Vehicle systems and method

• US 20060064223A1
• Filed: 09/19/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Darrell Voss
• Original Assignee: Darrell Voss
• Inventors: Voss, Darrell
• Application Number:
  US11/228,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064223A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/52
• 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

A multiple parameter control system for a vehicle includes sensors to measure the control parameter shifts in relation to the vehicle, a controller to determine outputs, a dynamically adjustable vehicle system with controllable functions, and a power supply. The sensors measure the control parameter shifts and create representative input signals that are sent to the controller. The controller determines the appropriate outputs in response to the relative control parameter shift input signals received. The dynamically adjustable vehicle system with controllable functions receives the controller output and performs a dynamic control function adjustment to improve a vehicle ride characteristic.

Claims

1. A vehicle for transporting a user and or a payload, said vehicle comprised of two or more dynamic attached controllable function means for operation, said vehicle having a plurality of parameter sensing devices for producing signals indicative of the change in said parameters, a control system device responsive to said signals by controlling output signals to said dynamic attached controllable function means for operation to improve one or more ride characteristics of said vehicle.

2. The vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein said control system converts said parameters sensing device inputs into output signals.

3. The vehicle defined in claim 1 wherein said parameter shift sensing devices are included:

selected singly or in combinations thereof from accelerometers, strain gauges, single-axis gyroscopes, multi-axis gyroscopes, capacitive extentiometers, inclinometers, load cells, pressure gauges, flow gauges, inertial shift sensors, volumetric gage, viscosity gages, rotational gages, positional sensors, magnetic field sensors, optical sensors, laser sensors, sonar sensors, ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors, velocity sensors, timer sensors, cycle counter sensors, tactile contact sensors, light emitting diode sensors, altimeters, temperature sensors, Hall'"'"'s effect sensors, voice activated sensors, heart rate sensors, breathing rate sensors, body temperature sensors, transducer sensors, and satellite global positioning systems (GPS), wherein wired and wireless sensor systems are included and;

a) the parameter shift sensing devices may be mounted on said vehicle,

b) the parameter shift sensing devices may be mounted on said user and or payload,

c) the parameter shift sensing devices may be mounted off said vehicle within communication distance for the said devices by wireless communication.

4. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said vehicle is user and or motor powered via electricity, internal combustion—

including gasoline, hydrogen, and ethanol, solar, wind, steam, fuel cell, gravity, hydraulic, turbine engine, and combinations therein;

including bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, scooters, skateboards, tricycles, electric bicycles, all terrain recreational vehicles (ATV), snow bicycles, snowmobiles, unicycles, water sport vehicles, airplanes, and stationary bicycles.

5. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said vehicle having vehicular system dynamic attached controllable function means, the said dynamic attached controllable function means receive output signals via mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic means from said control system.

6. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said vehicle having parameter shifts sensing means signal output via mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic means to said control system.

7. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said vehicle having a control system connected to the sensing means and processing the parameter shift direction and rate of shift inputs to produce predetermined corresponding output signals for said vehicular system dynamic attached controllable function means.

8. The invention in claim 1 wherein said vehicle uses an electronic circuit supplied by a power supply.

9. The invention in claim 1 wherein said vehicle having a control system capable of sensor input, manual input, and pre-programmed input (memory and removable storage devices).

10. The invention in claim 1 wherein said vehicle has two or more attached dynamic system control function means that includes:

front suspension, rear suspension, front brake, rear brake, front drive gear, rear drive gear, adjustable structural assembly, energy absorption system, safety restraint device, crash avoidance system, data collection device, data display device, steering control, lean control, power output, power input control, warning light system, operating light system, imaging system, tilt adjustment system, acoustic output system, radio transmitter, infrared output, spring rate adjust system, damping rate adjust system, damping travel length adjust system, spring travel length adjust device, visual output device, drive ratio device, drive force control device, drive clutch device, braking system devices, power generation devices, power assist ratio devices, power storage devices, tactile feedback devices, adjustable structural ratio devices, and regenerative braking devices.

