Method for determining operating state of at least one sensor in vehicle and control unit therefor

Abstract

A method of determining an operating state of at least one sensor in a vehicle and a control unit thereof are provided. In step S1, during a driving cycle of the vehicle 11, data from at least one sensor 12 in the vehicle 11 is received and the received data is stored in a cloud repository 14. In step S2, the stored sensor data is evaluated and an operating mode of the at least one sensor 12 is determined by the control unit 10. In step S3, a change in the operating state of the at least one sensor 12 is determined when the received sensor data differs from the operating range. In step S4, a failure duration of the at least one sensor 12 is predicted on the basis of the detected change and a predicted failure of the at least one sensor 12 is communicated to a user of the vehicle 11.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for determining the operating status of at least one sensor in a vehicle and a control unit thereof. Background Technology

[0002] Most vehicles comprise numerous components that require at least one servicing or replacement during the vehicle's lifespan. For components that affect a vehicle's performance, reliability, or safety, it is especially important to repair or replace them before they reach the end of their service life—that is, before they fail and cause inconvenience or accidents, and all the resulting financial consequences. To avoid component failures and improve reliability, vehicles are currently primarily maintained based on fixed mileage or time intervals set by the vehicle manufacturer. However, the different usage of each vehicle by its driver means that mileage or time intervals may not be appropriate—too long for some and too short for others.

[0003] Patent application WO2023098040 discloses a diagnostic method for radar point cloud anomalies, a vehicle control method based on lidar lifespan prediction, and a fault control method for autonomous vehicles. Based on different thresholds set for different scenarios, the anomaly level of the radar, the current failure rate level, and the sensor failure level are determined. Then, a corresponding vehicle control strategy is determined to avoid traffic inconvenience and accidents caused by emergency vehicle stops, thereby improving vehicle safety. Furthermore, this invention also relates to a diagnostic device for radar point cloud anomalies, a vehicle control device based on lidar lifespan prediction, a fault control device for autonomous vehicles, a computer-readable storage medium, a controller, and a vehicle. Attached Figure Description

[0004] Figure 1 The illustration shows a control unit for determining the operating state of at least one sensor in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 The illustration shows a method for determining the operating state of at least one sensor in a vehicle according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0005] Figure 1The illustration depicts a control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention for determining the operating state of at least one sensor in a vehicle. The control unit 10 receives data from at least one sensor 12 in the vehicle 11 during a driving cycle and stores the received data in a cloud storage library 14. The control unit 10 then analyzes the stored sensor data and determines the operating mode of at least one sensor 12, and detects changes in the operating state of at least one sensor 12 when the received sensor data differs from its operating range. The control unit 10 then predicts the duration of a malfunction of at least one sensor 12 based on the detected changes and transmits the predicted malfunction of at least one sensor 12 to the user of the vehicle 11.

[0006] Furthermore, the structure and components of the arrangement for detecting the operating state of at least one sensor 12 are described in detail. The control unit 10 is an operational device for processing and storing information received from at least one sensor 12. The control unit 10 is selected from a group of control units, including microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuits, one or more microchips or integrated circuits interconnected using a motherboard, hard-wired logic, software stored in a memory device and executed by a microprocessor, firmware, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and / or field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and / or any component that operates on signals based on operating instructions. It should be noted that the control unit 10 can be any other type, but is not limited to the devices described above known to those skilled in the art.

[0007] Data received from at least one sensor 12 includes operating values ​​at a given time point, terrain information, atmospheric information, and the temperature of the vehicle's engine. The at least one sensor 12 is selected from a group of sensors including inertial sensors, tilt sensors, acceleration sensors, proximity sensors, speed sensors, temperature sensors, etc. However, it should be noted that the type of sensor 12 is not limited to the types described above, but can be any other type known in the prior art, and is connected to at least one component of the vehicle 11. For example, when moving on a particular type of road, the tilt sensor 12 provides tilt information of the vehicle 11. With this value, the control unit 10 can detect information about the type of road on which the vehicle 11 is moving. This information includes terrain information, such as hilly terrain, coastal driving, flat roads, desert areas, etc.

[0008] In another example, speed sensor 12 provides information on vehicle speed, engine speed, or any one or both of the aforementioned speeds (vehicle speed and engine speed). This information is continuously transmitted to cloud storage 14 during the operation of vehicle 11. In yet another example, temperature sensor 12 provides information on the ambient temperature in which vehicle 11 is operating, and this information is stored in cloud storage 14.

[0009] During the driving mode / operational state of vehicle 11, various sensors 12 present in vehicle 11 continuously transmit signals from vehicle 11 to cloud storage 14. The signal values ​​received from the various sensors 12 are stored in cloud storage 14. Cloud storage 14 is a database storing sensor values. Based on the stored sensor values, control unit 10 identifies / analyzes patterns of its operating state. When the operating state of at least one sensor 12 changes during a given point in time, the resulting patterns help to understand and predict potential malfunctions of at least one sensor 12.

[0010] The change in the operating state of at least one sensor 12 can be any of the following forms: a change from the minimum value of the operating range, or a change from the maximum value of the operating range. For example, if at least one sensor 12 is operating within the operating range of "xy" values, then the change is any of the following forms including x+ / - or y+ / -. The control unit 10 includes a subprocessor 16 for determining the duration of the sensor malfunction based on the changes detected as described above. The duration of the sensor malfunction is the remaining time that at least one sensor 12 is in an operating state. Based on the changes described above, the duration of the malfunction of at least one sensor 12 can be determined.

[0011] The control unit 10 generates an alarm based on the duration of a fault in at least one sensor 12 and transmits it to the user using any communication means 18. The communication means 18 is selected from a group of communication means including Wi-Fi, ZigBee networks, Bluetooth, infrared, etc. It should be noted that the type of communication means is not limited to the types described above, but can be any other communication means 18 known in the prior art. The control unit 10 is located in any form, including integrated components in the vehicle 11, mobile applications in communication devices 20 serving as users of the vehicle 11, or processors at the service center of the vehicle 11. The intensity of the alarm depends on the change in sensor values ​​from the operating range. For example, a low-level alarm is generated if there is a change exceeding or approaching the minimum value. In another instance, a high-intensity alarm is generated if there is a change exceeding or approaching the maximum value.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit 10 is adapted to correct the offset value of at least one sensor 12 in a vehicle, which is caused by the degradation of at least one sensor 12. The control unit 10 corrects the offset value of at least one sensor 12 based on a stored operating range. According to one embodiment of the invention, the operating range is predefined, or the operating range is dynamically evaluated based on a large number of vehicle data feeds. The control unit 10 uses a smart model (not shown) to determine the operating range based on vehicle type and other vehicle parameters received from other vehicles during a driving cycle. The control unit 10 initially considers the predefined operating range and, utilizing the smart model and data received from various vehicles during its driving cycle (acquiring a large amount of vehicle data from corresponding terrain and environmental conditions), begins to dynamically evaluate / calculate the operating range to better identify sensor failures in advance.

[0013] Figure 2 The illustration depicts a method for determining the operating state of at least one sensor 12 in a vehicle according to the present invention. In step S1, during a driving cycle of the vehicle 11, data from at least one sensor 12 in the vehicle 11 is received and stored in a cloud storage 14. In step S2, the stored sensor data is analyzed, and the operating mode of at least one sensor 12 is determined by a control unit 10. In step S3, when the received sensor data differs from the operating range, a change in the operating state of at least one sensor 12 is determined. In step S4, based on the detected change, the duration of a malfunction of at least one sensor 12 is predicted, and the predicted malfunction of at least one sensor 12 is transmitted to the user of the vehicle 11.

[0014] The method is explained in detail. During the operation / driving cycle of vehicle 11, multiple sensors 12 in vehicle 11 continuously send their respective sensor values ​​to cloud storage 14. Control unit 10 uses the stored values ​​to analyze the operating mode of at least one sensor 12. While analyzing the operating mode of at least one sensor 12, control unit 10 detects the operating state of sensor 12 in each driving cycle of vehicle 11.

[0015] Whenever the operating status of at least one sensor 12 is detected, the control unit 10 detects a change in the operating status of the at least one sensor 12 and predicts the duration of a sensor malfunction. Based on the predicted malfunction duration, the control unit 10 generates an alarm. The intensity of the alarm depends on the change in the value of the at least one sensor 12 from its operating range. For example, if the at least one sensor 12 is a temperature sensor, and the operating range of the temperature sensor is calibrated to 400 degrees Celsius - 50 degrees Celsius, during one driving cycle of the vehicle, a temperature value of 450 degrees Celsius is detected in the temperature sensor 12, and then the control unit 10 detects a change in the operating value of the temperature sensor.

[0016] Based on change detection, the predicted duration of failure for sensor 12 is determined. That is, until what time sensor 12 can effectively operate during the vehicle's operating state / driving cycle. Based on the detected changes and the predicted duration of failure, control unit 10 generates an alarm. According to one embodiment of the invention, control unit 10 generates an alarm based on changes in the operating value of at least one sensor 12 and / or the predicted duration of failure for at least one sensor 12.

[0017] Using the above method, the user of vehicle 11 is notified in advance of a possible malfunction / accident of at least one sensor 12 present in vehicle 11. In addition, in the event of a change in sensor 12, control unit 10 recommends the nearest service center and also warns of activation of limp home mode based on the changes detected by at least one sensor 12 and / or predicted fault detection.

[0018] It should be understood that the embodiments described above are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and variations of the embodiments explained in the specification are contemplated. The scope of the invention is defined only by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A control unit (10) for determining the operating state of at least one sensor (12) in a vehicle (11), said control unit (10) being configured to: - During the driving cycle of the vehicle (11), data is received from at least one sensor (12) in the vehicle (11) and the received data is stored in a cloud storage (14); - Analyze the stored sensor data and determine the operating mode of at least one sensor (12); - When the received sensor data is different from the operating range, detect the change in the operating state of at least one sensor (12); - Predict the duration of failure of at least one sensor (12) based on the detected changes, and transmit the predicted failure of at least one sensor (12) to the user of the vehicle (11).

2. The control unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the data received from at least one sensor (12) includes operating values ​​at a given time point, terrain information, atmospheric information, and engine temperature of the vehicle (11).

3. The control unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the change in the operating state of at least one sensor (12) is any one of the following: a change from the minimum value of the operating range; a change from the maximum value of the operating range.

4. The control unit (10) according to claim 3, wherein the subprocessor (16) of the control unit (10) determines the duration of the fault based on the changes detected as described above.

5. The control unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein an alarm is generated based on the fault duration of at least one sensor (12), and the alarm is transmitted to a user using any of the communication means (18).

6. The control unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (10) is located in any of the following forms: an integrated component in the vehicle (11), a mobile application in a communication device (20) that is a user of the vehicle (11), or a processor at a service center of the vehicle (11).

7. The control unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (10) is adapted to correct the offset value of at least one sensor (12) in the vehicle (11) due to the degradation of at least one sensor (12).

8. A method for determining the operating state of at least one sensor (12) in a vehicle (11) by a control unit (10), the method comprising the steps of: - During the driving cycle of the vehicle (11), data is received from at least one sensor (12) in the vehicle (11) and the received data is stored in a cloud storage (14); - The control unit (10) analyzes the stored sensor data and determines the operating mode of at least one sensor (12); - When the received sensor data is different from the operating range, detect the change in the operating state of at least one sensor (12); - Predict the duration of failure of at least one sensor (12) based on the detected changes, and transmit the predicted failure of at least one sensor (12) to the user of the vehicle (11).

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the offset value of at least one sensor (12) in the vehicle (11) is corrected by the control unit (10), the offset value being due to the degradation of at least one sensor (12).

Images