Method of monitoring the inclination of a motor vehicle

• US 4,651,128 A
• Filed: 01/16/1985
• Issued: 03/17/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hans Kolb
• Original Assignee: Hans Kolb
• Inventors: Kolb, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US06/699,976
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 340/63-65, 340/683, 340/511, 340/689, 340/686, 340/566, 340/562, 200/52 A, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.47, 200/61.48, 200/61.52, 200/153 A, 200/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 340/440
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1007 comprising associated circuitry

Abstract

An apparatus and method for monitoring the inclination of a motor vehicle, measures the inclination during successive time periods with an inclination-sensitive sensor to produce measured signals; converts the measured signals to digital form; averages the digital signals during an initial predetermined time period to form an original reference signal; stores the original reference signal; compares subsequent digital signals to the reference signal to form a deviation signal which is used for triggering an alarm when a plurality of the digital signals deviate from the reference signal by more than a predetermined tolerance value; the reference signal being continuously updated by averaging subsequent digitized measured signals at plurality of times during subsequent time periods to form updated reference signals; storing each updated reference signal in place of a previously stored reference signal; providing an oscillation window to prevent triggering of the alarm during natural oscillation of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring the inclination of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

measuring said inclination during successive time periods with an inclination-sensitive sensor to produce measured signals;

converting said measured signals to digital form to produce digitized measured signals;

averaging said digitized measured signals during a predetermined time period to form an original reference signal;

storing said original reference signal;

comparing subsequent digitized measured signals to said reference signal to form a deviation signal;

triggering an alarm when at least one subsequent digitized measured signal deviates from said reference signal by more than a predetermined tolerance valve;

characterized by the steps of;

averaging said subsequent digitized measured signals a plurality of times during subsequent time periods to form updated reference signals; and

storing each updated reference signal in place of a previously stored reference signal.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

comparing each measured signal to the previous measured signal;

detecting the direction of deviation of each measured signal to said previously stored measured signal;

counting the number of detected deviations having positive values;

counting the number of detected deviations having negative values;

comparing the totalled number of positive value deviations with the total number of negative value deviations to form a difference; and

storing a new reference value only when said difference exceeds a minimum value.

3. A method according to claim 1;

further comprising the step of reforming said reference value after each triggering of said alarm.

4. A method according to claim 1;

further comprising the step of pulse width modulating said measured digitized signals.

5. A method according to claim 1;

further comprising the step of monitoring said digitized measured signals for oscillation characteristics;

determining whether said digitized measured signals fall outside of a predetermined oscillation window; and

inhibiting triggering of said alarm when said digitized measured signals fall outside of said oscillation window and exhibit said oscillation characteristics.

6. Apparatus for monitoring the inclination of a motor vehicle, comprising:

means for measuring said inclination during successive time periods with an inclination-sensitive sensor to produce measured signals;

means for converting said measured signals to digital form to produce digitized measured signals;

means for averaging said digitized measured signals during a predetermined time period to form an original reference signal;

means for storing said original reference signal;

means for comparing subsequent digitized measured signals to said reference signal to form a deviation signal;

means for triggering an alarm when at least one subsequent digitized measured signal deviates from said reference signal by more than a predetermined tolerance valve;

characterized by;

means for averaging said subsequent digitized measured signals a plurality of times during subsequent time periods to form updated reference signals; and

means for storing each updated reference signal in place of a previously stored reference signal.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6;

further comprising;

means for comparing each measured signal to the previous measured signal;

means for detecting the direction of deviation of each measured signal to said previously stored measured signal;

means for counting the number of detected deviations having positive values;

means for counting the number of detected deviations having negative values;

means for comparing the totalled number of positive value deviations with the total number of negative value deviations to form a difference; and

means for storing a new reference value only when said difference exceeds a minimum value.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6;

further comprising means for reforming said reference value after each triggering of said alarm.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6;

further comprising pulse width modulating means for modulating said measured digitized signals.

10. Apparatus according to claim 6;

further comprising means for monitoring said digitized measured signals for oscillation characteristics;

means for determining whether said digitized measured signals fall outside of a predetermined oscillation window; and

means for inhibiting triggering of said alarm when said digitized measured signals fall outside of said oscillation window and exhibit said oscillation characteristics.