US5367459A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for controlling dampers in a vehicle suspension system
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1992-02-10
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Granted: 1994-11-22
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Expires: 2012-02-10
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus controls a damper connectable between a vehicle body and a vehicle wheel. A position sensor senses the amount of angular displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel and provides a position signal indicative thereof. An acceleration sensor senses the amount of vertical acceleration of the vehicle body relative to ground and provides a vertical acceleration signal indicative thereof. Another acceleration sensor senses the amount of lateral acceleration of the vehicle body and provides a lateral acceleration signal indicative thereof. A processor processes the position signal, the vertical acceleration signal, and the lateral acceleration signal to provide a control signal which continuously varies as a function of (i) a summation of the position signal and the vertical acceleration signal, and (ii) a summation of the position signal and the lateral acceleration signal. Preferably, the processor is a digital signal processor. A drive circuit applies the control signal from the processor to the damper to control the damping rate of the damper.
Inventors
- 👤 Emil M. Shtarkman
- 👤 Andrew F. Pinkos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:52
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B60G17/018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for controlling the amount of electric current flow through a coil of an electromagnet of a damper connectable between a vehicle body and a vehicle wheel, said apparatus comprising: a position sensor for sensing displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel and for providing a position signal indicative thereof; a first acceleration sensor for sensing vertical acceleration of the vehicle body relative to ground and for providing a vertical acceleration signal indicative thereof; a processor for processing said position and vertical acceleration signals to provide a continuous analog control signal which varies as a function of a summation of said position and vertical acceleration signals; and a drive circuit for applying said continuous analog control signal from said processor to the electromagnet of the damper to control the amount of electric current flow through the coil of the electromagnet and thereby to control operation of the damper.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus for controlling the amount of electric current flow through a coil of an electromagnet of a damper connectable between a vehicle body and a vehicle wheel, said apparatus comprising: a position sensor for sensing displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel and for providing a position signal indicative thereof; a first acceleration sensor for sensing vertical acceleration of the vehicle body relative to ground and for providing a vertical acceleration signal indicative thereof; a processor for processing said position and vertical acceleration signals to provide a continuous analog control signal which varies as a function of a summation of said position and vertical acceleration signals; and a drive circuit for applying said continuous analog control signal from said processor to the electromagnet of the damper to control the amount of electric current flow through the coil of the electromagnet and thereby to control operation of the damper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a second acceleration sensor for sensing lateral acceleration of the vehicle body relative to ground and for providing a lateral acceleration signal indicative thereof, said processor processing said position and lateral acceleration signals such that said control signal varies as a function of a summation of said position and lateral acceleration signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said processor is a digital signal processor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said position sensor senses angular displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive circuit includes means for limiting said control signal to a predetermined peak value.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for controlling the amount of electric current flow through a coil of an electromagnet of a damper connectable between a vehicle body and a vehicle wheel, said apparatus comprising: a position sensor for sensing displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel and for providing a signal indicative thereof; a first acceleration sensor for sensing lateral acceleration of the vehicle body and for providing a signal indicative thereof; a processor for processing said position and lateral acceleration signals to provide a continuous analog control signal which varies as a function of a summation of said position and lateral acceleration signals; and a drive circuit for applying said continuous analog control signal from said processor to the electromagnet of the damper to control the amount of electric current flow through the coil of the electromagnet and thereby to control operation of the damper.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for controlling the amount of electric current flow through a coil of an electromagnet of a damper connectable between a vehicle body and a vehicle wheel, said apparatus comprising: a position sensor for sensing displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel and for providing a signal indicative thereof; a first acceleration sensor for sensing lateral acceleration of the vehicle body and for providing a signal indicative thereof; a processor for processing said position and lateral acceleration signals to provide a continuous analog control signal which varies as a function of a summation of said position and lateral acceleration signals; and a drive circuit for applying said continuous analog control signal from said processor to the electromagnet of the damper to control the amount of electric current flow through the coil of the electromagnet and thereby to control operation of the damper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said processor is a digital signal processor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 further including a second acceleration sensor for sensing vertical acceleration of the vehicle body and for providing a signal indicative thereof, said processor processing the position and vertical acceleration signals such that said control signal varies as a function of a summation of the position and vertical acceleration signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said position sensor senses angular displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said drive circuit includes means for limiting said control signal to a predetermined peak value.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
250 words
An apparatus for controlling the amount of electric current flow through a coil of an electromagnet of a damper connectable between a vehicle body and a vehicle wheel, said apparatus comprising: a throttle position sensor for sensing throttle position and for providing a signal indicative thereof; a brake pressure sensor for sensing brake pressure and for providing a signal indicative thereof; a position sensor for sensing displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel and for providing a signal indicative thereof; a first acceleration sensor for sensing vertical acceleration of the vehicle body and for providing a signal indicative thereof; a second acceleration sensor for sensing lateral acceleration of the vehicle body and for providing a signal indicative thereof; a processor for processing (i) a first signal varying as a function of the throttle signal, (ii) a second signal varying as a function of the brake pressure signal, (iii) a third signal varying as a function of the position signal and the vertical acceleration signal, and (iv) a fourth signal varying as a function of the position signal and the lateral acceleration signal, said processor providing a continuous analog control signal which varies as a function of a summation of said first, second, third, and fourth signals; and a drive circuit for applying said continuous analog control signal from said processor to the electromagnet of the damper to control the amount of electric current flow through the coil of the electromagnet and thereby to control operation of the damper.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
250 words
An apparatus for controlling the amount of electric current flow through a coil of an electromagnet of a damper connectable between a vehicle body and a vehicle wheel, said apparatus comprising: a throttle position sensor for sensing throttle position and for providing a signal indicative thereof; a brake pressure sensor for sensing brake pressure and for providing a signal indicative thereof; a position sensor for sensing displacement between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel and for providing a signal indicative thereof; a first acceleration sensor for sensing vertical acceleration of the vehicle body and for providing a signal indicative thereof; a second acceleration sensor for sensing lateral acceleration of the vehicle body and for providing a signal indicative thereof; a processor for processing (i) a first signal varying as a function of the throttle signal, (ii) a second signal varying as a function of the brake pressure signal, (iii) a third signal varying as a function of the position signal and the vertical acceleration signal, and (iv) a fourth signal varying as a function of the position signal and the lateral acceleration signal, said processor providing a continuous analog control signal which varies as a function of a summation of said first, second, third, and fourth signals; and a drive circuit for applying said continuous analog control signal from said processor to the electromagnet of the damper to control the amount of electric current flow through the coil of the electromagnet and thereby to control operation of the damper.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 further including a handwheel position sensor for sensing the position of the handwheel of the vehicle and for providing a signal indicative thereof, said fourth signal varying as a function of the handwheel position signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 further including a vehicle forward velocity sensor for sensing forward velocity of the vehicle and for providing a signal indicative thereof, said second, third, and fourth signals varying as a function of the forward velocity signal.
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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) | 1997-11-21 | 1998-05-23 | 1998-11-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-21 | 2002-05-23 | 2002-11-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-21 | 2006-05-23 | 2006-11-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |