Method of estimating vehicle weight by determining vertical oscillation frequency
First Claim
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1. A method of determining the sprung weight of at least a portion of a vehicle, comprising:
- providing an electronic control module mounted on the vehicle, the vehicle having a suspension system on at least a portion thereof comprising one or more springs, wherein the one or more springs have an essentially constant spring rate;
estimating a vertical oscillation frequency of at least a portion of the vehicle with at least one pre-existing accelerometer mounted within the electronic control module; and
utilizing the vertical oscillation frequency estimate, received only from the accelerometer mounted within the electronic control module, along with the essentially constant spring rate of the one or more springs of the suspension of the vehicle in the electronic control module to estimate a sprung weight of at least a portion of the vehicle.
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Abstract
A method of estimating at least a portion of the weight of a vehicle and its load by use of an on-board accelerometer is disclosed.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of determining the sprung weight of at least a portion of a vehicle, comprising:
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providing an electronic control module mounted on the vehicle, the vehicle having a suspension system on at least a portion thereof comprising one or more springs, wherein the one or more springs have an essentially constant spring rate; estimating a vertical oscillation frequency of at least a portion of the vehicle with at least one pre-existing accelerometer mounted within the electronic control module; and utilizing the vertical oscillation frequency estimate, received only from the accelerometer mounted within the electronic control module, along with the essentially constant spring rate of the one or more springs of the suspension of the vehicle in the electronic control module to estimate a sprung weight of at least a portion of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of determining the sprung weight of at least a portion of a vehicle, comprising:
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providing an electronic control module mounted on the vehicle wherein at least a portion of the vehicle has a metal spring suspension; estimating a vertical oscillation frequency of at least a portion of the vehicle with at least one pre-existing vertical axis accelerometer mounted within the electronic control module; and utilizing the vertical oscillation frequency estimate, received only from the accelerometer mounted within the electronic control module, along with a predetermined spring rate of the vehicle metal spring suspension in the electronic control module to estimate a sprung weight of at least a portion of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification