Distance indicating system and method
First Claim
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1. A distance indicating system including an associated air spring used on an associated vehicle, the associated air spring including first and second support members adapted to move relative to one another in response to a load applied to the associated air spring, said distance indicating system comprising:
- a transceiver associated with said first support member, said transceiver configured to broadcast an electromagnetic wave; and
,a transponder associated with said second support member, said transponder spaced a distance from said transceiver and within the broadcasting range of said electromagnetic wave, said transponder configured to receive said electromagnetic wave, and said transponder configured to short circuit an associated antenna for a predetermined period, said associated antenna inducing an amplitude variation of said electromagnetic wave broadcasted by said transceiver, said amplitude variation increasing as the distance from said first support member to said second support member decreases;
wherein said distance indicating system is configured to detect and measure the amplitude variation of said broadcasted electromagnetic wave, and correlate specific amplitude variations with respective distances from said first support member to said second support member.
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Abstract
A distance indicating system includes a transceiver broadcasting an electromagnetic wave and a transponder spaced a distance from the transceiver that receives the electromagnetic wave. The transponder is adapted to induce a modulation of the electromagnetic wave in relation to the distance between the transceiver and the transponder. A method is also disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A distance indicating system including an associated air spring used on an associated vehicle, the associated air spring including first and second support members adapted to move relative to one another in response to a load applied to the associated air spring, said distance indicating system comprising:
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a transceiver associated with said first support member, said transceiver configured to broadcast an electromagnetic wave; and
,a transponder associated with said second support member, said transponder spaced a distance from said transceiver and within the broadcasting range of said electromagnetic wave, said transponder configured to receive said electromagnetic wave, and said transponder configured to short circuit an associated antenna for a predetermined period, said associated antenna inducing an amplitude variation of said electromagnetic wave broadcasted by said transceiver, said amplitude variation increasing as the distance from said first support member to said second support member decreases; wherein said distance indicating system is configured to detect and measure the amplitude variation of said broadcasted electromagnetic wave, and correlate specific amplitude variations with respective distances from said first support member to said second support member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An air spring assembly comprising:
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an upper end member; a lower end member in spaced relation to said upper end member; a flexible spring member supported between said upper and lower end members; and a distance indicating system comprising; a transceiver associated with one of said upper end member and said lower end member, said transceiver configured to broadcast an electromagnetic wave; and
,a transponder associated with the other of said upper end member and said lower end member, said transponder configured to short circuit an associated antenna for a predetermined period, said associated antenna inducing an amplitude variation of said electromagnetic wave, said amplitude variation increasing as the distance from said upper end member to said lower end member decreases, wherein said distance indicating system is configured to detect and measure said amplitude variation of said broadcasted electromagnetic wave, and correlate specific amplitude variations with respective distances from said upper end member to said lower end member. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of determining a distance between first and second structural members interconnected by a flexible spring of an air suspension assembly, said method comprising steps of:
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a) providing a transceiver associated with said first structural member and associated with a first antenna; b) providing a transponder supported in spaced relation to said transceiver, said transponder associated with a second antenna; c) broadcasting an electromagnetic wave using said transceiver and thereby inductively coupling said transceiver and said transponder; d) short circuiting said second antenna for a predetermined period, said second antenna inducing an amplitude variation of said electromagnetic wave broadcasted by the transceiver, said amplitude variation increasing as the distance from said first structural member to said second structural member decreases; e) detecting said amplitude variation of said broadcasted electromagnetic wave; and
,f) determining said distance between said first and said second structural members based at least in part on said detected amplitude variation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification