Vehicle Sensor Assembly Self-Calibration for Position-Based Setup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensor arrangements for vehicles lack a simplified method for self-calibration, making it difficult to determine and adjust the position and operating routine of vehicle size sensors during installation and maintenance, leading to potential errors and undesirable system performance.

Innovation Solution

A method that includes self-calibration of vehicle size sensors using acceleration measurements from three-axis sensors, automatically determining the actual position and correlating it with predetermined target positions, and storing the appropriate operating routine for subsequent operations, with error messaging for misalignment and automatic routine selection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual calibration and positioning of vehicle size sensors is performed, then installation and maintenance complexity is reduced, but time consumption and labor requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveInstallation and maintenance simplicityVSAvoidTime for calibration and positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor arrangement performs self-calibration automatically using its integrated acceleration sensor to determine its own position and orientation. The system compares the determined actual position with stored target positions and automatically selects the appropriate operating routine, eliminating the need for manual calibration procedures and reducing installation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple target positions and corresponding operating routines are pre-stored in the sensor arrangement before installation. During self-calibration, the system only needs to determine the actual position and match it with the pre-stored targets, significantly reducing the time required compared to manual calibration procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sensor arrangements are installed at different positions and orientations, then vehicle size detection coverage is improved, but device complexity and configuration difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSensor arrangement positioning flexibilityVSAvoidConfiguration and calibration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor arrangement is designed as a universal component that can be installed at multiple different positions and orientations on the vehicle. The self-calibration capability allows the same sensor arrangement to adapt to various locations (front, rear, left, right) and orientations automatically, eliminating the need for different configured components for each position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system stores multiple target positions with different positional parameters and orientation data. During self-calibration, the acceleration sensor measurements are compared against these stored parameters to automatically identify the correct installation configuration and select the appropriate operating routine, enabling flexible deployment without increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If automatic position determination using acceleration sensors is implemented, then calibration time is reduced, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSelf-calibration speedVSAvoidPosition determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from the acceleration sensor measurements to compare the actual position against stored target positions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically adjust and confirm the correct operating routine selection, ensuring accurate position determination despite the speed of automatic calibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Simplifies the installation and maintenance of sensor arrangements by enabling automatic self-calibration and ensuring accurate positioning and operation of vehicle size sensors, reducing errors and enhancing system reliability.

Implementation Method 1

The automatic determination of the actual position of the sensor arrangement in its self-calibration routine is based on at least one acceleration measurement of at least one acceleration sensor of the sensor arrangement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcceleration measurement: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP3857174B1Method for a sensor arrangement
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 HELLA GMBH & CO KGAA
  • EP3857174B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The aim of the invention is to simplify the use of a sensor assembly (8) in a vehicle (2). This aim is achieved, according to the invention, by a method for a sensor assembly (8) of a vehicle (2) comprising the following method steps: self-calibration of the vehicle variable sensor (10) of the sensor assembly (8) in a self-calibration routine of the sensor assembly (8), wherein the current location and/or the current position of the sensor assembly (8) is determined automatically by means of the sensor assembly (8) and is compared with at least one intended location and/or intended position of the sensor assembly (8) for the at least one operating routine of the sensor assembly (8), and outputting an error message if the actual location and/or actual position determined automatically by means of the sensor assembly (8) substantially corresponds to none of the at least one target location and/or target position or if the actual location and/or actual position substantially corresponds to one of the at least one target location and/or target position, storing the operating routine of the sensor assembly (8) correlating with said target location and/or target position of the sensor assembly (8) for a subsequent operation of the self-calibrated vehicle variable sensor (10) of the sensor assembly (8). The invention further relates to a sensor assembly, to a computer program product and to a computer-readable medium.