Patent ID: 6202488
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: B60R,G01C

Abstract:
An apparatus for providing a control signal indicative of a rollover condition of a vehicle which is disposed on a ground surface, said apparatus comprising:an optical transmitter for providing a light beam extending in a first direction;an optical receiver for receiving the light beam from said optical transmitter;a disk having an opening for enabling the light beam from said optical transmitter to be directed to said optical receiver and having portions for preventing at least a part of the light beam from being directed to said optical receiver;means for supporting said optical transmitter and optical receiver on the vehicle for movement relative to said disk and transverse to said first direction in response to rolling movement of the vehicle relative to said first direction;means for supporting said disk on the vehicle for movement relative to the vehicle and transverse to said first direction in response to rolling movement of the vehicle relative to said first direction in an amount above a predetermined threshold value to prevent at least a part of the light beam from being directed to said optical receiver;an inertia mass connected with said disk to maintain said disk in a predetermined orientation relative to the ground surface on which the vehicle is disposed when the vehicle is in a rollover condition;said opening in said disk enabling the light beam from said optical transmitter to be directed to said optical receiver whenever the vehicle is not in a rollover condition; andsaid disk is supported on the vehicle for pivotal movement about an axis, said opening comprising a single arcuate slot centered on said axis and extending between end boundary portions of said disk, said portions of said disk for preventing at least a part of the light beam from being directed to said optical receiver comprising said end boundary portions of said disk.