Lateral acceleration detecting device for vehicles

• US 6,130,608 A
• Filed: 01/25/1999
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stephen Lyle Mckeown
• Original Assignee: Stephen Lyle Mckeown
• Inventors: McKeown, Stephen Lyle, Sheaff, Jon Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/236,329
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/438, 340/440, 701/38
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/125 Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/22 transferred to the indicator by electric or magnetic means

Abstract

This invention relates to a device mountable within a vehicle and connectable to a power source to monitor and warn drivers of the lateral g-forces being experienced by the vehicle during use. The device comprises an accelerometer means comprising an accelerometer chip capable of measuring the lateral g-forces between 0 and 1 g-force units experienced by a vehicle upon mounting the device in the vehicle by providing a signal output indicative of the lateral g-force experienced; adjustment means adjustable by the operator of the vehicle for varying the signal output from the accelerometer means; measuring means for measuring the signal output emitted from the adjustment means; and indicator means for indicating to the driver when the mounted vehicle experiences lateral g-forces of a magnitude programmed by the adjustment means.

Claims

1. A device mountable within a vehicle and connectable to a power source to monitor and warn drivers of the lateral g-forces being experienced by the vehicle during use, comprising:

an accelerometer means comprising an analog accelerometer chip capable of measuring the lateral g-forces between 0 and 1 g-force units experienced by a vehicle upon mounting the device in the vehicle by providing a signal output in analog format indicative of the lateral g-force experienced;

adjustment means adjustable by the operator of the vehicle for varying the signal output from the accelerometer means;

measuring means for measuring the signal output emitted from the adjustment means;

indicator means for indicating to the driver when the mounted vehicle experiences lateral g-forces of a magnitude programmed by the adjustment means.

2. A device mountable within a vehicle and connectable to a power source to monitor and warn drivers of the lateral g-forces being experienced by the vehicle during use, as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the signal provided by said accelerometer means is a voltage output proportional to the lateral g-force experienced;

and said adjustment means is adjustable as aforeclaimed by the operator of the vehicle to vary the voltage output from the accelerometer means with said measuring means being capable of measuring the voltage emitted from the adjustment means.

3. A device mountable within a vehicle and connectable to a power source to monitor and warn drivers of the lateral g-forces being experienced by the vehicle during use as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the adjustment means comprises amplification means for amplifying the voltage emitted from the accelerometer means before it is transmitted to the measuring means.

4. A device mountable within a vehicle and connectable to a power source to monitor and warn drivers of the lateral g-forces being experienced by the vehicle during use as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

the adjustment means comprises amplification means for amplifying the voltage emitted from the accelerometer means before it is transmitted to the measuring means.

5. A device mountable within a vehicle and connectable to a power source to monitor and warn drivers of the lateral g-forces being experienced by the vehicle during use as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

the adjustment means comprises resistance means for reducing the voltage being emitted by the adjustment means, wherein the resistance can be increased and decreased to adjust the sensitivity of the signalling means to the lateral g-forces experienced by the vehicle.

6. A device mountable within a vehicle and connectable to a power source to monitor and warn drivers of the lateral g-forces being experienced by the vehicle during use as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

the resistance means comprises resistors.

7. A device mountable within a vehicle and connectable to a power source to monitor and warn drivers of the lateral g-forces being experienced by the vehicle during use as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

the resistance means comprises resistors.

8. A device mountable within a vehicle and connectable to a power source to monitor and warn drivers of the lateral g-forces being experienced by the vehicle during use as claimed in claim 5 wherein:

the resistance means comprises resistors.

9. A device mountable within a vehicle and connectable to a power source to monitor and warn drivers of the lateral g-forces being experienced by the vehicle during use as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indicating means comprises audio means emitting an audio warning signal in response to lateral g-force experienced by the device.

10. A device mountable within a vehicle and connectable to a power source to monitor and warn drivers of the lateral g-forces being experienced by the vehicle during use as claimed in claim 2 wherein the indicating means comprises audio means emitting an audio warning signal in response to lateral g-force experienced by the device.

11. A device mountable within a vehicle and connectable to a power source to monitor and warn drivers of the lateral g-forces being experienced by the vehicle during use as claimed in claim 2 wherein the indicating means comprises audio means emitting an audio warning signal in response to lateral g-force experienced by the device.

12. A device mountable within a vehicle and connectable to a source to monitor and warn drivers of a lateral G-force being experienced by the vehicle during use, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accelerometer means measures in analogue format.