System and method for the detection of vehicle rollover conditions
First Claim
1. A system for the detection of vehicle roll-over conditions, the system comprising:
- a sensor assembly coupled to the vehicle and generating signals indicative of a lateral load transfer of the vehicle and a lateral acceleration of the vehicle;
a roll moment calculator coupled to said sensor assembly to calculate a roll moment based on said signals;
a center of gravity calculator coupled to said sensor assembly to calculate an effective center of gravity of the vehicle based on said roll moment and lateral acceleration of the vehicle;
a roll moment display coupled to said roll moment calculator to provide a visual display indicative of said roll moment; and
a center of gravity display to provide a visual display indicative of said effective center of gravity of the vehicle to provide an indication of the likelihood of the vehicle to roll over.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system uses multiple tilt sensors mounted to the vehicle frame and the vehicle suspension system to detect lateral acceleration and lateral load transfer. The system uses these measurements to determine a lateral load transfer ratio indicative of an actual roll moment compared to a maximum roll moment. The measurements from the tilt sensors are also used to calculate an effective center of gravity height. A display coupled to the system provides the vehicle operator with a read out of the load transfer ratio and effective center of gravity height. The display enables the vehicle operator to more completely understand the nature of the vehicle load and thereby allow the vehicle operator to avoid conditions likely to lead to a vehicle rollover accident.
314 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A system for the detection of vehicle roll-over conditions, the system comprising:
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a sensor assembly coupled to the vehicle and generating signals indicative of a lateral load transfer of the vehicle and a lateral acceleration of the vehicle; a roll moment calculator coupled to said sensor assembly to calculate a roll moment based on said signals; a center of gravity calculator coupled to said sensor assembly to calculate an effective center of gravity of the vehicle based on said roll moment and lateral acceleration of the vehicle; a roll moment display coupled to said roll moment calculator to provide a visual display indicative of said roll moment; and a center of gravity display to provide a visual display indicative of said effective center of gravity of the vehicle to provide an indication of the likelihood of the vehicle to roll over. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for the detection of vehicle roll-over conditions, the system comprising:
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a sensor assembly coupled to the vehicle and generating signals indicative of a lateral load transfer of the vehicle and a lateral acceleration of the vehicle; a lateral load transfer ratio processor coupled to said sensor assembly to calculate a lateral load transfer ratio indicative of an actual lateral load transfer compared to a maximum lateral load transfer; a center of gravity processor coupled to said sensor assembly to calculate an effective center of gravity of the vehicle; a lateral load transfer ratio display coupled to said lateral load transfer ratio processor to provide a visual display indicative of said lateral load transfer ratio; and a center of gravity display to provide a visual indication of the effective center of gravity of the vehicle to provide an indication of the likelihood of the vehicle to roll over. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for the detection of vehicle roll-over conditions, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating signals indicative of a lateral load transfer of the vehicle and a lateral acceleration of the vehicle using a sensor assembly coupled to the vehicle; calculating a roll moment based on said signals; calculating an effective center of gravity of the vehicle based on said roll moment and lateral acceleration of the vehicle; and displaying data indicative of said calculated roll moment and said calculated effective center of gravity of the vehicle to provide an indication of the likelihood of the vehicle to roll over. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification