Height sensing system for a vehicular suspension assembly

• US 8,175,770 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• 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: Talty, Timothy J., Namuduri, Chandra S., Li, Yunjun, Elliott, Robert B., McMahon, Nancy
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Do, Truc M
• Application Number:
  US12/272,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20100125389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 701/37, 701/38
• US Class Current: 701/37
• 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 vehicular suspension assembly and the ground, wherein the suspension assembly has a first member. The system comprises a first transceiver coupled to the first member for emitting a first interrogation signal toward the ground, and for receiving a first reflection of the first interrogation signal from the ground, and a processor coupled to the first transceiver for determining the distance of the first transceiver from the ground.

Claims

1. A system for determining a distance between a vehicular suspension assembly and the ground, the suspension assembly having a first member coupled to a sprung mass and a second member coupled to an unsprung mass, the system comprising:

a first transceiver coupled to the first member for emitting a first interrogation signal toward the ground, receiving a first reflection of the first interrogation signal from the ground, and transmitting a first timing signal when the first reflection is received;

a second transceiver coupled to the second member for emitting a second interrogation signal toward the ground, receiving a second reflection of the second interrogation signal from the ground, and transmitting a second timing signal when the second reflection is received; and

a processor coupled to the first transceiver and the second transceiver and configured to determine the distance of the first transceiver and the second transceiver from the ground;

wherein the processor prompts the first transceiver to emit the first interrogation signal and prompts the second transceiver to emit the second interrogation signal substantially simultaneously.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first transceiver is configured to emit UWB interrogation signals.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first transceiver is configured to receive UWB interrogation signals reflected from the ground.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the suspension assembly further comprises a damper assembly having a first portion coupled to the sprung mass and a second portion coupled to the unsprung mass, and wherein the first transceiver is coupled to the first portion, and the second transceiver is coupled to the second portion.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the first portion comprises a dust tube, and the second portion comprises a damper tube, and wherein the first transceiver is coupled to the dust tube, and the second transceiver is coupled to the damper tube.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the vertical component of the velocity of the first transceiver.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the suspension assembly further comprises a suspension actuator assembly having a movable portion coupled to the first member and a stationary portion coupled to the second member, and wherein the first transceiver is coupled to the movable portion and the second transceiver is coupled to the stationary portion.

8. 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 first transceiver coupled to one of the sprung mass or the unsprung mass for emitting a first interrogation signal toward the ground and for receiving a first reflection of the first interrogation signal reflected from the ground;

a second transceiver coupled to the other of the sprung mass or the unsprung mass for emitting a second interrogation signal toward the ground and for receiving a second reflection of the second interrogation signal reflected from the ground; and

a processor coupled to the first and second transceivers configured to determine the distance between the sprung mass and the unsprung mass;

wherein the processor is further configured to determine the instantaneous velocity of the first transceiver.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the first transceiver sends a first timing signal to the processor when the first reflection is received, and the second transceiver sends a second timing signal to the processor when the second reflection is received.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processor prompts the first transceiver to emit the first interrogation signal, and the second transceiver to emit the second interrogation signal substantially simultaneously.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the instantaneous acceleration of the first transceiver.

12. A system for determining a vertical distance of travel of an actuator assembly for a vehicle having a suspension assembly, the suspension assembly having a first member coupled to a spring mass and a second member coupled to an unspring mass, the actuator assembly having a first end coupled to the first member and a second end coupled to the second member, the system comprising:

a first transceiver coupled to the first end for emitting a first interrogation signal toward the ground, and for receiving a first reflection of the first interrogation signal reflected from the ground;

a second transceiver coupled to the second end for emitting a second interrogation signal toward the ground, and for receiving a second reflection of the second interrogation signal reflected from the ground; and

a processor coupled to the first and second transceivers and configured to;

substantially simultaneously prompt the first and second transceivers to emit the first and second interrogation signals, respectively, and determine the vertical distance of travel of the actuator assembly.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a passive actuator.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a controllable actuator.