Vehicle Wheel Speed Sensor Good Check Controller

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle systems lack the ability to automatically determine when a sensor malfunction has ended, often requiring manual intervention to clear errors, especially due to electromagnetic interference.

Innovation Solution

A controller with a malfunction monitoring module, failure handling module, and signal checking module that performs a 'good check' to determine if a sensor has returned to normal operation, activating or deactivating warning lights and adjusting vehicle control systems accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sensor malfunction is detected and a fault indicator is activated, then system reliability is improved by alerting the operator, but the system requires manual intervention to clear the error even after the sensor returns to normal operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor malfunction detectionVSAvoiderror clearing process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically monitors sensor signals and performs good checks to determine when a malfunction has ended, enabling self-clearing of fault indicators without requiring manual technician intervention. The controller continuously evaluates sensor outputs and automatically resets the fault state when normal operation is confirmed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the controller continuously monitors sensor signals and automatically determines when the sensor has returned to normal operation. This feedback loop enables automatic fault clearing based on real-time sensor performance evaluation, eliminating the need for manual error clearing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If malfunction monitoring functions use strict tolerances to avoid misdetection, then measurement precision is improved, but false good checks occur when sensors temporarily return to acceptable ranges due to external factors like electromagnetic interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemalfunction detection accuracyVSAvoidfalse good check rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary monitoring during the malfunction state and requires the sensor to demonstrate normal operation for a predetermined time period before clearing the fault. This preliminary action ensures that temporary fluctuations due to electromagnetic interference do not trigger false good checks, while still enabling automatic recovery when the sensor genuinely returns to normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the monitoring approach by implementing a time-based evaluation where the sensor must maintain acceptable outputs for a predetermined duration. This dynamic approach balances strict tolerance checking to avoid misdetection with sufficient monitoring duration to prevent false good checks during temporary interference events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If the system requires technician intervention to clear sensor errors, then measurement precision is maintained through careful evaluation, but loss of time occurs due to manual reset procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor malfunction detectionVSAvoiderror clearing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs the fault clearing function by monitoring sensor signals and independently determining when normal operation has resumed. This self-service capability eliminates the time loss associated with manual technician intervention while maintaining precise malfunction detection through continuous sensor evaluation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The controller continuously monitors sensor outputs without interruption, enabling immediate detection and automatic clearing of malfunctions when they end. This continuous monitoring ensures that the system can quickly transition from fault state to normal operation without waiting for manual intervention, reducing time loss while maintaining detection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP2289748B9Good checking for vehicle wheel speed sensors
Publication Date: 2016.01.13 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2289748B9 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2289748B9 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2289748B9 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A controller for determining whether a previously-detected vehicle wheel speed sensor malfunction still exists. The controller includes an electronic, non-volatile memory, and an electronic processing unit connected to the electronic, non-volatile memory. The electronic processing module includes a malfunction monitoring module, a failure handling module, and a signal checking module. The malfunction monitoring module monitors the operation of at least one wheel speed sensor and generates a fault signal when the at least one sensor malfunctions. The failure handling module causes drive cycle information and the fault information to be stored in the electronic, non-volatile memory. The signal checking module performs a signal check on information from the at least one wheel speed sensor. A tell-tale indicator is deactivated and/or a vehicle control system resumes normal operation if the wheel speed sensor passes the signal check.