Active Suspension System

• US 20140095022A1
• Filed: 10/03/2012
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Antonio Sangermano II
• Inventors: Sangermano, Antonio II, Hertzberg, Marc, Cashman, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US13/644,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20140095022A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/37
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/005 Suspension locking arrangements for retractable wheels B62D61/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0157 non-fluid unit, e.g. electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/46 Means for locking the suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/011 Modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/501 actively controlled suspension, e.g. electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/03 using magnetic or electromagnetic means F16F9/53, F16F15/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/0016 Control of angular speed of one shaft without controlling the prime mover

Abstract

An active suspension system for a sprung mass. The suspension system has an electromagnetic motor that produces force on the sprung mass and that is powered by power from a power source. The motor has an armature, and a stator with coils. Motor drive electronics include a power amplifier that delivers power to the motor coils; the motor drive electronics are physically separate from the motor. There is a non-volatile digital memory circuit that stores motor commutation calibration data that represents a mapping of coil input current to resulting motor force output; the memory circuit is integrated with the motor. There can also be a clamp circuit that selectively provides actuator damping by electrically connecting the coils together; when present the clamp circuit is also integrated with the motor.

Claims

1. An active suspension system for a sprung mass, comprising:

an electromagnetic motor that produces force on the sprung mass and that is powered by power from a power source, the motor comprising an armature and a stator with coils;

motor drive electronics comprising a power amplifier that delivers power to the motor coils, wherein the motor drive electronics are physically separate from the motor; and

a non-volatile digital memory circuit that stores motor commutation calibration data comprising a mapping of coil input current to resulting motor force output, wherein the memory circuit is integrated with the motor.

2. The active suspension system of claim 1 wherein the motor drive electronics are responsive to the memory circuit, such that the power amplifier outputs power that has been previously determined to produce a desired motor output force.

3. The active suspension system of claim 2 further comprising a digital interface device that is integrated with the motor, wherein the memory circuit is adapted to communicate with the motor drive electronics through the digital interface device.

4. The active suspension system of claim 1 further comprising a clamp circuit that selectively provides actuator damping by electrically connecting the coils together.

5. The active suspension system of claim 4 wherein the clamp circuit is integrated with the motor.

6. The active suspension system of claim 5 wherein the clamp circuit comprises solid-state switches.

7. The active suspension system of claim 6 wherein the solid-state switches are arranged such that they are in a normally on state that clamps the motor, wherein the on state is disabled during electrical operation of the motor.

8. The active suspension of claim 7 further comprising a battery integrated with the motor that selectively provides backup power to the clamp circuit.

9. The active suspension system of claim 5 wherein the motor drive electronics further comprise a processor that receives input from the memory circuit and the clamp circuit and outputs control signals that control the power amplifier and the clamp circuit.

10. The active suspension system of claim 9 wherein the power amplifier is enabled to deliver power to the motor coils only when the clamp circuit communicates to the processor that the motor is unclamped.

11. The active suspension system of claim 10 wherein the clamp circuit comprises clamp logic, wherein the processor outputs control signals that comprise a clamp release high and a clamp release low and these control signals are provided to the clamp logic.

12. The active suspension system of claim 11 wherein the clamp logic interprets the control signals, determines the desired clamp state based on these control signals, and outputs a clamp state control signal to the clamp circuit that sets the clamp state such that the clamp is disabled only when the correct set of control signals are received.

13. The active suspension system of claim 12 wherein the clamp state is confirmed via a clamp status signal that is provided from the clamp logic to the processor, wherein the processor in response then enables or inhibits the power amplifier.

14. The active suspension system of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic motor is a linear motor and the sprung mass comprises a suspended device located in a conveyance.

15. The active suspension system of claim 14 wherein the conveyance comprises a motor vehicle and the suspended device comprises a passenger seat of the motor vehicle.

16. The active suspension system of claim 1 wherein the motor is part of a motor assembly that comprises a motor housing, and wherein the memory circuit is either added to an existing printed circuit board of the motor assembly or located within or attached to the motor housing.

17. An active suspension system for a passenger seat located in a motor vehicle, comprising:

an electromagnetic linear motor that produces force on the passenger seat and that is powered by power from a power source, the motor comprising an armature and a stator with coils;

a motor drive electronics module comprising a power amplifier that delivers power to the motor coils, wherein the motor drive electronics module is physically separate from the motor;

a non-volatile digital memory circuit that stores motor commutation calibration data comprising a mapping of coil input current to resulting motor force output, wherein the memory circuit is integrated with the motor;

wherein the motor drive electronics module is responsive to the memory circuit, such that the power amplifier outputs power that has been previously determined to produce a desired motor output force;

a clamp circuit that selectively provides actuator damping by electrically connecting the coils together, wherein the clamp circuit is integrated with the motor;

wherein the motor drive electronics module further comprises a processor that receives input from the memory circuit and the clamp circuit and outputs control signals that control the power amplifier and the clamp circuit, wherein the power amplifier is enabled to deliver power to the motor coils only when the clamp circuit communicates to the processor that the motor is unclamped.

18. The active suspension system of claim 17 wherein the clamp circuit comprises clamp logic, wherein the processor outputs control signals that comprise a clamp release high and a clamp release low and these control signals are provided to the clamp logic, wherein the clamp logic interprets the control signals, determines the desired clamp state based on these control signals, and outputs a clamp state control signal to the clamp circuit that sets the clamp state such that the clamp is disabled only when the correct set of control signals are received, and wherein the clamp state is confirmed via a clamp status signal that is provided from the clamp logic to the processor, wherein the processor in response then enables or inhibits the power amplifier.

19. The active suspension system of claim 18 further comprising a digital interface device that is integrated with the motor and a battery integrated with the motor that selectively provides backup power to the clamp circuit, wherein the memory circuit is adapted to communicate with the motor drive electronics through the digital interface device, wherein the clamp circuit comprises solid-state switches that are arranged such that they are in a normally on state that clamps the motor, wherein the on state is disabled during electrical operation of the motor, wherein the motor is part of a motor assembly that comprises a motor housing, and wherein the memory circuit is either added to an existing printed circuit board of the motor assembly or located within or attached to the motor housing.