Patent ID: 8386123

Claim:
A method of calibrating an inclination sensor, which is arranged in a motor vehicle ( 1 ) with a semi-automatic transmission ( 3 ) for determining road inclination (α_Fb) and inclination-related resistance (F_Steig) and being connected for signal transmission purposes with a transmission control unit ( 4 ) of the transmission ( 3 ) such that, under certain operating conditions of the motor vehicle, a current offset value (x_Offset) for the zero-point correction of the inclination sensor ( 5 ) is determined automatically, the method comprising the steps of: once operation of the motor vehicle ( 1 ) begins, repeatedly determining and temporarily storing, while the motor vehicle is driving in a first driving direction, a current first driving resistance (F_Fw 1 ) without regard to the inclination sensor ( 5 ) and noting a current raw signal value (x_Ns 0 ) of the inclination sensor ( 5 ); recognizing a change of driving direction from the first driving direction to a second driving direction; temporarily storing the raw signal value (x_Ns 0 ) of the inclination sensor ( 5 ) that was last determined; repeatedly determining and temporarily storing, while the motor vehicle is driving in an opposite, second driving direction, a current second driving resistance (F_Fw 2 ) without regard to the inclination sensor; comparing the first driving resistance (F_Fw 1 ) determined for driving in the first driving direction with the second driving resistance (F_Fw 2 ) determined for driving in the second driving direction; and if the first and the second driving resistances (F_Fw 1 , F_Fw 2 ) are in agreement with a specified tolerance threshold (ΔF_Ts), permanently storing the stored raw signal value (x_Ns 0 ) of the inclination sensor as the offset value (x_Offset) for the zero-point correction of the inclination sensor (x_Offset=x_Ns 0 ).