Ride performance optimization in an active suspension system
First Claim
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1. A vehicle suspension control method comprising:
- by a controller operatively coupled to a vehicle suspension for a wheel;
repeatedly calculating a vertical velocity of the wheel until the vertical velocity exceeds a first velocity threshold, a time between each calculation of the vertical velocity being equal to a first time interval;
in response to the vertical velocity exceeding the first velocity threshold, initiating a timer and maintaining a damping level of the vehicle suspension at an initial value while repeatedly recalculating the vertical velocity of the wheel until the recalculated vertical velocity exceeds a second velocity threshold, a time between each recalculation of the vertical velocity being equal to a second time interval, the second time interval being less than the first time interval; and
in response to the recalculated vertical velocity exceeding the second velocity threshold before the timer exceeds a first time threshold, adjusting the vehicle suspension to increase the damping level of the suspension.
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Abstract
An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction.
18 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A vehicle suspension control method comprising:
by a controller operatively coupled to a vehicle suspension for a wheel; repeatedly calculating a vertical velocity of the wheel until the vertical velocity exceeds a first velocity threshold, a time between each calculation of the vertical velocity being equal to a first time interval; in response to the vertical velocity exceeding the first velocity threshold, initiating a timer and maintaining a damping level of the vehicle suspension at an initial value while repeatedly recalculating the vertical velocity of the wheel until the recalculated vertical velocity exceeds a second velocity threshold, a time between each recalculation of the vertical velocity being equal to a second time interval, the second time interval being less than the first time interval; and in response to the recalculated vertical velocity exceeding the second velocity threshold before the timer exceeds a first time threshold, adjusting the vehicle suspension to increase the damping level of the suspension. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle suspension control method comprising:
by a controller operatively coupled to an adjustable damping mechanism of a vehicle suspension for a wheel; sampling, at a first frequency, a vertical velocity of the wheel until the vertical velocity exceeds a first velocity threshold; when the vertical velocity exceeds the first velocity threshold, initiating a timer, and controlling the adjustable damping mechanism to maintain a damping of the vehicle suspension at an initial level while sampling, at a second frequency, the vertical velocity of the wheel until the vertical velocity exceeds a second velocity threshold, the second frequency being greater than the first frequency; and when the vertical velocity exceeds the second velocity threshold before the timer exceeds a first time threshold, sending an adjustment signal to the adjustable damping mechanism to increase the damping level of the vehicle suspension. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A vehicle suspension system comprising:
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an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured to control damping applied to the wheel; and a controller operatively coupled to the active damping mechanism, the controller being configured to; repeatedly calculate a vertical velocity of the wheel until the vertical velocity exceeds a velocity threshold, a time between each calculation of the vertical velocity being equal to a first time interval; in response to the vertical velocity exceeding the first velocity threshold, initiate a timer and maintain a damping level of the active damping mechanism at an initial value of damping while repeatedly recalculating the vertical velocity of the wheel until the recalculated vertical velocity exceeds a second velocity threshold, a time between each recalculation of the vertical velocity being equal to a second time interval, the second time interval being less than the first time interval; and in response to the recalculated vertical velocity exceeding the second velocity threshold before the timer exceeds a first time threshold, adjust the active damping mechanism to increase the damping level applied to the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A vehicle suspension system comprising:
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an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured to control damping applied to the wheel; and a controller operatively coupled to the active damping mechanism, the controller being configured to; sample, at a first frequency, a vertical velocity of the wheel until the sampled vertical velocity exceeds a first velocity threshold; when the sampled vertical velocity exceeds the first velocity threshold, initiate a timer, and control the active damping mechanism to maintain the damping applied to the wheel at an initial level while sampling, at a second frequency, the vertical velocity of the wheel until the vertical velocity exceeds a second velocity threshold, the second frequency being greater than the first frequency; and when the vertical velocity exceeds the second velocity threshold before the timer exceeds a first time threshold, control the active damping mechanism to increase the damping level applied to the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification