Patent ID: 6301536
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An apparatus for detecting the onset of a vehicle rollover, said vehicle being disposed upon a first surface at an angle which changes at a certain rate, said apparatus comprising:at least one first sensor which measures lateral and vertical acceleration values and said certain rate of said vehicle, and which generates a data signal based upon said measured lateral and vertical acceleration values and said certain rate; anda controller which is communicatively coupled to said at least one sensor, which receives said data signal, which utilizes said data signal to estimate said angle, which compares said certain rate to a first threshold value, which calculates a second threshold value based upon said measured value of said lateral acceleration and said estimated value of said angle, which compares said certain rate to said second threshold value, which calculates an offset value, which compares said offset value to a third threshold value, which compares said measured value of said vertical acceleration to a fourth threshold value, and which detects said onset of said vehicle rollover if said first said second, said third and said fourth threshold values have been exceeded.