Sensing and communication system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An air spring assembly comprising:
- a first end member;
a second end member spaced a distance from said first end member and undergoing an external input;
a flexible wall secured between said first and second end members;
a transceiver and first antenna associated with the said first end member and broadcasting an electromagnetic wave using said first antenna;
a transponder and second antenna associated with said second end member, the transponder and second antenna adapted to receive said electromagnetic wave and said transponder operative to shunt the second antenna for a predetermined period, the shunted second antenna inducing an amplitude variation of said electromagnetic wave, the amplitude variation increasing as the distance from the first antenna to the second antenna decreases; and
,a sensor associated with said second end member and in communication with said transponder, said sensor being adapted to measure the external input of said second end member and generate a corresponding sensor output signal;
wherein the air spring assembly detects and measures the amplitude variation of said broadcasted electromagnetic wave, correlates specific amplitude variations with respective distances from the transceiver antenna to the transponder antenna, generates a signal representative of the respective distances, and said transponder receives said sensor output signal and causes a modulation of said electromagnetic wave in relation to said sensor output signal.
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Abstract
A sensing and communication system includes a transceiver broadcasting an electromagnetic wave, a transponder supported on an associated structural member at a distance from the transceiver that receives the electromagnetic wave, and a sensor adjacent the transponder and in communication therewith. The sensor being operable to sense an input acting on the associated structural member and communicate a signal corresponding to the input to the transponder. The transponder is adapted to induce a modulation of the electromagnetic wave in relation to at least one of the sensor signal and the distance between the transceiver and the transponder. A method is also disclosed.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An air spring assembly comprising:
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a first end member; a second end member spaced a distance from said first end member and undergoing an external input; a flexible wall secured between said first and second end members; a transceiver and first antenna associated with the said first end member and broadcasting an electromagnetic wave using said first antenna; a transponder and second antenna associated with said second end member, the transponder and second antenna adapted to receive said electromagnetic wave and said transponder operative to shunt the second antenna for a predetermined period, the shunted second antenna inducing an amplitude variation of said electromagnetic wave, the amplitude variation increasing as the distance from the first antenna to the second antenna decreases; and
,a sensor associated with said second end member and in communication with said transponder, said sensor being adapted to measure the external input of said second end member and generate a corresponding sensor output signal; wherein the air spring assembly detects and measures the amplitude variation of said broadcasted electromagnetic wave, correlates specific amplitude variations with respective distances from the transceiver antenna to the transponder antenna, generates a signal representative of the respective distances, and said transponder receives said sensor output signal and causes a modulation of said electromagnetic wave in relation to said sensor output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vehicle suspension system having a first vehicle component and a second vehicle component undergoing a suspension input, said communication system comprising:
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a transceiver and first antenna associated with said first vehicle component adapted to broadcast an electromagnetic wave; a transponder and second antenna associated with said second vehicle component at a distance from said transceiver and in communication therewith, the transponder operative to shunt the second antenna for a predetermined period, the shunted second antenna inducing an amplitude variation of said electromagnetic wave, the amplitude variation increasing as the distance from the first antenna to the second antenna decreases; and
,a sensor supported on said second vehicle component and adapted to sense said suspension input, said sensor in communication with said transponder and adapted to generate a sensor output signal; wherein the vehicle suspension system detects and measures the amplitude variation of the said broadcasted electromagnetic wave, correlates specific amplitude variations with respective distances from the transceiver antenna to the transponder antenna, generates a signal representative of the respective distances and said transponder is adapted to receive said sensor output signal from said sensor and cause a modulation of said electromagnetic wave in relation to said signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of determining a distance between first and second structural members interconnected by a vehicle suspension member and determining a value of a property of the vehicle suspension member, said method comprising:
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a) providing a transceiver and first antenna adapted to broadcast an electromagnetic wave; b) providing a transponder and second antenna associated with the vehicle suspension member and spaced a distance from said transceiver; c) broadcasting an electromagnetic wave using said first antenna and thereby inductively coupling said transceiver and said transponder through said first and second antennae; d) shunting the second antenna for a predetermined period, the shunted second antenna inducing an amplitude variation of said electromagnetic wave broadcasted by the transceiver, the amplitude variation increasing as the distance from the first antenna to the second antenna decreases; e) detecting the amplitude variation of said broadcasted electromagnetic wave; f) determining said distance between said transceiver and said transponder based at feast in part on said detected amplitude variation; g) providing a sensor associated with the vehicle suspension member and said transponder, said sensor adapted to generate a sensor output signal corresponding to the property of the vehicle suspension member; h) energizing said transceiver and broadcasting said electromagnetic wave; i) generating said sensor output signal; j) causing a modulation of said electromagnetic wave in relation to said sensor output signal; and
,k) determining a value of the property of the vehicle suspension member based on said modulation. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification