Suspension Control Patents (Class 701/37)
  • Patent number: 12370901
    Abstract: A flat towing technique for an electrified vehicle includes in response to a request for and during a flat towing operation, monitoring at least a back electromotive force (EMF) generated by an electric motor of the electrified powertrain, performing field weakening control of the electric motor such that the back EMF generated by the electric motor during the flat towing operation maintains a high voltage bus that powers the electric motor at a target voltage level, selectively isolating a high voltage battery system of the electrified powertrain from the high voltage bus based on a desired capacity of the high voltage battery system, and adjusting the target voltage level for the high voltage bus based on respective lower limits for electric motor speed and high voltage bus voltage and when the high voltage battery system is isolated from the high voltage bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin M Abraham, Mitchell Johnston
  • Patent number: 12371000
    Abstract: A damper control system includes: a lane module configured to identify boundaries of a present lane of a vehicle in an image of a road in front of the vehicle captured using a forward facing camera; an oil module configured to, from the image, determine whether an area of oil is present on the road between the boundaries of the present lane of the vehicle; and a damping module configured to, when the area of oil is present on the road between the boundaries of the present lane of the vehicle, selectively adjust damping coefficients of adjustable dampers of the vehicle before the vehicle reaches the area of oil on the road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Saylor, Christopher J. Mettrick
  • Patent number: 12361498
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable apparatus having instructions stored thereon such that, when such instructions are executed by a computing device, the computing device is caused to perform operations resulting in improvement of the post-agreement portion of a vehicle purchase transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Inventor: Stephen Lindsay
  • Patent number: 12337641
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for operating an active suspension system are discussed herein. The active suspension system can include a first suspension couple to a first wheel and a second suspension coupled to a second wheel, each suspension can include a first valve, a second valve, and an actuator. While a vehicle is traversing an environment, the vehicle can receive sensor data indicating an uneven surface is within a trajectory of at least the first wheel. A vehicle controller can determine a target position for the actuator of the first suspension, a target current to be generated at the first valve or the second valve and associated with moving the actuator from its current position to the target position, and a target voltage to be apply at the first valve or the second valve to generate the target current to compensate for a change in pitch and/or roll of a vehicle induced by the uneven surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventor: Johannes Edren
  • Patent number: 12330460
    Abstract: An upper support assembly 10 includes an upper support 12 that attaches a shock absorber 84 to a vehicle body 90. The upper support 12 has a cylindrical holder 58 for mounting a bound stopper 94, and the cylindrical holder 85 protrudes downward from a portion that is overlapped with and fixed to the vehicle body 90. The cylindrical holder 58 has a tapered cylindrical shape that decreases in diameter toward a protruding tip, and a spring insulator 66 overlapped with an upper end portion of a coil spring 100, into which the shock absorber 84 is inserted, is fitted and mounted to an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical holder 58.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited
    Inventors: Kouichi Kobayashi, Katsuzou Okada, Kazuki Hotta, Takayuki Goto
  • Patent number: 12326728
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the velocity and heading of a vehicle includes a processor, a steering controller in communication with the processor, and a speed controller in communication with the processor. The steering controller is arranged within the vehicle and is configured to control the steering angle of the vehicle. The speed controller is arranged within the vehicle and is configured to control the velocity of the vehicle. The processor is configured to receive an array of control commands, the array of control commands include steering angle positions and velocities of the vehicle for a present time and a preview time and generate a control request for instructing the steering controller and the speed controller based on the steering angle positions and velocities of the vehicle for both the present time and the preview time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jon D. Demerly, Hsin-Hsiang Yang
  • Patent number: 12319283
    Abstract: The invention provides a vehicle control method and device, a computer storage medium, and a vehicle, which are applied to the technical field of automobiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: NIO TECHNOLOGY (ANHUI) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Zelei Zhou, Xianhui Zhang, Yang Xu
  • Patent number: 12311779
    Abstract: Improvements in the field of electric vehicles (EV) are provided, including EV telematics estimation. Prior techniques estimate a state of charge (SoC) of a battery of an EV based on electrochemical measurements of the battery, such as battery terminal voltage, battery current, or cell temperature. The present improvements estimate SoC or other parameters based on non-electrochemical variables, referred to as exogenous information, meaning information other than electrochemical parameters of the battery. Example exogenous information includes battery type, and battery capacity, vehicle type or load, driver behaviour, weather conditions, or traffic or road conditions. Exogenous information may be used to enable more accurate estimations of EV SoC by EV related systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Inventors: Mostafa Farrokhabadi, Nasrin Sadeghianpourhamami, Rahul Gahlawat, Devashish Paul
  • Patent number: 12285985
    Abstract: A controller as a control apparatus controls a shock absorber of a control target wheel (a rear wheel) located in back of a detection target portion (a front wheel) of an unsprung acceleration sensor based on a detection value detected by the unsprung acceleration sensor on the front wheel side provided on a vehicle. In this case, the controller identifies a movement distance (a delay distance) from the detection target portion (the front wheel) and controls the shock absorber of the control target wheel (the rear wheel) located in back thereof based on the detection value of the unsprung acceleration sensor and a vehicle speed for each control period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Kawasaki, Makoto Matsuura, Ryusuke Hirao
  • Patent number: 12275471
    Abstract: A self-powered dolly vehicle unit with an adaptable wheelbase, the dolly vehicle unit comprising a front axle arranged to support a pair of steerable front wheels, a rear axle arranged to support a pair of rear wheels, a fifth wheel connection for towing a trailer vehicle, a draw-bar attachment mechanism arranged to hold a draw-bar, and a frame structure arranged to support the front axle and the rear axle at a variable wheelbase distance from each other, wherein the frame structure is arranged to be locked at a first wheelbase distance position and at a second wheelbase distance position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Leo Laine, Jesper Blomstrand
  • Patent number: 12270655
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to estimating a grade of a road and calibrating sensors of an autonomous vehicle based on the grade. A process of the disclosed technology can include effectuating an autonomous vehicle to perform one or more maneuvers that cause the autonomous vehicle to face different directions along a road, obtaining a first set of sensor measurements of an autonomous vehicle in a first pose, wherein the first set of sensor measurements includes a first measured specific force, obtaining a second set of sensor measurements of the autonomous vehicle in a second pose, wherein the second set of sensor measurements includes a second measured specific force, determining a direction of gravity based on the first measured specific force and the second measured specific force, and calibrating at least one sensor of the autonomous vehicle based on the determined direction of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Mayur Nitinbhai Shah, Vincent Kee, Adria Serra Moral
  • Patent number: 12269553
    Abstract: A control device includes a reference unit, a correction unit, and a target setting unit. The correction unit sets a reference correction current serving as a reference in determining the correction current to 0 in an extremely low velocity range of a change velocity of a stroke amount, sets the reference correction current to a predetermined steady-state value in a medium and high velocity range of the change velocity, and sets the reference correction current to a value equal to or larger than 0 and equal to or smaller than the steady-state value in a low velocity range of the change velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignees: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kentaro Matsubara
  • Patent number: 12267576
    Abstract: A vehicle and a control method thereof may increase a shooting angle of a camera mounted on the vehicle to photograph without limitation of the shooting angle. The method of controlling a vehicle including at least one camera, the control method including: adjusting a direction of a vehicle body to adjust a shooting direction of the at least one camera to a target direction thereof; and controlling the at least one camera to photograph in the adjusted shooting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Corporation
    Inventors: Jung hun Choi, Dong Hyun Ha, Jae Wung Jung
  • Patent number: 12251976
    Abstract: A system for minimizing data transmission latency between a sensor and a suspension controller of a vehicle is described. The system includes: a state determination module that determines a physical state of the vehicle; a plurality of data paths for transmitting a first signal from the sensor to the suspension controller; a data path configurator of the controller that selects a first data path of the plurality of data paths based on at least one characteristic of the first data path and the physical state and configures the first data path to transmit the first signal; and an actuation module that generates an actuation signal to control a damping characteristic of the suspension actuator based on at least the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Wittenschlaeger
  • Patent number: 12240287
    Abstract: Described are devices, systems, and methods that enable greater control and customization of variable suspension systems via mechanical modification, among other advantages. In one example, a linkage device is configured to be attached to a suspension arm of a vehicle and to a vehicle frame of the vehicle. The linkage device is configured to mechanically modify one or more physical states detected by a sensor of the vehicle, thereby causing the sensor to output modified signals to a controller, and causing the controller to output modified control signals to a variable shock absorber connected between the vehicle frame and the suspension arm, thereby modifying one or more variable physical properties of the variable shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Shock Therapy Suspension, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin Smith
  • Patent number: 12205421
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle includes obtaining personal data associated with a user of the vehicle, obtaining operating data for the vehicle, determining a driver behavior recommendation to reduce emissions of the vehicle based at least in part on the personal data and the operating data, and presenting the driver behavior recommendation on an interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gahl Berkooz, Greg Yezersky, Lev Levine, Iris Maria Weiss
  • Patent number: 12198366
    Abstract: Provided is an object distance measurement method based on a camera. The object distance measurement method may include: receiving an image captured through a camera of a vehicle; extracting a bounding box area of an object included in the image; estimating location change information of the camera for a predetermined time period; and calculating a distance to the object on the basis of the location change information of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae Young Lee
  • Patent number: 12187089
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control device of a vehicle, comprising: a detector configured to detect acceleration in a front-and-rear direction generated in the vehicle; and an estimation unit configured to calculate a braking force of the entire vehicle and a pitch angle of the vehicle based on the acceleration detected by the detector, and estimate an amount of nose dive of the vehicle during braking of the vehicle based on the calculated braking force of the entire vehicle and the calculated pitch angle of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yohei Kawasaki, Yosuke Wada, Shunichi Miyagishi
  • Patent number: 12162488
    Abstract: A control system is designed and intended for use in a host motor vehicle and to detect a preceding vehicle in the surroundings of the host motor vehicle from surroundings data acquired by means of a surroundings sensor system of the host vehicle, to capture operating data of the host motor vehicle by means of a driving state sensor system of the host motor vehicle, and, in a recording mode, to capture and store operating data and/or surroundings data of the host motor vehicle, and, in a playback mode, to set an acceleration and/or a speed of the host motor vehicle depending on the operating data stored in the recording mode and/or the surroundings data stored in the recording mode, wherein the control system is designed and intended to interrupt the playback mode as soon as the time interval between the host motor vehicle and the preceding vehicle falls below a predefined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: ZF ACTIVE SAFETY GMBH
    Inventors: Nico Stock, Tim Schwickart
  • Patent number: 12145413
    Abstract: A suspension control device which controls an operation of a suspension of a vehicle includes an operation-induced state quantity estimation portion which estimates an operation-induced state quantity caused by an operation of a vehicle, a road surface-induced state quantity estimation portion which estimates a road surface-induced state quantity caused by a road surface, an operation-induced state quantity conversion portion which converts the operation-induced state quantity into an operation-induced required damping force, a road surface-induced state quantity conversion portion which converts the road surface-induced state quantity into a road surface-induced required damping force, and a current value calculation portion which determines a current value to be applied to the suspension with reference to the operation-induced required damping force and the road surface-induced required damping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichiro Minakuchi
  • Patent number: 12145600
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an assisted driving method, including: monitoring, in response to that a driving speed of a vehicle is less than or equal to a preset speed and a steering wheel direction is deflected within a first preset time period, an instantaneous oil consumption value of the vehicle; determining whether the instantaneous oil consumption value of the vehicle reaches a first preset reference value within a second preset time period; and sending a reminding message in response to that the instantaneous oil consumption value of the vehicle reaches the first preset reference value within the second preset time period. The present disclosure further provides an assisted driving apparatus, an electronic apparatus, a vehicle-mounted system, and a storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bo Liu
  • Patent number: 12139128
    Abstract: A vehicle may have actuators, including a drive device with a drive motor that can act on a drive wheel, a brake device with a brake that can act on a drive wheel, and/or a steering device with a steering sensor by way of which the steering angle of a wheel is adjustable, a vehicle movement controller, and a setpoint value input means, a setpoint value processing means for detecting setpoint value settings of the setpoint value input means, to calculate a yaw acceleration setpoint value and translational acceleration setpoint values from the setpoint value settings. The setpoint value processing means may be configured to transfer the calculated yaw acceleration setpoint value and translational acceleration setpoint values to the vehicle movement controller, which is configured to actuate one or more of the actuators such that the yaw acceleration setpoint value and the translational acceleration setpoint values are reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Leonard Lapis, Rudolf Csikja, Robin Malsam
  • Patent number: 12134295
    Abstract: The anti-dive control method for the automobile comprises: obtaining preset automobile operating condition parameters, and obtaining parameter values of the automobile operating condition parameters in real time; determining in real time whether the parameter values of the automobile operating condition parameters satisfy a preset first trigger condition or a preset second trigger condition; if the parameter values of the automobile operating condition parameters satisfy the preset first trigger condition, obtaining a preset first control strategy corresponding to the first trigger condition; implementing real-time control of the suspension damping force of the automobile according to the first control strategy; if the parameter values of the automobile operating condition parameters satisfy the preset second trigger condition, obtaining a preset second control strategy corresponding to the second trigger condition; and implementing real-time control of the suspension damping force of the automobile according
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU AUTOMOBILE GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jie Luo, Jun Yin, Haoju Hu, Qinglin Chen
  • Patent number: 12134294
    Abstract: The load weight derivation device comprises a calculation unit that calculates a contraction amount of a spring in a suspension positioned between a vehicle body and a vehicle wheel, and a derivation unit that derives the weight loaded on the vehicle body using the contraction amount calculated by the calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentaro Matsubara
  • Patent number: 12134296
    Abstract: Example adjustable suspension components for bicycles are described herein. An example bicycle suspension component includes a damper operable in a low damping state, a high damping state, and an intermediate damping state between the low damping state and the high damping state, a motion controller operable to change the damper between the low damping state, the intermediate damping state, and the high damping state, and a processor to, based on sensor data, activate the motion controller to change the damper between the intermediate damping state and one of the low damping state or the high damping state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: R. Joe Schoolcraft, Jr., Geoff Nichols, Warren Chambliss, Mark Santurbane, C. Michael Liberato, II
  • Patent number: 12109863
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to an actuator system for a vehicle suspension system comprising: a first actuator comprising a piston, a first upper fluidic chamber and a second lower fluidic chamber, the first and second fluidic chambers separated by the piston; a second actuator comprising a piston, a first upper fluidic chamber and a second lower fluidic chamber, the first and second fluidic chambers separated by the piston; a first hydraulic gallery fluidly connecting the first upper fluidic chamber of the first actuator and one of the first and second fluidic chambers of the second actuator; a second hydraulic gallery fluidly connecting the second lower fluidic chamber of the first actuator and the other of the first and second fluidic chambers of the second actuator; and at least one pump configured to pump fluid between the first and second hydraulic galleries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Luke Birch, Dennis Lausecker
  • Patent number: 12104357
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for damping a movably mounted attachment part of a machine, wherein the attachment part is movable by means of a hydraulic cylinder, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is actuated via a hydraulic pump, comprising: receiving a measured value of a pressure (P) in a load-side chamber of the hydraulic cylinder during a measurement phase, and controlling the hydraulic pump to adjust the pressure in the load-side chamber of the hydraulic cylinder to the measured value as a setpoint value during operation of the machine for damping the movably mounted attachment part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Olaf Schwittay
  • Patent number: 12103347
    Abstract: A damping control device for a vehicle includes a control force generating device configured to generate vertical control force between a vehicle body of the vehicle and at least one wheel suspended from the vehicle body by a suspension, and an electronic control unit configured to reduce, by controlling the control force generating device to change the control force, vibration of the vehicle body that is caused by vertical vibration occurring in the wheel in response to vertical road surface displacements while the vehicle is traveling, the vertical vibration being transmitted to the vibration of the vehicle body via the suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Furuta
  • Patent number: 12083847
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable memory for dynamic control of suspension systems of vehicles. For instance, a method may include: obtaining a suspension control feature map; determining an initial location of a vehicle; determining a region of the suspension control feature map that corresponds to the initial location of the vehicle; determining a set of suspension control trigger conditions based on the region of the suspension control feature map; determining a current location of the vehicle; determining whether a first suspension control trigger condition of the set of suspension control trigger conditions is satisfied based on the current location; and in response to determining the first suspension control trigger condition is satisfied, instructing an adjustable suspension of the vehicle to transition from a first adjustable suspension setting to a second adjustable suspension setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Integrated Engi ring, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Anthony Blais
  • Patent number: 12084050
    Abstract: Vehicles, systems and methods for improving traffic flow and roadway safety including an autonomous vehicle programmed to automatically interfere with at least a second vehicle in order to protect the second vehicle or occupants or property within the second vehicle. The vehicle includes a Safety Mode where the vehicle sacrifices itself to protect other vehicles, and a Passenger Mode where the vehicle exhibits priority over other vehicles which other vehicles sacrifice themselves for the benefit of the Passenger Mode vehicle. In further disclosure an autonomous vehicle includes crumple zones in non-traditional locations to more effectively protect vehicles in crashes. A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product controls the autonomous vehicle configured to automatically position itself in a collision or interference with another vehicle in order to minimize force impacts upon other vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Inventor: Anthony J. Bourget
  • Patent number: 12083846
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension control device includes: an actuator configured to apply a control force in a vertical direction between an unsprung structure and a sprung structure; and an electronic control unit configured to control the actuator so as to generate the control force according to a required control amount for reducing vibration of the sprung structure. The required control amount includes at least two control terms of a displacement term, a velocity term, and an acceleration term related to displacement, velocity, and acceleration of the sprung structure. The electronic control unit calculates a magnitude of a frequency component of each of a plurality of frequency bands included in road surface vibration information, and determines a control gain of each of the at least two control terms so as to change based on the magnitude of the frequency component of each of the plurality of frequency bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Furuta
  • Patent number: 12080112
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic control device including a timer that operates during a key-off time period, the electronic control device having high reliability to diagnose whether the timer is normally operated even during the key-off time period. The electronic control device includes a first power supply unit to which a battery voltage is always supplied as a power supply voltage, the first power supply unit including a first timer that measures a key-off time period, a diagnostic timer different from the first timer, and a first timer diagnosis unit that compares a timer value of the first timer with that of the diagnostic timer during the key-off time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Doi, Yasushi Sugiyama, Yuri Ohara, Takeo Yamashita
  • Patent number: 12071023
    Abstract: An electric vehicle control method for controlling a motor based on a torque command value in an electric vehicle includes: a disturbance torque estimation process of calculating a disturbance torque estimation value including an influence of a road surface gradient; a speed parameter acquisition process of acquiring a speed parameter relating to a vehicle speed; and a vehicle state control including a stop process of calculating a stopping basis torque target value so as to converge the torque command value to the disturbance torque estimation value in accordance with a decrease in the speed parameter, and a vibration damping process of calculating a stopping correction torque target value by performing filtering on the stopping basis torque target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Komatsu, Jun Motosugi, Akira Sawada, Yui Ito
  • Patent number: 12049115
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a generator and a control unit. The generator generates a vertical controlling force between a vehicle body and one wheel for damping a vehicle sprung mass vibration. The control unit changes the controlling force by controlling the generator based on an unsprung mass state quantity at an estimated passage position of the wheel at time after a predetermined time from current time; when a condition that a sprung mass of a sampling vehicle is highly likely to be resonating when the sampling vehicle passes through the estimated passage position is satisfied, compute a target controlling force based on a value less than the unsprung mass state quantity acquired by the sampling vehicle at the estimated passage position; and, at the time at which the wheel passes through the estimated passage position, control the generator such that a controlling force is equal to the target controlling force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Furuta
  • Patent number: 12044775
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to techniques that involve detecting and mitigating automotive interference. Electromagnetic signals propagating in the environment can be received by a radar unit that limits the signals received to a particular angle of arrival with reception antennas that limit the signals received to a particular polarization. Filters can be applied to the signals to remove portions that are outside an expected time range and an expected frequency range that depend on radar signal transmission parameters used by the radar unit. In addition, a model representing an expected electromagnetic signal digital representation can be used to remove portions of the signals that are indicative of spikes and plateaus associated with signal interference. A computing device can then generate an environment representation that indicates positions of surfaces relative to the vehicle using the remaining portions of the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Fan
  • Patent number: 12036836
    Abstract: An electrically powered suspension system includes: an actuator that generates a load for damping vibration of the vehicle body; an information acquisition part that acquires information on a sprung state amount and a road surface state; a target load calculation part that calculates a first target load related to skyhook control based on the sprung state amount and calculates a second target load related to preview control based on the road surface state; and a load control part. The target load calculation part is further configured to calculate a third target load related to virtual spring force control based on a stroke position and to calculate a combined target load into which the first target load, the second target load, and the third target load have been combined. The load control part performs load control of the actuator using the combined target load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Konada, Takashi Yanagi, Ryosuke Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11999212
    Abstract: A clearance risk detection system is provided in a vehicle. The clearance risk detection system is configured to: identify a terrain object in a vehicle travel path; classify the terrain object based on whether the host vehicle can clear the terrain object or cannot clear the terrain object; provide a first indicator that indicates that the host vehicle can clear the terrain object when appropriate; provide a second indicator that indicates that the host vehicle can clear the terrain object with a suggested raising of vehicle ride height when appropriate; automatically raise the vehicle ride height when appropriate; and provide a third indicator that indicates that the host vehicle cannot clear the terrain object even with raising vehicle ride height when appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dustin Howard Malcom Smith, Sai Vishnu Aluru, Timothy D Demetrio
  • Patent number: 11987090
    Abstract: A damping system includes a first magnetic damper pair mounted on a suspension system of a vehicle. The first magnetic damper pair includes a first magnet mounted on a first surface of a body of the vehicle and a second magnet mounted on a first moveable component of the suspension system coupled to a wheel of the vehicle. A sensor is mounted on the body of the vehicle or the wheel. A damping system control module is configured to receive, from the sensor, inputs indicative of a velocity and a displacement of the wheel relative to the body of the vehicle, calculate an amount of force to generate between the magnetic damper pair in a direction opposite a direction of movement of the wheel, and control supply of current to at least one of the first magnet and the second magnet to generate the calculated amount of force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Savannah Theisen, Jeffrey L. Vogt
  • Patent number: 11945279
    Abstract: A motion control system is coupled to a first mass and a second mass and is configured to regulate motion of the first mass with respect to the second mass. The motion control system is configured to increase a contact area between the second mass and a surface on which the second mass rests by increasing a displacement of the motion control system from a neutral position in a direction toward the first mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Randol W. Aikin, Thaddeus J. Stefanov-Wagner
  • Patent number: 11938779
    Abstract: A behavior control device for a vehicle includes: a first actuator configured to apply a vertical control force to a left wheel on a first axle, the first axle being a front axle or a rear axle of the vehicle; a second actuator configured to operate independently of the first actuator and to apply a vertical control force to a right wheel on the first axle; and a controller. The controller is configured to calculate a required value of a behavior parameter representing a behavior of the vehicle, convert the required value of the behavior parameter to a first required force for the first actuator and a second required force for the second actuator, and control the first actuator such that the vertical control force applied to the left wheel on the first axle becomes the first required force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Furuta
  • Patent number: 11932074
    Abstract: A damping control device is configured to acquire, as a preview condition amount, an unsprung condition amount at a predicted passing position where a wheel of a vehicle is predicted to pass, based on preview reference data being sets of data in which unsprung condition amounts and pieces of positional information of the wheel are linked to each other. The unsprung condition amounts indicate a displacement condition of an unsprung portion displaced in a vertical direction due to a displacement of a road surface acquired when the vehicle has traveled on the road surface. The damping control device is configured to execute, at a timing when the wheel passes through the predicted passing position, preview damping control to cause control force to agree with a target control force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Furuta
  • Patent number: 11926328
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method, for determining a suitable tire for use on a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises an electronic device capable of collecting driving data relating to the driving of the vehicle. The method comprises obtaining driving data (18), from the electronic device, relating to the driving of the vehicle, and determining, from the driving data, an amount of driving performed on at least one of a plurality of different road types (20). The method further comprises forming a road type driving profile (22) comprising one or more road types and the associated determined amount of driving performed thereon and selecting, from a plurality of different tires, a suitable tire (24) for the vehicle based on at least the road type driving profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventors: Paul Roeland Verheijen, Valerio Bortolotto, Roberto Benedetti, Federico Tecca, Jeroen Lust, Jonathan Alcantarilla Calderon
  • Patent number: 11919355
    Abstract: A state module selectively sets a present state to a first state in a predetermined order of states; a valve control module determines first target open and closed states for valves of a suspension system based on the present state and opens and closes the valves according to the first target open and closed states, respectively; a pump control module configured to, when the valves are in the first target open and closed states, respectively, selectively operate an electric pump of the suspension system in a first direction and pump hydraulic fluid toward the suspension system; and a diagnosis module configured to: record first and second values of pressures within the suspension system measured using pressure sensors, respectively, before and after the operation of the electric pump in the first direction, respectively; and selectively diagnose faults in a first subset of the valves based on whether pressure increases occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Nandish Calchand, Stein Slootmaekers, Peter Boon
  • Patent number: 11904841
    Abstract: A suspension system and associated control methods for improving the effectiveness of driver assistance systems is disclosed where the driver assistance systems can generate and send requests to a suspension control unit (SCU) of the suspension system to actuate (e.g., close) one or more comfort valves in the suspension system to increase the roll stiffness and/or pitch stiffness of the suspension system when the driver assistance systems are taking corrective action. As part of a two-way communication between the suspension control unit (SCU) and the driver assistance systems, the suspension control unit (SCU) communicates target stiffnesses and/or calculated effective stiffnesses to the driver assistance systems, which is used to update the vehicle stability models used by the driver assistance systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Bert Vandersmissen, Peter Boon
  • Patent number: 11904831
    Abstract: Method for updating at least one vehicle model parameter and at least one tire parameter in at least one chassis control unit of a vehicle, based on tire sensor information collected by a tire sensor placed on a tire. The method includes the steps of: collecting tire sensor information; updating the at least one vehicle model parameter based on updating at least one tire parameter, updating one tire parameter being based on the tire sensor information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chidambaram Subramanian
  • Patent number: 11897369
    Abstract: A system reduces motion sickness symptoms for occupants of a vehicle. The system has a control unit which is coupled to a sensor system and/or a navigation system, a vehicle seat system, and/or a display unit for receiving and/or outputting signals. The control unit is designed to generate seat adjustment signals and/or display signals depending on received surroundings data and/or vehicle component data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Friedrich
  • Patent number: 11897302
    Abstract: A damping force control apparatus for a vehicle in which road surface displacement-related information corresponding to left and right wheels detected by a pair of in-vehicle detection devices is transmitted to a preview reference database control device together with the detection position information, a preview reference database including road surface displacement-related values is created, preview damping control that reduces vibration of a sprung of the vehicle is performed using the road surface displacement-related values in the preview reference database, and it is assumed that road surface displacement-related values in predetermined adjacent regions located in a direction crossing a traveling direction of the vehicle with respect to two points where the road surface displacement-related information was detected by the pair of in-vehicle detection devices are the same as an in-phase component of the road surface displacement-related values at the two points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Furuta
  • Patent number: 11891145
    Abstract: An estimation device estimates a stroke quantity indicating a displacement in an up-and-down direction of a vehicle, in a multistage elastic member in which a plurality of members, each having a different load displacement characteristic indicating a relationship between a load and the displacement, are disposed. The estimation device comprises: a load calculation unit configured to calculate a variable ground contact load received by a wheel of the vehicle from a ground contact surface; a state quantity estimation unit configured to estimate the stroke quantity generated in the multistage elastic member; and a characteristic change unit configured to change a setting of the initial value to an estimated load displacement characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yohei Kawasaki, Yosuke Wada, Shunichi Miyagishi
  • Patent number: 11884124
    Abstract: A system and method for adjusting a drivetrain comprising an e-axle on a vehicle comprises accessing route data and compressing the route data into a plurality of linearized segments. Each segment is determined by analyzing points along the route to determine when a set of route data points indicates an uphill, downhill, or flat segment. Using the segments, drivetrain configuration information for a vehicle and a weight of the vehicle, embodiments determine a performance plan that is tailored to the vehicle, including raising the e-axle to reduce rolling resistance on some segments and lowering the e-axle for some segments for increased power for acceleration, improved braking, or increased regenerative capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hyliion Inc.
    Inventor: George James Noland
  • Patent number: 11884120
    Abstract: A vibration damping control apparatus of a vehicle executes preview vibration damping control for controlling a control force generating apparatus on the basis of a final target control force including a first target control force computed by using preview information. When the vibration damping control apparatus determines that the probability that a road surface condition has changed after a past point in time is high, the vibration damping control apparatus executes particular control for setting the magnitude of the first target control force to become smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Furuta