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US006446024B1
(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: us 6,446,024 Bi
Leimbach et al. (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 3,2002
(54) PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR
DETERMINING A VEHICLE'S MASS
(75) Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Leimbach, Moglingen;
Hans Veil, Eberdingen; Stefan
Hummel, Stuttgart, all of (DE)
(73) Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart (DE)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/254,351
(22) PCT Filed: Jun. 17, 1998
(86) PCT No.: PCT/DE98/01641
§ 371 (c)(1),
(2), (4) Date: Mar. 5, 1999
(87) PCT Pub. No.: WO99/02947 PCT Pub. Date: Jan. 21, 1999
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data
Jul. 5, 1997 (DE) 197 28 769
(51) Int. CI.7 G01P 15/00; G06F 15/00
(52) U.S. CI 702/141; 73/118.1; 73/146
(58) Field of Search 702/141, 127,
702/142; 73/488, 503, 510, 514.01, 118.1, 146; 701/37, 38, 51, 67
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,416,360 A * 11/1983 Fiala 477/5
4,533,011 A * 8/1985 Heidemeyer 180/65.2
4,941,365 A * 7/1990 Reiner et al 73/865
5,434,780 A 7/1995 Masayuki et al.
5,549,364 A * 8/1996 Mayr-Frohlich et al. ... 303/9.69
5,755,302 A * 5/1998 Lutz et al 180/65.2
5,925,087 A * 7/1999 Ohnishi et al 701/70
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
DE 3843818 5/1990
DE 3843818 CI * 5/1990 G01G/19/03
DE 4228413 3/1994
EP 0111636 6/1984
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—-John S. Hilten
Assistant Examiner—Demetrius R. Pretlow
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—-Walter Otteson
(57) ABSTRACT
A mass value is determined which represents the mass of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a drive unit and a clutch unit. By the disengagement of the clutch unit, the force flow between the drive unit and the vehicle wheels can be essentially interrupted. At least a first acceleration value is detected which represents the vehicle acceleration at a first time point. Furthermore, at least a first drive value is detected which represents the drive force or the drive torque of the drive unit at the first time point. At least a second acceleration value is detected which represents the vehicle acceleration at a second time point whereat the clutch unit is disengaged. A comparison then takes place of the detected second acceleration value with at least one pregivable threshold value. The determination of the mass value takes place at least in dependence upon the comparison and at least in dependence upon the detected first acceleration value and the detected first drive value.
9 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
