System having a control unit and a status acquisition device as well as a method for testing/diagnosing such a system

• US 7,551,998 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Meyer, Michael, Marchthaler, Reiner, Loewen, Klaus, Drobny, Wolfgang, Giesel, Ruediger
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US10/484,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20050010345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,538 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/29, 701/33, 701/35, 340/436, 340/541, 340/425.5, 340/3.3, 340/3.72, 180/274, 180/271, 280/735, 280/804, 714/29, 700/23, 700/26, 709/223, 702/189, 702/85, 702/127, 702/183
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles

Abstract

In a system having a control unit for triggering a restraint system for vehicles, and having a status acquisition device, such as a seat occupation device, from which a data record describing the presence or the non-presence of the condition is transmitted to the control device, upon a defined stimulation signal from the control unit to the status acquisition device the latter transmits a second data record to the control unit, which corresponds to the type characteristics and the type data. Thereby, type data are able to be recorded even in the case of a status acquisition device installed in an obstructed way in a motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a control unit configured to trigger a restraint system assigned to a seat of a vehicle in response to an event to be interpreted as an impact on an obstacle; and

a status acquisition device connected to the control unit via a transmission channels, the status acquisition device recording a condition for the triggering when the event is present, the status acquisition device configured to regularly transmit to the control unit via the transmission channel a data record corresponding to a presence or a non-presence of the condition, wherein the status acquisition device is configured to transmit to the control unit a second data record corresponding to type characteristics of the status acquisition device in response to a defined stimulation signal, the control unit configured to transmit the stimulation signal to the status acquisition device, and to supply the second data record received thereupon to a diagnosis device, in response to a diagnosis execution signal from the diagnosis device;

wherein the type characteristics identify the status acquisition device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein during the transmission of the second data record, the first data record is not transmitted.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the stimulation signal is formed by a specified sequence of high and low levels.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the diagnosis device is configured to be coupled to the control unit when necessary.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmission channel is connected to the control unit and to the status acquisition device in each case via a serial interface.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmission channel is a conductor.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the status acquisition device is designed to record occupation of a seat surface of the seat.

8. A method for a diagnosis of a system having a triggerable restraint system, a control unit for triggering the restraint system when an event is recorded that is to be interpreted as the impact on an obstacle, and a status acquisition device for recording a condition for the triggering of the restraint system when the event is present, the status acquisition device being connected to the control unit via a transmission channel, the method comprising:

regularly transmitting, by the status acquisition device, a first data record which designates a presence or non-presence of the condition;

transmitting by the control unit, and to the status acquisition device a defined stimulation signal via the transmission channel, when executing the diagnosis; and

in response to a diagnosis execution signal from a diagnosis device;

transmitting, by the status acquisition device, a second data record corresponding to type characteristics of the status acquisition device to the control unit via the transmission channel, in response to the stimulation signal; and

supplying, by the control unit, the second data record to the diagnostic device;

wherein the type characteristics identify the status acquisition device.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein during the transmission of the second data record, the first data record is not transmitted.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the stimulation signal is formed by a specified sequence of high and low levels.