Vehicle rollover sensing using angular rate sensors
First Claim
1. A rollover sensor for detecting an anticipated overturn condition for a vehicle, said sensor comprising:
- a first angular rate sensor for sensing attitude rate of change of a vehicle about a first axis and producing a first attitude rate of change signal indicative thereof;
a second angular rate sensor for sensing attitude rate of change of the vehicle about a second axis and producing a second attitude rate of change signal indicative thereof, wherein the first and second angular rate sensors are oriented on the vehicle so that the first axis is different from the second axis; and
a rollover discrimination controller for determining a vehicle overturn condition based on said first and second sensed attitude rate of change signals and providing an output signal indicative thereof, wherein the first and second angular rate sensors are angularly offset from a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis of the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle rollover sensor is provided for detecting an anticipated overturn condition of a vehicle. The rollover sensor includes a first angular rate sensor sensing attitude rate of change of a vehicle about a first axis and producing a first attitude rate of change signal. Also included is a second angular rate sensor sensing attitude rate of change of the vehicle about a second axis and producing a second attitude rate of change signal. The first and second angular rate sensors are located on a vehicle and arranged so that the first axis is different from the second axis. The rollover sensor further includes a rollover discrimination controller for determining a vehicle overturn condition based on the first and second sensed attitude rate of change signals. In addition, roll arming logic generates a roll arming signal based on the first and second sensed attitude rate of change signals.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A rollover sensor for detecting an anticipated overturn condition for a vehicle, said sensor comprising:
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a first angular rate sensor for sensing attitude rate of change of a vehicle about a first axis and producing a first attitude rate of change signal indicative thereof;
a second angular rate sensor for sensing attitude rate of change of the vehicle about a second axis and producing a second attitude rate of change signal indicative thereof, wherein the first and second angular rate sensors are oriented on the vehicle so that the first axis is different from the second axis; and
a rollover discrimination controller for determining a vehicle overturn condition based on said first and second sensed attitude rate of change signals and providing an output signal indicative thereof, wherein the first and second angular rate sensors are angularly offset from a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A rollover sensor for detecting an anticipated overturn condition for a vehicle, said sensor comprising:
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a first angular rate sensor for sensing attitude rate of change of a vehicle about a first axis and producing a first attitude rate of change signal indicative thereof;
a second angular rate sensor for sensing attitude rate of change of the vehicle about a second axis and producing a second attitude rate of change signal indicative thereof, wherein the first and second angular rate sensors are oriented on the vehicle so that the first axis is different from the second axis;
a rollover discrimination controller for determining a vehicle overturn condition based on said first and second sensed attitude rate of change signals and providing an output signal indicative thereof; and
arming control logic receiving said first and second attitude rate of change signals and determining a roll arming signal based on said first and second sensed attitude rate of change signals, wherein said vehicle overturn condition signal is determined further as a function of said roll arming signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A rollover sensor for detecting an anticipated overturn condition for a vehicle, said sensor comprising:
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a first angular rate sensor for sensing attitude rate of change of a vehicle and producing a first attitude rate of change signal;
a second angular rate sensor for sensing attitude rate of change of the vehicle and producing a second attitude rate of change signal;
roll arming control logic for receiving the first and second attitude rate of change signals and determining a roll arming signal as a function of the first and second attitude rate of change signals; and
a rollover discrimination controller for generating a vehicle overturn condition signal as a function of the first and second attitude rate of change signals and the roll arming signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A rollover sensor for detecting an anticipated roll event, said rollover sensor comprising:
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a first angular rate sensor for sensing attitude rate of change of a vehicle about a first axis and producing a first attitude rate of change signal indicative thereof;
a second angular rate sensor for sensing attitude rate of change of a vehicle about a second axis and producing a second attitude rate of change signal indicative thereof, wherein the first and second angular rate sensors are located on the vehicle and arranged so that the first axis is different from the second axis; and
a rollover discrimination controller including an integrator for integrating the first and second attitude rate of change signals and producing first and second attitude angles, said controller further determining a vehicle overturn condition based on said first and second sensed attitude rate of change signals and said first and second attitude angles and providing an output signal indicative thereof, wherein the first and second angular rate sensors are angularly offset from a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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21. A method of detecting an anticipated overturn condition of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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sensing attitude rate of change of a vehicle about a first axis and producing a first attitude rate of change signal indicative thereof;
sensing attitude rate of change of the vehicle about a second axis and producing a second attitude rate of change signal indicative thereof, wherein the first axis is different from the second axis; and
determining a vehicle overturn condition based on said first and second sensed attitude rate of change signals, wherein the first axis and second axis are angularly offset from a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis of the vehicle.
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26. A method of detecting an anticipated overturn condition of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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sensing attitude rate of change of a vehicle about a first axis and producing a first attitude rate of change signal indicative thereof;
sensing attitude rate of change of the vehicle about a second axis and producing a second attitude rate of change signal indicative thereof, wherein the first axis is different from the second axis;
determining a vehicle overturn condition based on said first and second sensed attitude rate of change signals; and
determining a roll arming signal based on the first and second sensed attitude rate of change signals, wherein the vehicle overturn condition is determined further as a function of said roll arming signal. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification