Method and apparatus for detecting rollover of an automotive vehicle based on a lateral kinetic energy rate threshold

A rollover sensing system that may be used in the determination of when to deploy restraints in a vehicle is disclosed herein. The rollover sensing system may include lateral acceleration sensors, a roll rate sensor, and a roll angle detector. A control circuit determines a roll moment of inertia as a function of lateral acceleration, a trip point length as a function of the lateral acceleration, and a trip point angle as a function of the lateral acceleration. The control circuit also determines a rollover threshold in response to a roll rate signal, a roll angle signal, the trip point length, the roll moment of inertia, and the trip point angle. The control circuit further generates a control signal for a deployment circuit in response to the rollover threshold.