A tip-over sensor (300, 400), comprising: an accelerometer (105,302) configured to measure and output an acceleration value Xm along an X-axis and an acceleration value Zm along a Z-axis orthogonal to said X-axis; a multiplier (304-1, 304-2) configured to multiply the acceleration value Xm by a first multiplier value b and to multiply the acceleration value Zm by a second multiplier value a and to output b*Xm and a*Zm; a summer (308-1, 308-2) coupled to the multiplier (304-1, 304-2) and configured to output a first summed value F 1 =a*Zm + b*Xm and a second summed value F 2 =a*Zm-b*Xm; and an orientation detector coupled to the summer (308-1, 308-2) and configured to determine if a tip-over threshold angle α has been reached as a function of the first and second summed values F 1, F 2, wherein the first and second multiplier values a and b are chosen as a function of the tip-over threshold angle α, wherein the summer comprises: a first summer coupled to the multiplier (304-1, 304-2) and configured to output the first summed value F 1; and a second summer coupled to the multiplier (304-1, 304-2) and configured to output the second summed value F 2, and wherein the orientation detector comprises: a first sign detector coupled to the first summer and configured to determine a respective sign of the first summed value F 1; and a second sign detector coupled to the second summer and configured to determine a respective sign of the second summed value F 2, wherein the orientation detector is further configured to determine if the tip-over threshold angle α has been reached as a function of the respective signs of the first and second summed values F 1, F 2; and wherein the multiplier (304-1,304-2) comprises: a first value multiplier configured to multiply the acceleration value Xm by a first multiplier value b and to output b*Xm; and a second value multiplier configured to multiply the acceleration value Zm by a second multiplier value a and to output a*Zm. an accelerometer (105,302) configured to measure and output an acceleration value Xm along an X-axis and an acceleration value Zm along a Z-axis orthogonal to said X-axis; a multiplier (304-1, 304-2) configured to multiply the acceleration value Xm by a first multiplier value b and to multiply the acceleration value Zm by a second multiplier value a and to output b*Xm and a*Zm; a summer (308-1, 308-2) coupled to the multiplier (304-1, 304-2) and configured to output a first summed value F 1 =a*Zm + b*Xm and a second summed value F 2 =a*Zm-b*Xm; and an orientation detector coupled to the summer (308-1, 308-2) and configured to determine if a tip-over threshold angle α has been reached as a function of the first and second summed values F 1, F 2, wherein the first and second multiplier values a and b are chosen as a function of the tip-over threshold angle α, wherein the summer comprises: a first summer coupled to the multiplier (304-1, 304-2) and configured to output the first summed value F 1; and a second summer coupled to the multiplier (304-1, 304-2) and configured to output the second summed value F 2, and wherein the orientation detector comprises: a first sign detector coupled to the first summer and configured to determine a respective sign of the first summed value F 1; and a second sign detector coupled to the second summer and configured to determine a respective sign of the second summed value F 2, wherein the orientation detector is further configured to determine if the tip-over threshold angle α has been reached as a function of the respective signs of the first and second summed values F 1, F 2; and wherein the multiplier (304-1,304-2) comprises: a first value multiplier configured to multiply the acceleration value Xm by a first multiplier value b and to output b*Xm; and a second value multiplier configured to multiply the acceleration value Zm by a second multiplier value a and to output a*Zm. a first summer coupled to the multiplier (304-1, 304-2) and configured to output the first summed value F 1; and a second summer coupled to the multiplier (304-1, 304-2) and configured to output the second summed value F 2, and a first sign detector coupled to the first summer and configured to determine a respective sign of the first summed value F 1; and a second sign detector coupled to the second summer and configured to determine a respective sign of the second summed value F 2, a first value multiplier configured to multiply the acceleration value Xm by a first multiplier value b and to output b*Xm; and a second value multiplier configured to multiply the acceleration value Zm by a second multiplier value a and to output a*Zm.