Distance indicating system and method

• US 20070171036A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products
• Original Assignee: BFS Diversified Products LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Nordmeyer, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,420,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01933 Velocity, e.g. relative velocity-displacement sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/052 Pneumatic spring characteristics B60G17/048 takes precedence ; valves per se F16K
• 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 2401/174 Radar
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/176 Radio or audio sensitive means, e.g. Ultrasonic
• 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 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder

Abstract

A distance indicating system includes a transmitting portion, a transceiver spaced a distance from the transmitting portion, and a receiving portion supported in spaced relation to the transceiver. The transmitting portion broadcasting a first electromagnetic wave. The transceiver receiving the first electromagnetic wave and transmitting a second electromagnetic wave to the receiving portion. The transceiver is operative to modulate the second electromagnetic wave in relation to an input to communicate a signal, data or information, such as the distance between the transmitting portion and the transceiver, an acceleration input, a pressure level or a temperature reading.

Claims

1. A distance indicating system for an associated vehicle suspension system that includes an associated air spring assembly with first and second end members and an elastomeric wall disposed therebetween, said distance indicating system comprising:

a transmitter supported adjacent the first end member for broadcasting a first electromagnetic wave;

a transceiver supported adjacent said second end member at a distance from said transmitter, said transceiver operative to receive said first electromagnetic wave and to transmit a second electromagnetic wave, said transceiver operative to modulate said second electromagnetic wave in relation to said distance; and

,

a receiver supported in spaced relation to said transceiver and operative to receive said modulated second electromagnetic wave.

2. A distance indicating system according to claim 1, wherein said transceiver is a first transceiver and said distance indicating system includes a second transceiver comprising said transmitter and said receiver.

3. A distance indicating system according to claim 2, wherein and said second transceiver is operative to determine said distance based upon said modulation of said second electromagnetic wave.

4. A distance indicating system according to claim 2, wherein said first and second transceivers communicate one of data and information therebetween using said modulation of said second electromagnetic wave.

5. A distance indicating system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter and second transceiver are inductively coupled using said first electromagnetic wave.

6. A distance indicating system according to claim 1, wherein said transceiver modulates said second electromagnetic wave using one of amplitude modulation and frequency modulation.

7. A distance indicating system according to claim 1, wherein said first electromagnetic wave is transmitted using a first carrier wave having a first frequency and said second electromagnetic wave is transmitted using a second carrier wave having a second frequency.

8. A distance indicating system according to claim 7, wherein said first frequency is within a range of from about 30 kHz to about 300 MHz.

9. A distance indicating system according to claim 7, wherein said second frequency is within a range of from about 300 kHz to about 6 GHz.

10. A distance indicating system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said transmitter or said receiver is supported on the first end member and said transceiver is supported on the second end member.

11. An air spring assembly comprising:

a first end member;

a second end member spaced from said first end member;

a flexible spring wall supported between said first and second end members and at least partially forming a fluid chamber therebetween;

a first transceiver supported on said first end member, said first transceiver including a first antenna operative to transmit a first electromagnetic wave and a second antenna operative to receive a second electromagnetic wave; and

,

a second transceiver supported on said second end member at a distance from said first transceiver, said second transceiver including a first antenna operative to receive said first electromagnetic wave, a second antenna operative to transmit said second electromagnetic wave, and a processing device in electrical communication between said first and second antennae, said processing device receiving an electrical signal having a relation to said distance from said first antenna of said second transceiver and modulating a characteristic of said second electromagnetic wave in relation to said electrical signal.

12. An air spring according to claim 11, wherein said modulated characteristic of said second electromagnetic wave is one of amplitude and frequency.

13. An air spring according to claim 11, wherein said first transmitter includes a transmitting portion supported on said first end member and a receiving portion supported adjacent said first end member.

14. An air spring according to claim 11, wherein said first transceiver includes a transmitter in electrical communication with said first antenna thereof and said transmitter operates at a frequency of from about 30 kHz to about 300 MHz.

15. An air spring according to claim 11, wherein said first transceiver includes a receiver in electrical communication with said second antenna thereof and operative to generate an output signal having a relation to said distance.

16. An air spring according to claim 15, wherein said first transceiver includes a processing device in electrical communication with said receiver, said processing device receiving said output signal and determining said distance based on said output signal.

17. An air spring according to claim 11, wherein said second transceiver includes a transmitter in electrical communication with said second antenna thereof and said transmitter operates at a frequency of from about 300 kHz to about 6 GHz.

18. An air spring according to claim 17, wherein said second transceiver is inductively coupled to said first transceiver, and said second transceiver includes a power circuit in electrical communication with said first antenna and operative to collect electrical energy due to said inductive coupling with said first transceiver.

19. An air spring according to claim 11, wherein said second transceiver includes a sensor in electrical communication with said processing device, said sensor operative to output a sensor signal to said processing device indicative of an input acting on one of said second transceiver and said second end member.

20. An air spring according to claim 19, wherein said sensor is one of an accelerometer, a thermocouple and a pressure transducer.

21. An air spring according to claim 19, wherein said processing device is operative to modulate a characteristic of said second electromagnetic wave in relation to said distance and said sensor signal.

22. An air spring according to claim 11, wherein said processing device includes one of a voltage-to-frequency converter, a microprocessor, a microcontroller or a microcomputer.

23. A method of determining a distance between first and second end members of an air spring, said method comprising:

a) providing a transmitter supported adjacent the first end member and broadcasting a first electromagnetic wave;

b) providing a transceiver supported in spaced relation to said transmitter adjacent said second end member and transmitting a second electromagnetic wave;

c) inducing an electrical signal in said transceiver using said first electromagnetic wave;

d) modulating said second electromagnetic wave in relation to a distance between said transmitter and said transceiver; and

,

e) determining said distance between said transmitter and said transceiver based on said modulated second electromagnetic wave.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein d) includes modulating said second carrier wave using a modulating signal based upon one of amplitude modulation and frequency modulation to generate said modulated second electromagnetic wave.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein modulating said second carrier wave includes generating said modulating signal based upon said induced electrical signal.

26. A method according to claim 25 further comprising providing a receiver in spaced relation to said transceiver, said receiver receiving said modulated second electromagnetic wave and recovering said modulating signal therefrom.

27. A method according to claim 23, wherein said second transceiver includes a sensor outputting a sensor signal related to an input level, and d) includes modulating said second electromagnetic wave in relation to said distance and said sensor signal.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein e) includes determining said distance and said input level based on said modulated second electromagnetic wave.