Method, device and system for checking a device for a vehicle for detecting an impact

• US 9,921,119 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Walz, Michel, Herrmann, Alexander, Mader, Denis, Lang, Gunther, Hild, Hansjoerg Markus, Schoenfeld, Daniel, Schmid, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolduc, David
• Application Number:
  US14/915,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20160209283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 27/007 Malfunction diagnosis, i.e. diagnosing a sensor defect
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0052 measuring forces due to impact G01L5/0061, G01L5/14 take precedence; impact testing of structures G01M7/08; impact testing of material G01N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/0078 Shock-testing of vehicles

Abstract

Method for checking a device for a vehicle for detecting an impact, in particular an impact with a pedestrian, by means of at least one impact-sensing means which is based on at least a first volume, in particular by means of an impact-sensing means which is based on at least one hose, a device having means for carrying out such a method and a corresponding system, in which at least one first variable is acquired, wherein the at least one first variable represents a pressure and/or a volume and/or a change in pressure and/or a change in volume in the first volume, and a result of the checking of the device is determined as a function of a profile of the at least one first variable.

Claims

1. A method for checking an impact detection device for a vehicle comprising:

detecting, with a pressure sensor, a first pressure level of fluid in a hose of the impact detection device at a first time;

operating a valve to place the hose in fluid communication with a volume that is external to the hose;

detecting, with the pressure sensor, a second pressure level of the fluid in the hose at a second time after operation of the valve, the second time being later than the first time; and

identifying, with a processing device, a blockage in the hose in response to a difference between the first pressure level and the second pressure level exceeding a predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor detects the first pressure level of the fluid relative to an ambient pressure level in the volume that is external to the hose.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor detects the first pressure level of air within the hose and the second pressure level of air within the hose.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating of the valve places the hose in fluid communication with a surrounding of the vehicle that includes the impact detection device.

5. An impact detection device for a vehicle comprising:

a hose;

a valve connected to the hose;

a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure level of a fluid in the hose; and

a processing device connected to the valve and the pressure sensor, the processing device being configured to;

detect a first pressure level of fluid in a hose of the impact detection device at a first time with the pressure sensor;

operate the valve to place the hose in fluid communication with a volume that is external to the hose;

detect a second pressure level of the fluid in the hose with the pressure sensor at a second time after operation of the valve, the second time being later than the first time; and

identify a blockage in the hose in response to a difference between the first pressure level and the second pressure level exceeding a predetermined threshold.

6. The impact detection device of claim 5 wherein the pressure sensor detects the first pressure level of the fluid relative to an ambient pressure level in the volume that is external to the hose.

7. The impact detection device of claim 5 wherein the pressure sensor detects the first pressure level of air within the hose and the second pressure level of air within the hose.

8. The impact detection device of claim 5 wherein the operating of the valve places the hose in fluid communication with a surrounding of the vehicle that includes the impact detection device.