Tilt and/or acceleration sensing apparatus and method
US8352116B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 13, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jan 8, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 6, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C9/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tilt or acceleration sensing apparatus and method that allows a tilt or acceleration sensing device of a vehicle to determine: 1) a maximum fall angle of the vehicle, regardless of the orientation of the vehicle and the vehicle's tilt sensor(s) to the incline; or 2) the downward acceleration of the vehicle. In one embodiment, a method of determining a maximum fall angle of a vehicle includes sensing tilt angles of two sensing axes of the vehicle relative to a horizontal reference plane and calculating the maximum fall angle of the vehicle based on the tilt angles. The apparatus and method may also include comparing the maximum fall angle to predetermined values and generating output signals when the maximum fall angle exceeds the predetermined values. In another embodiment, a method of determining when a vehicle is sliding downhill includes sensing the accelerations of three sensing axes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.