Look ahead vehicle suspension system

• US 10,118,454 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2018
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enpulz LLC
• Original Assignee: Enpulz LLC
• Inventors: Bennett, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US16/012,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20180297437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 140 Days
• Field of Search: 701 37
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0165 to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01908 Acceleration or inclination sensors characterised by the use of gyroscopes B60G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01933 Velocity, e.g. relative velocity-displacement sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/821 Uneven, rough road sensing affecting vehicle body vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/823 Obstacle sensing
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/142 Visual Display Camera, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/162 Reducing road induced vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/91 Suspension Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/92 ABS - Brake Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/925 Airbag deployment systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/96 ASC - Assisted or power Steering control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/982 Active Cruise Control, e.g. DISTRONIC type
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/35 Road bumpiness, e.g. potholes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4041 Position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 : Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 : Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/22 : Suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/08 : Active safety systems predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision or attempting to minimise its consequences
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 : Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/14 : Adaptive cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 : Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18172 : Preventing, or responsive to skidding of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/02 : related to ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 : Systems determining the presence of a target

Abstract

A vehicle configured to move along a roadway that has an upcoming roadway concern located in front of a front wheel of the vehicle, the vehicle comprising: an independently adjustable suspension system; at least one capture element configured to capture image data corresponding to the upcoming roadway concern; and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to determine, based on current drive control function settings, and the captured image data and vehicle motion data: whether to automatically adjust the independently adjustable suspension system to accommodate an encounter with the upcoming roadway concern, whether to deliver for the driver an indication associated with the upcoming roadway concern, and whether to automatically modify at least one of the current drive control function settings to avoid the upcoming roadway concern.

Claims

1. A vehicle configured to move along a roadway that has an upcoming roadway concern located in front of a front wheel of the vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

an independently adjustable suspension system;

at least one capture element configured to capture image data corresponding to the upcoming roadway concern; and

processing circuitry, based on current drive control function settings, the captured image data and vehicle motion data, is configured to;

determine whether to automatically adjust the independently adjustable suspension system to accommodate an encounter with the upcoming roadway concern,

determine whether to deliver for the driver an indication associated with the upcoming roadway concern, and

determine whether to automatically modify at least one of the current drive control function settings to avoid the upcoming roadway concern.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the current drive control function settings comprises a front wheel angle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the current drive control function settings comprises at least one of a brake setting and an accelerator setting.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the automatic modification comprises an override of a driver'"'"'s current settings.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the independently adjustable suspension system comprises a first suspension element associated with a first wheel and a second suspension element associated with a second wheel, and the automatic adjustment comprises adjusting the first suspension element and the second suspension element separately.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry, based on the current drive control function settings, the captured image data and vehicle motion data, prepares to invoke a safety system to mitigate the encounter.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry, based on the current drive control function settings, the captured image data and vehicle motion data, activates a safety system to mitigate the encounter.

8. A vehicle configured to move along a roadway that has an upcoming roadway concern located in front of the vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

an independently adjustable suspension system;

at least one capture element configured to capture image data corresponding to the roadway;

processing circuitry, based on current drive control function settings, the captured image data and vehicle motion data, is configured to both;

determine whether to automatically adjust the independently adjustable suspension system to adapt to the roadway, and

determine, based on the upcoming roadway concern, whether to automatically modify at least one of the current drive control function settings.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the current drive control function settings comprises at least one of a front wheel angle, a braking setting and an acceleration setting.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the automatic modification comprises an override modification of a driver'"'"'s current settings.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the independently adjustable suspension system comprises a first suspension element associated with a first wheel and a second suspension element associated with a second wheel, and the automatic adjustment comprises adjusting the first suspension element and the second suspension element separately.

12. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry, based on the current drive control function settings, the captured image data and vehicle motion data, prepares a safety system.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry, based on the current drive control function settings, the captured image data and vehicle motion data, invokes a safety system.

14. A method performed by a vehicle that is configured to move along a roadway, the roadway having an upcoming roadway concern in front of the vehicle, the method comprising:

capturing first data, the first data comprises roadway image data located in front of the vehicle;

gathering second data, the second data comprises vehicle motion data;

accessing third data, the third data comprises current vehicle drive control function settings;

selectively adjusting an independently adjustable suspension system based on an analysis of the first data, second data, and third data; and

selectively modifying at least one of the current vehicle drive control function settings based on the analysis of the first data, second data, and third data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the current drive control function settings comprises at least one of a front wheel angle, a braking setting and an acceleration setting.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the selective modification comprises an override of a driver'"'"'s current settings.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the independently adjustable suspension system comprises a first suspension element associated with a first wheel and a second suspension element associated with a second wheel, and the selective adjustment comprises independently adjusting the first suspension element and the second suspension element differently.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising selectively invoking a safety procedure based on the analysis of the first data, second data, and third data.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the safety procedure comprises producing an indication for a driver.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the safety procedure comprises activating an air bag.