METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING A SENSOR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING SPEED, SENSOR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING SPEED, AND VEHICLE HAVING AT LEAST ONE SENSOR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING SPEED

Abstract

A sensor device (12) to measure the speed of a wheel of a vehicle is disclosed. The sensor device (12) is assigned an identifier (28, 30, 32) which can be contactlessly read. The identifier (28, 30, 32) can be read by radio. A method for identifying the sensor device (12) and a vehicle including the sensor device (12) are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a sensor device for measuring the speed of a wheel of a vehicle, wherein assigned to the sensor device is an identifier which can be contactlessly read out, the method comprising reading out by radio the identifier of the sensor device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electrical and/or magnetic signal for identification is transmitted by the identifier.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein data for identification are wirelessly transmitted with the signal.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier is at least partially assigned to a cable and/or a plug-in connection of the sensor device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one RFID transponder is used as the identifier.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier contains at least one microchip, wherein the microchip stores and/or transmits measurement data.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier is supplied with electrical energy from an external source.

8. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal of the identifier is coupled into an on-board electrical system of an assigned vehicle and/or the identifier is read out by the on-board electronics system.

9. A sensor device for measuring the speed of a wheel of a vehicle, the sensor device comprising an identifier which can be contactlessly read out, wherein the identifier can be read out by radio.

10. The sensor device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the identifier is designed as an RFID transponder, and/or the identifier comprises at least one microchip and/or at least one antenna for transmitting data.

11. The sensor device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the identifier transmits identification data.

12. The sensor device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sensor device can be supplied with electrical energy from an external source.

13. The sensor device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising an assigned housing and/or an assigned plug-in connection and/or an assigned cable section, to which the identifier can be fastened and/or at least partially integrated.

14. A vehicle comprising at least one sensor device for measuring speed, the sensor device being the sensor device of claim 9.

15. The vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein a signal from the identifier can be coupled into an on-board electrical system by radio, wherein the identifier can be read out by an on-board electronics system connected to the on-board electrical system.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier is supplied with electrical energy by radio via an antenna.

17. The sensor device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the identifier can store and/or transmit measurement data in addition to the identification data.

18. The sensor device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sensor device can be supplied with electrical energy by radio via an antenna.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0023] The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a sensor device according to the invention for measuring the speed of a wheel of a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Referring to the Figure, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts, a device for determining the speed of a wheel (not shown) is generally shown at 10. The device 10 contains a sensor device 12 for the actual speed measurement. The speed of the assigned wheel of the vehicle is therefore measured. The sensor device 12 is therefore also referred to as a wheel speed sensor.

[0026] For example, the relative movement of a toothed bar 14, which is moved along with a non-illustrated wheel, can be determined via an optical or inductive measurement. During a movement of the toothed bar 14, regular projections and recesses 16 on and in the toothed bar 14 generate a periodic signal of pulses in the sensor device 12. This pulse signal is proportional to the movement of the toothed bar 14 and, therefore, to the speed of the associated wheel.

[0027] In order to ensure a stable mounting, the sensor device 12 is usually installed in a bearing element 18 of the associated vehicle. For this purpose, the bearing element 18 defines a through hole 20 in this case. The sensor device 12 comprises a housing 22 which is essentially cylindrical in this case. The housing 22 of the sensor device 12 is then inserted into the through hole 20 defined by the bearing element 18. In addition, the housing 22 is fastened in the through hole 20, in order to prevent an unwanted movement.

[0028] The sensor device 12, including the housing 22, is surrounded nearly completely by the bearing element 18 in this case. A short subregion of the housing 22, including the plug-in connection 24, is situated outside only on the right end region in the Figure. This plug-in connection 24 connects the sensor device 12, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, a cable section or a corresponding cable 26. The cable 26 is used for connecting the sensor device 12 to an on-board electronics system of the vehicle. The actual measured values from the sensor device 12 for the speed of the assigned wheel are transmitted via this cable 26. In addition, the cable 26 is used for supplying current to the sensor device 12.

[0029] As is apparent from the Figure, features applied to the surface for the purpose of identification or for the identification of the sensor device 12 are usually difficult to read out or cannot be read out at all, due to the typical installation in a corresponding holding element 18. Thus, the solution according to the invention is shown here with three alternative positions 28, 30 and 32 for corresponding identifiers. The identifiers 28, 30, 32 can be designed practically identically in all cases. This identifier can be read out by radio, for example an RFID chip.

[0030] In the first case, the identifier 28 is mounted directly on the housing 22 of the sensor device 12. A recess in the housing or an indentation can be provided for this purpose, for example. Material can then be applied for covering, in order to protect the identifier 28. Due to the readout by radio, an identification of the sensor device 12 via the identifier 28 can also take place in the installed state.

[0031] In the case of the position of the identifier 30 in the region of the plug-in connection 24, there can be two alternatives. On the one hand, the identifier 30 can be assigned to the part of the plug-in connection 24 that is fixedly connected to the sensor device 12. In this case, it is advantageous that the identifier 30 is situated further outside the holding element 18 in the region of the plug-in connection 24. Plug-in connections 24 are often manufactured from plastic or a similar material, thereby ensuring better transparency for electromagnetic waves than is the case with metal components. For the case in which the identifier 30 is situated on sides of the part of the plug-in connection 24 that are detachable from the sensor device 12, an unambiguous identification of the sensor device 12 is still possible. The installation of the sensor device 12 is already established during the first installation within the scope of the production of the vehicle. An unambiguous identification of the sensor device 12 is therefore possible. For the rest, the plug-in connections 24 are typically usable only for exactly one sensor type, thereby ensuring that mix-ups with other sensor types usually cannot occur.

[0032] Finally, the third position of the identifier 32 can be assumed in the region of the cable 26. This offers advantages similar to those related to the positioning in the region of the plug-in connection 24. Since the cable 26 is fixedly connected to the cable-side part of the plug-in connection 24, the assignment of the sensor device 12 to the corresponding plug-in connection 24 and to the cable section 26 is also already established during the manufacturing of the vehicle. An unambiguous identification of the sensor device 12 can therefore take place.

[0033] When the identifier 30 or 32 is situated in the region of the plug-in connection 24 or the cable 26, a further advantage arises. Due to the proximity of the electrical lines to the on-board electronics system of the vehicle, a radio signal from the identifier 30 or 32 can be coupled into the electrical network of the on-board electronics system. The on-board electronics system is therefore enabled to read out the radio signal from the identifier 30 or 32. An identification of the sensor device 12 is therefore possible both via a suitable external reading device and by the on-board electronics system thereof.

[0034] A method according to the invention is described in greater detail in the following, by way of example:

[0035] A suitable reading device, which is not shown here, is brought proximate to the identifier 28, 30 or 32. The reader can emit electrical energy by radio. By way of the identifier 28, 30 or 32 suitably receiving and temporarily storing the energy, the identifier is enabled to emit a radio signal itself. RFID chips usually do not have a separate energy source. The identifier 28, 30 or 32 comprises a suitable antenna, which is not shown here, for receiving the electrical energy. The radio signal of the identifier 28, 30 or 32 is then used for transmitting data, in particular identification data. The emission usually takes place via the same antenna that is used for receiving energy.

[0036] The emitted radio signal is received, in turn, by the reading device. Given that the radio signal contains corresponding identification data, in particular a unique code number or the like, an identification of the sensor device 12 can take place. If necessary, a match with a database or the like must be carried out, in order to obtain a production date, a production site, a test result, or the like.

[0037] In addition to the transmission of pure identification data, the identifier 28, 30 or 32 can also transmit additional data, for example, measurement data. For this purpose, a corresponding coupling to suitable measurement elements must take place, for example, to the sensor device 12. In particular, a measured speed can therefore be linked to the corresponding identification data.