Device for detecting an installation error of satellite sensors on opposite sides in a vehicle

• US 8,035,492 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Fislage, Markus, Kolb, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase; Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US11/596,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20080204202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,412 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426.13
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01006 Mounting of electrical components in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01197 Warning devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems

Abstract

A device for detecting an installation error of satellite sensors on opposite sides of a vehicle is provided, which device detects the installation error based on a signal comparison between a door contact signal and a signal of one of the satellite (door acceleration) sensors during closing of a side door.

Claims

1. A device for detecting an installation error of a first satellite sensor on a side of a vehicle corresponding to a first door, comprising:

a detection mechanism for detecting a first door contact signal indicating an imminent closing of the first door;

a detection mechanism for detecting a second door contact signal indicating an imminent closing of a second door on opposite side of the vehicle from the first door; and

a control unit for detecting the installation error of the at least one satellite sensor, wherein the installation error is detected based on a comparison between one of the first and second door contact signals and a signal of one of the first satellite sensor and a second satellite sensor on the side of the vehicle corresponding to the second door during closing of one of the first door and the second door.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the installation error is detected when the signal of one of the first satellite sensor and the second satellite sensor is not present within a predefined period of time after detecting of one of the first and second door contact signals.

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

a memory, wherein information indicating the installation error is stored in the memory after the installation error has been detected.

4. The device as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

a memory, wherein information indicating the installation error is stored in the memory after the installation error has been detected.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an alert mechanism for issuing an alert after the installation error has been detected.

6. The device as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

an alert mechanism for issuing an alert after the installation error has been detected.

7. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the installation error is detected when the first door contact signal and the signal of the second satellite sensor are detected within the predefined period of time.

8. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the installation error includes reversed cables between a driver'"'"'s door and a front passenger'"'"'s door.

9. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein no installation error exists if the signal between one of the first door contact signals correlates with a signal of one of the first satellite sensor and the signal between one of the second door contact signals correlates with a signal of one of the second satellite sensor.

10. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the control unit and the contact sensors are connected via a CAN bus.

11. The device as recited in claim 3, wherein the installation error is stored in the memory permanently.

12. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a memory wherein information indicating the installation error is stored in the memory after the installation error has been detected; and

an alert mechanism for issuing an alert after the installation error has been detected, wherein the installation error is detected when the first door contact signal and the signal of the second satellite sensor are detected within the predefined period of time.

15. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a memory, wherein information indicating the installation error is stored in the memory after the installation error has been detected;

wherein the installation error is detected when the signal of one of the first satellite sensor and the second satellite sensor is not present within a predefined period of time after detecting of one of the first and second door contact signals, and

wherein no installation error exists if the signal between one of the first door contact signals correlates with a signal of one of the first satellite sensor and the signal between one of the second door contact signals correlates with a signal of one of the second satellite sensor.

16. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a memory, wherein information indicating the installation error is stored in the memory after the installation error has been detected; and

an alert mechanism for issuing an alert after the installation error has been detected;

wherein the installation error includes reversed cables between a driver'"'"'s door and a front passenger'"'"'s door.

17. The device as recited in claim 16, wherein no installation error exists if the signal between one of the first door contact signals correlates with a signal of one of the first satellite sensor and the signal between one of the second door contact signals correlates with a signal of one of the second satellite sensor.

18. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an alert mechanism for issuing an alert after the installation error has been detected;

wherein the installation error is detected when the first door contact signal and the signal of the second satellite sensor are detected within the predefined period of time, and

wherein the installation error includes reversed cables between a driver'"'"'s door and a front passenger'"'"'s door.

19. The device as recited in claim 18, wherein no installation error exists if the signal between one of the first door contact signals correlates with a signal of one of the first satellite sensor and the signal between one of the second door contact signals correlates with a signal of one of the second satellite sensor.

20. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a memory, wherein information indicating the installation error is stored in the memory after the installation error has been detected;

an alert mechanism for issuing an alert after the installation error has been detected;

wherein the installation error is detected when the first door contact signal and the signal of the second satellite sensor are detected within the predefined period of time,

wherein the control unit and the contact sensors are connected via a CAN bus, and

wherein the installation error is stored in the memory permanently.

13. A method for detecting an installation error of a first satellite sensor on a side of a vehicle corresponding to a first door, comprising:

detecting a first door contact signal indicating an imminent closing of the first door;

detecting a second door contact signal indicating an imminent closing of a second door on opposite side of the vehicle from the first door; and

detecting the installation error of the at least one satellite sensor, wherein the installation error is detected based on a comparison between one of the first and second door contact signals and a signal of one of the first satellite sensor and a second satellite sensor on the side of the vehicle corresponding to the second door during closing of one of the first door and the second door.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

storing the installation error in a memory after the installation error has been detected; and

issuing an alert after the installation error has been detected, wherein the installation error is detected when the first door contact signal and the signal of the second satellite sensor are detected within the predefined period of time.