EP1242734B1 - Setting device for a vehicle having a mechanically adjustable part, and method for operating the setting device - Google Patents

Abstract

A setting device for a vehicle having a mechanically adjustable part in which a sensor assigned to the mechanically adjustable part generates sensor signals corresponding to the positions of the part. An initial range of the sensor values is assigned to an inoperative position of the part and covers the varying initial positions of the part. An evaluation device stores a longer constant signal in the initial range as an intermediate value. A longer constant sensor signal is compared with the intermediate value after the initial range is exceeded and after the subsequent return into this range. If it is established that both values are approximately of the same magnitude, the evaluation device stores this value as an initial value. As a result, the inoperative position of the part is reliably verified without the use of additional auxiliary components or steps.

Description

The invention relates to an actuator for a Vehicle with a mechanically adjustable component and a Method for operating the actuating device.

In automobiles it is common to use e.g. as a foot pedal trained actuator to couple with a sensor that the Angular position of the lever detected. Adjusting one Position signal of the foot lever is given after installation in the Automobile by over in a stop position of the foot pedal an auxiliary signal is set via an external signal input or the position of the sensor itself is mechanically adjusted becomes. The signal level present at the sensor at this moment is then saved as the initial value and later Operation subtracts or compensates Process reliability this procedure is hardly from the automotive aspect guaranteed. During later operation of the vehicle it is possible that the geometry of the lever mechanism e.g. by increasing bearing play, due to deformation or in Repair case changed. The e.g. as a rotary potentiometer or Hall sensor trained sensor can be its characteristic due to wear or soiling e.g. with iron particles change. The properties of the electronic components are also affected by aging and environmental influences change, which inevitably leads to signal drift.

Usual adaptive learning systems cannot be used here be because the actuation profiles of the signals from both Drivers as well as traffic situations, e.g. an uncontrolled long dwell time in a certain Position. Furthermore, none of the known algorithms can short-term zero point changes are recorded, such as those e.g. arise after a repair.

DE 3612904 A describes a method for Tolerance compensation of a position encoder signal is known become, in which the rest position of the component during the Operation of the vehicle is monitored. The Measured values of an upper and a lower stop saved. If an is exceeded during operation of these end values, the new measured value becomes the new end value stored. This has the disadvantage of being an actual one Does not drift the rest position towards the middle area at all can be recorded.

The invention is based, the adjustment effort to eliminate and increase functional reliability.

This object is achieved by the invention according to claim 1. By constantly monitoring the rest position during the Operating can now shift the signal level in the Stop position can be detected and corrected. A Readjustment by specialist staff is no longer necessary required. A particular advantage is that the stability, quality and assembly of the Actuator are less demanding requirements need to secure their function.

A shift in the resting value can be safe in both Directions are recognized. By the principle of repetition it is an initial value in a longer dwell position possible to rest with a high degree of certainty to verify. It is also conceivable in itself that Starting position at the moment the Determine vehicle electronics. But if at that moment e.g. the clutch pedal has been pressed, this leads to a Misinterpretation with a corresponding malfunction of the Operating system. There would also be signal shifts not during operation due to temperature fluctuations get recorded. Since it is almost impossible to find a free one To hit the floating position exactly several times in succession and hold can be assumed with a high degree of certainty be that an at least one repetition of a Stop within an exit area of the Sensor signals represents the actual starting position. With this scheme the starting position is dynamic detected, but by vibrations such as. B. in the automobile occurrence not affected.

Advantageous further developments of the invention result from the features characterized in claims 2 to 4.

Through the training according to claim 2, the Setting device prepared as a largely autonomous system and be installed without further adjustment measures required are.

The reset device according to claim 3 is easier Way ensured the rest position.

Through the training according to claim 4 Control device created at large Functional safety simply manufactured and in an automobile can be installed. A coil of the inductive sensor can e.g. on a pedal housing and one caught by the coil Metal part to be attached to a foot pedal. A related one Control electronics is also attached to the pedal housing and with the coil in one assembly, which also the Evaluation electronics can contain. The inductive sensor detects the distance to the metal part and thus also the Angle position of the foot lever.

The inventions according to claims 5 and 6 give the exact Procedure for determining the initial value. The Verification level can be further increased if that Output signal after another repeat of the exact Rest level is recognized and saved. Such multiple repetitions result e.g. when pressing the Clutch pedal in a start-up phase.

Figur 1

schematisiert eine partielle Seitenansicht einer Pedaleinrichtung eines Automobils mit einem wegaufnehmenden Sensor in einer Ausgangsstellung,

Figur 2

die Teile nach Figur 1 in einer anderen Funktionsstellung,

Figur 3

ein Verlaufsdiagramm der Sensorwerte bei sich ändernder Pedalstellung der Pedaleinrichtung nach Figur 1.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in more detail below. Show it:

Figure 1

schematized a partial side view of a pedal device of an automobile with a displacement sensor in a starting position,

Figure 2

the parts of Figure 1 in a different functional position,

Figure 3

2 shows a course diagram of the sensor values when the pedal position of the pedal device according to FIG. 1 changes.

According to FIG. 1, a mechanically adjustable component is in shape of a foot lever 1 serving as an operating element Pedal axis 2 pivotally mounted in a housing 5, which in the footwell of an automobile can be used. Above the Foot lever 1 is a stationary attached Coil part 3, which is directed towards the foot lever 1 electromagnetic alternating field induced. The coil part 3 is part of a module attached to the housing 6, the Housing 5 is attached and a control and Contains evaluation electronics for the coil part.

On e.g. made of glass fiber reinforced plastic Foot lever 1 is a metal part 4 attached together with the coil part forms an inductive sensor and its Distance to the coil part 3 depends on the Pivotal position of foot pedal 1 changes. This causes one corresponding change in the inductive resistance of the Coil part 3, resulting in a corresponding change in measurable power loss of the coil part 3 leads. The end Sheet metal bent metal part 4 has a convex cam-like Curvature, the course of which is designed so that the Output signals from the sensor are approximately proportional to Change the angular position of foot pedal 1.

The metal part has an easily generated bending contour on and can be done with little effort by inserting it into a Mold for the foot pedal to be connected to this. This Part of the sensor therefore causes further installation in the Pedal room no additional costs. In the shown Starting position is the foot lever against the force of one Return spring 7 on a stop 8 of the housing 5 and assumes a rest position, the sensor value of which represents the corresponding initial value. An end of Metal part is closely adjacent to the coil part and influenced whose alternating electromagnetic field is correspondingly strong.

According to Figure 2, the foot pedal is in a functional position pivoted in the distance to the coil part 3 considerably is enlarged. The inductive resistance of the coil part has changed accordingly. In a not shown, directly coupled conversion device can Sensor values are converted into output signals and into an electronic evaluation device of module 6 are processed.

FIG. 3 shows the course of the sensor values during a Operating cycle again, where t is a time axis and s is Represents the axis of the sensor values. An Indian Evaluation device 9 (FIG. 1) stored threshold value sw limits an output range sr of the sensor values, within the starting value of which may vary. In the Evaluation device is a previous output value sp stored. In the left section of the curve is the Foot lever in the stop position according to Figure 1. The sensor value s is significantly above the saved one previous initial value sp. Because the one with a timer provided actuator no further sensor e.g. in Form of a limit switch for the detection of the stop position , she suspects in a defined Minimum duration tm constant sensor value below the Threshold sw a new initial value, which you as provisional intermediate value st stores.

In the 'subsequent phase, foot pedal 1 becomes his Starting position in the functional position shown in Figure 2 pivoted, the sensor values s the threshold value sw significantly exceed. After the foot lever in the figure 1 shown starting position has returned, reach the Sensor values s in the right part of the curve exactly the height of the Intermediate value st, which over the specified minimum duration tm remains constant. The evaluation device 9 compares this Value with the intermediate value st. After sufficient Agreement between the two values and significant deviation from the saved initial value sp stores the Evaluation device the intermediate value st as new Initial value spn for the rest position of foot pedal 1 (Fig. 1) from.

