Suspension Modification Enacted During Travel (i.e., Active Suspension Control) Patents (Class 280/5.5)
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Patent number: 8692706Abstract: A sensor device for measuring the compression travel and/or the compression rate of wheels and/or axles of vehicles, in particular of commercial vehicles, may include at least one sensor measuring in a contactless manner. The sensor device may include a radar and/or high-frequency sensor generating a beam, which is emitted and received after reflection at a reference and reflection surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2006Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbHInventor: Falk Hecker
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Patent number: 8620524Abstract: A correction torque command is outputted to a driving/braking torque producing means in accordance with a correction torque to suppress vehicle body spring vibration. When a state of the correction torque amplitude being greater than a predetermined amplitude continues for a given 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 given predetermined time, before the expiration of the first time period.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2011Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yosuke Kobayashi, Takeshi Kimura, Yuuki Shiozawa, Mitsunori Ohta, Hiroki Sasaki, Akihiro Itoh, Masahiko Yoshizawa
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Patent number: 8585062Abstract: A tunable pneumatic suspension includes a piston and two opposed pneumatic chambers. The two champers apply opposed pneumatic pressures to opposite faces of the piston. The tunable pneumatic suspension also includes a pneumatic controller that independently controls the pressure in each of the chambers. The independent control of the two chambers allows the suspension to change the relative positions of the piston and the chambers by differing the pressures in each chamber, and allows the suspension to change its stiffness by increasing or decreasing the pressures in each of the chambers by equal amounts. If used in a vehicle, changing the relative positions of the piston and the chambers can change the ride height of the vehicle, and changing the stiffness of the suspension can change the stiffness of the vehicle's ride.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2009Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Nucleus Scientific, Inc.Inventor: Ian W. Hunter
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Patent number: 8573604Abstract: A wheel suspension for a motor vehicle includes an electric vibration damper which is affixed to the vehicle body and which has a generator that can be driven by translational wheel movements of the vehicle wheel in order to generate an induced voltage. The stator and the rotor of the generator are interconnected via at least one gear stage, wherein a gear element of the gear stage is a drive gear wheel of a rack-and-pinion drive that is drivingly connected to a wheel carrier of the wheel suspension, with the wheel carrier following the wheel movements.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2011Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Audi AGInventor: Marco Willems
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Patent number: 8565973Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Audi AGInventor: Michael Wein
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Patent number: 8560199Abstract: A control system in a vehicle including a front wheel which is a driven wheel and a rear wheel which is a drive wheel, the control system including: a control unit configured to control a driving power generated in a driving source according to a driving state of the vehicle; and a front wheel speed sensor configured to detect a rotational speed of the front wheel; the control unit including: a wheelie determiner configured to determine whether or not a predetermined wheelie starting condition is met, based on a value detected by the front wheel speed sensor; and a driving power controller configured to suppress the driving power if the wheelie determiner determines that the predetermined wheelie starting condition is met.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
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Patent number: 8556273Abstract: Four electromagnetic shock absorbers (30) are provided with motors (40FL, 40FR, 40RL, 40RR). First current-carrying terminals (T1) of the motors (40FL, 40FR, 40RL, 40RR) are connected to one another by a ground line (61). Further, second current-carrying terminals (T2) of the motor (40FL) and the motor (40FR) are connected to each other by a front wheel roll damping line (62F). Second current-carrying terminals (T2) of the motor (40RL) and the motor (40RR) are connected to each other by a rear wheel roll damping line (62R). Second current-carrying terminals (T2) of the motor (40FL) and the motor (40RL) are connected to each other by a left wheel pitch damping line (63L). Second current-carrying terminals (T2) of the motor (40FR) and the motor (40RR) are connected to each other by a right wheel pitch damping line (63R). In this manner, appropriate damping forces can be generated with a simple configuration not only against vehicle bouncing but also against vehicle rolling and pitching.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Atsushi Ogawa
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Patent number: 8560173Abstract: A control system in a straddle-type vehicle is provided. The control system includes front and rear wheels, comprises a load distribution changing section which changes a ground load distribution between the front and rear wheels during driving of the vehicle; a slip suppressing condition determiner section which determines whether or not a suppressing condition used to suppress a slip of one of the front and rear wheels is met, during driving of the vehicle; and a load distribution control section which controls the load distribution changing section to make the ground load of the one of the front and rear wheels greater when the slip suppressing condition determiner section determines that the suppressing condition is met, than when the slip suppressing condition determiner section determines that the suppressing condition is not met.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
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Patent number: 8554414Abstract: A rollover suppression control apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a rollover state value detection unit which detects a rollover state value indicating that a vehicle is under rollover tendency, a braking force applying unit which performs a rollover suppression control of applying braking force to a wheel of the vehicle to suppress the rollover thereof when the detected rollover state value is greater than the control threshold value, a understeer state detection unit which detects whether a traveling state of the vehicle is a understeer state or a non-understeer state, and a setting unit which sets a first control threshold value as the control threshold value when the traveling state is detected as the non-understeer state, and which sets a second control threshold value greater than the first control threshold value as the control threshold value when the traveling state is detected as the understeer state.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2011Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideaki Koto, Toshihisa Kato
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Patent number: 8548678Abstract: An apparatus has an active suspension including an electromagnetic actuator coupled to a plant in a vehicle. A force bias eliminator is coupled to the plant for causing the actuator to experience a zero-mean load, and a vibration isolation block generates a control signal based on the response of a nominal plant to measured disturbances of the actively suspended plant. A compensation system modifies the control signal in response to a difference between the response of the nominal plant to the control signal and a measured response of the actively-suspended plant to the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2010Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Upendra V. Ummethala, Daniel Francis Opila, James A. Parison, Jr., Thomas C. Shroeder, Linda T. Scully, Roman N. Litovsky
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Patent number: 8525453Abstract: A damper system for a vehicle including an electromagnetic damper, wherein the electromagnetic damper includes: (i) an electromagnetic motor; (ii) a motion converting mechanism; and (iii) an external circuit including (A) a first connection passage, (B) a second connection passage, (C) a first-connection-passage-current adjuster, and (D) a second-connection-passage-current adjuster, wherein the damper system comprises an external-circuit controller including: (a) a main-adjuster control portion configured to perform, on one of the first-connection-passage-current adjuster and the second-connection-passage-current adjuster that is designated as a main adjuster, a first control for mainly damping the relative vibration of the sprung portion and the unsprung portion; and (b) an auxiliary-adjuster control portion configured to perform, on one of the first-connection-passage-current adjuster and the second-connection-passage-current adjuster that is designated as an auxiliary adjuster, a second control for assistiType: GrantFiled: July 8, 2009Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Atsushi Ogawa
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Patent number: 8517395Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Lawrence D. Knox, Neal M. Lackritz, William R. Short
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Patent number: 8516914Abstract: A suspension actuator (1) for positioning a movably mounted component of a motor vehicle suspension, including a first actuator component (4), which is to be connected to the movably mounted component, and a second actuator component (3), which is to be connected to a fixed suspension component, wherein both actuator components can be axially adjusted relative to one another via a ball-type linear drive (5), which includes a threaded spindle (6) and a nut (7) running thereon. Either the nut can be driven via a drive motor (10) for the axial adjustment of the threaded spindle or the spindle can be driven via a drive motor for axial adjustment of the nut.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2009Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventors: Jürgen Osterlänger, Ralf Mayer, Manfred Kraus, Thomas Mehlis, Stefanie Bärthlein, Meinhard Schmidt, Thomas Dirnberger, Tobias Noss, Falk Heinrich
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Patent number: 8521361Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2010Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Fourth Floor Associates, Inc.Inventors: William T. Larkins, Edward Lanzilotta, Damian Harty
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Patent number: 8515620Abstract: A motor vehicle, with a drive train comprising a drive assembly, a transmission and wheels (2). The drive train further including actuators (3, 4) for adjusting at least one of the tracking and/or the camber. Sensors (5), for determining the tracking and/or camber, are integrated in the motor vehicle, and a control unit (6) only operates the actuators (3, 4), to adjust the tracking and/or the camber, when the drive train is in a defined actual static condition.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2008Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Karl-Hermann Ketteler, Thomas Winstel, Guenther Horsak, Marc Wiesenthal
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Patent number: 8473157Abstract: A method for controlling four semi-active suspensions of a vehicle comprising the steps of: determining, for each semi-active suspension, a first and a second signal representative of the acceleration and speed of the sprung mass; determining, for a pair of semi-active suspensions arranged on one side of the vehicle a third and a four signal representative of the acceleration and pitch speed; calculating for each semi-active suspension, a first damping coefficient as a function of the difference between the first and second signal squared; calculating for each semi-active suspension, a second damping coefficient as a function of the difference between the third and the four signal squared; for each semi-active suspension, comparing the first and the second damping coefficient for determining the higher coefficient; applying to each force generator device, an electronic control signal indicative of the respective high damping coefficient.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2012Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignees: Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., Politecnico di MilanoInventors: Sergio M. Savaresi, Cristiano Spelta, Diego Delvecchio, Gabriele Bonaccorso, Fabio Ghirardo, Sebastiano Campo
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Patent number: 8473154Abstract: A vehicle control system, which is configured to obtain an index on the basis of a running condition of a vehicle and to change at least any one of a driving force control characteristic and a vehicle body support characteristic of a suspension mechanism in response to the index, is configured to acquire information associated with a friction coefficient of a road surface on which the vehicle runs, and to correct the at least any one of the driving force control characteristic and the vehicle body support characteristic, which is changed in response to the index, on the basis of the information associated with the friction coefficient of the road surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2011Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shin Noumura, Ken Koibuchi, Kaiji Itabashi, Keisuke Takeuchi, Toshio Tanahashi
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Patent number: 8457841Abstract: An analytical methodology for the specification of progressive optimal compression damping of a suspension system to negotiate severe events, yet provides very acceptable ride quality and handling during routine events. In a broad aspect, the method provides a progressive optimal unconstrained damping response of the wheel assembly with respect to the body. In a preferred aspect, the method provides a progressive optimal constrained damping response of the wheel assembly with respect to the body, wherein below a predetermined velocity a conventional damper force is retained.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2007Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Richard J. Knoll, William Golpe, Nikolai K. Moshchuk, Chandra S. Namuduri, Flavio Nardi, Jihan Ryu, Raviraj U. Nayak
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Patent number: 8458080Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
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Patent number: 8437950Abstract: A method for increasing the driving stability of a vehicle, particularly of a commercial vehicle, which counteracts a vehicle instability by a control intervention in a control system operating the drive and/or the brakes of the vehicle, in which the control intervention occurs as a function of the ratio between the height of the center of gravity of the vehicle and a spring constant of the vehicle suspension.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2003Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbHInventors: Herbert Schramm, Falk Hecker, Matthias Horn, Ulrich Guecker, Stefan Hummel
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Patent number: 8428807Abstract: Process for determining at least one state of motion of a vehicle body (10) of a vehicle (1), which has at least one wheel (2) spring-mounted on the vehicle body (10) via a wheel suspension (6), wherein an inward deflection (zrel) of the wheel (2) is measured by means of a path or angle sensor (21), an inward deflection velocity (?rel) of the wheel (2) is determined by differentiating the inward deflection (zrel) of the wheel (2) over time, a vertical acceleration ({umlaut over (z)}wheel) of the wheel (2) is measured by means of an acceleration sensor (22), a vertical velocity (?wheel) of the wheel (2) is determined by integrating the vertical acceleration ({umlaut over (z)}wheel) of the wheel (2) over time, and a vertical velocity (?body) of the vehicle body (10) is calculated by forming a difference of the vertical velocity (?wheel) of wheel (2) and the inward deflection velocity (?rel) of wheel (2).Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2007Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Andreas Gärtner, Eberhard Hees, Stefan Rappelt
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Patent number: 8429061Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
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Publication number: 20130068550Abstract: There is disclosed herein a vehicle configuration comprising a chassis, at least one front wheel, two rear wheels, and a propulsion unit driving the rear wheels. The rear wheels are connected to the chassis by a wheel support assembly configured for allowing movement of each rear wheel relative to the chassis, a hydraulic cylinder connected to the chassis and the rear wheel supports, and a piston connected the rear wheel supports and the chassis. The piston dividing the hydraulic cylinder into fluidly connected first and second chambers such that movement of hydraulic fluid from the first or second chamber of a hydraulic cylinder to the respective first or second chamber of another hydraulic cylinder displaces the pistons of the hydraulic cylinders in opposing directions relative to the respective housings and causes the chassis to articulate with respect to the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2011Publication date: March 21, 2013Inventor: David Andrew Gale
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Patent number: 8398091Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle, including: an electromagnetic actuator configured to generate an actuator force and including a sprung-side unit supported by a sprung portion, an unsprung-side unit supported by an unsprung portion, a screw mechanism, and an electromagnetic motor; a connecting mechanism including a support spring for permitting one of the sprung-side and unsprung-side units to be floatingly supported as a floating unit by a unit-floatingly support portion that is one of the sprung and unsprung portions by which the floating unit is supported; and a controller including a sprung-vibration-damping control portion and a relative-vibration-damping control portion that is configured to execute a relative-vibration damping control for damping a vibration of the floating unit caused by the structure in which the floating unit is floatingly supported by the support spring.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2009Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirofumi Inoue, Takuhiro Kondo
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Publication number: 20130062153Abstract: A robot has a track assembly having tracks configured to move the robot in a first direction and a wheel assembly having wheels configured to move the robot in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A toggling assembly switches between the track assembly and the wheel assembly. The robot modules can mate with each other. The robot module has an elongated shaft with a head and a narrow neck. The shaft extends outward from the side of the robot module. A mating robot module has a clamping mechanism with opposing clamps which in an opened position receive the shaft. In a closed position, the clamps define an opening which matches and engages the cross-section of the neck of the elongated shaft. The clamping mechanism has a drive mode to drive the module, a clamping mode for docking, and neutral mode for alignment prior to clamping.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Inventors: Pinhas Ben-Tzvi, Paul Marie Moubarak
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Patent number: 8348283Abstract: A suspension control apparatus selectively performs at least one of: compression-stroke control performed when a wheel load is increased, for setting a damping-force characteristic of at least one of damping-force variable dampers, which is provided on a side of at least one wheel whose wheel load is to be increased among a plurality of wheels, to a hard side in an early stage of a compression stroke and switching the damping-force characteristic to a soft side in a latter stage of the compression stroke; extension-stroke control performed when the wheel load is increased, for setting the damping-force characteristic to the soft side in an early stage of an extension stroke and switching the damping-force characteristic to the hard side in a latter stage of the extension stroke; compression-stroke control performed when the wheel load is reduced, for setting the damping-force characteristic of at least one of the damping-force variable dampers, which is provided on a side of at least one wheel whose wheel loaType: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Naofumi Harada, Yoichi Kumemura, Tatsuya Gankai
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Patent number: 8313108Abstract: A stiffness control system and apparatus includes one or more stiffness elements which are each activated by a smart actuator including a smart material which may be one of a shape memory alloy (SMA), a magnetorheological (MR) fluid, an electrorheological (ER) fluid, and a piezo-stack. The stiffness control system includes a first and second interface adaptable to transmit input loads and a plurality of stiffness elements. A first stiffness element is operatively connected to the first and second interfaces and is continuously responsive to a change in system operating characteristics including input loads. A second stiffness element is selectively activated by the smart actuator so as to selectively respond to a change in system conditions. The continuous response of the first stiffness element can be selectively combined with the activated response of the second stiffness element to dynamically control system stiffness.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2010Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Shivaram Ac, Amol G. Thakare, Vidyashankar R. Buravalla, Srinivasan Suryanarayan
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Patent number: 8308170Abstract: The invention relates to an active suspension assembly and a vehicle equipped therewith. The assembly comprises a bearing arm, spring and adjusting mechanism. In use, the bearing arm supports the second vehicle mass, for instance a cabin or wheel and is pivotally connected to the first vehicle mass, for instance a chassis, around a pivot axis; the spring mechanism produces a spring force that exerts a counter moment on the bearing arm that can counterbalance any external moment acting on said bearing arm; and the adjustment mechanism is arranged to vary said counter moment by altering the direction of the spring force and/or move its point of application in a first direction. The adjustment mechanism is furthermore arranged to move the point of application of the spring force in a second direction, in which the counter moment is not or hardly affected, but by which the effective spring stiffness of the suspension assembly is affected.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2007Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNOInventors: Albertus Clemens Maria Van Der Knaap, Arjan Pieter Teerhuis, Raymond Bernardus Gerhardus Tinsel, Robert Marijn Anthony Frank Verschuren
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Patent number: 8296009Abstract: A suspension controller for controlling, based on a value detected by at least one sensor which is provided in a vehicle and which is configured to detect a detected portion, a suspension provided for a wheel of the vehicle which is located on a rear side of the detected portion and which is distant from the detected portion by a longitudinal distance in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, such that the suspension works in accordance with a control command value that is prepared based on the value detected by the at least one sensor. The suspension controller includes a gain determiner configured to determine a gain, for controlling the suspension based on the determined gain. The gain determiner is configured to determine the gain such that the determined gain is smaller when a previewable time is shorter than a threshold length of time, than when the previewable time is not shorter than the threshold length of time.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2008Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hidenori Kajino
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Patent number: 8246057Abstract: A vehicle has a straddle-type seat disposed on a frame. The straddle-type seat has at least one seating portion. A steering device is disposed forwardly of the seat. Left and right side supports are disposed laterally of the seating portion. The side supports have respective support surfaces facing laterally inwardly. The left and right support surfaces move in a direction of a current lateral acceleration of the vehicle in response to a current lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The left and right support surfaces move in a direction of a current rotation of the steering device in response to a current degree of rotation of the steering device. The support surfaces move in a direction of the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle when a force is exerted thereon in a direction opposite a current lateral acceleration of the vehicle. A method of supporting a rider is also described.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.Inventor: Jean Daunais
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Patent number: 8249774Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2011Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichi Suyama, Akiyoshi Kobayashi, Yutaka Horiuchi, Kenji Hattori
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Patent number: 8219262Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic level control system equalizer of a motor vehicle equipped with a battery and a generator supplying the battery, as well as a compressor driven by an electric motor and associated with the level control system equalizer, the electric motor of the compressor being only supplied with electric current by the vehicle battery and/or generator in certain conditions. The power requirements of the level control system equalizer can be pre-evaluated for a change of level and/or a filling of the pressure tank to be performed.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2006Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Continental AktiengesellschaftInventor: Alexander Stiller
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Patent number: 8165750Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a vehicle motion control device capable of controlling the driving force distribution to the wheels with superior stability and response while effectively utilizing the tire grip.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2011Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuichiro Tsukasaki, Masaru Kogure
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Patent number: 8165751Abstract: A method for rollover sensing (12) that may be used in the determination of when to deploy restraints in a vehicle is disclosed herein. The method for rollover sensing (12) may include lateral acceleration sensors (22), a roll rate sensor (18), and a roll angle detector (20). A control circuit (16) determines a roll moment of inertia as a function of lateral acceleration, a trip point length as a function of the lateral acceleration, and a trip point angle as a function of the lateral acceleration. The control circuit (16) also determines a rollover threshold in response to a roll rate signal, a roll angle signal, the trip point length, the roll moment of inertia, and the trip point angle. The control circuit (16) further generates a control signal for a deployment circuit in response to the rollover threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2010Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Ford Global TechnologiesInventors: Fubang Wu, Cliff Chou, Thiag Subbian
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Patent number: 8165749Abstract: A control system for an adjustable damping force damper of a suspension apparatus of a vehicle, includes a lateral acceleration detecting unit detecting a lateral acceleration of the vehicle at a gravity point thereof, a yaw rate detecting unit detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle and a control unit controlling a damping force of the damper. The control unit calculates a first target damping force based on an output of the lateral acceleration detecting unit, calculates a second target damping force based on a lateral acceleration at an axel position which is estimated by an output of the yaw rate detecting unit, compares an absolute value of the first target damping force with that of the second target damping force and sets a target controlling value of the damping force in accordance with the first or second target damping force which has a larger absolute value.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2006Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., LtdInventors: Masaki Izawa, Takafumi Kato
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Patent number: 8135514Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Leonard B. Kelly, Yunjun Li, Gregory G. Gordon, Nancy McMahon, Todd H. Barnes
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Patent number: 8123235Abstract: A vehicle hydraulic suspension system has front left (15), front right (16), rear left (18) and rear right (17) wheel ram. There is a mode decoupling device (100) with first (129), second (130), third (132) and fourth (131) balance chambers formed by a cylinder/piston rod assembly (124,125,126). The compression chamber (45) of the front left wheel ram (15) is in fluid communication with the first balance chamber (129), the compression chamber (46) of the front right wheel ram (16) is in fluid communication with the second balance chamber (130), the compression chamber (48) of the rear left wheel ram (18) is in fluid communication with the third balance chamber (132), and the compression chamber (47) of the rear right wheel ram (17) is in fluid communication with the fourth balance chamber (131). There are also front and rear resilient vehicle support means between vehicle body and the wheel assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2006Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Kinetic Pty. Ltd.Inventors: Richard Monk, James Lind Taylor
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Patent number: 8123240Abstract: A leaning vehicle has a frame that pivots relative to a pivotable frame member about a pivot axis. A torque exerted on a steering assembly in a first direction causes the frame to pivot relative to the pivotable frame member in a second, opposite direction at least when the speed of the vehicle is above a first threshold speed, to steer the vehicle in the second direction. An actuator urges the frame toward an upright position when the frame is in a leaning position and a speed of the vehicle is below a second threshold speed. A method is also described, in which a torque is exerted on the frame in the direction opposite the steering torque when the speed above the first threshold speed. The torque exerted by the actuator is opposite the leaning angle when the speed of travel is below the second threshold speed.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.Inventor: Daniel Mercier
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Patent number: 8112199Abstract: 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: a means for measuring the travel (DEB(A)) and travel speed (VDEB(A)) of the right and left wheels on a front and/or rear axle system in relation to the body shell, a means (61, 62) for detecting a wide range of wheel movement when the travel (DEB(A)) and speed values exceed a threshold, and a means (64) for calculating a set value (ERGD) for the shock absorber actuator when a wide range of wheel movement is detected.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2006Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SAInventor: Francois Poilbout
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Patent number: 8108102Abstract: A sprung mass velocity estimating apparatus used in a four-wheeled vehicle to estimate a sprung mass velocity of a point of a vehicle body corresponding to each wheel of the vehicle, includes a state quantity detecting unit which detects a state quantity of the vehicle, a base value calculating unit which calculates a sprung mass velocity base value for each of the four vehicle body points based on a detection result of the state quantity detecting unit by using a prescribed oscillation model, and a sprung mass velocity calculating unit which calculates the sprung mass velocity for each vehicle body point by mutually adjusting the sprung mass velocity base values for the four vehicle body points such that the four vehicle body points are located on a common flat plane.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Furuichi, Koji Yamazaki
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Patent number: 8108103Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2008Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Nikolai K. Moshchuk, Flavio Nardi
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Publication number: 20120018962Abstract: A stiffness control system and apparatus includes one or more stiffness elements which are each activated by a smart actuator including a smart material which may be one of a shape memory alloy (SMA), a magnetorheological (MR) fluid, an electrorheological (ER) fluid, and a piezo-stack. The stiffness control system includes a first and second interface adaptable to transmit input loads and a plurality of stiffness elements. A first stiffness element is operatively connected to the first and second interfaces and is continuously responsive to a change in system operating characteristics including input loads. A second stiffness element is selectively activated by the smart actuator so as to selectively respond to a change in system conditions. The continuous response of the first stiffness element can be selectively combined with the activated response of the second stiffness element to dynamically control system stiffness.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2010Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Shivaram AC, Amol G. Thakare, Vidyashankar R. Buravalla, Srinivasan Suryanarayan
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Patent number: 8103408Abstract: In a system including four electromagnetic absorbers for respective four vehicle wheels, motor coils of two respective electromagnetic absorbers disposed corresponding to two diagonally located wheels are connected forming a closed loop including the coils. A generated damping force magnitude can be made different between an instance directions of respective movements of the diagonally located two wheels with respect to the vehicle body are the same, and an instance the directions are opposite each other. Each electromagnetic absorber includes a resistor cooperating with the corresponding coil forming a closed loop, and selectively establishes: a connected state in which one of the four coils and any of the other three coils are connected to form a closed loop; and a non-connected state in which the one of the four coils is not connected to any other coil. An appropriate vibration suppressing action is exhibited with respect to a coupled motion.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2006Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd., The University of TokyoInventors: Hirofumi Inoue, Takuhiro Kondo, Yoshihiro Suda
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Patent number: 8095268Abstract: An apparatus includes a force bias element coupled to a plant in a vehicle. The force bias element has a first bandwidth. An active suspension includes a linear electromagnetic actuator located within an interior of the force bias element. The linear electromagnetic actuator has a second bandwidth that is higher than the first bandwidth and is coupled to the plant.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2006Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: James A. Parison, Christopher J. Breen, Richard F. O'Day
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Patent number: 8090500Abstract: In a control device for controlling a variable damper of a vehicle suspension system, when a stroke speed of the damper is within a range including a zero stroke speed, the target damping force is determined as a force opposing a current movement of the damper without regards to the direction of the target damping force determined by a target damping force determining unit. Thereby, even when the wheels move vertically at short intervals, the control value is prevented from changing rapidly, and this allows a damping force of an appropriate level to be achieved in a stable manner at all times. Also, the target damping force when a stroke speed of the damper is within a range including a zero stroke speed may be selected to be a relatively high value or low value so that a desired vehicle behavior may be achieved.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2007Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shigenobu Sekiya
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Patent number: 8086377Abstract: The present invention provides a suspension control apparatus capable of an excellent vibration control by a model thereof designed to incorporate nonlinearity and a time-lag element of a control damper. The present invention employs the backstepping method which is one of nonlinear control methods, and is designed so as to incorporate the nonlinearity of a damper 4. In addition, a nonlinear controller 5 uses a damping force Fu obtained by expressing the dynamics of a damping force characteristic variable portion [damping force Fu(v, i)] by a first-order lag system, so as to compensate the dynamics of the damper 4, whereby a control system is formed so as to incorporate the time-lag element of the control damper. As a result, it is possible to reduce time lag, and to practically adjust a control force according to the characteristics of the control damper.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2009Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Kobe UniversityInventors: Noriaki Itagaki, Nobuyuki Ichimaru, Takahide Kobayashi, Tatsuya Gankai, Takanori Fukao
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Patent number: 8075002Abstract: A suspension system for a wheeled vehicle includes hydraulic actuators associated with each of the vehicle's wheels, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic accumulator, a compressible hydraulic fluid, and a hydraulic manifold including control valves that open and close to control the hydraulic fluid flow and pressure to each of the hydraulic actuators. The control valves are regulated by a control system including a processor running an algorithm that receives data from switches and sensors providing information regarding the vehicle's state and mode of intended use or storage.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2008Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: AM General LLCInventors: Ralf Pionke, John George Bocik
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Publication number: 20110301785Abstract: A method for providing a uniform ground contact pressure when operating a tracked remote vehicle comprises: sensing the terrain below the remote vehicle using a series of proximity sensors that are configured to measure a distance from an underside of a chassis of the remote vehicle to the terrain directly beside a track of the remote vehicle; monitoring, mapping, and classifying an upcoming terrain; and adapting the remote vehicle's track profile, flipper position, arm position, and center of balance based on the upcoming terrain.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2011Publication date: December 8, 2011Inventor: Lee F. Sword
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Patent number: 8065054Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Nicolai Tarasinski, Klaus Hahn
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Patent number: 8050819Abstract: 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 (44) 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichi Suyama, Akiyoshi Kobayashi, Yutaka Horiuchi, Kenji Hattori