Circuit assembly and method for plausibility checking of sensor signals

• US 9,702,742 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Reimann, Mathias
• Primary Examiner(s): Do, An
• Application Number:
  US14/236,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20140318209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,856 Days
• Field of Search: 702127, 702182, 702183
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01047 Architecture
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0119 Plausibility check
• 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: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A circuit assembly for plausibility checking of sensor signals, which can be generated by at least two separate sensor elements, includes at least one evaluation and control unit which receives the sensor signals via at least one interface unit and evaluates the received sensor signals for generating sensor data. A first evaluation and control unit is configured to receive the sensor signals of a first sensor element and to generate first sensor data from the first sensor signals. The first evaluation and control unit is configured to provide the generated first sensor data via at least one interface unit to a second evaluation and control unit, which receives and evaluates the sensor signals of a second sensor element to generate second sensor data. The second evaluation and control unit compares the generated second sensor data and the generated first sensor data to each other and inspects them for plausibility.

Claims

1. A circuit assembly for plausibility checking of sensor signals comprising:

a first sensor element;

a second sensor element;

a first evaluating and control unit;

a second evaluating and control unit;

wherein the first evaluating and control unit is operatively connected to the second evaluating and control unit, the first sensor element, and not to the second sensor element, the first evaluating and control unit being configured to;

receive first sensor signals from the first sensor element;

evaluate the first sensor signals to generate first sensor data; and

provide the generated first sensor data via a first interface unit to the second evaluating and control unit; and

wherein the second evaluating and control unit is operatively connected to the first evaluating and control unit, the second sensor element, and not to the first sensor element, the second evaluating and control unit being configured to;

receive second sensor signals from the second sensor element;

evaluate the second sensor signals to generate second sensor data;

perform a plausibility check based on the first sensor data received from the first evaluating and control unit and the second sensor data; and

generate an output including at least one of the first sensor data, the second sensor data, the second sensor data, a control signal, and a signal indicating a successful plausibility check only in response to a positive result of the plausibility check.

2. The circuit assembly as claimed in claim 1, the second evaluating and control unit being further configured to:

generate a reset signal for the first evaluating control unit to reset the first sensor element in response to a failure of the plausibility check; and

receive third sensor data from the first evaluating control unit after the reset of the first sensor element.

3. The circuit assembly as claimed in claim 1 the second evaluating and control unit being further configured to:

generate a plausibility check result based at least in part on one of a difference and a ratio between the first sensor data and the second sensor data; and

identify that the first sensor data and the second sensor data are plausible during the plausibility check in response to the plausibility check result being within a predetermined range.

4. The circuit assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the first sensor signal represents an acceleration in a low-G range, and

the second sensor signal represents an acceleration in a high-G range.

5. A method for plausibility checking of sensor signals, comprising:

acquiring sensor signals with at least two separate sensor elements;

evaluating the acquired sensor signals with at least one evaluating and control unit; and

converting the evaluated sensor signals into sensor data,

wherein first sensor signals of a first sensor element of the at least two separate sensor elements are (i) evaluated by a first evaluating and control unit of the at least one evaluating and control unit, (ii) converted into first sensor data, and (iii) transmitted to a second evaluating and control unit of the at least one evaluating and control unit,

wherein the second evaluating and control unit is configured (i) to evaluate second sensor signals of a second sensor element of the at least two separate sensor elements, and (ii) to convert the second sensor signals into second sensor data, (iii) to compare the generated first sensor data and the generated second sensor data with one another, (iv) to check the generated first sensor data and the generated second sensor data for plausibility;

(v) to generate a reset signal to reset the first evaluating and control unit in response to a lack of plausibility in the check for plausibility; and

(vi) to receive a new measurement of the first sensor signal after generation of the reset signal.