US5948028A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of improving response time in a vehicle active tilt control system
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1998-02-03
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Granted: 1999-09-07
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Expires: 2018-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided for improving response time in a vehicle active tilt control system having front and rear stabilizer bars adjustable by front and rear hydraulic actuators which are movable in first and second opposing directions for adjusting vehicle body roll resistance provided by the stabilizer bars, and having a pressure control valve for controlling hydraulic pressure to the actuators. The method includes the following steps: a) operating only a single lateral accelerometer to determine the direction and magnitude of lateral acceleration during vehicle maneuvers; b) establishing the direction of movement of the front and rear hydraulic actuators in response to the determined direction of lateral acceleration; c) adjusting the pressure control valve in response to the determined magnitude of lateral acceleration; d) determining the rate of change of the magnitude of lateral acceleration as the magnitude of lateral acceleration decreases past a predetermined first threshold; and e) switching direction of movement of the front and rear hydraulic actuators in response to the determined rate of change of the magnitude of lateral acceleration, thereby anticipating directional changes in lateral acceleration to improve response time in adjusting vehicle body roll resistance during vehicle maneuvers.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Michael Raad
- 👤 John Allen Oliver, Jr.
- 👤 Russell Lee Norton
- 👤 Vladimir V. Kokotovic
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:51
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G21/00; B60G21/02; B60G21/04; B60G21/05; B60G21/055; B60G21/0551; B60G21/0553; B60G21/0555; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B60G17/016; B60G17/0162; B60G17/02; B60G17/04; B60G17/056; B60G21/10; B60G2202/00; B60G2202/10; B60G2202/13; B60G2202/135; B60G2202/40; B60G2202/41; B60G2202/413; B60G2202/414; B60G2202/415; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/12; B60G2204/122; B60G2204/1224; B60G2204/80; B60G2204/81; B60G2204/83; B60G2204/8304; B60G2400/00; B60G2400/10; B60G2400/104; B60G2400/50; B60G2400/51; B60G2800/00; B60G2800/01; B60G2800/012
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of improving response time in a vehicle active tilt control system having front and rear stabilizer bars adjustable by front and rear hydraulic actuators which are movable in first and second opposing directions for adjusting vehicle body roll resistance provided by the stabilizer bars, and having a pressure control valve for controlling hydraulic pressure to the actuators, the method comprising: operating only a single lateral accelerometer to determine the direction and magnitude of lateral acceleration during vehicle maneuvers; establishing the direction of movement of the front and rear hydraulic actuators in response to the determined direction of lateral acceleration; adjusting the pressure control valve in response to the determined magnitude of lateral acceleration; determining the rate of change of the magnitude of lateral acceleration as the magnitude of lateral acceleration decreases past a predetermined first threshold; and switching direction of movement of the front and rear hydraulic actuators in response to the determined rate of change of the magnitude of lateral acceleration, thereby anticipating directional changes in lateral acceleration to improve response time in adjusting vehicle body roll resistance during vehicle maneuvers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of improving response time in a vehicle active tilt control system having front and rear stabilizer bars adjustable by front and rear hydraulic actuators which are movable in first and second opposing directions for adjusting vehicle body roll resistance provided by the stabilizer bars, and having a pressure control valve for controlling hydraulic pressure to the actuators, the method comprising: operating only a single lateral accelerometer to determine the direction and magnitude of lateral acceleration during vehicle maneuvers; establishing the direction of movement of the front and rear hydraulic actuators in response to the determined direction of lateral acceleration; adjusting the pressure control valve in response to the determined magnitude of lateral acceleration; determining the rate of change of the magnitude of lateral acceleration as the magnitude of lateral acceleration decreases past a predetermined first threshold; and switching direction of movement of the front and rear hydraulic actuators in response to the determined rate of change of the magnitude of lateral acceleration, thereby anticipating directional changes in lateral acceleration to improve response time in adjusting vehicle body roll resistance during vehicle maneuvers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of adjusting the pressure control valve comprises maintaining a substantially constant hydraulic pressure to the actuators when said switching step occurs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said step of maintaining a substantially constant hydraulic pressure terminates when the magnitude of lateral acceleration returns to a level corresponding with said substantially constant hydraulic pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said step of maintaining a substantially constant hydraulic pressure comprises maintaining a gradually decreasing hydraulic pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling early switching of actuator movement direction when the magnitude of lateral acceleration exceeds a predetermined second threshold in order to enable said switching step.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of improving response time in a vehicle active tilt control system having front and rear stabilizer bars adjustable by front and rear hydraulic actuators which are movable in first and second opposing directions for adjusting vehicle body roll resistance provided by the stabilizer bars, and having a pressure control valve for controlling hydraulic pressure to the actuators, the method comprising: operating only a single lateral accelerometer to determine the direction and magnitude of lateral acceleration during vehicle maneuvers; establishing the direction of movement of the front and rear hydraulic actuators in response to the determined direction of lateral acceleration; adjusting the pressure control valve in response to the determined magnitude of lateral acceleration; determining the rate of change of the magnitude of lateral acceleration as the magnitude of lateral acceleration decreases past a predetermined first threshold; switching direction of movement of the front and rear hydraulic actuators in response to the determined rate of change of the magnitude of lateral acceleration, thereby anticipating directional changes in lateral acceleration to improve response time in adjusting vehicle body roll resistance during vehicle maneuvers; and wherein said step of adjusting the pressure control valve comprises maintaining a substantially constant hydraulic pressure to the actuators when said switching step occurs.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of improving response time in a vehicle active tilt control system having front and rear stabilizer bars adjustable by front and rear hydraulic actuators which are movable in first and second opposing directions for adjusting vehicle body roll resistance provided by the stabilizer bars, and having a pressure control valve for controlling hydraulic pressure to the actuators, the method comprising: operating only a single lateral accelerometer to determine the direction and magnitude of lateral acceleration during vehicle maneuvers; establishing the direction of movement of the front and rear hydraulic actuators in response to the determined direction of lateral acceleration; adjusting the pressure control valve in response to the determined magnitude of lateral acceleration; determining the rate of change of the magnitude of lateral acceleration as the magnitude of lateral acceleration decreases past a predetermined first threshold; switching direction of movement of the front and rear hydraulic actuators in response to the determined rate of change of the magnitude of lateral acceleration, thereby anticipating directional changes in lateral acceleration to improve response time in adjusting vehicle body roll resistance during vehicle maneuvers; and wherein said step of adjusting the pressure control valve comprises maintaining a substantially constant hydraulic pressure to the actuators when said switching step occurs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said step of maintaining a substantially constant hydraulic pressure terminates when the magnitude of lateral acceleration returns to a level corresponding with said substantially constant hydraulic pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said step of maintaining a substantially constant hydraulic pressure comprises maintaining a gradually decreasing hydraulic pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising enabling early switching of actuator movement direction when the magnitude of lateral acceleration exceeds a predetermined second threshold in order to enable said switching step.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of improving response time in a vehicle active tilt control system having front and rear stabilizer bars adjustable by front and rear hydraulic actuators which are movable in first and second opposing directions for adjusting vehicle body roll resistance provided by the stabilizer bars, and having a pressure control valve for controlling hydraulic pressure to the actuators, the method comprising: operating only a single lateral accelerometer to determine the direction and magnitude of lateral acceleration during vehicle maneuvers; establishing the direction of movement of the front and rear hydraulic actuators in response to the determined direction of lateral acceleration; adjusting the pressure control valve in response to the determined magnitude of lateral acceleration; determining the rate of change of the magnitude of lateral acceleration as the magnitude of lateral acceleration decreases past a predetermined first threshold; switching direction of movement of the front and rear hydraulic actuators in response to the determined rate of change of the magnitude of lateral acceleration, thereby anticipating directional changes in lateral acceleration to improve response time in adjusting vehicle body roll resistance during vehicle maneuvers; and wherein said step of adjusting the pressure control valve comprises maintaining a gradually decreasing hydraulic pressure to the actuators when said switching step occurs.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of improving response time in a vehicle active tilt control system having front and rear stabilizer bars adjustable by front and rear hydraulic actuators which are movable in first and second opposing directions for adjusting vehicle body roll resistance provided by the stabilizer bars, and having a pressure control valve for controlling hydraulic pressure to the actuators, the method comprising: operating only a single lateral accelerometer to determine the direction and magnitude of lateral acceleration during vehicle maneuvers; establishing the direction of movement of the front and rear hydraulic actuators in response to the determined direction of lateral acceleration; adjusting the pressure control valve in response to the determined magnitude of lateral acceleration; determining the rate of change of the magnitude of lateral acceleration as the magnitude of lateral acceleration decreases past a predetermined first threshold; switching direction of movement of the front and rear hydraulic actuators in response to the determined rate of change of the magnitude of lateral acceleration, thereby anticipating directional changes in lateral acceleration to improve response time in adjusting vehicle body roll resistance during vehicle maneuvers; and wherein said step of adjusting the pressure control valve comprises maintaining a gradually decreasing hydraulic pressure to the actuators when said switching step occurs.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-06 | 2003-03-08 | 2003-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-06 | 2007-03-08 | 2007-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-06 | 2011-03-08 | 2011-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |