Tip-over detection device for motor vehicle
First Claim
1. A wheeled vehicle comprising a frame, at least one front wheel coupled to the frame, at least one rear wheel coupled to the frame, a prime mover coupled to the frame and drivingly connected to at least one of the front and rear wheels, a control unit connected to the prime mover, and a sensor being coupled to the frame and communicating with the control unit, the sensor outputting a lean signal to the control unit that varies with a leaning angle of the vehicle, the sensor having at least one axis of detection and being arranged such that the axis of detection assumes a generally vertical central position when the vehicle stands upright, the lean signal being generated when the axis of detection moves from its central position as the vehicle leans, the control unit being configured to determine whether the vehicle tips over based upon the lean signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle includes a tip over detection device that uses a vertically oriented sensor to improve the accuracy of detecting when the vehicle has tipped over. An ECU communicates with the accelerometer and controls engine operation. The ECU stops the engine, preferably gradually, when the vehicle has tipped over. The sensor can also detect lean in additional directions that are orthogonal to the vertical direction.
69 Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A wheeled vehicle comprising a frame, at least one front wheel coupled to the frame, at least one rear wheel coupled to the frame, a prime mover coupled to the frame and drivingly connected to at least one of the front and rear wheels, a control unit connected to the prime mover, and a sensor being coupled to the frame and communicating with the control unit, the sensor outputting a lean signal to the control unit that varies with a leaning angle of the vehicle, the sensor having at least one axis of detection and being arranged such that the axis of detection assumes a generally vertical central position when the vehicle stands upright, the lean signal being generated when the axis of detection moves from its central position as the vehicle leans, the control unit being configured to determine whether the vehicle tips over based upon the lean signal.
- 11. A wheeled vehicle comprising a frame, a front wheel attached to the frame, a rear wheel attached to the frame, a motive member mounted to the frame and connected to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel, a control unit electrically connected to the motive member, and an accelerometer electrically communicating with the control unit, the accelerometer adapted to output first and second lean signals that vary with a leaning angle of the vehicle, the control unit adapted to determine whether the vehicle tips over primarily based upon the first signal and to verify whether the first signal is truly indicative of the tip over of the vehicle based upon the second signal.
- 15. A method for determination of a vehicle'"'"'s tip over, the vehicle having a control unit and an accelerometer electrically communicating the control unit, the accelerometer having a detection axis of a leaning angle of the vehicle that extends generally perpendicularly when the vehicle stands straight, the method comprising generating a lean signal indicative of a movement of the detection axis when the vehicle leans, and determining whether the vehicle tips over based upon the lean signal.
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18. A method for determination of a vehicle'"'"'s tip over, the vehicle having a control unit and an accelerometer electrically communicating the control unit, the accelerometer having first and second detection axes of a leaning angle of the vehicle, the method comprising generating first and second lean signals indicative of movements of the first and second detection axes, respectively, when the vehicle leans, determining whether the vehicle tips over primarily based upon the first lean signal, and verifying whether the first signal is truly indicative of the vehicle'"'"'s tip over based upon the second lean signal.
Specification