Motor vehicle level control circuit

• US 4,105,216 A
• Filed: 04/18/1977
• Issued: 08/08/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Graham, Donald E., Long, Paul J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Application Number:
  US05/788,271
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 280/6 R, 280/6 H, 280/6.1, 280/707, 267/65 D
• US Class Current: 280/6.158
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/018 characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01933 Velocity, e.g. relative velocity-displacement sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/26 Resistance type, e.g. as level indicator

Abstract

Electrical circuits responsive to a logic signal pair produced when the sprung mass of a motor vehicle is above a selected trim band and to another logic signal pair produced when the sprung mass of the vehicle is below the trim band produce respective sprung mass high and sprung mass low signals for a leveling system of the type operative to level the sprung mass of the vehicle within a predetermined trim band in response thereto. A delay circuit effective to inhibit the production of both the sprung mass high and sprung mass low signals for a predetermined time duration is provided to prevent unnecessary operation of the leveling system and respective accumulator circuits inhibit the production of each the sprung mass high and sprung mass low signals at the conclusion of respective predetermined accumulated periods of time.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle level control circuit for use with motor vehicle leveling systems of the type operative to level the sprung mass of the motor vehicle within a predetermined trim band in response to respective electrical signals indicating the sprung mass to be above and below the trim band comprising:

means for producing a first logic signal pair when the sprung mass is above the trim band and another second logic signal pair when the sprung mass is below the trim band;

first circuit means responsive to said first logic signal pair for producing a sprung mass high signal;

second circuit means responsive to said second logic signal pair for producing a sprung mass low signal;

means responsive to said sprung mass high signal for effecting the lowering of said sprung mass;

means responsive to said sprung mass low signal for effecting the raising of said sprung mass;

third circuit means responsive to said sprung mass high signal for accumulating the time said sprung mass high signal is present and for inhibiting the production of said sprung mass high signal at the conclusion of a predetermined time period whereby said means responsive to said sprung mass high signal is disabled at the conclusion of said predetermined time period; and

fourth circuit means responsive to said sprung mass low signal for accumulating the time said sprung mass low signal is present and for inhibiting the production of said sprung mass low signal at the conclusion of a predetermined time period whereby said means responsive to said sprung mass low signal is disabled at the conclusion of said predetermined time period.

2. A motor vehicle level control circuit for use with motor vehicle leveling systems of the type operative to level the sprung mass of the motor vehicle within a predetermined trim band in response to respective electrical signals indicating the sprung mass to be above and below the trim band comprising:

means for producing a first logic signal pair when the sprung mass is above the trim band and another second logic signal pair when the sprung mass is below the trim band;

first circuit means responsive to said first logic signal pair for producing a sprung mass high signal;

second circuit means responsive to said second logic signal pair for producing a sprung mass low signal;

delay circuit means effective to inhibit the production of both said sprung mass high and sprung mass low signals for a predetermined time duration;

means responsive to said sprung mass high signal for effecting the lowering of said sprung mass;

means responsive to said sprung mass low signal for effecting the raising of said sprung mass;

third circuit means responsive to said sprung mass high signal for accumulating the time said sprung mass high signal is present and for inhibiting the production of said sprung mass high signal at the conclusion of a predetermined time period whereby said means responsive to said sprung mass high signal is disabled at the conclusion of said predetermined time period; and

fourth circuit means responsive to said sprung mass low signal for accumulating the time said sprung mass low signal is present and for inhibiting the production of said sprung mass low signal at the conclusion of a predetermined time period whereby said means responsive to said sprung mass low signal is disabled at the conclusion of said predetermined time period.

3. A motor vehicle level control circuit for use with motor vehicle leveling systems of the type operative to level the sprung mass of the motor vehicle within a predetermined trim band in response to respective electrical signals indicating the sprung mass to be above and below the trim band comprising:

and optical coupler arrangement of the type including a pair of light sources and a pair of photosensitive signal generating devices, each optically coupled to a respective one of said pair of light sources for producing a first logic signal pair when the sprung mass is above the trim band, a second other logic signal pair when the sprung mass is below the trim band and a third other logic signal pair when the sprung mass is within the trim band;

first circuit means responsive to said first logic signal pair for producing a sprung mass high signal;

second circuit means responsive to said second logic signal pair for producing a sprung mass low signal;

delay circuit means effective to inhibit the production of both said sprung mass high and sprung mass low signals for a predetermined time duration;

means responsive to said sprung mass high signal for effecting the lowering of said sprung mass; and

means responsive to said sprung mass low signal for effecting the raising of said sprung mass.

4. A motor vehicle level control circuit for use with motor vehicle leveling systems of the type operative to level the sprung mass of the motor vehicle within a predetermined trim band in response to respective electrical signals indicating the sprung mass to be above and below the trim band comprising:

means for producing a first logic signal pair when the sprung mass is above the trim band and another second logic signal pair when the sprung mass is below the trim band;

first circuit means responsive to said first logic signal pair for producing a sprung mass high signal;

second circuit means responsive to said second logic signal pair for producing a sprung mass low signal;

delay circuit means effective to inhibit the production of both said sprung mass high and sprung mass low signals for a predetermined time duration;

means responsive to said sprung mass high signal for effecting the lowering of said sprung mass;

means responsive to said sprung mass low signals for effecting the raising of said sprung mass;

third circuit means responsive to said sprung mass high signal for accumulating the time said sprung mass high signal is present and for inhibiting the production of said sprung mass high signal at the conclusion of a predetermined time period whereby said means responsive to said sprung mass high signal is disabled at the conclusion of said predetermined time period; and

fourth circuit means responsive to said sprung mass low signal for accumulating the time said sprung mass low signal is present and for inhibiting the production of said sprung mass low signal at the conclusion of a predetermined time period whereby said means responsive to said sprung mass low signal is disabled at the conclusion of said predetermined time period; and

reset circuit means for resetting said third and fourth circuit means upon both the application and removal of operating potential.

5. A motor vehicle level control circuit for use with motor vehicle leveling systems of the type operative to level the sprung mass of the motor vehicle within a predetermined trim band in response to respective electrical signals indicating the sprung mass to be above and below the trim band comprising:

an optical coupler arrangement of the type including a pair of light sources and a pair of photosensitive signal generating devices, each optically coupled to a respective one of said pair of light sources for producing a first logic signal pair when the sprung mass is above the trim band and another second logic signal pair when the sprung mass is below the trim band;

first circuit means responsive to said first logic signal pair for producing a sprung mass high signal;

second circuit means responsive to said second logic signal pair for producing a sprung mass low signal;

delay circuit means effective to inhibit the production of both said sprung mass high and sprung mass low signals for a predetermined time duration;

means responsive to said sprung mass high signal for effecting the lowering of said sprung mass;

means responsive to said sprung mass low signal for effecting the raising of said sprung mass; and

means for resetting said delay circuit means to zero when said sprung mass goes into said trim band.