US 12,313,444 B2
Load detection device
Dennis Pape, Ostercappeln (DE); Julian Stratmann, Bad Essen (DE); Christoph Werries, Bissendorf (DE); and Michael Klank, Osnabrück (DE)
Assigned to ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Friedrichshafen (DE)
Appl. No. 17/770,214
Filed by ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Friedrichshafen (DE)
PCT Filed Oct. 12, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/078527
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 19, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/094040, PCT Pub. Date May 20, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2019 217 592.9 (DE), filed on Nov. 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0381603 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. G01G 19/42 (2006.01); G01B 21/08 (2006.01); G01C 21/16 (2006.01); G01G 19/08 (2006.01)
CPC G01G 19/42 (2013.01) [G01B 21/08 (2013.01); G01C 21/16 (2013.01); G01G 19/08 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A load detection device for a vehicle, the device comprising:
a height-level measuring unit comprising one or more height-level sensors and configured to detect a height level of a vehicle and further configured to generate at least one height-level signal that characterizes the height level of the vehicle;
an evaluation unit coupled to the height-level measuring unit, the evaluation unit configured to determine a mass of a load of the vehicle taking into account the at least one height-level signal, wherein the evaluation unit is configured to determine a number of persons from the mass of the load; and
a position-measuring unit coupled to the evaluation unit, the position-measuring unit configured to determine a position of the vehicle relative to a mid-point of the earth and configured to generate at least one position signal that characterizes the position of the vehicle, wherein the evaluation unit is further configured to determine a mass of the load by taking into account the at least one position signal.