Intelligent electronic air suspension system that automatically adjusts its air pressure

• US 8,113,521 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pin Hsiu Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pin Hsiu Rubber Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hung, San-Shan, Lin, Masa, Yang, Mong-Chi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilhelm, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US12/488,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20100320703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.507, 280/5.517, 280/5.519, 280/6.157, 280/124.102, 701/37, 701/38
• US Class Current: 280/5.507
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/018 characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/10 Acceleration; Deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/51222 Pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/10 Piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/14 Photo or light sensitive means, e.g. Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/16 GPS track data
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/176 Radio or audio sensitive means, e.g. Ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/02 Supply or exhaust flow rates; Pump operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/201 Air spring system type
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/302 using distributor valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/0422 involving data transmission, e.g. via satellite or GPS; for data monitoring, telemetry or platooning purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/18 Automatic control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/202 using a remote, e.g. cordless, transmitter or receiver unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/71 Distributed control; Master - slave controllers; Remote control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/91 Suspension Control

Abstract

An intelligent electronic air suspension system that automatically adjusts its air pressure includes a vehicle speed detector, a vehicle height detector, a level detector, a first pressure sensor, a control end, and four air struts on the vehicle suspension system. The data of the vehicle speed detector, the vehicle height detector, the level detector, and the first pressure sensor are integrated to obtain the dynamical condition of the moving vehicle and its position on the road. Such information is transmitted to the control end and displayed on the monitor end at the same time. According to needs, the user can set manual or automatic control to adjust the air struts so that passengers in the vehicle enjoy more comfort. The air struts can also be adjusted according to the driver'"'"'s habits to have better controllability. Moreover, the vehicle height can be adjusted according to its load, ensuring the safety of both passengers and cargo.

Claims

1. An intelligent electronic air suspension system that automatically adjust its air pressure, which comprises:

four air struts, disposed in the left front, right front, left rear, and right rear of the suspension system of a vehicle;

one air compressor, which is disposed in the vehicle and connected with an air storage tank;

one electromagnetic (EM) valve assembly, which is disposed in the vehicle and includes first, second, third, and fourth EM valves;

wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth EM valves has an in valve and an out valve for the air storage tank to inflate or deflate the four air struts, the EM valves are connected with a first pressure sensor, respectively, and the four first pressure sensors are in fluid communications with the four air struts for measuring their air pressure values;

one control end, which electrically connects to the EM valve assembly, includes a first micro controller and a first data transmission unit, and electrically connects to each of the first pressure sensors;

at least one vehicle speed detector, which is disposed in the vehicle and electrically connected with the control end for detecting the speed of the vehicle;

at least one vehicle height detector, which is disposed in the vehicle and electrically connected with the control end for detecting the height of the vehicle; and

one monitor end with signal transmissions with the control end, which includes a second micro controller, a plurality of buttons, a second data transmission unit, and a display;

wherein the buttons are used to adjust the air struts in the left front, right front, left rear, and right rear of the vehicle, the second data transmission unit and the first data transmission unit exchange signals, and the monitor end receives the vehicle speed, vehicle height, and pressure data measured by the above-mentioned detectors, decodes the data and displays the data on the display;

wherein the most appropriate height of each of the air struts is either entered manually via the buttons or automatically computed by the second micro controller on the monitor end;

the adjustment data are coded and transmitted to the control end to control the EM valve assembly;

after decoding the message, the control end controls the corresponding in and out valve of the air struts accordingly to inflate or deflate the air struts, thereby changing the height of each of the air struts.

2. The intelligent electronic air suspension system that automatically adjusts its air pressure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed detector is implemented using the speed function of a satellite positioning system.

3. The intelligent electronic air suspension system that automatically adjust its air pressure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed detector is a magnetic resistance element sensor installed on the drive gear in the gearbox.

4. The intelligent electronic air suspension system that automatically adjust its air pressure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle height detector is a non-contact sensor, such as an ultrasonic, infrared or laser sensor.

5. The intelligent electronic air suspension system that automatically adjust its air pressure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle height detector is a contact slide resistance sensor.

6. The intelligent electronic air suspension system that automatically adjusts its air pressure according to claim 1, wherein the control end electrically connects to a level sensor disposed in the vehicle.

7. The intelligent electronic air suspension system that automatically adjust its air pressure according to claim 6, wherein the level sensor is a piezo resistance sensor or electrostatic capacitor sensor.

8. The intelligent electronic air suspension system that automatically adjust its air pressure according to claim 1, wherein the air storage tank has a second pressure sensor.

9. The intelligent electronic air suspension system that automatically adjust its air pressure according to claim 1, wherein the first and second data transmission units exchange data using a wireless transmission technique, which uses radio frequency or Bluetooth technology.

10. The intelligent electronic air suspension system that automatically adjust its air pressure according to claim 1, wherein the first and second data transmission units exchange data using a wired transmission technique.