Device and method for controlling accident protection triggering devices in motor vehicles

• US 6,169,946 B1
• Filed: 08/21/1998
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Griessbach, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis-Jacques, Jacques H.
• Application Number:
  US09/138,016
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/45, 333/33, 333/66, 280/734, 280/735, 340/436, 180/268, 180/282, 180/271, 180/281, 307/10.1, 735/040.4, 735/040.3, 735/040.2, 735/10, 735/11
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01306 monitoring vehicle inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01311 monitoring the braking system, e.g. ABS
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over

Abstract

Devices and methods for controlling accident protection triggering devices in motor vehicles when there is a risk of a rollover of the vehicles determine a transverse measured value characteristic of the transverse acceleration from a transverse sensor in combination with a transverse tilt of the vehicle. Wheel rpm values of the wheels of the vehicle are determined from wheel rpm sensors. A transverse acceleration value that is exclusively characteristic of the transverse acceleration of the vehicle is calculated by a control device connected with these sensors from the rpm values. The transverse measured value is corrected in such fashion that a transverse tilt value is calculated therefrom that is exclusively characteristic of the transverse tilt, with accident protection triggering devices being actuated as a function of the transverse tilt value by the control device.

Claims

1. A device for controlling at least one accident protection triggering device in a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a transverse sensor which outputs a transverse measured value characteristic of a transverse acceleration combined with a transverse tilt of the motor vehicle;

two wheel rpm sensors which output sensed wheel rpm values of at least two different wheels on different sides of the motor vehicle;

a control device which couples with the transverse sensor and the two wheel rpm sensors in a data-transmitting fashion, said control device evaluating the transverse measured value in accordance with the wheel rpm values for controlling the accident protection triggering device; and

a yaw sensor coupled in a data-transmitting fashion with the control device, said yaw sensor detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle which is used by the control device to control the accident protection triggering device.

2. A device for controlling at least one accident protection triggering device in a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a transverse sensor which outputs a transverse measured value characteristic of a transverse acceleration in combination with a transverse tilt of the motor vehicle;

a wheel rpm sensor which detects a wheel rpm of at least one wheel;

a steering angle sensor which determines a steering angle of the motor vehicle; and

a control device coupled in a data-transmitting fashion with the transverse sensor, the wheel rpm sensor, and the steering angle sensor, said control device evaluating the transverse measured value in accordance with the wheel rpm and the steering angle for controlling the accident protection triggering device.

3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a yaw sensor coupled in a data-transmitting fashion with the control device, said yaw sensor detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle which is used by the control device to control the accident protection triggering device.

4. A device for controlling at least one accident protection triggering device in a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a lengthwise sensor which outputs a characteristic measured value for a lengthwise acceleration in combination with a lengthwise tilt of the motor vehicle;

a wheel rpm sensor which outputs a wheel rpm of at least one wheel;

a control device coupling in a data-transmitting fashion with the lengthwise sensor and the wheel rpm sensor, said control device evaluating the lengthwise measured value in accordance with the wheel rpm for controlling the accident protection triggering device; and

a yaw sensor coupled in a data-transmitting fashion with the control device, said yaw sensor detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle which is used by the control device to control the accident protection triggering device.

5. A device for controlling at least one accident protection triggering device in a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a lengthwise sensor which outputs a characteristic measured value for a lengthwise acceleration in combination with a lengthwise tilt of the motor vehicle;

a wheel rim sensor which outputs a wheel rpm of at least one wheel;

a control device coupling in a data-transmitting fashion with the lengthwise sensor and the wheel rpm sensor, said control device evaluating the lengthwise measured value in accordance with the wheel rpm for controlling the accident protection triggering device; and

a steering angle sensor coupled in a data-transmitting fashion with the control device, said steering angle sensor detecting the steering angle used by the control device for controlling the accident protection triggering device.

6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising a yaw sensor coupled in a data-transmitting fashion with the control device, said yaw sensor detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle which is used by the control device to control the accident protection triggering device.

7. A method for controlling at least one accident protection triggering device in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

a) determining a characteristic transverse measured value for a transverse acceleration in combination with a transverse tilt of the motor vehicle;

b) determining wheel rpm values from at least two different wheels on different sides of the motor vehicle;

c) calculating a characteristic transverse acceleration from the wheel rpm values exclusively for the transverse acceleration;

d) correcting the transverse measured value so that a transverse tilt value is calculated from the transverse measured value that is exclusively characteristic of transverse tilt; and

e) actuating the accident protection triggering device as a function of the transverse tilt values,

wherein a yaw rate of the motor vehicle is measured, and wherein influences on the transverse and lengthwise measured values resulting from the yaw rate are compensated.

8. A method for controlling at least one accident protection triggering device in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

a) determining a characteristic transverse measured value for a transverse acceleration in combination with a transverse tilt of the motor vehicle;

b) determining the wheel rpm of at least one wheel;

c) determining the steering angle of the motor vehicle;

d) calculating from the wheel rpm and the steering angle a transverse acceleration value that is exclusively characteristic of the transverse acceleration;

e) correcting the transverse measured value, so that a transverse tilt value is calculated from the transverse measured value that is exclusively characteristic of transverse tilt; and

f) actuating the accident protection triggering device as a function of the transverse tilt value.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein a yaw rate of the motor vehicle is measured, and wherein influences on the transverse and lengthwise measured values resulting from the yaw rate are compensated.

10. A method for controlling at least one accident protection triggering device in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

a) determining a characteristic lengthwise measured value of a lengthwise acceleration in combination with a lengthwise tilt of the motor vehicle;

b) determining the wheel rpm value of at least one wheel;

c) calculating a lengthwise acceleration value from the wheel rpm that is exclusively characteristic of the lengthwise acceleration;

d) correcting the lengthwise measured value so that a lengthwise tilt value is calculated from the lengthwise measured value that is exclusively characteristic of the lengthwise tilt; and

e) actuating the accident protection triggering device as a function of the lengthwise tilt value,

wherein a yaw rate of the motor vehicle is measured, and wherein influences on the transverse and lengthwise measured values resulting from the yaw rate are compensated.

11. A method for controlling at least one accident protection triggering device in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

a) determining a characteristic lengthwise measured value of a lengthwise acceleration in combination with a lengthwise tilt of the motor vehicle;

b) determining the wheel rpm value of at least one wheel;

c) calculating a lengthwise acceleration value from the wheel rpm that is exclusively characteristic of the lengthwise acceleration;

d) correcting the lengthwise measured value so that a lengthwise tilt value is calculated from the lengthwise measured value that is exclusively characteristic of the lengthwise tilt; and

e) actuating the accident protection triggering device as a function of the lengthwise tilt value, wherein a steering angle of the vehicle is determined before method step c), and the lengthwise acceleration value that is exclusively characteristic of the lengthwise acceleration is calculated in method step c) from the wheel rpm and the steering angle.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a yaw rate of the motor vehicle is measured, and wherein influences on the transverse and lengthwise measured values resulting from the yaw rate are compensated.

13. A software product for controlling at least one accident protection triggering device in a motor vehicle, comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon program code segments that:

a) determine a characteristic transverse measured value for a transverse acceleration in combination with a transverse tilt of the motor vehicle;

b) determine wheel rpm values from at least two different wheels on different sides of the motor vehicle;

c) calculate a characteristic transverse acceleration from the wheel rpm values exclusively for the transverse acceleration;

d) correct the transverse measured value so that a transverse tilt value is calculated from the transverse measured value that is exclusively characteristic of transverse tilt; and

e) actuate the accident protection triggering device as a function of the transverse tilt value,

wherein the computer readable medium has further stored thereon a program code segment that measures a yaw rate of the motor vehicle and compensates influences on the transverse and lengthwise measured values resulting from the yaw rate.

14. A software product for controlling at least one accident protection triggering device in a motor vehicle, comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon program code segments that:

a) determine a characteristic transverse measured value for a transverse acceleration in combination with a transverse tilt of the motor vehicle;

b) determine the wheel rpm of at least one wheel;

c) determine the steering angle of the motor vehicle;

d) calculate from the wheel rpm and the steering angle a transverse acceleration value that is exclusively characteristic of the transverse acceleration;

e) correct the transverse measured value, so that a transverse tilt value is calculated from the transverse measured value that is exclusively characteristic of transverse tilt; and

f) actuate the accident protection triggering device as a function of the transverse tilt value.

15. The software product according to claim 14, wherein the computer readable medium has further stored thereon a program code segment that measures a yaw rate of the motor vehicle and compensates influences on the transverse and lengthwise measured values resulting from the yaw rate.

16. A software product for controlling at least one accident protection triggering device in a motor vehicle, comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon program code segments that:

a) determine a characteristic lengthwise measured value of a lengthwise acceleration in combination with a lengthwise tilt of the motor vehicle;

b) determine the wheel rpm value of at least one wheel;

c) calculate a lengthwise acceleration value from the wheel rpm that is exclusively characteristic of the lengthwise acceleration;

d) correct the lengthwise measured value so that a lengthwise tilt value is calculated from the lengthwise measured value that is exclusively characteristic of the lengthwise tilt; and

e) actuate the accident protection triggering device as a function of the lengthwise tilt values wherein the computer readable medium has further stored thereon a program code segment that measures a yaw rate of the motor vehicle and compensates influences on the transverse and lengthwise measured values resulting from the yaw rate.

17. A software product for controlling at least one accident protection triggering device in a motor vehicle, comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon program code segments that:

a) determine a characteristic lengthwise measured value of a lengthwise acceleration in combination with a lengthwise tilt of the motor vehicle,

b) determine the wheel rpm value of at least one wheel;

c) calculate a lengthwise acceleration value from the wheel rpm that is exclusively characteristic of the lengthwise acceleration;

d) correct the lengthwise measured value so that a lengthwise tilt value is calculated from the lengthwise measured value that is exclusively characteristic of the lengthwise tilt; and

e) actuate the accident protection triggering device as a function of the lengthwise tilt value, wherein the computer readable medium has further stored thereon program code segments that determine a steering angle of the motor vehicle and calculate the lengthwise acceleration value that is exclusively characteristic of the lengthwise acceleration from the wheel rpm and the steering angle.

18. The software product according to claim 17, wherein the computer readable medium has further stored thereon a program code segment that measures a yaw rate of the motor vehicle and compensates influences on the transverse and lengthwise measured values resulting from the yaw rate.