Patent ID: 6446024
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: B60T,B60W,F16H,G01G

Abstract:
A method for determining a mass value (Mtot) of a motor vehicle having a drive unit and a clutch unit, the mass value (Mmot) representing the mass of a motor vehicle such as a recreational or commercial motor vehicle, the force flow between the drive unit and the vehicle wheels being interruptible by disengaging the clutch unit, the method comprising the steps of:detecting at least one first acceleration value (a1) which represents the vehicle acceleration at a first time point at which the clutch unit is engaged; detecting at least a first drive value (Fdriv1) which represents the drive force or the drive torque of the drive unit at the first time point; detecting at least a second acceleration value (aopen) which represents the vehicle acceleration at a second time point at which the clutch unit is disengaged; comparing the detected second acceleration value (aopen) to at least one pregiven threshold value (Su, So); detecting a roadway slope from the comparison of said second acceleration value (aopen) to said at least one pregiven threshold value (Su, So); and, determining the mass value (Mtot) at least in dependence upon said roadway slope and at least in dependence upon the detected first acceleration value (a1) and the detected first drive value (fdriv1).