A system uses multiple tilt sensors mounted to the vehicle frame and the vehicle suspension system to detect lateral acceleration and lateral load transfer. The system uses these measurements to determine a lateral load transfer ratio indicative of an actual roll moment compared to a maximum roll moment. The measurements from the tilt sensors are also used to calculate an effective center of gravity height. A display coupled to the system provides the vehicle operator with a read out of the load transfer ratio and effective center of gravity height. The display enables the vehicle operator to more completely understand the nature of the vehicle load and thereby allow the vehicle operator to avoid conditions likely to lead to a vehicle rollover accident.

System and method for the detection of vehicle rollover conditions

An object recognition system including a position sensor, an image sensor and a controller is provided. The position sensor determines the position of an object, and the image sensor captures an image of the object. The controller sets a processing area within the image captured by the image sensor based on the position of the object determined by the position sensor and a predetermined size for the object to be recognized. The controller extracts horizontal edges from the processing area, and identifies horizontal edges belonging to the outline of the object from the extracted edges. Thus, the object can be recognized based on the horizontal edges only. Similarly, the controller can extract vertical edges from the processing area and identify vertical edges belonging to the outline of the object. Preferably, the controller selects upper, lower, left, and right horizontal and vertical candidate ends of the object from the identified horizontal and vertical edges respectively, from which upper, lower, left, and right ends of the object are determined. If either one or both of the left and right horizontal candidate ends cannot be selected, candidate ends can be estimated based on the position of the object recognized in a previous recognition cycle, and the estimated candidate ends can be used in lieu of the candidate ends selected from the horizontal edges.

Object recognition system

A suspension control system for automotive vehicles automatically adjusts the damping strength of variable shock absorbers or other dampers in accordance with road surface conditions as recognized by frequency analysis of a vehicle height or vibration sensor signal. The sensor signal reflects vertical displacement of the vehicle body from the road surface and includes high-frequency components due solely to displacement of the wheels or unsprung mass relative to the road surface and low-frequency components due to displacement of the vehicle body or sprung mass. The sensor signal is filtered into these separate frequency bands, the amplitude of each of which is compared to a corresponding reference level. The results of comparison give an indication of the degree and scale of irregularities in the road surface; specifically, a high-amplitude low-frequency component indicates larger-scale bumps and dips capable of bouncing the vehicle whereas a strong high-frequency component reflects a rough-textured road surface, such as gravel. The comparison information is sent to a suspension system controller which causes actuation of the shock absorbers to a stiffer mode of operation when the low-frequency sensor signal components are relatively strong.

Automotive suspension control system with road-condition-dependent damping characteristics

The suspension system of the present invention includes an elongated spring having one end attached to the vehicle frame and having a second end. A pneumatic bag includes an upper end which is attached to the vehicle frame and a lower end. A securing bracket attaches the lower end of the bag and the second end of the elongated spring to the axle so that the weight of the vehicle frame above the axle is supported in combination by the spring and the air bag. A pneumatic control system is in communication with the bag for selectively introducing air to the bag so as to control the pressure within the bag and thereby control the height that the bag supports the vehicle frame above the axle. A stabilizer bar is pivotally connected at one end to the vehicle frame and at the other end to the axle so as to cause the vehicle frame to be centered over the axle while at the same time permitting the vehicle frame to move vertically with respect to the axle. The control means includes both manual and automatic control valves for controlling the height of the frame above the axle. Electrical switches are connected to solenoids for controlling the valves so as to permit the raising and lowering of the vehicle frame with respect to the axle.

Suspension and leveling system for a vehicle

An active vehicle roll control system is disclosed in which a roll bar (22) has two halves (22a, 22b) which can be locked together to allow the system to operate passively. A sensing system based on a lateral accelerometer and vehicle speed sensor is arranged to detect when the vehicle is on a side slope and to put the roll control system into the passive mode.

Vehicle roll control

An ultra-sonic senor system suitable for monitoring movement of a vehicle, relative to the horizontal employs two or more coordinated ultra-sonic sensors. The sensors may be mounted at opposite ends or on opposite sides of the vehicle, depending on whether pitch or roll respectively is to be monitored. Each sensor broadcasts ultra-sonic waves and receives ultra-sonic waves reflected by the road surface. The transmission time is known; the reception time is measured upon detection of the peak of the reflected waves. The difference between the two above times yields the distance between the vehicle and the road. The difference between the distances measured by two sensor yields the inclination of the vehicle relative to the horizontal plane.

Ultra-sonic sensor system for monitoring rolling and/or pitching motion of vehicle

PURPOSE: To enable the accurate measurement of an ultrasonic propagation time with always constant receiving timing even if the signal level of an ultrasonic receiving signal varies, by detecting receiving timing from the peak value of the ultrasonic receiving signal. CONSTITUTION: For example, in an ultrasonic clinometer for detecting the angle of inclination of a vehicle to the surface of a road, ultrasonic waves emitted from ultrasonic transmitting element 13a, 13b are reflected from the surface of a road and received by ultrasonic receiving elements 14a, 14b to be converted to electric signals. The outputs of the receiving elements 14a, 14b are amplified to prescribed levels by preamplifiers 15a, 15b not only to be inputted to one terminals of comparators 17a, 17b through delay devices 16a, 16b but also to be directly inputted to the other terminals thereof. The circuit consisting of the delay devices 16a, 16b and the comparators 17a, 17b has function for detecting timing obtained from the peak values of the receiving signals from the preamplifiers 15a, 15b as receiving timing. The phase difference between the outputs of the comparators 17a, 17b is detected by a phase detector 18 and, because this phase difference is proportional to the angle of inclination of a vehicle, said phase difference is outputted to an indicator 19 to display the angle of inclination. COPYRIGHT: (C)1986,JPO&Japio

Yosuke Yamamoto

Papers

Ultra-sonic sensor system for monitoring rolling and/or pitching motion of vehicle

Ultrasonic measuring apparatus