Suspension height sensor

• US 8,174,377 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2008
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• 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: Namuduri, Chandra S., Li, Yunjun, Talty, Timothy J., Elliott, Robert B., McMahon, Nancy
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US12/271,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20100123568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/686.1, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 342/70, 701/37
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/018 characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/11 Mounting of sensors thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1162 directly mounted on the suspension arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/14 Photo or light sensitive means, e.g. Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/174 Radar
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/176 Radio or audio sensitive means, e.g. Ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/21 Laser

Abstract

A system is provided for determining a distance between a first portion of a vehicular suspension assembly and a second portion of the suspension assembly. The system comprises a transceiver coupled to the first portion for emitting a first signal toward the second portion, and for receiving a reflection of the first signal from the second portion, and a processor coupled to the transceiver for determining the distance between the first portion and the second portion.

Claims

1. A system for determining a distance between a sprung mass of a vehicular suspension assembly, and an unsprung mass of the suspension assembly, the system comprising:

a transceiver coupled to a first one of the sprung mass or the unsprung mass and configured to move therewith, the transceiver further configured for emitting a first signal toward a second one of the sprung mass or the unsprung mass, the second one being different from the first one, and for receiving a reflection of the first signal from the second one;

a reflector coupled to the second one of the sprung mass and the unsprung mass and configured to move therewith, the reflector further configured to reflect the first signal; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver for determining the distance between the unsprung mass and the sprung mass.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processor if further configured to provide instructions to the transceiver for emitting the first signal.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the transceiver is coupled to the sprung mass and configured to move therewith, and the reflector is coupled to the unsprung mass and configured to move therewith.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to emit UWB signals, and the first signal is a UWB signal.

5. A system according to claim 2, wherein the suspension assembly comprises an actuator assembly coupled between the unsprung mass and the sprung mass, and wherein the transceiver is coupled to the actuator assembly.

6. A system according to claim 3, wherein the suspension assembly comprises a damper assembly coupled between the sprung mass and the unsprung mass, and wherein the transceiver is coupled to the damper assembly.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the damper assembly comprises:

an upper mount assembly coupled to the sprung mass;

a dust tube coupled to the upper mount assembly; and

a damper tube assembly having a first end and a second end, the damper tube assembly coupled at the second end to the unsprung mass, and slidably coupled within the dust tube.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the transceiver is coupled to the upper mount assembly.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein the transceiver is coupled to the damper tube assembly.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a relative velocity between the sprung mass and the unsprung mass.

11. A system for determining a distance between a sprung mass of a vehicular suspension assembly, and an unsprung mass of the suspension assembly, the system comprising:

a transmitter coupled to a first one of the sprung mass or the unsprug mass and configured to move therewith, the transmitter configured for emitting a first signal;

a receiver coupled to a second one of the sprung mass or the unsprug mass and configured to move therewith, the second one being different from the first one, the receiver further configured for detecting the first signal; and

a processor coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, the processor configured to determine the distance between the sprung mass and the unsprung mass.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the suspension assembly comprises an actuator assembly coupled between the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the transmitter is coupled to the actuator assembly.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter is coupled to the sprung mass and configured to move therewith, and the receiver is coupled to the unsprung mass and configured to move therewith.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the suspension assembly further comprises a damper assembly coupled between the sprung mass and the unsprung mass, and wherein the transmitter is coupled to the damper assembly.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the damper assembly comprises:

an upper mount assembly coupled to the sprung mass;

a dust tube coupled to the upper mount assembly; and

a damper tube assembly having a first end and a second end, the damper tube assembly coupled to the unsprung mass at the second end, and slidably coupled within the dust tube.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the transmitter is coupled to the upper mount assembly.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein the transmitter is coupled to the damper tube assembly.

18. A system according to claim 15, further comprising a damper tube end portion coupled to the first end of the damper tube assembly, and wherein the transmitter is coupled to the damper tube end portion.

19. A system according to claim 15, wherein:

the processor is further configured to provide instructions to the transmitter for providing the first signal and to determine a relative acceleration between the sprung mass and the unsprung mass.