Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080221756 | Air suspension to control power hop - Apparatus, systems and methods for controlling power-hop in a heavy vehicle, e.g., an earth-moving apparatus, such as an earth-moving scraper. | 09-11-2008 |
20080221757 | Method for operating an actuator, especially an electric actuator in a stabilizer arrangement - Method for operating an adjustable stabilizer arrangement, comprising an actuator, which applies actuator torque to stabilizer sections as a function of a command variable to influence the rolling movement of a motor vehicle body, where sensors are used to detect the movement of the motor vehicle body and the movements of the wheels, where an operating movement of the actuator supplies a variable which can be used to determine the actuator torque, upon which is superimposed an adjustment signal for the actuator, and where the variable is modified by a weighting factor. | 09-11-2008 |
20080228352 | VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - A suspension system for use on a vehicle having two or more rear axles. The suspension system includes a plurality of gas springs and plurality of height sensors capable of outputting signals having a relation to distances between the respective ends of the respective first and second rear axles and the sprung mass of the vehicle. A control system adapted to selectively inflate or deflate respective ones of the plurality of gas springs to thereby adjust a leveled orientation of the sprung mass. The control system includes a controller that is adapted to determine a rear axle vertical offset and a rear axle articulation offset. The controller is adapted to determine whether conditions are appropriate for adjusting the suspension system by comparing the rear axle vertical offset and/or the rear axle articulation offset to a corresponding vertical offset threshold and/or an articulation offset threshold. A method is also included. | 09-18-2008 |
20080234896 | CONTROL APPARATUS OF VARIABLE DAMPING FORCE DAMPER - A control apparatus of a variable damping force damper used to suspend a vehicle body of a vehicle is configured to set a target control quantity of the variable damping force damper based on a plurality of dynamic state quantities of the vehicle, wherein the plurality of dynamic state quantities include a vertical dynamic state quantity of the vehicle. | 09-25-2008 |
20080243334 | Vehicle Control System With Advanced Tire Monitoring - A control system ( | 10-02-2008 |
20080269986 | System and Method for Controlling the Axle Load Split Ratio on a Vehicle With Two Front Axles - A system is provided for controlling the load split between the axles and thereby the theoretical wheelbase of a vehicle having two front axles being suspended in suspension units at least some of which have springs with adjustable stiffness. A method for controlling the load split between the axles and to a motor vehicle including such a system and/or by use of such a method is also disclosed. | 10-30-2008 |
20080275606 | VEHICLE ACTIVE SUSPENSION SYSTEM - The invention relates to a vehicle active suspension system. There is a need for an active suspension system which can alert an operator to certain conditions. The suspension system includes an actuator for moving a second vehicle part relative to a first vehicle part. The suspension system also includes sensors and a control unit. A vehicle operator is located in or on the second part. The sensors sense vehicle parameters and transmit parameter signals to the control unit. In response to the parameter sensors, the control unit causes the actuator to move the second part in such a manner that the movement alerts the operator to the existence of a condition, such as a critical or non-optimal operating state of the utility vehicle or of an implement coupled to the vehicle. | 11-06-2008 |
20080288138 | Method for Controlling the Quantity of Air in a Self-Contained Air Supply System for a Chassis - In order to simplify air flow control in a self-contained air supply system, an average control speed is calculated on the basis of a defined movement of the air springs ( | 11-20-2008 |
20080300751 | Suspension Control Device, Vehicle Comprising Said Device, Production Method Thereof And Associated Program - The invention relates to a device for controlling the suspension of the body shell of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the device comprises:
| 12-04-2008 |
20080300752 | Suspension Control Device, Vehicle Comprising Said Device, Production and Associated Program - The invention relates to a device for controlling the suspension of the body shell of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the device comprises:
| 12-04-2008 |
20090043451 | CONTROL METHOD FOR ADJUSTING ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED DAMPING SYSTEM IN MOTOR VEHICLES AND AN ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED DAMPING SYSTEM - A control method is provided for an electronically controlled damping system in a vehicle, wherein at least one characteristic quantity varying with different axle load conditions of an axle of the vehicle is determined, a correcting variable is established for an actuator of a vibration damper based on the characteristic quantity and the correcting variable is transmitted to the actuator of the vibration damper to adjust a desired damping behavior of the vibration damper. | 02-12-2009 |
20090055047 | SUSPENSION CONTROL DEVICE, VEHICLE COMPRISING SAID DEVICE, PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF AND ASSOCIATED PROGRAM - The invention relates to a device for controlling the suspension of the body shell of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the device comprises:
| 02-26-2009 |
20090062984 | SUSPENSION CONTROL DEVICE, VEHICLE COMPRISING SAID DEVICE, PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF AND ASSOCIATED PROGRAM - The invention relates to a device for controlling the suspension of the body shell of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the device comprises:
| 03-05-2009 |
20090062985 | VEHICLE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT DEVICE - A vehicle height adjustment device includes a vehicle height adjustment unit that changes the vehicle height at each wheel of the vehicle; a vehicle height sensor that detects the vehicle height at each wheel; a vehicle height control unit that executes the vehicle height control; a pressure sensor that detects the fluid pressure within the vehicle height adjustment unit; a control stop unit that temporarily suspends the execution of the vehicle height control if the detected pressure exceeds a threshold pressure; a road surface estimation unit that estimates the condition of a road surface over which the vehicle travels; and a control recovery unit that cancels the temporary suspension of the vehicle height control and allows the vehicle height adjustment unit to change the vehicle height if the road surface estimation unit estimates that the road surface over which the vehicle is traveling satisfies a predetermined condition. | 03-05-2009 |
20090082921 | Level control system for a motor vehicle - Disclosed is a level control system in which the operational readiness of the compressor ( | 03-26-2009 |
20090093928 | Trailer Oscillation Detection and Compensation Method For A Vehicle And Trailer Combination - A system and method of controlling a vehicle with a trailer comprises determining the presence of a trailer, generating an oscillation signal indicative of trailer swaying relative to the vehicle, generating an initial weighted dynamic control signal for a vehicle dynamic control system in response to the oscillation signal, operating at least one vehicle dynamic system according to the dynamic control signal, and thereafter, iteratively generating a penalty function for the weighted dynamic control signal as a function of the oscillation signal response. A neural network with an associated trainer modifies the dynamic control signal as a function of trailer sway response. | 04-09-2009 |
20090132120 | System and method of detecting a rough road condition - A system and method of detecting a rough road condition is provided. The system includes a shaft, a wheel connected to the shaft, wherein as the shaft rotates, the wheel rotates. The system further includes a sensor in communication with the wheel, wherein the sensor monitors the rotation of the wheel, and a processor in communication with the sensor. The processor performs the steps of receiving sensor monitoring data from the sensor, wherein the sensor monitoring data includes at least one predetermined point of the wheel sensed by the sensor, and the sensor monitoring data is timestamped by one of the sensor and the processor. The processor further performs the steps of forming a representative signal, and processing the representative signal to analyze the harmonics of the wheel rotation, such that a rough road condition can be detected based upon the harmonic analysis. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132121 | SPRUNG MASS VELOCITY ESTIMATING APPARATUS - A sprung mass velocity estimating apparatus used in a four-wheeled vehicle to estimate a sprung mass velocity for each wheel of the vehicle, comprises a state quantity detecting unit for detecting a state quantity of the vehicle, a base value calculating unit for calculating a sprung mass velocity base value for each of the four wheels based on a detection result of the state quantity detecting unit by using a prescribed oscillation model, and a sprung mass velocity calculating unit for calculating the sprung mass velocity for each wheel by mutually adjusting the sprung mass velocity base values for the four wheels. | 05-21-2009 |
20090132122 | SHOCK ABSORBER FOR CONTROLLING DAMPING FORCE CHARACTERISTICS - Disclosed herein is a shock absorber capable of controlling damping force characteristics. The shock absorber includes a cylinder filled with an operating fluid, a piston valve disposed inside the cylinder to divide an interior of the cylinder into a first chamber and a second chamber, a piston rod having one end extending outside the cylinder and the other end coupled to the piston valve inside the cylinder, a hollow chamber formed inside the piston rod to communicate with the first and second chambers, a free piston disposed within the hollow chamber to move up and down and to divide the hollow chamber into upper and lower chambers, and a variable part configured to control the damping force characteristics by adjusting a vertical displacement of the free piston. | 05-21-2009 |
20090143936 | GPS-based system and method for controlling vehicle characteristics based on terrain - System and method for controlling vehicle operating characteristics. The method includes receiving, at a vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data, and, based on the received GPS data, determining the vehicle's location. The method also identifies terrain map information associated with the vehicle's determined location and determines a terrain based on the terrain map information. The method then modifies one or more vehicle operating characteristics based on the determined terrain. | 06-04-2009 |
20090143937 | GPS-based traction control system using wirelessly received weather data - System and method for controlling vehicle operating characteristics. The method includes receiving, at a vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data, and, based on the received GPS data, determining the vehicle's location. The method then modifies one or more vehicle operating characteristics based on the determined weather characteristics associated with the determined location. The characteristics may include a suspension dampening characteristic, a spring rate characteristic, ABS braking characteristics, stability control system characteristics, a seat shock absorber characteristic, etc. | 06-04-2009 |
20090157257 | System for Regulating the Position of the Chassis of a Motor Vehicle - A system for regulating the position of a chassis of a motor vehicle has actuators which are to be set via actuating signals of a regulating and control unit, the position of the chassis or a part of the chassis being recorded via a gap sensor, and an adjustment is carried out via the actuators in case the measured sensor signals of the gap sensor deviate from specified setpoint values. On the vehicle's underside, at least three displacement measuring sensor device are located at positions that are at a distance from one another, each sensor device having a gap sensor that works in a contactless manner, via which at least two displacement measurements are able to be carried out in different directions. | 06-18-2009 |
20090171530 | Aerodynamic control of a three-wheel vehicle - This invention relates generally to an aerodynamic means to stabilize and tilt a three-wheel vehicle for cornering that is speed dependant and automatic in operation. Having a wing with movable control surfaces enables use of the wing to provide a tilting force utilized in cornering. If also connected by any of several means to the suspension system, the present invention also provides a vertically stabilizing force to counteract the pitching forces found in land vehicles due to surface irregularities encountered by the tires or wheels. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171531 | WHEEL ATTITUDE CONTROL METHOD AND WHEEL ATTITUDE CONTROL DEVICE - A wheel attitude control method of the invention comprises the steps of: chronologically obtaining acceleration data in a radial direction of a tire at a center position of a tire tread and at an off-center position spaced apart from the center position toward a shoulder; obtaining respective contact lengths at the center position and the off-center position from the acceleration data; and controlling a wheel attitude, which varies in accordance with changes in a load applied to the wheel when the braking force is imparted to the wheel, based on the obtained contact length at the center position and the obtained contact length at the off-center position. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171532 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND DEVICE FOR OPTIMIZING A VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION - A method, system, and device for optimizing a vehicle's suspension includes: mounting at least one modified passive shock with a plurality of sensors onto a vehicle, where the shock is adjustable for a plurality of damping forces; connecting the shock to an electronic control unit being for adjusting the damping forces of the shock and reading the plurality of sensors; and running the vehicle through a plurality of test cycles where the electronic control unit reading the plurality of sensors during each test cycle and adjusting the shock to a different damping force between each test cycle, where the adjusted shock emulating the damping forces of multiple standard passive shocks. | 07-02-2009 |
20090192673 | BICYCLE USER INTERFACE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF - A bicycle is disclosed having a control system with a user interface and an active suspension system. The control system includes a one or more sensors arranged to measure and transmit a signal indicative of the terrain over which the bicycle is being ridden. The active suspension system includes a valve box that is fluidly coupled to each chamber of the lower cylinder. An orifice in the valve box is changed in size in response to a signal from a sensor associated with the front wheel that changes the response of the suspension system due to changing terrain conditions. The user interface includes a selection device mounted to the handlebars that allows the user to change parameters of the active suspension system during operation of the bicycle. | 07-30-2009 |
20090192674 | Hydraulically propelled - gryoscopically stabilized motor vehicle - A hydraulically propelled, gyroscopically stabilized muter vehicle that exhibits extremely high fuel efficiency and personnel safety. Fuel efficiency is derived from the application of a large energy wheel functioning to provide energy storage as well as inertial stabilization The energy wheel never needs to be replaced and when its energy level as been depleted can be refilled almost immediately. Additional energy is stored in a conventional hydraulic accumulator. A small engine running intermittently for a short time and st its most efficient speed replaces expended energy. Expended energy is also replaced by regenerative decelerations well as wheel bounce. Safety is enhanced by the inertial stability of the energy wheel functioning as a gyroscope that prevents the vehicle from overturning. A Rate Gyroscope in conjunction with a computer controlled vehicle control system prevent spin out accidents. | 07-30-2009 |
20090198413 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL BASED ON DRIVER STATUS - A system and method for controlling the operation of stabilizing the movement of a vehicle between primary and secondary drivers is provided. A primary key is adapted to be associated to the primary driver. A secondary key is adapted to be associated to the secondary driver. A key ignition device is positioned on the primary and secondary keys and is configured to generate driver status signals indicative of whether the driver is a primary or secondary driver. The controller is adapted to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver or the secondary driver based on the driver status signals. The controller is further adapted to stabilize the movement of the vehicle. The controller is further adapted to selectively control the operation of stabilizing the movement of the vehicle in response to the driver status signals. | 08-06-2009 |
20090216403 | VEHICLE CHASSIS HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - A method and system for adjusting a relative leveled height of a sprung mass of a vehicle to an unsprung mass of the vehicle. The method also includes receiving an input from an operator for incrementally/decrementally changing the height of the sprung mass. A system for performing the method is also disclosed. | 08-27-2009 |
20090248246 | LOADING AND UNLOADING STABILIZATION IN AN ACTIVE SUSPENSION SYSTEM - An active suspension system includes a relative slow-responding force bias eliminator (such as a pneumatic actuator) and a relatively fast-responding actuator (such as an electromagnetic actuator) that together support a plant (such as a truck seat or vehicle cabin). The system also includes a load-unload detector (which may be a physical or virtual detector) to detect a loading or unloading of the plant. When such a loading or unloading is detected, the system causes the force bias eliminator to respond quickly (e.g., as quick as possible) while controlling the fast-responding actuator so as to preserve the available energy for operating the actuator (e.g., so as to keep the fast-responding actuator from consuming all of its available energy) prior to when the force bias eliminator can respond. | 10-01-2009 |
20090248247 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR A WHEEL SUSPENSION SYSTEM - In a control device for controlling a variable element of a wheel suspension system, the variable suspension element associated with one of the wheels is controlled at least according to an output of a sensor associated with a different one of the wheels. The output of the sensor may include a sprung mass speed of a vehicle part associated with each wheel. The variable suspension element may include a variable damping force damper or a variable spring constant spring. Thereby, an undesired response of a vehicle body can be avoided even when a vehicle is subjected to an uneven distribution of wheel loads such as when the vehicle is traveling over a slanted road surface or making a turn. | 10-01-2009 |
20090281691 | Vehicle control device - A vehicle control device and a vehicle are provided with compatibility between high grip performance and fuel efficiency. When a camber angle of a wheel is adjusted as a negative camber, the ground contact pressure on a first tread is increased and the ground contact pressure on a second tread is decreased, thus providing the high grip performance. On the other hand, when the camber angle of the wheel is adjusted as a positive camber, the ground contact pressure on the first tread is decreased and the ground contact pressure on the second tread is increased, thereby reducing resistance and achieving fuel saving. By adjusting the camber angle of the wheel, compatibility can be provided between high grip performance and fuel saving which otherwise conflict with each other. | 11-12-2009 |
20090319123 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING A VIBRATION LEVEL OF A WHEEL WITHIN A RESONATING FREQUENCY RANGE OF A VEHICLE SUSPENSION - A method that detects whether the vibration level of the wheel is within the resonating frequency range by utilizing discrete velocity measurements. The method includes continuously measuring velocity levels of a wheel relative to a sprung mass vehicle component. These measurements are continuously recorded over a period of time. A periodic algorithm is provided, and the periodic algorithm and the velocity measurements are utilized to determine an output value. The output value is utilized to determine whether the vibration level of the wheel is within the resonating frequency range. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319124 | INVERTED WHEEL TYPE MOVING BODY AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME (AS AMENDED) - An inverted wheel type moving body according to the present invention includes a right chassis | 12-24-2009 |
20100010709 | BICYCLE DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF OPERATION - A bicycle is disclosed having a control system with a user interface and an active suspension system. The control system includes a one or more sensors arranged to measure and transmit a signal indicative of the terrain over which the bicycle is being ridden. The active suspension system includes a valve box that is fluidly coupled to each chamber of the lower cylinder. An orifice in the valve box is changed in size in response to a signal from a sensor associated with the front wheel that changes the response of the suspension system due to changing terrain conditions. The user interface includes a selection device mounted to the handlebars that allows the user to change parameters of the active suspension system during operation of the bicycle. | 01-14-2010 |
20100017057 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTABLE DAMPING FORCE - Upon searching control parameter used to adjust damping force of a damper from a map in accordance with damper speed and target damping force decided based on moving condition of the vehicle, the map sets the control parameter, which are relatively higher than the actual damping force characteristics, as map data in the area where the damper speed is less than a predetermined value, the area where the noise has the great influence on the sensor outputs. Therefore, it can be prevented that the control parameter of the damping force is varied largely or varied in a short period by the influence of noise, and the driving stability control of the vehicle can be executed exactly and the noise caused by switching the damping force of the damper can be reduced. | 01-21-2010 |
20100023211 | INFLUENCING DEVICE COMPRISING A DIAGNOSIS UNIT FOR INFLUENCING AN ACTIVE SUSPENSION SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE - An influencing device for influencing an active chassis system is provided. A roadway sensor produces sensor data relating to a roadway which is located in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel, the sensor data is used to acquire a roadway profile. A pilot control unit determines, as a function of the acquired roadway profile, a pilot control variable which is used to adapt the setting of the spring or damper units to the acquired roadway profile. A diagnostic unit acquires a deviation between the anticipated state of the vehicle and the actual, current state of the vehicle on a basis of a variable which describes the roadway profile and a variable which describes the current state of the vehicle. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023212 | STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND VEHICLE SYSTEM HAVING THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR - A steering angle sensor and a vehicle system having the sensor are disclosed. The steering angle sensor for mounting on a vehicle comprises a main gear coupled to and rotated with a steering column; a first auxiliary gear and a second auxiliary gear meshed with the main gear, respectively; angular detection means mounted adjacent to the first and the second auxiliary gears respectively for generating electric signals in concert with rotations of the first and the second auxiliary gears; and a calculation/control module for calculating steering angles from the electric signals generated by the angular detection means, determining a duty ratio corresponding to the steering angle and generating a rough gain pulse width modulation signal and a fine gain pulse width modulation signal. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023213 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - A vehicle control device which can at least provide compatibility between a high grip performance and fuel efficiency or compatibility between quietness and fuel efficiency is provided. When a camber angle of a wheel | 01-28-2010 |
20100036561 | Method for operating a vehicle - In a method for operating a vehicle with wheel suspensions which each have a characteristic curve, the characteristic curve generates a relation between the weight of the vehicle, applied to each wheel suspension, and the respective height of the vehicle at the wheel suspension point. At least two height sensors detect the height at the wheel suspensions, a reference height is associated with the height sensors and represents a pre-defined loading state of the vehicle. The method provides: detecting the height, determining the forces applied to the vehicle, determining the acceleration of the vehicle on the basis of the forces applied to the vehicle, determining an estimated value for the mass of the vehicle from the forces and the acceleration of the vehicle, and determining values representing the reference heights from at least the estimated value for the mass of the vehicle, the characteristic curves of the wheel suspension, and the detected heights. | 02-11-2010 |
20100042291 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING/REGULATING AN ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED DAMPING SYSTEM IN A CONVERTIBLE MOTOR VEHICLE - A method is provided for regulating an electronically controlled damping system in a convertible motor vehicle with a vehicle roof that can be transferred into an open position and into a closed position. The damping system includes at least one vibration damper with an electronically controllable actuator for adjusting a damping force of the vibration damper on at least one wheel suspension of the vehicle and a control unit that is functionally connected to the actuator and serves for controlling/regulating the damping force of the controllable vibration damper. The method further includes, but not limited to controlling the damping force of the at least one controllable vibration damper is in at least partial dependence on the position of the vehicle roof. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042292 | Device and Method for Influencing the Spring Force Characteristic of an Active Chassis of a Motor Vehicle - A device and a method for influencing the spring force characteristic of an active chassis of a motor vehicle are provided. A wheel spring device is arranged between a vehicle body and a wheel carrier of the motor vehicle. The spring force characteristic of the wheel spring device can be modified by controlling an actuating device. A sensor detects a prediction variable representing the vertical profile of a route ahead in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle. A control device controls the actuating device as a function of the detected prediction variable in such a way that the spring force characteristic of the wheel spring device is adapted in a predictive fashion to the course of the sensed vertical profile of the route ahead in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042293 | Suspension System with Optimized Damper Response for Wide Range of Events - An analytical methodology for the specification of progressive optimal compression damping of a damper of a suspension system to negotiate a multiplicity of severe events, yet provides very acceptable ride quality and handling during routine events. The damping response of the damper is optimized based upon a progressive optimal constrained events damping function derived from a low envelope curve incorporated with a predetermined damper force acting on the wheel center below a predetermined wheel center velocity, u | 02-18-2010 |
20100063678 | MOTION CONTROL SENSOR SYSTEM FOR A MOVING UNIT AND MOTION CONTROL SYSTEM - A motion control sensor system and motion control system for a moving unit have a physical quantity sensor in an unsprung mass of the moving unit so that physical quantities in the unsprung mass can be detected, bypassing the spring. An acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration exerted on the unsprung mass of the moving unit is placed so that its detection axis crosses the operation axis of the moving unit, so acceleration due to angular acceleration around the operation axis is not detected. Accordingly, the motion control sensor system and motion control system are suitable for running stability control during cornering of the moving unit. | 03-11-2010 |
20100082202 | NONLINEAR FREQUENCY DEPENDENT FILTERING FOR VEHICLE RIDE/STABILITY CONTROL - A system and method for facilitating ride and stability control of a vehicle. The system includes a plurality of suspension displacement sensors, with each of the plurality of suspension displacement sensors positioned proximate to a suspension element of the vehicle. The system further includes a nonlinear filter for filtering out a wheel hop frequency from the suspension velocity corresponding to at least one of the plurality of suspension displacement sensors to obtain a resultant suspension velocity. The resultant suspension velocity is used by a control unit to determine the pitch velocity, roll velocity and the heave velocity of the vehicle. | 04-01-2010 |
20100094503 | VEHICULAR ACTUATOR SYSTEM - An actuator system for determining a relative height differential between a housing of an actuator assembly and a body of the actuator assembly for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has a suspension wherein the housing is coupled to a first portion of the suspension, and the body is coupled to a second portion of the suspension. The system comprises a sensor coupled to the inside of the housing, and a target coupled to the outside of the body, the sensor and the target cooperating to form a magnetic field that varies in a manner indicative of the distance therebetween. | 04-15-2010 |
20100121529 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A SEMI-ACTIVE SUSPENSION - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a controllable suspension system ( | 05-13-2010 |
20100125389 | HEIGHT SENSING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICULAR SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY - A system is provided for determining a distance between a vehicular suspension assembly and the ground, wherein the suspension assembly has a first member. The system comprises a first transceiver coupled to the first member for emitting a first interrogation signal toward the ground, and for receiving a first reflection of the first interrogation signal from the ground, and a processor coupled to the first transceiver for determining the distance of the first transceiver from the ground. | 05-20-2010 |
20100152969 | ACTIVE SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - An active suspension system and method for controlling the height of a vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the active suspension system receives information from one or more input sources, including both internal and external vehicle inputs, and uses that information to actively control the vehicle height. By doing so, the active suspension system can reduce aerodynamic drag on the vehicle and improve the vehicle's fuel economy, ride comfort, handling, and other aspects of operation. Some examples of external vehicle inputs that may be used include: short-range road and vehicle information, as well as long-range traffic, road and route information. | 06-17-2010 |
20100168959 | Hydraulic Suspension System for Work Vehicle - The hydraulic suspension system comprises a suspension mechanism ( | 07-01-2010 |
20100204885 | SUSPENSION SYSTEM - A suspension system including: (a) a vibration obtaining device configured to obtain vertical vibration of each of at least one of a sprung portion and an unsprung portion of a vehicle; (b) a processing device configured to subject the obtained vibration to a phase advance processing, and having a plurality of characteristics different from each other with respect to a degree by which a phase of the obtained vibration is advanced; (c) a characteristic selector configured to select one of the plurality of characteristics, based on frequency of the obtained vibration of each of at least one of the sprung and unsprung portions, whereby the obtained vibration is subjected to the phase advance processing that is performed in accordance with the selected one of the plurality of characteristics of the processing device; and (d) a suspension controller configured to control a suspension disposed between the sprung and unsprung portions, based on the vibration subjected to the phase advance processing. | 08-12-2010 |
20100211261 | VEHICLE BEHAVIOR CONTROL SYSTEM - Provide is a vehicle behavior control system that can achieve a rear wheel steering control demonstrating a high rate of response at all times without requiring the actuator for the rear wheels to be steered to be unduly increased. A control unit ( | 08-19-2010 |
20100250065 | AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF OPERATING VEHICLES - Automotive systems and methods for operating vehicles are provided. In an embodiment, when a speed sensor senses that the vehicle speed is above a first speed threshold and an ambient light sensor senses that an ambient light intensity is below a first intensity threshold, a controller provides a first command to a suspension system to lower a first end of a vehicle body to a second front trim height position relative to a horizontal plane, where the second front trim height position is below a first front trim height position, and to lower the second end of the body to a second rear trim height position relative to the horizontal plane, where the second rear trim height position is below a first rear trim height position. | 09-30-2010 |
20100292894 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN ACTIVE VEHICLE SUBSYSTEM - A method is provided for controlling at least one active subsystem in a motor vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to the steps of repeatedly collecting vehicle motion data (a | 11-18-2010 |
20100332079 | CONSTANT FORCE CONTROL METHODOLOGY FOR SHOCK ABSORPTION - A Constant Force Control methodology and system utilizing integrated sensors and unique control algorithms to determine required applied force to mitigate shock events in an adaptive energy absorption system, typically comprising of a spring and an adjustable energy absorber or damper element. By utilizing an expected acceleration profile and event duration for an anticipated shock event an acceleration amplitude can be determined from a measure impact velocity. From this and a measured payload mass a system controller can determine the force necessary to be applied by the energy absorber in order to stop the payload over the full desired length of the available energy absorber stroke in order to minimize the forces experienced by the payload. | 12-30-2010 |
20110004374 | WHEEL SUSPENSION FOR A VEHICLE - Wheel suspension for vehicle, with support, steering knuckle connected in articulated manner with the support via interconnected joints, a vehicle wheel rotatably supported on the steering knuckle, a connecting element extending between a first joint and a second joint which is connected in an articulated manner via the first joint to the steering knuckle and via the second joint to the support, an angle detection device, for measuring the rotation angle of one of the joints and for generating an angle signal characterizing the rotation angle, an evaluation device, for evaluating the angle signal, and which is coupled with the angle detection device. The connecting element is a chassis actuator with an adjusting means, with which the length of the chassis actuator and thereby the position of the vehicle wheel is varied. The length of the chassis actuator is determined with the evaluation device by evaluating the at least one angle signal. | 01-06-2011 |
20110010048 | VEHICLE LOADING BASED VEHICLE DYNAMIC AND SAFETY RELATED CHARACTERISTIC ADJUSTING SYSTEM - A method of controlling a controllable chassis system or a safety system ( | 01-13-2011 |
20110022265 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR DAMPING-FORCE ADJUSTABLE DAMPER - A damping-force-adjustable-damper control device includes a target damping force setting unit which sets target damping force, a stroke position detecting unit which detects a stroke position of the damping-force adjustable damper, a stroke speed calculating unit which calculates a stroke speed, and a target output calculating unit which calculates a target output value to be output to the damping-force adjustable damper in accordance with an obtained target damping force and an obtained stroke speed. The control device also includes a processing-period setting unit which sets the processing periods of the stroke speed calculating unit and the target output calculating unit in accordance with a resonant frequency of unsprung mass, and which sets the processing period of the target damping force setting unit to be longer than the processing periods of the stroke speed calculating unit and the target output calculating unit in accordance with a resonant frequency of sprung mass. | 01-27-2011 |
20110022266 | VEHICLE-SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH REMOTE CONTROL - A control system of dynamics of a vehicle includes a processing and control electronic unit ( | 01-27-2011 |
20110029197 | ELECTRICALLY-POWERED ACTUATOR DRIVING CONTROL APPARATUS AND DRIVING CONTROL METHOD AND VEHICLE HAVING ELECTRICALLY-POWERED ACTUATOR DRIVING CONTROL APPARATUS - It is a task of the invention to obtain a favorable thrust force characteristic with respect to a stroke of an actuator even if the actuator is used in a thrust force control. To solve the task, in the present invention, a linear motor type electrically-powered actuator AC with a linear motor | 02-03-2011 |
20110035103 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANIPULATING THE MOVEMENT OF A VEHICLE BODY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE CONTROLLABLE OR ADJUSTABLE WITH RESPECT TO ITS MOVEMENT PROCESSES AND VEHICLE - A method and a system generates signals for influencing the movement of the body of a vehicle, wherein the chain of movements of which can be controlled or adjusted. The movement of the vehicle body is determined by sensors in relation to at least three wheels of the motor vehicle and the vertical acceleration of the vehicle body, the sensor signals that correspond to the determined sensor values are fed to a shock absorber controller which delivers at least one control signal to control actuators, in particular semi-active or active shock absorbers which are used to influence the movement of the body. The control signal for controlling the actuators is determined by the shock absorber controller from the sensor signals, with the aid of condition-dependent adjustment algorithms, taking into consideration current and/or expected conditions in conjunction with selectable requirements for the movement of the vehicle body and driving safety requirements. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035104 | SUSPENSION CONVERSION METHOD AND APPARATUS - Methods and apparatus for modifying a vehicle chassis. In one embodiment the modified vehicle is capable of being placed close to the roadway at a position suitable for deployment of a wheel chair ramp that complies with ADA requirements. In yet another embodiment, the vehicle can be raised to a position in which the frame of the vehicle is higher than it was when the ramp was deployed, such that the frame provides crash worthiness to the vehicle relative to side impacts. Yet other embodiments pertain to vehicles that have a plurality of wheels in which the suspension for the wheel is biased by a pneumatic spring. Various embodiments pertain to methods and apparatus for safely interlocking the operation of the pneumatic air springs with the controls of the vehicles. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035105 | LAND VEHICLES AND SYSTEMS WITH CONTROLLABLE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS - The land vehicle includes a body, a power plant and a plurality of land engagers, the land engagers for engaging land and propelling the land vehicle across land. The land vehicle includes a controllable suspension system, the controllable suspension system for controlling suspension movements between the body and the land engagers. The land vehicle includes a computer system and suspension sensors located proximate the land engagers for measuring suspension parameters representative of suspension movements between the body and the land engagers and outputting a plurality of suspension sensor measurement output signals. The land vehicle includes controllable force suspension members located proximate the land engagers and the suspension sensors, the controllable force suspension members applying suspension travel forces between the body and the land engagers to control the suspension movements. The land vehicle computer system includes controllable suspension system algorithms for controlling the controllable force suspension members to control vehicle body motion and the suspension movements between the body and the land engagers and inhibit the driver from crossing into an identified impending driver vehicle safety margin. | 02-10-2011 |
20110054736 | Device and Method for Driving Dynamics Control in a Vehicle - Disclosed is a device for influencing the driving dynamics of a vehicle with an electronic brake system. The device includes a brake actuator for adjusting a brake torque at least one wheel brake of the vehicle. The brake torque can be determined in a torque distributing device according to a yaw torque requirement. A first control unit can be activated in the presence of a critical driving condition as is used to determine a first yaw torque requirement due to driving dynamics control. A management device ( | 03-03-2011 |
20110060502 | MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A RIDE LEVEL CONTROL DEVICE - A motor vehicle is proposed having a ride level control device with a pneumatic lift system , with a ride level control unit, to which the operating parameters of the motor vehicle which are detected by sensors are fed. The ride level control unit is active if the ignition of the motor vehicle is switched on. Furthermore, when various conditions are met, the ride level control unit outputs a signal to the lift system so that the motor vehicle is raised. A bidirectional connection is present between the ride level control unit and the lift system in order to transmit feedback from the lift system to the ride level control unit. | 03-10-2011 |
20110066325 | CURVE-RELATED ACCIDENT MITIGATION - A vehicle control system includes one or more driver intent detection devices to detect at least a curve-negotiating intention of a driver. The system also includes one or more curvature detection devices, to detect or otherwise determine a road curvature. The system further includes one or more overspeed control devices, to, based at least in part on data received from the one or more curvature detection devices and data received from the one or more driver intent detection devices, cause braking to one or more vehicle tires and/or reducing engine torque to keep a vehicle accurately negotiating the curved road for the current driving condition. | 03-17-2011 |
20110071728 | CONTROL DEVICE OF AN INVERTED VEHICLE - The control device of the present invention applies only a damping to a vehicle if a load angular position is in the vicinity of a load angular position reference input. In the preferred embodiment, a control portion has a control switching unit and a switching linear torque unit. The switching linear torque unit calculates a damping torque and a linear feedback torque, the damping torque being obtained by applying a negative sign to a product of the load angular speed and the damping parameter, the linear feedback torque being obtained by multiplying at least one of a position tracking error, a speed tracking error, and an acceleration tracking error by a predetermined gain. The control switching unit switches and outputs the damping torque and the linear feedback torque. The control switching unit outputs the damping torque if the load angular position is in the vicinity of the load angular position reference input, and outputs the linear feedback torque otherwise. The embodiment enables the inverted vehicle to stably travel at a desired speed without vibration. | 03-24-2011 |
20110077822 | REMOTE CONTROL OF SLIDING TRAILER SUSPENSION LOCK PINS - A trailer sliding suspension is remotely controlled to move between locked and unlocked positions. To unlock the sliding suspension, the driver initiates generation of a first signal which is communicated to an electronic control unit of a trailer anti-lock brake system. The electronic control unit then generates an unlocking signal in response to the first signal to unlock the sliding suspension such that a position of the sliding position can be adjusted relative to a trailer supported by the sliding suspension. Once the sliding suspension is in the desired position, the driver generates a second signal which is communicated to the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit then generates a locking signal in response to the second signal to lock the sliding suspension to a trailer body rail. | 03-31-2011 |
20110087404 | Method for Operating A Control Device of A Motor Vehicle and Control Device of A Motor Vehicle for Carrying Out The Method - A system for actuating a passenger compartment control device of a force-transmitting device and a chassis control device of a motor vehicle, various functions of the devices are combined to form functional classes. The devices can be actuated simultaneously by a first selection of the functional classes. | 04-14-2011 |
20110098885 | Suspension System - A suspension system for a traveling vehicle body is disclosed. The system includes a suspension reference position varying mechanism ( | 04-28-2011 |
20110144863 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING VEHICULAR FUNCTIONS - A control system for a vehicle having at least one data communications bus; at least one firewall in communication with the at least one data communications bus, wherein the at least one firewall creates at least two data communications buses from the at least one data communications bus; at least one vehicle device in communication with at least one of the at least two data communications buses; wherein the at least one vehicle device is in communication with at least one firewall; and at least one firewalled controller in communication with at least one firewall. | 06-16-2011 |
20110153157 | WHEEL SUSPENSION FOR A VEHICLE - A wheel suspension for a vehicle comprising a wheel carrier ( | 06-23-2011 |
20110153158 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A SEMI-ACTIVE SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR MOTORCYCLES - A method and an apparatus for controlling a semi-active suspension system ( | 06-23-2011 |
20110160959 | Surface Vehicle Vertical Trajectory Planning - An active suspension system for a vehicle including elements for developing and executing a trajectory plan responsive to the path on which the vehicle is traveling. The system may include a location system for locating the vehicle, and a system for retrieving a road profile corresponding to the vehicle location. | 06-30-2011 |
20110172881 | METHOD FOR STABILIZING VEHICLE MOTIONS OF A SINGLE-TRACK MOTOR VEHICLE, USING THE ANGLE OF INCLINATION AND THE ATTITUDE ANGLE, AS WELL AS A DEVICE FOR SAME - In a method for stabilizing a vehicle motion of a single-track motor vehicle, e.g., a motorcycle, an angle of inclination of the motor vehicle relative to the roadway is recorded via inclination sensors and, after the processing of the angle of inclination in a computing device, a control signal based on this is supplied to a control device for bringing about a stabilization intervention in the vehicle motion, the attitude angle of the motor vehicle being recorded and jointly processed in the control device, using at least one attitude angle recording sensor. | 07-14-2011 |
20110202236 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUSPENSION ADJUSTMENT - Methods and apparatus of a system for vehicles comprising a vehicle suspension, a sensor operable to measure an operational characteristic of the vehicle suspension, and a processor in communication with the sensor that is operable to suggest an operational setting of the vehicle suspension in response to an input from the sensor corresponding to the operational characteristic. A method for adjusting a suspension of a vehicle may comprise receiving suspension data with a processor, calculating a suspension setting suggestion with the processor, communicating the suspension setting suggestion to a user interface device, and adjusting the suspension based on the suspension setting suggestion. | 08-18-2011 |
20110208390 | Electropneumatic Control Arrangement for an Automatic Vehicle Level Control System - The invention relates to an electropneumatic control arrangement for an automatic vehicle level control system, particularly of a commercial vehicle, wherein the control arrangement ( | 08-25-2011 |
20110208391 | STABILIZER CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - A stabilizer control device for a vehicle which performs a variable control of a torsional stiffness of a stabilizer provided between right and left wheels of the vehicle, including: an absolute roll information obtaining unit which obtains absolute roll information above a spring from an output of a sensor installed above the spring in the vehicle; and a stabilizer control unit which calculates a first anti-roll moment based on the absolute roll information and controls the stabilizer based on the first anti-roll moment. Therefore, it becomes possible to appropriately suppress a roll due to a steering input and a roll due to a road surface disturbance input and balance a handling and stability with a riding quality. | 08-25-2011 |
20110213527 | SPRUNG MASS DAMPING CONTROL SYSTEM OF VEHICLE - A sprung mass damping control system of a vehicle is provided. The sprung mass damping control system includes a sprung mass damping controller that sets a sprung mass damping control amount for damping sprung mass vibrations that occur in a vehicle body in response to an input from a road or a driver-requested torque, and a drive controller that controls an output of a vehicle drive unit so as to achieve the sprung mass damping control amount, thereby to execute sprung mass damping control. The drive controller is configured to permit or inhibit execution of the sprung mass damping control according to at least one of operating conditions of the vehicle, status conditions of the vehicle and driver's requests. | 09-01-2011 |
20110218707 | ELECTROMAGNETIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM - A change of performance of an electromagnetic suspension unit is detected. When an integral Σ|Vs′−Vs*| of an absolute value of a difference between an actual value Vs* and an estimated value Vs′ of an expansion/contraction velocity of a shock absorber is larger than a performance change threshold value Sth, it is detected that the performance of the electromagnetic suspension unit is changed. Further, when an integral Σ|Vs*| of an absolute value of the actual value Vs* is larger than an integral Σ|Vs′| of an absolute value of the estimated value Vs′ by a predetermined value, performance of the shock absorber is changed such that a damping force of the shock absorber is reduced. Thus, the performance change of the electromagnetic suspension unit is detected based on the expansion/contraction velocity of the shock absorber. | 09-08-2011 |
20110251757 | Electronic Circuit Arrangement with one or more semiconductor main relays and use thereof - Electronic circuit arrangement ( | 10-13-2011 |
20110257841 | ELECTRONIC SUSPENSION CONTROL APPARATUS - An electronic suspension control apparatus is provided with a signal receiving section, a suspension lockout determination section and a signal output section. The signal receiving section selectively receives input signals. The suspension lockout determination section determines a suspension lockout state. The signal output section outputs a temporary lockout release signal in response to the signal receiving section receiving a suspension height adjustment signal as one of the input signals while the suspension lockout determination section determines that a suspension lockout state exists. | 10-20-2011 |
20110301812 | Road vehicle crash control method, and road vehicle implementing such a control method - An embodiment of a method of controlling a road vehicle having a number of wheels; a frame housing a passenger compartment; and a number of suspensions suspending the frame from respective wheels, and expandible or contractable to adjust the height of the frame with respect to the ground; the method including the steps of: | 12-08-2011 |
20110307147 | VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH ADVANCED TIRE MONITORING - A control system ( | 12-15-2011 |
20120004806 | DAMPING FORCE CONTROLLER - The damping force of a damping force generation apparatus is controlled by operating an actuator on the basis of a control input u calculated by a state feedback controller K designed such that an L | 01-05-2012 |
20120010780 | DAMPING FORCE CONTROL APPARATUS - A control mode for a damping force characteristic is set to be a variable control when a product of the sum x | 01-12-2012 |
20120010781 | ALIGNMENT CHANGING CONTROL DEVICE AND FUEL CONSUMPTION MANAGEMENT DEVICE - A toe angle changing control ECU for controlling a toe angle of wheels of a vehicle. The toe angle changing control ECU includes: a straight traveling state judging section for judging whether or not the vehicle is in a; a memory for storing the toe angle of the wheels while the vehicle is in the straight traveling state; and a toe angle setting section for setting the wheels to the toe angle stored in the memory when the straight traveling state judging section judges that the vehicle is in the straight traveling state. While in the straight traveling state, the wheels are set to a toe angle at which the wheels are substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, reducing the rolling resistance of the wheels, and improving fuel consumption. | 01-12-2012 |
20120035807 | ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEROF AND PROGRAM - Provided are: an electric motor that applies steering assist force to a steering wheel; a target current determination unit | 02-09-2012 |
20120035808 | LAND VEHICLES AND SYSTEMS WITH CONTROLLABLE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS - The land vehicle includes a body, a power plant and a plurality of land engagers, the land engagers for engaging land and propelling the land vehicle across land. The land vehicle includes a controllable suspension system, the controllable suspension system for controlling suspension movements between the body and the land engagers. The land vehicle includes a computer system and suspension sensors located proximate the land engagers for measuring suspension parameters representative of suspension movements between the body and the land engagers and outputting a plurality of suspension sensor measurement outputs. The land vehicle includes controllable force suspension members located proximate the land engagers and the suspension sensors, the controllable force suspension members applying suspension travel forces between the body and the land engagers to control the suspension movements. The land vehicle computer system includes a controllable suspension system algorithm for controlling the controllable force suspension members to control vehicle body motion and the suspension movements between the body and the land engagers, and a health usage monitoring algorithm for monitoring sensors and assessing a health and a usage of the vehicle and its suspension components. | 02-09-2012 |
20120041642 | MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A RIDE HEIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM - Motor vehicle having a closed ride height control system which contains a control unit in which a switch-off limiting value for at least one operating parameter of at least one component of the ride height control system is monitored, wherein in raising processes the activation of the component is prohibited or aborted when the switch-off limiting value is reached, and upward transgression of the switch-off limiting value of the operating parameter is permitted in the case of lowering processes. | 02-16-2012 |
20120041643 | Device and Method for Controlled Damping of a Vehicle - A method and device for controlled damping of a vehicle stores a set of controller parameters R | 02-16-2012 |
20120046827 | Ride Height Control System and Method for Controlling Load Distribution at Target Ride Height in a Vehicle Suspension System - A ride height control system and method may be used to control load distribution at wheel locations in a vehicle suspension system at target ride height. Load distribution may be controlled by adjusting the forces applied by the suspension system at respective wheel locations while maintaining a target ride height. In an exemplary air spring suspension system or hydropneumatic suspension system, the applied forces may be adjusted by adjusting the pressure in the suspension system at the respective wheel locations. The ride height control system and method may determine and establish balanced target ride height forces (e.g., planar forces) to be applied at the wheel locations of the vehicle to prevent a cross-jacking condition. The ride height control system and method may also determine and establish target ride height forces for a vehicle on an uneven surface to prevent imbalances caused by wheel displacement. | 02-23-2012 |
20120046828 | Ride Height Control System and Method for Controlling Load Distribution at Target Ride Height in a Vehicle Suspension System - A ride height control system and method may be used to control load distribution at wheel locations in a vehicle suspension system at target ride height. Load distribution may be controlled by adjusting the forces applied by the suspension system at respective wheel locations while maintaining a target ride height. In an exemplary air spring suspension system or hydropneumatic suspension system, the applied forces may be adjusted by adjusting the pressure in the suspension system at the respective wheel locations. The ride height control system and method may determine and establish balanced target ride height forces (e.g., planar forces) to be applied at the wheel locations of the vehicle to prevent a cross-jacking condition. | 02-23-2012 |
20120046829 | DAMPING FORCE CONTROL APPARATUS - The magnitude of a linear damping coefficient C | 02-23-2012 |
20120046830 | Method for Controlling a Pneumatic Spring Assembly of a Motor Vehicle - The invention relates to a method for controlling a pneumatic spring assembly of a motor vehicle, wherein discrete condition parameters are derived from the condition of the motor vehicle and combined into parameter sets, wherein each parameter set is furthermore associated with a defined height control behavior, and wherein a height control behavior that is associated with a specific condition of the vehicle is set by appropriately activating at least one valve of the pneumatic spring assembly. | 02-23-2012 |
20120059547 | OPTIMAL CORNER CONTROL FOR VEHICLES - A method to control a vehicle having a plurality of wheels includes monitoring desired vehicle dynamics, determining a desired corner force and moment distribution based upon the desired vehicle dynamics and a real-time closed form dynamics optimization solution, and controlling the vehicle based upon the desired corner force and moment distribution. The real-time closed form dynamics optimization solution is based upon a minimized center of gravity force error component, a minimized control energy component, and a maximized tire force reserve component. | 03-08-2012 |
20120116634 | SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - A suspension system is provided to execute a control for avoiding a state in which an operation of an electric motor which is a power source of an electromagnetic actuator is kept halted at a certain operational position while the motor is generating a motor force. Where a target rotational position of the motor becomes equal to a specific operational position (e.g., a rotational position at which an electrifying current amount of one phase reaches a peak value), a control for shifting the target rotational position by δθ is executed. Where the rotational position of the motor is kept located at the certain position for a time period longer than a prescribed time, a control for changing the rotational position of the motor is executed. | 05-10-2012 |
20120130591 | BICYCLE USER INTERFACE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF - A bicycle is disclosed having a control system with a user interface and an active suspension system. The control system includes a one or more sensors arranged to measure and transmit a signal indicative of the terrain over which the bicycle is being ridden. The active suspension system includes a valve box that is fluidly coupled to each chamber of the lower cylinder. An orifice in the valve box is changed in size in response to a signal from a sensor associated with the front wheel that changes the response of the suspension system due to changing terrain conditions. The user interface includes a selection device mounted to the handlebars that allows the user to change parameters of the active suspension system during operation of the bicycle. | 05-24-2012 |
20120136537 | Methods and Apparatus for Suspension Adjustment - A shock absorber includes a gas spring cylinder containing a piston moveable between an extended position and a compressed position within the gas spring cylinder. A mechanical actuator is arranged whereby a bleed port is automatically closed when the gas spring is compressed to a predetermined position corresponding to a desired sag setting. In one embodiment, the position corresponds to a predetermined sag setting whereby the gas spring is partially compressed. In another embodiment, a proper sag setting is determined through the use of a processor and sensor that in one instance measure a position of shock absorber components to dictate a proper sag setting and in another instance calculate a pressure corresponding to a preferred sag setting. | 05-31-2012 |
20120166043 | SEMI-ACTIVE SNOWMOBILE REAR SUSPENSION - A snowmobile suspension system connected between a skid frame positioned below a chassis of a snowmobile. A limiter strap adjustment mechanism is connected between the chassis and the at least one limiter strap and selectively adjusts the length of the at least one limiter strap. A coupling arm adjustment mechanism is connected between the chassis and at least one coupling arm and selectively adjusts the length of the at least one coupling arm. A linear force device adjustment mechanism is connected between the chassis and the linear force device for adjusting the length and angle of the linear force device relative to the at least one rear arm resulting in control of the force displacement characteristics of the at least one rear arm. | 06-28-2012 |
20120166044 | SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR A BICYCLE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A SUSPENSION SYSTEM - A suspension system and a method for controlling a suspension system for a muscle-powered two-wheeled vehicle having a damper device with a first damper chamber and a second damper chamber coupled with one another via a controllable damping valve. A sensor is provided for capturing data about a current operational state. An electric control device and a data storage device for controlling the damper device are provided, such that at least one damping characteristic of the damper device can be influenced by a signal from the control device. The control device is configured and organized to provide a teaching mode in which route-related data are stored in the memory. The control device is furthermore configured and organized to provide a repeat mode in which the damper device is controlled according to the route-related data stored in the memory device. | 06-28-2012 |
20120179332 | VIBRATION-DAMPING CONTROLLING APPARATUS - In a vibration-damping controlling apparatus for performing vibration-damping control which is control to suppress sprung vibration occurring in a vehicle by controlling torque generated in a wheel of the vehicle, the vibration-damping control is inhibited by making magnitude of vibration-damping torque as a torque for vibration damping capable of suppressing the sprung vibration different from the magnitude of the vibration-damping torque when learning of an air-fuel ratio is not performed, during the learning of the air-fuel ratio at the time of operation of an engine as a power source of the vehicle. According to this, it becomes possible to inhibit the vibration-damping control and control of learning correction of the air-fuel ratio from interfering with each other. | 07-12-2012 |
20120191299 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVED DETECTION OF MINISPARE TIRES - A method of detecting a minispare tire in a vehicle having a vehicle control system. The method includes detecting a rotational velocity of each of a plurality of wheels of the vehicle; determining whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle based on the rotational velocities detected at each of the plurality of wheels; adjusting the vehicle control system if a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle; sensing a hydraulic pressure of a braking system of the vehicle; and suspending determination of whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle if the hydraulic pressure exceeds a predetermined critical pressure level. | 07-26-2012 |
20120197489 | ENERGY ABSORBER AND METHOD FOR SETTING A STIFFNESS OF AN ENERGY ABSORBER - An energy absorber for a vehicle is described, which includes a sensor integrated into the energy absorber, which is designed to detect an impact magnitude acting on the energy absorber and to provide information about the impact magnitude. Furthermore, the energy absorber includes at least one setting element, which is designed to set a stiffness of the energy absorber in response to the information about the impact magnitude. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197490 | DAMPING APPARATUS FOR REDUCING VIBRATION OF AUTOMOBILE BODY - A damping apparatus for an automobile is provided, capable of ensuring a high level of reliability while obtaining excellent damping effect with simple configuration. The damping apparatus for an automobile that reduces vibrations of an automobile body may include an actuator that is attached to the automobile body and drives an auxiliary mass; a current detector that detects a current flowing through an armature of the actuator; a section that detects a terminal voltage applied to the actuator; a calculation circuit that calculates an induced voltage of the actuator, and further calculates at least one of the relative velocity, relative displacement, and relative acceleration of the actuator, based on a current detected by the current detector and the terminal voltage; and a control circuit that drive-controls the actuator based on at least one of the relative velocity, relative displacement, and relative acceleration of the actuator calculated by the calculation circuit. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197491 | DAMPING APPARATUS FOR REDUCING VIBRATION OF AUTOMOBILE BODY - A damping apparatus for an automobile is provided, capable of ensuring a high level of reliability while obtaining excellent damping effect with simple configuration. The damping apparatus for an automobile that reduces vibrations of an automobile body may include an actuator that is attached to the automobile body and drives an auxiliary mass; a current detector that detects a current flowing through an armature of the actuator; a section that detects a terminal voltage applied to the actuator; a calculation circuit that calculates an induced voltage of the actuator, and further calculates at least one of the relative velocity, relative displacement, and relative acceleration of the actuator, based on a current detected by the current detector and the terminal voltage; and a control circuit that drive-controls the actuator based on at least one of the relative velocity, relative displacement, and relative acceleration of the actuator calculated by the calculation circuit. | 08-02-2012 |
20120203428 | ROAD PROFILE SCANNING METHOD AND VEHICLE USING SIDE FACING SENSORS - A motor vehicle and methods are presented in which side facing laser scanner sensors are used to detect road profile conditions and road obstructions in adjacent lanes and the profile information is used to update a central database for active suspension control in vehicles subsequently traveling along the scanned roadway. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203429 | METHOD FOR SETTING THE DAMPING FORCE FOR AT LEAST ONE VIBRATION DAMPER - A method for setting the damping force for at least one motor vehicle vibration damper which is connected between a vehicle body and a wheel, wherein, for the vibration damper or for each vibration damper, a damping force is determined and set within an actuating range defined by a lower limiting value and an upper limiting value, as a function of a vertical movement of the vehicle body, and as a function of a vertical movement of the respective wheel, and wherein the lower limiting value of the actuating range is also determined as a function of the vertical movement of the vehicle body and as a function of the vertical movement of the respective wheel. | 08-09-2012 |
20120221202 | BICYCLE SUSPENSION CONTROL APPARATUS - A bicycle suspension control apparatus includes a user operating device and a controller. The controller is configured to set a bicycle suspension having a plurality of operating states to a first operating state in response to a first manual operation of the user operating device. The controller is further configured to set the bicycle suspension to a second operating state in response to a second manual operation of the user operating device. The second manual operation is performed in a different operating manner of the user operating device than the first manual operation. | 08-30-2012 |
20120221203 | BICYCLE SUSPENSION CONTROL APPARATUS - A bicycle suspension control apparatus includes a user operating device and a controller. The controller is operatively coupled to the user operating device to selectively control a pair of bicycle suspensions between a plurality of operating states. The controller selectively changes the operating states of both of the suspensions to different ones of the operating states in response to a single operation of the user operating device. The controller includes a receiving part, a storage part and a control part. The receiving part receives combination information indicating at least one combination of the operating states from among combinations of the operating states of the suspensions. The storage part stores the combination information received by the receiving part. The control part controls the suspensions based on the combination information stored in the storage part when the user operating device is operated. | 08-30-2012 |
20120221204 | BICYCLE SUSPENSION CONTROL APPARATUS - A bicycle suspension control apparatus includes a user operating device and a control device. The control device is operatively coupled to the user operating device to selectively control a front bicycle suspension between a plurality of operating states and a rear bicycle suspension between a plurality of operating states. The control device is configured to selectively change the operating states of both the front and rear bicycle suspensions to different ones of the operating states in response to a single operation of the user operating device. The control device controls the front and rear bicycle suspensions such that a first operating state change operation of one of the front and rear bicycle suspensions occurs later than a second operating state change operation of the other of the front and rear bicycle suspensions. | 08-30-2012 |
20120221205 | BICYCLE SUSPENSION CONTROL SETTING DEVICE - A bicycle suspension control setting device includes a control device, an indicating unit, a selecting unit and a communication unit. The control device includes a plurality of setting information relating to a plurality of operating states for a bicycle suspension device. The indicating unit is operatively connected to the control device to indicate the setting information to a user. The selecting unit is operatively connected to the control device to selectively select at least one of the setting information that is to be indicated by the indicating unit. The communication unit includes at least one of a wireless connection section and a wired connection section configured to detachably connect to a bicycle suspension control apparatus to transmit the setting information selected by the selecting unit to the bicycle suspension control apparatus. | 08-30-2012 |
20120253598 | BICYCLE SUSPENSION CONTROL APPARATUS - A bicycle suspension control apparatus is provided with a power supply sensor and a controller. The power supply sensor detects a power level of a power supply being supplied from the power supply to an electrically adjustable suspension. The controller selectively changes a setting state of the suspension between at least a lockout state and a non-lockout state. The controller is operatively coupled to the power supply sensor to receive a power level signal from the power supply sensor. The controller prohibits changing of the suspension from the non-lockout state to the lockout state upon the power supply sensor detecting the power level of the power supply being below a first prescribed power level. The controller permits changing of the suspension from the lockout state to the non-lockout suspension state while the power level of the power supply is below the first prescribed power level. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253599 | BICYCLE SUSPENSION CONTROL APPARATUS - A bicycle suspension control apparatus is basically provided with a power supply sensor and a controller. The power supply sensor detects a power level of a power supply being supplied from the power supply to electrically adjustable front and rear suspensions. The controller is configured to selectively change at least one electrically adjustable suspension parameter of each of the front and rear suspensions. The controller receives a power level signal from the power supply sensor. The controller prohibits changing the electrically adjustable suspension parameter of the rear suspension upon the power supply sensor detecting the power level of the power supply being below a first prescribed power level. The controller permits changing the electrically adjustable suspension parameter of the front suspension upon the power supply sensor detecting the power level of the power supply being below the first prescribed power level. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253600 | BICYCLE COMPONENT CONTROL APPARATUS - A bicycle component control apparatus is basically provided with a controller and a detecting member. The controller is configured to control an operation of an electrical bicycle component by selectively outputting a control parameter. The detecting member detects an electrical connecting state between the controller and a manually operated input member for changing a setting of the electrical bicycle component. The controller outputs a predetermined control parameter based on the electrical connecting state. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253601 | BICYCLE COMPONENT CONTROL APPARATUS - A bicycle component control apparatus is basically provided with a power supply sensor and a controller. The power supply sensor detects a power level of a power supply being supplied from the power supply to two electrical bicycle components. The controller operates the two electrical bicycle components in response to receiving at least one signal from at least one input member. The controller operates the two electrical bicycle components at different starting times while the power level is below a prescribed power level. The controller is configured to simultaneously operate the two electrical bicycle components while the power level is above the prescribed power level. | 10-04-2012 |
20120265400 | VEHICLE VIBRATION-DAMPING CONTROLLING APPARATUS - In a vehicle vibration-damping controlling apparatus for executing vibration-damping control to control a power source loaded on a vehicle to suppress sprung vibration of the vehicle, a control amount of the vibration-damping control is changed based on a judgment target amount that is used in judging control and variable accompanied by an execution of the vibration-damping control. Therefore, since the control amount of the vibration-damping control is changed based on the judgment target amount, it is possible to allow the vibration-damping control to coordinate with various pieces of judging control related to the power source and appropriately execute the vibration-damping control. | 10-18-2012 |
20120290171 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - To provide a vehicle control device capable of improving the ride comfort on the vehicle. A vehicle control device for controlling operation of a vehicle including a vehicle body, and a tire for supporting the vehicle body and contacting with a ground surface, the vehicle control device includes an operation condition detecting unit configured to detect an operation condition that influences a side vibration of the vehicle body; a suspension geometry adjusting unit configured to adjust a suspension geometry of the vehicle; and a control unit configured to control operation of the suspension geometry adjusting unit based on a detection result of the operation condition detecting unit. | 11-15-2012 |
20120323444 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A MOVEMENT OF A VEHICLE BODY - Λ method for determining a vehicle body movement of a vehicle body of a vehicle ( | 12-20-2012 |
20130024070 | Vehicle Including Friction Control Device and Methods - A method for controlling a vehicle comprises operating at least one friction control device in a first friction mode, said at least one friction control device comprising one of a suspension damper, a lower control arm ball joint, a strut bearing, a steering rack guide, and an outer tie rod ball joint. The method further comprises changing operation of said at least one friction control device from the first friction mode to a second friction mode. | 01-24-2013 |
20130030648 | System, Program Product, And Method For Dynamic Control Of Vehicle - In a control system, a first estimator estimates, as a first controlled force, a force being applied to a controlled object. A second estimator estimates, as a second controlled force, a force being transferred to the controlled object. An external force estimator estimates, as an external force, a force being exerted on the vehicle as the vehicle runs. A dynamics estimator estimates, based on the first controlled force, the second controlled force, and the external force, a value of a parameter that represents the dynamics of the controlled object. A compensator compensates for at least one of the first controlled force and the second controlled force such that the value of the parameter is within a preset target range. | 01-31-2013 |
20130046440 | CONTROL UNIT OF A RIDE LEVEL CONTROL SYSTEM, AND RIDE LEVEL CONTROL SYSTEM - A control unit of a pneumatic ride level control system of a motor vehicle, the control unit deactivating at least one function of the pneumatic ride level control system and/or activating at least one function of the pneumatic ride level control system if a limiting value of at least one dynamic-movement variable is exceeded or undershot, keeping the or each deactivated function deactivated for a defined holding time and/or keeping the or each activated function activated for a defined holding time duration after a subsequent undershooting or exceeding of the limiting value, and subsequently ending the deactivation of the or each deactivated function and/or the activation of the or each activated function after the respective holding time duration has elapsed, and the control unit defining the respective holding time duration as a function of the magnitude of the exceeding or undershooting of the respective limiting value. | 02-21-2013 |
20130054091 | VEHICLE SUSPENSION AND PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS - A vehicle has a frame, at least two wheels, at least one front and one rear suspension assembly, at least one of the suspension assemblies including an air spring, an air compressor, at least one air spring valve selectively fluidly communicating the air compressor with the at least one air spring, an auxiliary air output, an auxiliary valve selectively fluidly communicating the auxiliary air output with the air compressor, a control unit electrically connected to the air compressor, the at least one air spring valve, the auxiliary valve, and a vehicle condition sensor. The condition sensor senses an operating condition of the vehicle. The control unit only opens the auxiliary valve to fluidly communicate the auxiliary air output with the air compressor when a predetermined operating condition of the vehicle is sensed by the condition sensor. A method of controlling a pneumatic system of a vehicle is also disclosed. | 02-28-2013 |
20130060422 | SUSPENSION DEVICE - A suspension apparatus | 03-07-2013 |
20130073145 | VEHICLE DAMPING CONTROL DEVICE - A correction torque command is outputted to a driving/braking torque producing means in accordance with a correction torque to suppress vehicle body sprung vibration. When a state of the correction torque amplitude being greater than or equal to a predetermined amplitude continues for a predetermined time, a control apparatus outputs a hunting time correction torque command smaller than a normal time correction toque command. When a state of the correction torque amplitude being smaller than or equal to the predetermined amplitude continues for a first predetermined time, the control apparatus returns the output of correction torque command from the hunting time correction torque command to the normal time correction torque command. The control apparatus continues the output of the hunting time correction torque command if the state in which the correction torque amplitude exceeds the predetermined amplitude continues for the predetermined time, before the expiration of the first time period. | 03-21-2013 |
20130079987 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - In a vehicle control device, a dynamic characteristics description unit includes a model element simulating dynamic characteristics of motion or deformation of a controlled object. By using the model element, this unit simulates hysteresis characteristics caused during a process of motion or deformation of the controlled object based on at least one of an estimated value of the input manipulated variable and an estimated value of a disturbance input inputted in the controlled object, and defines a control target index of a motion state of the controlled object. A correction amount computing unit calculates a correction amount which adjusts the manipulated variable in such a way that the control target index related to the hysteresis characteristics becomes a desired state. A command output unit corrects manipulated variable based on the correction amount to produce a command for the corrected manipulated variable to output it to the controlled object. | 03-28-2013 |
20130090808 | MULTI-FUNCTION DAMPER SYSTEM - The embodiments of the invention are directed to a method and apparatus for improvement in the function of dampers used on mobile vehicles such as recreational vehicles. The main function of current dampers (sometimes called shock absorbers) is to extract energy from the suspension system of a moving vehicle by forcing liquid through a system of valves internal to the damper. This invention adds two more functions. One is to lock the suspension so it cannot move when the vehicle is stationary. The second additional function is to level the chassis of the vehicle with respect to the gravity field. | 04-11-2013 |
20130096776 | ABSOLUTE ACCELERATION SENSOR FOR USE WITHIN MOVING VEHICLES - A communication system for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor configured to emit a periodic function with a parameter correlated to the speed of the vehicle, an acceleration monitoring system, a braking system engagement detector to detect a braking status of the vehicle, an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, and a control device. The acceleration monitoring system is configured to compute the acceleration of the vehicle from variations in the parameter of the periodic function of the vehicle speed sensor and to output a deceleration status of the vehicle. The control device is coupled to the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector, and the alerting device, wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the deceleration status of the vehicle. | 04-18-2013 |
20130103259 | VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME - A system and method that may inspect an upcoming road segment and use that information to control certain aspects of a vehicle suspension system. In an exemplary embodiment, several cameras are used to evaluate an upcoming road segment and to provide road information to a control module so that damping and/or other aspects of an active or semi-active suspension system can be controlled in a feed-forward manner. Because the vehicle suspension system assesses a segment of the road that is ahead of the vehicle, as opposed to one currently being encountered by the vehicle, the system may improve ride performance by anticipating and preparing for road conditions before they are actually encountered. | 04-25-2013 |
20130110350 | SHOCK ABSORBER CONTROL APPARATUS AND SHOCK ABSORBER CONTROL METHOD | 05-02-2013 |
20130124040 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A COMPRESSOR - A method for controlling a compressor of a compressed air supply in a vehicle pneumatic suspension. The compressor temperature is calculated using a temperature model and the compressor is switched off or continues to be operated in a different mode of operation when a permissible temperature T | 05-16-2013 |
20130138295 | BICYCLE USER INTERFACE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF - A bicycle is disclosed having a control system with a user interface and an active suspension system. The control system includes a one or more sensors arranged to measure and transmit a signal indicative of the terrain over which the bicycle is being ridden. The active suspension system includes a valve box that is fluidly coupled to each chamber of the lower cylinder. An orifice in the valve box is changed in size in response to a signal from a sensor associated with the front wheel that changes the response of the suspension system due to changing terrain conditions. The user interface includes a selection device mounted to the handlebars that allows the user to change parameters of the active suspension system during operation of the bicycle. | 05-30-2013 |
20130144489 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUSPENSION SET UP - A method and apparatus are disclosed that assist a user in performing proper setup of a vehicle suspension. A user may utilize a device equipped with an image sensor to assist the user in proper setup of a vehicle suspension. The device executes an application that prompts the user for input and instructs the user to perform a number of steps for adjusting the suspension components. In one embodiment, the application does not communicate with sensors on the vehicle. In another embodiment, the application may communicate with various sensors located on the vehicle to provide feedback to the device during the setup routine. In one embodiment, the device may analyze a digital image of a suspension component to provide feedback about a physical characteristic of the component. | 06-06-2013 |
20130151073 | BICYCLE COMPONENT OPERATING DEVICE - A bicycle component operating device includes a touch sensor and a controller. The controller is configured to control a bicycle component based on a control signal from the touch sensor. The touch sensor is separate from the bicycle component and is configured to provide the control signal to the controller based on a touching characteristic in which a user performs a subsequent touching of the touch sensor after performing an initial touching of the touch sensor such that the initial touching does not cause the controller to control the bicycle component. | 06-13-2013 |
20130151074 | VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM - A vehicle control system includes a control portion configured to determine a single parameter based on a running condition of a vehicle, and determine control amounts for a plurality of actuators provided in the vehicle based on the parameter. A relation of the control amount for each of the plurality of actuators to the parameter is predetermined. The control portion is configured to, when the parameter is determined, determine the control amounts for the respective actuators based on the parameter, and control the actuators based on the determined control amounts. | 06-13-2013 |
20130158798 | VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND CONTROL DEVICE - A vehicle control system includes an actuator capable of adjusting a behavior of a vehicle, a temperature detecting device configured to detect a temperature of a tire on a wheel of the vehicle, and a control device configured to control the actuator according to the temperature of the tire detected by the temperature detecting device so as to change a degree of suppressing a behavior change of the vehicle by the actuator. Therefore, the vehicle control system can suppress a variation in a driving feeling. | 06-20-2013 |
20130166149 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - A vehicle control device includes a spring mechanism configured to connect a sprung member and an unsprung member of a vehicle, generate a spring force according to a relative displacement between the sprung member and the unsprung member, and be able to variably control the spring force, and a damping mechanism configured to connect the sprung member and the unsprung member, generate a damping force for damping a relative motion between the sprung member and the unsprung member, and be able to variably control the damping force, wherein the spring mechanism and the damping mechanism are controlled based on a first physical quantity relating to a sprung vibration of the vehicle and a second physical quantity relating to an unsprung vibration of the vehicle. | 06-27-2013 |
20130184934 | VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM - A vehicle control system includes: an acceleration acquisition unit that detects or estimates an acceleration of a vehicle; and a control unit that is configured to change a running characteristic, which includes at least any one of a driving force characteristic, shift characteristic, steering characteristic and suspension characteristic of the vehicle, on the basis of the acceleration, wherein the control unit is configured to relatively delay a change of the running characteristic for decreasing quickness of behavior of the vehicle with respect to a change of the running characteristic for increasing quickness of behavior of the vehicle, and is configured to limit a change of the running characteristic when a jerk, which is a time differential value of the acceleration, is larger than a limit determination threshold as compared with when the jerk is smaller than or equal to the limit determination threshold. | 07-18-2013 |
20130184935 | ACTIVE DAMPING DEVICE, VEHICLE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ACTIVE DAMPING DEVICE - Provided is an active damping device (X) that suppresses vibrations of an object (T) to be damped by utilizing a reaction force generated when an auxiliary mass ( | 07-18-2013 |
20130197754 | ELECTRIC SUSPENSION CONTROL APPARATUS - The controller inputs a required thrust force value calculated by a required thrust force calculation unit, to a low frequency filter and a high frequency filter. Output values of the low frequency filter and the high frequency filter are amplitude-limited by a low frequency limiter and a high frequency limiter, respectively. Output values of the low frequency limiter and the high frequency limiter are added, and the added value is output into an inverter as a thrust force instruction value. In this case, a limit value of the low frequency limiter is set to be smaller than a limit value of the high frequency limiter. | 08-01-2013 |
20130204492 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for operating a motor vehicle which can be driven in at least two drive modes which differ from one another as to whether or not at least one wheel of the motor vehicle is driven is designed to increase the safety in the driving behavior when the drive mode changes, by adjusting a previously defined value which is assigned to the current drive mode for a variable that is related to a chassis device of the motor vehicle. | 08-08-2013 |
20130211674 | HYDRAULIC WHEEL SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR A 3-WHEELED MOTORCYCLE - A wheel suspension system for a three-wheeled motorcycle or “trike” includes parallel wheels mounted on vertically pivoting suspension arms governed by hydraulic pistons. The pistons have upper liquid reservoirs that are interconnected through a valve system, which interconnects the upper reservoirs when the trike is in motion, allowing opposing vertical wheel movements when banking through turns, and prevents liquid exchange when the trike is stopped, thereby holding the motorcycle upright, Embodiments include a manual and/or automatic valve control. A threshold switching speed for an automatic controller can be factory set and/or user adjustable. The pistons can include directly interconnected lower fluid reservoirs. A shock-absorbing reservoir can allow transient vertical movement of both wheels to absorb shocks. A cover system can emulate the appearance of saddle bags and can appear to be covering only a single wheel. | 08-15-2013 |
20130238191 | VEHICLE SUSPENSION AND PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS - A vehicle has a frame, at least one front wheel connected to the frame, at least one front suspension assembly connecting the at least one front wheel to the frame, at least one rear wheel connected to the frame, and at least one rear suspension assembly connecting the at least one rear wheel to the frame. At least one of the at least one front and at least one rear suspension assemblies includes an air spring. A seat is connected to the frame. An engine is connected to the frame and is operatively connected to at least one of the wheels. An air compressor is connected to the frame and fluidly communicates with the at least one air spring for supplying air to the at least one air spring. A control unit is electrically connected to the air compressor for controlling an operation of the air compressor. | 09-12-2013 |
20130253763 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A FAULT IN A RIDE HEIGHT SENSOR - A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a variance determination module and a fault detection module. The variance determination module determines a variance of samples generated from a ride height signal. The ride height signal is output by a ride height sensor that detects a ride height of a vehicle. The fault detection module detects a fault in the ride height sensor based on the variance. | 09-26-2013 |
20130275002 | VEHICLE AIR COMPRESSOR CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A suspension control system for a vehicle includes a pressure increasing module and a compressor control module. In response to a startup of the vehicle, the pressure increasing module: selectively sets a pressure increase signal to a first state when an air pressure within air bags of a suspension system is less than a predetermined pressure; and selectively sets the pressure increase signal to a second state when the air pressure is greater than the predetermined pressure. In response to the startup of the vehicle, the compressor control module: operates an air compressor of the suspension system when the pressure increase signal is in the first state; and disables operation of the air compressor when the pressure increase signal is in the second state. | 10-17-2013 |
20130297149 | Control Device For An Adjustable Chassis System - A control device for an adjustable chassis system includes a connection to at least one sensor arrangement which provides at least one vehicle condition parameter of a vehicle. The measured vehicle condition parameter is spatially related to a position outside of the control device. The sensor arrangement is arranged inside the control device and forms a virtual miniature measurement plane which is extrapolated to an actual measurement plane. | 11-07-2013 |
20130304318 | VEHICLE - Described herein are devices and methods for controlling inclination in a vehicle. In certain aspects, inclination of the vehicle can be controlled with an inclination control processing section that includes a first control value limiting processing section which calculates a moving amount of the centroid, calculates a maximum angular acceleration, and limits a variation of the control value for inclination control on the basis of the maximum angular acceleration. | 11-14-2013 |
20130338876 | AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH LOAD DETECTION - A method of controlling a suspension system for a vehicle which comprises determining a first filter vehicle height based upon a signal from at least one sensor located at a rear axle of the vehicle at a first time. A second filter vehicle height is determined based upon a signal from the at least one sensor located at the rear axle of the vehicle at a second time. The difference between the first filter signal and the second filter signal is compared to a forklift threshold and the suspension system is placed in forklift mode when the difference between the first filter signal and the second filter signal exceeds the forklift threshold. | 12-19-2013 |
20130345933 | Ride Performance Optimization In An Active Suspension System - 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. | 12-26-2013 |
20140005887 | ADAPTATION TO VEHICLE ACCESSORIES | 01-02-2014 |
20140005888 | ACTIVE WHEEL DAMPING | 01-02-2014 |
20140012467 | Surface Vehicle Vertical Trajectory Planning - An active suspension system for a vehicle including elements for developing and executing a trajectory plan responsive to the path on which the vehicle is traveling. The system may include a location system for locating the vehicle, and a system for retrieving a road profile corresponding to the vehicle location. | 01-09-2014 |
20140039758 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPERATING A CHASSIS - In a method for operating an at least semi-active chassis of a vehicle, a height profile of a road course which lies ahead in driving direction of the vehicle is determined with at least one sensor unit and at least one actuating unit of the vehicle is proactively controlled with the control unit, wherein an actual obstacle of the road course, which is displayed in the determined height profile is assigned to one of multiple predefined and store categories and a predetermined control signal is transmitted to the at least actuating unit based on the assigned category, wherein the actuating unit executes the control signal. | 02-06-2014 |
20140081522 | AUTOMATIC LEVEL CONTROL - A trailer vehicle function control system for a trailer. The system comprises an electronic control unit adapted to central the height of the trailer and communication means adapted to receive data concerning trailer height. In use, the communication means transmits data to the eieetronic control unit and the electronic control unit compares the actual tralier height with the received data concerning trailer height. If the actual trailer height is different to the remived data trailer height the electronic control unit adjusts the trailer height to the received data trailer height. | 03-20-2014 |
20140088828 | BICYCLE SUSPENSION - A control system for adjusting suspension settings of a bicycle, including a bicycle sensor configured to sense a coasting condition and a non-coasting condition and generate input signals indicative of the sensed condition, and a control unit in communication with the bicycle sensor and configured to generate output signals in response to the input signals, the output signals receivable by the bicycle suspension to selectively adjust the suspension settings. | 03-27-2014 |
20140088829 | VEHICLE HEIGHT ADJUSTING DEVICE - Technology is provided that enables vehicle speed to be grasped more accurately utilized for adjusting vehicle height. A vehicle height adjusting device includes: a relative position changing device capable of changing relative positions of a vehicle body frame and a rear wheel of a vehicle; a vehicle speed grasping section configured to grasp vehicle speed, which is moving speed of the vehicle body frame; and a change-over valve control section configured to control the relative position changing device on the basis of the vehicle speed grasped by the vehicle speed grasping section and change the relative positions of the vehicle body frame and the rear wheel to adjust vehicle height, which is the height of the vehicle body frame. The vehicle speed grasping section grasps the vehicle speed on the basis of front wheel rotating speed, which is the rotating speed of a front wheel, and rear wheel rotating speed, which is the rotating speed of the rear wheel. | 03-27-2014 |
20140095022 | Active Suspension System - An active suspension system for a sprung mass. The suspension system has an electromagnetic motor that produces force on the sprung mass and that is powered by power from a power source. The motor has an armature, and a stator with coils. Motor drive electronics include a power amplifier that delivers power to the motor coils; the motor drive electronics are physically separate from the motor. There is a non-volatile digital memory circuit that stores motor commutation calibration data that represents a mapping of coil input current to resulting motor force output; the memory circuit is integrated with the motor. There can also be a clamp circuit that selectively provides actuator damping by electrically connecting the coils together; when present the clamp circuit is also integrated with the motor. | 04-03-2014 |
20140095023 | Vehicle Air Suspension Control System - A method of automatically adjusting the ride height of a vehicle each time the vehicle is in a particular location is provided, where the automatic ride height adjustment is based on location and ride height information previously gathered from a user. | 04-03-2014 |
20140095024 | SUSPENSION CONTROL APPARATUS - A suspension control apparatus includes a damping force adjustable shock absorber disposed between a vehicle body and a wheel of a vehicle and capable of adjusting a damping force to be generated, a vertical movement detection device configured to detect a state regarding a vertical movement of a vehicle, and a controller including: a target damping force calculation section configured to calculate a target damping force based on a detection result of the vertical movement detection device, a correction section configured to calculate a corrected damping force, which is acquired by reducing the target damping force when a relative speed is a low speed between a sprung side and an unsprung side of the damping force adjustable shock absorber, and a control signal output section configured to output the control signal corresponding to the corrected damping force to the damping force adjustable shock absorber. | 04-03-2014 |
20140095025 | ADJUSTABLE HYSTERESIS CIRCUIT FOR CONTROL OF AIR SUSPENSION - This disclosure, and the exemplary embodiments described herein, provides vehicle suspension systems and methods including a plurality of gas springs and an associated height control system. The height control system includes height sensors associated with the gas springs, a valve arrangement, a pressurized gas service and a control circuit which includes a variable hysteresis circuit to dynamically control the response of the suspension. | 04-03-2014 |
20140095026 | Charging Control Unit and Method of Adjusting a Distance for an Inductive Charging Process - A method of setting an optimized distance for inductive charging between a coil system of an inductive charging station and a coil system of an electric vehicle includes determining, by the inductive charging station, the optimized distance and calculating position data based on the optimized distance determined. The method also includes transferring the calculated position data to the electric vehicle and calculating a suspension construction for the electric vehicle based on the position data. The method includes transferring data on the calculated suspension construction to a suspension control device of the electric vehicle. | 04-03-2014 |
20140114533 | DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF A VEHICLE - The present invention is a system for adjusting the height of vehicles that have coil spring suspensions. The invention may be added to existing vehicle suspensions without the need to remove and replace the existing vehicle suspension components. The invention includes cylinders, pistons, seals, dust shields, pressure pump(s) and storage tank(s). It also may optionally include electronic hardware, such as, an electronic controller and software, to control the functions of the system and sensor(s) which detect ground clearance and speed. The invention may be operated manually by a vehicle driver through push buttons, which may operate through the vehicle's existing cruise control buttons. Alternatively, the system can be automated through an electronic control unit (ECU) to avoid collision with obstacles in the vehicle's path. | 04-24-2014 |
20140121902 | Method and System for Vehicle ESC System Using Map Data - An Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system for a vehicle is disclosed. An electronic control unit (ECU) is programmed to reduce vehicle lateral skidding by reducing differences between an intended vehicle direction and/or yaw rate and an actual vehicle direction and/or yaw rate by applying modifications to operation of the vehicle brakes and/or throttle. The ESC system receives inputs from wheel speed sensors, a steering wheel position sensor, a yaw rate sensor and a lateral acceleration sensor. The ESC system also receives input that indicates at least a property of the road upon which the vehicle is located, wherein the road upon which the vehicle is located is determined from a positioning system that uses a map database and the property is determined from the map database. The ESC system incorporates the road property information in determining when and/or how to modify operation of the vehicle to reduce vehicle skidding. | 05-01-2014 |
20140129083 | Assisted Direct Start And Active Suspension Integration Control - A system for controlling an internal combustion engine. The system includes engine shutdown/restart means and energy storage means configured for supplying power to an associated active vehicle suspension system when the engine is shut down. A controller is configured for controlling the shutdown/restart means responsive to an energy state of the energy storage means. | 05-08-2014 |
20140156142 | System and method for automatic control of the ride height setting on a road-going vehicle - A method for automatically controlling the ride height system of a road going vehicle, based on the proximity of the vehicle to specified waypoints defined by the user. Waypoints are added or deleted by the user via a user interface. A program loop continually checks the proximity of the road going vehicle to the waypoints defined by the user and triggers the vehicle ride height system when the vehicle approaches a stored waypoint. | 06-05-2014 |
20140156143 | VARIABLE-GEOMETRY SUSPENSION APPARATUS AND VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH APPARATUS - A variable-geometry suspension apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus having a resiliently compressible member, such as a coil-over damper, an actuator and support structure, such as a chassis of a vehicle. The resiliently compressible member is mounted to the support structure for compression under the weight of a mass suspendable by the apparatus. The compressible member is mounted with at least one end of the compressible member displaceable in a displacement direction having a component perpendicular to the direction of compression, so that such displacement varies the geometry of the suspension apparatus and thereby varies the compression of the compressible member. The actuator is arranged for displacing the end of the compressible member in the displacement direction to vary the geometry and thereby vary the compression. Applications include motor vehicles such as cars and motorcycles. | 06-05-2014 |
20140163820 | METHOD FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING A PNEUMATIC RIDE-HEIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM OF A CHASSIS SYSTEM - A method for monitoring and controlling a chassis pneumatic ride-height control system. Repeatedly measuring a current height of the chassis; detecting when the current height of the chassis exceeds at least one predefined height threshold. A time interval threshold is associated with the height threshold; repeatedly measuring a time interval in which the current height of the chassis exceeds the predefined height threshold; detecting when the measured lime interval exceeds the predefined time interval threshold associated with the predefined height threshold; repeatedly checking whether both the height threshold and the associated time interval threshold are exceeded, and if so, preventing the current height of the chassis from rising further and/or increasing stability of the chassis; deactivating the measures when the repeated check shows that the current height of the chassis is below the at least one height threshold and the associated time interval threshold. | 06-12-2014 |
20140172233 | ELECTRONIC HEIGHT CONTROL FOR RECREATIONAL VEHICLES - A ride height control system includes a velocity monitor, corner ride height sensors, a processor receiving height inputs from the height sensors and velocity inputs from the velocity monitor. A cross-flow averager cooperates between the front airbags and is in communication with the processor. The cross-flow averager and the processor cooperate with the height sensors corresponding to the front corners, so as to provide a single pseudo height controller controlling, by selective actuation of the cross-flow averager, airflow between the corresponding front corners. The velocity monitor monitors forward velocity of the vehicle and provides velocity information to the processor. The processor causes the cross-flow averager to isolate the front airbags when the velocity is above a non-zero pre-set velocity and to allow a cross-flow of the airflow between the front airbags below the pre-set velocity. The pre-set velocity may be a range of velocities. | 06-19-2014 |
20140195112 | Adaptive Active Suspension System With Road Preview - A method for controlling an active suspension includes steps of determining a dimension of a road abnormality ahead of the vehicle and comparing the dimension with a vehicle dimension. Responsive to the comparison, the abnormality is classified as one type of a plurality of predetermined types. Responsive to a height dimension of the abnormality, the abnormality is further classified as having one of a small, medium, or large severity. The suspension is controlled responsive to the type and severity. | 07-10-2014 |
20140195113 | Adaptive Crash Height Adjustment Using Active Suspensions - A vehicle crash safety system includes a pre-crash sensing system configured for gathering and/or receiving target vehicle ride-height data, and at least one actuator operatively coupled to the sensing system and configured for adjusting a height of a portion of a host vehicle responsive to a command from the sensing system. A timing of the command is responsive to an estimated dynamic response time of the at least one actuator. | 07-10-2014 |
20140195114 | Suspension Control System To Facilitate Wheel Motions During Parking - A method for controlling a vehicle includes the step of determining if a curb parking operation is feasible for the vehicle. If a curb parking operation is deemed infeasible, an operator of the vehicle is notified that curb parking is infeasible. If a curb parking operation is deemed feasible, actuatable elements of the vehicle are controlled to facilitate the curb parking operation. | 07-10-2014 |
20140195115 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A VERTICAL CONTROL SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE - A method for controlling a vertical control system of a vehicle with at least two vertical control devices that influence the driving stability of the vehicle, includes monitoring the functionality of the at least two vertical control devices, detecting a fault condition of a first vertical control device of the at least two vertical control devices, and adjusting the control parameters of at least a second vertical control device of the at least two vertical control devices for at least partially compensating of the fault condition of the first vertical control device. | 07-10-2014 |
20140207334 | VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM - A vehicle control system configured to judge a vehicle behavior or a driving preference of a driver based on acceleration of the vehicle including at least longitudinal acceleration. An acceleration value used in the judgment is obtained on the basis of a weighted detection value of the actual longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, and a weighted parameter which is varied by an operation to increase a driving force of the vehicle executed by the driver. A weight on the parameter is reduced in case a weight on the detection value of the longitudinal acceleration is increased, and the weight on the parameter is increased in case the weight on the detection value of the longitudinal acceleration is reduced. | 07-24-2014 |
20140222287 | SUSPENSION CONTROL DEVICE - A vehicle mounted time of flight camera provides repeating images of the scene ahead of a vehicle. Such images are processed to determine topographical features in the scene, and the vehicle suspension is commanded to adopt in advance a configuration appropriate to the nature of the topographical features. | 08-07-2014 |
20140244112 | VALVE SWITCHING CONTROLS FOR ADJUSTABLE DAMPER - A damper system for a vehicle includes a shock absorber and a damper module. The shock absorber includes a plurality of digital valves. The shock absorber is operable at one of multiple damping states based on a valve state of the digital valves. The damper module is coupled to each of the digital valves and controls each of the digital valves to a desired state based on a damper setting. The damper module determines a target damping state, where the target state is one of the multiple damping states. The damper module performs a switch operation to control the valve state of the plurality of digital valves to a given desired state when the target damping state is different from a present damping state. | 08-28-2014 |
20140288775 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREDICTIVE VEHICLE SYSTEMS PERFORMANCE SELECTION FOR ENHANCED MANEUVERABILITY - A predictive enhanced maneuverability system providing enhanced timely delivery of vehicle performance selection of chassis, and steering modes for potential predicted safety collisions is disclosed. The primary inputs of the disclosed invention include a determination of the proximity to a preceding vehicle, the density of the surrounding traffic, a forward collision warning alert, and the predictive enhanced maneuverability decision sub-system for vehicle mode selection. The system of the disclosed invention provides a customized vehicle dynamics chassis and steering dynamic mode output, based on a predicted decision about vehicle potential for collision, for improved driver maneuverability and safety. In addition, the disclosed invention provides an improved system and method for incorporating the time dependent headway, forward collision warning alert, and the traffic density for chassis collision-mode embedded decision-making. The predictive enhanced maneuverability decision-module allows vehicle dynamics mode selection to be tailored based on proximity to a potential collision. | 09-25-2014 |
20140288776 | ACTIVE VEHICLE SUSPENSION - A method of on-demand energy delivery to an active suspension system is disclosed. The suspension system includes an actuator body, a hydraulic pump, an electric motor, a plurality of sensors, an energy storage facility, and a controller. The method includes disposing an active suspension system in a vehicle between a wheel mount and a vehicle body, detecting a wheel event requiring control of the active suspension; and sourcing energy from the energy storage facility and delivering it to the electric motor in response to the wheel event. | 09-25-2014 |
20140297115 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE DRIVING MODE - A method for controlling a vehicle driving mode includes establishing a driving mode on the basis of a driver driving mode entered by user selection, receiving vehicle state measurement values from a plurality of vehicle sensors, comparing the received vehicle state measurement value with an emergency avoidance mode condition and a rough-road driving mode condition if the vehicle state measurement value is identical to the emergency avoidance mode condition or the rough-road driving mode condition according to the result of comparison, changing a predetermined driver driving mode to a driving mode matched with the corresponding condition, and controlling operations of a vehicle controller on the basis of vehicle device control information matched with the changed driving mode. | 10-02-2014 |
20140297116 | SELF-DRIVING VEHICLE WITH INTEGRATED ACTIVE SUSPENSION - A self-driving vehicle with an integrated fully-active suspension system. The fully-active suspension utilizes data from one or more sensors used for autonomous driving (e.g. vision, LIDAR, GPS) in order to anticipate road conditions in advance. The system builds a topographical map of the road surface. Suspension and road data is delivered back to the vehicle in order to change autonomous driving behavior including route planning. Energy storage is regulated based on a planned route. Forward and lateral acceleration feel is mitigated through active pitch and tilt compensation. The fully-active suspension pushes and pulls the suspension in three or more operational quadrants in order to deliver superior ride comfort, handling, and/safety of the vehicle. | 10-02-2014 |
20140297117 | DISTRIBUTED ACTIVE SUSPENSION CONTROL SYSTEM - A distributed active suspension control system is provided. The control system is based on a distributed, processor-based controller that is coupled to an electronic suspension actuator. The controller processes sensor data at the distributed node, making processing decisions for the wheel actuator it is associated with. Concurrently, multiple distributed controllers on a common network communicate such that vehicle-level control (such as roll mitigation) may be achieved. Local processing at the distributed controller has the advantage of reducing latency and response time to localized sensing and events, while also reducing the processing load and cost requirements of a central node. The topology of the distributed active suspension controller contained herein has been designed to respond to fault modes with fault-safe mechanisms that prevent node-level failure from propagating to system-level fault. Systems, algorithms, and methods for accomplishing this distributed and fault-safe processing are disclosed. | 10-02-2014 |
20140303844 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROACTIVE CONTROL OF A VIBRATION DAMPING SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE - A vehicle can have a vibration damping system, which has a characteristic curve that is adjustable. To control the characteristic curve of the vibration damping system, information regarding a profile of a road surface in front of the vehicle is detected. At least a portion of the road surface profile can be classified according to a change in height and a length of the portion. The classification can be based on the detected information. Based on the classification of the road surface profile, the characteristic curve of the vibration damping system of the vehicle can be adjusted. | 10-09-2014 |
20140316652 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN ADJUSTABLE DAMPER - A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes: comparing a measured acceleration value associated with a movement of a vehicle component of a vehicle with a predetermined acceleration threshold value that corresponds to the vehicle component, wherein the vehicle component is coupled with a frame of the vehicle via at least one vehicle suspension damper; monitoring a state of at least one valve within at least one vehicle suspension damper of the vehicle, wherein the state controls a damping force within the at least one vehicle suspension damper; and based on the comparing and the monitoring, regulating damping forces within the at least one vehicle suspension damper by actuating the at least one valve to adjust to a desired state, such that an acceleration of the frame is reduced. | 10-23-2014 |
20140324288 | WADING DEPTH ESTIMATION FOR A VEHICLE - A predictive method of detecting the depth of water ahead of a wading vehicle comprises providing a wading sensor and an attitude sensor on the vehicle, and using this information to estimate the depth of water at a location ahead of the direction of vehicle movement. Corresponding apparatus is disclosed. | 10-30-2014 |
20140324289 | SUSPENSION CONTROL APPARATUS | 10-30-2014 |
20140330483 | ADAPTIVE ACTIVE SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH ROAD PREVIEW - A method for controlling an active suspension is disclosed. The method includes steps of determining a dimension of a road abnormality ahead of the vehicle; comparing the dimension with a vehicle dimension; responsive to the comparison, classifying the abnormality as one type of a plurality of predetermined types; responsive to a dimension of the abnormality, further classifying the abnormality as having a severity of one type of a plurality of predetermined types; and controlling the suspension responsive to the abnormality type and severity type. | 11-06-2014 |
20140358369 | Geometry for Improved Driveline-Suspension Coupling of Narrow Leaning Commuter Vehicles - A method and apparatus relating to a driveline and suspension system for a vehicle and, more particularly, methods and systems for driveline-suspension coupling in a narrow multi-track leaning vehicle with three or more wheels and with at least two driving wheels. There are provided graphical and computational methods for determining driveline and suspension geometries for narrow multi-track vehicles, as well as apparatuses including the geometric configurations, and exhibiting improved driveline-suspension coupling behaviors. | 12-04-2014 |
20140358370 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD - A driving state estimator unit configured to detect a state quantity indicating vehicle body orientation, and a control unit configured to control vehicle body orientation using drive force from an engine when the absolute value of the amplitude of the detected state quantity is less than a second predetermined value, and using force generated by a second orientation control device instead of the drive force from the engine when the absolute value of the amplitude is equal to or greater than the second predetermined value. | 12-04-2014 |
20140358371 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - A vehicle control device includes a variable-damping-force shock absorber, a front wheel speed sensor, a rear wheel speed estimation device, a damping force control amount calculation device configured to calculate a damping force control amount for the variable-damping-force shock absorber according to frequency scalar quantities, when the front wheel speed detected by the front wheel speed sensors and the size of an amplitude of a frequency of the rear wheel speed estimated by the rear wheel speed estimation device are frequency scalar quantities, and a damping force control device configured to control the damping force of the variable-damping-force shock absorber on the basis of the damping force control amount calculated by the damping force control amount calculation device, the rear wheel speed estimation device prohibiting the estimation of the real wheel speed when a vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a high vehicle speed threshold value. | 12-04-2014 |
20140379214 | GPS ACTIVATED PARK MODE FOR ADJUSTABLE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS - 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. | 12-25-2014 |
20140379215 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD - A vehicle control device includes a variable-damping-force shock absorber, a sprung mass vibration damping control, an unsprung mass vibration damping control device, and a damping force control device configured to calculate a damping force control amount on the basis of a sprung-mass vibration damping control amount when the sprung-mass vibration damping amount is greater than an unsprung-mass vibration damping control amount, calculating a damping force control amount on the basis of the unsprung-mass vibration damping amount so as to maintain the damping force distribution factor when the sprung-mass vibration damping amount is equal to or less than the unsprung-mass vibration damping amount, and controlling the damping force of the variable-damping-force shock absorber. | 12-25-2014 |
20150032332 | CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - The present invention is provided with: a traveling state detection means that detects the traveling state of a vehicle; a target attitude control amount computation means that computes the target attitude control amount of the vehicle on the basis of the traveling state; a attitude control amount computation means that computes the attitude control amount controlled by an actuator other than a shock absorber on the basis of the target attitude control amount; and an damping force control means that controls the damping force of the shock absorber on the basis of the target attitude control amount and the attitude control amount. | 01-29-2015 |
20150032333 | VEHICLE BEHAVIOR CONTROL APPARATUS - In order to control a behavior generated on a body as a result of a travel of a vehicle, an electronic control unit controls rotation of each of in-wheel motors, thereby generating a predetermined braking force or driving force approximately the same in magnitude on each wheel. Meanwhile, the electronic control unit uses respective pipelines and a direction control circuit depending on the behavior generated on the body to connect fluid pressure cylinders on a fluid pressure supplying side and fluid pressure cylinders on a fluid pressure supplied side to each other for communication. As a result, the fluid pressure cylinders convert vertical forces of the body acting as component forces of a predetermined braking/driving force into hydraulic pressures and supply the fluid pressure cylinders with the hydraulic pressures, and the fluid pressure cylinders convert the supplied hydraulic pressures into vertical forces, thereby exerting the vertical forces on the body. | 01-29-2015 |
20150046031 | Switchable Mount System For A Vehicle And Methods For Controlling The System - A switchable mount system includes a switchable mount and an electronic control unit for switching the switchable mount between a first damping mode and a second damping mode. A method for controlling the switchable mount includes controlling the mount according to vehicle speed information, engine torque information, variable cylinder management information, and brake information. At least one of the damping modes may be tuned to damp vibrations approximately in the range approximately between 30 Hz and 60 Hz. | 02-12-2015 |
20150046032 | WADING VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM - A vehicle having a system for determining that there is a possibility that the vehicle has or is about to enter water at a vehicle wading depth. In response to determining that there is a possibility that the vehicle has or is about to enter water at a vehicle wading depth, the system is configured to implement one or more vehicle control strategies. The system comprises at least one remote sensor configured to remotely detect the presence of water about or ahead of the vehicle. | 02-12-2015 |
