fault reaction operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first operating quantity is the position of said actuator and said second operating quantity is an operating quantity having a direct relationship to said position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said actuator is driven with a drive signal;

said first fault reaction comprises adjusting said drive signal to a value or limiting said drive signal to a value independently of said first or second operating quantity which value hinders a rapid movement of said actuator and leads to holding said actuator in its current position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first reaction is withdrawn when said second reaction is initiated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an implausibility is recognized when there is an impermissible deviation of said first:

and second operating quantities or when the time-dependent change of said first and second quantities do not correlate with each other.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said actuator is actuated in the context of a control loop;

and, wherein said first operating quantity is at least one of the desired value of said control loop and/or the actual value of said control loop.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said control loop is a position control loop and said first operating quantity is at least one of the position of a power adjusting element and a position of an operator-actuated element.

8. A method for operating an actuator in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting an operating quantity;

actuating said actuator in dependence upon at least said operating quantity;

detecting a fault condition from a plausibility check of said operating quantity;

for implausibility, immediately initiating a first fault reaction operation wherein at least one of the velocity of said actuator and the acceleration of said actuator is limited; and

, for a continued presence of said implausibility, initiating a second fault reaction operation wherein the actuation of said actuator is brought to standstill or a substitute operating quantity is applied to actuate said actuator.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said operating quantity is a first operating quantity and is the position of said actuator;

obtaining a said second operating quantity having a direct relationship to said position; and

, said plausibility check is made by comparing said first and second operating quantities.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said actuator is driven with a drive signal;

said first fault reaction comprises adjusting said drive signal to a value or limiting said drive signal to a value independently of said operating quantity which value hinders a rapid movement of said actuator and leads to holding said actuator in its current position.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a switchover to said substitute operating quantity is reversible or irreversible.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said first reaction is withdrawn when said second reaction is initiated.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein an implausibility is recognized when there is an impermissible deviation of said first and second operating quantities or when the time-dependent change of said first and second quantities do not correlate with each other.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said actuator is actuated in the context of a control loop and wherein said operating quantity is at least one of the desired value of said control loop and/or the actual value of said control loop.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said control loop is a position control loop and said operating quantity is at least one of the position of a power adjusting element and a position of an operator-actuated element.

16. An arrangement for operating an actuator in a vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

a first measuring device for supplying a first signal representing a first operating quantity;

a second measuring device for supplying a second signal representing a second operating quantity having a clear relationship to said first operating quantity and vice versa;

an electronic control apparatus connected to said first and second measuring devices for receiving said first and second signals; and

,

said electronic control apparatus including a computer containing a program functioning to do the following;

(a) form a drive signal for said actuator in dependence upon at least one of said first and second signals;

(b) compare said first and second signals to each other in the context of a plausibility check for detecting a fault;

(c) for implausibility, immediately initiate a first fault reaction operation; and

,

(d) for a continued presence of said implausibility, initiate a second fault reaction.

17. An arrangement for operating an actuator in a vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

a measuring device for supplying a first signal representing an operating quantity;

an electronic control apparatus connected to said measuring device for receiving said first signal;

said electronic control apparatus including a computer containing a program functioning to do the following;

(a) form a drive signal in dependence upon said signal representing said operating quantity;

(b) check said first signal as to plausibility;

(c) when recognizing implausibility, immediately initiating a first fault reaction operation wherein at least one of the velocity of said actuator and said acceleration of said actuator is limited; and

,

(d) for a continued presence of said implausibility, initiating a second fault reaction operation wherein the actuation of said actuator is brought to standstill or a substitute operating quantity is applied to actuate said actuator.