Variable ride height systems and methods

• US 10,071,785 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2016
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group LLC (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ginther, Brian, Lomonaco, Joseph P., Kolesnikov, Maxim, Fulmer, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US15/248,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20170050697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/018 characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/40 Type of actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/412 Pneumatic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/413 Hydraulic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/43 Mechanical actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/12 Cycles; Motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0521 Roll rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0523 Yaw rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/106 longitudinal with regard to vehicle, e.g. braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/208 of wheel rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/82 Ground surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/90 Other conditions or factors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/26 Electromagnets; Solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2025/044 Suspensions with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2025/045 Suspensions with ride-height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/04 : for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork for sidecars, forecars or the like B62K27/06

Abstract

System, method, and assembly for controlling a vehicle. In one example, the system includes a first suspension system and a first controller. The first controller is configured to receive an input signal representing vehicle operating parameters. The first controller is also configured to receive a first target displacement determined by a second controller for a second suspension system of the vehicle. The first controller is further configured to determine a second target displacement for the first suspension system of the vehicle based on the first target displacement and the input signal. The first controller is also configured to set a height of the first suspension system based on the second target displacement.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first suspension system; and

a first controller configured to

receive an input signal representing vehicle operating parameters,

receive a first target displacement determined by a second controller for a second suspension system of the vehicle,

determine a second target displacement for the first suspension system of the vehicle based on the first target displacement and the input signal, and

set a height of the first suspension system based on the second target displacement.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the second suspension system; and

the second controller, wherein the second controller is configured to

receive the input signal,

receive the second target displacement determined by the first controller, and

determine a third target displacement for the second suspension system based on the second target displacement and the input signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle operating parameters include a speed of the vehicle, and wherein the first controller is further configured to

compare the speed of the vehicle to a first threshold,

set the second target displacement to a higher target displacement when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the first threshold,

compare the speed of the vehicle to a second threshold, and

set the second target displacement to a lower target displacement when the speed of the vehicle is less than the second threshold.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first threshold is greater than the second threshold.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle operating parameters include a current state of a braking system of the vehicle, and wherein the first controller is further configured to

set the second target displacement to a higher target displacement when the current state indicates that brakes of the vehicle are applied, and

set the second target displacement to a lower target displacement when the current state indicates that the brakes of the vehicle are not applied.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle operating parameters include a status of an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle, and wherein the first controller is further configured to

set the second target displacement to a higher target displacement when the status indicates that the anti-lock braking system of the vehicle is activated, and

set the second target displacement to a lower target displacement when the status indicates that the anti-lock braking system of the vehicle is deactivated.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle operating parameters include a grade of a road, and wherein the first controller is further configured to

set the second target displacement to a higher target displacement when the grade of the road is negative, and

set the second target displacement to a lower target displacement when the grade of the road is positive.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle operating parameters include a speed of the vehicle, and wherein the first controller is further configured to

determine when the vehicle is decelerating based on the speed of the vehicle,

set the second target displacement to a higher target displacement when the vehicle is decelerating,

determine when the vehicle is accelerating based on the speed of the vehicle, and

set the second target displacement to a lower target displacement when the vehicle is accelerating.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle operating parameters include at least one selected from a group consisting of a roll rate of the vehicle, a yaw rate of the vehicle, and a surface friction of a road.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein second the target displacement determined by the second controller includes a target displacement determined by the second controller at a previous period of time.

11. A method of controlling a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, a command signal from a vehicle electronic control unit;

receiving, by the controller, a data signal from a sensor;

determining, by the controller, a control signal for an actuator based on the command signal from the vehicle electronic control unit and the data signal from the sensor;

transmitting, by the controller, the control signal to the actuator;

determining, by the controller, a status signal based on the control signal; and

transmitting, by the controller, the status signal to the vehicle electronic control unit,

wherein the command signal received from the vehicle electronic control unit is based on a previously-transmitted status signal from the controller.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

adjusting, by the actuator, a suspension system of the vehicle based on the control signal.

12. A method of controlling a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, a command signal from a vehicle electronic control unit;

receiving, by the controller, a data signal from a sensor;

determining, by the controller, a threshold based on the command signal;

determining, by the controller, a control signal for an actuator

based on the command signal from the vehicle electronics control unit and the data signal from the sensor, and

by comparing the data signal to the threshold;

transmitting, by the controller, the control signal to the actuator;

transmitting, by the controller, a status signal based on the control signal; and

transmitting, by the controller, the status signal to the vehicle electronic control unit.

14. An assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

an actuator, and

a controller configured to

receive a command signal from a vehicle electronic control unit,

receive a data signal from a sensor,

determine a control signal for the actuator based on the command signal from the vehicle electronic control unit and the data signal from the sensor, and

transmit the control signal to the actuator;

wherein the command signal received from the vehicle electronic control unit is based on a previously-transmitted status signal from the controller.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the controller communicates with the sensor over a direct connection.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the data signal is not received by the vehicle electronic control unit.

18. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the actuator is configured to adjust a suspension system of the vehicle based on the control signal.

19. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the sensor includes a stroke sensor.

17. An assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

an actuator; and

a controller configured to

receive a command signal from a vehicle electronic control unit,

receive a data signal from a sensor,

determine a threshold based on the command signal,

determine the control signal for the actuator

based on the command signal from the vehicle electronic control unit and the data signal from the sensor, and

by comparing the data signal to the threshold, and

transmit the control signal to the actuator.