METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING A SAFETY COMPONENT IN A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A method for operating a safety component in a motor vehicle. The method includes: determining a stored threshold value, which is provided for a comparison with an operating parameter of the safety component to set an error value when the operating parameter reaches the threshold value; ascertaining an error value when the threshold value is reached; collecting threshold-value correction data when the threshold value is reached or when a situation occurs in which it is expected that the threshold value will be reached, and transmitting threshold-value correction data to a central data processor; receiving from a central data processor at least one corrected threshold value for correcting the threshold value during the operation of the safety component, the correction data having been ascertained from error data that were ascertained in identically designed safety components of other motor vehicles; and adopting the corrected threshold as the stored threshold value.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. A method for operating a safety component in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: a) determining a stored threshold value, which is provided for a comparison with an operating parameter of the safety component, to set an error value when the operating parameter reaches the threshold value; b) ascertaining an error value when the threshold value is reached; c) collecting threshold-value correction data when the threshold value is reached or when a situation occurs in which it is expected that the threshold value will be reached, and transmitting threshold-value correction data to a central data processor; d) receiving from a central data processor at least one corrected threshold value for correcting the threshold value during operation of the safety component, the correction data having been ascertained from error data that were ascertained in identically designed safety components of other motor vehicles; and e) adopting the corrected threshold as the stored threshold value.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the transmitting of the threshold-value correction data in step c) or the receiving of at least one corrected threshold value in step d) takes place during servicing of the safety component of the motor vehicle.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the transmitting of the threshold-value correction data in step c) or the receiving of the at least one corrected threshold value in step d) takes place via a network interface during a regular operation of the motor vehicle.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein steps a) through e) are carried out during regular operation of the safety component.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the safety component is part of a motor vehicle and serves as passenger protection.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein steps a) through e) are continually repeated during the method.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the following steps are carried out for collecting threshold-value correction data in the step c): i. performing the comparison of the threshold value with the operating parameter; ii. storing state information that describes a state of the safety component when the error value is set; iii. providing the state information for an ascertainment of corrected threshold values as the threshold-value correction data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a method in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0051] As shown in FIG. 1, the method begins at (i) with the specification of initial threshold values. Based on these initial threshold values, the threshold value for a safety component is defined under (ii). In the process, data from an analysis of field data (ix) are also considered, if appropriate, provided such data are available. In this way the initial threshold values for the safety component may already consider information from field data.

[0052] The use of the safety component in the field is then described by (iii). During use of the safety component, an online data collection (iv) of error data takes place while the safety component is in use. The online data collection (iv) is carried out on a regular basis in parallel with the use of the safety component in the field (iii). The online data collection (iv) makes the collected data available to a field-data conditioner (vi), preferably via a network connection 2 depicted here in the form of an arrow.

[0053] The same applies to the download of new safety data (v) from the analysis of field data (ix). This download of new safety data (v) also takes place on a regular basis, in parallel with the use of the safety component in the field (iii). The analysis of field data (ix) also makes these new safety data available to the download of new safety data (v) via a network connection 3 likewise depicted here in the form of an arrow.

[0054] Here, too, the use of the safety component is shown three times by block (iii) (prior to and following the online data collection (iv) and the download of new safety data (v)). In addition, it is sketched by loop 1 that the use of the safety component in the field (iii) is basically set up on a permanent basis. This constitutes a continual use of the safety component in the field (iii), during which error data are regularly collected by online data collection (iv) and during which new safety data are read in on a regular basis by downloading new safety data (v).

[0055] The field-data conditioning (vi) is used to generate usable data from the received field data, which may be used to improve the mentioned threshold values of the safety component. To generate usable data, the field-data conditioner (vi) preferably also uses information from additional data sources such as from an expert database (x) or from a manual error analysis (xi).

[0056] Using an update (vii), the usable data are written to the database holding field data (viii). Data material from this database holding field data (viii) is supplied to the analysis of field data (ix) in order to then be able to supply new safety data for the downloading of new safety data (v). The field data (ix) may also be supplied (ii) via link 6 for the purpose of establishing initial threshold values.

[0057] The analysis of field data (viii) preferably also supplies data for determining initial threshold values under (ii).

[0058] The method steps (iii), (iv) and (v) are preferably carried out in a safety component 4 that may be part of a motor vehicle.

[0059] The method steps (i), (ii) as well as (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x) and (xi) are preferably carried out in a central data processor 5 such as on a server of a manufacturer of safety component 4. The safety components are connected to this central data processor 5, preferably permanently or intermittently, via network connections 2 and 3, which are implemented with the aid of mobile radio networks, for instance.