Wheel Position Detection Using Acceleration Sensor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel position detecting devices using low-functioning wheel speed sensors cannot accurately determine the movement direction of a vehicle, leading to erroneous wheel position detection during learning processes, especially when passengers get on or off or luggage is loaded/unloaded, which can result in incorrect registration of wheel positions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an acceleration sensor that outputs detection signals containing gravitational acceleration components to determine the angle of the transmitter relative to a zero-degree position, combined with a control unit that acquires gear information and performs wheel position learning, change detection, and resetting, to suppress erroneous detection by excluding incremental data from wheel speed sensors during vehicle halt conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If wheel position detection is performed using wheel speed sensors that cannot detect movement direction, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of wheel position deteriorates during learning processes when passengers get on/off or luggage is loaded/unloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a direction detection unit as an intermediary component that detects the movement direction of the vehicle. This mediator resolves the contradiction by providing directional information to the control unit, enabling accurate wheel position detection even when using simplified wheel speed sensors that cannot inherently detect direction. The direction detection unit acts as a bridge between the simple sensors and the complex position determination requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary detection of vehicle movement direction before performing wheel position learning. By detecting direction in advance and using this information to determine whether to update position data, the system prevents erroneous learning during transient states (passenger boarding, luggage loading). This preliminary action ensures that only valid position data is registered, maintaining measurement precision without increasing sensor complexity.
2Productivity
If wheel position learning is continuously performed during vehicle operation, then the productivity of wheel position registration is improved, but the reliability of wheel position detection deteriorates due to erroneous detection during transient vehicle states
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary evaluation of vehicle stability conditions (detecting whether the vehicle is in a stable state without transient movements) before executing wheel position learning. This preliminary check ensures that position data is only registered when reliable, preventing erroneous detection during transient states while maintaining continuous operation for productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the control unit continuously monitors vehicle state and direction detection results, and uses this feedback to determine whether to proceed with wheel position learning. The feedback loop ensures that learning only occurs when conditions are favorable, balancing productivity with reliability by adapting the learning process to real-time vehicle conditions.
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
This solution effectively reduces the likelihood of erroneous wheel position detection even when the vehicle's movement direction cannot be determined, ensuring accurate wheel position registration and reducing errors during learning processes.
Implementation Method 1
an acceleration sensor that outputs a detection signal according to an acceleration containing a gravitational acceleration component
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel position detecting device can suppress an erroneous detection of a wheel position even if a moving direction of a vehicle cannot be determined by wheel speed sensors whether in a forward direction or in a rearward direction. When an edge number (or a tooth number) is incremented based on detection signals of the wheel speed sensors of one, two or three wheels while the vehicle is at a halt, the edge number (or the tooth number) is not used as learning data. Thus, it is less likely that the wheel position is erroneously detected based on erroneous learning data. Therefore, even if the moving direction of the vehicle cannot be determined whether in the forward direction or the rearward direction by the wheel speed sensors, the wheel position detecting device can suppress the erroneous wheel position detection.