Method of calibrating a rollover sensor

• US 20010020900A1
• Filed: 01/08/2001
• Published: 09/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Froeschl, Joachim, Griessbach, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 6,691,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/671
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558

Abstract

A rollover sensor for a vehicle continuously determines the inclination of a vehicle in at least one axis. In order to cancel drift deviations in the sensor, the inclination is average in the at least one axis, continuously along a defined route. The formed average value is assumed as the zero position. Inclination of the vehicle due to inclination of the road surface is compensated based on variations in ambient air pressure indicative of changes in altitude.

Claims

1. A method of calibrating a rollover sensor for a vehicle in which inclination of the vehicle is continuously determined about at least one axis, wherein:

inclination of the vehicle is continuously averaged about the at least one axis, along a defined route; and

a formed average value is assumed to be a zero position for the rollover sensor.

2. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein:

inclinations are determined in all three space axes; and

pertaining zero positions are determined for each axis, by averaging.

3. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein:

by means of an air pressure sensor, an altitude change is determined along a defined driving route;

the altitude change is related to the defined driving route, and the average inclination of the vehicle is thereby computed along the driving route; and

by means of the computed average inclination, an inclination in a driving direction actually determined by means of the inclination sensor, is corrected.

4. The method according to

claim 3

, wherein said sensor comprises one of a pressure sensor arranged in a door of the vehicle for detecting lateral collisions, and a pressure sensor in an electronic engine system for taking into account an influence of air pressure upon power of the engine.