DE102021100751B3 - Processing device and method for processing a sensor signal of a sensor for a vehicle and sensor system with a sensor and a processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A processing device (115) for processing a sensor signal (120) of a sensor (110) for a vehicle (100) comprises a splitting device (140) for splitting the sensor signal (120) to at least a first split signal (165) and a second split signal ( 170), wherein the signal pulses (500) of the sensor signal (120) are alternately assigned to the first split signal (165) and the second split signal (170). The processing device (115) has an assignment device (145) for assigning a first split signal value (175) to the first split signal (165) and a second split signal value (180) to the second split signal (170). A comparator (150) compares the first split signal value (175) with the second split signal value (180) to obtain a positive comparison result (182) when the first split signal value (175) matches the second split signal value (180). A determination device (160) determines a signal value (190) of the sensor signal (120) using the comparison result (182, 185).

Description

The present approach relates to a processing device for processing a sensor signal from a sensor for a vehicle, a sensor system having a sensor and a processing device, and a method for processing a sensor signal for a vehicle.

There are a number of basic methods for safeguarding signal values, which are generally used as individual methods and are referenced by common technical standards. For example, the security standard ISO26262 names a number of such methods for protection, such as 'information redundancy', 'frame counter' etc. (ISO26262-5 Table D6). The concrete application and design of the methods is not specified and it is up to the developer to achieve an appropriate level of security. the US 2013/0 275 022 A1 describes a method and a control unit for correcting the crankshaft signal of an engine. the US 2014/0 219 413 A1 describes a method and an evaluation device for the plausibility check of an incremental counter. the US 2002/0 125 880 A1 describes a method and apparatus for detecting broken teeth in a pulse signal. the US 2015/0 219 474 A1 describes a digital period divider. the DE 199 61 504 A1 describes a method for detecting signal errors. the EP 0 193 335 B1 describes an apparatus for detecting an anomaly of a rotational speed sensor.

Against this background, the object of the present approach is to create an improved processing device for processing a sensor signal from a sensor for a vehicle, a sensor system with a sensor and an improved processing device, and an improved method for processing a sensor signal for a vehicle.

This object is achieved by a processing device having the features of device claim 1, by a sensor system according to claim 11 and by a method according to claim 13.

The advantages that can be achieved with the approach presented are that a processing device is created that is designed to carry out a reliable plausibility check of a sensor signal. When used in a vehicle, this can increase the safety of the vehicle.

A processing device for processing a sensor signal of a sensor for a vehicle is presented, with signal information of the sensor signal being expressed by a time interval between signal pulses of the sensor signal. The processing device has a splitting device, an allocating device, a comparing device and a determining device. The splitting device is designed to split the sensor signal in order to obtain at least a first split signal with a sequence of first signal pulses and a second split signal with a sequence of second signal pulses, the signal pulses of the sensor signal being alternately assigned to the first split signal and the second split signal . The assignment device is designed to assign a first split signal value to the first split signal using a time interval between the first signal pulses and a second split signal value to the second split signal using a time interval between the second signal pulses, with the first split signal value continuously representing a current distance between two consecutive ones first signal pulses and the second split signal value continuously represents a current distance between two consecutive second signal pulses. The comparison device is designed to compare the first split signal value with the second split signal value in order to obtain a positive comparison result if the first split signal value matches the second split signal value or to obtain a negative comparison result if the first split signal value does not match the second split signal value . The determination device is designed to determine a signal value of the sensor signal using the comparison result, the signal value representing the signal information defined by the time interval between the signal pulses of the sensor signal.

Such a processing device can advantageously be used to check or check the plausibility of the signal information transmitted by the sensor signal and thus to ensure that the sensor signal is correct. Thus, if the comparison result is positive, the sensor signal can be verified and, additionally or alternatively, if the comparison result is negative, a signal disturbance of the sensor signal can be detected. The splitting device can be designed here, for example, to split the sensor signal in such a way that the first split signal and the second split signal are arranged as split signals that are interleaved in time, for example slightly offset from one another and additionally or alternatively arranged alternately. Alternating is advantageous in such a case the splitting a temporal proximity of the interleaved splitting signals to each other, especially when the sensor signal z. B. an encoder speed z. B. when braking, changes quickly over time, for example, which is the purpose of many sensors.

The determination device can be designed to determine the first split signal value or second split signal value as the signal value if the positive comparison result was obtained. If the split signal values match, it means that the signal information of the sensor signal is correct. A plausibility-checked signal value can thus be determined using the positive comparison result.

According to one embodiment, the assignment device can be designed to assign a preliminary signal value to the sensor signal using the time interval between the signal pulses of the sensor signal, and the determination device can be designed to determine the signal value using the preliminary signal value. The provisional signal value can be used to further safeguard the signal value. For example, the provisional signal value can be replaced by the signal value if the negative comparison result was obtained or confirmed if the positive comparison result was obtained.

It is also advantageous if, according to one embodiment, the determination device is designed to determine the provisional signal value as the signal value when the positive comparison result was obtained. If the split signal values match, it can be seen that the provisional signal value originally transmitted by the sensor signal is correct.

The comparison device can also be designed to compare the first split signal value, the second split signal value and the preliminary signal value in order to obtain the positive comparison result if the first split signal value, the second split signal value and the preliminary signal value match or to obtain the negative comparison result, if the first split signal value, the second split signal value and the preliminary signal value do not match. Such a comparison can enable an even more reliable plausibility check of the signal value.

The processing device can also have a detection device which is designed to, in response to the negative comparison result, output a fault signal which indicates a signal fault in the sensor signal. The fault signal can be output to a communication interface to a driver of the vehicle and/or a workshop in order to make a person aware of the signal fault. In addition or as an alternative, the fault signal can also cause the signal fault to be logged in a fault memory.

The determination device can be designed to determine the signal value as a speed value. The processing device can thus advantageously be used to check a sensed speed of the vehicle or a sensed speed of a vehicle component of the vehicle for plausibility.

According to one embodiment, the processing device can have a reading device which is designed to read the sensor signal via an interface to the sensor. For example, the sensor signal can be processed directly, for example as a raw signal.

The splitting device can also be designed to split the sensor signal in order to also obtain a third/split signal with a sequence of third signal pulses, the signal pulses of the sensor signal being alternately assigned to the first split signal, the second split signal and the third split signal, and the Assignment device can be designed to assign a third split signal value to the third split signal using a time interval between the third signal pulses, and the comparison device can be designed to compare the first split signal value, the second split signal value and the third split signal value in order to obtain the positive comparison result to obtain if the first split signal value, the second split signal value and the third split signal value match or to obtain the negative comparison result if the first split signal value, the second split signal value and the third split signal value do not match. An even more precise plausibility check can be carried out by further splitting up the sensor signal and checking three split-up signals. In a corresponding manner, the splitting device can be designed to split the sensor signal even further in order to obtain one or more further split signals with a sequence of even further signal pulses. In this case, the further splitting signal or the further splitting signals can be used correspondingly and optionally also as an alternative to the third splitting signal.

It is also advantageous if the processing device has a correction device which is designed to bring about a correction of one of the split signal values in response to the negative comparison result. This can be particularly helpful if the splitting device splits the sensor signal into three split signals, for example, and in the subsequent comparison of the split signal values assigned to them, a match between two split signal values is detected, whereas one of the three split signal values differs from the other two split signal values. In this case, it can be assumed that only the deviating split signal value is incorrect. The deviating split signal value can now be corrected by the correction device according to the matching two split signal values.

A sensor system has a processing device, which is designed in one of the variants described above, and the sensor, which is designed to provide the sensor signal. Such a sensor system can advantageously check its own sensor signals for plausibility and thus supply sensor signals with very reliable sensor values.

The sensor can be designed as a speed sensor. The speed sensor can be designed, for example, as a wheel speed sensor with at least one transducer element and a sensor element that transmits a signal pulse when each of the transducer elements is detected. However, the speed sensor can also have a magnet wheel with teeth and the sensor element, which sends a signal pulse with each tooth flank. The speed sensor can be designed so that it can be coupled directly to the wheel or a transmission of the vehicle.

