Method and arrangement having a data carrier

• US 6,494,379 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schmitt, Hans-Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanders, Allyson
• Application Number:
  US09/363,644
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 235/478, 235/472, 701/65
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means

Abstract

The invention is directed to an arrangement having a unit which exhibits specific mechanical characteristics to be detected, for example, via mechanical parameters. Furthermore, a data carrier for storing these characteristics is provided which is connected to the unit or is a part of the unit. The essence of the invention is that the data carrier is so configured that the characteristics are stored so that they are readable optically and/or mechanically and/or magnetically.

Claims

1. An arrangement for adapting a control unit of a motor vehicle to a transmission having specific mechanical tolerances measured for said transmission, the arrangement comprising:

a data carrier on said transmission being adapted to store said mechanical tolerances and said data carrier being configured so as to permit said mechanical characteristics to be read in in at least one of the following ways;

optically, mechanically and magnetically;

said control unit being connected to said transmission for controlling said transmission during operation thereof;

a memory contained in said control unit;

means for reading into said memory at least a portion of said mechanical tolerances of said transmission to adapt said control unit to said transmission for the normal operation of said transmission with said control unit during the operation of said vehicle; and

,

said control unit being configured as a transmission control unit.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, said data carrier being connected to said transmission so as to be mounted thereon.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, said data carrier being formed so as to be an integral part of said transmission.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, said mechanical characteristics being stored on said data carrier as a machine-readable character code.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, said memory being a nonvolatile memory.

6. The arrangement of claim 4, said character code being an optically readable bar code.

7. The arrangement of claim 6, said reading means including a light source for reading said bar code.

8. The arrangement of claim 7, said light source being a laser.

9. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of said data carrier is a shield or plate made of plastic or metal.

10. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising attachment means for attaching said data carrier to said transmission.

11. The arrangement of claim 10, said attachment means including rivets, adhesive or threaded fasteners for securing said data carrier to said transmission.

12. The arrangement of claim 1, said data carrier being a characteristic code formed directly on said transmission.

13. The arrangement of claim 1, said transmission including:

a mechanical pressure controller and hydraulic transmission elements; and

, said mechanical tolerances being of at least one of said mechanical pressure controller and said hydraulic transmission elements.

14. A method for adapting a control apparatus of a motor vehicle to a transmission of said motor vehicle and said transmission having specific mechanical tolerances and said control apparatus having a memory, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring said specific mechanical tolerances of said transmission;

storing said mechanical tolerances specific to said transmission on a data carrier so as to be readable in at least one of the following ways;

optically, mechanically and magnetically;

connecting said control apparatus to said transmission for controlling said transmission during operation thereof;

reading out said mechanical tolerances to adapt said control apparatus to said transmission; and

,

storing the read out mechanical tolerances in said memory.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said mechanical characteristics are read out optically.

16. An arrangement for adapting a control unit of a motor vehicle to an additional unit of said motor vehicle and said additional unit having specific mechanical tolerances, the arrangement comprising:

a data carrier mounted on said additional unit and being adapted to store said mechanical tolerances and said data carrier being configured so as to permit said mechanical tolerances to be read in at least one of the following ways;

optically, mechanically and magnetically;

said control unit being connected to said additional unit for controlling said additional unit during operation thereof and of said motor vehicle;

a memory contained in said control unit;

means for reading into said memory at least a portion of said mechanical tolerances specific to said additional unit to adapt said control unit to said additional unit; and

,

said control unit being configured to control said additional unit.

17. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein said vehicle has a motor and additional ancillary devices including an injection pump;

and, wherein said component is any one of the following;

said motor of said vehicle and said additional ancillary devices including said injection pump.

18. A method for adapting a control apparatus of a motor vehicle to a component of said vehicle and said component having specific mechanical tolerances which can be measured and said control apparatus having a memory, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring said mechanical tolerances specific to said component;

storing said mechanical tolerances on a data carrier so as to be readable in at least one of the following ways;

optically, mechanically and magnetically;

connecting said control apparatus to said component for controlling said component during operation thereof in said motor vehicle;

reading out said mechanical tolerances from said data carrier to adapt said control apparatus to said component; and

,

storing the read out mechanical characteristics in said memory of said control apparatus.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said vehicle has a motor and additional ancillary devices including an injection pump;

and, wherein said component is any one of the following;

said motor of said vehicle and said additional ancillary devices including said injection pump.

20. An arrangement for adapting a control unit of a motor vehicle to a transmission having specific mechanical tolerances measured for said transmission, the arrangement comprising:

a non-electronic data carrier fixedly arranged on said transmission and said data carrier being adapted to store said mechanical tolerances of said transmission and said data carrier being configured so as to permit said mechanical characteristics to be read in optically or magnetically;

said control unit being electrically connected to said transmission with electrical lines for controlling said transmission during operation thereof;

a memory contained in said control unit;

means for reading into said memory at least a portion of said mechanical tolerances of said transmission to adapt said control unit to said transmission for the normal operation of said transmission with said control unit during the operation of said vehicle; and

,

said control unit being configured as a transmission control unit.