WO2001028820A2

WO2001028820A2 - Device for detecting an inclination, a change in inclination or acceleration of moving objects

Info

Publication number: WO2001028820A2
Application number: PCT/EP2000/010308
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dietrich Bräuer
Original assignee: Braeuer Dietrich
Priority date: 1999-10-22
Filing date: 2000-10-19
Publication date: 2001-04-26
Also published as: WO2001028820A3; DE19951195A1; DE19951195C2; EP1227955A2; AU1141201A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for detecting an inclination, a change in inclination or acceleration of a moving object, for example directional changes of a vehicle or in industrial processes, whereby a sensor mounted on the object is coupled with an electronic evaluator device, in particular a microprocessor which generates output signals by using the control values given therein. Reliable control functions in various application possibilities are achieved with a simple construction, whereby the sensor comprises at least one bubble gauge (20), with a gas bubble (21) in a fluid, whose position is detected by the electronic evaluator device and used to evaluate the presence of an inclination, change of inclination or acceleration.

Description

Device for detecting an inclination, change in inclination or acceleration of moving objects

The invention relates to a device for detecting an inclination, change in inclination or acceleration of moving objects, e.g. Change in the direction of a vehicle or in industrial processes in which a sensor attached to the object is coupled to evaluation electronics, in particular a microprocessor, which generates output signals with a control for the control.

Such a device is used, for example, in motor vehicles in connection with a triggering device for an airbag, the signals supplied by the sensor being in evaluation electronics, in particular a microprocessor or microcontroller with programs and / or values implemented therein and, if a limit criterion is exceeded, to form a control signal to trigger the airbag.

Even in industrial processes in which physical objects are moved, it is often important to detect their change in motion or also inclination or change in inclination and to trigger or influence control processes with the sensor signals.

The accelerations can be linear accelerations or radial accelerations.

Another device of this type relates to a direction indicator of motor vehicles. The direction indicators of motor vehicles are switched on manually by the driver. In passenger cars and trucks, the driver indicators on the steering column are designed to reset the direction indicator when the steering column is turned back. The steering angle is small in two-wheeled vehicles, since cornering is essentially achieved by the weight shift and the associated inclined position of the vehicle. For this reason, the direction indicator is switched off manually for two-wheeled vehicles or according to distance-time criteria for more complex vehicles. The convenience of automatic resetting that is customary in cars has not yet been achieved. In addition, the operation of the direction indicator or the control of the correct functioning of the automatic reset according to distance-time criteria requires the driver to check and steer the traffic situation from. A reliable automatic reset of the direction indicator would therefore also make sense for two-wheelers.

The invention has for its object to provide a device of the type specified, with the simple, inexpensive structure reliable controls with a variety of uses with the same sensor are possible.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

Appropriate further training is characterized in the subclaims.

If it is provided that the sensor is installed in a vehicle and that the measuring axis of the sensor is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle when driving straight ahead and parallel to the road surface when driving on a lane, changes in direction of travel can be recorded and when a completed turning process is detected, in which a turn signal was previously used can be set using the

Output signal of the evaluation electronics of the turn signals are reset.

In order to detect a certain acceleration or inclination and corresponding triggering of an output signal, it is advantageously provided that an acceleration sensor and / or inclination sensor is coupled to a comparator and that an output signal is only changed when a predetermined acceleration and / or inclination is exceeded. Another advantageous embodiment of the sensor is that the sensor has two vials, in which the position of the respective bubble in the

Dragonfly is determined via light barriers or capacitively. With the two dragonflies e.g. Accelerations in different or opposite directions are recorded.

An advantageous simple embodiment also consists in the sensor consisting of a spirit level with a strongly curved inner surface of the vessel.

A reliable automatic resetting of the direction indicator on a two-wheeler is achieved in that the sensor is rigidly connected to the handlebar of a two-wheeled vehicle and that the evaluation electronics, with the help of algorithms implemented in it, recognize whether it is a complete turning process and dependent of which triggers an output signal for resetting the direction indicator.

The configuration that at least one dragonfly attached in or on the moving object is aligned in the direction of movement and that the evaluation electronics are designed to determine a linear acceleration and output a related output signal enables the detection of a linear acceleration in or against the direction of movement for any moving objects, e.g. even in an industrial process.

The strength of the acceleration to be detected can be predefined in a simple manner in that the spirit level is inclined for triggering at higher acceleration. With a greater incline there is increased acceleration necessary to force the liquid of the dragonfly in the direction of acceleration, whereby the gas bubble shifts in the opposite direction.

For the construction of vials as are suitable for the present sensors, reference is made to DE 1 99 26 1 91 A1.

With the device according to the invention according to claim 6, the inclined position or the change in the inclined position at the beginning and at the end of the turning process is measured and evaluated using acceleration and / or inclination sensors. Acceleration (so-called acceleration sensors) and inclination sensors can be used equally. For the selection of the sensors, their placement and the evaluation of the signals, boundary conditions must be observed, which are explained with the aid of the drawings. Show:

1 a schematically shows a motorcycle when driving straight ahead,

1 b schematically shows the motorcycle when cornering,

2a schematically shows a side view of the motorcycle,

2b different positions of the sensor,

3 shows the orientation of measuring axes, 4a a sensor with two dragonflies,

4b shows another embodiment of the dragonfly,

Fig. 4c is a schematic representation in connection with a turn signal circuit and

5a and 5b show a schematic view of a sensor arrangement in a device for detecting a linear acceleration or a radial acceleration.

In Fig. 1 a a motorcycle is shown when driving straight ahead and in Fig. 1 b when cornering.

If an acceleration sensor, which measures the acceleration perpendicular to the direction of movement (measuring axis 1 near the center of gravity 2), is rigidly connected to the frame, the sensor shows no or only small accelerations during straight ahead and cornering, because the Balance of power is balanced. If the vehicle is accelerated or braked, this acceleration also acts perpendicular to the measuring axis and is therefore not displayed. The state of equilibrium is only disturbed at the beginning or at the end of cornering by a shift in weight and the associated changes in the inclination of the vehicle. An inclination or acceleration sensor, which detects accelerations in the measuring axis 1 in the vicinity of the center of gravity, would ideally only produce a measuring signal when the vehicle inclination changes deliver. Nevertheless, this would be a way to detect the turning process. In practice, it is found that the balance of forces during cornering is not completely balanced when selecting these measuring positions. Therefore, the inclination of the vehicle during cornering can also be determined at such a point, even if the measurement signals are small.

It is much cheaper to rigidly connect the sensor to the steering unit of the vehicle. The dashed line 1 indicates the measuring axis of the sensor. The balance of the forces acting on the sensor is initially just as balanced as before in the center of gravity of the vehicle (as can easily be shown using the torque conservation theorem). When driving straight ahead, the gravitational force 3 acts perpendicularly on the measuring axis 1 of the acceleration sensor. The sensor therefore shows no accelerations. When cornering (see FIG. 1 b), the weight 3 generates a force component 3 a in the direction of the measurement axis 1 of the acceleration sensor. This force component is compensated for by the corresponding component 4a of the centrifugal force 4.

When driving straight ahead, the sensor axis 1 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 7 of the vehicle and thus parallel to the surface of the road in the case of a level road. Due to the usual inclination 8 (see FIG. 2a) of the handlebar axis 5 against the longitudinal axis 7 of the vehicle, the measuring axis 1 is inclined more (T) when the vehicle is inclined. Accordingly, the balance of forces for this measuring axis is no longer balanced. A clearly detectable measurement signal is obtained from which the inclination of the vehicle can be detected. It is therefore particularly advantageous to rigidly connect the sensor to the handlebar. The sensor could also be located lower or higher without changing anything. However, the measurement axis should be arranged in a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel so that the measurement signal is independent of the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of travel.

The measuring axis is rigidly connected to the handlebar, according to FIG. 2b it is located, for example, in front of the axis of rotation 5 of the handlebar, but again in a plane perpendicular to the vehicle movement 6.

The movement of the handlebar about the axis of rotation 5 generates an additional centrifugal acceleration that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation. This acceleration is greater the further the sensor is from the axis of rotation. 2b shows various positions 9, 10, 11, 11 'of the sensor on the measuring axis 1 with the centrifugal accelerations 12 caused by a handlebar rotation. In position 10 directly in front of the axis of rotation, the displayed acceleration is minimal. The acceleration directly above the axis of rotation 5 would be zero. A position of the sensor in the vicinity of the handlebar axis of rotation 5 is particularly favorable if the sensor is rigidly connected to the handlebar.

If the sensor axis is firmly connected to the handlebar again and two sensors are used, which are arranged in complementary positions 1 1 and 1 1 'symmetrically to the axis of rotation 5, the handlebar rotation causes accelerations of the same height but with different signs. If you add these signals, you can see the influence of the centrifugal force generated by the handlebar rotation will also suppress. A disadvantage of this arrangement, however, is that the sensors must have a larger measuring range.

If you couple this measurement to a comparator or if you use an acceleration sensor that only changes its output signal when a given acceleration is exceeded, this signal can be evaluated with a simple logic circuit. In order to be able to detect left and right inclinations, two comparators must then be used or a correspondingly designed comparator acceleration sensor that shows three switching states (left, right, incline, perpendicular). It is useful to also integrate the hazard warning device, which is usually not available on a motorcycle, into the evaluation logic.

Zero point detections can usually be carried out very precisely and often very easily. If corresponding comparator arrangements are used which, due to their design, have the switching shaft in the zero point - that is to detect the sign of the acceleration - the required switching threshold can be set by inclining the measuring axis 1 'of the acceleration sensor against the actual measuring axis 1 (Fig 3). As a result, the sensor indicates an acceleration in the equilibrium position, and the resulting acceleration only becomes zero if the inclination is appropriate. 3 shows the orientation of the measurement axes 1 ', 1 "of two sensors to the measurement axis 1.

In order not to additionally measure the vehicle accelerations in the direction of travel, the measuring axes 1 ', 1 "in the plane perpendicular to the vehicle movement should be selected. A particularly cost-effective embodiment is shown in FIG. 4a For example, the sensor has two vials 20, 20 '. The position of the bubble 21 in the dragonfly is detected via light barriers 14, 15. Due to the inclined arrangement of the

Dragonfly against the measuring axis only speaks to the light barrier when a certain inclination is exceeded.

Fig. 4b shows a dragonfly with a strong curvature 16 of the vessel. The respective light barrier only detects the bladder 21 when it is sufficiently strong

Inclination of the measuring axis. If the light barrier generates a comparator signal, this arrangement shows output signals for left, right and vertical inclination.

The options listed here for the detection of a turning process at

Two-wheeled vehicles and resetting a direction indicator can also be used on other vehicles (three- and multi-wheeled vehicles, cars, trucks, rail vehicles, watercraft and possibly also aircraft). In these cases, in which the vehicle may not have a strong incline during cornering, the same sensors can be used with a sensor

Clearly record cornering or acceleration occurring during a turning process.

In the sensor according to FIG. 4a, the vials work as acceleration sensors. The arrangement shown in FIG. 4a measures the acceleration in an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel and parallel to the rear axle of the vehicle. For example, if the liquid of the right dragonfly 20 'is pressed to the outer end of the right end of the dragonfly by centrifugal force during a left-hand turn, the gas bubble moves sam to the lower end of the same level in front of the light barrier and is evaluated with the aid of a comparator / logic circuit of an evaluation electronics.

The problem here is a strong inclination of the vehicle to the horizon caused by possible topological conditions, which triggers the sensor without turning, because in this case the inclination of the road is detected by the sensor. If one chooses a correspondingly strong inclination of the two opposite dragonflies (FIG. 4a), an incorrect detection is prevented.

Since the sensors listed here record vehicle movements, they are also suitable for monitoring vehicle movement when parked or parked. An evaluation circuit activated by removing the ignition key or an activation device attached to the vehicle can warn the vehicle user of theft by e.g. a detected change in inclination to generate a warning signal is evaluated. The sensors described here also leave a combination of automatic

Reset the turn signals and an anti-theft system.

With suitable component dimensions (length of the vial, set hysteresis, liquid used, arrangement of the light barriers), the sensor clearly differentiates between the balance situation when driving straight ahead and the inclination situation when cornering, which occurs when turning.

Since the sensor is able to determine the inclination profile of the two-wheeler resulting from the driving dynamics before, during and after cornering (turning) and convert it into an electrical signal, the evaluation electronics connected to the conventional or the semiconductor relays can recognize, in particular in the form of a microcontroller μC, by implemented algorithms whether a

Turn situation exists and control or interrupt the power supply to the direction indicators accordingly. It is advantageous to carry out the evaluation logic in such a way that a tachometer increment Tl (tachometer pulses) is taken into account, which, as soon as the vehicle is at a standstill, deactivates the turn signal reset in order to prevent the turn signal being reset unintentionally in waiting situations, e.g. Avoid traffic lights where vehicle drivers are often essential. Furthermore, the

Sensor is able to monitor the vehicle movement in the parked state by suitable 'focusing' and to trigger an alarm if necessary. It is advantageous to also include the hazard warning device of the vehicle in the

Integrate electronics.

Because of its cylindrical shape, the sensor can be accommodated excellently and advantageously centrally in the vehicle driver and is therefore optimally aligned without any further adjustment effort. However, there is nothing to be said against accommodation on the relay board in the rear part of the vehicle. The dimensioning of the dragonfly body described above should be chosen differently. 4c shows a schematic illustration in connection with a turn signal circuit. The signal from receiver diodes E, which receive light from transmitter diodes S, is fed to the microcontroller μC (supply with Uv), which acts on the control of the right and left turn signals RB, LB.

A device with a spirit level 20 as a sensor, in which the position of the gas bubble 21 is recorded electronically, for example optoelectronically or capacitively, and which thus held sensor signals to the evaluation electronics, in particular a microcontroller, and calculated with programs and comparison values implemented therein, can also be used for detecting inclinations, changes in inclinations or accelerations of moving physical objects in other systems, for example in industrial processes. Here, for example, (negative or positive) linear accelerations a of the moving objects when stopped or started can also be monitored in order to determine critical situations (FIGS. 5a, 5b).

For example, in the event of a sudden stop of an object conveyed by a conveyor system, to which a bubble 20 oriented in the direction of movement with an electronic detection device with transmitter S and receiver E of the gas bubble 21 is rigidly attached, the liquid in the bubble 20 due to its inertia in the direction of movement urged, causing the gas bubble 21 to move in the opposite direction. The position change of the gas bubble 21 is recorded by the evaluation electronics and further processed according to the program stored therein in order to provide control signals for the system. Should the

Strength of the acceleration to be detected can be varied, the dragonfly can be used with a different inclination, similar to that described in connection with FIGS. 4a, 4b.

Compliance with the orientation of a moving object can be monitored by detecting the inclination.

Claims

Expectations

1 . Device for detecting an inclination, change in inclination or acceleration of moving objects, e.g. Change of direction of a vehicle or in industrial processes in which a sensor attached to the object is coupled to an evaluation electronics, in particular a microprocessor, which generates output signals with the existing specifications for a control, characterized in that the sensor has at least one spirit level (20) has a gas bubble (21) in a liquid, the position of which is detected by means of the evaluation electronics and can be evaluated with regard to the presence of an inclination, change in inclination or acceleration.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor is installed in a vehicle and that the measuring axis (1) of the sensor when driving straight ahead perpendicular to

Longitudinal axis of the vehicle (7) and parallel to the road surface on a level road.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, 10 characterized by an acceleration sensor and / or inclination sensor which is coupled to a comparator and that an output signal is changed only when a predetermined acceleration, change in inclination and / or inclination is exceeded.

15 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor has two vials (20, 20 '), in which the position of the respective bubble (21, 21') in the vial (20, 20 ') via light barriers (14 or 1 5, E, S) or capacitively. 0

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sensor consists of a spirit level (1 20) with a strongly curved inner surface of the vessel (1 6).

> 5

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor is rigidly connected to the handlebar of a two-wheeled vehicle and 0 that the evaluation electronics with the help of algorithms implemented in it detects whether it is a complete turning process, and dependent of which triggers an output signal for resetting the direction indicator.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one dragonfly attached in or on the moving object is aligned in the direction of movement and that the evaluation electronics is designed to determine a linear acceleration and to output a relevant output signal.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vial (20, 20 ') is arranged inclined to trigger at higher acceleration.