Pressure measuring method and device

• US 7,992,446 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Ebel, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Andre J
• Application Number:
  US10/565,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20070000559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,574 Days
• Field of Search: 737/292, 737/00, 701/29, 701/45
• US Class Current: 73/729.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/083 with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for measuring pressure in a container (1) filled or capable of being filled, using a pressure sensor (6) and a control unit (5). The filling or emptying is carried out under the control of the control unit (5) which receives as input signal, in addition to the pressure value (Ps) measured by the pressure sensor (6), a switching state (8) of a valve (4) controlled to fill or empty the container (1).

Claims

1. A method for measuring pressure of a container (1) filled with a medium (M), the method comprising:

determining a corrected internal value (Pcorr) during a filling or emptying process with aid of a pressure value (Ps) determined by a pressure sensor (6) depending on a switching state (8) of a valve (4) provided for filling or emptying the container (1), wherein at the beginning or at the end of filling or emptying of the container (1) depending on the corresponding switching state (8) of the valve (4) the pressure value (Ps) measured by the pressure sensor (6) is filtered.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein during filling or emptying of the container (1) depending on the corresponding switching state (8) of the valve (4) the pressure value (Ps) measured by the pressure sensor (6) is actuated with at least one predetermined parameter (a1, a2, b1, b2) characterizing the filling or emptying of the container (1).

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure value (Ps) measured by the pressure sensor (6) is filtered after the beginning or the end of filling or emptying for a predetermined period of time.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein in a switching state of the valve (4), in which the container (1) is neither filled nor emptied, the pressure value (Ps) measured by the pressure sensor (6) is processed unchanged.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure value (Ps) is continuously determined by means of the pressure sensor (6) during the filling or emptying process of the container (1).

6. A device for measuring pressure of a container (1) filled with a medium (M) comprising:

at least one pressure sensor (6) for determining a pressure value (Ps) during a filling or emptying process; and

a control unit (5) for determining a switching state (8) of a valve (4) provided for filling or emptying the container (1), wherein a correct internal value (Pcorr) is determined by the control unit (5) with the aid of the pressure value (Ps) depending on the switching state (8) of the valve (4), wherein a filter (F) for filtering the pressure value (Ps) measured by the pressure sensor (6) is provided at the beginning or at the end of filling or emptying of the container (1) depending on the corresponding switching state (8) of the valve (4).

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein during filling or emptying of the container (1) depending on the corresponding switching state (8) of the valve (4) by means of the control unit (5) the pressure value (Ps) measured by the pressure sensor (6) can be corrected on the basis of at least one predetermined parameter (a1, a2, b1, b2) characterizing the filling or emptying of the container (1).

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein the filter (F) is embodied as a low-pass filter.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein in a switching state (8) of the valve (4), which neither causes filling nor emptying of the container (1), provides a direct processing of the pressure value (Ps) measured by the pressure sensor (6).

10. A device according to claim 6, wherein a counter is provided.

11. A device according to claim 6, wherein the pressure sensor (6) for measuring the pressure value (Ps) is arranged in the region of the hose line (3) provided for filling and/or emptying the container (1).

12. A device according to claim 6, wherein the container (1) is an air bag in a seat of a motor vehicle.