System and method of monitoring a load condition of a vehicle
First Claim
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1. A system for indicating a weight of payload of a vehicle having suspension components, the system comprising:
- a static gravity-sensing accelerometer mounted on at least one suspension component of a suspension assembly, positioned between a vehicle chassis and a wheel hub, and configured as an inclinometer to measure a deflection angle of the at least one suspension component;
a controller configured to generate an output signal representative of the weight of payload of the vehicle, wherein the controller uses based upon a comparison of the measured deflection angle of the at least one suspension component to generate the output signal a predetermined threshold and generate the output signal when the measured deflection angle reaches the predetermined threshold; and
a sensory output device which indicates the weight of payload of the vehicle in response to the output signal of the controller;
wherein the controller is configured to compare the measured deflection angle of the at least one suspension component to a predetermined threshold and generate the output signal when the measured deflection angle reaches the predetermined threshold.
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Abstract
A system and method for indicating the load condition of a vehicle having suspension components comprising:
- at least one of an inclinometer or an accelerometer mounted on at least one suspension component to measure the deflection angle of the suspension component; and
- a controller configured to use deflection angle and generate an output representative of the load condition of the vehicle.
53 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for indicating a weight of payload of a vehicle having suspension components, the system comprising:
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a static gravity-sensing accelerometer mounted on at least one suspension component of a suspension assembly, positioned between a vehicle chassis and a wheel hub, and configured as an inclinometer to measure a deflection angle of the at least one suspension component; a controller configured to generate an output signal representative of the weight of payload of the vehicle, wherein the controller uses based upon a comparison of the measured deflection angle of the at least one suspension component to generate the output signal a predetermined threshold and generate the output signal when the measured deflection angle reaches the predetermined threshold; and a sensory output device which indicates the weight of payload of the vehicle in response to the output signal of the controller;
wherein the controller is configured to compare the measured deflection angle of the at least one suspension component to a predetermined threshold and generate the output signal when the measured deflection angle reaches the predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 17, 18)
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6. A method of monitoring the weight of payload of a vehicle having suspension components, the method comprising:
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monitoring a suspension assembly by determining a deflection angle of at least one suspension component of the suspension assembly, positioned between a vehicle chassis and a wheel hub, using a static gravity-sensing accelerometer this is configured as an inclinometer and mounted on the at least one suspension component and configured as an inclinometer; comparing the deflection angle of the at least one suspension component to a predetermined threshold; generating an output signal which is representative of the weight of payload of the vehicle when the deflection angle reaches the predetermined threshold; and using the output signal to activate a sensory output device which indicates the weight of payload of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 19, 20)
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11. A method of monitoring the weight of payload of a vehicle having suspension components, the method comprising:
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monitoring a suspension assembly by determining a deflection angle of at least one suspension component of the suspension assembly, positioned between a vehicle chassis and a wheel hub, using a static gravity-sensing accelerometer mounted on the at least one suspension component and configured as inclinometer; comparing the monitored deflection angle to a predetermined threshold; and activating a sensory output device when the monitored deflection angle reaches the predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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21. A system for indicating a weight of payload of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a suspension assembly; a static gravity-sensing accelerometer mounted on at least one suspension component of the suspension assembly, positioned between a vehicle chassis and a wheel hub, and configured as an inclinometer to measure a deflection angle of the at least one suspension component; a controller configured to generate an output signal based upon a comparison of the measured deflection angle of the at least one suspension component to a predetermined threshold and generate the output signal when the measured deflection angle reaches the predetermined threshold; and a sensory output device which indicates the weight of payload of the vehicle in response to the output signal of the controller.
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22. A system for indicating a weight of payload of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a vehicle suspension assembly; a static gravity-sensing accelerometer, mounted on the vehicle suspension assembly in a position between a vehicle chassis and a vehicle wheel hub, that functions as an inclinometer to measure a deflection angle of at least one suspension component of the suspension assembly; a controller that generates an output signal when the measured deflection angle of the at least one suspension component reaches a predetermined threshold; and a sensory output device that indicates the weight of payload of the vehicle in response to the controller'"'"'s output signal.
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Specification