Lateral inclination angle detector for passenger-protecting device for use in automotive vehicle
First Claim
1. A lateral inclination detector mounted on an automotive vehicle for controlling operation of a passenger-protecting device, the lateral inclination detector comprising:
- a first gravitational acceleration sensor and a second gravitational acceleration sensor for detecting a static lateral inclination angle of the automotive vehicle;
an angular velocity sensor for detecting a dynamic roll angle of the automotive vehicle; and
a control unit for calculating the static lateral inclination angle based on outputs of the first and the second gravitational acceleration sensors and for calculating the dynamic roll angle by integrating outputs of the angular velocity sensor with respect to time, wherein;
the control unit puts the passenger-protecting device in operation when a sum of the static lateral inclination angle and the dynamic roll angle exceeds a predetermined critical level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A passenger-protecting device such as an air-bag system is activated upon detection of a vehicle lateral inclination angle exceeding a predetermined critical level. Such detection is performed by a lateral inclination detector having a pair of gravitational acceleration sensors for detecting a static road inclination and an angular velocity sensor for detecting a dynamic roll angle of the vehicle. Sensing directions of the pair of gravitational acceleration sensors are positioned to cross each other with a right angle and to make an angle of 45° with respect to a vehicle floor. The dynamic roll angle is calculated by integrating outputs of the angular velocity sensor. The vehicle inclination angle is obtained to summing up the static inclination angle and the roll angle. The passenger-protecting device is timely activated to protect passengers from overturn impact of the vehicle.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A lateral inclination detector mounted on an automotive vehicle for controlling operation of a passenger-protecting device, the lateral inclination detector comprising:
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a first gravitational acceleration sensor and a second gravitational acceleration sensor for detecting a static lateral inclination angle of the automotive vehicle;
an angular velocity sensor for detecting a dynamic roll angle of the automotive vehicle; and
a control unit for calculating the static lateral inclination angle based on outputs of the first and the second gravitational acceleration sensors and for calculating the dynamic roll angle by integrating outputs of the angular velocity sensor with respect to time, wherein;
the control unit puts the passenger-protecting device in operation when a sum of the static lateral inclination angle and the dynamic roll angle exceeds a predetermined critical level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification