Device and Method for Influencing the Spring Force Characteristic of an Active Chassis of a Motor Vehicle

• US 20100042292A1
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Schindler, Andreas, Streiter, Ralph
• Application Number:
  US12/438,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20100042292A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/37
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0165 to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/413 Hydraulic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/202 Piston speed; Relative velocity between vehicle body and wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/82 Ground surface
• 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 2500/104 continuous
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/09 Feedback signal
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/11 Feedforward signal
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/172 Weighting coefficients or factors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/182 Active control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/1873 Model Following
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/60 Signal noise suppression; Electronic filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/9123 Active Body Control [ABC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/914 Height Control System

Abstract

A device and a method for influencing the spring force characteristic of an active chassis of a motor vehicle are provided. A wheel spring device is arranged between a vehicle body and a wheel carrier of the motor vehicle. The spring force characteristic of the wheel spring device can be modified by controlling an actuating device. A sensor detects a prediction variable representing the vertical profile of a route ahead in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle. A control device controls the actuating device as a function of the detected prediction variable in such a way that the spring force characteristic of the wheel spring device is adapted in a predictive fashion to the course of the sensed vertical profile of the route ahead in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A device that influences a spring force characteristic of an active chassis of a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a wheel spring device arranged between a vehicle body and a wheel carrier of the motor vehicle, wherein the spring force characteristic of the wheel spring device is modifiable by controlling an actuating device;

a sensor that detects a prediction variable representing a vertical profile of a route ahead in a direction of travel of the motor vehicle; and

a control device that controls the actuating device as a function of the detected prediction variable such that the spring force characteristic of the wheel spring device is adapted in a predictive fashion to the sensed vertical profile of the route ahead in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle.

21. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein a spring travel available at the wheel spring device is modified in accordance with the sensed vertical profile by adapting the spring force characteristic.

22. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the sensor is a laser scanner that senses the vertical profile.

23. The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein precisely two laser scanners are arranged in a front region of the motor vehicle.

24. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the sensor is an image-producing radar system and/or a CCD camera.

25. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the detected prediction variable provides a three-dimensional representation of the sensed vertical profile.

26. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the control device detects the prediction variable by superimposing chronologically successively sensed vertical profiles.

27. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the control device selects, as a function of the detected prediction variable, a strategy for controlling the actuating device that is adapted to the sensed vertical profile.

28. The device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the strategy is selected as a function of a prediction horizon on which the prediction variable is based.

29. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the control device detects the prediction variable as a function of a calculated state variable representing a current state of movement of the vehicle body relative to the surface of the roadway being traveled on.

30. The device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the control device calculates the state variable based on a comparison of chronologically successively sensed vertical profiles.

31. The device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the state variable is a function of a pitch angle variable representing a pitching movement of the vehicle body with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body, a rolling angle variable representing a rolling movement of the vehicle body with respect to a transverse axis of the vehicle body, or a reciprocating movement variable representing a reciprocating movement of the vehicle body with respect to a vertical axis of the vehicle body.

32. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the control device detects a pilot control variable that is dependent on the prediction variable in order to control the actuating device.

33. The device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the control device modifies the pilot control variable as a function of the quality of the data of the prediction variable.

34. The device as claimed in claim 33, wherein the control device multiplies the pilot control variable by a quality factor that is dependent on the quality of the data of the prediction variable.

35. The device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the quality factor has a value in the range of 0 to 1 which increases with the quality of the data.

36. The device as claimed in claim 32, further comprising:

a controller that interacts with the control device and that adjusts the pilot control variable at the actuating device taking into account the current or expected state of movement of the vehicle body.

37. A method for influencing the spring force characteristic of an active chassis of a motor vehicle, comprising:

detecting a prediction variable corresponding to a vertical profile of a route ahead in a direction of travel of the motor vehicle; and

adapting the spring force characteristic of a wheel spring device, arranged between a vehicle body and a wheel carrier of the motor vehicle, of the active chassis in a predictive fashion to a course of the sensed vertical profile of the route ahead in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle as a function of the detected prediction variable.

38. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a device that influences a spring force characteristic of an active chassis of the motor vehicle, the device comprising

a wheel spring device arranged between a vehicle body and a wheel carrier of the motor vehicle, wherein the spring force characteristic of the wheel spring device is modifiable by controlling an actuating device;

a sensor that detects a prediction variable representing a vertical profile of a route ahead in a direction of travel of the motor vehicle; and

a control device that controls the actuating device as a function of the detected prediction variable such that the spring force characteristic of the wheel spring device is adapted in a predictive fashion to the sensed vertical profile of the route ahead in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle.