Method and device for detecting an impairment of a lever actuator

Abstract

Device (101) for detecting an impairment of a lever sensor (110), wherein the lever sensor (110) is configured to detect measured values ​​(202) relating to a fill level of a liquid container (104) of a motor vehicle (100); wherein the device (101) is configured - to determine a maximum measured value (206) and a minimum measured value (207) of the lever encoder (110) in a time and / or distance interval of a first phase (211); - in a second phase (212) following the first phase (211), to determine proportion information relating to a proportion of a time and / or distance interval of the second phase (212) for which the measured values ​​(202) of the lever encoder (110) lie within a minimum value range (209) for the minimum measured value (207) of the first phase (211) and / or within a maximum value range (208) for the maximum measured value (206) of the first phase (211); and - to identify an impairment of the leverage provider (110) based on the share information.

Description

[0001] The technology disclosed herein relates to a method and a corresponding device for detecting impairment of a lever actuator.

[0002] A vehicle typically has one or more fluid reservoirs for holding liquid operating fluids. In particular, the vehicle may have a reservoir for holding fuel. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle may have a reservoir for holding windshield washer fluid for cleaning the vehicle's windshield.

[0003] The fill level of a vehicle's fluid reservoir can be determined using a lever sensor, the lever sensor typically having a float designed to float on the surface of the fluid in the fluid reservoir.

[0004] During vehicle operation, the lever sensor may become damaged, preventing reliable and / or precise measurement of the fluid reservoir level. In particular, the lever sensor may become jammed in a specific position.

[0005] The publications DE 10 2008 009 154 A1, DE 10 2012 203 190 A1, DE 10 2016 222 849 A1, DE 10 2010 026 230 A1, DE 10 2010 043 931 A1 and DE 10 2004 003 178 A1 show state of the art.

[0006] A preferred objective of the technology disclosed herein is to reduce or eliminate at least one disadvantage of a previously known solution or to propose an alternative solution. In particular, a preferred objective of the technology disclosed herein is to detect, efficiently and reliably, any impairment of a lever actuator of a vehicle. Further preferred objectives may arise from the advantageous effects of the technology disclosed herein. The objective(s) is / are each achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims represent preferred embodiments.

[0007] According to one aspect, a device (such as a control unit) for detecting a malfunction of a lever actuator in a motor vehicle is described. A malfunction can be detected, in particular, if the lever actuator is jammed. The lever actuator may be configured to acquire measured values ​​relating to the fill level of a fluid reservoir in the motor vehicle. This fluid reservoir could, for example, be a fuel tank for holding fuel (such as gasoline or diesel) for the operation of the vehicle's internal combustion engine. Alternatively, the fluid reservoir could be designed to hold windshield washer fluid for the vehicle's windshield wiper system.

[0008] The lever sensor can be configured to provide measured values ​​at a specific measurement rate or frequency (e.g., 0.1 Hz or more, 1 Hz or more, or 10 Hz or more). These measured values ​​can range from a minimum possible value (e.g., for an empty liquid container) to a maximum possible value (e.g., for a completely full liquid container). The lever sensor can have a specific measurement resolution. For example, the lever sensor can be configured to provide (only and / or exactly) N different values ​​between the minimum and maximum possible values. The number N of possible measured values ​​that the lever sensor can provide can be limited to, for example, 100 or fewer, 50 or fewer, or 40 or fewer. The measured values ​​can each be resistance values.

[0009] The device is configured (while the vehicle is in motion) to determine a maximum and minimum measured value from the lever sensor within a time and / or distance interval of a first phase. This time and / or distance interval can be, for example, 5-10 minutes and / or 5-10 km long. Within this time and / or distance interval, measured values ​​can be determined (using the measuring rate or frequency of the lever sensor), and the maximum and minimum measured values ​​from the set of measured values ​​determined in the first phase can be identified (and, if necessary, stored). When using a time interval, it can be verified whether the vehicle is actually moving or stationary. If necessary, only the periods in which the vehicle is actually moving are considered when determining the time interval. A period in which the vehicle is stationary can be disregarded within the time interval.

[0010] The device is further configured to determine, in a second phase following the first phase, proportional information regarding the proportion of the time and / or distance interval of the second phase for which the measured values ​​of the lever encoder lie within a minimum value range for (in particular around) the minimum measured value of the first phase and / or within a maximum value range for (in particular around) the maximum measured value of the first phase. The time and / or distance interval of the second phase can be, for example, 5-10 minutes and / or 5-10 km long. Measured values ​​can be determined within the time and / or distance interval (using the measurement rate or measurement frequency of the lever encoder), with the measured values ​​determined or recorded in the second phase constituting a total set of measured values.

[0011] The minimum value range may only include the minimum measured value, and the maximum value range may only include the maximum measured value (especially if the number N of different possible measured values ​​of the lever encoder is relatively small, such as N≤40 or N≤60).

[0012] Alternatively or additionally, the minimum value range for the minimum measured value of the first phase can include values ​​and / or be limited to values ​​that are ±5% or less or ±1% or less around the minimum measured value of the first phase. Furthermore, the maximum value range for the maximum measured value of the first phase can include values ​​and / or be limited to values ​​that are ±5% or less or ±1% or less around the maximum measured value of the first phase. Value ranges around the minimum and maximum measured values ​​can be considered to reduce the influence of measurement noise.

[0013] As explained above, in one example, the minimum value range corresponds (exactly) to the minimum measured value and / or the maximum value range corresponds (exactly) to the maximum measured value. This can be the case, in particular, when the number N of possible measured values ​​is relatively small, so that only a relatively small number of discrete measured values ​​can be recorded. In this case, measurement noise typically does not occur, so the minimum measured value and the maximum measured value can each be used directly as value ranges (where each value range contains only one measured value).

[0014] Thus, as proportional information, the proportion of measured values ​​from the total set of measured values ​​of the second phase that lie (either) in the minimum value range or in the maximum value range can be determined.

[0015] Furthermore, the device is designed to detect any impairment (in particular, jamming) of the lever sensor based on the proportion information. For this purpose, the determined proportion of the time and / or distance interval of the second phase can be compared with a proportion threshold. This proportion threshold can be, for example, 10% or greater, or 20% or greater (e.g., between 10% and 30%) of the total number of measured values.

[0016] It can then be determined in a particularly reliable manner, based on the comparison, whether or not there is an impairment of the leverage generator. In particular, it can be determined that an impairment of the leverage generator exists if the determined proportion is equal to or greater than the proportion threshold. Alternatively or additionally, it can be determined that there is no impairment of the leverage generator if the determined proportion is less than the proportion threshold.

[0017] By evaluating measured values ​​from the lever encoder in two different phases and by determining proportion information, an impairment of the lever encoder can be detected in an efficient and reliable manner.

[0018] The device can be configured to determine a first portion of the time and / or distance interval of the second phase for which the lever encoder readings lie within the minimum value range. In other words, a first portion of the readings from the total set of readings in the second phase can be determined that lies within the minimum value range. Furthermore, the device can be configured to determine a second portion of the time and / or distance interval of the second phase for which the lever encoder readings lie within the maximum value range. In other words, a second portion of the readings from the total set of readings in the second phase can be determined that lies within the maximum value range.

[0019] It can then be determined in a particularly reliable and precise manner, based on the first share and the second share, and especially on the sum of the first and second shares, whether or not there is an impairment of the leverage provider. Specifically, for this purpose, the sum of the first and second shares can be compared with the share threshold, and it can be determined based on this comparison whether or not there is an impairment of the leverage provider.

[0020] The device can be configured to identify, based on motion data from a motion sensor (e.g., a speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, and / or an inertial measurement unit) of the vehicle, a time and / or distance interval for the first phase in which the longitudinal and / or lateral acceleration of the vehicle changes by at least a predefined change threshold. This time and / or distance interval can then be used to determine the maximum and minimum measured values ​​of the first phase.

[0021] Alternatively or additionally, the device can be configured to determine, based on the motion data, whether the longitudinal and / or lateral acceleration of the vehicle changes by at least the predefined change threshold within the (already selected) time and / or distance interval of the first phase. The maximum and minimum measured values ​​of the lever sensor in the first phase are preferably used to detect a malfunction of the lever sensor only if the longitudinal and / or lateral acceleration of the vehicle changes by at least the predefined change threshold within the time and / or distance interval of the first phase.

[0022] The motion data from the vehicle's motion sensor can thus be used to ensure that the vehicle is moving dynamically enough in the first phase (causing sufficiently high fluctuations in the lever sensor readings). Specifically, the motion data can be used to verify whether there is a sufficiently high change in the vehicle's acceleration during this first phase. If necessary, only the minimum and / or maximum readings are used to detect a malfunction of the lever sensor in this case. This further increases the reliability and accuracy of the lever sensor malfunction detection.

[0023] The device can be configured to determine the maximum and / or minimum measured value of the lever encoder within the time and / or distance interval of the second phase. The minimum measured value can thus be determined from the total set of measured values ​​in the second phase. Alternatively or additionally, the maximum measured value can be determined from the total set of measured values ​​in the second phase.

[0024] The minimum measured value of the second phase can then be compared with the minimum measured value of the first phase. Alternatively or additionally, the maximum measured value of the second phase can be compared with the maximum measured value of the first phase. Based on these one or two comparisons, a malfunction of the lever encoder can then be detected with particular reliability. Specifically, it can be determined that a malfunction of the lever encoder exists if the minimum measured values ​​of the first and second phases are the same (and a sufficiently high change in acceleration occurred in each of the first and / or second phases) and / or if the maximum measured values ​​of the first and second phases are the same (and a sufficiently high change in acceleration occurred in each of the first and / or second phases).

[0025] The device can be configured to determine that the minimum measured value of the first phase corresponds to the minimum possible measured value of the lever sensor. It can thus be detected that the fluid reservoir no longer contains operating fluid.

[0026] Furthermore, it can be detected (e.g., based on data from an (injection) nozzle) that fluid is being drawn from the fluid reservoir following the first phase (which contradicts the aforementioned measurement that the fluid reservoir is empty). Based on this discrepancy, it can then be determined with particular reliability that there is a malfunction of the lever actuator.

[0027] The device can be configured to initiate a fault-related action when it detects that the lever actuator is malfunctioning. This fault-related action can, for example, include an entry in the vehicle's fault memory and / or the issuance of a notification to the vehicle's user. This can increase the reliability of the vehicle.

[0028] According to another aspect, a liquid container with a lever transmitter is described, wherein the liquid container comprises the device described in this document.

[0029] According to another aspect, a (road) motor vehicle (in particular a passenger car or a truck or a bus or a motorcycle) is described that includes the device described in this document.

[0030] According to another aspect, a method for detecting a malfunction of a lever sensor is described. The lever sensor may be configured to acquire measured values ​​relating to the fill level of a fluid reservoir in a motor vehicle. The method comprises determining a maximum and a minimum measured value of the lever sensor within a time and / or distance interval in a first phase of the method. Furthermore, in a second phase following the first phase, the method comprises determining proportional information relating to a portion of a time and / or distance interval in the second phase for which the measured values ​​of the lever sensor lie within a minimum value range for the minimum measured value of the first phase and / or within a maximum value range for the maximum measured value of the first phase. The method further comprises detecting a malfunction of the lever sensor based on this proportional information.

[0031] Another aspect described is a software (SW) program. The SW program can be configured to run on a processor (e.g., on a vehicle's control unit) and thereby execute the procedure described in this document.

[0032] Another aspect describes a storage medium. This storage medium can include a software program configured to run on a processor and thereby execute the procedure described in this document.

[0033] It should be noted that the methods, devices, and systems described in this document can be used both alone and in combination with other methods, devices, and systems described in this document. Furthermore, any aspect of the methods, devices, and systems described in this document can be combined with one another in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined with one another in a variety of ways. Features listed in parentheses are to be understood as optional features.

[0034] The invention will now be described in more detail using exemplary embodiments. Fig. 1 an exemplary vehicle with a liquid container; Fig. 2a to 2c are exemplary measurement signals of a lever encoder; Fig. 3. A flowchart of an exemplary procedure for detecting an impairment of a lever actuator; and Fig. 4 An exemplary progression of the longitudinal and / or lateral acceleration of a vehicle.

[0035] As stated at the outset, this document deals with the efficient and reliable determination of the condition of a lever sensor used to determine the fill level of a fluid reservoir in a motor vehicle. In this context, it shows Fig. Figure 1 shows an exemplary (motor) vehicle 100 with a fluid reservoir 104 for holding an operating fluid 105 of the vehicle 100. The operating fluid 105 can be, for example, a fuel, such as gasoline or diesel, for operating an internal combustion engine (not shown) of the vehicle 100. Alternatively, the operating fluid 105 can be, for example, windshield washer fluid for a windshield washer system (not shown) of the vehicle 100.

[0036] The vehicle 100 further comprises a lever sensor 110, which is configured to detect measured values ​​relating to the level of the operating fluid 105 in the fluid reservoir 104. The lever sensor 110 can, for example, have a float 112, which is coupled to a measuring unit 111 via a lever 113. The float 112 can be designed to float on the surface of the operating fluid 105 in the fluid reservoir 104. Consequently, the height of the float 112 within the fluid reservoir 104 depends on the fluid level and thus on the fill level of the operating fluid 105. The height of the float 112 can be transmitted to the measuring unit 111 via the lever 113, so that the measuring unit 111 can generate a measured value indicating the height of the float 112 and thus the fill level of the fluid reservoir 104. The measured quantity of the measuring unit 111 can be, for example,include an ohmic resistance, and a measurement of the measuring unit 111 can include a resistance value.

[0037] A measured value acquired by the measuring unit 111 can be evaluated by an (evaluation) device 101 (e.g., a control unit) of the vehicle 100 to determine fill level information relating to the fill level of the fluid container 104. If necessary, a sequence of measured values ​​for a corresponding sequence of successive time points and / or distance points (of a journey of the vehicle 100) can be averaged to compensate for fluctuations in the measured values ​​due to the movement of the vehicle 100.

[0038] During operation of vehicle 100, a malfunction of the lever sensor 110 may occur. In particular, the lever sensor 110 may become jammed in a specific position and, as a result, can no longer acquire correct readings. A defective lever sensor 110 can potentially be detected by analyzing the amount of fluid 105 drawn from the fluid reservoir 104 (e.g., for injection into the combustion engine of vehicle 100). However, the amount of fluid drawn from the fluid reservoir 104 is typically already used as an additional measurement to determine the fill level, so this measurement cannot be readily used for the (independent) detection of a malfunction of the lever sensor 110.

[0039] The vehicle 100 may include at least one motion sensor 102 configured to acquire sensor data relating to the movement of the vehicle 100, in particular with regard to its speed and / or longitudinal and / or lateral acceleration. The sensor data from the motion sensor 102 is also referred to as motion data in this document. The determination of the state of the lever actuator 110 can be carried out efficiently and reliably, as described in this document, based on the motion data from the one or more motion sensors 102 of the vehicle 100.

[0040] Fig. Figure 2a shows an exemplary measurement signal 200, which displays the measured values ​​202 of the measuring unit 111 of the lever encoder 110 as a function of time and / or the distance traveled 201. The measurement signal 200 can, for example, have a temporal measurement resolution of one measured value 202 per second (or higher). Due to the movement, in particular the acceleration or change in acceleration, of the vehicle 100, the measurement signal 200 typically fluctuates around an averaged measurement curve 205, where the averaged measurement curve 205 typically indicates the effective fill level of the fluid reservoir 104. The averaged measurement curve 205 can be determined by low-pass filtering of the measurement signal 200.

[0041] The device 101 can be configured to evaluate the measurement signal 200 in a first phase 211 (i.e., in a first time interval, for example, 5 minutes, or in a first distance interval, for example, 5 km). In particular, the maximum measured value x can be determined. max 206 and the minimum measured value x min 207 within the first phase 211 will be determined. For the maximum measured value x max 206 can apply, x max ≥ x(t), for all measured values ​​x(t) 202 within the first phase 211 (where t represents time or distance). Similarly, for the minimum measured value x min 207 apply, x min ≤ x(t), for all measured values ​​x(t) 202 within the first phase 211.

[0042] Furthermore, it can be checked (based on the motion data of one or more motion sensors 102) whether in the first phase 211 the acceleration a(t) of the vehicle 100 is equal to or greater than a predefined acceleration threshold a at least at one time 201. t is, i.e., a(t) ≥ a t or a(t)<-a t .

[0043] Alternatively or additionally, it can be checked (based on the motion data of one or more motion sensors 102) whether in the first phase 211 the maximum difference of the accelerations a(t) of the vehicle 100 during the first phase 211 is equal to or greater than a predefined change threshold Δ t is, i.e., Δ = a max - a min ; where a max the maximum acceleration and a min the minimum acceleration in the first phase is 211; with Δ≥Δ t .

[0044] It can therefore be checked on the basis of the movement data whether the vehicle 100 made sufficiently strong changes in movement during the first phase 211 that led to a substantial fluctuation of the measured values ​​x(t) 202, i.e. to a substantial deviation between the maximum measured value x max 206 and the minimum measured value x min 207, within the first phase 211, should be used if the lever sensor 110 exhibits fault-free behavior. The minimum measured value 207 and / or the maximum measured value 206 of the first phase 211 will only be used to detect a malfunction of the lever sensor 110 if, based on the motion data, it is determined that the vehicle 100 performed sufficiently large changes in movement during the first phase 211.

[0045] In Fig. Figure 4 shows an exemplary time course 401 of the acceleration 402 of vehicle 100. The longitudinal acceleration, the lateral acceleration, and / or a combination of longitudinal and lateral acceleration can be determined. Based on the time course 401 of the acceleration 402, a minimum acceleration value 407 and a maximum acceleration value 406 of the acceleration 402 during the first phase 211 can be determined. Based on this, the maximum difference in the accelerations a(t) of vehicle 100 during the first phase 211 (i.e., maximum acceleration value 406 minus minimum acceleration value 407) can be determined and compared with the predefined change threshold Δ t The values ​​can be compared. Based on this comparison, a decision can then be made as to whether the minimum measured value 207 and / or the maximum measured value 206 can be used to detect a malfunction of the lever encoder 110.

[0046] In a second phase 212 (following the first phase 211), based on the previously determined maximum measured value x max 206 and minimum measured value x min 207 determines whether the lever sensor 110 is impaired, e.g., jammed, or not. For this purpose, a minimum value range 209 can be defined around the minimum measured value x. min 207 and a maximum value range 208 around the maximum measured value x max 206 are considered. The value ranges 208, 209 can each have values ​​that are ±10% or less (or ±5% or less) around the maximum measured value x. max 206 or the minimum measured value x min 207 are located.

[0047] The second phase 212 can extend over a specific time interval (e.g., 5 minutes) and / or a specific distance interval (e.g., 5 km). The measurement signal 200 can then be evaluated in the second phase 212, and in particular, the proportion of the measured values ​​202 of the measurement signal 200 that lie within the minimum value range 208 and / or the maximum value range 209 can be determined. In other words, the proportion of the (time and / or distance) interval in which the measured values ​​202 of the lever encoder 110 lie within the minimum value range 208 and / or the maximum value range 209 can be determined.

[0048] Based on the determined proportion, it can be reliably determined whether or not the lever sensor 110 is impaired. The determined proportion can be compared with a proportion threshold, and based on this comparison, it can be determined whether the lever sensor 110 is impaired or not. The proportion threshold can be, for example, 10% or more, or 20% or more, of the total time and / or distance interval or the total quantity of measured values ​​202 of the second phase 212. If the determined proportion is greater than the proportion threshold, it can be determined that the lever sensor 110 is impaired. Conversely, it can be determined that the lever sensor 110 is not impaired.

[0049] Preferably, motion data is also recorded and evaluated in the second phase 212. In particular, the maximum change in acceleration present in the second phase 212 can be determined. The determined proportion is only used to detect an impairment of the lever encoder 110 if the maximum difference in the accelerations a(t) of the vehicle 100 during the second phase 212 is equal to or greater than the predefined change threshold Δ t This further increases the reliability of detecting a malfunction of the lever encoder 110.

[0050] Fig. Figure 2a shows an example measurement signal 200 for a situation where the lever encoder 110 is not affected (and the determined proportion is smaller than the proportion threshold). On the other hand, the Fig. 2b and Fig. 2c Measurement signals 200 for situations where the lever encoder 110 exhibits a malfunction. In the case of the Fig. In the situation shown in 2b, the lever encoder 110 is jammed in a position corresponding to the maximum measured value 206 determined for the first phase 211. In the Fig. In the situation shown in 2c, the lever generator 110 is clamped on one side (e.g., in contact with a disturbance object) and can therefore only cause changes in measured values ​​in one direction.

[0051] To detect a jammed lever sensor 110, the longitudinal and / or lateral acceleration of the vehicle 100 can be used and correlated with the movement of the lever sensor 110 (where the movement of the lever sensor 110 is described by the measurement signal 200). If the lever sensor 110 does not move under sufficiently high accelerations of the vehicle 100, a fault can be diagnosed.

[0052] The diagnosis can be performed in two (consecutive) phases 211, 212. In the first phase 211, the accelerations of the vehicle 100 can be measured. The first phase 211 can have a specific time and / or distance interval. During this time and / or distance interval, the maximum delta of the lateral and / or longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle 100 is determined and stored. Furthermore, the minimum measured value 207 and the maximum measured value 206 of the lever sensor 110 (e.g., a resistance value each) can be determined and stored within the time and / or distance interval of the first phase 211.

[0053] In a subsequent second phase 212 (which also has a specific time and / or distance interval), the minimum measured value 207 and the maximum measured value 206 can also be determined and stored. Furthermore, the cumulative distance or cumulative time can be determined for which the measured values ​​202 of the lever encoder 110 are (essentially) at the minimum measured value 207 or at the maximum measured value 206 of the first phase 211. Thus, proportional information can be determined that indicates the proportion of the time and / or distance interval of the second phase 212 in which the measured values ​​202 of the lever encoder 110 lie within the minimum value range 209 or the maximum value range 208. This proportion is typically equivalent or identical to the proportion of the measured value 202 of the lever encoder 110 of the second phase 212, which lies in the minimum value range 209 or in the maximum value range 208.

[0054] One or more indicators of a malfunction of the lever encoder 110 can then be determined. An example of such a malfunction is that the minimum measured value 207 of the second phase 212 corresponds to the minimum measured value 206 of the first phase 211 (e.g., deviates by less than 2% or 1%) and / or that the maximum measured value 206 of the second phase 212 corresponds to the maximum measured value 207 of the first phase 211 (e.g., deviates by less than 2% or 1%). Another indicator of a malfunction of the lever encoder 110 is that the determined cumulative distance and / or time (during which the measured values ​​202 of the lever encoder 110 lie within the minimum value range 209 or the maximum value range 208) is greater than a certain proportion threshold.

[0055] Based on one or more indicators, it is possible to efficiently and reliably conclude that a lever actuator 110 is impaired, in particular jammed.

[0056] Fig. Figure 3 shows a flowchart of an exemplary (possibly computer-implemented) method 300 for detecting a malfunction of a lever sensor 110. The lever sensor 110 is configured to acquire measured values ​​202 relating to the fill level of a liquid container 104 of a motor vehicle 100. The method 300 can be carried out by a device 101 of the vehicle 100.

[0057] The procedure 300 comprises determining 301 the maximum measured value 206 and the minimum measured value 207 of the lever encoder 110 within the time and / or distance interval of a first phase 211 of the procedure 300. The first phase 211 can extend over a specific time interval (e.g., between 5 and 10 minutes) and / or over a specific distance interval of the vehicle 100's journey (e.g., between 5 and 10 km).

[0058] Within the time and / or distance interval of the first phase 211, measured values ​​202 of the lever encoder 110 can be repeatedly determined, e.g., at a specific measurement rate (for example, at a measurement rate of one measured value 202 every 10 seconds or more, or at a measurement rate of one measured value 202 per second or more). Thus, a corresponding sequence of measured values ​​202 (i.e., a measurement signal 200) can be provided for a sequence of time points and / or distance points of the first phase 211. Furthermore, the maximum measured value 206 and the minimum measured value 207 of this sequence of measured values ​​202 can be determined.

[0059] Method 300 may further include determining a minimum value range 209 for or around the minimum measured value 207 of the first phase 211 and a maximum value range 208 for or around the maximum measured value 206 of the first phase 211. The value ranges 208 and 209 may each be limited to ±10% or less, or ±5% or less, or ±2% or less around the maximum measured value 206 and the minimum measured value 207, respectively. Optionally, the minimum value range 209 may comprise only the minimum measured value 207, and / or the maximum value range 208 may comprise only the maximum measured value 206. This may be the case, in particular, if the lever encoder 110 is configured to provide only a discrete number N of different measured values ​​202 (e.g., N = 70 or less, or N = 60 or less).

[0060] Furthermore, the procedure includes determining, in a second phase 212 following the first phase 211, proportional information regarding the proportion of the time and / or distance interval of the second phase 212 for which the measured values ​​202 of the lever encoder 110 lie within the minimum value range 209 and / or within the maximum value range 208. A corresponding sequence of measured values ​​202 of the lever encoder 110 can be determined for a sequence of time points and / or distance points of the time and / or distance interval of the second phase 212. This sequence of measured values ​​202 can be considered as a whole. It can then be determined, as proportional information, what proportion of measured values ​​202 from this whole lie within the minimum value range 209 and / or within the maximum value range 208.

[0061] The procedure 300 further includes the detection 303 of an impairment of the leverage generator 110 based on the share information. For this purpose, the determined share can be compared with a share threshold value, and it can be determined based on the comparison whether or not an impairment of the leverage generator 110 exists. In this way, particularly efficient and reliable monitoring of a leverage generator 110 can be achieved.

[0062] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and the figures are intended only to illustrate the principle of the proposed methods, devices, and systems by way of example. Reference symbol list 100 vehicles 101 (Evaluation) device 102 Motion sensor 104 liquid containers 105 Liquid 110 Lever transmitters 111 Unit of measurement 112 swimmers 113 levers 200 measurement signal 201 Time / Distance 202 measured values 205 averaged measurement trend 206 maximum measured value 207 minimum measured value 208 Maximum value range 209 Minimum value range 211 first phase 212 second phase 300 methods for detecting impairment of a lever actuator 301-303 Procedural steps 402 Acceleration 401 Acceleration curve 406 maximum acceleration value 407 minimum acceleration value

Claims

Device (101) for detecting an impairment of a lever sensor (110), wherein the lever sensor (110) is configured to detect measured values ​​(202) relating to a fill level of a liquid container (104) of a motor vehicle (100); wherein the device (101) is configured to determine a maximum measured value (206) and a minimum measured value (207) of the lever encoder (110) in a time and / or distance interval of a first phase (211); and to determine, in a second phase (212) following the first phase (211), proportion information relating to a proportion of a time and / or distance interval of the second phase (212) for which the measured values ​​(202) of the lever encoder (110) are within a minimum value range (209) for the minimum measured value (207) of the first phase (211) and / or within a maximum value range (208) for the maximum measured value (206) of the first phase (211).and- to identify an impairment of the leverage provider (110) based on the share information.; Device (101) according to claim 1, wherein the device (101) is configured to compare the determined proportion of the time and / or distance interval of the second phase (212) with a proportion threshold value; wherein the proportion threshold value is in particular 10% or greater or 20% or greater; and to determine, on the basis of the comparison, whether or not there is an impairment of the lever encoder (110). Device (101) according to claim 2, wherein the device (101) is configured to determine that an impairment of the lever encoder (110) is present if the determined proportion of the time and / or distance interval is equal to or greater than the proportion threshold; and / or to determine that no impairment of the lever encoder (110) is present if the determined proportion is less than the proportion threshold. Device (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is configured to: - determine a first portion of the time and / or distance interval of the second phase (212) for which the measured values ​​(202) of the lever encoder (110) lie within the minimum value range (209); - determine a second portion of the time and / or distance interval of the second phase (212) for which the measured values ​​(202) of the lever encoder (110) lie within the maximum value range (208); and - determine, based on the first portion of the time and / or distance interval and on the basis of the second portion of the time and / or distance interval, in particular on the basis of the sum of the first portion and the second portion, whether or not there is an impairment of the lever encoder (110). Device (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the minimum value range (209) around the minimum measured value (207) of the first phase (211) is limited to values ​​that are ±10% or less around the minimum measured value (207) of the first phase (211); and / or - the maximum value range (208) around the maximum measured value (206) of the first phase (211) is limited to values ​​that are ±10% or less around the maximum measured value (206) of the first phase (211). Device (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is configured to identify, based on motion data from a motion sensor (102) of the motor vehicle (100), a time and / or distance interval for the first phase (211) in which a longitudinal and / or lateral acceleration of the vehicle (100) changes by at least a predefined change threshold; and / or to determine whether the longitudinal and / or lateral acceleration of the vehicle (100) changes by at least a predefined change threshold within the time and / or distance interval of the first phase (211).and to use the maximum measured value (206) and the minimum measured value (207) of the lever sensor (110) of the first phase (211) for detecting an impairment of the lever sensor (100) only if the longitudinal and / or lateral acceleration of the vehicle (100) changes by at least the predefined change threshold value within the time and / or distance interval of the first phase (211). Device (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is configured to: - determine the maximum measured value (206) and the minimum measured value (207) of the lever encoder (110) in the time and / or distance interval of the second phase (212); - compare the minimum measured value (207) of the second phase (212) with the minimum measured value (207) of the first phase (211); - compare the maximum measured value (206) of the second phase (212) with the maximum measured value (206) of the first phase (211); and - detect an impairment of the lever encoder (110) based on the comparisons. Device (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein- the device (101) is configured to take action when it is detected that the lever sensor (110) has a defect; and- the action in particular comprises,- an entry in a fault memory of the vehicle (100); and / or- an output of a notification to a user of the vehicle (100). Device (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (101) is configured to: - determine that the minimum measured value (207) of the first phase (211) corresponds to a minimum possible measured value (202) of the lever encoder (110); - detect that liquid (105) is withdrawn from the liquid container (104) following the first phase (211); and - determine, based thereon, that there is an impairment of the lever encoder (110). Device (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid container (104) is a fuel container for receiving fuel for the operation of an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle (100). Motor vehicle (100) comprising: - a fluid reservoir (104) for receiving an operating fluid (105) of the vehicle (100); - a lever sensor (110) configured to detect measured values ​​(202) relating to a fill level of the operating fluid (105) in the fluid reservoir (104); and - a device (101) according to one of the preceding claims for detecting an impairment of the lever sensor (110). Method (300) for detecting an impairment of a lever sensor (110), wherein the lever sensor (110) is configured to detect measured values ​​(202) relating to a fill level of a liquid container (104) of a motor vehicle (100); wherein the method (300) comprises: - determining (301) a maximum measured value (206) and a minimum measured value (207) of the lever encoder (110) in a time and / or distance interval of a first phase (211); - determining (302), in a second phase (212) following the first phase (211), proportion information relating to a proportion of a time and / or distance interval of the second phase (212) for which the measured values ​​(202) of the lever encoder (110) are within a minimum value range (209) for the minimum measured value (207) of the first phase (211) and / or within a maximum value range (208) for the maximum measured value (206) of the first phase (211);and- detecting (303) an impairment of the leverage provider (110) based on the share information.;

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