20150046033 | VEHICLE HEIGHT ESTIMATION DEVICE AND VEHICLE HEIGHT ESTIMATION METHOD - The height of a vehicle can be estimated inexpensively by: detecting a wheel speed, which is a speed of each wheel; performing frequency analysis of the detected wheel speed of a pair of left and right wheels and calculating respective wheel speed characteristics of the left and right wheels at a gain-specific frequency; calculating a left-right wheel speed gain difference on the basis of the calculated wheel speed characteristics of the left and right wheels; and estimating the vehicle height on the basis of a corresponding relationship between a wheel height of the wheel with respect to a vehicle body and a value (wheel speed/road surface input gain) that is based on wheel speed and a road surface input that is inputted from the road surface to the wheels, and on the basis of the left-right wheel speed gain difference. | 02-12-2015 |
20150046034 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE, AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD - A vehicle control device includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor detects wheel speed. The controller estimates sprung mass state based on detected information in a prescribed frequency range. The controller controls a variable-damping force shock absorber to bring the estimated sprung mass state to a target sprung mass state. The controller estimates wheel rim braking/drive torque acting on a wheel. The controller determines the estimation accuracy of the sprung mass state has deteriorated when a rate of change of a stationary component extracted from components of wheel rim braking/drive torque acting on a wheel is detected to equal or exceed a prescribed value. The controller controls the variable-damping force shock absorber to a more limited extent than when the estimation accuracy has not deteriorated. | 02-12-2015 |
20150046035 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD - A power source attitude control is performed to suppress changes in the sprung mass behavior of a vehicle, and damping force control for damping force variable shock absorbers is performed to suppress changes in the sprung mass behavior. When the stroke speed is low, the saturation degree of the damping force variable shock absorbers is set smaller than the saturation degree when the stroke speed is high. | 02-12-2015 |
20150073656 | BICYCLE COMPONENT CONTROL APPARATUS - A bicycle component control apparatus is basically provided with a communication interface and a controller. The communication interface is configured to communicate with at least one electric bicycle component and at least one manually operated input member. The controller is electrically coupled to the communication interface, and programmed to control the at least one electric bicycle component based on operation of the at least one manually operated input member. The controller is programmed to decide an operation mode of the at least one electric bicycle component differently based on a number of manually operated input member coupled to the controller via the communication interface. | 03-12-2015 |
20150073657 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUSPENSION SET UP - A method and apparatus are disclosed that assist a user in performing proper setup of a vehicle suspension. A user may utilize a device equipped with an image sensor to assist the user in proper setup of a vehicle suspension. The device executes an application that prompts the user for input and instructs the user to perform a number of steps for adjusting the suspension components. In one embodiment, the application does not communicate with sensors on the vehicle. In another embodiment, the application may communicate with various sensors located on the vehicle to provide feedback to the device during the setup routine. In one embodiment, the device may analyze a digital image of a suspension component to provide feedback about a physical characteristic of the component. | 03-12-2015 |
20150073658 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A CUSHIONING SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for operating a shock-absorber system with shock-absorber devices, in particular switching shock-absorber devices, wherein discretely selectable shock-absorber characteristic curves are provided. The method determines a driving behavior of the driver and/or of the motor vehicle on the basis of one or more driving state data items and/or one or more operating variables and, in automatic mode, automatically sets a shock-absorbing behavior of the shock-absorber system by selecting one of the selectable shock-absorber characteristic curves of the shock-absorber devices as a function of the determined driving behavior. | 03-12-2015 |
20150081170 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD - A vehicle control device includes a wheel speed sensor and a controller. The wheel speed sensor detects wheel speed. The controller estimates a sprung mass state based on information in a predetermined frequency region of wheel speed and controls an actuator to bring the estimated sprung mass state to a target sprung mass state. The controller calculates a first wheel speed as a reference wheel speed for individual wheels. The controller calculates a second wheel speed as a reference wheel speed of front and rear wheels. The controller calculates a third wheel speed as a reference wheel speed of all wheels. The controller calculates a reference wheel speed of each wheel. The controller detects that the estimation accuracy has deteriorated when a differential among reference wheel speeds of the wheels is equal to or greater than a prescribed value. | 03-19-2015 |
20150081171 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN ADJUSTABLE DAMPER - A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes: accessing a set of control signals, wherein at least a first control signal of the set of control signals includes a set of values associated a pressure applied to a vehicle component of a vehicle; accessing a set of predetermined vehicle component base-level pressure values associated with the vehicle component; comparing the set of values associated with a pressure applied to the vehicle component with the set of predetermined vehicle component base-level pressure values; based on said comparing, calculating an approximate shift in a center of gravity of the vehicle; monitoring a state of at least one valve; and based on the calculating and the monitoring, determining a control mode for said at least one vehicle suspension damper that, if actuated, would compensate the vehicle for the shift in the center of gravity. | 03-19-2015 |
20150088378 | ROAD SURFACE CONDITION ESTIMATING APPARATUS - A camera takes an image or images of a region including a vehicle (vehicle-in-front) running in front of a driver's own vehicle. A wheel information acquiring unit acquires the positional information of a wheel or wheels of the vehicle-in-front in the image taken by the camera. More specifically, the boundary between the wheels of the vehicle-in-front and the road surface. The processing for detecting the boundary is done by use of the difference in the brightness between the wheels and the road surface of the vehicle-in-front. A camera attitude correcting unit corrects the detected boundary by use of a self-calibration function, and a road surface condition estimating unit estimates the conditions of the road surface on which the vehicle-in-front is traveling. | 03-26-2015 |
20150088379 | SUSPENSION SYSTEM - The present invention is directed to providing a suspension system capable of improving maneuverability and stability. A controller, which controls each of shock absorbers, includes a main control calculation unit, a longitudinal force reaction force calculation unit, a lateral force reaction force calculation unit, an addition unit, and a suspension reaction force consideration unit. The controller subtracts an output from a vertical force calculation unit including the longitudinal force reaction force calculation unit, the lateral force reaction force calculation unit, and the addition unit from an output from the main control calculation unit by the suspension reaction force consideration unit, thereby succeeding in calculating a vertical force applied between a vehicle body and each wheel as a value in consistency with an actual behavior of a vehicle. | 03-26-2015 |
20150094909 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A STABILIZER ARRANGEMENT - A method for operating a stabilizer arrangement which has two stabilizer modules and an actuator, wherein the stabilizer modules are arranged along an axle of a motor vehicle and are acted on by the actuator, wherein at least one kinematic variable of each wheel which is oriented in the vertical direction of the axle is determined, wherein by using a value of the at least one kinematic variable a value for at least one pilot control parameter is determined by a pilot control arrangement, which value is made available to a control cascade which includes an angle control module, a rotational speed control module and a power control module, wherein a value for a power control for operating the actuator is made available by the control cascade from the value for the pilot control parameter, which is dependent on the value of the kinematic variable. | 04-02-2015 |
20150100205 | VEHICLE BRAKING/DRIVING FORCE CONTROL APPARATUS - Provided is a vehicle braking/driving force control apparatus for securing travel stability of a vehicle by priority when a slip occurs on a wheel for generating a braking/driving force while a plurality of motions are controlled. An electronic control unit identifies a slipping wheel having the maximum slip ratio (S | 04-09-2015 |
20150100206 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPSPENSION ADJUSTMENT - A shock absorber includes a gas spring cylinder containing a piston moveable between an extended position and a compressed position within the gas spring cylinder. A mechanical actuator is arranged whereby a bleed port is automatically closed when the gas spring is compressed to a predetermined position corresponding to a desired sag setting. In one embodiment, the position corresponds to a predetermined sag setting whereby the gas spring is partially compressed. In another embodiment, a proper sag setting is determined through the use of a processor and sensor that in one instance measure a position of shock absorber components to dictate a proper sag setting and in another instance calculate a pressure corresponding to a preferred sag setting. | 04-09-2015 |
20150105977 | AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed is a control method of an air suspension system includes: sensing an error of a tire or an air spring; and controlling the height of a peripheral air spring based on the tire or the air spring in which the error occurs. | 04-16-2015 |
20150105978 | VEHICLE BRAKING/DRIVING FORCE CONTROL APPARATUS - When an ECU carries out vehicle yaw motion control on such a vehicle that a conversion rate of converting the braking/driving force into a vertical force is larger on rear wheels than on front wheels, a driver-requested braking/driving force is distributed to the four wheels so that a distribution ratio is larger for the rear wheels than for the front wheels. Thus, when roll control necessary as a result of the vehicle yaw motion control is carried out, a target braking/driving force of a turning outer wheel for which the largest control driving force is required becomes hard to reach a driving limit. From the foregoing, when vehicle motion control is carried out with use of a braking/driving force of each wheel, each wheel is prevented from reaching a driving force limit as much as possible. | 04-16-2015 |
20150290995 | SUSPENSION CONTROL SYSTEM - A suspension control system allows a state variable of a vehicle used for the damper damping force control to be computed at a high precision without regards to the caster angle given to the suspension geometry. A suspension control system for a vehicle provided with a variable damper that can adjust a damping force according to an input signal comprises a wheel rotational speed sensor for detecting a wheel rotational speed, a gain circuit for computing the unsprung load of each wheel according to the wheel rotational speed variation detected by the wheel speed sensor, a single wheel model computing unit for computing the sprung velocity and the stroke speed by inputting the unsprung load to a single wheel model representing the behavior of the vehicle, and a damper control unit for controlling a damping force of the variable damper according to the computed sprung velocity and stroke speed. | 10-15-2015 |
20150291146 | DRIVING SCENARIO PREDICTION AND AUTOMATIC VEHICLE SETTING ADJUSTMENT - A vehicle processor may track vehicle input during vehicle traversal of a travel path within a location region, match the vehicle input against a condition of a rule, such that when the vehicle input matches the condition, a driving scenario indication of a type corresponding to the rule is associated with the location region, and update a location demand identifier associated with the location region based on the driving scenario indication. The vehicle processor may further identify a location demand identifier for an approaching location region, the location demand identifier determined according to vehicle input satisfying a rule identifying a driving scenario and indicative of a level of likelihood of occurrence of the driving scenario; and when the location demand identifier exceeds a vehicle sensitivity level, provide a settings update to the vehicle to improve vehicle maneuverability during occurrence of the driving scenario. | 10-15-2015 |
20150294161 | VEHICULAR PATH SENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - At least one fan beam of light ( | 10-15-2015 |
20150298520 | CONTROLLING A COMPRESSOR FOR AIR SUSPENSION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A method of controlling a compressor for an air suspension of an electric vehicle includes: determining a state of a reservoir in the electric vehicle, the reservoir coupled to drive air springs of a suspension system; determining whether the electric vehicle is connected to an external source of electric energy for charging an energy storage of the electric vehicle; in response to determining that the electric vehicle is connected to the external source, applying a first value as a threshold for whether to replenish the reservoir by a compressor; and in response to determining that the electric vehicle is not connected to the external source, applying a second value, different from the first value, as the threshold for whether to replenish the reservoir by the compressor. | 10-22-2015 |
20150298697 | VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system for a motor vehicle, the system being operable in an automatic mode selection condition in which the system is configured to select automatically an appropriate system operating mode and to assume operation in said system operating mode, wherein when operating in the automatic mode selection condition the system is configured to prevent selection of a prescribed one or more operating modes if it is determined that the vehicle is towing a load. | 10-22-2015 |
20150298706 | DETERMINING HAUL WEIGHT - In various example embodiments, a system and method for determining a haul weight are disclosed. A method includes, determining that one or more vehicle performance parameters fall within a threshold range, storing a plurality of data pairs that include longitudinal acceleration and drive force, determining a slope of a line that linearly approximates the plurality of data pairs, and determining the weight being hauled by the vehicle by subtracting the weight of the vehicle from the value representing the slope of the line. | 10-22-2015 |
20150314663 | ROAD ROUGHNESS PREVIEW WITH DRIVE HISTORY - A vehicle includes a sensor configured to detect a first road feature, an adjustable suspension system, and a processing device. The processing device is configured to determine, using a drive history map, a location of the vehicle based on the first road feature and apply a suspension profile to the suspension system. The suspension profile is associated with a second road feature identified by the drive history map, which is at a different location from the first road feature. | 11-05-2015 |
20150328949 | AIR SUSPENSION CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A VEHICLE - Methods and systems are provided for controlling a suspension system having an air spring. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining a desired value associated with a height of the air spring; determining an operating value associated with a height of the air spring; and controlling an amount of air at least one of to and from the air spring based on a comparison of the desired value and the operating value. | 11-19-2015 |
20150329099 | AIR SUSPENSION CONTROL SYSTEM - An automatic air suspension control system is provided for use in combination with a vehicle having a non-driven rear axle, a driven rear axle, and an air suspension associated with the rear axles to apply a load to each of the rear axles. The air suspension control system is programmed to maintain the load applied to the non-driven rear axle at a level that is less than the load applied to the driven rear axle until the load applied to the driven rear axle is equal to a threshold amount. The threshold amount may be equal to the maximum load that may be legally applied to the driven rear axle or some lower level. There may be no load applied to the non-driven rear axle prior to the load on the driven rear axle reaching the threshold amount or may be a non-zero amount. | 11-19-2015 |
20150331113 | LADAR ENABLED IMPACT MITIGATION SYSTEM - A collision mitigation system is proposed which makes use of forward mounted long range ladar sensors and short range ladar sensors mounted in auxiliary lamps to identify obstacles and to predict unavoidable collisions therewith, and a duplex radio link in communication with secondary vehicles, and a number of external airbags deployable under the control of an airbag control unit, to reduce the forces of impact on the host vehicle, secondary vehicles, and bipeds and quadrupeds wandering into the roadway. A suspension modification system makes use of headlight mounted long range ladar sensors and short range ladar sensors mounted in auxiliary lamps to characterize the road surface, identify road hazards, and make adaptations to a number of active suspension components, each with the ability to absorb shock, elevate or lower the vehicle, and adjust the spring rate of the individual wheel suspensions. | 11-19-2015 |
20150341620 | STEREO CAMERA AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE APPARATUS AND VEHICLE INCLUDING THE SAME - A stereo camera and a driver assistance apparatus and a vehicle including the same are disclosed. The stereo camera includes a first image sensor to sense an image corresponding to at least one exposure time, a second image sensor to sense images corresponding to a plurality of exposure times, and a processor to generate a disparity map and an RGB image based on the images acquired by the first and second image sensors. Consequently, it is possible to acquire the disparity map and the RGB image. | 11-26-2015 |
20150344032 | DRIVER ASSISTANCE APPARATUS CAPABLE OF PERFORMING DISTANCE DETECTION AND VEHICLE INCLUDING THE SAME - A driver assistance apparatus and a vehicle including the same are disclosed. The driver assistance apparatus includes a stereo camera and a processor to perform a calibration based on first regions that include objects for vehicle structures or external to the vehicle in stereo images acquired by the stereo camera in a calibration mode and to detect a distance to an object ahead of the vehicle based on second regions not including the objects for the vehicle structures in the stereo images acquired by the stereo camera in a normal mode. Consequently, it is possible to accurately perform distance detection based on images photographed by the stereo camera. | 12-03-2015 |
20150345587 | ABSORBER SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - An absorber system for a vehicle includes a controller. The controller determines a reference control amount as a reference of a target control amount which is a target of a control amount for controlling a damping force with respect to an operation of a cylinder in its extension and an operation of the cylinder in its compression. The controller determines the target control amount to the reference control amount for one of the operation of the cylinder in its extension and the operation of the cylinder in its compression and determines the target control amount to a value obtained by multiplying the reference control amount by an extension-compression gain for the other. The controller changes the extension-compression gain in at least one of a driving-stability-emphasized situation in which driving stability is to be emphasized and a ride-comfort-emphasized situation in which ride comfort is to be emphasized. | 12-03-2015 |
20150360529 | MOTOR VEHICLE - A motor vehicle includes a plurality of actuators for carrying out movements of the chassis, wherein the motor vehicle includes a control device for determining orientation information describing an orientation of the chassis to be assumed with regard to at least one target setting, wherein the control device is designed to control the actuators on the basis of the orientation information in such a way that the actuators carry out in a combined manner pitching, rolling and vertical movements of the chassis in order to orient the chassis corresponding to the orientation described by the orientation information. | 12-17-2015 |
