Motor vehicle deceleration data acquisition and processing apparatus and methodology
First Claim
1. Apparatus for providing a deceleration history of a vehicle during a skid test, comprising:
- (a) sensing means for sensing the decelerating movement of a vehicle during a skid test and producing a signal representative of the decelerating movement of the vehicle;
(b) computer means receiving the signal from said sensing means and periodically sampling and processing the signal to periodically produce a digital deceleration signal indicative of the deceleration of the skidding vehicle;
(c) skid detecting means for detecting the beginning of a skid test and providing an actuating signal;
(d) said computer means having memory means for storing the digital deceleration signals; and
(e) said computer means being operable in response to the actuating signal for effecting storage of the digital deceleration signals in said memory means so as to provide a deceleration history of the skid test.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The decelerating movement of a vehicle during a skid test is sensed by an accelerometer which provides an analog signal representative of the deceleration to a computer where the analog signal is periodically sampled and converted into a digital deceleration signal for storing in a computer memory. Alternatively, the decelerating movement of the vehicle may be sensed by a radar speed detector providing digital signals representative of the initial speed and final speed of a time increment to a computer processor which records and stores the digital speed signals in computer memory to be later recalled to produce a digital deceleration signal. The computer processor effects storing of the digital deceleration signals in the computer memory at the beginning of a skid test when the magnitude of the signals exceeds a predetermined threshold level as sensed by a threshold level detector or, alternatively, when a mercury position switch is operated by the deceleration force. Subsequently, the stored deceleration data is retrieved from the computer memory by the processor for performing selected mathematical operations on the data to derive information such as the coefficient of friction encountered by the skidding vehicle, the length of the skid, and the time duration of the skid. The results of the mathematical operations may be displayed on a digital display panel or printed on a tape to provide a permanent record.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. Apparatus for providing a deceleration history of a vehicle during a skid test, comprising:
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(a) sensing means for sensing the decelerating movement of a vehicle during a skid test and producing a signal representative of the decelerating movement of the vehicle; (b) computer means receiving the signal from said sensing means and periodically sampling and processing the signal to periodically produce a digital deceleration signal indicative of the deceleration of the skidding vehicle; (c) skid detecting means for detecting the beginning of a skid test and providing an actuating signal; (d) said computer means having memory means for storing the digital deceleration signals; and (e) said computer means being operable in response to the actuating signal for effecting storage of the digital deceleration signals in said memory means so as to provide a deceleration history of the skid test. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for determining coefficient of friction of a surface relative to tires of a vehicle and related information, including the steps of:
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(a) operating the vehicle on the surface; (b) braking the vehicle on the surface such that the wheels of the vehicle are locked and not free to rotate until the vehicle is substantially stopped; (c) positioning a deceleration determining mechanism in the vehicle so as to determine deceleration rates of the vehicle during braking along a path of motion of the vehicle; (d) at least periodically sampling deceleration data as determined by the deceleration determining mechanism during braking; and (e) performing mathematical operations on said data for determining the coefficient of friction and related information. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification