Device and method for sensing and indicating inclination of an automotive vehicle

• US 6,456,194 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Craig Carison
• Original Assignee: Craig D. Carlson
• Inventors: Reed, Michael A., Fowler, J. Thomas, Carlson, Craig D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/666,191
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 340/440, 340/439, 340/438, 340/691.6, 340/691.5, 340/691.4, 340/815.4
• US Class Current: 340/440
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0165 to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01925 Pendulum-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0511 Roll angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0512 Pitch angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/042 Monitoring means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/044 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/9124 Roll-over protection systems, e.g. for warning or control
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/00 Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels

Abstract

A device and method used to indicate vehicle inclination and conditions indicative of a potential rollover is disclosed. The device and method may be embodied in original equipment or in an aftermarket product in a manner so that the driver may easily determine the vehicle inclination. For example, the device and method may be embodied in a mirror assembly mounted in the vehicle. The device and method may also be used to detect the rate of change of inclination to provide a warning of adverse driving conditions. The device and method may also include a compass that indicates a corrected heading of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A mirror assembly for use in a vehicle, the mirror assembly comprising:

a frame;

a mirror mounted to the frame; and

an indicator mounted to the frame, the indicator communicating directly or indirectly with a sensor that is responsive to at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle, the indicator indicating the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the indicator indicates a warning when the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle exceeds a threshold.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the indicator indicates a warning when a rate of change of the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle exceeds a threshold.

4. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the warning is at least one of an audible and a visual warning.

5. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein the warning is at least one of an audible and a visual warning.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the indicator communicates with at least one of a compass to indicate a heading of the vehicle and a thermometer to indicate temperature.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the indicator automatically switches from indicating the at least one of the heading of the vehicle and the temperature to indicating the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle when the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle exceeds a threshold.

8. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the indicator automatically switches from indicating the at least one of the heading of the vehicle and the temperature to indicating the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle when a rate of change of the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle exceeds a threshold.

9. The assembly according to claim 6, further comprising a manually operated switch that operates to switch the indicator between indicating the at least one of the heading of the vehicle and the temperature and indicating the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle.

10. The assembly according to claim 1, in combination with the sensor, wherein the mirror assembly further comprises a mount to mount the frame to the vehicle, the sensor being mounted to the mount.

11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein the mount, when attached to the vehicle, is stationary relative to the vehicle.

12. The assembly according to claim 1, in combination with the sensor, wherein the sensor, when the mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle, is stationary relative to the vehicle.

13. The assembly according to claim 1, in combination with the sensor and the vehicle, the sensor being mounted within the vehicle and apart from the mirror assembly.

14. The assembly according to claim 1, in combination with the vehicle.

15. The combination according to claim 14, wherein the vehicle is a sport-utility vehicle.

16. The assembly according to claim 1, in combination with the sensor, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

17. The combination according to claim 16, wherein the accelerometer comprises a dual-axis accelerometer.

18. The combination according to claim 17, in combination with the vehicle, wherein the accelerometer is mounted in a plane extending substantially parallel to a vehicle plane, the vehicle plane defined by a plane through which rotational axes of wheels of the vehicle pass.

19. An apparatus for detecting inclination of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a controller;

a sensor communicating with the controller, the sensor being responsive to at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle, the controller calculating a rate of change of the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle based on the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle sensed by the sensor; and

an indicator communicating with the controller, the indicator indicating the rate of change of the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the indicator indicates the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the indicator indicates a warning when a rate of change of the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle exceeds a threshold.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the warning is at least one of an audible and a visual warning.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the accelerometer comprises a dual-axis accelerometer.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, in combination with the vehicle, wherein the accelerometer is mounted in a plane extending substantially parallel to a vehicle plane, the vehicle plane defined by a plane through which rotational axes of wheels of the vehicle pass.

26. The apparatus according to claim 19, in combination with the vehicle.

27. The combination according to claim 26, wherein the vehicle is a sport-utility vehicle.

28. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising at least one of a compass for detecting a heading of the vehicle and a thermometer for sensing temperature, the at least one of the compass and thermometer communicating with the controller.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the controller causes the indicator to switch from indicating the at least one of the heading of the vehicle and the temperature to indicating the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle when the rate of change of the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle exceeds a threshold.

30. A method of detecting inclination of a vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle;

calculating a rate of change of the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle;

comparing the rate of change to a threshold; and

warning when the rate of change exceeds the threshold.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising indicating the sensed at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle.

32. The method according to claim 30, further comprising indicating the rate of change of the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle.

33. The method according to claim 30, further comprising indicating at least one of a heading of the vehicle and the temperature.

34. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:

indicating the sensed at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle;

indicating at least one of a heading of the vehicle and the temperature; and

automatically switching from indicating the at least one of the heading of the vehicle and the temperature to indicating the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle when the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle exceeds a threshold.

35. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:

indicating the sensed at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle;

indicating at least, one of a heading of the vehicle and the temperature; and

automatically switching from indicating the at least one of the heading of the vehicle and the temperature to indicating the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle when the rate of change of the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle exceeds a threshold.

36. A method of detecting inclination of a vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing at least one of a pitch angle and a roll angle of the vehicle;

comparing the at least one of sensed pitch angle and roll angle to at least one threshold; and

comparing the at least one of sensed pitch angle and roll angle to a different threshold based upon vehicle operating conditions;

wherein sensing the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle comprises sensing a pitch angle and sensing a roll angle, the method further comprising;

comparing the sensed pitch angle to a first threshold;

comparing the sensed roll angle to a second threshold;

calculating a combined pitch and roll angle;

comparing the combined pitch and roll angle of the vehicle to a third threshold; and

indicating a warning when the combined pitch and roll angle exceeds the third threshold regardless of whether the sensed pitch angle exceeds the first threshold or whether sensed roll angle exceeds the second threshold.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein comparing the sensed at least one of pitch angle and roll angle to a different threshold based upon vehicle operating conditions comprises comparing the at least one of sensed pitch angle and roll angle to a different threshold based upon the conditions of the surface being traversed by the vehicle.

38. The method according to claim 36, wherein comparing the at least one of sensed pitch angle and roll angle to a different threshold based upon vehicle operating conditions comprises comparing the at least one of sensed pitch angle and roll angle to a different threshold based upon the speed of the vehicle.

39. A method of reducing false alarms in a device for detecting inclination of a vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle;

calculating a rate of change of the at least one pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle;

warning only if the rate of change of the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle exceeds a first threshold value and does not exceed a second threshold value.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the second threshold is greater than the first threshold.

41. In a vehicle having a vehicle plane defined by the plane through which the rotational axes of the wheels of the vehicle pass, a device comprising:

a sensor for sensing lateral acceleration of the vehicle in the vehicle plane;

a controller communicating with the sensor, the controller calculating a rate of change of the lateral acceleration and comparing the calculated rate of change to a threshold; and

an indicator communicating directly or indirectly with the controller, the indicator indicating a warning when the calculated rate of change exceeds the threshold.

42. The device according to claim 41, in combination with the vehicle.

43. The device according to claim 41, wherein the sensor comprises a digital accelerometer.

44. The device according to claim 43, wherein the accelerometer is a dual axis accelerometer.

45. The device according to claim 41, wherein the sensor senses a roll angle of the vehicle and wherein the indicator indicates the roll angle.

46. The device according to claim 43, wherein the accelerometer senses a pitch angle and a roll angle of the vehicle and wherein the indicator indicates the pitch angle and the roll angle.

47. The device according to claim 41, wherein the threshold is representative of a driver reaction threshold.

48. A multiple use mirror assembly for use in a motor vehicle, the mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror frame having a mirror fixed thereto and means for adjustably securing the mirror frame to the motor vehicle;

an indicator integrally secured to the mirror assembly and simultaneously visible with reflections in the mirror; and

at least one sensor for sensing at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the motor vehicle independent of the relative position of the mirror frame and the mirror relative to the vehicle and operatively connected to the indicator, the indicator indicating at least one of the sensed pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle.

49. The mirror assembly according to claim 48, further comprising a controller communicating with the indicator and the at least one sensor, the controller calculating a rate of change of the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle, wherein the indicator includes means for indicating a warning when the rate of change exceeds a first threshold.

50. The mirror assembly according to claim 49, wherein the indicator includes means for indicating a warning when the rate of change is above the first threshold and below a second threshold, wherein the first threshold is defined by a recoverable rate of change and the second threshold is defined by a non-recoverable one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle.

51. A mirror assembly for use in a vehicle, the mirror assembly comprising:

a frame;

a mirror mounted to the frame; and

a compass coupled to the frame, the compass detecting a heading of the vehicle, the compass communicating with a controller that communicates with a sensor that is responsive to at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle, the controller correcting the detected heading of the vehicle based on the sensed at least one of pitch angle and roll angle of the vehicle; and

an indicator mounted to the frame, the indicator indicating the corrected heading.

52. The assembly according to claim 51, wherein the indicator indicates a warning when the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle exceeds a threshold.

53. The assembly according to claim 51, wherein the indicator indicates a warning when a rate of change of the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle exceeds a threshold.

54. The assembly according to claim 52, wherein the warning is at least one of an audible and a visual warning.

55. The assembly according to claim 53, wherein the warning is at least one of an audible and a visual warning.

56. The assembly according to claim 51, wherein the indicator communicates with a thermometer to indicate temperature.

57. The assembly according to claim 51, in combination with the sensor, wherein the mirror assembly further comprises a mount to mount the frame to the vehicle, the sensor being mounted to the mount.

58. The combination according to claim 57, wherein the mount, when attached to the vehicle, is stationary relative to the vehicle.

59. The assembly according to claim 51, in combination with the sensor, wherein the sensor, when the mirror assembly is mounted to the vehicle, is stationary relative to the vehicle.

60. The assembly according to claim 51, in combination with the sensor and the vehicle, the sensor being mounted within the vehicle and apart from the mirror assembly.

61. The assembly according to claim 51, in combination with the vehicle.

62. The assembly according to claim 51, in combination with the sensor, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

63. The combination according to claim 62, wherein the accelerometer comprises a dual-axis accelerometer.

64. The apparatus according to claim 51, wherein the indicator indicates the at least one of pitch angle and roll angle.