Vehicular actuator system
First Claim
1. An actuator system for determining a relative height differential between a housing of an actuator assembly and a body of the actuator assembly for a vehicle, the vehicle having a suspension, the housing coupled to a first portion of the suspension, and the body coupled to a second portion of the suspension, the system comprising:
- a sensor coupled to the inside of the housing; and
a target coupled to the outside of the body, the sensor and the target cooperating to form a magnetic field that varies in a manner indicative of the distance therebetween, wherein the sensor generates a signal indicative of the position of the target with respect to the sensor, and further comprising an electronics assembly coupled to the sensor, and configured to receive the signal and determine the relative height differential therefrom.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator system for determining a relative height differential between a housing of an actuator assembly and a body of the actuator assembly for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has a suspension wherein the housing is coupled to a first portion of the suspension, and the body is coupled to a second portion of the suspension. The system comprises a sensor coupled to the inside of the housing, and a target coupled to the outside of the body, the sensor and the target cooperating to form a magnetic field that varies in a manner indicative of the distance therebetween.
105 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An actuator system for determining a relative height differential between a housing of an actuator assembly and a body of the actuator assembly for a vehicle, the vehicle having a suspension, the housing coupled to a first portion of the suspension, and the body coupled to a second portion of the suspension, the system comprising:
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a sensor coupled to the inside of the housing; and a target coupled to the outside of the body, the sensor and the target cooperating to form a magnetic field that varies in a manner indicative of the distance therebetween, wherein the sensor generates a signal indicative of the position of the target with respect to the sensor, and further comprising an electronics assembly coupled to the sensor, and configured to receive the signal and determine the relative height differential therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A damper system for determining a relative height differential between a sprung mass of a vehicle and an unsprung mass of the vehicle, the vehicle having a damper assembly with a housing coupled to the sprung mass and a damper tube coupled to the unsprung mass, the system comprising:
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a sensor coupled to the inside of the housing; and a target coupled to the outside of the damper tube, the sensor and the target cooperating to form a magnetic field that varies in a manner indicative of the distance therebetween, wherein the damper assembly further comprises a jounce bumper coupled to the inside of the housing, the jounce bumper having a recess, and the sensor is disposed within the recess in the jounce bumper. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A damper system for determining a relative height differential between a sprung mass of a vehicle and an unsprung mass of the vehicle, the system including a damper assembly having a housing coupled to the sprung mass, and a damper tube coupled to the unsprung mass, the system comprising:
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a sensor coupled to the inside of the housing for generating a magnetic field; a target coupled to the outside of the damper tube for interacting with the magnetic field in a manner indicative of the position of the target relative to the sensor; and a processor coupled to the sensor for determining the relative height differential.
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Specification