Tip-over detection device for motor vehicle
First Claim
1. A wheeled vehicle comprising a frame generally extending along a longitudinal axis, at least one front wheel coupled to the frame, at least one rear wheel coupled to the frame, a prime mover coupled to the frame and drivingly connected to at least one of the front and rear wheels, a control unit connected to the primer mover, and a sensor being coupled to the frame and communicating with the control unit, the sensor outputting a first lean signal to the control unit that varies with a leaning angle of the vehicle in a plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis, the sensor having at least one axis of detection and being arranged such that the axis of detection assumes a generally vertical central position when the vehicle stands upright, the first lean signal being generated when the axis of detection moves from its central position as the vehicle leans, the sensor includes an accelerometer configured to output a second lean signal that varies with the leaning angle of the vehicle, the accelerometer having a second detection axis that extends generally normal to the first detection axis, the second lean signal generated with the movement of the second detection axis when the vehicle leans, the control unit configured to determine whether the vehicle tips over based upon the first and second lean signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle includes a tip over detection device that uses a vertically oriented sensor to improve the accuracy of detecting when the vehicle has tipped over. An ECU communicates with the accelerometer and controls engine operation. The ECU stops the engine, preferably gradually, when the vehicle has tipped over. The sensor can also detect lean in additional directions that are orthogonal to the vertical direction.
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Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A wheeled vehicle comprising a frame generally extending along a longitudinal axis, at least one front wheel coupled to the frame, at least one rear wheel coupled to the frame, a prime mover coupled to the frame and drivingly connected to at least one of the front and rear wheels, a control unit connected to the primer mover, and a sensor being coupled to the frame and communicating with the control unit, the sensor outputting a first lean signal to the control unit that varies with a leaning angle of the vehicle in a plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis, the sensor having at least one axis of detection and being arranged such that the axis of detection assumes a generally vertical central position when the vehicle stands upright, the first lean signal being generated when the axis of detection moves from its central position as the vehicle leans, the sensor includes an accelerometer configured to output a second lean signal that varies with the leaning angle of the vehicle, the accelerometer having a second detection axis that extends generally normal to the first detection axis, the second lean signal generated with the movement of the second detection axis when the vehicle leans, the control unit configured to determine whether the vehicle tips over based upon the first and second lean signals.
- 10. A wheeled vehicle comprising a frame generally extending along a longitudinal axis, a front wheel attached to the frame, a rear wheel attached to the frame, a motive member mounted to the frame and connected to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel, a control unit electrically connected to the motive member, and an accelerometer electrically communicating with the control unit, the accelerometer adapted to output first and second lean signal that vary with a leaning angle of the vehicle, the leaning angle measured in a plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis, the control unit adapted to determine whether the vehicle tips over primarily based upon the first signal and to verify whether the first signal is truly indicative of the tip over of the vehicle based upon the second signal.
- 14. A method for determination of a vehicle'"'"'s tip over, the vehicle having a control unit and an accelerometer electrically communicating the control unit, the accelerometer having a detection axis of a leaning angle of the vehicle that extends generally perpendicularly when the vehicle stands straight, the leaning angle measured in a plane generally normal to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the method comprising generating a lean signal indicative of a movement of the detection axis when the vehicle leans, and determining whether the vehicle tips over based upon the lean signal.
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17. A method for determination of a vehicle'"'"'s tip over, the vehicle having a control unit and an accelerometer electrically communicating the control unit, the accelerometer having first and second detection axes of a leaning angle of the vehicle, the leaning angle measured in a plane generally normal to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the method comprising generating first and second lean signals indicative of movements of the first and second detection axes, respectively, when the vehicle leans, determining whether the vehicle tips over primarily based upon the first lean signal, and verifying whether the first is truly indicative of the vehicle'"'"'s tip over based upon the second lean signal.
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18. A wheeled vehicle comprising a frame generally extending along a longitudinal axis, at least one front wheel coupled to the frame, at least one rear wheel coupled to the frame, a prime mover coupled to the frame and drivingly connected to at least one of the front and rear wheels, a control unit connected to the prime mover, and a sensor coupled to the frame and communicating with the control unit, the sensor including at least one accelerometer and being configured to output a first lean signal to the control unit that varies with a leaning angle of the vehicle in a plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis, the sensor having at least one axis of detection and being arranged such that the axis of detection assumes a generally vertical central position when the vehicle stands upright, the first lean signal being generated when the axis of detection moves from its central position as the vehicle leans, the sensor being further configured to output a second lean signal that varies with the leaning angle of the vehicle, the sensor having a second detection axis extending generally normal to the first detection axis, the second lean signal being generated with the movement of the second detection axis when the vehicle leans, the control unit configured to determine whether the vehicle tips over based upon the first lean signal and to verify whether the first lean signal is truly indicative of the vehicle'"'"'s tip over based upon the second lean signal.
Specification