US5617337A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and device for monitoring sensor functions
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
•
Filing: 1994-10-13
•
Granted: 1997-04-01
•
Expires: 2014-10-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and a device for monitoring the functions of a sensor, in particular of a sensor for detecting a measurable value in a motor vehicle. If specified operating states exist, a measurable value is detected and compared to a reference value. Faults are detected when a measured value, held by the sensor, deviates by more than a tolerance value from a reference value. A measured value which had been detected and stored at an earlier instant when a corresponding operating state existed is used as the reference value.
Inventors
- 👤 Franz Eidler
- 👤 Werner Zimmermann
- 👤 Thomas Ruping
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D18/00; F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/22; F02D41/222; F02D2250/00; F02D2250/16; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for monitoring a sensor comprising the steps of: (a) detecting a measured value and storing the measured value as a reference value when one of a plurality of specified operating states exists at a first time; (b) detecting a measurable value when one of the plurality of specified operating states exists at a second time after the detecting and storing in step (a); (c) comparing the measurable value detected in step (b) with the reference value to determine a magnitude of a difference between the measurable value and the reference value; and (d) determining a fault when the magnitude of the difference determined in step (c) is greater than a tolerance value, wherein the one of the plurality of operating states includes when a control mechanism is positioned at an end limit stop of the control mechanism.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for monitoring a sensor comprising the steps of: (a) detecting a measured value and storing the measured value as a reference value when one of a plurality of specified operating states exists at a first time; (b) detecting a measurable value when one of the plurality of specified operating states exists at a second time after the detecting and storing in step (a); (c) comparing the measurable value detected in step (b) with the reference value to determine a magnitude of a difference between the measurable value and the reference value; and (d) determining a fault when the magnitude of the difference determined in step (c) is greater than a tolerance value, wherein the one of the plurality of operating states includes when a control mechanism is positioned at an end limit stop of the control mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the one of the specified operating states is a start-up operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the one of the specified operating states is a coasting operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the one of the specified operating states occurs at regular intervals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: (e) indicating the fault when the fault is determined in step (d).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: (e) correcting the fault when the fault is determined in step (d).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the correction of the fault in step (e) includes performing at least one of an additive correction following a sensor characteristic curve and a multiplicative correction following the sensor characteristic curve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the reference value is a reference characteristic curve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the reference value is a reference characteristic map.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
148 words
A device for monitoring at least one function of a sensor comprising: a) a reference value storage device for detecting and storing a measured value as a reference value when one of a plurality of specified operating states exists at a first time; b) a detector for detecting a measurable value when one of the plurality of specified operating states exists at a second time; c) a comparator, operatively coupled with the detector and with the reference value storage device, for comparing the measured value detected by the detector with the reference value; and d) a fault detector, operatively coupled with the comparator, for detecting a fault when the measurable value and the reference value differ by more than a tolerance value wherein the one of the plurality of specified operating states includes when a control mechanism is positioned at an end limit stop of the control mechanism.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
148 words
A device for monitoring at least one function of a sensor comprising: a) a reference value storage device for detecting and storing a measured value as a reference value when one of a plurality of specified operating states exists at a first time; b) a detector for detecting a measurable value when one of the plurality of specified operating states exists at a second time; c) a comparator, operatively coupled with the detector and with the reference value storage device, for comparing the measured value detected by the detector with the reference value; and d) a fault detector, operatively coupled with the comparator, for detecting a fault when the measurable value and the reference value differ by more than a tolerance value wherein the one of the plurality of specified operating states includes when a control mechanism is positioned at an end limit stop of the control mechanism.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4574265A
Cited
JPS6069238A
Cited
DE3428879A1
Cited
US4730264A
Cited
US4914594A
Cited
US5003954A
Cited
EP0404069A1
Cited
US5014548A
Cited
DE4122828A1
Cited
US5216882A
Cited
US5445014A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-31 | 2000-09-30 | 2001-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-31 | 2004-09-30 | 2005-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-09-30 | 2009-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |