IP Library Granted Patent US 8,008,911
Granted Patent B2
US 8,008,911 · App. 12/133,017 · Granted Aug 30, 2011

Method and device for the determination of the road clearance of a vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,008,911
App. No.
12/133,017
Granted
Aug 30, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a method for determining road clearance of a vehicle, the vehicle is moved relative to a measurement configuration with a reference surface. One or more magnets, which are disposed on the vehicle and assigned preferably each to a defined measurement point on the vehicle, is detected by at least one device for magnetic field measurement. With the help of at least one device for separation measurement, the separation between the measurement configuration and the bottom side of the vehicle is determined. In this way, a rapid, reliable, repeatable and flexibly usable method for the determination of the road clearance of a vehicle is provided. A corresponding device is provided for implementing the method.

Claims (9)

1. A device, comprising:

a measurement configuration having at least one device for magnetic field measurement and at least one device for separation measurement, said device for magnetic field measurement having at least one magnetic field sensor, said device for separation measurement having at least one separation sensor configured for contact-free separation measurement, and a control device coupled to said at least one device for magnetic field measurement and to said at least one device for separation measurement, and a measurement process of said at least one device for separation measurement is controlled by said control device in dependence on measurement values determined by said at least one device for magnetic field measurement.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said measurement configuration is configured to be driven over.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said device for magnetic field measurement is assigned to said device for separation measurement.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said magnetic field sensor of said at least one device for magnetic field measurement is one of a plurality of magnetic field sensors disposed in a row.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein said separation sensor of said at least one device for separation measurement is one of a plurality of separation sensors disposed in a row and parallel to said magnetic field sensors.

6. The device according to claim 4 , wherein said separation sensor of said at least one device for separation measurement can be shifted parallel to said magnetic field sensors.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said separation sensor is one of a plurality of optical sensors.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said separation sensor is one of a plurality of ultrasound sensors.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 11, 2010
From: PORSCHE ZWISCHENHOLDING GMBH
To: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AG
Reel/Frame 025346/0895 →
MERGER Recorded Nov 10, 2010
From: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AG
To: PORSCHE ZWISCHENHOLDING GMBH
Reel/Frame 025339/0949 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2010
From: MELINAT, NORBERT; BAUER, RALF; LESCHINSKI, THORSTEN; SCHOEFFLER, HARALD
To: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AG
Reel/Frame 025193/0992 →