Method for detecting rollover of an automotive vehicle based on a lateral kinetic energy rate threshold

• US 8,165,751 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Wu, Fubang, Chou, Cliff, Subbian, Thiag
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Application Number:
  US12/715,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20100161168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 701/38, 701/45, 701/70, 280/5.5, 280/5.502
• US Class Current: 701/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/03 Overturn, rollover
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/122 Determining position of centre of gravity

Abstract

A method for rollover sensing (12) that may be used in the determination of when to deploy restraints in a vehicle is disclosed herein. The method for rollover sensing (12) may include lateral acceleration sensors (22), a roll rate sensor (18), and a roll angle detector (20). A control circuit (16) determines a roll moment of inertia as a function of lateral acceleration, a trip point length as a function of the lateral acceleration, and a trip point angle as a function of the lateral acceleration. The control circuit (16) also determines a rollover threshold in response to a roll rate signal, a roll angle signal, the trip point length, the roll moment of inertia, and the trip point angle. The control circuit (16) further generates a control signal for a deployment circuit in response to the rollover threshold.

Claims

1. A method of detecting rollover in a vehicle comprising:

determining a lateral acceleration of said vehicle and accordingly generating a lateral acceleration signal in a control circuit;

determining a roll rate of said vehicle and accordingly generating a roll rate signal in the control circuit;

determining a roll angle of said vehicle and accordingly generating a roll angle signal in the control circuit;

determining a trip point length related to a track width of said vehicle in the control circuit as a function of said lateral acceleration communicated via each said lateral acceleration signal so that said trip point length reflects any change in said track width resulting from deformation of a suspension system and wheels of said vehicle that is caused by a rollover initiation force applied to said vehicle from a lateral direction;

determining a rollover threshold in the control circuit according to said roll rate communicated via said roll rate signal, said roll angle signal, said trip point length and a roll moment of inertia of said vehicle; and

generating a control signal in the control circuit according to said rollover threshold thereby indicating detected rollover of said vehicle.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining said roll moment of inertia in the control circuit as a function of said lateral acceleration;

determining a trip point angle of said vehicle in the control circuit as a function of said lateral acceleration; and

determining said rollover threshold in the control circuit also according to said trip point angle.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining a trip point angle of said vehicle in the control circuit as a function of said lateral acceleration; and

determining said rollover threshold in the control circuit also according to said trip point angle.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of determining said rollover threshold in the control circuit further comprises determining said rollover threshold also according to a gap requirement.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said step of determining the lateral acceleration of said vehicle in the control circuit further comprises determining said lateral acceleration from a side impact accelerometer.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said step of determining a roll angle of said vehicle in the control circuit and said step of determining a roll rate of said vehicle are executed independently of each other.