Method and device for detecting sensor errors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11293939-B2
Application number	US-201916589777-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2019
Priority date	Oct 2, 2018
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

Method for detecting sensor errors, wherein measurements are taken, discharge time data with a first discharge time constant is read out from a data storage unit of the sensor and corresponding measurement signals as well as the discharge time data are transmitted to a computing unit, where a signal processing, a signal evaluation and a data evaluation occur in the computing unit and filtered signals are formed by filtering the measurement signals, where parameter values of a discharge function are determined via a logarithmic function of the filtered signals, a second discharge time constant is determined from the discharge function and where the first discharge time constant and the second discharge time constant are compared to detect errors, faults or damage of the sensor such that the influences of sensor errors on the measurements can be reduced.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for detecting sensor errors, via which measurements are obtained, discharge time data with a first discharge time constant of the sensor is read out from a data storage unit of the sensor and corresponding measurement signals as well as a discharge time data are transmitted to a computing unit, a signal processing, a signal evaluation and a data evaluation occurring in the computing unit and filtered signals being formed via filtering of the measurement signals, the method comprising:
determining, via a logarithmic function of the filtered signals, parameter values of a time-dependent discharge function in relation to the sensor; and
determining a second discharge time constant from the discharge function and comparing the first discharge time constant and the second discharge time constant to detect faults or damage of the sensor.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second discharge time constant is determined from a gradient k of the time-dependent discharge function.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a warning event is generated upon detection of an error, a fault or damage of the sensor.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the measurements, the signal processing, the signal evaluation, the data evaluation, the filtering, the logarithmic function, a discharge time constant creation and the comparison are performed continuously.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a warning event is generated upon detection of an error, a fault or damage of the sensor.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the measurements, the signal processing, the signal evaluation, the data evaluation, the filtering, the logarithmic function, a discharge time constant creation and the comparison are performed continuously.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the measurements, the signal processing, the signal evaluation, the data evaluation, the filtering, the logarithmic function, a discharge time constant creation and the comparison are performed continuously.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second discharge time constant is determined via an equalization sum.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein an error, a fault or damage of the sensor is detected when a difference between the first discharge time constant and the second discharge time constant falls below a defined first limit value and when a root mean square error of the second discharge time constant falls below a defined second limit value.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensors comprise a piezoelectric sensor for vehicles.

11. A device comprising:
a sensor; and
a computing unit;
wherein the sensor and the computing unit are arranged on a vehicle; and
wherein the device is configured to:
determine, via a logarithmic function of filtered signals, parameter values of a time-dependent discharge function in relation to the sensor;
determine a second discharge time constant from the discharge function and compare a first discharge time constant and the second discharge time constant to detect faults or damage of the sensor.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the sensor and the computing unit are provided on a chassis of the vehicle.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the sensor and the computing unit comprise parts of a diagnostic and monitoring device of the vehicle.

14. The device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the sensor is provided on a chassis of the vehicle and the computing unit is provided in or on a vehicle body of the vehicle.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the sensor and the computing unit comprise parts of a diagnostic and monitoring device of the vehicle.

16. The device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the sensor and the computing unit comprise parts of a diagnostic and monitoring device of the vehicle.

17. The device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the computing unit is connected to a display unit upon which a detected error, a detected fault or a detected damage of the sensor can be displayed.

18. The device as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising:
an antenna arranged on or in the vehicle and connected to the computing unit, said antenna being configured to transmit diagnostic and monitoring signals in relation to the sensor.

Assignees

• Siemens Mobility GmbH

Inventors

• Dejaco Daniela
• Girstmair Bernhard Lukas
• Grabner Gerald
• Haigermoser Andreas
• Simon Johannes

Classifications

• G01P21/00 Primary

  Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups · CPC title

• B61K9/02 Primary

  Profile gauges, e.g. loading gauges · CPC title

• G01M17/08

  Railway vehicles · CPC title

• G01P15/09

  by piezoelectric pick-up · CPC title

• H10N30/802

  Circuitry or processes for operating piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices not otherwise provided for, e.g. drive circuits · CPC title