Computer optimized adaptive suspension system

Claim 2

A control system for one or more damping devices comprising sheek absorber means, sensor means for generating signals representative of degree of extension of the shock absorber means, and regulator means responsive to input signals for adjusting the compression force and the rebound force of the shock absorber means, the control system ccmprising: processing means for receiving the signals generated by the sensor means and adapted to determine one or more independent parameters each representative of a distinct state of motion of the system, using the parameters to determine, for each individual shock absorber means, a desired independent response for each of the distinct states of motion, and for processing the desired independent responses for each of the individual shock absorber means to form control signals to be applied tc each of the regulator means.

Claim 3

system as described in claim 1 wherein the processing means is adapted to permit altering of the desired independent response that the processing means determines for given parameters.

Claim 4

A system as described in claim 1 wherein the processing means comprises a table for use by the processing means for converting the parameters to the desired independent responses.

Claim 5

A vehicle suspension control system in communication with a plurality of suspension units connected between the chassis and axle portions of a vehicle, each suspension unit including spring means and a damping device, the compression and rebound damping forces of each said damping device being selectively and independently adjustable substantially independently of suspension movement velocity, each said suspension unit having sensor means to determine the position of said axle with respect to said chassis, said control system comprising: means providing a first signal from each said sensor means, said first signal representing the position of said axle with respect to said chassis for each said suspension unit; first signal processing means for generating a plurality of groups of a plurality of second signals in response to said first signals from said sensor means, each said second signal in each group representing a distinct state of motion of said chassis and axle with respect to the desired response for the associated damping device, each said group of second signals being peculiar to each said suspension unit; second signal processing means for generating a plurality of groups of a plurality of paired third and fourth signals, each pair of said third and fourth signals being generated in response to one of said second signals, each said third and fourth signal representing the desired compression and rebound damping forces respectively relating to said distinct state of motion, each said group of third and fourth signals being associated with a respective one of said damping devices; third signal processing means for generating a plurality of paired fifth and sixth signals, each said pair of fifth and sixth signals being in response to one of said groups of third and fourth signals, each said pair of fifth and sixth signals being associated with a respective one of said damping devices, said fifth signal comprising a summation of said third signals associated with said damping device, said sixth signal comprising a summation of said fourth signals associated with said damping device; means for adjusting the compression damping forces of each said damping device; means for adjusting the rebound damping forces of each said damping device; means for applying one of said fifth signals to said compression damping force adjusting means; and means for applying one of said sixth signals to said rebound damping force adjusting means; whereby the compression and rebound damping forces are continually optimally controlled for each said damping device to provide desired ride characteristics for the vehicle.

Claim 6

A vehicle suspension control system in communication with a plurality of suspension units connected between the chassis and axle portions of a vehicle, each suspension unit including spring means and a damping device, the compression and rebound damping forces of each said damping device being selectively and independently adjustable substantially independently of suspension movement velocity, each said suspension unit having sensor means to determine the position of said axle with respect to said chassis, said control system comprising: means providing a first signal from each said sensor means, said first signal representing the position of said axle with respect to said chassis for each said suspension unit; first signal processing means for generating a plurality of groups of a plurality of second signals in response to said first signals from said sensor means, each said second signal in each group representing a distinct state of motion of said chassis and axle with respect to the desired response for the associated damping device, each said group of second signals being peculiar to each said suspension unit; second signal processing means for generating a plurality of groups of a plurality of paired third and fourth signals, each pair of said third and fourth signals being generated in response to one of said second signals, each said third and fourth signal representing the desired compression and rebound damping forces respectively relating to said distinct state of motion, each said group of third and fourth signals being associated with a respective one of said damping devices; third signal processing means for generating a plurality of paired fifth and sixth signals, each said pair of fifth and sixth signals being in response to one of said groups of third and fourth signals, each said pair of fifth and sixth signals being associated with a respective one of said damping devices, said fifth signal comprising a summation of said third signals associated with said damping device, said sixth signal comprising a summation of said fourth signals associated with said damping device; means for adjusting the compression damping forces of each said damping device; means for adjusting the rebound damping forces of each said damping device; means for applying one of said fifth signals to said compression damping force adjusting means; and means for applying one of said sixth signals to said rebound damping force adjusting means; whereby the compression and rebound damping forces are continually optimally controlled for each said damping device to provide desired ride characteristics for the vehicle.

Claim 7

The control system recited in claim f wherein said first signal processing means generates said second signals in the range of about 250 times per second.

Claim 8

The control system recited in claim 4 wherein said spring means is an air spring coupled to a source of pressurized air, the spring rate of said spring means being selectively and independently adjustable and comprising means for increasing and decreasing the spring rate, said control system further comprising: fourth signal processing means for generating a plurality of paired seventh and eighth signals, each pair of seventh and eighth signals being in response to one of said first signals from said sensor means and being associated with a respective one of said air springs, said seventh signal representing the dynamic amplitude variations of the axle with respect to the chassis associated with at least one of said air springs, said eighth signal representing the position of the associated axle with respect to the chassis averaged over a period of several seconds; fifth signal processing means for generating a plurability of pairs of ninth and tenth signals, each pair of ninth and tenth signals being in response to one of said pairs of seventh and eighth signals and being associated with a respective one of said air springs, said ninth signal controlling said means for increasing the spring rate and said tenth signal controlling said means for decreasing the spring rate of said associated air spring.

Claim 9

. The control system recited in claim 6 and further comprising: means coupled to at least one said air spring for generating an eleventh signal representing the spring rate for said air spring; said first signal processing means generating said plurality of groups of a plurality second signals in response to said first and eleventh signals; whereby the values of said second signals depend both upon positions and spring rates.

Claim 10

The control system recited in claim 4 wherein said second signal processing means comprises a digital memory having a plurality of stored pairs of parameters, each said pair being uniquely associated with a combination of at least one of each possible value of said second signal, each said pair of said third and fourth signals representing the desired compression and rebound damping forces in response to each particular state of motion of the chassis and axle affecting the respective response of said damping device represented by said second signals.

Claim 11

The control system recited in claim 7 wherein said second signal processing means comprises a digital memory having a plurality of stored pairs of parameters, each said pair being uniquely associated with a combination of at least one of each possible value of said second signal, each said pair of said third and fourth signals representing the desired compression and rebound damping forces in response to each particular state of motion of the chassis and axle affecting the respective response of said damping device represented by said second signals.

Claim 12

The control system recited in claim r wherein: each said damping device comprises interface means for controlling compression and rebound damping forces dependent upon the velocity of said axle with respect to said chassis, said control system further comprising: sixth signal processing means for generating a plurality of pairs of twelfth and thirteenth signals representing the inputs to each said damping device for optimally controlling the respective compression and rebound damping forces, said twelfth and thirteenth signals being in response to said second signal representing the velocity of said axle with respect to said chassis and said fifth and sixth signals representing the desired compression and rebound damping forces.

Claim 13

The control system recited in claim 8 wherein: each said damping device comprises interface means for controlling compression and rebound damping forces dependent upon the velocity of said axle with respect to said chassis, said control system further comprising: sixth signal processing means for generating a plurality of pairs of twelfth and thirteenth signals representing the inputs to each said damping device for optimally controlling the respective compression and rebound damping forces, said twelfth and thirteenth signals being in response to said second signal representing the velocity of said axle with respect to said chassis and said fifth and sixth signals representing the desired compression and rebound damping forces.

Claim 14

The control system recited in claim § wherein: each said damping device comprises interface means for controlling compression and rebound damping forces dependent upon the velocity of said axle with respect to said chassis, said control system further comprising: sixth signal processing means for generating a plurality of pairs of twelfth and thirteenth signals representing the inputs to each said damping device for optimally controlling the respective compression and rebound damping forces, said twelfth and thirteenth signals being in response to said second signal representing the velocity of said axle with respect to said chassis and said fifth and sixth signals representing the desired compression and rebound damping forces.

Claim 15

The control system recited in claim 4, said control system further comprising a digital processing integrated circuit.

Claim 16

The control system recited in claim 6, said control system further comprising a digital processing integrated circuit.

Claim 17

The control system recited in claim 4 wherein each of said signals are electrical signals.

Claim 21

The method recited in claim 16 wherein said spring means is an air spring coupled to a source of pressurized air the spring rate of said spring or group of springs being selectively and independently adjustable and having means for increasing and decreasing the spring rate, said method comprising the further steps of: processing said first signal from at least one said sensor means to generate a plurality of paired seventh and eighth signals, each pair of seventh and eighth signals being associated with one or a group of said air springs, said seventh signal representing the dynamic amplitude variations of the axle with respect to the chassis, said eighth signal representing the position of the associated axle with respect to the chassis averaged over a period of many seconds; processing said seventh and eighth signals to generate a plurality of paired ninth and tenth signals, each pair of ninth and tenth signals being associated with one or a group of said air springs, said ninth signal controlling said means for increasing the spring rate and said tenth signal controlling said means for decreasing the spring rate of said associated air spring.

Claim 22

The method recited in claim 18 and comprising the further steps of: generating an eleventh signal representing the spring rate of at least one said air spring, said eleventh signal being generated by means sensing said spring rate; processing said first and eleventh signals to generate a plurality of groups of a plurality of second signals; whereby the values of said second signals depend both upon positions and spring rates.

Claim 23

The method recited in claim 16 and comprising the further steps of: controlling compression and rebound damping forces in response to the velocity of said axle with respect to said chassis by means of interface means coupled to each said damping device; processing said second signals representing the velocity of said axle with respect to said chassis and said fifth and sixth signals representing the desired compression and rebound damping forces for generating a plurality of paired twelfth and thirteenth signals representing the inputs to each said damping device for optimally controlling the respective compression and rebound damping forces.

Claim 24

21 . The method recited in claim 18 and comprising the further steps of: controlling compression and rebound damping forces in response to the velocity of said axle with respect to said chassis by means of interface means coupled to each said damping device; processing said second signals representing the velocity of said axle with respect to said chassis and said fifth and sixth signals representing the desired compression and rebound damping forces for generating a plurality of paired twelfth and thirteenth signals representing the inputs to each said damping device for optimally controlling the respective compression and rebound damping forces.

Claim 25

The method recited in claim 19 and comprising the further steps of: controlling compression and rebound damping forces in response to the velocity of said axle with respect to said chassis by means of interface means coupled to each said damping device; processing said second signals representing the velocity of said axle with respect to said chassis and said fifth and sixth signals representing the desired compression and rebound damping forces for generating a plurality of paired twelfth and thirteenth signals representing the inputs to each said damping device for optimally controlling the respective compression and rebound damping forces.