Finally, a method for processing a sensor signal, whose signal information is expressed by a time interval between signal pulses of the sensor signal, of a sensor for a vehicle is presented. The method has a splitting step, an allocating step, a comparing step and a determining step. In the splitting step, the sensor signal is split in order to obtain at least a first split signal with a sequence of first signal pulses and a second split signal with a sequence of second signal pulses, the signal pulses of the sensor signal being alternately assigned to the first split signal and the second split signal. In the assignment step, a first split signal value is assigned to the first split signal using a time interval between the first signal pulses and a second split signal value is assigned to the second split signal using a time interval between the second signal pulses, with the first split signal value continuously representing a current distance between two consecutive first Signal pulses and the second split signal value continuously represents a current distance between two consecutive second signal pulses. In the comparing step, the first split signal value is compared with the second split signal value in order to obtain a positive comparison result if the first split signal value matches the second split signal value or to obtain a negative comparison result if the first split signal value does not match the second split signal value. In the determination step, a signal value of the sensor signal is determined using the result of the comparison, the signal value representing the signal information defined by the time interval between the signal pulses of the sensor signal.

This method can be implemented, for example, in software or hardware or in a mixed form of software and hardware, for example in a control unit.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Fahrzeugs mit einem Sensorsystem mit einem Sensor und einer Verarbeitungseinrichtung zum Verarbeiten eines Sensorsignals des Sensors gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung einer Verarbeitungseinrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung eines Sensors zum Bereitstellen eines Sensorsignals gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 4 ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Verarbeiten eines Sensorsignals für ein Fahrzeug gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 5 eine schematische Darstellung eines Sensorsignals gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 6 eine schematische Darstellung von Aufspaltesignalen gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel; und
• 7 eine schematische Darstellung von Aufspaltesignalen gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel.

Exemplary embodiments of the approach presented here are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the figures. Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of a vehicle with a sensor system with a sensor and a processing device for processing a sensor signal of the sensor according to an embodiment;
• 2 a schematic representation of a processing device according to an embodiment;
• 3 a schematic representation of a sensor for providing a sensor signal according to an embodiment;
• 4 a flowchart of a method for processing a sensor signal for a vehicle according to an embodiment;
• 5 a schematic representation of a sensor signal according to an embodiment;
• 6 a schematic representation of split signals according to an embodiment; and
• 7 a schematic representation of splitting signals according to an embodiment.

In the following description of favorable exemplary embodiments of the present approach, the The same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements that are provided and that act in a similar manner, with a repeated description of these elements being dispensed with.

1 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 100 having a sensor system 105 with a sensor 110 and a processing device 115 for processing a sensor signal 120 of the sensor 110 according to an exemplary embodiment.

The sensor system 105 according to this exemplary embodiment is accommodated on or in the vehicle 100 purely by way of example. The sensor system 105 has the processing device 115 and the sensor 110 which is designed to provide the sensor signal 120 . According to this exemplary embodiment, sensor 110 is designed as a speed sensor, which is designed here by way of example as a wheel speed sensor. For example, the wheel speed sensor optionally includes two transmitter elements 125, 127 and one sensor element 130, which transmits a signal pulse when each of the transmitter elements 125, 127 is detected. According to this exemplary embodiment, the encoder elements 125, 127 are arranged on a wheel 135 of the vehicle 100, here by way of example on opposite sides of a diameter of the wheel 135. According to this exemplary embodiment, sensor signal 120 has two signal pulses for each complete revolution of wheel 135 .

The processing device 115 is designed to process the sensor signal 120 whose signal information is expressed by a time interval between the signal pulses of the sensor signal 120 . For this purpose, the processing device 115 has a splitting device 140 , an assignment device 145 , a comparison device 150 and a determination device 160 .

Splitting device 140 is designed to split sensor signal 120 in order to obtain at least a first splitting signal 165 with a sequence of first signal pulses and a second splitting signal 170 with a sequence of second signal pulses, with the signal pulses of sensor signal 120 alternating with first splitting signal 165 and assigned to the second split signal 170 . In other words, a signal pulse is assigned to the first split signal 165, the next signal pulse that follows in time is assigned to the second split signal 170, the next signal pulse that follows in time is assigned to the first split signal 165, the next signal pulse in turn that follows in time is assigned to the second split signal 170, etc.

The assignment device 145 is designed to assign a first split signal value 175 to the first split signal 165 using a time interval between the first signal pulses comprised by the first split signal 165 .

Correspondingly, the assignment device 145 is designed to assign a second split signal value 180 to the second split signal 170 using a time interval between the second signal pulses comprised by the second split signal 170 . According to one exemplary embodiment, the assignment device 145 is designed to continuously reassign the split signal values 175, 180, so that a change in the time interval between the signal pulses leads to a change in the split signal values 175, 180.

The comparison device 150 is designed to compare the first split signal value 175 with the second split signal value 180 . For example, a positive comparison result 182 is obtained if the first split signal value 175 matches the second split signal value 180 . On the other hand, a negative comparison result 185 is obtained if the first split signal value 175 does not match the second split signal value 180 . Determination device 160 is designed to determine a signal value 190 of sensor signal 120 using comparison result 182, 185, signal value 190 representing the signal information defined by the time interval between the signal pulses of sensor signal 120.

According to this exemplary embodiment, splitting device 140 is also designed to split sensor signal 120 in order to also obtain a third split signal 192 with a sequence of third signal pulses, with the signal pulses of sensor signal 120 being assigned alternately to first split signal 165, second split signal 170 and the third split signal 192 are assigned. Assignment device 145 is designed accordingly to assign a third split signal value 195 to third split signal 192 using a time interval between the third signal pulses. Comparison device 150 is designed to compare the first split signal value 175, the second split signal value 180 and the third split signal value 195 in order to obtain the positive comparison result 182 if the first split signal value 175, the second split signal value 180 and the third split signal value 195 match or to obtain the negative comparison result 185 if the first split signal value 175, the second split signal value 180 and the third split signal value 195 do not match. Additionally or alternatively to the third splitting signal 192, at least one further splitting signal corresponding to the third splitting signal 192 is determined and used according to an exemplary embodiment.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the determination device 160 is designed to determine the first split signal value 175 or second split signal value 180 as the signal value 190 if the positive comparison result 182 was obtained. According to this exemplary embodiment, determination device 160 is designed to determine signal value 190 as a speed value.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the processing device 115 also has a reading device 197 which is designed to read in the sensor signal 120 via an interface to the sensor 110 , here the sensor element 130 .

The processing device 115 presented here enables interlocking redundancy in the sensor signal evaluation of the sensor signal 120.

The processing device 115 can be used with any sensors 110 with time-differentiated measured values, i.e. communicating their signal value as pulse intervals over time, e.g. B. as in this embodiment with active wheel speed sensors (wheel speed sensors), and associated electronics such as ECUs. The processing device 115 advantageously makes it possible to protect sensor signals 120 in electronic systems and components. The requirement to operate such a safeguard is z. B. provided by safety standards in the automotive industry, such as ISO 26262 and others. (Sensor) signals are secured by detecting or at least enabling the detection of certain faults in (sensor) signals, which change their signal values by means of a series of pulses, e.g. B. the signal level, communicate, z. B. according to the so-called "AK protocol" of the working group of the automotive industry, typ. Speed sensors. The signal value/signal information is essentially expressed by the time interval between these pulses. The signal value is therefore strongly dependent on the temporal position of individual pulses. In contrast to protocol-based communication methods, for example, this method has the disadvantage that interference, for example from individual pulses in the signal, has a very direct, falsifying effect on the signal value(s). The processing device 115 is now advantageously designed to detect such disturbances.

To this end, processing device 115 is designed to generate a plurality of temporally interleaved and slightly offset signals in the form of split signals 165, 170 and/or split signal 192, for example by what is known as splitting the pulses of sensor signal 120 in the form of an original signal or input signal in splitting device 140. According to this exemplary embodiment, splitting device 140 is integrated into processing device 115, which is implemented, for example, in a control unit, “ECU” for short, of vehicle 100. According to an alternative exemplary embodiment, the splitting device 140 or the entire processing device 115 is arranged in the sensor 110, for example in the sensor element 130. The resulting split signals 165, 170 and/or 192 still represent the information contained in the original signal. In a next step, a signal value in the form of split signal values is again assigned to them in the assignment device 145 . According to this exemplary embodiment, the electronics/logic of the assignment device 145 is configured in such a way that the assignment of a split signal value to the pulse speed is retained in a meaningful manner and is not, for example, halved. encoder signal, e.g. B.: sensor wheel speed <---> signal value from (pulse sequence/distances generated)

This is followed by the comparison, carried out in comparison device 150, of the assigned first split signal value 175 and assigned second split signal value 180, or of the assigned first split signal value 175, assigned second split signal value 180 and a preliminary sensor value assigned by assignment device 145 for sensor signal 120. The preliminary sensor value is in 2 described in more detail.

2 11 shows a schematic representation of a processing device 115 according to an embodiment. This can be the in 1 described processing device 115, with the difference that the processing device 115 according to this exemplary embodiment also has a correction device 200 and/or a detection device 205.

According to this exemplary embodiment, assignment device 145 is also designed to read in sensor signal 120 and to assign a preliminary signal value 210 to sensor signal 120 using the time interval between the signal pulses of sensor signal 120, and according to this exemplary embodiment, determining device 160 is designed to calculate the signal value 190 using the preliminary signal value 210 to be determined. According to this exemplary embodiment, the determination device 160 is designed to calculate the provisional signal value 210 as a to determine the signal value 190 when the positive comparison result 182 has been obtained. According to this exemplary embodiment, comparison device 150 is also designed to compare the first split signal value, the second split signal value and/or the third split signal value and preliminary signal value 210 in order to obtain positive comparison result 182 if the first split signal value, the second split signal value and /or the third split signal value and the preliminary signal value 210 match, or to obtain the negative comparison result 185 if the first split signal value, the second split signal value and/or the third split signal value and the preliminary signal value 210 do not match.

The correction device 200 is designed to bring about a correction of one of the split signal values 175, 180, 195 in response to the negative comparison result 185. According to one embodiment, the correction device 200 is designed to output a correction signal 215 in response to the negative comparison result 185, which is designed to correct a deviating split signal value 175, 180, 195 from three or more split signal values 175, 180, 195 if at least two of the split signal values 175, 180, 195 match. According to one embodiment, the correction signal 215 is designed to correct the deviating split signal value 175, 180, 195 according to the matching split signal values 175, 180, 195, so that for example all three split signal values 175, 180, 195 match.

Detection device 205 is designed to output a fault signal 220 in response to negative comparison result 185, which indicates a signal fault in sensor signal 120. According to one exemplary embodiment, the fault signal 220 is output to a communication interface 225 to a driver of the vehicle and/or a workshop in order, for example, to draw the attention of a person to the signal fault. According to one exemplary embodiment, the fault signal 220 additionally or alternatively causes the signal fault to be logged in a fault memory.

Advantages of the processing device 115 are an increase in security by creating redundancy without additional electronics. The comparison of the split signal values/signal values by the comparison device 150, which can be a comparator, then makes it possible to identify signal interference and in particular to check the signal values for plausibility. A correction of falsified signal values in one of the resulting split signals can also advantageously be carried out by the correction device 200, in particular if more than two split signals are produced. According to one exemplary embodiment, correction device 200 can also discard the signal information until it is consistent again. A major advantage is the temporal proximity of the interleaved splitting signals to one another. Especially when the input signal, e.g. B. the encoder speed z. B. when braking, according to an embodiment changes temporally (quickly), which is the purpose for many sensors 110. A further strength of the processing device 115 lies in the high degree of independence of the resulting split signals or their split signal values from one another when interference occurs in the sensor signal 120. This supports the detection and treatment of short signal errors in particular. In comparison, according to one embodiment, filtering of the sensor signal 120 can be considered, in which the split signal values/signal values are averaged by the processing device 115 over a specific period of time or a specific number of pulses according to an embodiment. Here, even a brief disturbance, possibly just a split signal value/signal value and/or pulse, can cause a falsification, since it is "averaged" into the filtered signal value. A clean detection of the signal interference is hardly possible.

3 12 shows a schematic representation of a sensor 110 for providing a sensor signal 120 according to an exemplary embodiment. This can be an embodiment of the in 1 or 2 act sensor 110 described, with the difference that the speed sensor according to this embodiment is not a wheel speed sensor, but coupled or coupled to a transmission 300 of the vehicle. According to this exemplary embodiment, encoder element 125 of the speed sensor is designed as a pole wheel 305 that is rotatably arranged on a gear section of gear 300 and has a plurality of teeth 310 . The sensor element 130 of the speed sensor is designed to send a signal pulse for each falling tooth flank 315 and each rising tooth flank 320 of a tooth 310 . According to this exemplary embodiment, sensor signal 120 has a number of signal pulses during a complete revolution of pole wheel 305 that corresponds to twice the number of teeth 310 of pole wheel 305 .

According to this exemplary embodiment, a further advantage of the approach presented here comes into play above all, but not only with regard to an application in commercial vehicles: for typical speed detection, the sensor element according to this exemplary embodiment is provided by magnet wheel 305 with teeth 310 and the sensor element 130 as a sensor that transmits a signal (pulse) for each tooth flank 315, 320. Pole wheel 305 and sensor element 130 often do not come from a single source and can therefore only be matched to one another to a limited extent. Damage in the field or manufacturing defects/contamination even on a single edge 315, 320 can have a major influence on the signal values of the sensor signal 120.

With the approach presented here, the periodicity of the splitting signals can be traced back to the periodicity of the transmitter element and the sensor electronics, which is advantageous for detecting the fault, e.g. E.g.: the first split signal triggered by falling tooth flanks 315, the second split signal by rising tooth flanks 320. B. rising tooth flanks 320, the disturbance is detected in the comparison of the two splitting signals. On the other hand, the approach presented here provides valuable input information, for example for safety functions or preventive maintenance strategies. "preventive maintenance". According to one exemplary embodiment, a plausibility check is carried out when driving straight ahead with other signal sources in order to identify which split signal is the deviating one. Instead of an immediate failure/repair, an exchange can then take place during the next workshop visit, which leads to higher availability or "preventive maintenance".

4 FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a method 400 for processing a sensor signal of a sensor for a vehicle according to an embodiment. This may be a method 400 derived from the in one of the 1 until 3 processing devices described can be carried out or controlled.

The method 400 has a step 405 of splitting, a step 410 of association, a step 415 of comparing and a step 420 of determining. In step 405 of splitting, the sensor signal is split in order to obtain at least a first split signal with a sequence of first signal pulses and a second split signal with a sequence of second signal pulses, the signal pulses of the sensor signal being alternately assigned to the first split signal and the second split signal. In step 410 of assignment, a first split signal value is assigned to the first split signal using a time interval between the first signal pulses and a second split signal value is assigned to the second split signal using a time interval between the second signal pulses. In step 415 of comparing, the first split signal value is compared with the second split signal value in order to obtain a positive comparison result if the first split signal value matches the second split signal value or to obtain a negative comparison result if the first split signal value does not match the second split signal value. In step 420 of determination, a signal value of the sensor signal is determined using the comparison result, the signal value representing the signal information defined by the time interval between the signal pulses of the sensor signal.

The method steps presented here can be carried out repeatedly, for example whenever a further sensor signal provided by the sensor is present, or continuously in order to be able to process each new signal pulse provided.

5 12 shows a schematic representation of a sensor signal 120 according to an embodiment. This can be one of the sensor signals 120 described in one of the previous figures. The sensor signal 120 has a plurality of signal pulses 500 which follow one another in time. Ten signal pulses 500 are shown here by way of example, of which only the first and the last of the signal pulses 500 shown are provided with reference symbols for the sake of clarity. According to this exemplary embodiment, the sensor signal 102 has a uniform signal flow 505 and a uniform signal level 510 of the signal pulses 500 . According to this exemplary embodiment, arrows indicate markings 515, 520 of the signal pulses 500, which are used by the splitting device for the subsequent splitting of the sensor signal 120 into the individual splitting signals. For example, the signal pulses 500 provided with the first marking 515 are assigned to the first splitting signal and the signal pulses 500 provided with the second marking 520 are assigned to the second splitting signal. According to this exemplary embodiment, the splitting takes place into two splitting signals, so that the splitting device adds a first marking 515 to every second of the signal pulses 500 and a second marking 520 to every further second signal pulse 500 offset from these marked signal pulses 500 .

In other words, what is shown is an example of an interlocking in which two interlocked signals are produced in the form of split signals.

6 shows a schematic representation of split signals 165, 170 according to an embodiment. According to this exemplary embodiment, the splitting signals 165, 170 are transmitted by the splitting device in accordance with the 5 described markings have been split. In this case, all signal pulses with the first marking were assigned to the first splitting signal 165 according to this exemplary embodiment, and all signal pulses with the second marking were assigned to the second splitting signal 170 according to this exemplary embodiment.

7 shows a schematic representation of split signals 165, 170 according to an embodiment. This can be the in 6 described splitting signals 165, 170, to which the splitting signal values 175, 180 have been assigned by the assignment device. After the splitting according to this exemplary embodiment, the first split signal 165 has five first signal pulses 700 and the second split signal 170 has five second signal pulses 705 . According to this exemplary embodiment, the first split signal 165 was assigned the first split signal value 175 using the time interval between at least two of the first signal pulses 700 of the first split signal 165, and the second split signal 170 was assigned the time interval between at least two of the second signal pulses 705 of the second split signal 170 second split signal value 180 assigned.

According to this exemplary embodiment, the first split signal 165 was assigned the first split signal value 175 using the time interval between at least a second and third of the first signal pulses 700 of the first split signal 165, and the second split signal 170 was assigned the time interval between at least a second and third of the second signal pulses 705 of the second split signal 170 is assigned the second split signal value 180.

According to one embodiment, the split signal values 175, 180 are newly determined and assigned with each newly added signal pulse 700, 705. In this way, the first split signal value 175 can continuously represent a current distance between two consecutive first signal pulses 700 and the second split signal value 180 can continuously represent a current distance between two second signal pulses 705 consecutive. From the split signal values 175, 180, a sensed rotational speed can be inferred, for example, or the split signal values 175, 180 can indicate the sensed rotational speed directly.

Reference List

100

vehicle

105

sensor system

110

sensor

115

processing device

120

sensor signal

125

encoder element

127

second donor element

130

sensor element

135

wheel

140

splitting device

145

mapping facility

150

comparison device

160

determination device

165

first split signal

170

second split signal

175

first split signal value

180

second split signal value

182

positive comparison result

185

negative comparison result

190

signal value

192

third split signal

195

third split signal value

197

reading device

200

correction device

205

detection device

210

preliminary signal value

215

correction signal

220

disturbance signal

225

communication interface

300

transmission

305

flywheel

310

Tooth

315

falling tooth flank

320

rising tooth flank

400

Method for processing a sensor signal from a sensor for a vehicle

405

splitting step

410

assignment step

415

step of comparison

420

step of determining

500

signal pulse

505

signal flow

510

signal level

515

first mark

520

second mark

700

first signal pulse

705

second signal pulse

Claims (13)

Processing device (115) for processing a sensor signal (120), the signal information of which is expressed by a time interval between signal pulses (500) of the sensor signal (120), of a sensor (110) for a vehicle (100), the processing device (115) has the following characteristics: a splitting device (140) which is designed to split the sensor signal (120) in order to split at least a first split signal (165) with a sequence of first signal pulses (700) and a second split signal (170) with a sequence of second signal pulses ( 705), wherein the signal pulses (500) of the sensor signal (120) are alternately assigned to the first split signal (165) and the second split signal (170), an assignment device (145) which is designed to assign a first split signal value (175) to the first split signal (165) using a time interval between the first signal pulses (700) and to the second split signal (170) using a time interval between the second signal pulses (705) to assign a second split signal value (180), wherein the first split signal value (175) continuously represents a current distance between two consecutive first signal pulses (700) and the second split signal value (180) continuously represents a current distance between two second signal pulses (705 ) represents, a comparison device (150) which is designed to compare the first split signal value (175) with the second split signal value (180) in order to obtain a positive comparison result (182) if the first split signal value (175) compares with the second split signal value ( 180) matches or to obtain a negative comparison result (185) if the first split signal value (175) does not match the second split signal value (180), and a determination device (160) for determining a signal value (190) of the sensor signal (120) using the comparison result (182, 185), the signal value (190) being the signal information defined by the time interval between the signal pulses (500) of the sensor signal (120). represented. Processing device (115) according to claim 1 , in which the determination device (160) is designed to determine the first split signal value (175) or second split signal value (180) as the signal value (190) if the positive comparison result (182) was obtained. Processing device (115) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the assignment device (145) is designed to assign a provisional signal value (210) to the sensor signal (120) using the time interval between the signal pulses (500) of the sensor signal (120), and the determination device (160) is designed to determine the signal value (190) using the provisional signal value (210). Processing device (115) according to claim 3 , in which the determination device (160) is designed to determine the provisional signal value (210) as the signal value (190) if the positive comparison result (182) was obtained. Processing device (115) according to any one of claims 3 or 4 , in which the comparison device (150) is designed to compare the first split signal value (175), the second split signal value (180) and the preliminary signal value (210) in order to obtain the positive comparison result (182) if the first split signal value (175), the second split signal value (180) and the preliminary signal value (210) match or to obtain the negative comparison result (185) if the first split signal value (175), the second split signal value (180) and the preliminary signal value (210) do not to match. Processing device (115) according to one of the preceding claims, with a detection device (205) which is designed to respond to the negative comparison result (185) to output a fault signal (220) which indicates a signal fault in the sensor signal (120). Processing device (115) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the determination device (160) is designed to determine the signal value (190) as a speed value. Processing device (115) according to one of the preceding claims, with a reading device (197) which is designed to read in the sensor signal (120) via an interface to the sensor (110). Processing apparatus (115) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the on splitting device (140) is designed to split the sensor signal (120) in order to also obtain a third split signal (192) with a sequence of third signal pulses, the signal pulses (500) of the sensor signal (120) alternating with the first split signal (165 ), the second split signal (170) and the third split signal (192), and the assignment device (145) is designed to assign a third split signal value (195) to the third split signal (192) using a time interval between the third signal pulses , and the comparison device (150) is designed to compare the first split signal value (175), the second split signal value (180) and the third split signal value (195) in order to obtain the positive comparison result (182) if the first split signal value ( 175), the second split signal value (180) and the third split signal value (195) match or the negative comparison result result (185) if the first split signal value (175), the second split signal value (180) and the third split signal value (195) do not match. Processing device (115) according to one of the preceding claims, having a correction device (200) which is designed to correct one of the split signal values (175, 180, 195) in response to the negative comparison result (185). Sensor system (105) with a processing device (115) according to one of the preceding claims and the sensor (110) which is designed to provide the sensor signal (120). Sensor system (105) according to claim 11 , in which the sensor (110) is designed as a speed sensor. Method (400) for processing a sensor signal (120), the signal information of which is expressed by a time interval between signal pulses (500) of the sensor signal (120), of a sensor (110) for a vehicle (100), the method (400) has the following steps: Splitting (405) the sensor signal (120) in order to obtain at least a first split signal (165) with a sequence of first signal pulses (700) and a second split signal (170) with a sequence of second signal pulses (705), the signal pulses ( 500) of the sensor signal (120) are alternately assigned to the first split signal (165) and the second split signal (170); Assigning (410) a first split signal value (175) to the first split signal (165) using a time spacing of the first signal pulses (700) and a second split signal value (180) to the second split signal (170) using a time spacing of the second signal pulses (705), wherein the first split signal value (175) continuously represents a current distance between two consecutive first signal pulses (700) and the second split signal value (180) continuously represents a current distance between two second signal pulses (705) consecutive in time; Comparing (415) the first split signal value (175) with the second split signal value (180) to obtain a positive comparison result (182) if the first split signal value (175) matches the second split signal value (180) or a negative comparison result (185) if the first split signal value (175) does not match the second split signal value (180); and Determining (420) a signal value (190) of the sensor signal (120) using the comparison result (182, 185), the signal value (190) representing the signal information defined by the time interval between the signal pulses (500) of the sensor signal (120).

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