GPS activated park mode for adjustable suspension systems

• US 9,272,596 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Schallmeier, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US14/309,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20140379214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 701 36- 37, 701/400, 701/412, 701/426
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0155 pneumatic unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/016 characterised by their responsiveness, when the vehicle is travelling, to specific motion, a specific condition, or driver input B60G17/017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01933 Velocity, e.g. relative velocity-displacement sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/04 fluid spring characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/16 GPS track data
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/20 Stationary vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/203 lowering the floor for loading/unloading
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/914 Height Control System

Abstract

A method of adjusting an air suspension system comprises detecting with a positioning system that the vehicle is approaching a park location and reporting the park location is approaching to an electronic control unit for the air suspension system. A vehicle speed is determined and compared to a predetermined speed threshold, with the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit selects a park mode for the suspensions system when the vehicle is approaching the park location and when the vehicle speed is below the predetermined threshold. Air supply for the air suspension system is controlled to adjust the corner assemblies for the air suspension system to lowered positions associated with the park mode.

Claims

1. An air suspension system for a vehicle comprising:

four corner assemblies, wherein one corner assembly is located at a suspension position corresponding to each of the wheel corners for the vehicle;

an air supply unit including a compressor, and an ECU connected to the corner assemblies, wherein the air supply unit is capable of independently adjusting the corner assemblies from one another; and

wherein the air suspension system is operable to place the corner assemblies in a park position when a positioning system indicates that the vehicle is approaching a final destination and the air suspensions system is triggered to move to the park position when the vehicle is moving at a speed below a predetermined threshold speed such that the vehicle achieves the park position prior to stopping the vehicle, wherein the park position is a position lowering the vehicle to ease ingress and egress from the vehicle by a vehicle operator.

2. The air suspensions system of claim 1, wherein the positioning system is positioning system indicates that vehicle is approaching the final destination when the vehicle is approaching a location that is indicated as a favorite place in the positioning system.

3. The air suspension system of claim 1, wherein the positioning system indicates that vehicle is approaching the final destination when the vehicle is approaching the end of a planned route entered in the positioning system.

4. The air suspensions system of claim 1, wherein the positioning system indicates that vehicle is approaching the final destination when the vehicle is approaching a location that is indicated in the positioning system as a frequently visited place.

5. The air suspensions system of claim 1, wherein the positioning system indicates that vehicle is approaching the final destination when the vehicle is a predetermined distance from the final destination.

6. The air suspensions system of claim 1, wherein the positioning system is a GPS unit.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the positioning system indicates that vehicle is approaching the final destination when the vehicle is approaching a location that is indicated as a favorite place.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the positioning system indicates that vehicle is approaching the final destination when the vehicle is approaching the end of a planned route entered.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the GPS unit indicates that vehicle is approaching the final destination when the vehicle is approaching a location that is indicated in the positioning system as a frequently visited place.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the GPS unit indicates that vehicle is approaching the final destination when the vehicle is a predetermined distance from the final destination.

7. A method of adjusting an air suspension system comprising:

detecting with a positioning system that the vehicle is approaching a final destination;

determining a vehicle speed;

comparing the vehicle speed to a predetermined speed threshold;

selecting a park mode with an electronic control unit for the air suspension system when the vehicle is approaching the final destination, wherein the ECU selects the park mode when the vehicle is approaching the final destination and when the vehicle speed is also below the predetermined threshold and the park mode lowers the vehicle to ease ingress and egress from the vehicle by a vehicle operator;

controlling air supply within the air suspension system to move at least one front assembly for the air suspension system to a lowered position; and

controlling air supply within the air suspension system to move at least one rear assembly for the air suspension system to a lowered position.

12. A method of adjusting an air suspension system comprising:

detecting with a GPS unit that the vehicle is approaching a park location;

reporting that the park location is approaching to an electronic control unit for the air suspension system when the vehicle is a predetermined distance from the park location;

determining a vehicle speed;

comparing the vehicle speed to a predetermined speed threshold with the electronic control unit;

selecting a park mode when the electronic control unit determines the vehicle is approaching the park location and when the vehicle speed is below the predetermined threshold, wherein the park mode lowers the vehicle to ease ingress and egress from the vehicle by a vehicle operator; and

controlling air supply for the air suspension system to adjust the corner assemblies for the air suspension system to lowered positions associated with the park mode while the vehicle is moving at a speed below the predetermined threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the corner assemblies are adjusted to the lowered positions associated with the park mode prior to the vehicle being placed in a park gear.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the corner assemblies are adjusted to the lowered positions associated with the park mode prior to engaging a park brake for the vehicle.