Systems and methods for controlling handling characteristics of a tire
First Claim
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1. A tire having controllable handling characteristics which are variable in real-time, comprising:
- a mechanism for varying the amount of flexing that the tire is permitted to undergo, which mechanism includes a fluid selected from the group of;
(a) an electrorheological fluid;
(b) a magnetorheological fluid; and
(c) a ferrofluid; and
a mechanism for applying to or removing from the fluid at least one of;
(a) an electric current; and
(b) a magnetic field.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention relates to systems and methods for controlling handling characteristics of a tire. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a tire having controllable handling characteristics.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A tire having controllable handling characteristics which are variable in real-time, comprising:
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a mechanism for varying the amount of flexing that the tire is permitted to undergo, which mechanism includes a fluid selected from the group of;
(a) an electrorheological fluid;
(b) a magnetorheological fluid; and
(c) a ferrofluid; and
a mechanism for applying to or removing from the fluid at least one of;
(a) an electric current; and
(b) a magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for controlling, in real-time, handling characteristics of a tire which is used on a vehicle driven by a driver on a driving surface, comprising:
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a mechanism for detecting at least one of;
(a) a change in input from the driver;
(b) a condition of the driving surface; and
(c) a state of the vehicle and for generating a control signal in response thereto;
a mechanism for varying the amount of flexing that the tire is permitted to undergo, which mechanism includes a fluid selected from the group of;
(a) an electrorheological fluid;
(b) a magnetorheological fluid; and
(c) a ferrofluid; and
a mechanism responsive to the control signal for applying to or removing from the fluid at least one of;
(a) an electric current; and
(b) a magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for controlling, in real-time, handling characteristics of a tire which is used on a vehicle driven by a driver on a driving surface, comprising:
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detecting at least one of;
(a) a change in input from the driver;
(b) a condition of the driving surface; and
(c) a state of the vehicle; and
applying to or removing from a fluid selected from the group of;
(a) an electrorheological fluid;
(b) a magnetorheological fluid; and
(c) a ferrofluid;
at least one of;
(a) an electric current; and
(b) a magnetic field responsive to the detection of at least one of;
(a) a change in input from the driver;
(b) a condition of the driving surface; and
(c) a state of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for controlling, in real-time, handling characteristics of a tire which is used on a vehicle driven by a driver on a driving surface, comprising:
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detecting at least one of;
(a) a change in input from the driver;
(b) a condition of the driving surface; and
(c) a state of the vehicle; and
varying the amount of flexing that the tire is permitted to undergo in response to the detection of at least one of;
(a) a change in input from the driver;
(b) a condition of the driving surface; and
(c) a state of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification