US6282474B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for detecting rollover of an automotive vehicle
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 2000-06-04
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Granted: 2001-08-28
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Expires: 2020-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A rollover sensing system ( 12 ) that may be used in the determination of when to deploy restraints in the vehicle. The rollover sensing system ( 12 ) may include lateral acceleration sensors ( 32 ), a roll rate sensor ( 18 ) and a roll angle detector ( 20 ). A control circuit ( 16 ) determines a predetermined rollover threshold in response to the roll rate and roll angle detector ( 20 ) and calculates an adjusted threshold as a function of the predetermined rollover threshold and the lateral acceleration. The control circuit ( 16 ) generates a control signal in response to the adjusted threshold.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford C. Chou
- 👤 Fubang Wu
- 👤 Mukesh J. Amin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:40
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60R21/0132; B60R2021/0002; B60R2021/0018; B60R2021/01306; B60R2021/01327
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A rollover sensing system comprising: a lateral acceleration sensor generating a lateral acceleration signal; a roll rate sensor generating a roll rate signal; a roll angle detector generating a roll angle signal; a control circuit determining a predetermined rollover threshold in response to said roll rate and roll angle sensor, calculating an adjusted threshold as a function of said predetermined rollover threshold and said lateral acceleration and generating a control signal in response to the adjusted threshold.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A rollover sensing system comprising: a lateral acceleration sensor generating a lateral acceleration signal; a roll rate sensor generating a roll rate signal; a roll angle detector generating a roll angle signal; a control circuit determining a predetermined rollover threshold in response to said roll rate and roll angle sensor, calculating an adjusted threshold as a function of said predetermined rollover threshold and said lateral acceleration and generating a control signal in response to the adjusted threshold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A rollover sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined rollover threshold is energy-based.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A rollover sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said adjusted predetermined rollover threshold is a function of roll rate and roll angle and lateral acceleration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A rollover sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said rollover threshold is time to fire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A rollover sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said roll angle and said roll rate are independently determined.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A rollover sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said control circuit determines said adjusted threshold when the lateral acceleration signal exceeds a predetermined lateral acceleration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A rollover sensing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said adjusted threshold is a function of a gap requirement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
An occupant restraint system comprising: an occupant restraint; a deployment circuit coupled to said occupant restraint; a lateral acceleration sensor generating a lateral acceleration signal; a roll rate sensor generating a roll rate signal; a roll angle detector generating a roll angle signal; and a control circuit determining a predetermined rollover threshold in response to said roll rate and roll angle sensor, calculating an adjusted threshold as a function of said predetermined rollover threshold and said lateral acceleration signal and generating a control signal in response to the adjusted threshold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
An occupant restraint system comprising: an occupant restraint; a deployment circuit coupled to said occupant restraint; a lateral acceleration sensor generating a lateral acceleration signal; a roll rate sensor generating a roll rate signal; a roll angle detector generating a roll angle signal; and a control circuit determining a predetermined rollover threshold in response to said roll rate and roll angle sensor, calculating an adjusted threshold as a function of said predetermined rollover threshold and said lateral acceleration signal and generating a control signal in response to the adjusted threshold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
An occupant restraint system as recited in claim 8 wherein said occupant restraint is selected from the group consisting of: an inflatable curtain, a driver side front airbag, a passenger side airbag, a retractor and a side airbag.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An occupant restraint system as recited in claim 8 wherein said predetermined rollover threshold is energy-based.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An occupant restraint system as recited in claim 8 wherein said predetermined rollover threshold is a function of roll rate, roll angle and lateral acceleration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
An occupant restraint system as recited in claim 8 wherein said rollover threshold is time to fire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An occupant restraint system as recited in claim 8 wherein said roll angle and said roll rate are independently determined.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
An occupant restraint system as recited in claim 8 wherein said control circuit determines said adjusted threshold when the lateral acceleration signal exceeded a predetermined lateral acceleration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
An occupant restraint system as recited in claim 8 wherein said adjusted threshold is a function of a gap requirement.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
43 words
A method of detecting rollover in a vehicle comprising the steps of: determining an energy rollover threshold; determining an adjusted threshold as a function of said energy rollover threshold and lateral acceleration; and generating a control signal in response to the adjusted threshold.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
43 words
A method of detecting rollover in a vehicle comprising the steps of: determining an energy rollover threshold; determining an adjusted threshold as a function of said energy rollover threshold and lateral acceleration; and generating a control signal in response to the adjusted threshold.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of detecting rollover as recited in claim 16 performing the step of determining an adjusted threshold when lateral acceleration exceeds a predetermined lateral acceleration.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of detecting rollover as recited in claim 16 wherein said energy rollover threshold is function of gap.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of detecting rollover as recited in claim 16 wherein said step of determining an adjusted rollover comprises obtaining lateral acceleration from a side impact accelerometer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of detecting rollover as recited in claim 16 wherein said energy rollover threshold is a function of roll rate and roll angle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of detecting rollover as recited in claim 16 wherein said roll angle and roll rate are independently determined.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-08-27 | 2005-02-26 | 2005-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-27 | 2009-02-26 | 2009-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-27 | 2013-02-26 | 2013-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |