Patent ID: 6397133
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: B60G,B60R,B60W,G08B,G08G

Abstract:
A sensing and notification system for detecting and warning of a potential rollover condition for a vehicle having one or more predefined critical threshold values, said system comprising:a rollover sensing subsystem including: (a) central processor for receiving signals indicative of present vehicle operating characteristics; and (b) at least two sensors for monitoring vehicle operating characteristics, a first sensor being secured relative to said vehicle for measuring the lateral and longitudinal angular orientation of said vehicle relative to a fixed horizon, said first sensor transmitting a signal to said central processor indicative of the lateral and longitudinal angular orientation of said vehicle, and a second sensor measuring the lateral and longitudinal acceleration of said vehicle, said second sensor transmitting a signal to said central processor indicative of the lateral and longitudinal acceleration of said vehicle; said central processor receiving signals indicative of present vehicle operating characteristics from said sensors, processing said signals to generate first and second present condition values, comparing said first and second present condition values to said predefined critical threshold values, and generating an alarm signal when said first or second present condition values exceeds one or more of the predefined critical threshold values; and an alarm and warning subsystem for notifying an operator of said vehicle upon receipt of said alarm signal from said central processors; wherein said rollover sensing subsystem further includes a steering angle sensor for measuring the steering angle of said vehicle relative to a predetermined zero angle and a visual display panel, said steering angle sensor transmitting a signal to said central processor indicative of the steering angle of said vehicle, and, when said first or second present condition values exceeds one or more of the predefined critical threshold values, said central processor determining an appropriate steering angle correction and communicating such appropriate steering angle correction to said operator through said visual display panel.