Device and method for checking sensors of a driver assistance system for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for checking a sensor (22) of at least one driver assistance system for a motor vehicle (20) during an assembly process of the motor vehicle (20) by means of an assembly crane (30). The invention provides that the device comprises a housing (12) of a lifting device (10) with which the motor vehicle (20) on a wheel (21) can be moved vertically onto a lower conveying level (32) during lowering from the assembly crane (30), and a calibration apparatus (40) for calibrating the sensor (22), which is arranged at the housing (12) of the lifting device (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for inspecting sensors for at least one driver assistance system of a motor vehicle during an assembly process performed by means of an assembly hanger. Background Technology

[0002] Driver assistance systems are used in motor vehicles to support or reduce the driver's workload in specific driving situations. Such systems are currently used in motor vehicles in various implementations, such as lane keeping assist, parking assist, emergency braking assist, overtaking assist, spacing assist, or steering assist. Driver assistance systems use different sensors to detect the vehicle's environment, particularly ultrasonic, infrared, optical, or radar sensors. For driver assistance systems to operate flawlessly and functionally, the system and its associated sensors must be precisely oriented within the vehicle. Due to deviations or tolerances that occur during the assembly of vehicle components, the sensor mounting positions, especially their positions relative to the vehicle's chassis axis of symmetry, need to be checked in the final stages of assembly.

[0003] Therefore, a device for inspecting and adjusting a driver assistance system of a motor vehicle is known from DE 10 2006 006 023 A1. During the production of the motor vehicle, the sensors of the driver assistance system are measured at the end of the belt while the vehicle is fastened to the assembly hanger.

[0004] DE 10 2015 012 246 A1 describes a method for determining the mounting orientation of a radar sensor in a motor vehicle, which enables highly accurate online determination of the mounting orientation in terms of elevation and azimuth angles of radar sensors arbitrarily arranged in a motor vehicle.

[0005] Furthermore, DE 10 2004 056 400 A1 discloses a method for identifying misalignment of a spacing sensor arranged in a vehicle during vehicle assembly, wherein electromagnetic radiation is emitted by the spacing sensor in a measuring device, and the reflected radiation is detected and evaluated.

[0006] Finally, a method for calibrating sensors for a vehicle is known from DE 10 2008 057 652 A1, wherein calibration is performed relative to at least one reference point during vehicle assembly as the vehicle moves on a conveyor belt. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention is based on the following objective: to enable, in a simple manner, the inspection of the sensing system of at least one driver assistance system for a motor vehicle during the assembly process, based on the known prior art.

[0008] According to the present invention, this task is accomplished by a device for inspecting sensors for at least one driver assistance system of a motor vehicle during an assembly process performed by means of an assembly hanger.

[0009] Furthermore, this task is addressed by a method for inspecting sensors for at least one driver assistance system of a motor vehicle during an assembly process performed with the aid of an assembly hanger.

[0010] Advantageous extensions of the device according to the invention are an integral part of the invention.

[0011] The device according to the invention includes a calibration device for calibrating sensors for at least one driver assistance system for a motor vehicle and a housing of a lifting device by means of which the motor vehicle on its wheels is vertically lowered or lowered from the assembly hanger to a lowered transport level while the motor vehicle is stationary.

[0012] Here, the calibration device is arranged in the housing of the lifting equipment; preferably, the calibration device is placed in or connected to the lifting basket (Hubkorb) that receives the motor vehicle during the lowering process of the motor vehicle, and in particular, the calibration device is fixed to the housing of the lifting basket by means of at least one profile.

[0013] To prevent the vehicle, which is already on its wheels at the moment of lowering, from moving during the lowering process—that is, to prevent the vehicle from undergoing undesirable translational movement even though it is actually stationary during the lowering process—and therefore to ensure the fault-free operation of the calibration device during the lowering process, the lifting device and preferably the lifting basket of the lifting device have a calibration device. This calibration device enables the corresponding vehicle to be positioned in the lifting basket and therefore in the lifting device in a one-to-one correspondence, and secures the vehicle to the lifting device or the lifting basket of the lifting device during the lowering process.

[0014] In particular, the calibration equipment can also be individually adjusted for different motor vehicles transported on the assembly rack, thereby ensuring that the motor vehicle remains in the lifting basket and thus in the lifting equipment for different types or models of motor vehicles.

[0015] The correction device includes, for example, a guide rail at the lifting basket, which works in conjunction with a corresponding guide at the assembly hanger. This achieves the following: the vehicle is centrally received in the lifting basket and therefore in the lifting device, and remains positioned there even during the lowering process, so that the vehicle can also be lowered to a lowered transport level within a defined position.

[0016] To calibrate sensors installed in a motor vehicle for at least one driver assistance system, the calibration device has at least one Doppler generator, by means of which the sensors associated with the Doppler generator are calibrated during the lowering process of the motor vehicle. That is, calibration is performed during the time period when the motor vehicle is vertically transported from the assembly level to the transport level or bottom level, while the motor vehicle itself is not moving in this situation.

[0017] Preferably, each sensor installed in the vehicle for the driver assistance system is associated with such a Doppler generator in the calibration device. Thus, all such sensors can be calibrated simultaneously and therefore efficiently during the vehicle's lowering process.

[0018] Preferably, the Doppler calibration device is located at different positions on the lifting basket of the lifting equipment and thus on the housing of the lifting equipment, and is also fixed to the housing of the lifting equipment and, in particular, to the housing of the lifting basket via profiles, such as aluminum profiles.

[0019] In order to perform the calibration process and therefore to accurately adjust or orient the Doppler generator for the associated sensors of the driver assistance system, the Doppler generator of the calibration device is adjustablely mounted on the housing of the lifting device and, in particular, on the housing of the lifting basket of the lifting device.

[0020] This adjustment of the Doppler generator can be done mechanically using an adjustment mechanism or electronically using an adjustment electronic device.

[0021] The calibration process for calibrating the sensors is initiated here via the controller or diagnostic tool. The calibration process begins once the vehicle is lowered vertically or once the vehicle is moved from the assembly rack into the lifting equipment or the lifting basket of the lifting equipment.

[0022] The sensors of the driver assistance system to be calibrated during the lowering process of the vehicle can be arbitrarily constructed and positioned on the vehicle. However, it is preferable to calibrate the vehicle's radar sensors, and especially nano-radar sensors, during the lowering process. These radar sensors, and especially nano-radar sensors, are located, for example, at all four corners of the vehicle.

[0023] Advantageously, by using the device and method according to the invention, the calibration of sensors for at least one driver assistance system for a motor vehicle can be performed in a simple and time-efficient manner without additional measuring stations or separate measuring devices, because the calibration process is integrated into the assembly process of the motor vehicle without requiring additional process steps with corresponding space requirements in the assembly area. Attached Figure Description

[0024] In the following text, based on the following... Figures 1 to 5 The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] in:

[0026] Figure 1 The previous view shows a schematic diagram of the lifting device;

[0027] Figure 2 The schematic diagram of the lifting device is shown in the side view.

[0028] Figure 3 The previous view shows a schematic diagram of the lifting basket of the lifting equipment;

[0029] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the lifting basket of the lifting equipment is shown in the side view; and

[0030] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the calibration device and its positioning relative to the motor vehicle is provided. Detailed Implementation

[0031] In the figure, the same or functionally identical elements are given the same reference numerals.

[0032] exist Figure 1 Previous view and in Figure 2 The lifting device 10, schematically shown in the side view, is installed within the assembly range of the vehicle 20 at the end of the assembly process so as to lower the vehicle 20, which is suspended at the assembly hanger 30 and already equipped with wheels 21, from the higher assembly level 31 to the lower bottom area, which serves as the transport level 32. Here, the vehicle 20 is lowered onto a rubber belt 33 installed there, which automatically transports the vehicle 20 to the final acceptance section of the vehicle 20.

[0033] During the descent process, the assembly hanger 30, along with the motor vehicle 20 suspended from the assembly hanger and positioned on the wheels 21, is first transported into the lifting device 10. The assembly hanger 30 stops at a specific position within the lifting device 10 (see...). Figure 1The left half (the upper part of the vehicle 20) is then used to identify the type of the vehicle 20 located in the lifting device 10 from that position. The lifting basket 11 of the lifting device 10 is then adjusted accordingly based on the wheelbase of the identified vehicle 20, i.e., according to the vehicle model of the vehicle 20.

[0034] Motor vehicle 20 is moved from assembly hanger 30 to lifting basket 11 (see Figure 1 The right half, the upper part of the vehicle 20, is aligned and secured in the lifting basket 11 of the lifting device 10 by means of the correction device 13, while the mounting bracket 30 is further transported and thus leaves the area of ​​the lifting device 10. Therefore, since there are now sufficient degrees of freedom of movement, the lowering process for the vehicle 20 can now be performed by means of an electric drive device that vertically lowers the lifting basket 11 of the lifting device 10 together with the vehicle 20 located therein.

[0035] Typically, this vertical lowering process of motor vehicle 20 takes place over a period of 10 to 15 seconds.

[0036] During this period, typically 10 to 15 seconds, sensors in the vehicle 20 configured for at least one specific driver assistance system are calibrated in order to move the vehicle 20 from the mounting suspension 30 or to lower the vehicle 20 from the lifting basket 11 of the lifting device 10 from the mounting level 31 to the transport level 32. For example, nanoradar sensors in a lane change traffic assist driver assistance system used to avoid accidents when changing lanes are calibrated, wherein the presence of a critical object is monitored in the area next to and in front of the vehicle 20 on both the driver's and passenger's sides, and / or nanoradar sensors in a forward cross-traffic assist driver assistance system used to warn the driver of the vehicle 20 of cross-traffic when stationary or while rolling forward in poor visibility conditions (intersections, exits).

[0037] like Figure 3 Previous view and Figure 4 As schematically shown in the side view, the calibration device 40 is preferably positioned in the lifting basket 11 of the lifting device 10. For example, the calibration device 40 is adjustablely mounted on the outside of the housing 12 of the lifting basket 11 by means of an aluminum profile 42, which is preferably provided for lightweight structural reasons. If possible, other fixing devices or other fixing variations for the calibration device 40 may be provided for different model variants of the motor vehicle 20, especially in cases where the mounting position of the sensor 22 and therefore the angular orientation of the calibration device 40 for calibrating the sensor 22 are required.

[0038] This results in an apparatus for inspecting sensors 22 of at least one driver assistance system of a motor vehicle 20, particularly during an assembly process performed using an assembly hanger 30. The apparatus includes, in particular, a housing 12 of a lifting device 10. Using this lifting device 10, the motor vehicle 20, with its wheels 21, can be moved vertically to a lowered transport level 32 during a lowering process from the assembly hanger 30. The apparatus also includes, at least, a calibration device 40 for calibrating the sensors 22. This calibration device 40 is located within the housing 12 of the lifting device 10.

[0039] according to Figure 5 The vehicle 20 has a sensor 22 configured as a nanoradar sensor at each corner 23 (the front right, front left, rear right, and rear left of the vehicle 20), thus providing a total of four nanoradar sensors for detecting different environmental areas of the vehicle 20. The nanoradar sensors are arranged in specific mounting positions and at specific mounting angles in the bumper area of ​​the vehicle 20, depending on the corresponding vehicle model, at the front (front side) and rear (rear side) of the vehicle 20. On the front side of the vehicle 20, the nanoradar sensor is mounted at an angle of approximately 65° relative to the vehicle's axis of symmetry, for example, and on the rear side of the vehicle 20, the nanoradar sensor is mounted at an angle of approximately 45° relative to the vehicle's axis of symmetry, for example.

[0040] The calibration device 40 preferably has one Doppler generator 41 for each sensor 22 to be calibrated. For example, four Doppler generators 41 are thus provided in the calibration device 40. These Doppler generators 41 of the calibration device 40 are adjusted for the mounting angle of the corresponding associated sensor 22 by means of electrical or mechanical adjustment at the housing 12 of the lifting basket 11 or at the aluminum profile 42 on the outside of the housing 12 of the lifting basket 11.

[0041] For example, all four sensors 22 can be calibrated simultaneously within 10 seconds using the calibration device 40, in such a way that after type identification of the vehicle 20 located in the lifting basket 11 of the lifting device 10 at the position determined by the calibration device 13, the calibration device 40 is activated by a controller or diagnostic tool and thus the calibration process begins.

[0042] During the calibration process, each of the Doppler generators 41 preferably simulates an object moving at a constant speed. These moving simulated targets are identified by the sensors 22 and, in particular, distinguished from stationary targets, wherein each sensor 22 identifies the simulated object associated with its associated Doppler generator 41.

[0043] The measurement position data is the coordinates of the Doppler generator 41 relative to the axle of the vehicle 20. The error position (deviation position) of the sensor 22, determined based on the difference between the set position and the measured position, is corrected. In order to correct the error position and therefore to calibrate the sensor 22, the angle of the sensor 22 about the vertical axis 24 (z-axis) of the vehicle 20 is recalibrated, that is, the yaw angle of the sensor 22 is adjusted accordingly.

[0044] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0045] 10 Lifting Equipment

[0046] 11 lifting baskets

[0047] 12 Lifting Basket Shell

[0048] 13 centering / calibration devices

[0049] 20 motor vehicles

[0050] 21. Motor vehicle wheels

[0051] 22 sensors

[0052] 23. The corner of a motor vehicle

[0053] 24. Vertical axis of motor vehicles

[0054] 30 Assembly Hanger

[0055] 31 Assembly Level

[0056] 32 Bottom Area / Conveying Layer

[0057] 33 rubber belt

[0058] 40 Calibration Device

[0059] 41 Doppler Generator

[0060] 42 aluminum profile

Claims

1. An apparatus for inspecting sensors (22) of at least one driver assistance system of a motor vehicle (20) during an assembly process performed by means of an assembly hanger (30), characterized in that, The device has a housing (12) of a lifting device (10) by means of which a motor vehicle (20) on wheels (21) can move vertically to a lower conveyor level (32) during the process of being lowered from the assembly hanger (30), wherein the device has at least one calibration device (40) for calibrating the sensor (22), the calibration device being disposed in the housing (12) of the lifting device (10), wherein the lifting device (10) has a lifting basket (11) with housing (12), wherein the calibration device (40) has at least one Doppler generator (41), wherein the at least one Doppler generator (41) of the calibration device (40) is connected to the housing (12) of the lifting basket (11) of the lifting device (10).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lifting device (10) has a correction device (13) that centers and / or secures the motor vehicle (20) in the lifting device (10) during the lowering process.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The vehicle (20) is positioned in the lifting basket during the lowering process.

4. The device according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, Each sensor (22) to be calibrated is provided with a Doppler generator (41) of the calibration device (40).

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The Doppler generator (41) of the calibration device (40) is mechanically adjustable and located at the housing (12) of the lifting basket (11) of the lifting equipment (10).

6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The Doppler generator (41) of the calibration device (40) is electronically adjustable and located at the housing (12) of the lifting basket (11) of the lifting device (10).

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The calibration device (40) is configured to calibrate the radar sensor of the sensor (22) of the motor vehicle (20).

8. A method for inspecting sensors (22) for at least one driver assistance system of a motor vehicle (20) during an assembly process performed by means of an assembly hanger (30), characterized in that, The calibration operation of the sensor (22) is performed during the process of the motor vehicle (20) being vertically lowered from the assembly level (31) to the lowered transport level (32) by means of the lifting device (10), wherein the calibration operation of the sensor (22) is performed using a calibration device (40) having at least one Doppler generator (41) connected to the housing (12) of the lifting basket (11) of the lifting device (10).

Images