DISTANCE DETERMINING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20070257833A1
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products
• Original Assignee: BFS Diversified Products LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Nordmeyer, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,733,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/118
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/27 wherein the fluid is a gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/018 characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/052 Pneumatic spring characteristics B60G17/048 takes precedence ; valves per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/42 Springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/176 Radio or audio sensitive means, e.g. Ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/758 using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal

Abstract

A distance determining system includes a first transceiver and a second transceiver spaced a distance from the first transceiver and inductively coupled thereto. The first transceiver outputs a first electromagnetic wave. The second transceiver receives the first electromagnetic wave and outputs a second electromagnetic wave, which is received by the first transceiver. One of the first and second transceivers determines a distance therebetween based at least in part upon the elapsed time of travel of the first and second electromagnetic waves. An air spring assembly can include such a distance indicating system. A method of determining a distance is also included.

Claims

1. A distance determining system for use with an associated fluid spring assembly, said distance indicating system comprising:

a first transceiver operative to output a first electromagnetic wave and receive a second electromagnetic wave;

a second transceiver spaced a distance from said first transceiver and operative to receive said first electromagnetic wave and output said second electromagnetic wave;

said first transceiver including a timer operative to determine an elapsed time having a relation to said output of said first electromagnetic wave from said first transceiver and said receipt of said second electromagnetic wave at said first transceiver, said timer operative to generate an elapsed time signal having a relation to said determined elapsed time.

2. A distance determining system according to claim 1, wherein said first transceiver includes a first antenna and said second transceiver includes a first antenna, and said first and second transceivers are magnetically inductively coupled through said first antennae.

3. A distance determining system according to claim 2, wherein said second transceiver includes a power circuit adapted to collect electrical energy from said first transceiver through said inductive coupling with said first transceiver and to periodically discharge at least a portion of said collected electrical energy to power said second transceiver.

4. A distance determining system according to claim 2, wherein said first transceiver includes a transmitter in communication with said first antenna of said first transceiver, said transmitter is operative to generate a first carrier wave signal for communication to said first antenna of said first transceiver for broadcasting as said first electromagnetic wave.

5. A distance determining system according to claim 4, wherein said first transceiver includes a second antenna for receiving said second electromagnetic wave and a receiver in communication with said second antenna.

6. A distance determining system according to claim 4, wherein said second transceiver includes a transmitter in communication with said first antenna thereof, said transmitter is operative to generate a second carrier wave for communication to said first antenna of said second transceiver for broadcasting as said second electromagnetic wave.

7. A distance determining system according to claim 4, wherein said second transceiver includes second antenna and a transmitter in communication with said second antenna, said transmitter is operative to generate a second carrier wave for communication to said second antenna of said second transceiver for broadcasting as said second electromagnetic wave.

8. A distance determining system according to claim 1, wherein said first transceiver includes a processing device and said timer is in communication with said processing device and is operative to communicate said elapsed time signal thereto, said processing device being operative to determine said distance based at least in part upon said elapsed time signal.

9. A distance determining system according to claim 8, wherein said first transceiver includes a first antenna, a transmitter in communication with said first antenna and operative to generate a first carrier wave signal for communication to said first antenna for broadcasting as said first electromagnetic wave, and said processing device of said first transceiver is in communication with said transmitter thereof and is operative to output a wave initiation signal to said transmitter of said first transceiver.

10. A distance determining system according to claim 9, wherein said first transceiver includes a second antenna receiving said second electromagnetic wave and a receiver in communication with said second antenna and said processing device, said receiver operative to generate an output signal having a relation to said second electromagnetic wave.

11. A distance determining system according to claim 10, wherein said second transceiver includes a second antenna and a transmitter in communication with said second antenna, said transmitter operative to generate a second carrier wave for communication to said second antenna of said second transceiver for broadcasting as said second electromagnetic wave.

12. A distance determining system according to claim 1, wherein said second transceiver includes a memory operative to store at least a first message, and said second transceiver is operative communicate said first message to said first transceiver along with said second electromagnetic wave.

13. A distance determining system according to claim 12, wherein said second transceiver includes a first antenna, a transmitter in communication with said first antenna and operative to generate a carrier wave signal including said first message for broadcasting as said second electromagnetic wave.

14. A distance indicating system according to claim 13, wherein said second transceiver includes a processing device in communication with said memory and said transmitter and operative to deliver said first message from said memory to said transmitter.

15. A fluid spring assembly comprising:

a first end member;

a second end member spaced a distance from said first end member;

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

a first transceiver supported along said first end member and including a timer, said first transceiver adapted to output a first electromagnetic wave; and

,

a second transceiver supported along said second end member and adapted to receive said first electromagnetic wave and output a second electromagnetic wave;

said first transceiver adapted to receive said second electromagnetic wave, and said timer adapted to determine an elapsed time between said first transceiver outputting said first electromagnetic wave and said first transceiver receiving said second electromagnetic wave.

16. A fluid spring assembly according to claim 15, wherein said timer is adapted to generate an elapsed time signal having a relation to said elapsed time, and said first transceiver includes a processing device in communication with said timer, said processing device adapted for receiving said elapsed time signal and determining said distance based at least in part upon said elapsed time signal.

17. A fluid spring assembly according to claim 16, wherein said first transceiver includes a transmitter adapted to generate a first carrier wave and an antenna in communication with said transmitter, said antenna adapted to broadcast said first carrierwave as said first electromagnetic wave.

18. A fluid spring assembly according to claim 17, wherein said processing device is in communication with said transmitter and communicates a time-zero signal to said transmitter for initiating said first carrier wave and broadcasting said first electromagnetic wave.

19. A fluid spring assembly according to claim 18, wherein said second transceiver includes a memory storing at least a first message, and said second transceiver is adapted to communicate said first message to said first transceiver using said second electromagnetic wave.

20. A fluid spring assembly according to claim 19, wherein said second transceiver includes an antenna, a transmitter in communication with said antenna and operative to generate a carrierwave signal including said first message for broadcasting as said second electromagnetic wave, and a processing device in communication with said memory and said transmitter and adapted to communicate said first message from said memory to said transmitter.

21. A method of determining a distance having a relation to spaced end members of an associated fluid spring assembly, said method comprising:

a) providing a first transceiver supported along an associated first end member and including a timer, said first transceiver operative to output a first electromagnetic wave and receive a second electromagnetic wave;

b) providing a second transceiver supported along an associated second end member, said second transceiver inductively coupled to said first transceiver and operative to receive said first electromagnetic wave and output said second electromagnetic wave;

c) starting said timer;

d) outputting said first electromagnetic wave from said first transceiver;

e) receiving said first electromagnetic wave at said second transceiver;

f) outputting said second electromagnetic wave from said second transceiver;

g) receiving said second electromagnetic wave at said first transceiver;

h) stopping said timer and determining an elapsed time therefrom; and

,

i) determining said distance based at least in part upon said elapsed time.

22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising transmitting a message along with said second electromagnetic wave from said second transceiver to said first transceiver and recovering said message from said second electromagnetic wave.

23. A method according to claim 22 further comprising determining if said message is valid prior to performing h).

24. A method according to claim 21 further comprising communicating said distance to at least one of an external device, an external system or an external network.

25. A method according to claim 21 further comprising inducing electrical energy in said second transceiver using said inductive coupling and selectively discharging said electrical energy to power said second transceiver.