Method and device for detecting the overturning hazard of a motor vehicle

US6438464B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG · DE

Inventors

• Jürgen Woywod · Mörfelden, DE
• Ralph Gronau · Wetter, DE
• Dieter Burkhard · Pirmasens, DE
• Hans Georg Ihrig · Darmstadt, DE
• Lothar Kienle · Lampertheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 13, 2001
• Grant date: Aug 20, 2002
• Expiry date: Apr 13, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60T2230/03
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of detecting the roll angle of a cornering vehicle which comprises at least one axle and at least two wheels, the vehicle being equipped with a transverse acceleration sensor means which senses the transverse acceleration that acts on the center of gravity of the automotive vehicle generally in the horizontal plane of the vehicle. To provide a method which does not require an additional sensor means and is virtually independent of given vehicle characteristics or dimensions, the component of the transverse acceleration which essentially acts in the horizontal plane of the vehicle is detected by the transverse acceleration sensor means during cornering. In addition, a condition variable which is correlated to the centrifugal acceleration acting on the center of gravity is detected, and the roll angle of the vehicle is calculated from the difference between the detected component of the transverse acceleration and the determined centrifugal acceleration, the said difference being weighted with a factor.