US5031934A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicular suspension position sensor and method of calibration
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1990-03-30
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Granted: 1991-07-16
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Expires: 2010-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A method for calibrating an automotive suspension position sensor including the steps of placing the sensor into a position corresponding to a predetermined ride height, applying a reference signal to the sensor, measuring the output signal value from the sensor, and adjusting the output signal value by means of an automatic calibrator associated with the sensor to achieve a predetermined desired signal value. An adjustable ride height sensing system for an automotive vehicle includes a sensor interposed between the chassis of the vehicle and a roadwheel so that the electrical impedance of the sensor will be a function of vertical position of the roadwheel with respect to the chassis and means for automatically adjusting the apparent impedance of the sensor so that the output of the sensor achieves a desired range of values.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael W. Soltis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/02; B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B60G17/019; B60G17/01933; G01D; G01D18/00; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/11; B60G2204/40; B60G2204/422; B60G2400/00; B60G2400/10; B60G2400/102; B60G2400/25; B60G2400/252; B60G2400/50; B60G2400/60; B60G2401/00; G01D2205/00; G01D2205/10; G01D2205/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S280/00; Y10S280/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
An adjustable ride height sensing system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a sensor interposed between the chassis of a vehicle and a roadwheel, so that electrical impedance of said sensor will be a function of the vertical position of said roadwheel with respect to said chassis; and means for adjusting the apparent impedance of said sensor so that an output signal of said sensor achieves a desired range of values.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
An adjustable ride height sensing system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a sensor interposed between the chassis of a vehicle and a roadwheel, so that electrical impedance of said sensor will be a function of the vertical position of said roadwheel with respect to said chassis; and means for adjusting the apparent impedance of said sensor so that an output signal of said sensor achieves a desired range of values.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
An adjustable ride height sensing system according to claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting the apparent impedance of said sensor comprises a computer processor operative to control the resistance value of an electronically erasable potentiometer operatively associated with said sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An adjustable ride height sensing system according to claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting the apparent impedance of said sensor comprises an external calibrator operative to change the actual impedance of a network operatively associated with said sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
An adjustable ride height sensing system according to claim 3, wherein said network comprises a plurality of resistive elements connected with each other and with said sensor, so that the actual resistance of said network may be changed by uncoupling one or more of said resistive elements from said network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An adjustable ride height sensing system according to claim 4, wherein said network further includes at least one fusible element coupled to at least one of said plurality of resistive elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
An adjustable ride height sensing system according to claim 5, wherein said external calibrator uncouples said resistive elements from said network by passing a current through said network having sufficient magnitude to breach said at least one fusible element coupling said resistive elements into said network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
An adjustable ride height sensing system according to claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting the apparent impedance of said sensor comprises an external calibrator operative to control the resistance value of an electronically erasable potentiometer operatively associated with said sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
An adjustable ride height sensing system according to claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting the apparent impedance of said sensor comprises an external calibrator operative to control the resistance value of an electronically erasable potentiometer operatively associated with said sensor to provide a calibrating voltage applied as one input to a differential amplifier, with another input to said amplifier comprising the signal voltage from said sensor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An adjustable ride height sensing system according to claim 8, wherein said external calibrator comprises a computer processor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
An adjustable suspension position sensing system for an automotive vehicle, comprises: a sensor operatively associated with the chassis and a roadwheel of said vehicle, so that electrical impedance of said sensor will be a function of the vertical position of said roadwheel with respect to said chassis; and means for adjusting said output signal of said sensor so that an output signal of said sensor achieves a desired range of values, with said adjustment means comprising an external calibrator operative to change to actual impedance of a network operatively associated with said sensor, wherein said network comprises a plurality of resistive elements connected with each other and with said sensor so that the actual resistance of said network may be changed by uncoupling one or more of said resistive elements from said network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
An adjustable suspension position sensing system for an automotive vehicle, comprises: a sensor operatively associated with the chassis and a roadwheel of said vehicle, so that electrical impedance of said sensor will be a function of the vertical position of said roadwheel with respect to said chassis; and means for adjusting said output signal of said sensor so that an output signal of said sensor achieves a desired range of values, with said adjustment means comprising an external calibrator operative to change to actual impedance of a network operatively associated with said sensor, wherein said network comprises a plurality of resistive elements connected with each other and with said sensor so that the actual resistance of said network may be changed by uncoupling one or more of said resistive elements from said network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An adjustable suspension position sensing system according to claim 10, wherein said network is interposed between one terminal of said sensor and a power supply feeding said sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An adjustable suspension position sensing system according to claim 10, wherein said network is interposed between one terminal of said sensor and a ground potential terminal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An adjustable suspension position sensing system for an automotive vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said external calibrator comprises a computer processor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
123 words
An adjustable suspension position sensing system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a sensor operatively associated with the chassis of a vehicle and a roadwheel, so that an output signal of said sensor will be a function of the vertical position of said roadwheel with respect to said chassis; and compensation means for compensating said output signal of the sensor so that an output signal of said compensation means achieves a desired range of values, with said compensation means comprising a computer processor which controls a calibrating voltage provided as one input to a differential amplifier, with said sensor providing a second input to said amplifier, so that an output signal of said amplifier may be used as said output signal of said sensor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
123 words
An adjustable suspension position sensing system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a sensor operatively associated with the chassis of a vehicle and a roadwheel, so that an output signal of said sensor will be a function of the vertical position of said roadwheel with respect to said chassis; and compensation means for compensating said output signal of the sensor so that an output signal of said compensation means achieves a desired range of values, with said compensation means comprising a computer processor which controls a calibrating voltage provided as one input to a differential amplifier, with said sensor providing a second input to said amplifier, so that an output signal of said amplifier may be used as said output signal of said sensor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A suspension system according to claim 14 wherein said computer processor is operative to control said calibrating voltage by controlling the resistance of an electronically erasable potentiometer operatively associated with said differential amplifier.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
116 words
An adjustable suspension position sensing system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a sensor operatively associated with the chassis and a roadwheel of said vehicle, so that electrical impedance of said sensor will be a function of the vertical position of said roadwheel with respect to said chassis; and means for adjusting said output signal of said sensor so that an output signal of said sensor achieves a desired range of values, with said adjustment means comprising a computer processor operative to control the resistance value of an electronically erasable potentiometer to provide a calibrating voltage applied as one input to a differential amplifier, with another input to said amplifier comprising the signal voltage from said sensor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
116 words
An adjustable suspension position sensing system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a sensor operatively associated with the chassis and a roadwheel of said vehicle, so that electrical impedance of said sensor will be a function of the vertical position of said roadwheel with respect to said chassis; and means for adjusting said output signal of said sensor so that an output signal of said sensor achieves a desired range of values, with said adjustment means comprising a computer processor operative to control the resistance value of an electronically erasable potentiometer to provide a calibrating voltage applied as one input to a differential amplifier, with another input to said amplifier comprising the signal voltage from said sensor.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-15 | 1995-01-14 | 1995-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-15 | 1999-01-14 | 1999-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-15 | 2003-01-14 | 2003-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |