Active suspending

• US 8,095,268 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ClearMotion Acquisition I LLC
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Parison, James A., Breen, Christopher J., O'Day, Richard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack W
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US11/418,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20060200287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,078 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/37, 701/38, 701/49, 701/70, 280/5.5, 280 5507- 5508, 280 5512- 5515, 267/136, 267/140.11, 26714014-14015, 267/140.5, 735/70, 735/79
• US Class Current: 701/37
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/501 actively controlled suspension, e.g. electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/502 attached to the base of the seat B60N2/504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/505 Adjustable suspension including height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/507 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/508 Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/509 Seat guided by slides or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/525 using gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/544 Compression or tension springs B60N2/542 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/0212 the seat or seat part turning about or moving along a longitudinal axis

Abstract

An apparatus includes a force bias element coupled to a plant in a vehicle. The force bias element has a first bandwidth. An active suspension includes a linear electromagnetic actuator located within an interior of the force bias element. The linear electromagnetic actuator has a second bandwidth that is higher than the first bandwidth and is coupled to the plant.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a force bias eliminator having the properties of a low stiffness adjustable spring coupled to a plant in a vehicle, the force bias eliminator having a first bandwidth, and

an active suspension including a linear electromagnetic actuator located within an interior of the force bias eliminator, the linear electromagnetic actuator having a second bandwidth higher than the first bandwidth and being coupled to the plant,

in which the active suspension also includes power electronics located within the interior of the force bias eliminator.

2. An apparatus comprising:

a force bias eliminator having a first bandwidth coupled to a plant in a vehicle;

an active suspension including an electromagnetic actuator coupled to the plant and having a second bandwidth that is higher than the first bandwidth, the electromagnetic actuator providing an actuation force, and a motion of the electromagnetic actuator being within a 45 degree phase angle of a motion of a center of gravity of the plant.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the high bandwidth includes a frequency range of 2 to 20Hz.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the actuation force is provided substantially through the center of gravity of the plant.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the electromagnetic actuator includes two force-producing devices, each force-producing device supplying a force to the plant along a respective axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, in which one of the axes does not pass substantially through the center of gravity of the plant.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, in which the actuation force is vertically oriented.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, in which the active suspension system also includes a suspension linkage.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the electromagnetic actuator is substantially coupled to the center of gravity of the plant.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, in which the electromagnetic actuator is substantially coupled to the center of gravity of the plant by a pivot structure constraining a height from a floor to the plant when the electromagnetic actuator operates at a top stroke to be less than 15 inches.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, in which the electromagnetic actuator is substantially coupled to the center of gravity of the plant by a gimbal pivot.

12. A method comprising:

causing a force bias element with the mechanical properties of a low stiffness adjustment spring to be coupled to a plant to operate at a first frequency range;

causing an electromagnetic actuator coupled to the plant to operate at a second frequency range higher than the first frequency range such that a motion of the electromagnetic actuator is within a 45 degree phase angle of a motion of a center of gravity of the plant.

13. The method of claim 12, in which the high-frequency range is substantially separated from a low-frequency range by a crossover frequency.

14. The method of claim 13 in which the crossover frequency includes ⅓

Hz.

15. The method of claim 12 in which causing the actuator to operate includes causing the actuator to provide a force substantially through the center of gravity of the plant.