Vehicle having a scanning system

• US 6,023,220 A
• Filed: 06/01/1998
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Rothe, Siegfried, Dobler, Guenter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/087,983
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/429, 340/440, 340/903, 340/905, 340/936, 340/937, 340/938, 340/939, 340/942, 340/943, 340/425.5, 362/466, 362/467, 362/475, 280/5.506, 280/5.51, 280/5.512
• US Class Current: 340/440
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/03 Overturn, rollover
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/875 for determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle having a scanning system for zero contact scanning of one or several mutually spaced road areas and having an analyzing system connected behind the scanning system. The analyzing unit is equipped for determining the roll-over angle, the roll-over moment, the vehicle load condition and/or the road condition via measured data detected and supplied by the scanning system. The resulting data is particularly suitable for the early determination of dangerous influences on the driving dynamics of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle apparatus, comprising:

a scanning system mounted on the vehicle for zero contact scanning of at least one mutually spaced road area; and

an analyzing system operatively coupled to the scanning system;

wherein said analyzing system determines a vehicle roll angle and a vehicle load condition as a function of measured data detected and supplied by the scanning system.

2. The vehicle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said scanning system comprises two scanning units for detecting data related to roll angle and roll-over moment of the vehicle; and

one of said scanning units is arranged in a left vehicle side area, and the other scanning unit is arranged in a right vehicle side area.

3. The vehicle apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said scanning system comprises at least three scanning units which are arranged along different axes.

4. The vehicle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scanning system comprises at least one optical scanning unit.

5. The vehicle apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one optical scanning unit has a line of IR-light transmitting elements and a light sensor comprising one of a CCD-array and a line of photosensitive diodes.

6. The vehicle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scanning system comprises:

a plurality of scanning units mounted on the vehicle.

7. The vehicle apparatus according to claim 6, comprising

two scanning units, each for detecting data related to roll angle and roll-over moment of the vehicle;

wherein one of said scanning units is arranged in a left vehicle side area, and the other scanning unit is arranged in a right vehicle side area.

8. The vehicle apparatus according to claim 6, comprising:

at least three scanning units which are arranged along different axes.

9. The vehicle apparatus according to claim 7, comprising:

at least three scanning units which are arranged along different axes.

10. The vehicle apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the analyzing unit determines limit values for at least one of speed and acceleration of the vehicle, as a function of at least one of a determined vehicle roll angle, a roll-over moment which acts on the vehicle, vehicle loading condition and road condition; and

when at least one of the limit values are exceeded, the analyzing unit emits corresponding information signals.

11. The vehicle apparatus according to claim 6, comprising:

at least one optical scanning unit.

12. The vehicle apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one optical scanning unit has a line of IR-light transmitting elements and a light sensor comprising one of a CCD-array and a line of photosensitive diodes.

13. A vehicle apparatus, comprising:

a scanning system mounted on the vehicle for zero contact scanning of at least one mutually spaced road area; and

an analyzing system operatively coupled to the scanning system;

wherein said analyzing system determines a vehicle roll angle and a vehicle load condition as a function of measured data detected and supplied by the scanning system; and

wherein said scanning system comprises only three scanning units which are arranged along different axes.

14. A vehicle apparatus, comprising:

a scanning system mounted on the vehicle for zero contact scanning of at least one mutually spaced road area; and

an analyzing system operatively coupled to the scanning system;

wherein said analyzing system determines a vehicle roll angle and a vehicle load condition as a function of measured data detected and supplied by the scanning system;

wherein the analyzing unit determines limit values for at least one of speed and acceleration of the vehicle, as a function of at least one of a determined roll angle, a roll-over moment which acts on the vehicle, vehicle loading condition and road condition; and

wherein, when at least one of the limit values are exceeded, the analyzing unit emits corresponding information signals.

15. A method of scanning a vehicle road surface, comprising the steps of:

scanning a plurality of mutually spaced areas of a vehicle supporting surface adjacent the vehicle with a scanning unit;

generating signals indicative of a distance to each scanned area; and

providing said signals to an analyzing unit for calculating at least one of a roll-over angle, a roll-over moment which acts on the vehicle, and a vehicle load condition based on measured data detected and supplied by the scanning system.

16. A device for determining vehicle operating parameters, comprising:

a plurality of distance sensors mounted on said vehicle, and arranged for sensing mutually spaced areas of a surface which supports said vehicle, each particular sensor of said plurality generating a signal indicative of at least a distance to said surface in one of said spaced areas which is sensed by said particular sensor;

an analyzing system coupled to receive signals generated by said sensors; and

calculating means included in said analyzing system for calculating one of a roll-angle, a roll-over moment and a vehicle load condition of said vehicle as a function of distance information contained in said signals.