Automotive systems and methods of operating vehicles

• US 8,135,514 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Li, Yunjun, Gordon, Gregory G., McMahon, Nancy, Kelly, Leonard B., Barnes, Todd H.
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US12/412,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20100250065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 701/37, 280/6.15, 280/6.157, 280/5.5, 280/5.504, 280/5.514, 362/37, 362/464, 362/465, 362/466, 362/487, 362/523
• US Class Current: 701/37
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/016 characterised by their responsiveness, when the vehicle is travelling, to specific motion, a specific condition, or driver input B60G17/017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/845 Darkness
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/847 Sunshine; Light
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/32 of only one vehicle part or side
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/10 due to vehicle inclination, e.g. due to load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/132 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light

Abstract

Automotive systems and methods for operating vehicles are provided. In an embodiment, when a speed sensor senses that the vehicle speed is above a first speed threshold and an ambient light sensor senses that an ambient light intensity is below a first intensity threshold, a controller provides a first command to a suspension system to lower a first end of a vehicle body to a second front trim height position relative to a horizontal plane, where the second front trim height position is below a first front trim height position, and to lower the second end of the body to a second rear trim height position relative to the horizontal plane, where the second rear trim height position is below a first rear trim height position.

Claims

1. An automotive system for use with a vehicle, the vehicle including a body having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the body is positionable at a first front trim height position, and the second end of the body is positionable at a first rear trim height position, the system comprising:

an ambient light sensor adapted to sense an ambient light intensity and to provide signals indicating the ambient light intensity;

a speed sensor adapted to sense a vehicle speed;

a suspension system coupled to the body and adapted to raise and lower the first end of the body relative to a horizontal plane and to raise and lower the second end of the body relative to a horizontal plane; and

a controller in operable communication with the ambient light sensor, the speed sensor, and the suspension system, the controller configured to receive data from the ambient light sensor and the speed sensor and to provide commands to the suspension system,

wherein;

when the speed sensor senses that the vehicle speed is above a first speed threshold and the ambient light sensor senses that the ambient light intensity is below a first intensity threshold, the controller provides a first command to the suspension system to lower the first end of the body to a second front trim height position relative to the horizontal plane, where the second front trim height position is below the first front trim height position, and to lower the second end of the body to a second rear trim height position relative to the horizontal plane, where the second rear trim height position is below the first rear trim height position.

2. The automotive system of claim 1, wherein:

a difference between the first front trim height position and the second front trim height position and a difference between the first rear trim height position and the second rear trim height position are substantially equal to each other.

3. The automotive system of claim 1, wherein:

when the speed sensor senses that the vehicle speed is above the first speed threshold and when the ambient light sensor senses that the ambient light intensity is greater than the first intensity threshold, the controller provides a second command to the suspension system to lower the first end of the body to a third front trim height position relative to the horizontal plane, where the third front trim height position is below the first front trim height position, and to lower the second end of the body to a third rear trim height position relative to the horizontal plane, where the third rear trim height position is below the second rear trim height position.

4. The automotive system of claim 3, wherein:

a difference between the first front trim height position and the third front trim height position is less than a difference between the first rear trim height position and the third rear trim height position.

5. The automotive system of claim 1, wherein:

when the speed sensor senses that the vehicle speed is below a second speed threshold, the controller provides a second command to the suspension system to position the first end of the body to the first front trim height position and the second end of the body to the first rear trim height position.

6. The automotive system of claim 1, further comprising:

a headlamp system including a headlamp and a headlamp controller module, the headlamp in operable communication with the headlamp controller module, wherein the headlamp controller module is adapted to receive an operator input and to provide a command to the headlamp to turn on in response to the operator input.

7. The automotive system of claim 6, wherein:

the headlamp system further includes an actuator coupled to the headlamp, the actuator configured to move the headlamp between a first lamp position and a second lamp position;

the headlamp is configured to emit a light beam when disposed in the first lamp position, in which a centerline of the light beam is aimed at a first angle relative to the horizontal plane; and

the headlamp controller module is adapted to provide a command to the actuator to adjust the headlamp to the second lamp position, in which the centerline of the light beam is aimed at a second angle relative to the horizontal plane, wherein the first angle and the second angle are different.

8. The automotive system of claim 6, wherein:

the headlamp is disposed at a fixed position.

9. A method of operating a vehicle having a body including a first end and a second end, the first end of the body being positionable in a first front trim height position, and the second end of the body being positionable in a first rear trim height position, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first signal representative of a vehicle speed that is above a first speed threshold;

receiving a second signal representative of a first ambient light intensity that is below a first intensity threshold; and

providing a first command to a suspension system to lower the first end of the body to a second front trim height position relative to a horizontal plane, where the second front trim height position is below the first front trim height position, and to lower the second end of the body to a second rear trim height position relative to the horizontal plane, where the second rear trim height position is below the first rear trim height position, in response to receiving the first signal and the second signal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

a difference between the first front trim height position and the second front trim height position is substantially equal to a difference between the first rear trim height position and the second rear trim height position.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a third signal representative of a second ambient light intensity that is greater than the first ambient light intensity; and

providing a second command to the suspension system to lower the first end of the body to a third front trim height position relative to the horizontal plane, where the third front trim height position is below the first front trim height position, and to lower the second end of the vehicle to a third rear trim height position relative to the horizontal plane, where the third rear trim height position is below the second rear trim height position, in response to receiving the second signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

a difference between the first front trim height position and the third front trim height position is less than a difference between the first rear trim height position and the third rear trim height position.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a third signal from the speed sensor indicating that the vehicle speed is below a second speed threshold; and

providing a third command to the suspension system to position the first end of the body to the first front trim height position and the second end of the body to the first rear trim height position.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the vehicle further comprises a headlamp system including a headlamp and an actuator coupled to the headlamp, the headlamp is configured to emit a light beam when disposed in a first lamp position, wherein a centerline of the light beam is aimed at a first angle relative to the horizontal plane, and the actuator is configured to move the headlamp between the first lamp position and a second lamp position, in which the centerline of the light beam is aimed at a second angle relative to the horizontal plane, wherein the first angle and the second angle or different; and

the method further comprises providing a command to the headlamp system to actuate the actuator to adjust the headlamp to the second lamp position, in response to an operator input.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

a difference between the first front trim height position and the third front trim height position is less than a difference between the first rear trim height position and the third rear trim height position.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a third signal from the speed sensor indicating that the vehicle speed is below a second speed threshold; and

providing a second command to the suspension system to reposition the first end of the body to the first front trim height position and the second end of the body to the first rear trim height position, in response to the third signal.

17. A method of operating a vehicle having a body, including a first end and a second end, the first end of the body being positionable in a first front trim height position, and the second end of the body being positionable a first rear trim height position, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first signal representative of a vehicle speed that is above a first speed threshold;

receiving a second signal representative of a first ambient light intensity that is below a first intensity threshold; and

providing a first command to a suspension system to lower the first end of the body of the vehicle to a second front trim height position relative to the horizontal plane, where the second front trim height position is below the first front trim height position, and to lower the second end of the vehicle to a second rear trim height position relative to the horizontal plane, in response to receiving the first signal and the second signal,

wherein;

a difference between the first front trim height position and the second front trim height position is substantially equal to a difference between the first rear trim height position and the second rear trim height position.