Method and apparatus for detecting a vehicle rollover

Claim 1

An apparatus for detecting the onset of a vehicle rollover, said vehicle being disposed upon a first surface at an angle which changes at a certain rate, said apparatus comprising: at least one first sensor which measures lateral and vertical acceleration values and said certain rate of said vehicle, and which generates a data signal based upon said measured lateral and vertical acceleration values and said certain rate; and a controller which is communicatively coupled to said at least one sensor, which receives said data signal, which utilizes said data signal to estimate said angle, which compares said certain rate to a first threshold value, which calculates a second threshold value based upon said measured value of said lateral acceleration and said estimated value of said angle, which compares said certain rate to said second threshold value, which calculates an offset value, which compares said offset value to a third threshold value, which compares said measured value of said vertical acceleration to a fourth threshold value, and which detects said onset of said vehicle rollover if said first said second, said third and said fourth threshold values have been exceeded.

Claim 2

An apparatus for detecting the onset of a vehicle rollover, said vehicle being disposed upon a first surface at an angle which changes at a certain rate, said apparatus comprising: at least one first sensor which measures lateral and vertical acceleration values and said certain rate of said vehicle, and which generates a data signal based upon said measured lateral and vertical acceleration values and said certain rate; and a controller which is communicatively coupled to said at least one sensor, which receives said data signal, which utilizes said data signal to estimate said angle, which compares said certain rate to a first threshold value, which calculates a second threshold value based upon said measured value of said lateral acceleration and said estimated value of said angle, which compares said certain rate to said second threshold value, which calculates an offset value, which compares said offset value to a third threshold value, which compares said measured value of said vertical acceleration to a fourth threshold value, and which detects said onset of said vehicle rollover if said first said second, said third and said fourth threshold values have been exceeded.

Claim 8

A method for determining if a vehicle rollover is imminent, said vehicle being of the type having a safety device and being disposed upon a first surface at an angle which changes at a certain rate, said vehicle having a lateral and a vertical acceleration, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one sensor assembly for measuring the value of said lateral and said vertical acceleration; measuring said certain rate; estimating the value of said angle; comparing said certain rate to a first threshold value; calculating a second threshold value based upon said measured value of said lateral acceleration and said estimated value of said angle; comparing said certain rate to said second threshold value; calculating an offset value; comparing said offset value to a third threshold value; comparing said measured value of said vertical acceleration to a fourth threshold value; and activating said safety device if said first, said second, said third and said fourth threshold values have been exceeded.

Claim 9

A method for determining if a vehicle rollover is imminent, said vehicle being of the type having a safety device and being disposed upon a first surface at an angle which changes at a certain rate, said vehicle having a lateral and a vertical acceleration, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one sensor assembly for measuring the value of said lateral and said vertical acceleration; measuring said certain rate; estimating the value of said angle; comparing said certain rate to a first threshold value; calculating a second threshold value based upon said measured value of said lateral acceleration and said estimated value of said angle; comparing said certain rate to said second threshold value; calculating an offset value; comparing said offset value to a third threshold value; comparing said measured value of said vertical acceleration to a fourth threshold value; and activating said safety device if said first, said second, said third and said fourth threshold values have been exceeded.

Claim 16

A method for detecting the onset of a vehicle rollover for use in combination with a vehicle having an angular rate and a lateral acceleration value, said method comprising the steps of: measuring said angular rate and said lateral acceleration value; providing a first value; calculating a first threshold value by reducing said first value by an amount based upon said measured lateral acceleration value; comparing said measured angular rate to first threshold value; providing a second value; calculating a third value by adding said second value to said angular rate; comparing said third value to a second threshold; and generating at least one signal if said first threshold and said second threshold are respectively exceeded by said measured angular rate and said third value.

Claim 17

A method for detecting the onset of a vehicle rollover for use in combination with a vehicle having an angular rate and a lateral acceleration value, said method comprising the steps of: measuring said angular rate and said lateral acceleration value; providing a first value; calculating a first threshold value by reducing said first value by an amount based upon said measured lateral acceleration value; comparing said measured angular rate to first threshold value; providing a second value; calculating a third value by adding said second value to said angular rate; comparing said third value to a second threshold; and generating at least one signal if said first threshold and said second threshold are respectively exceeded by said measured angular rate and said third value.