11. The control system of claim 1 wherein the conditions sensed include:

user or payload mass shift, center of gravity of user or payload shift, velocity shift, terrain control loop shift, suspension control loop shift, pre-programmed baseline shift, angle of inclination of device shift, angle of inclination of the user shift, user contact point to vehicle shift, vehicle frame geometry shift, interactive dynamic function feedback loop shift, weather condition shift, length of operation shift, group or individual use shift, ground surface condition shift, physical training guideline shift, time shift;

includes seconds, minutes, hours, day of week, and month, torque load shift, frame load shift, energy output shift, braking energy shift, wheel loading shift;

as in cornering, vehicle geometry shift, ride height shift;

suspension and/or vehicle geometry change, vibration shift, training program system shift, and light intensity shift;

includes day, night, shade, dusk.

12. The invention in claim 1 wherein the control system includes control parameter bias signals from pre-programmed inputs, regional external inputs, user selection inputs, and timer inputs.

13. The invention in claim 1 wherein the control system includes control parameter bias input signals from stored user history data, stored user performance data, and stored route history data.

14. The invention in claim 1 wherein said control system includes a logic circuit.

15. The invention in claim 1 wherein the control system having an input to feed data to control said parameters during vehicle operation for user selectable bias control, for historical data capture, for performance bias, for racing course comparison evaluation, for product evaluation, for game data evaluation, and team training data capture.

16. The invention in claim 1 wherein said control system controls one or more secondary control systems and or logic control circuits directly, indirectly, sequentially, in parallel, or combinations thereof.

17. A method for improving one or more ride characteristics of a vehicle which includes a user and or a payload comprising the steps of:

a) sensing the change in one or more parameters relative to said vehicle,

b) producing output control signals indicative of the change in the parameters; and

c) controlling one or more physical characteristics of said vehicle in response to said output control signals.

18. A method for improving the ride characteristics for a vehicle transporting a user and or a payload comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining from a set of sensors signals denoting the parameters of said user and or payload in relation to said vehicle,

b) determining from said parameter signals a set of estimated parameter shift values in relation to said vehicle,

c) deriving output control signals from said set of parameter value signals, and

d) applying the output control signals to two or more vehicle system controllable functions to affect the ride characteristic of said vehicle.

19. In a wheeled vehicle, having an adjustable structural frame assembly, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of sensors for sensing various conditions affecting the ride characteristics of said wheeled vehicle, and producing signals corresponding thereto, a controller connected to receive said signals and produce control signals for said adjustable structural frame assembly to dynamically adjust the ride characteristics of said wheeled vehicle.

20. The wheeled vehicle of claim 19 wherein the conditions sensed include:

speed of travel, center of gravity of the user and/or payload and mass shift relative to said vehicle, level, up or down terrain, curves, terrain conditions (paved, gravel and/or washboard terrain), weather conditions (wind with or against, sun position).

21. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 19 wherein said adjustable structural frame assembly includes means controlled by said controller for dynamically adjusting the geometry of said vehicle to adjust the ride characteristics thereof.

22. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 19 including an adjustable suspension system and means for connecting said adjustable suspension system to said controller to dynamically adjust said adjustable suspension system and the ride characteristics of said vehicle.

23. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 19 including an adjustable transmission and means for connecting said adjustable transmission to said controller to dynamically adjust said adjustable transmission and the ride characteristics of said vehicle.

24. The adjustable transmission defined in claim 23 wherein the adjustable transmission is adjustable via chain links, gear meshes, toothed belts, rotary shafts, toroidal fluid mechanism, pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical means or combinations thereof.

25. In a wheeled vehicle, having an adjustable structural frame assembly, adjustable suspension system, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of sensors for sensing various conditions affecting the ride characteristics of said wheeled vehicle, and producing signals corresponding thereto, a controller connected to receive said signals and produce control signals for said adjustable structural frame assembly, and said adjustable suspension system to dynamically adjust the ride characteristics of said wheeled vehicle.

26. The wheeled vehicle of claim 25 wherein the conditions sensed include:

speed of travel, center of gravity of the user and/or payload and mass shift relative to said vehicle, level, up or down terrain, curves, terrain conditions (paved, gravel and/or washboard terrain), weather conditions (wind with or against, sun position).

27. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 25 wherein said suspension system includes a spring having a dynamically adjustable spring rate and said controller controls said spring rate.

28. The spring defined in claim 27 is comprised of;

metallic coil spring, non-metallic coil spring, spring washer stack, rubber, gas cylinder/piston assembly, microcellular urethane, a gas filled rubber bladder, and combinations thereof.

29. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 25 wherein said suspension system includes a damper having a dynamically adjustable damping rate and said controller dynamically controls the damping rate of said adjustable rate damper.

30. The damper defined in claim 29 is comprised of;

gas/fluid cylinder/piston assembly, gas/fluid cylinder/piston assembly with reservoir, gas/fluid cylinder/piston assembly with internal floating piston, gas/fluid cylinder/piston assembly reservoir and internal floating piston, open-bath cylinder assembly, and combinations thereof.

31. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 25 wherein said suspension system includes a spring having a dynamically adjustable travel length and said controller dynamically controls said spring travel length.

32. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 25 wherein said suspension system includes a damper having a dynamically adjustable damper length and said controller dynamically controls said damper travel length.

33. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 25 wherein said suspension system includes a compression rate control having a compression rate control adjusting device dynamically controlled by said controller.

34. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 25 wherein said suspension system includes a rebound rate control having a rebound rate control adjusting device dynamically controlled by said controller.

35. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 25 wherein said adjustable structural frame assembly includes means controlled by said controller for dynamically adjusting the geometry of said vehicle to adjust the ride characteristics thereof.

36. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 25 including an adjustable transmission and means for connecting said adjustable transmission to said controller to dynamically adjust said adjustable transmission and the ride characteristics of said vehicle.

37. In a wheeled vehicle, having an adjustable structural frame assembly, adjustable front and rear suspension systems, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of sensors for sensing various conditions affecting the ride characteristics of said wheeled vehicle, and producing signals corresponding thereto, a controller connected to receive said signals and produce control signals for said adjustable structural frame assembly, and said adjustable front and rear suspension systems to dynamically adjust the ride characteristics of said wheeled vehicle.

38. The wheeled vehicle of claim 37 wherein the conditions sensed include:

speed of travel, center of gravity of the user and/or payload and mass shift relative to said vehicle, level, up or down terrain, curves, terrain conditions (paved, gravel and/or washboard terrain), weather conditions (wind with or against, sun position).

39. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 37 wherein said suspension system includes a spring having a dynamically adjustable spring rate and said controller controls said spring rate.

40. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 37 wherein said suspension system includes a damper having a dynamically adjustable damping rate and said controller dynamically controls the damping rate of said adjustable rate damper.

41. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 37 wherein said suspension system includes a compression rate control having a compression rate control adjusting device dynamically controlled by said controller.

42. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 37 wherein said suspension system includes a rebound rate control having a rebound rate control adjusting device dynamically controlled by said controller.

43. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 37 wherein said suspension system includes a spring having a dynamically adjustable travel length and said controller dynamically controls said spring travel length.

44. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 37 wherein said suspension system includes a damper having a dynamically adjustable damper length and said controller dynamically controls said damper travel length.

45. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 37 wherein said adjustable structural frame assembly includes means controlled by said controller for dynamically adjusting the geometry of said vehicle to adjust the ride characteristics thereof.

46. The wheeled vehicle defined in claim 37 including an adjustable transmission and means for connecting said adjustable transmission to said controller to dynamically adjust said adjustable transmission and the ride characteristics of said vehicle.

47. In a two wheeled vehicle, having an adjustable structural frame assembly, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of sensors for sensing various conditions affecting the ride characteristics of said wheeled vehicle, and producing signals corresponding thereto, a controller connected to receive said signals and produce control signals for said adjustable structural frame assembly to dynamically adjust the ride characteristics of said two wheeled vehicle.

48. The two wheeled vehicle of claim 47 wherein the conditions sensed include:

speed of travel, center of gravity of the user and/or payload and mass shift relative to said vehicle, level, up or down terrain, curves, terrain conditions (paved, gravel and/or washboard terrain), weather conditions (wind with or against, sun position).

49. The two wheeled vehicle defined in claim 47 wherein said adjustable structural frame assembly includes means controlled by said controller for dynamically adjusting the geometry of said vehicle to adjust the ride characteristics thereof.

50. The two wheeled vehicle defined in claim 47 including an adjustable transmission and means for connecting said adjustable transmission to said controller to dynamically adjust said adjustable transmission and the ride characteristics of said vehicle.

51. The two wheeled vehicle defined in claim 47 including an adjustable suspension system and means for connecting said adjustable suspension system to said controller to dynamically adjust said adjustable suspension system and the ride characteristics of said vehicle.

52. In a two wheeled vehicle, having an adjustable structural frame assembly, adjustable front and rear suspension systems, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of sensors for sensing various conditions affecting the ride characteristics of said two wheeled vehicle, and producing signals corresponding thereto, a controller connected to receive said signals and produce control signals for said adjustable structural assembly, and said adjustable front and rear suspension systems to dynamically adjust the ride characteristics of said two wheeled vehicle.

53. The two wheeled vehicle of claim 52 wherein the conditions sensed include:

speed of travel, center of gravity of the user and/or payload and mass shift relative to said vehicle, level, up or down terrain, curves, terrain conditions (paved, gravel and/or washboard terrain), weather conditions (wind with or against, sun position).

54. The two wheeled vehicle defined in claim 52 wherein said suspension system includes a spring having a dynamically adjustable spring rate and said controller controls said spring rate.

55. The two wheeled vehicle defined in claim 52 wherein said suspension system includes a damper having a dynamically adjustable damping rate and said controller dynamically controls the damping rate of said adjustable rate damper

56. The two wheeled vehicle defined in claim 52 wherein said suspension system includes a compression rate control having a compression rate control adjusting device dynamically controlled by said controller.

57. The two wheeled vehicle defined in claim 52 wherein said suspension system includes a rebound rate control having a rebound rate control adjusting device dynamically controlled by said controller.

58. The two wheeled vehicle defined in claim 52 wherein said suspension system includes a spring having a dynamically adjustable travel length and said controller dynamically controls said spring travel length.

59. The two wheeled vehicle defined in claim 52 wherein said suspension system includes a damper having a dynamically adjustable damper length and said controller dynamically controls said damper travel length.

60. The two wheeled vehicle defined in claim 52 wherein said adjustable structural frame assembly includes means controlled by said controller for dynamically adjusting the geometry of said vehicle to adjust the ride characteristics thereof.

61. The two wheeled vehicle defined in claim 52 including an adjustable transmission and means for connecting said adjustable transmission to said controller to dynamically adjust said adjustable transmission and the ride characteristics of said vehicle.

62. The two wheeled vehicle defined in claim 52 including means connected to said controller to manually input data into said controller for affecting the ride characteristics of said vehicle.

63. A vehicle for transporting a user and or a payload, said vehicle comprised of two or more dynamic attached function means for operation, said vehicle having a plurality of energy efficiency bandwidth parameter sensing devices for producing signals indicative of the change in said parameter, a control system device responsive to said signals by controlling output signals to said dynamic attached function means for operation to improve one or more ride characteristics of said vehicle.

64. The invention in claim 63 wherein the energy efficiency bandwidth parameter sensed includes:

speed of travel, center of gravity of the user and/or payload and mass shift relative to said vehicle, level, up or down terrain, curves, terrain conditions (paved, gravel and/or washboard terrain), weather conditions (wind with or against, sun position).

65. The invention in claim 63 wherein the dynamic attached function means for operation includes adjustable structural frame assembly, adjustable suspension, and adjustable drive ratio.

66. A vehicle for transporting a user and or a payload, said vehicle comprised of two or more dynamic attached controllable function means for operation, said vehicle having a plurality of parameter sensing devices for producing signals indicative of the change in said parameters, a logic control system device responsive to said signals by controlling output signals to said dynamic attached controllable function means to improve one or more ride characteristics of said vehicle.

67. The invention in claim 66 wherein said logic control system includes a logic circuit powered by the user and or payload to vehicle contact and vehicle to terrain contact forces.