Apparatus for controlling dampers in a vehicle suspension system

• US 5,367,459 A
• Filed: 02/10/1992
• Issued: 11/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Pinkos, Andrew F., Shtarkman, Emil M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US07/833,539
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.05, 364/424.01, 364/426.01, 364/425, 280/707, 280/709, 280/840, 280/702, 280/703, 180/143, 180/132, 180/141-143, 180/197
• US Class Current: 701/37
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/018 characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method

Abstract

An apparatus controls a damper connectable between a vehicle body and a vehicle wheel. A position sensor senses the amount of angular displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel and provides a position signal indicative thereof. An acceleration sensor senses the amount of vertical acceleration of the vehicle body relative to ground and provides a vertical acceleration signal indicative thereof. Another acceleration sensor senses the amount of lateral acceleration of the vehicle body and provides a lateral acceleration signal indicative thereof. A processor processes the position signal, the vertical acceleration signal, and the lateral acceleration signal to provide a control signal which continuously varies as a function of (i) a summation of the position signal and the vertical acceleration signal, and (ii) a summation of the position signal and the lateral acceleration signal. Preferably, the processor is a digital signal processor. A drive circuit applies the control signal from the processor to the damper to control the damping rate of the damper.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the amount of electric current flow through a coil of an electromagnet of a damper connectable between a vehicle body and a vehicle wheel, said apparatus comprising:

a position sensor for sensing displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel and for providing a position signal indicative thereof;

a first acceleration sensor for sensing vertical acceleration of the vehicle body relative to ground and for providing a vertical acceleration signal indicative thereof;

a processor for processing said position and vertical acceleration signals to provide a continuous analog control signal which varies as a function of a summation of said position and vertical acceleration signals; and

a drive circuit for applying said continuous analog control signal from said processor to the electromagnet of the damper to control the amount of electric current flow through the coil of the electromagnet and thereby to control operation of the damper.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a second acceleration sensor for sensing lateral acceleration of the vehicle body relative to ground and for providing a lateral acceleration signal indicative thereof, said processor processing said position and lateral acceleration signals such that said control signal varies as a function of a summation of said position and lateral acceleration signals.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said processor is a digital signal processor.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said position sensor senses angular displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive circuit includes means for limiting said control signal to a predetermined peak value.

6. An apparatus for controlling the amount of electric current flow through a coil of an electromagnet of a damper connectable between a vehicle body and a vehicle wheel, said apparatus comprising:

a position sensor for sensing displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel and for providing a signal indicative thereof;

a first acceleration sensor for sensing lateral acceleration of the vehicle body and for providing a signal indicative thereof;

a processor for processing said position and lateral acceleration signals to provide a continuous analog control signal which varies as a function of a summation of said position and lateral acceleration signals; and

a drive circuit for applying said continuous analog control signal from said processor to the electromagnet of the damper to control the amount of electric current flow through the coil of the electromagnet and thereby to control operation of the damper.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said processor is a digital signal processor.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 further including a second acceleration sensor for sensing vertical acceleration of the vehicle body and for providing a signal indicative thereof, said processor processing the position and vertical acceleration signals such that said control signal varies as a function of a summation of the position and vertical acceleration signals.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said position sensor senses angular displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said drive circuit includes means for limiting said control signal to a predetermined peak value.

11. An apparatus for controlling the amount of electric current flow through a coil of an electromagnet of a damper connectable between a vehicle body and a vehicle wheel, said apparatus comprising:

a throttle position sensor for sensing throttle position and for providing a signal indicative thereof;

a brake pressure sensor for sensing brake pressure and for providing a signal indicative thereof;

a position sensor for sensing displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel and for providing a signal indicative thereof;

a first acceleration sensor for sensing vertical acceleration of the vehicle body and for providing a signal indicative thereof;

a second acceleration sensor for sensing lateral acceleration of the vehicle body and for providing a signal indicative thereof;

a processor for processing (i) a first signal varying as a function of the throttle signal, (ii) a second signal varying as a function of the brake pressure signal, (iii) a third signal varying as a function of the position signal and the vertical acceleration signal, and (iv) a fourth signal varying as a function of the position signal and the lateral acceleration signal, said processor providing a continuous analog control signal which varies as a function of a summation of said first, second, third, and fourth signals; and

a drive circuit for applying said continuous analog control signal from said processor to the electromagnet of the damper to control the amount of electric current flow through the coil of the electromagnet and thereby to control operation of the damper.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 further including a handwheel position sensor for sensing the position of the handwheel of the vehicle and for providing a signal indicative thereof, said fourth signal varying as a function of the handwheel position signal.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 further including a vehicle forward velocity sensor for sensing forward velocity of the vehicle and for providing a signal indicative thereof, said second, third, and fourth signals varying as a function of the forward velocity signal.