Patent US4747615A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4747615A
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Suspension control method
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1987-03-03
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Granted: 1988-05-31
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Expires: 2007-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A suspension control method for controlling suspensions equipped with variable damping force shock absorbers. First, an ideal movement pattern for restoring the sprung mass from a local highest or lowest position to a neutral position is previously determined. After the sprung mass has attained its local highest or lowest position, the control amount for altering the damping force of the shock absorber is successively calculated so that the sprung mass actually follows the ideal movement pattern. As a result, the sprung mass in its local lowest or highest position can swiftly returned to the neutral position in a semi-cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Yukio Yamamoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:06
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B60G17/018; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S280/00; Y10S280/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for controlling a suspension of a vehicle equipped with a variable damping force shock absorber, said method comprising the steps of: predetermining a plurality of movement patterns, said movement patterns each depicting an ideal movement patterns of a sprung mass of the vehicle from a time point when the sprung mass attains one of various local highest and local lowest positions with respect to a neutral position, to a time point when the sprung mass reaches said neutral position; sequentially generating a control signal for altering the damping force of the shock absorber so that the spring mass traces one of said predetermined movement patterns after the sprung mass has attained substantially said one of various local highest and local lowest positions; and controlling thereby the shock absorber responsive to said control signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for controlling a suspension of a vehicle equipped with a variable damping force shock absorber, said method comprising the steps of: predetermining a plurality of movement patterns, said movement patterns each depicting an ideal movement patterns of a sprung mass of the vehicle from a time point when the sprung mass attains one of various local highest and local lowest positions with respect to a neutral position, to a time point when the sprung mass reaches said neutral position; sequentially generating a control signal for altering the damping force of the shock absorber so that the spring mass traces one of said predetermined movement patterns after the sprung mass has attained substantially said one of various local highest and local lowest positions; and controlling thereby the shock absorber responsive to said control signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein: each of said movement patterns is predetermined to correspond to one of a plurality of said various local highest positions or to one of a plurality of said local lowest positions of the sprung mass; every said movement patterns comprises at least one of a strictly increasing function, said increasing function corresponding to said one of a plurality of various local lowest positions, and a strictly decreasing function, said decreasing function corresponding to said one of a plurality of various local highest positions; and the control signal is generated based on one of said movement patterns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein each of said movement patterns comprises an acceleration function which is a second derivative of a corresponding ideal position function of said sprung mass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein: each of said acceleration functions comprises two sequentially interconnected functions, wherein when the acceleration function corresponds to said one of a plurality of various local lowest positions, the first function is strictly increasing function and the second function is a strictly decreasing function, and when the acceleration function corresponds to said one of a plurality of various local highest position, the first function is a strictly decreasing function and the second function is a strictly increasing function; and the component functions are characterized by no more than two variables.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein: each of said acceleration functions is represented by set of movement constants; said set of movement constants is stored in a memory of an electronic control unit; the movement constants are retrieved from a memory location of said memory addressed in correspondence to the one of said plurality of various local highest or local lowest positions most closely approximating the local highest or local lowest position attained by the sprung mass.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for controlling a suspension of a vehicle equipped with a variable damping force shock absorber, said apparatus comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of preset movement patterns, each movement pattern depicting a movement of the sprung mass of the vehicle from a time point when the sprung mass attains one of various local highest and local lowest positions with respect to a neutral position, to a time point when the sprung mass reaches the neutral position; means for detecting that the sprung mass is in substantially a local highest position or local lowest position and for generating respective corresponding signals; and means responsive to each of said signals for sequentially generating a control signal for altering the damping force of the shock absorber such that the sprung mass traces one of the preset movement patterns after the sprung mass attains one of said various local highest or said local lowest positions.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for controlling a suspension of a vehicle equipped with a variable damping force shock absorber, said apparatus comprising: memory means for storing a plurality of preset movement patterns, each movement pattern depicting a movement of the sprung mass of the vehicle from a time point when the sprung mass attains one of various local highest and local lowest positions with respect to a neutral position, to a time point when the sprung mass reaches the neutral position; means for detecting that the sprung mass is in substantially a local highest position or local lowest position and for generating respective corresponding signals; and means responsive to each of said signals for sequentially generating a control signal for altering the damping force of the shock absorber such that the sprung mass traces one of the preset movement patterns after the sprung mass attains one of said various local highest or said local lowest positions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-05-31 | 1991-11-30 | 1992-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-31 | 1995-11-30 | 1996-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-31 | 1999-11-30 | 2000-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |