Method for controlling and evaluating a sensor device shared by a plurality of applications

• US 7,119,666 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2002
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hein, Andreas, Hoetzel, Juergen, Schlick, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/468,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20040113759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,711 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/932.2, 340/903, 340/522, 340/521, 340/426.24, 761/45, 180/271
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9322 using additional data, e.g. driver condition, road state or weather data

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and a device for controlling and evaluating at least one sensor device jointly used by a plurality of applications, in particular occupant-assistance/occupant-protection applications in an apparatus of locomotion, having the following steps: the measuring of certain locomotion apparatus parameters by a situation-detection device for determining the situation of the apparatus of locomotion with respect to its surroundings; the querying of the locomotion apparatus situation by a control device connected to the situation-detection device; and the activation of an application corresponding to the locomotion apparatus situation, by the control device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling and evaluating at least one sensor device jointly used by a plurality of applications, comprising:

measuring locomotion-means parameters by a situation-detection device for determining a situation of the means of locomotion with respect to surroundings thereof;

querying a locomotion-means situation by a control device connected to the situation-detection device;

activating an application of the plurality of applications and corresponding to the locomotion-means situation;

converting measuring data from the at least one sensor device into state variables by a transformation device connected to the at least one sensor device;

evaluating the state variables from the transformation device with regard to the activated application;

rendering usable the state variables for the activated application by an evaluation device connected to the control device and the transformation device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of applications includes occupant-assistance/occupant-protection applications in means of locomotion.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

activating at least one component assigned to the activated application by the control device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the at least one assigned component includes the only one sensor device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the at least one assigned component includes an evaluation device and is connected to the transformation device.

6. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

connecting via one of point-to-point connection and a bus system the situation-detection device and the at least one component.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

coupling the evaluation device to the situation-detection device.

8. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

connecting a display device to the control device and the evaluation device.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

integrating into the control device a priority-control system for determining a next process step to be carried out.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the only one sensor device includes one of an ultrasonic device, a radar device, and a video device.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the applications include at least one of a park-distance control system, a stop-and-go assistant system, and a pre-crash protection assistance system.

12. A device for controlling and evaluating at least one sensor device jointly used by a plurality of applications, comprising:

a situation-detection device for measuring locomotion-means parameters, in order to determine a situation of the means of locomotion with respect to surroundings thereof;

a control device that is connectible to the situation-detection device for querying the locomotion-means situation;

a transformation device connected to the at least one sensor device and for converting measuring data from the sensor device into state variables; and

an evaluation device connected to the control device and the transformation device, the evaluation device evaluating the state variables from the transformation device with regard to the activated application and rendering usable the state variables for the activated application.

13. The device as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the plurality of applications includes occupant-assistance/occupant-protection applications in means of locomotion.

14. The device as recited in claim 12, wherein:

at least one component assigned to the activated application is activated by the control device.

15. The device as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the at least one assigned component includes the only one sensor device.

16. The device as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the at least one assigned component includes an evaluation device and is connected to the transformation device.

17. The device as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

one of point-to-point connection and a bus system via which the situation-detection device and the at least one component.

18. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein:

the evaluation device is connectible to the situation-detection device.

19. The device as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

a display device connectible to the control device and the evaluation device.

20. The device as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

a priority-control system for determining a next process step to be carried out and being integrated into the control device.

21. The device as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the only one sensor device includes one of an ultrasonic device, a radar device, and a video device.

22. The device as recited in claim 12, wherein:

the applications include at least one of a park-distance control system, a stop-and-go assistant system, and a pre-crash protection assistance system.

23. The device as recited in claim 12, wherein:

different transformation devices access the same results of the only one sensor device.

24. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein:

different evaluation devices for different applications access the same results of the transformation device.