Rollover-sensing system for a vehicle and method of operating the same

Claim 3

A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising activating a second safety device when the magnitude of the angular-rate signal is greater than the angular-rate threshold for a continuous time period.

Claim 4

A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first safety device is a seat-belt restraint system, and wherein the second safety device is an air-bag deployment system.

Claim 5

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein calculating an angular-rate threshold includes providing a y-acceleration selection value; obtaining a first threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle; obtaining a second threshold value having a second relationship to the vehicle angle, the second threshold value being less than the first threshold value; setting the angular-rate threshold to the second threshold value if the magnitude of the y-acceleration signal is less than the y-acceleration selection value; and setting the angular velocity threshold to the second threshold value if the magnitude of the y-acceleration signal is greater than the y-acceleration selection value.

Claim 6

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein calculating an angular-rate threshold includes obtaining a first threshold value having a relationship to the angle; obtaining a second threshold value having a relationship to the angle, the second threshold value being less than the first threshold value; and interpolating the angular-rate threshold between the first and second threshold values based on a magnitude of the y-acceleration signal.

Claim 7

A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein interpolating the angular-rate threshold is performed using linear interpolation.

Claim 8

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein calculating an angular-rate threshold includes calculating an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the angle, the y-acceleration signal, and the z-acceleration signal.

Claim 9

A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein calculating an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the angle, the y-acceleration signal, and the z-acceleration signal includes: obtaining a first threshold value; obtaining a second threshold value less than the first threshold value; modifying the first threshold value based on the z-acceleration signal; and modifying the second threshold value based on the z-acceleration signal.

Claim 10

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein calculating an angular-rate threshold includes setting the angular-rate threshold to a maximum threshold if the vehicle angle is less than a minimum angle.

Claim 11

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the method includes providing a y-acceleration threshold, and wherein comparing the angular-rate signal to the angular-rate threshold occurs when the magnitude of the y-acceleration signal is greater than the y-acceleration threshold.

Claim 12

A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the method further includes: calculating a second angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the vehicle angle; and comparing the angular-rate to the second angular-rate threshold when the magnitude of the y-acceleration signal is less than the acceleration threshold.

Claim 13

A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the method further includes comparing the vehicle angle to a minimum vehicle angle and wherein the activating of the first safety device includes activating the first safety device when the magnitude of the angular-rate signal is greater than the angular-rate threshold, when the plausibility of the possible rollover condition is confirmed, and when the vehicle angle is greater than a minimum vehicle angle.

Claim 14

A vehicle having x, y, and z-axes, the vehicle comprising: a frame; a first accelerometer connected to the frame, the first accelerometer being operable to generate a y-acceleration signal representative of the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the y-axis; a second accelerometer connected to the frame, the second accelerometer being operable to generate a z-acceleration signal representative of the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the z-axis; an angular-rate sensor connected to the frame, the angular-rate sensor being operable to generate an angular rate signal representative of the angular velocity of the vehicle about the x-axis; a microcontroller connected to the frame, and coupled with the accelemerometers and the angular-rate sensor, the microcontroller being operable to receive the y-acceleration signal, the z-acceleration signal, and the angular-rate signal, calculate a vehicle angle having a relationship to the angular-rate signal and being representative of the angle of the vehicle about the x-axis, calculate an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the vehicle angle and the y-acceleration signal, determine whether a rollover condition exists, including comparing the angular-rate signal to the angular-rate threshold, confirming the plausibility of the rollover condition, including analyzing the y-acceleration signal and the z-acceleration signal, and generate an output signal when the magnitude of the angular-rate signal is greater than the angular-rate threshold and when the plausibility of the rollover condition is confirmed; and a safety device connected to the frame and coupled to the microcontroller, the safety-device being activatable in response to receiving the output signal.

