Look ahead vehicle suspension system
First Claim
1. A suspension system used to reduce undesirable motion of a vehicle chassis that travels along a roadway having at least one roadway defect, the suspension system comprising:
- a plurality of transmitters mounted on the vehicle chassis, one such transmitter for each tire upon which the vehicle travels, that are operable to send source signals toward the roadway;
a plurality of receivers mounted on the vehicle chassis, one such receiver for each tire upon which the vehicle travels, that are operable to receive reflections of the source signals from the roadway and, based thereon, generate reflection signals;
processing circuitry, communicatively coupled to the plurality of receivers, that is operable to analyze the reflection signals to identify the at least one roadway defect; and
the processing circuitry is further operable to respond to the identification of the at least one roadway defect by interacting individually with a first adjustable suspension device before a single front tire encounters the at least one roadway defect and with a second adjustable suspension before a single rear tire encounters the at least one roadway defect.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An active suspension system senses roadway defects and adjusts an active and controllable suspension system of the vehicle before tires come in contact with the defect. The active suspension system identifies a type of defect or debris, e.g., pothole, bump, object, etc., along with the size, width, depth, and/or height information of the defect to more accurately control operation of the suspension system to prepare for, or avoid contact with the roadway defects and obstacles. Imaging techniques are employed to identify the defect or debris. Operation of a serviced cruise control system is controlled to enhance passenger safety and comfort.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A suspension system used to reduce undesirable motion of a vehicle chassis that travels along a roadway having at least one roadway defect, the suspension system comprising:
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a plurality of transmitters mounted on the vehicle chassis, one such transmitter for each tire upon which the vehicle travels, that are operable to send source signals toward the roadway; a plurality of receivers mounted on the vehicle chassis, one such receiver for each tire upon which the vehicle travels, that are operable to receive reflections of the source signals from the roadway and, based thereon, generate reflection signals; processing circuitry, communicatively coupled to the plurality of receivers, that is operable to analyze the reflection signals to identify the at least one roadway defect; and the processing circuitry is further operable to respond to the identification of the at least one roadway defect by interacting individually with a first adjustable suspension device before a single front tire encounters the at least one roadway defect and with a second adjustable suspension before a single rear tire encounters the at least one roadway defect. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Roadway analysis circuitry used in a vehicle traveling a roadway, the roadway having at least one characteristic, the vehicle having a plurality of adjustable suspension devices, the roadway analysis circuitry comprising:
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a plurality of detectors operable to translate electromagnetic waves reflected from the roadway having the at least one characteristic into roadway signals, one such detector for each tire upon which the vehicle travels; processing circuitry, communicatively coupled to the plurality of detectors, operable to analyze the roadway signals from the detectors; the processing circuitry further operable to, based on the analysis, selectively send control signals to at least one of the plurality of adjustable suspension devices, the control signals configured to individually adjust the plurality of adjustable suspension devices in anticipation of individual tires associated with individual adjustable suspension devices encountering at least one roadway defect; a driver interface circuit, coupled to the processing circuitry, operable to communicate information to a driver of the vehicle; and the processing circuitry operable to communicate information relating to the analysis to the driver of the vehicle via the driver interface circuit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Roadway analysis circuitry used in a vehicle traveling a roadway having at least one surface defect comprising:
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a plurality of detectors operable to translate electromagnetic waves reflected from the roadway into roadway signals, one such detector for each wheel upon which the vehicle travels; processing circuitry operable to analyze the roadway signals received from the plurality of detectors detector; the processing circuitry operable to, based on an analysis, selectively send control signals to a response system comprising an adjustable suspension system having a plurality of independently adjustable components, wherein each wheel associated with a respective one of the plurality of adjustable components; the control signals comprising suspension adjustment signals directed to particular ones of the plurality of independently adjustable components, the control signals configured to individually adjust the plurality of independently adjustable components in anticipation of particular wheels, associated with individual adjustable components, encountering at least one roadway defect; and a driver interface circuit communicatively coupled to the processing circuitry to communicate, to a driver of the vehicle, information relating to the analysis. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification