The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 20, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 13, 1996
Steven M. Cash, Walled Lake, MI (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A vehicle rollover sensor (,) includes an optical transmitter (,) for providing a light beam (,) extending in a first direction (,) and an optical receiver (,) for receiving the light beam. A movable member (,) when in a first orientation enables the light beam (,) from the optical transmitter (,) to be directed to the optical receiver (,). The movable member (,) when in a second orientation prevents at least a part of the light beam (,) from being directed to the optical receiver (,). The movable member (,) is supported on the vehicle for movement between the first and second orientations in a direction transverse to the first direction (,), in response to rolling movement of the vehicle of a predetermined amount relative to the first direction. An inertia mass (,) is connected with the movable member (,) to maintain the movable member in a predetermined orientation relative to the ground surface on which the vehicle is disposed. The operativeness of the sensor (,) can be tested whenever the vehicle is not in a rollover condition.