Claim 15

A vehicle having x, y, and z-axes, the vehicle comprising: a frame; a first accelerometer connected to the frame, the first accelerometer being operable to generate a y-acceleration signal representative of the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the y-axis; a second accelerometer connected to the frame, the second accelerometer being operable to generate a z-acceleration signal representative of the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the z-axis; an angular-rate sensor connected to the frame, the angular-rate sensor being operable to generate an angular rate signal representative of the angular velocity of the vehicle about the x-axis; a microcontroller connected to the frame, and coupled with the accelemerometers and the angular-rate sensor, the microcontroller being operable to receive the y-acceleration signal, the z-acceleration signal, and the angular-rate signal, calculate a vehicle angle having a relationship to the angular-rate signal and being representative of the angle of the vehicle about the x-axis, calculate an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the vehicle angle and the y-acceleration signal, determine whether a rollover condition exists, including comparing the angular-rate signal to the angular-rate threshold, confirming the plausibility of the rollover condition, including analyzing the y-acceleration signal and the z-acceleration signal, and generate an output signal when the magnitude of the angular-rate signal is greater than the angular-rate threshold and when the plausibility of the rollover condition is confirmed; and a safety device connected to the frame and coupled to the microcontroller, the safety-device being activatable in response to receiving the output signal.

Claim 16

A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the microcontroller is further operable to generate a second output signal when the magnitude of the angular-rate signal is greater than the angular-rate threshold for a continuous time period, and wherein the vehicle further comprises a second safety-device connected to the frame and coupled to the microcontroller, the second safety-device being activatable in response to receiving the second output signal.

Claim 17

A vehicle as set forth in claim 14 wherein the first safety device is a seat-belt restraint system, and wherein the second safety-device is an air-bag deployment system.

Claim 18

A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the microcontroller calculates an angular-rate threshold by being further operable to obtain a first threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, obtain a second threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, the second threshold value being less than the first threshold value, set the angular-velocity threshold to the first threshold value if the magnitude of the y-acceleration signal is less than a y-acceleration selection value, and set the angular-velocity threshold to the second threshold if the magnitude of the y-acceleration signal is greater than the y-acceleration selection value.

Claim 19

A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the microcontroller calculates an angular-rate threshold by being further operable to obtain a first threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, obtain a second threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, the second threshold value being less than the first threshold value; and interpolate the angular-rate threshold between the first and second threshold values based on a magnitude of the y-acceleration signal.

Claim 20

A vehicle as set forth in claim 17 wherein the interpolating of the angular-velocity is performed by linear interpolation.

Claim 21

A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the microcontroller calculates an angular-rate threshold by being further operable to calculate an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the angle, the y-acceleration signal, and the z-acceleration signal.

Claim 22

A vehicle as set forth in claim 19 wherein the microcontroller calculates of an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the angle, the y-acceleration signal, and the z-acceleration signal by being further operable to obtain a first threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, obtain a second threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, the second threshold value being less than the first threshold value, modify the first threshold value based on the z-acceleration signal, and modify the second threshold value based on the z-acceleration signal.

Claim 23

A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the microcontroller calculates an angular-rate threshold by being further operable to set the angular-rate threshold to a maximum threshold if the vehicle angle is less than a minimum angle.

Claim 24

A vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the microcontroller is further operable to provide a y-acceleration threshold, and compare the angular-rate signal to the angular-rate threshold when the magnitude of the y-acceleration signal is greater than the y-acceleration threshold.

Claim 25

A vehicle as set forth in claim 22 wherein the microcontroller is further operable to calculate a second angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the vehicle angle; and compare the angular-rate signal to the second angular-rate threshold when the magnitude of the y-acceleration signal is less than the y-acceleration threshold.

Claim 26

A rollover sensing system for a vehicle having x, y and z-axes, the system comprising: an accelerometer being operable to generate a y-acceleration signal representative of the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the y-axis; an angular-rate sensor being operable to generate an angular rate signal representative of the angular velocity of the vehicle about the x-axis; a microcontroller coupled with the accelerometer and the angular-rate sensor, the microcontroller being operable to receive the y-acceleration signal and the angular-rate signal, calculate a vehicle angle having a relationship to the angular-rate signal and being q representative of the angle of the vehicle about the x-axis, calculate an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the vehicle angle and the y-acceleration signal, determine whether a rollover condition exists, including comparing the angular-rate signal to the angular-rate threshold, confirm the plausibility of the rollover condition, and generate an output when the magnitude of the angular-rate signal is greater than the angular-rate threshold and when the plausibility of the rollover condition is confirmed; and wherein the microcontroller calculates an angular-rate threshold by being further operable to obtain a first threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, obtain a second threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, the second threshold value being less than the first threshold value, set the angular-velocity threshold to the first threshold value if the magnitude of the y-acceleration signal is less than a y-acceleration selection value, and set the angular-velocity threshold to the second threshold if the magnitude of the y-acceleration signal is greater than the y-acceleration selection value.

Claim 27

A rollover sensing system for a vehicle having x, y and z-axes, the system comprising: an accelerometer being operable to generate a y-acceleration signal representative of the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the y-axis; an angular-rate sensor being operable to generate an angular rate signal representative of the angular velocity of the vehicle about the x-axis; a microcontroller coupled with the accelerometer and the angular-rate sensor, the microcontroller being operable to receive the y-acceleration signal and the angular-rate signal, calculate a vehicle angle having a relationship to the angular-rate signal and being q representative of the angle of the vehicle about the x-axis, calculate an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the vehicle angle and the y-acceleration signal, determine whether a rollover condition exists, including comparing the angular-rate signal to the angular-rate threshold, confirm the plausibility of the rollover condition, and generate an output when the magnitude of the angular-rate signal is greater than the angular-rate threshold and when the plausibility of the rollover condition is confirmed; and wherein the microcontroller calculates an angular-rate threshold by being further operable to obtain a first threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, obtain a second threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, the second threshold value being less than the first threshold value, set the angular-velocity threshold to the first threshold value if the magnitude of the y-acceleration signal is less than a y-acceleration selection value, and set the angular-velocity threshold to the second threshold if the magnitude of the y-acceleration signal is greater than the y-acceleration selection value.

Claim 28

A system as set forth in claim 24 wherein the microcontroller is further operable to generate a second output when the magnitude of the angular-rate signal is greater than the angular-rate threshold for a continuous time period.

Claim 29

A system as set forth in claim 24 wherein the system further includes a second accelerometer being operable to generate a z-acceleration signal correlated with the acceleration of the vehicle in a z-axis, wherein the microcontroller calculates an angular-rate threshold by being further operable to calculate an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the angle, the y-acceleration signal, and the z-acceleration signal.

Claim 30

A system as set forth in claim 26 wherein the microcontroller calculates of an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the angle, the y-acceleration signal, and the z-acceleration signal by being further operable to obtain a first threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, obtain a second threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, the second threshold value being less than the first threshold value, modify the first threshold value based on the z-acceleration signal, and modify the second threshold value based on the z-acceleration signal.

Claim 31

A system as set forth in claim 24 wherein the microcontroller calculates an angular-rate threshold by being further operable to set the angular-rate threshold to a maximum threshold if the vehicle angle is less than a minimum angle.

Claim 32

A rollover sensing system for a vehicle having x, y and z-axes, the system comprising: an accelerometer being operable to generate a y-acceleration signal representative of the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the y-axis; an angular-rate sensor being operable to generate an angular rate signal representative of the angular velocity of the vehicle about the x-axis; a microcontroller coupled with the accelerometer and the angular-rate sensor, the microcontroller being operable to receive the y-acceleration signal and the angular-rate signal, calculate a vehicle angle having a relationship to the angular-rate signal and being representative of the angle of the vehicle about the x-axis, calculate an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the vehicle angle and the y-acceleration signal, determine whether a rollover condition exists, including comparing the angular-rate signal to the angular-rate threshold, confirm the plausibility of the rollover condition, and generate an output when the magnitude of the angular-rate signal is greater than the angular-rate threshold and when the plausibility of the rollover condition is confirmed; and wherein the microcontroller calculates an angular-rate threshold by being further operable to obtain a first threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, obtain a second threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, the second threshold value being less than the first threshold value; and interpolate the angular-rate threshold between the first and second threshold values based on a magnitude of the y-acceleration signal.

Claim 33

A rollover sensing system for a vehicle having x, y and z-axes, the system comprising: an accelerometer being operable to generate a y-acceleration signal representative of the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the y-axis; an angular-rate sensor being operable to generate an angular rate signal representative of the angular velocity of the vehicle about the x-axis; a microcontroller coupled with the accelerometer and the angular-rate sensor, the microcontroller being operable to receive the y-acceleration signal and the angular-rate signal, calculate a vehicle angle having a relationship to the angular-rate signal and being representative of the angle of the vehicle about the x-axis, calculate an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the vehicle angle and the y-acceleration signal, determine whether a rollover condition exists, including comparing the angular-rate signal to the angular-rate threshold, confirm the plausibility of the rollover condition, and generate an output when the magnitude of the angular-rate signal is greater than the angular-rate threshold and when the plausibility of the rollover condition is confirmed; and wherein the microcontroller calculates an angular-rate threshold by being further operable to obtain a first threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, obtain a second threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, the second threshold value being less than the first threshold value; and interpolate the angular-rate threshold between the first and second threshold values based on a magnitude of the y-acceleration signal.

Claim 34

A system as set forth in claim 29 wherein the interpolating of the angular-velocity is performed by linear interpolation.

Claim 35

A system as set forth in claim 29 wherein the microcontroller is further operable to generate a second output when the magnitude of the angular-rate signal is greater than the angular-rate threshold for a continuous time period.

Claim 36

A system as set forth in claim 29 wherein the system further includes a second accelerometer being operable to generate a z-acceleration signal correlated with the acceleration of the vehicle in a z-axis, wherein the microcontroller calculates an angular-rate threshold by being further operable to calculate an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the angle, the y-acceleration signal, and the z-acceleration signal.

Claim 37

A system as set forth in claim 32 wherein the microcontroller calculates an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the angle, the y-acceleration signal, and the z-acceleration signal by being further operable to obtain a first threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, obtain a second threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, the second threshold value being less than the first threshold value, modify the first threshold value based on the z-acceleration signal, and modify the second threshold value based on the z-acceleration signal.

Claim 40

A method as set forth in claim 34 wherein determining an angular-rate of the vehicle includes sensing an angular rate of the vehicle about the x-axis, generating an angular rate signal having a relationship to the sensed angular rate, and filtering the angular rate signal, and wherein determining a y-acceleration includes sensing a y-acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the y-axis, generating a y-acceleration signal having a relationship to the sensed y-acceleration, and filtering the y-acceleration signal.

Claim 41

A method as set forth in claim 34 wherein determining a vehicle angle includes calculating the vehicle angle using a relationship to the angular rate.

Claim 42

A method as set forth in claim 34 and further comprising: providing a time period; increasing a counter when the magnitude of the angular rate is greater than the angular-rate threshold; and generating a second output signal when the counter is greater than the time period.

Claim 43

A method as set forth in claim 37 wherein the vehicle includes first and second safety devices, and wherein the method further comprises: providing the first output signal to a first safety device; and providing the second output signal to a second safety device.

Claim 44

A method as set forth in claim 34 wherein interpolating the angular-rate threshold is performed using linear interpolation.

Claim 45

A method as set forth in claim 34 wherein the method further comprises determining a z-acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the z-axis, and wherein determining an angular-rate threshold includes determining an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the angle, the y-acceleration, and the z-acceleration.

Claim 46

A method as set forth in claim 40 wherein determining an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the angle, the y-acceleration, and the z-acceleration includes: determining a first threshold value; determining a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value; modifying the first threshold value based on the z-acceleration; and modifying the second threshold value based on the z-acceleration.

Claim 47

A method as set forth in claim 34 wherein determining an angular-rate threshold includes: setting the angular-rate threshold to a maximum threshold if the vehicle angle is less than a minimum angle.

Claim 50

A method as set forth in claim 43 and further comprising: providing a time period; increasing a counter when the magnitude of the angular rate is greater than the angular-rate threshold; and generating a second output signal when the counter is greater than the time period.

Claim 51

A method as set forth in claim 44 wherein the vehicle includes first and second safety devices, and wherein the method further comprises: providing the first output signal to a first safety device; and providing the second output signal to a second safety device.

Claim 52

A method as set forth in claim 43 wherein the method further comprises determining a z-acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the z-axis, and wherein determining an angular-rate threshold includes determining an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the angle, the y-acceleration, and the z-acceleration.

Claim 53

A method as set forth in claim 46 wherein determining an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the angle, the y-acceleration, and the z-acceleration includes: determining a first threshold value; determining a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value; modifying the first threshold value based on the z-acceleration; and modifying the second threshold value based on the z-acceleration.

Claim 54

A rollover-sensing system for a vehicle including x, y, and z-axes, a frame, and a safety-device connected to the frame, the system comprising: an accelerometer being operable to generate a y-acceleration signal representative of the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the y-axis; an angular-rate sensor being operable to generate an angular rate signal representative of the angular velocity of the vehicle about the x-axis; a processing unit and memory coupled with the accelerometer and the angular-rate sensor, the memory including one or more software modules having instructions that are executable by the processing unit, the software modules including an integrator that receives the angular rate signal and calculates a vehicle angle; a trip criteria module that receives the angular rate signal, vehicle angle, and y-acceleration signal, analyzes the angular rate signal, vehicle angle, and y-acceleration signal to generate a first output signifying a trip rollover event; and wherein the trip criteria module includes a first magnitude value module that receives the angular rate signal and produces an angular-rate magnitude, a second magnitude value module that receives the vehicle angle and produces a vehicle-angle magnitude, a third magnitude value module that receives the y-acceleration signal and produces a y-acceleration magnitude, an analysis module that generates an angular rate threshold having a relationship to the vehicle-angle magnitude and the y-acceleration magnitude, and a comparator that compares the angular-rate threshold to the angular-rate magnitude.

Claim 55

A rollover-sensing system for a vehicle including x, y, and z-axes, a frame, and a safety-device connected to the frame, the system comprising: an accelerometer being operable to generate a y-acceleration signal representative of the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the y-axis; an angular-rate sensor being operable to generate an angular rate signal representative of the angular velocity of the vehicle about the x-axis; a processing unit and memory coupled with the accelerometer and the angular-rate sensor, the memory including one or more software modules having instructions that are executable by the processing unit, the software modules including an integrator that receives the angular rate signal and calculates a vehicle angle; a trip criteria module that receives the angular rate signal, vehicle angle, and y-acceleration signal, analyzes the angular rate signal, vehicle angle, and y-acceleration signal to generate a first output signifying a trip rollover event; and wherein the trip criteria module includes a first magnitude value module that receives the angular rate signal and produces an angular-rate magnitude, a second magnitude value module that receives the vehicle angle and produces a vehicle-angle magnitude, a third magnitude value module that receives the y-acceleration signal and produces a y-acceleration magnitude, an analysis module that generates an angular rate threshold having a relationship to the vehicle-angle magnitude and the y-acceleration magnitude, and a comparator that compares the angular-rate threshold to the angular-rate magnitude.

Claim 56

A system as set forth in claim 48 wherein the analysis module includes a first look-up table that receives the vehicle-angle magnitude and generates a first threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle-angle magnitude, a second look-up table that receives the vehicle-angle magnitude and generates a second threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle-angle magnitude, the second threshold value being less than the first threshold value, and a continuously variable threshold module that receives the vehicle-angle magnitude, the first threshold, and the second thresholds, and interpolates the angular-rate threshold between the first and second thresholds based on the y acceleration magnitude.

Claim 57

A system as set forth in claim 49 wherein the interpolation is a linear interpolation.

Claim 58

A system as set forth in claim 49 wherein the system further comprises a second accelerometer being operable to generate a z-acceleration signal representative of the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of the z-axis, wherein the analysis module generates an angular rate threshold having a relationship to the vehicle-angle magnitude, the y-acceleration magnitude, and the z-acceleration.

Claim 59

A system as set forth in claim 51 wherein the analysis module further includes a first z-factor module that receives the first threshold value and the z-acceleration magnitude, and modifies the first threshold value based on the z-acceleration magnitude.

Claim 60

A system as set forth in claim 52 wherein the analysis module further includes a second z-factor module that receives the second threshold value and the z-acceleration magnitude, and modifies the second threshold value based on the z-acceleration magnitude.

Claim 61

A system as set forth in claim 48 wherein the analysis module includes a first look-up table that receives the vehicle angle and generates a first threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, a second look-up table that receives the vehicle angle and generates a second threshold value having a relationship to the vehicle angle, the second threshold value being greater than the first threshold value, and a continuously variable threshold module that receives the vehicle angle, and the first and second thresholds, sets the angular-rate threshold to the first value if the y-acceleration is less than a y-acceleration selection value, and sets the angular-rate threshold to the second value if the y-acceleration is greater than a y-acceleration selection value.