DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROACTIVE CONTROL OF A VIBRATION DAMPING SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE

• US 20140303844A1
• Filed: 04/07/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: SAEGER, Martin, SEEMANN, Michael, HOFFMANN, Uwe, KYMAELAEINEN, Toni
• Granted Patent: US 10,363,790 B2
• 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 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/02 Spring characteristics , e.g. mechanical springs and mechanical adjusting meansB60G17/005, B60G17/015 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• 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 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/20 Spring action or springs

Abstract

A vehicle can have a vibration damping system, which has a characteristic curve that is adjustable. To control the characteristic curve of the vibration damping system, information regarding a profile of a road surface in front of the vehicle is detected. At least a portion of the road surface profile can be classified according to a change in height and a length of the portion. The classification can be based on the detected information. Based on the classification of the road surface profile, the characteristic curve of the vibration damping system of the vehicle can be adjusted.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vibration damping system of a vehicle, a characteristic curve of the damping system being variably adjustable, the method comprising:

detecting information regarding a profile of a road surface in front of the vehicle;

classifying at least a portion of the road surface profile according to a change in height and a length of the portion based on the detected information; and

adjusting the characteristic curve of the damping system based on the classification of the road surface profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the classifying includes designating the portion of the road surface profile as one of a pothole, a short pothole, a positive slope, a negative slope, a short bump, a long bump, or normal road.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein when the designation of the portion is one of the positive slope, the negative slope, or the short bump, the adjusting the characteristic curve comprises:

setting the characteristic curve to have a minimum value of damping prior to and during a first period corresponding to interaction of a wheel of the vehicle with said portion; and

setting the characteristic curve to have a maximum value of damping during a second period after the interaction of the wheel of the vehicle with said portion.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising setting the characteristic curve to have a value of damping between said minimum and maximum values after the second period.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein when the designation of the portion is the pothole, the adjusting the characteristic curve comprises:

setting the characteristic curve to have a maximum value of damping prior to and during a first period corresponding to interaction of a wheel of the vehicle with said a leading edge of the pothole; and

setting the characteristic curve to have a minimum value of damping prior to during a second period after the first period and corresponding to interaction of the wheel of the vehicle with a trailing edge of the pothole.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising setting the characteristic curve to have a value between said minimum and maximum values after the second period.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting is performed when or immediately prior to a portion of the vehicle reaching a position of the road surface corresponding to the classified portion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting information comprises optical or acoustic detection.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting information comprises using an optical sensor or camera to acquire said information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting information comprises determining respective heights, z, and distances, x, from the vehicle of points of the profile of the road surface.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the detecting information further comprises generating an x-z profile that is evaluated by a control unit.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic curve is adjustable between a first characteristic curve and a second characteristic curve, the first characteristic curve resulting in a relatively harder damping than the second characteristic curve.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting and the adjusting are continuously repeated.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the characteristic curve comprises:

predicting movement of a body of the vehicle using a simplified model of the vehicle body and said detected information;

determining a necessary damping force based on the predicted movement; and

adjusting the characteristic curve to provide at east the necessary damping force.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the vibration damping system comprises a reactive control unit, and wherein the adjusting the characteristic curve comprises:

comparing an output signal of the reactive control unit to an output signal that is generated from said detected information;

adjusting a necessary damping force and/or the characteristic curve based on the comparing.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the vibration damping system comprises at least one spring element and/or damping element.

17. A vehicle vibration damping system comprising:

a detection unit configured to detect information about a profile of a road surface in front of a vehicle;

a classification unit operatively coupled to the detection unit and configured to classify at least a portion of the road surface profile based on detected height or length features of the profile; and

an activator configured to adjust damping responsively to the classification of the road surface profile.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the classification unit is configured to designate the portion of the road surface profile as one of a pothole, a short pothole, a positive slope, a negative slope, a short bump, a long bump, or normal road, and the activator is configured to determine a necessary damping current or damper/force level based on signals from the classification unit indicative of the designation.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the activator is configured to adjust damping between a maximum value and a minimum value.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising at least one spring element and/or damping element including one or more damper solenoid valves that sets the characteristic curve, the activator being configured to adjust a characteristic curve of the at least one spring element and/or damping element by sending a current to the damper solenoid valves.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the detection unit comprises an optical sensor or an acoustic sensor.

22. The system of claim 17, further comprising a reactive controller operatively coupled to the at least one spring element and/or damping element, the reactive controller being configured to adjust the characteristic curve of the at least one spring element and/or damping element responsively to forces or displacements of a body or wheel of the vehicle.

23. A vehicle vibration damping system comprising:

a control unit operatively coupled to a variable damping system, the control unit being configured to;

receive signals regarding detection of height or length features of a profile of a road surface in front of a vehicle;

classify at least a portion of the road surface profile based on the detected height or length features of the profile; and

modify damping responsively to the classification of the road surface profile.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the control unit is configured to designate the portion of the road surface profile as one of a pothole, a short pothole, a positive slope, a negative slope, a short bump, a long bump, or normal road.