Patents Assigned to ClearMotion, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20250111704
    Abstract: Methods related to the exchange of vehicle related information between a vehicle and a remote database are disclosed. In some implementations, data may be collected based on measurements with a sensor onboard a vehicle. A location of the vehicle may also be determined. If the location is within a data protection zone or in a data protection road segment, the exchange of the vehicle related information may be avoided or curtailed to protect the anonymity of the vehicle and/or its occupants. If the vehicle is outside of the data protection zone or road segment, vehicle data may be exchanged with the remote database. In some implementations, the data protection zone or road segment may be determined based on information received from a user interface in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack A. Ekchian, John Parker Eisenmann
  • Patent number: 12264656
    Abstract: A linear energy harvesting device that includes a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when it is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor drives an electric generator that produces electricity. Both the motor and generator are central to the device housing. Exemplary configurations are disclosed such as monotube, twin-tube, tri-tube and rotary based designs that each incorporates an integrated energy harvesting apparatus. By varying the electrical characteristics on an internal generator, the kinematic characteristics of the energy harvesting apparatus can be dynamically altered. In another mode, the apparatus can be used as an actuator to create linear movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Clive Tucker, Ross J. Wendell, Zackary Martin Anderson, Evan Moen, Johannes Schneider, Zachary J. Jackowski, Sean C. Morton
  • Publication number: 20250100559
    Abstract: Methods related to the control of vehicle systems while a vehicle is traveling along a road surface are disclosed. In some implementations, data related to the road surface ahead of the vehicle is separated into first and second frequency ranges. Commands for a vehicle system may then be determined for the different frequency ranges and the vehicle system may be controlled based at least in part on the separate commands for the separate frequency ranges. This may include determining a combined system command based at least in part on the separate commands for the separate frequency ranges in some implementations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Jiang, Marco Giovanardi
  • Publication number: 20250091403
    Abstract: Presented herein, inter alia, are suspension system components having tuned accumulator sizing and/or stiffness. Such suspension system components are envisioned for use in a distributed active suspension system of a vehicle. In particular, through appropriate sizing of accumulators of a suspension system component of a vehicle, ride quality of the vehicle may be improved and so called “rough ride” issues may be precluded. Alternatively or additionally, various valves or alternative compliant mechanisms may be included in the suspension system component, so that desirable performance may be obtained for a range of operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Belter, Jason Steven Sirois
  • Publication number: 20250065902
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein include implementation of road surface-based localization techniques for advanced vehicle features and control methods including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), lane drift detection, passing guidance, bandwidth conservation and caching based on road data, vehicle speed correction, suspension and vehicle system performance tracking and control, road estimation calibration, and others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Giovanardi, Stefan Schulze, John Parker Eisenmann, William Graves, Marcus Joseph Proctor, Nikolaos Karavas, Allen Chung-Hao Chen, Jack A. Ekchian, Hou-Yi Lin, Timothy Cotgrove, Robert Casey
  • Publication number: 20250065894
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein include implementation of road surface-based localization techniques for advanced vehicle features and control methods including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), lane drift detection, passing guidance, bandwidth conservation and caching based on road data, vehicle speed correction, suspension and vehicle system performance tracking and control, road estimation calibration, and others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Chenghui Luo, Marco Giovanardi, Stefan Schulze, John Parker Eisenmann, William Graves, Marcus Joseph Proctor, Nikolaos Karavas, Allen Chung-Hao Chen, Jack A. Ekchian, Hou-Yi Lin, Timothy Cotgrove, Robert Casey
  • Publication number: 20250042212
    Abstract: System and method for improving braking efficiency by increasing the magnitude of a frictional force between a tire of a vehicle wheel and a road surface. Braking efficiency may be improved by controlling the normal force applied on the wheel, with an active suspension actuator, based on the wheel's slip ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Aditya Chandrashekhar Chetty, Allen Chung-Hao Chen
  • Publication number: 20250012299
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a hydraulic actuator that includes one or more check valves having a dynamically varying cracking pressure. In certain embodiments, a hydraulic actuator may be configured to vary the cracking pressure of a check valve based on an operating condition of a pump of the hydraulic actuator. The check valve may be located along a bypass path in the hydraulic actuator, thereby allowing for fluid flow to bypass a pump of the hydraulic actuator by passing through the check valve. The use of such hydraulic actuators is contemplated in, for example, an active suspension system of a vehicle. Additionally, various embodiments of suitable check valves are disclosed. Additionally, methods are disclosed for operation of the check valve and the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Clive Tucker, Joseph Thomas Belter
  • Publication number: 20250012576
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for accurately determining the location of a vehicle traveling along a road. Methods include first locating the approximate position of a vehicle using techniques such as GNSS or dead reckoning from a know location, and then refining the position of the vehicle using terrain-based localization. This type of localization includes the use of the temporal and spatial variation of magnitude of the correlation between a current road surface profile, obtained while traveling along a road, and previously obtained reference profiles of the same road.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventor: William Graves
  • Patent number: 12179539
    Abstract: A method of on-demand energy delivery to an active suspension system comprising an actuator body, hydraulic pump, electric motor, plurality of sensors, energy storage facility, and controller is provided. The method comprises 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Zackary Martin Anderson, Shakeel Avadhany, Matthew D. Cole, Robert Driscoll, John Giarratana, Marco Giovanardi, Vladimir Gorelik, Jonathan R. Leehey, William G. Near, Patrick W. Neil, Colin Patrick O'Shea, Tyson David Sawyer, Johannes Schneider, Clive Tucker, Ross J. Wendell, Richard Anthony Zuckerman
  • Publication number: 20240418842
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein include implementations where performance of systems for measuring aspects of a road surface, such as sensor systems, on board a production vehicle may be improved by using data collected by the production vehicle while traveling on primary and/or secondary reference road segments. Primary reference road segments in a road network may be characterized by specially equipped vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack A. Ekchian
  • Publication number: 20240416701
    Abstract: A regenerative shock absorber that includes a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when the shock is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor, in turn, drives an electric generator that produced electric energy. The electric energy may be provided to a vehicle, among other things. The regenerative shock absorber may also provide ride performance that comparable to or exceeds that of conventional shock absorbers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Zackary Martin Anderson, Zachary J. Jackowski, Ryan Bavetta
  • Patent number: 12158191
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are active hydraulic cylinders for use in active vehicle suspension systems, and methods for assembling active hydraulic cylinders for use in an active vehicle suspension system. In particular, in certain embodiments a manifold may encircle a portion of an outer tube of a twin tube assembly. The manifold may mechanically and fluidly couple a pump assembly to the twin tube assembly. In certain embodiments, the manifold may be welded onto the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Clive Tucker, Kevin Ryan McGuinness, Zhenrong Wang, Andrew Martin Wizorek
  • Publication number: 20240391286
    Abstract: A method of on-demand energy delivery to an active suspension system comprising an actuator body, hydraulic pump, electric motor, plurality of sensors, energy storage facility, and controller is provided. The method comprises 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Zackary Martin Anderson, Shakeel Avadhany, Matthew D. Cole, Robert Driscoll, John Giarratana, Marco Giovanardi, Vladimir Gorelik, Jonathan R. Leehey, William G. Near, Patrick W. Neil, Colin Patrick O'Shea, Tyson David Sawyer, Johannes Schneider, Clive Tucker, Ross J. Wendell, Richard Anthony Zuckerman
  • Publication number: 20240344580
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are active hydraulic cylinders for use in active vehicle suspension systems, and methods for assembling active hydraulic cylinders for use in an active vehicle suspension system. In particular, in certain embodiments a manifold may encircle a portion of an outer tube of a twin tube assembly. The manifold may mechanically and fluidly couple a pump assembly to the twin tube assembly. In certain embodiments, the manifold may be welded onto the outer tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2023
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Clive Tucker, Kevin Ryan McGuinness, Zhenrong Wang, Andrew Martin Wizorek
  • Patent number: 12117024
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a hydraulic actuator that includes one or more check valves having a dynamically varying cracking pressure. In certain embodiments, a hydraulic actuator may be configured to vary the cracking pressure of a check valve based on an operating condition of a pump of the hydraulic actuator. The check valve may be located along a bypass path in the hydraulic actuator, thereby allowing for fluid flow to bypass a pump of the hydraulic actuator by passing through the check valve. The use of such hydraulic actuators is contemplated in, for example, an active suspension system of a vehicle. Additionally, various embodiments of suitable check valves are disclosed. Additionally, methods are disclosed for operation of the check valve and the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Clive Tucker, Joseph Thomas Belter
  • Publication number: 20240317008
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein include implementation of road surface-based localization techniques for advanced vehicle features and control methods including confidence-based consumption, air suspension control systems and methods, end of travel management, road profile creation techniques, and others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Giovanardi, Stefan Schulze, John Parker Eisenmann, William Graves
  • Publication number: 20240300275
    Abstract: A method of on-demand energy delivery to an active suspension system comprising an actuator body, hydraulic pump, electric motor, plurality of sensors, energy storage facility, and controller is provided. The method comprises 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: ZACKARY MARTIN ANDERSON, Shakeel Avadhany, Matthew D. Cole, Robert Driscoll, John Giarratana, Marco Giovanardi, Vladimir Gorelik, Jonathan R. Leehey, William G. Near, Patrick W. Neil, Colin Patrick O'Shea, Tyson David Sawyer, Johannes Schneider, Clive Tucker, Ross J. Wendell, Richard Anthony Zuckerman
  • Publication number: 20240289423
    Abstract: Methods and systems related to determining the ordering and/or positioning of travel lanes on a road segment are disclosed. In some embodiments, this may include obtaining and clustering road surface profiles associated with a road segment using, for example, a degree of similarity or other appropriate metric. A lateral offset or position of the clustered profiles may be used in determining the lane ordering and/or position. The resulting lane specific information may be used to determine a travel lane for a vehicle by comparing a current road-profile obtained from the vehicle and the road profile information associated with the different lanes. In other embodiments, a method and/or system for augmenting a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal may include using a raw GNSS signal and a GNSS location associated with terrain-based data to determine a lateral offset for use in determining a corrected GNSS location of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: William Graves, John Parker Eisenmann, Marco Giovanardi, Ardashir Hormuz Bulsara
  • Patent number: 12060056
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a rapid-response active suspension system controls suspension force and position for improving vehicle safety and drivability. The system may interface with various sensors that detect safety critical vehicle states and adjust the suspension of each wheel to improve safety. Pre-crash and collision sensors may notify the active suspension controller of a collision and the stance may be adjusted to improve occupant safety during an impact while maintaining active control of the wheels. Wheel forces may also be controlled to improve the effectiveness of vehicle safety systems such as ABS and ESP in order to improve traction. Also, bi-directional information may be communicated between the active suspension system and other vehicle safety systems such that each system may respond to information provided to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Zackary Martin Anderson, Marco Giovanardi, Clive Tucker, Jack A. Ekchian