Such an actuating device and such Adjustment procedures can not only be accordingly Controls of a vehicle, but also to other actuators and drive devices with periodic processes e.g. at use a carburetor or an injection system. The Verification of the rest position by exact repetition makes additional evaluations e.g. of Push button positions or the current consumption of actuators superfluous. A particular advantage is that the Setup with the associated sensor completely independent of other metrics can work, which is far-reaching Unbundling of various measuring and control devices of the vehicle.

reference numeral

1

treadle

2

pedal axle

3

coil part

4

metal part

5

casing

6

module

7

Return spring

8th

attack

9

evaluation

s

sensor value

sw

threshold

st

intermediate value

sp

output value

spn

new starting value

sr

output range

t

time

tm

minimum duration

Claims (6)

1. A setting device for a vehicle, having a mechanically adjustable component (e.g. 1) and having a sensor (3, 4) measuring the positions of the component, which sensor is connected to an electronic evaluation device (9), it being possible to define a position of rest of the component as the initial position,
   wherein the values (s) of sensor signals corresponding to the position of rest can be stored in the evaluation device (9) as an initial value sp,
   wherein the position of rest of the component can be monitored during the operation of the vehicle, and
   wherein in the event of a significant deviation of the sensor signals in the position of rest from the initial value (sp), the value of the current sensor signals can be stored as a new initial value (spn),
   characterised in that the evaluation device is provided with means for the detection of a setting cycle,
   in that a longer stationary dwell position of the component (e.g. 1) in an initial region (sr) of the position of rest can be stored in the evaluation device (9),
   and in that the leaving of the initial region (sr) and the approximately exact return into the memorised stationary dwell position and the longer dwell therein can be stored as the actual position of rest.
2. A setting device according to Claim 1,
   characterised in that the component (1) is constructed as an operating element
   and in that the sensor (3,4) and at least parts of the evaluation device (9) are combined in a common assembly (6) and are connected to a housing for the operating element.
3. A setting device according to Claim 2,
   characterised in that the operating element (e.g. 1) is provided with a resetting device (e.g. 7), which after the release of the operating element moves it back into the initial position.
4. A setting device according to Claim 3,
   characterised in that the operating element is constructed as a spring-loaded swivel lever, in particular as a pedal (1)
   and in that the sensor (3, 4) constructed as an inductive distance sensor detects the angular positions of the swivel lever (e.g. 1).
5. A method for operating a setting device according to one of the preceding Claims,
   whereby the position of a mechanical component (e.g. 1) is detected by a sensor (3, 4), which is coupled to an electronic evaluation device (9),
   characterised in that for the determination of the initial position of the component a threshold value (sw) is assigned to the sensor signals and is stored in the evaluation device (9),
   in that the sensor signals lying beneath the threshold value are assigned to the initial region (sr), which corresponds to the permissible range of the position of rest,
   in that the operating cycle is defined by the threshold value (sw) being exceeded and the subsequent return of the sensor values (s) into the initial region (sr),
   in that the evaluation device detects the signal level of the sensor continuously or in narrow time intervals and compares it with the threshold value (sw),
   in that the value of a sensor signal constant over a minimum period and beneath the threshold value in the evaluation device is recognised as an intermediate value (st) and is stored,
   in that after the threshold value (sw) has been exceeded and is then fallen short of, the signal level is compared with the intermediate value (t) and the initial value (sp)
   and in that a subsequent sensor signal (s) constant over the minimum period at the level of the intermediate value deviating from the initial value is stored as a new initial value (spn).
6. A method according to Claim 5,
   characterised in that the initial position of the operating element is also monitored during the operation of the motor vehicle and is newly determined if there is a sufficient deviation.

Images