Distance indicating system and method

• US 20060157900A1
• Filed: 01/04/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Co LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BFS Diversified Products LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Nordmeyer, Daniel L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,490,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 267/64.210
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/27 wherein the fluid is a gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/111 on pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/17 Magnetic/Electromagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2230/08 Sensor arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/05 the flexible wall being of the rolling diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/758 using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder

Abstract

A distance indicating system includes a transceiver broadcasting an electromagnetic wave and a transponder spaced a distance from the transceiver that receives the electromagnetic wave. The transponder is adapted to induce a modulation of the electromagnetic wave in relation to the distance between the transceiver and the transponder. A method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A distance indicating system for an associated air spring used on an associated vehicle, the associated air spring including first and second support members secured together by an elastomeric wall such that the support members move relative to one another in response to a load applied to the associated air spring, said distance indicating system comprising:

a transceiver for broadcasting an electromagnetic wave; and

, a transponder spaced a distance from said transceiver and causing a modulation of said wave in relation to said distance;

one of said transceiver and said transponder supported on one of the first and second support members.

2. A distance indicating system according to claim 1, wherein said transponder induces one of a voltage change and a current change in said transceiver resulting in said modulation of said wave.

3. A distance indicating system according to claim 1, wherein said transceiver and said transponder include antennae and are magnetically inductively coupled through said antennae.

4. A distance indicating system according to claim 3, wherein said transponder includes a power circuit adapted to collect electrical energy from said transceiver through said inductive coupling and periodically discharge said electrical potential energy to power said transponder.

5. A distance indicating system according to claim 1, wherein said modulation is in proportional relation to said distance.

6. A distance indicating system according to claim 5, wherein said transponder includes a first antenna, a power circuit and a shunt circuit in electrical communication with said first antenna.

7. A distance indicating system according to claim 6, wherein said transceiver includes a second antenna, a carrier wave generating circuit and a modulation detecting circuit in electrical communication with said second antenna.

8. A distance indicating system according to claim 1, wherein said modulation is used to communicate data from said transponder to said transceiver with said data having a corresponding relation to said distance.

9. A distance indicating system according to claim 8, wherein said transponder includes a first antenna, a power circuit and a shunt circuit in electrical communication with said first antenna.

10. A distance indicating system according to claim 9, wherein said transponder includes a processor in electrical communication with said first antenna, said power circuit and said shunt circuit.

11. A distance indicating system according to claim 10, wherein said transponder includes a microcontroller and said microcontroller includes said processor.

12. An air spring assembly comprising:

an upper end member;

a lower end member in spaced relation to said upper end member;

a flexible spring member supported between said upper and lower end members;

a transceiver supported on one of said upper end member and said lower end member, said transceiver broadcasting an electromagnetic carrier wave; and

,

a transponder supported on the other of said upper end member and said lower end member, said transponder adapted to cause a modulation of said carrier wave in relation to a distance between said transceiver and said transponder.

13. An air spring assembly according to claim 12, wherein said carrier wave is broadcast at a first amplitude and said transponder is operable to induce a second amplitude of said carrier wave.

14. An air spring assembly according to claim 12, wherein said transceiver and said transponder include antennae and are magnetically inductively coupled through said antennae.

15. An air spring assembly according to claim 12, wherein said transponder includes an antenna, a power circuit in electrical communication with said antenna and a shunt circuit in electrical communication with one of said power circuit and said antenna.

16. An air spring assembly according to claim 15, wherein said transponder includes a processor in electrical communication with one of said power circuit and said shunt circuit.

17. An air spring assembly according to claim 16, wherein said transponder includes a scaler in electrical communication with at least one of said antenna and said processor.

18. A method of determining a distance between first and second structural members interconnected by a flexible spring of an air suspension assembly, said method comprising steps of:

a) providing a transceiver supported on the first structural member;

b) providing a transponder supported in spaced relation to the transceiver;

c) broadcasting an electromagnetic wave;

d) causing a modulation of said wave in relation to a distance between said transceiver and said transponder;

e) detecting a magnitude of said modulation of said wave; and

,

f) determining said distance between said transceiver and said transponder.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein step d) includes causing said modulation of said wave using magnetic inductive coupling between said transponder and said transceiver.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein step f) is performed prior to steps d) and e), and said method further comprises steps of generating data corresponding to said distance and communicating said data to said transceiver.