US6026339A
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US
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Apparatus and method for providing an inertial velocity signal in an active suspension control system
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1997-06-12
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Granted: 2000-02-15
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Expires: 2017-06-12
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus (10) and a method provide a signal (12) indicative of velocity of a mass (18). An acceleration sensor (64) senses acceleration of the mass (18) and provides an acceleration signal (66) indicative of the acceleration of the mass. A displacement sensor (70) senses displacement of the mass (18) and provides for a displacement signal (72) indicative of displacement of the mass. Two filters (68 and 74) operate upon the acceleration and displacement signals (66 and 72) respectively, and the filter outputs are summed to provide the velocity signal (12). In one example, an active suspension system (16) utilizes the velocity signal (12) to control relative movement between the mass (18), as a sprung mass, and an unsprung mass (20). The suspension system (16) includes a controller (54), which receives the velocity signal (12) and provides a control signal (56) utilizing the velocity signal. A force actuator (30), between the sprung and unsprung masses (18 and 20), is controlled in response to the control signal (56).
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel E. Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:01
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P7/00; B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B60G17/019; B60G17/01933; B62; B62D; B62D33/00; B62D33/06; B62D33/0604; B62D33/0608; F; F16; F16F; F16F15/00; F16F15/02; F16F15/023; F16F15/027; B60G2400/00; B60G2400/10; B60G2400/102; B60G2400/20; B60G2400/206; B60G2400/25; B60G2400/252
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
An apparatus for providing a signal indicative of velocity of a mass, said apparatus comprising: means for sensing acceleration of the mass and for providing an acceleration signal indicative of acceleration of the mass; means for sensing displacement of the mass and for providing a displacement signal indicative of displacement of the mass; and means for processing said acceleration signal and said displacement signal together to provide a signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
An apparatus for providing a signal indicative of velocity of a mass, said apparatus comprising: means for sensing acceleration of the mass and for providing an acceleration signal indicative of acceleration of the mass; means for sensing displacement of the mass and for providing a displacement signal indicative of displacement of the mass; and means for processing said acceleration signal and said displacement signal together to provide a signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for processing includes a first transfer filter means for receiving said acceleration signal, for operating upon said acceleration signal and for providing a first filtered signal, and a second transfer filter means for receiving said displacement signal, for operating upon said displacement signal and for providing a second filtered signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for processing includes means for combining said first and second filtered signals to provide said signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means for combining said first and second filtered signals includes means for summing said first and second filtered signals to provide said signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the mass is a sprung mass, and a transfer function of said first filter is in accordance with: ##EQU5## and a transfer function of said filter is in accordance with: ##EQU6## wherein: F 1 (s)=first signal; F 2 (s)=second signal; ζ=damping ratio; and ω=natural frequency of the first and second filters.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for controlling a force actuator mechanism of an active suspension for a mass, said system comprising: means for sensing acceleration of the mass and for providing an acceleration signal indicative of acceleration of the mass; means for sensing displacement of the mass and for providing a displacement signal indicative of displacement of the mass; means for processing said acceleration signal and said displacement signal together to provide a signal indicative of velocity of the mass; and means for providing an actuator mechanism control signal in response to at least the signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for controlling a force actuator mechanism of an active suspension for a mass, said system comprising: means for sensing acceleration of the mass and for providing an acceleration signal indicative of acceleration of the mass; means for sensing displacement of the mass and for providing a displacement signal indicative of displacement of the mass; means for processing said acceleration signal and said displacement signal together to provide a signal indicative of velocity of the mass; and means for providing an actuator mechanism control signal in response to at least the signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means for processing includes a first transfer filter means for receiving said acceleration signal, for operating upon said acceleration signal and for providing a first filtered signal, and a second transfer filter means for receiving said displacement signal, for operating upon said displacement signal and for providing a second filtered signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said means for processing includes means for combining said first and second filtered signals to provide said signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means for combining said first and second filtered signals includes means for summing said first and second filtered signals to provide said signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the mass is a sprung mass, and a transfer function of said first filter is in accordance with: ##EQU7## and a transfer function of said second filter is in accordance with: ##EQU8## wherein: F 1 (s)=first signal; F 2 (s)=second signal; ζ=damping ratio; and ω=natural frequency of the first and second filters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the mass is a vehicle occupant cab of a vehicle.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for providing a signal indicative of velocity of a mass, said method comprising: sensing acceleration of the mass; providing an acceleration signal indicative of acceleration of the mass; sensing displacement of the mass; providing a displacement signal indicative of displacement of the mass; and processing the acceleration signal and the displacement signal together to provide a signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for providing a signal indicative of velocity of a mass, said method comprising: sensing acceleration of the mass; providing an acceleration signal indicative of acceleration of the mass; sensing displacement of the mass; providing a displacement signal indicative of displacement of the mass; and processing the acceleration signal and the displacement signal together to provide a signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein said step of processing the acceleration signal and the displacement signal includes: applying the acceleration signal to a first transfer filter means, operating upon the acceleration signal with the first filter means, providing a first filtered signal from the first filter means, applying the displacement signal to a second transfer filter means, operating upon the displacement signal with the second filter means, and providing a second filtered signal from the second filter means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said step of processing the acceleration signal and the displacement signal includes combining the first and second filtered signals to provide the signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said step of combining the first and second filtered signals includes summing the first and second filtered signals to provide the signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the mass is a sprung mass, and a transfer function of the first filter for said step of processing the acceleration signal and the displacement signal is in accordance with: ##EQU9## and a transfer function of said second filter for said step of processing the acceleration signal and the displacement signal is in accordance with: ##EQU10## wherein: F 1 (s)=first signal; F 2 (s)=second signal; ζ=damping ratio; and ω=natural frequency of the first and second filters.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for controlling a force actuator mechanism of an active suspension for a mass, said method comprising: sensing acceleration of the mass; providing an acceleration signal indicative of acceleration of the mass; sensing displacement of the mass; providing a displacement signal indicative of displacement of the mass; processing the acceleration signal and the displacement signal together to provide a signal indicative of velocity of the mass; and providing an actuator mechanism control signal in response to at least the signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for controlling a force actuator mechanism of an active suspension for a mass, said method comprising: sensing acceleration of the mass; providing an acceleration signal indicative of acceleration of the mass; sensing displacement of the mass; providing a displacement signal indicative of displacement of the mass; processing the acceleration signal and the displacement signal together to provide a signal indicative of velocity of the mass; and providing an actuator mechanism control signal in response to at least the signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method as set forth in claim 17, wherein said step of processing the acceleration signal and the displacement signal includes: applying the acceleration signal to a first transfer filter means, operating upon the acceleration signal with the first filter means, providing a first filter signal from the first filter means, applying the displacement signal to a second transfer filter means, operating upon the displacement signal with the second filter means, and providing a second filtered signal from the second filter means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said step of processing the acceleration signal and the displacement signal includes combining the first and second filtered signals to provide the signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said step of combining the first and second filtered signals includes summing the first and second filtered signals to provide the signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method as set forth in claim 20, wherein the mass is a sprung mass, and a transfer function of the first filter for said step of processing the acceleration signal and the displacement signal is in accordance with: ##EQU11## and a transfer function of said second filter for said step of processing the acceleration signal and the displacement signal is in accordance with: ##EQU12## wherein: F 1 (s)=first signal; F 2 (s)=second signal; ζ=damping ratio; ω=natural frequency of the first and second filters;
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as set forth in claim 17, wherein the mass is a vehicle occupant cab of a vehicle.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
196 words
An apparatus for providing a signal indicative of velocity of a mass, the mass being a spring mass, said apparatus comprising: means for sensing acceleration of the mass and for providing an acceleration signal indicative of acceleration of the mass; means for sensing displacement of the mass and for providing a displacement signal indicative of displacement of the mass; and means for processing said acceleration signal and said displacement signal together to provide a signal indicative of velocity of the mass; said means for processing including a first transfer filter means for receiving said acceleration signal, for operating upon said acceleration signal and for providing a first filtered signal, a second transfer filter means for receiving said displacement signal, for operating upon said displacement signal and for providing a second filtered signal, and means for combining said first and second filtered signals to provide said signal indicative of velocity of the mass, a transfer function of said first filter being in accordance with: ##EQU13## and a transfer function of said filter is in accordance with: ##EQU14## where: F 1 (s)=first signal; F 2 (s)=second signal; ζ=damping ratio; and ω=natural frequency of the first and second filters.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
196 words
An apparatus for providing a signal indicative of velocity of a mass, the mass being a spring mass, said apparatus comprising: means for sensing acceleration of the mass and for providing an acceleration signal indicative of acceleration of the mass; means for sensing displacement of the mass and for providing a displacement signal indicative of displacement of the mass; and means for processing said acceleration signal and said displacement signal together to provide a signal indicative of velocity of the mass; said means for processing including a first transfer filter means for receiving said acceleration signal, for operating upon said acceleration signal and for providing a first filtered signal, a second transfer filter means for receiving said displacement signal, for operating upon said displacement signal and for providing a second filtered signal, and means for combining said first and second filtered signals to provide said signal indicative of velocity of the mass, a transfer function of said first filter being in accordance with: ##EQU13## and a transfer function of said filter is in accordance with: ##EQU14## where: F 1 (s)=first signal; F 2 (s)=second signal; ζ=damping ratio; and ω=natural frequency of the first and second filters.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for providing a signal indicative of velocity of a mass, said apparatus comprising: means for sensing acceleration of the mass and for providing an acceleration signal indicative of acceleration of the mass; means for sensing displacement of the mass and for providing a displacement signal indicative of displacement of the mass; means for processing said acceleration signal to provide a first velocity component signal; means for processing said displacement signal to provide a second velocity component signal; and means for combining the first and second velocity component signals to provide a signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
100 words
An apparatus for providing a signal indicative of velocity of a mass, said apparatus comprising: means for sensing acceleration of the mass and for providing an acceleration signal indicative of acceleration of the mass; means for sensing displacement of the mass and for providing a displacement signal indicative of displacement of the mass; means for processing said acceleration signal to provide a first velocity component signal; means for processing said displacement signal to provide a second velocity component signal; and means for combining the first and second velocity component signals to provide a signal indicative of velocity of the mass.
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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) | 2003-02-14 | 2003-08-16 | 2004-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-14 | 2007-08-16 | 2008-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-14 | 2011-08-16 | 2012-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |