Apparatus and method for detecting vehicle rollover using enhanced sensor inputs and processing architecture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9150177-B2
Application number	US-29975407-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2007
Priority date	May 11, 2006
Publication date	Oct 6, 2015
Grant date	Oct 6, 2015

Abstract

The present invention relates to an occupant protection system and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for detecting a vehicle rollover event using and enhanced sensor input architecture that uses both a roll over sensor and an electronic stability control system.

First claim

Having described the invention, the following is claimed:

1. An apparatus for detecting a vehicle rollover event comprising:
an enhanced sensor input architecture for detecting a vehicle rollover event; and
a controller responsive to the enhanced sensor input architecture for controlling an occupant restraining device,
wherein the enhanced sensor input architecture includes electronic stability control sensors and vehicle roll-over sensors, the vehicle rollover sensors monitoring roll rate value, said controller determining roll angle from the monitored roll rate value and determining if a roll rate value as a function of the determined roll angle is greater than a threshold value, said controller controlling an actuatable restraining device in response to the determination of the roll rate value as a function of roll angle value against the threshold and in response to the electronic stability control sensors.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic stability control sensors include at least one of a vehicle velocity sensor, a steer angle sensor, a side slip angle sensor, a yaw rate sensor and a lateral acceleration sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vehicle rollover sensors include a vehicle rollover sensor, a Y-axis sideways accelerometer, and a Z-axis accelerometer.

4. A method for detecting a vehicle rollover event comprising the steps of:
monitoring vehicle roll rate value;
determining roll angle from the monitored roll rate value;
monitoring lateral acceleration of the vehicle;
determining if the lateral acceleration of the vehicle exceeds a value;
determining if a rollover condition is likely in response to the monitored lateral acceleration and a comparison of the roll rate value as a function of roll angle against a threshold value and outputting a first determination signal in response thereto;
monitoring an electronic stability control system of the vehicle;
determining if the electronic stability control system indicates a vehicle rollover condition and output a second determination signal; and
controlling an actuatable restraining device in response to the first and second determination signals.

Assignees

• Foo Chek-Peng
• Yeh Huahn-Fern
• Trw Automotive Us Llc

Inventors

• Foo Chek-Peng
• Yeh Huahn-Fern

Classifications

• B60R21/0132 Primary

  responsive to vehicle motion parameters {, e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value} · CPC title

• B60R2021/01327

  Angular velocity or angular acceleration · CPC title

• B60R2021/0018

  Roll-over · CPC title

• B60G17/00

  Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load {(levelling or stabilising systems for tippers B60P1/045)} · CPC title

• B60G17/015 Primary

  the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements ({B60G17/002}, B60G17/005 take precedence) · CPC title