Self-powered vehicle sensor systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle system, comprising:
- a damper assembly comprising;
a dust tube assembly; and
a damper tube assembly mounted for telescopic movement within the dust tube during vehicle travel;
a sensor mounted within the dust tube and configured to detect a position of the dust tube; and
an energy harvesting device mounted on the damper assembly and configured to provide electrical energy to the sensor.
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Abstract
A vehicle system is provided. The vehicle system includes a vehicle suspension apparatus configured for movement during vehicle travel; an energy harvesting device mounted on the vehicle suspension apparatus and configured to generate electrical energy in response to the movement of the vehicle suspension apparatus; and a sensor mounted on the vehicle suspension apparatus and coupled to the energy harvesting device for receiving the electrical energy.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle system, comprising:
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a damper assembly comprising; a dust tube assembly; and a damper tube assembly mounted for telescopic movement within the dust tube during vehicle travel; a sensor mounted within the dust tube and configured to detect a position of the dust tube; and an energy harvesting device mounted on the damper assembly and configured to provide electrical energy to the sensor.
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2. A vehicle system, comprising:
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a vehicle suspension apparatus configured for movement during vehicle travel; a sensor comprising a piezoelectric device mounted on the vehicle suspension apparatus and configured to generate electrical energy indicative of the movement of the vehicle travel, wherein the vehicle suspension apparatus includes a first leaf spring assembly and a second leaf spring assembly, and wherein the piezoelectric device indicates a relative displacement of the first and second leaf spring assemblies; an energy converter coupled to the piezoelectric device and mounted on the first leaf spring assembly, the energy converter configured to convert the electrical energy of the sensor into a signal indicating the relative displacement; and a transmitter coupled to the energy converter and mounted on the first leaf spring assembly, the transmitter configured to transmit the signal to a vehicle controller.
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3. A vehicle system, comprising:
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a vehicle suspension apparatus configured for movement during vehicle travel; an energy harvesting device mounted on the vehicle suspension apparatus and configured to generate electrical energy in response to the movement of the vehicle suspension apparatus; and a sensor mounted on the vehicle suspension apparatus and coupled to the energy harvesting device for receiving the electrical energy, wherein the vehicle suspension apparatus is a damper assembly comprising; a dust tube assembly; a jounce bumper assembly mounted within the dust tube assembly at a first end thereof; and a damper tube assembly mounted for telescopic movement within the dust tube assembly and through a second end thereof, the jounce bumper assembly configured to be impacted by the damper tube assembly; and wherein the energy harvesting device comprises a piezoelectric device coupled to the jounce bumper assembly. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A vehicle system, comprising:
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a vehicle suspension apparatus configured for movement during vehicle travel; an energy harvesting device mounted on the vehicle suspension apparatus and configured to generate electrical energy in response to the movement of the vehicle suspension apparatus; and a sensor mounted on the vehicle suspension apparatus and coupled to the energy harvesting device for receiving the electrical energy, wherein the vehicle suspension apparatus is a damper assembly capable of reciprocating translational movement, and wherein the energy harvesting device comprises; a coil mounted within the damper assembly; an engine mounted within the damper assembly for converting the translational movement into rotational movement; and a magnet coupled to the engine and configured to be rotated in the vicinity of the coil to produce electrical energy in the coil. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle system, comprising:
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a vehicle suspension apparatus configured for movement during vehicle travel; an energy harvesting device mounted on the vehicle suspension apparatus and configured to generate electrical energy in response to the movement of the vehicle suspension apparatus; and a sensor mounted on the vehicle suspension apparatus and coupled to the energy harvesting device for receiving the electrical energy, wherein the sensor includes a wireless ultra-wideband (UWB) transceiver, and wherein the vehicle suspension apparatus includes a first component and a second component, and wherein the wireless UWB transceiver is coupled to the first component, the wireless UWB transceiver being configured to transmit a UWB measurement pulse toward the second component, and to receive a reflected UWB pulse from a reflective surface of the second component, wherein the reflected UWB pulse represents a reflected version of the UWB measurement pulse, the sensor being configured to derive a relative distance between the first component and the second component based upon characteristics of the UWB measurement pulse and the reflected UWB pulse. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification