Ride performance optimization in an active suspension system
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a vehicle suspension for a wheel via a controller, the method comprising:
- repeatedly calculating a vertical velocity of the wheel until the vertical velocity exceeds a first velocity threshold;
in response to the vertical velocity exceeding the first velocity threshold, initiating a timer while repeatedly recalculating the vertical velocity of the wheel until the recalculated vertical velocity exceeds a second velocity threshold; and
in response to the recalculated vertical velocity exceeding the second velocity threshold before the timer exceeds a first time threshold, increasing a damping level of the suspension;
wherein at least one of the velocity thresholds and the first time threshold is varied on a basis of a speed of the vehicle.
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Accused Products
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. At least one of a timer threshold and velocity threshold, used to determine whether a vehicle wheel has encountered a depression in a road surface, may be varied on a basis of a speed of the vehicle. A damping mechanism for a rear wheel of a vehicle may be controlled on a basis of how a damping mechanism for a front wheel is controlled.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a vehicle suspension for a wheel via a controller, the method comprising:
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repeatedly calculating a vertical velocity of the wheel until the vertical velocity exceeds a first velocity threshold; in response to the vertical velocity exceeding the first velocity threshold, initiating a timer while repeatedly recalculating the vertical velocity of the wheel until the recalculated vertical velocity exceeds a second velocity threshold; and in response to the recalculated vertical velocity exceeding the second velocity threshold before the timer exceeds a first time threshold, increasing a damping level of the suspension; wherein at least one of the velocity thresholds and the first time threshold is varied on a basis of a speed of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
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an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle 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 first velocity threshold; initiate a timer when the vertical velocity exceeds the first velocity threshold and repeatedly recalculate the vertical velocity of the wheel until the recalculated vertical velocity exceeds a second velocity threshold; when the recalculated vertical velocity exceeds the second velocity threshold before the timer exceeds a first time threshold, increase a damping level applied to the wheel; and vary at least one of the velocity thresholds and the first time threshold on a basis of a speed of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of controlling a vehicle suspension for a wheel via a controller, the method comprising:
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initiating a timer and maintaining a damping level of an adjustable damping mechanism of the vehicle suspension at an initial value; repeatedly calculating a vertical velocity of the wheel until the vertical velocity exceeds a velocity threshold and the timer does not exceed a time threshold, wherein at least one of the velocity threshold and the time threshold is varied on a basis of a speed of the vehicle; and in response to the vertical velocity exceeding the velocity threshold before the timer exceeds the time threshold, sending an adjustment signal to the adjustable damping mechanism of the vehicle suspension to increase the damping level.
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21. A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
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an adjustable damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel; and a controller operatively coupled to the adjustable damping mechanism, the controller being configured to; initiate a timer and maintain a damping level of the adjustable damping mechanism at an initial value; repeatedly calculate a vertical velocity of the wheel until the vertical velocity exceeds a velocity threshold and the timer does not exceed a time threshold, wherein at least one of the velocity threshold and the time threshold is varied on a basis of a speed of the vehicle; and send an adjustment signal to the adjustable damping mechanism to increase the damping level in response to the vertical velocity exceeding the velocity threshold before the timer exceeds the time threshold.
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22. A method of controlling a vehicle suspension, comprising:
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initiating a timer and maintaining a damping level of an adjustable damping mechanism at an initial value when a wheel vertical velocity exceeds a first velocity threshold; and increasing the damping level of the mechanism when the wheel vertical velocity exceeds a second velocity threshold before the timer exceeds a time threshold; at least one of the velocity and time thresholds being varied based on vehicle speed.
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Specification