Method and apparatus for detecting rollover of an automotive vehicle

• US 6,282,474 B1
• Filed: 06/04/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Wu, Fubang, Chou, Clifford C., Amin, Mukesh J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/589,181
• Time in Patent Office: 450 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/37, 701/38, 701/45, 701/70, 180/271, 180/282, 180/89.14, 280/6.16, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 340/429, 340/436, 340/440, 340/689
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01306 monitoring vehicle inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01327 Angular velocity or angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value

Abstract

A rollover sensing system (12) that may be used in the determination of when to deploy restraints in the vehicle. The rollover sensing system (12) may include lateral acceleration sensors (32), a roll rate sensor (18) and a roll angle detector (20). A control circuit (16) determines a predetermined rollover threshold in response to the roll rate and roll angle detector (20) and calculates an adjusted threshold as a function of the predetermined rollover threshold and the lateral acceleration. The control circuit (16) generates a control signal in response to the adjusted threshold.

Claims

1. A rollover sensing system comprising:

a lateral acceleration sensor generating a lateral acceleration signal;

a roll rate sensor generating a roll rate signal;

a roll angle detector generating a roll angle signal;

a control circuit determining a predetermined rollover threshold in response to said roll rate and roll angle sensor, calculating an adjusted threshold as a function of said predetermined rollover threshold and said lateral acceleration and generating a control signal in response to the adjusted threshold.

2. A rollover sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined rollover threshold is energy-based.

3. A rollover sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said adjusted predetermined rollover threshold is a function of roll rate and roll angle and lateral acceleration.

4. A rollover sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said rollover threshold is time to fire.

5. A rollover sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said roll angle and said roll rate are independently determined.

6. A rollover sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said control circuit determines said adjusted threshold when the lateral acceleration signal exceeds a predetermined lateral acceleration.

7. A rollover sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said adjusted threshold is a function of a gap requirement.

8. An occupant restraint system comprising:

an occupant restraint;

a deployment circuit coupled to said occupant restraint;

a lateral acceleration sensor generating a lateral acceleration signal;

a roll rate sensor generating a roll rate signal;

a roll angle detector generating a roll angle signal; and

a control circuit determining a predetermined rollover threshold in response to said roll rate and roll angle sensor, calculating an adjusted threshold as a function of said predetermined rollover threshold and said lateral acceleration signal and generating a control signal in response to the adjusted threshold.

9. An occupant restraint system as recited in claim 8 wherein said occupant restraint is selected from the group consisting of:

an inflatable curtain, a driver side front airbag, a passenger side airbag, a retractor and a side airbag.

10. An occupant restraint system as recited in claim 8 wherein said predetermined rollover threshold is energy-based.

11. An occupant restraint system as recited in claim 8 wherein said predetermined rollover threshold is a function of roll rate, roll angle and lateral acceleration.

12. An occupant restraint system as recited in claim 8 wherein said rollover threshold is time to fire.

13. An occupant restraint system as recited in claim 8 wherein said roll angle and said roll rate are independently determined.

14. An occupant restraint system as recited in claim 8 wherein said control circuit determines said adjusted threshold when the lateral acceleration signal exceeded a predetermined lateral acceleration.

15. An occupant restraint system as recited in claim 8 wherein said adjusted threshold is a function of a gap requirement.

16. A method of detecting rollover in a vehicle comprising the steps of:

determining an energy rollover threshold;

determining an adjusted threshold as a function of said energy rollover threshold and lateral acceleration; and

generating a control signal in response to the adjusted threshold.

17. A method of detecting rollover as recited in claim 16 performing the step of determining an adjusted threshold when lateral acceleration exceeds a predetermined lateral acceleration.

18. A method of detecting rollover as recited in claim 16 wherein said energy rollover threshold is function of gap.

19. A method of detecting rollover as recited in claim 16 wherein said step of determining an adjusted rollover comprises obtaining lateral acceleration from a side impact accelerometer.

20. A method of detecting rollover as recited in claim 16 wherein said energy rollover threshold is a function of roll rate and roll angle.

21. A method of detecting rollover as recited in claim 16 wherein said roll angle and roll rate are independently determined.