Gravity sensor circuit system for vehicle

• US 8,255,111 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Kong, Seung Ki, Lim, Chun Gen, Shim, Jeong Min
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US12/627,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20110054733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.2, 701/29.7, 701/30.5, 701/82, 701/71, 701/38, 701/90, 701/30.9, 701/30.8, 180/197, 361/238
• US Class Current: 701/29.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2250/06 Sensor zero-point adjustment; Offset compensation
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/171 Detecting parameters used in the regulation; Measuring values used in the regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups

Abstract

A gravity sensor (G-sensor) circuit system including a microcontroller that determines whether there is a failure in the G-sensor and, if it is determined that there is a failure in the G-sensor, outputs a failure signal to a controller outside the PCB, or the controller outside the PCB communicates with the G-sensor to determine whether there is a failure in the G-sensor, thus performing the self-diagnosis. The gravity sensor (G-sensor) circuit system performs self-diagnosis, zero-offset, and digital output, thereby using a more accurate sensor signal, improving the vehicle stability, and increasing the control precision and accuracy.

Claims

1. A gravity sensor circuit system for a vehicle, comprising:

a gravity sensor including a status output terminal, a signal input terminal, and a signal output terminal through which a sensor measurement signal is output; and

a microcontroller connected to the status output terminal and the signal input terminal of the gravity sensor to communicate with the gravity sensor,

wherein the microcontroller applies a diagnosis signal to the signal input terminal of the gravity sensor and, when a status signal is input from the status output terminal of the gravity sensor, determines whether there is a failure in the gravity sensor based on the status signal.

2. The gravity sensor circuit system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller applies a voltage signal having a predetermined voltage or a pulse voltage signal as the diagnosis signal to the signal input terminal of the gravity sensor and compares a voltage signal input from the status output terminal of the gravity sensor as the status signal with the voltage signal applied as the diagnosis signal to determine whether there is a failure in the gravity sensor.

3. The gravity sensor circuit system of claim 2, wherein the microcontroller determines that the gravity sensor is in a normal state, if the status signal coincides with the diagnosis signal within a predetermined error range, and determines that the gravity sensor is in a failure state, if the status signal is out of the error range.

4. The gravity sensor circuit system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller outputs a failure signal to a controller if it is determined that the gravity sensor is in a failure state.

5. The gravity sensor circuit system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is connected to the signal output terminal of the gravity sensor to set a measurement signal currently output from the signal output terminal of the gravity sensor as a zero point, when an electrical signal is received from the outside or when an offset command is received from a controller mounted in the vehicle, and to offset the sensor measurement signal of the gravity sensor based on a deviation between the set zero point and an intrinsic zero point of the gravity sensor.

6. The gravity sensor circuit system of claim 5, wherein the currently output measurement signal and the sensor measurement signal are measured with respect to an inclination angle of a road.

7. A gravity sensor circuit system for a vehicle, comprising a gravity sensor including a status output terminal, a signal input terminal, and a signal output terminal through which a sensor measurement signal is output, the status output terminal and the signal input terminal of the gravity sensor being connected to a controller mounted in the vehicle,

wherein the controller applies a diagnosis signal to the signal input terminal of the gravity sensor and, when a status signal is input from the status output terminal of the gravity sensor, determines whether there is a failure in the gravity sensor based on the status signal.

8. The gravity sensor circuit system of claim 7, wherein the controller applies a voltage signal having a predetermined voltage or a pulse voltage signal as the diagnosis signal to the signal input terminal of the gravity sensor and compares a voltage signal input from the status output terminal of the gravity sensor as the status signal with the voltage signal applied as the diagnosis signal to determine whether there is a failure in the gravity sensor.

9. The gravity sensor circuit system of claim 8, wherein the controller compares the voltage signal input as the status signal with the voltage signal applied as the diagnosis signal, and determines that the gravity sensor is in a normal state if the status signal coincides with the diagnosis signal within a predetermined error range and determines that the gravity sensor is in a failure state if the status signal is out of the error range.

10. The gravity sensor circuit system of claim 7, wherein the controller is connected to the signal output terminal of the gravity sensor to set a measurement signal currently output from the signal output terminal of the gravity sensor as a zero point, when an electrical signal is received from the outside or when a predetermined operation of the vehicle is detected, and to offset the sensor measurement signal of the gravity sensor based on a deviation between the set zero point and an intrinsic zero point of the gravity sensor.

11. The gravity sensor circuit system of claim 10, wherein the measurement signal and the sensor measurement signal are measured with respect to an inclination angle of a road.

12. The gravity sensor circuit system of claim 7, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog voltage measurement signal output from the signal output terminal of the gravity sensor into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal to the controller.

13. The gravity sensor circuit system of claim 12, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is a comparator for comparing an analog voltage measurement signal with a reference value and converting the analog voltage measurement signal into a digital signal.