Suspension system having active compensation for vibration
First Claim
1. A suspension system for a seat, the suspension system comprising:
- a base;
a linkage;
a seat attached to the base via the linkage;
a pneumatic shock absorber providing a resistance level against movement of the seat with respect to the base based on a pressure level of air or gas within the pneumatic shock absorber, wherein the pneumatic shock absorber provides passive damping in response to vibrations transmitted to the seat;
a motor having an output member operably coupled to the seat wherein the motor provides active damping in response to the vibrations;
a first sensor for detecting first sensor data associated with an instantaneous position of the seat versus time; and
a controller for generating at least one of a first control signal for the motor to change a height of the seat in opposition to a change in the instantaneous position of the seat and a second control signal to change the pressure level within the pneumatic shock absorber, wherein the controller adjusts a ratio between the passive damping and the active damping to maintain a constant overall damping response during a time interval by increasing the pressure level within the pneumatic shock absorber and decreasing an amplitude of position changes of the motor or by decreasing the pressure level within the pneumatic shock absorber and increasing the amplitude of the position changes of the motor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A suspension system for a seat of a vehicle comprises a base, a linkage, and a seat attached to the base via the linkage. A pneumatic shock absorber provides a respective resistance level against movement of the seat with respect to the base based on a corresponding pressure level of air or gas within the pneumatic shock absorber. An output member of a linear motor is connected to the seat via a bracket. A first sensor is arranged to detect first sensor data associated with an instantaneous position of the seat versus time. A controller generates at least one of a first control signal for the linear motor to change a height of the seat in opposition to a change in the instantaneous position of the seat and a second control signal to change the pressure level.
36 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A suspension system for a seat, the suspension system comprising:
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a base; a linkage; a seat attached to the base via the linkage; a pneumatic shock absorber providing a resistance level against movement of the seat with respect to the base based on a pressure level of air or gas within the pneumatic shock absorber, wherein the pneumatic shock absorber provides passive damping in response to vibrations transmitted to the seat; a motor having an output member operably coupled to the seat wherein the motor provides active damping in response to the vibrations; a first sensor for detecting first sensor data associated with an instantaneous position of the seat versus time; and a controller for generating at least one of a first control signal for the motor to change a height of the seat in opposition to a change in the instantaneous position of the seat and a second control signal to change the pressure level within the pneumatic shock absorber, wherein the controller adjusts a ratio between the passive damping and the active damping to maintain a constant overall damping response during a time interval by increasing the pressure level within the pneumatic shock absorber and decreasing an amplitude of position changes of the motor or by decreasing the pressure level within the pneumatic shock absorber and increasing the amplitude of the position changes of the motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A suspension system for a seat, the suspension system comprising:
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a base; a linkage; a seat attached to the base via the linkage; a pneumatic shock absorber providing a resistance level against movement of the seat with respect to the base based on a pressure level of air or gas within the pneumatic shock absorber, wherein the pneumatic shock absorber provides passive damping in response to vibrations transmitted to the seat; a motor having an output member operably coupled to the seat wherein the motor provides active damping in response to the vibrations; a first sensor for detecting first sensor data associated with an instantaneous position of the seat versus time; and a controller for generating at least one of a first control signal for the motor to change a height of the seat in opposition to a change in the instantaneous position of the seat and a second control signal to change the pressure level within the pneumatic shock absorber, wherein the controller adjusts a ratio between the passive damping and the active damping to maintain a constant overall damping response during a time interval by increasing the pressure level within the pneumatic shock absorber and decreasing an amplitude of position changes of the motor or by decreasing the pressure level within the pneumatic shock absorber and increasing the amplitude of the position changes of the motor, and wherein the controller sets the pressure level of an interior chamber of the pneumatic shock absorber to be generally proportional to a weight of an operator that occupies the seat. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification