Patent attributes
Crash detection in a road vehicle includes determining an impact location. Acceleration and yaw rate are measured, and occurrence of an impact is detected by comparing a total acceleration to an impact threshold. An impact angle is determined according to an arctangent of a ratio of lateral and longitudinal accelerations. A center-of-gravity to impact distance is determined according to vehicle mass, moment of inertia, acceleration, and yaw rate. When the yaw rate is less than a yaw threshold and the impact angle is within a predetermined range of an integer multiple of 90°, then the impact location is determined in response to a projection of the impact distance selected according to signs of the accelerations. Otherwise, the impact location is determined in response to a projection of the impact distance selected according to signs of the accelerations and a sign of the yaw rate.
