Patent ID: 6332354
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: B60T,G01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for calculating effectiveness of a vehicle braking system during deceleration of the vehicle, comprising:a computer;a means for inputting a baseline deceleration rate of the vehicle to the computer;a means for inputting the mass of the vehicle to the computer;a low-g accelerometer for measuring a deceleration rate of the vehicle and means for inputting the deceleration rate of the vehicle to the computer;a slope compensating means for generating a slope adjusted deceleration rate of the vehicle, and means for inputting the slope adjusted deceleration rate of the vehicle to the computer to automatically compensate for the effect of road slope during deceleration, anda means for measuring brake system pressure of the vehicle during deceleration of the vehicle and for inputting the brake system pressure of the vehicle to the computer,the computer having means for calculating the effectiveness of the vehicle braking system from data representing the baseline deceleration rate of the vehicle, the slope adjusted deceleration rate of the vehicle, the brake system pressure of the vehicle during deceleration of the vehicle, and the mass of the vehicle, and generating a signal representative of the effectiveness of the vehicle braking system.