20150360689 | ENGINE CONTROL DEVICE - The engine control device is applied to a vehicle equipped with a suspension control device for driving stepping motors for changing damping forces of shock absorbers. The suspension control device performs an initializing process for resolving the step-out of the stepping motors by driving the stepping motors when an initialization performing condition is satisfied. The engine control device continues the engine operation when a signal for inhibiting the automatic stop of the operation of the engine is sent to the engine control device and the engine control device judges that no malfunction occurs in the suspension control device even if the engine stop condition is satisfied. The engine control device automatically stops the operation of the engine when the engine stop condition is satisfied and the engine control device judges that a malfunction occurs in the suspension control device even if the signal is sent to the engine control device. | 12-17-2015 |
20150367701 | SHOCK ABSORBER SYSTEM - A shock absorber system installed on a vehicle having four wheels in which a VSC control for giving a braking force to any of the wheels is to be executed to reduce an improper turning behavior of the vehicle due to an excessive side slip of any of the wheels, including: four hydraulic shock absorbers each configured to generate a damping force with respect to a relative movement of a corresponding sprung and unsprung portion and having a damping-force changer configured to change the damping force; and a controller configured to control the damping force by controlling the damping-force changer and configured such that, when the improper turning behavior of the vehicle occurs, the controller executes a reduction control in which the damping force to be generated by at least one of the four shock absorbers is controlled to reduce the improper turning behavior. | 12-24-2015 |
20150367702 | DAMPER CONTROL DEVICE - A damper control device controls a damping force of each damper interposed between a vehicle body and a corresponding one of a plurality of vehicle wheels of a vehicle. The damper control device includes: a good wavy road control calculation unit that obtains, for each damper, a good wavy road control instruction suitable for a good wavy road representing a wavy road surface; a bad wavy road control calculation unit that obtains, for each damper, a bad wavy road control instruction suitable for a bad wavy road that has more concavities and convexities than the good wavy road; and a final instruction calculation unit that obtains a final control instruction for each damper based on the good wavy road control instruction and on the bad wavy road control instruction. | 12-24-2015 |
20150367703 | DAMPER CONTROL DEVICE - A damper control device controls vibration of an unsprung member by controlling a damping force of a damper interposed between a sprung member and the unsprung member of a vehicle on the basis of a damping property prepared in advance. The damper control device includes a correction unit that extracts a sprung resonant frequency component of a stroke velocity of the damper, and corrects a damping force target value of the damper on the basis of the extracted above-spring resonant frequency component. | 12-24-2015 |
20150375592 | CONTROL OF ADJUSTABLE RIDE HEIGHT SUSPENSION - A method is disclosed for controlling a suspension corner connected to a road wheel in a vehicle's adjustable suspension system. The method includes monitoring operation of the vehicle, detecting an occurrence of a predetermined vehicle event, and detecting a road speed of the vehicle. The method also includes monitoring a ride height of the vehicle at the suspension corner. The vehicle ride height at the suspension corner is selected via a bladder arranged at the suspension corner. The bladder is characterized by a variable height and configured to pump a fluid in response to forces generated at the road wheel and hold a volume of the fluid. The method additionally includes selecting the ride height at the suspension corner in response to the detected occurrence of the predetermined vehicle event and the detected vehicle road speed by regulating the volume of the fluid being held by the bladder. | 12-31-2015 |
20160023531 | METHOD OF OPERATING AN ACTIVE SUSPENSION - In a method of operating an active suspension of a motor vehicle, power is added to at least one active control element of the active suspension, arranged between a wheel and a body, for damping a movement of the motor vehicle in a vertical direction when negotiating a terrain to thereby influence at least one control variable of the suspension, which control variable is oriented in the vertical direction. A first signal of a velocity of the body in the vertical direction and a second signal of the at least one control variable are determined. After ascertaining a phase shift between the first and second signals, a value of the phase shift is compared with a predefined threshold value. The presence of excitation is identified for the vertical body movement, when the value of the phase shift deviates from the threshold value at least by a tolerance value. | 01-28-2016 |
20160023655 | VEHICLE-BEHAVIOR CONTROL APPARATUS AND VEHICLE-BEHAVIOR CONTROL SYSTEM - A vehicle-behavior control apparatus according to an embodiment includes a collision determining unit that determines whether a vehicle collides with an obstacle when the vehicle is decelerated while going straight based on at least a detection result of the obstacle in front of the vehicle and a detection result of a running state of the vehicle in a condition in which wheels are being braked, and a vehicle-behavior control unit that performs at least one of the control of steering rear wheels and the control of giving a difference in braking conditions between the left and right wheels such that the vehicle is decelerated while detouring around the obstacle without steering front wheels when it is determined to collide with the obstacle by the collision determining unit, as one example. | 01-28-2016 |
20160031286 | DAMPER CONTROL APPARATUS - A damper control apparatus damps vibration of an unsprung member by controlling a damping force of a damper in a vehicle, the damper being interposed between a sprung member and the unsprung member. The damper control apparatus includes a vibration level detecting unit that detects a vibration level serving as a magnitude of the vibration of the unsprung member, and a stroke speed detecting unit that detects a stroke speed of the damper. The damper control apparatus further includes a command value calculating unit that determines a control command value, the control command value is a command value for controlling the damping force of the damper on the basis of the vibration level of the unsprung member and the stroke speed of the damper. | 02-04-2016 |
20160031287 | RIDE HEIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention relates to a control system ( | 02-04-2016 |
20160046166 | RIDE PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION IN AN ACTIVE SUSPENSION SYSTEM - 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. | 02-18-2016 |
20160046286 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING VEHICLE USING TURNING DEGREE - A system and a method of controlling a vehicle using a turning degree are disclosed. The method includes detecting input variables including a driving input variable and a turning input variable and calculating a driving tendency index based on the driving input variable. A turning degree related to the number of consecutive turnings is calculated based on the turning input variable and then the vehicle is operated based on the driving tendency index and the turning degree. | 02-18-2016 |
20160052360 | DAMPER CONTROL DEVICE - A damper control device includes a speed conversion unit configured to convert a damper speed to a control damper speed, and if the damper is accelerating, the damper speed is converted so that signs of the control damper speed and the damper speed accord with each other and an absolute value of the control damper speed becomes an absolute value of the damper speed or more, and if the damper is decelerating, the damper speed is converted so that the signs of the control damper speed and the damper speed accord with each other and the absolute value of the control damper speed becomes the absolute value of the damper speed or less, and a damping force of the damper is controlled by using the control damper speed. | 02-25-2016 |
20160052548 | Vehicle Hitch Assistance System - The present invention relates to a system ( | 02-25-2016 |
20160059660 | VEHICLE HAVING SUSPENSION WITH CONTINUOUS DAMPING CONTROL - A damping control system for a vehicle having a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and a vehicle frame includes at least one adjustable shock absorber having an adjustable damping characteristic. The system also includes a controller coupled to each adjustable shock absorber to adjust the damping characteristic of each adjustable shock absorber, and a user interface coupled to the controller and accessible to a driver of the vehicle. The user interface includes at least one user input to permit manual adjustment of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber during operation of the vehicle. Vehicle sensors are also be coupled to the controller to adjust the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber based vehicle conditions determined by sensor output signals. | 03-03-2016 |
20160068164 | METHOD FOR PROCESSING ENVIRONMENTAL DATA IN A VEHICLE - Sensor information is processed in a vehicle by transforming sensor data acquired with at least one sensor of the vehicle from a current environment of the vehicle into a curved coordinate system, by continuously updating the sensor data while the vehicle is moving, and by dynamically adapting the curved coordinate system to a current situation of the vehicle. | 03-10-2016 |
20160075205 | ACTIVE VEHICLE SUSPENSION - A method of on-demand energy delivery to an active suspension system is disclosed. The suspension system includes an actuator body, a hydraulic pump, an electric motor, a plurality of sensors, an energy storage facility, and a controller. The method includes disposing an active suspension system in a vehicle between a wheel mount and a vehicle body, detecting a wheel event requiring control of the active suspension; and sourcing energy from the energy storage facility and delivering it to the electric motor in response to the wheel event. | 03-17-2016 |
20160075404 | METHOD FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF A SNOWMOBILE - A method for operating a snowmobile, measured values of measured variables of the snowmobile being determined in the continuous operation of the snowmobile, specific measured values of different combinations of individual measured variables of the snowmobile being evaluated on the basis of evaluation criteria to determine whether the snowmobile is being operated in an unstable driving state and a stabilizing countermeasure being taken if it is determined that the snowmobile is being operated in an unstable driving state. | 03-17-2016 |
20160082801 | DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF A VEHICLE - The present invention is a system for adjusting the height of vehicles. The vehicle is supported by a hollow cylinder and a piston having an undersized piston skirt is mounted on the suspension system's coil spring, and sealingly slidable within the cylinder bore. When a fluid is introduced into the expandable pressure space between the piston and the cylinder top, the piston and cylinder are forced apart, raising the vehicle. The undersized piston skirt can extend beyond the end of the cylinder, allowing the piston a greater travel length within the cylinder bore. The invention may be operated manually by a vehicle driver through push buttons, which can be the vehicle's existing cruise control buttons. Alternatively, the system can be automated using a control unit to automatically adjust ground clearance to avoid collision with obstacles in the vehicle's path. In another embodiment, the lift system, or any lift system, is prevented from activating, and deactivates (if previously activated) if the vehicle is travelling at excessive speed. | 03-24-2016 |
20160082803 | VALVE SWITCHING CONTROLS FOR ADJUSTABLE DAMPER - A damper system and method for a vehicle includes a shock absorber and a damper module. The shock absorber includes a plurality of digital valves. The shock absorber is operable at one of multiple damping states based on a valve state of the digital valves. The damper module is coupled to each of the digital valves and controls each of the digital valves to a desired state based on a damper setting. The damper module determines a target damping state, where the target state is one of the multiple damping states. The damper module performs a switch operation to control the valve state of the plurality of digital valves to a given desired state when the target damping state is different from a present damping state. | 03-24-2016 |
20160107498 | SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - A suspension system for a vehicle, includes (a) a shock absorber disposed between a sprung portion and an unsprung portion and having a damping-force changing mechanism, the shock absorber being configured to generate a damping force with respect to a relative movement of the sprung portion and the unsprung portion such that the magnitude of the damping force is changeable, and (b) a controller configured to control the damping-force changing mechanism. The controller includes a target sprung-speed determining portion configured to determine, as a target sprung speed, a speed of the sprung portion in a behavior of a body of the vehicle that matches an operation input to the vehicle by a driver, for permitting the behavior to match the operation input, the controller being configured to control the damping force such that the speed of the sprung portion becomes equal to the target sprung speed. | 04-21-2016 |
20160114644 | SPRUNG VIBRATION SUPPRESSION DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - The invention relates to a sprung vibration suppression device for a vehicle. The device comprises a motor for generating torque to generate driving/braking force at the vehicle wheels and shock absorbers. The device calculates a target driving/braking force including a base requested driving/braking force requested for driving the vehicle and a damping driving/braking force necessary for sprung damping control and controls the driving/braking force output from the motor in accordance with the target driving/braking force. The device sets the damping driving/braking force to zero and increases the damping force generated by the shock absorbers when the base requested driving/braking force is within a rattling noise generation range set for determining whether there is a possibility that rattling noise is generated in the gear device | 04-28-2016 |
20160121862 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM - A vehicle control system for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, the vehicle speed control system being operable to receive an input signal corresponding to a rate of change of an angle of pitch of the vehicle, pitch rate, the system being operable to command a change in an amount of torque applied to at least one of the plurality of wheels in dependence on the pitch rate. | 05-05-2016 |
20160121905 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE - A vehicle is provided including an electronic power steering system, an electronic throttle control system, and a stability control system. | 05-05-2016 |
20160129749 | Variable Tracking Active Suspension System - An active suspension system for a sprung mass that is supported and movable relative to an unsprung mass. The active suspension system has a suspension that comprises an electromagnetic actuator that is adapted to produce an arbitrary force on the sprung mass that is independent of the position, velocity and acceleration of the sprung mass, a control system that provides control signals that cause the suspension to exert force on the sprung mass, to control the position of the sprung mass relative to the unsprung mass, wherein the control system implements a control algorithm with one or more constants, and a user interface that is operable to cause a change of one or more of the control algorithm constants so as to vary how closely motion of the sprung mass follows motion of the unsprung mass. | 05-12-2016 |
20160159185 | ELECTROMAGNETIC DAMPER - An electromagnetic damper includes a torque detection unit that detects a torsional torque of an output shaft of an electric motor or a torsional torque of a transmission shaft, which transmits an external vibration to the electric motor, and a control device that controls the electric motor. The control device controls the electric motor so as to cancel the torsional torque detected by the torque detection unit. | 06-09-2016 |
20160159187 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING WHEEL HOP DURING A BURNOUT EVENT IN A MOTOR VEHICLE - Systems and methods for stabilizing a vehicle during a traction control event are disclosed. Signals indicative of wheel speed and velocity of the vehicle may be received at a controller of the vehicle and compared to determine wheel slip. Based on the wheel slip, the controller determines whether a burnout condition exists. A damping force of at least one damper associated with a suspension of the vehicle may be adjusted when a burnout condition is detected. | 06-09-2016 |
20160159188 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING DAMPER TEMPERATURE - Systems and methods for controlling a damper force based on temperature are disclosed. Signals associated with a damping force value of one or more dampers are received at a controller. The signals are received, at the controller, from at least one suspension height sensor, at least one vehicle velocity sensor, at least one ambient temperature sensor, and at least one engine coolant sensor. A damper temperature is estimated, at the controller, and a damping force of the damper is adjusted to a nominal force based on the estimated damper temperature. | 06-09-2016 |
20160167473 | ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE | 06-16-2016 |
20160176259 | DAMPING FORCE CONTROL APPARATUS OF SUSPENSION | 06-23-2016 |
20160176409 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC VEHICLE CONTROL AFFECTING SLEEP STATES OF VEHICLE OCCUPANTS | 06-23-2016 |
20160185178 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUSPENSION SET UP - A method and apparatus are disclosed that assist a user in performing proper setup of a vehicle suspension. A user may utilize a device equipped with an image sensor to assist the user in proper setup of a vehicle suspension. The device executes an application that prompts the user for input and instructs the user to perform a number of steps for adjusting the suspension components. In one embodiment, the application does not communicate with sensors on the vehicle. In another embodiment, the application may communicate with various sensors located on the vehicle to provide feedback to the device during the setup routine. In one embodiment, the device may analyze a digital image of a suspension component to provide feedback about a physical characteristic of the component. | 06-30-2016 |
20160200160 | ACTIVE DAMPING SYSTEM HAVING ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED ACTUATOR | 07-14-2016 |
20180022346 | Vehicle Control Apparatus, Distance Calculation Apparatus, and Distance Calculation Method | 01-25-2018 |
20190143997 | AUTOMATED VEHICLE CONFIGURATION | 05-16-2019 |
20220134833 | VIBRATION DAMPING CONTROL APPARATUS - A vibration damping control apparatus of a vehicle obtains first data from a road surface information in which position information, a road surface displacement related value, and speed information are rerated to one another. The first data represents a time series change of the road surface displacement related value on a predicted route of a wheel. The vibration damping control apparatus obtains speed information at a predicted passage position from the road surface information. In the case where the speed of the vehicle at the present point in time is higher than a speed represented by the speed information, the vibration damping control apparatus executes a first process (low-pass filter process) on the first data, obtains preview information from the first data having been subjected to the first process, and controls a control force generating apparatus on the basis of a target control force computed by using the preview information. | 05-05-2022 |
20220136889 | Real-Time Commercial Vehicle Weight Measurement and Use - A real-time commercial vehicle weight loading system is disclosed. The system employs a number of vehicle weight sensors, configured to provide vehicle weight data for a respective zone of the vehicle. The system may also utilize at least one cargo weight sensor to provide weight data of not-yet loaded cargo. A system controller is in communication with the weight sensors and is configured to, upon receiving cargo to be loaded information, send an indication of optimal cargo placement including identifying the cargo to be loaded, the location on the vehicle the cargo is to be loaded, and monitoring the loading of the vehicle. This same system may also provide total vehicle weight and broadcast real-time vehicle weights when pinged by a query device, which will allow for uninterrupted transit of the vehicle and cargo. This system may also provide data for improved vehicle stability. | 05-05-2022 |