Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Off-Road Research LLC

Daniel S Collins

Steven Thompson

Thomas J Sawarynski, Jr

Jason Wallace Michener

Geoffrey Bossio

Chris Paiva

Tom Sawarynski

Methods and apparatus to adjust vehicle suspension damping are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes interface circuitry, machine readable instructions, and programmable circuitry to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine readable instructions to determine a terrain condition based on first wheel position data of a vehicle and second wheel position data of the vehicle, determine a damping command based on the terrain condition, and adjust a suspension of the vehicle based on the damping command.

Methods and apparatus to adjust vehicle suspension damping

A damper interface device (DID) includes a microcontroller including a memory and a processor, at least one algorithm stored to the memory, and a DID connector configured to connect the microcontroller to a vehicle network without having to modify the wiring system of the vehicle. The algorithm is configured to receive network messages from the vehicle network via the DID connector, where the network messages include an input message directed to a suspension controller. The algorithm is executed by the processor to identify the input message as directed to the suspension controller, parse the input message for response requirements, determine contents of a response to the input message, where the contents of the response emulate a response of the suspension controller, and generate a response message including the contents of the response. The microcontroller is configured to output the response message to the vehicle network via the DID connector.

Damper interface device

Methods and apparatus to adjust vehicle suspension damping are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes memory and at least one processor to execute computer readable instructions to obtain wheel position information and vehicle speed information from sensors associated with wheels of a vehicle, the wheel position information including first wheel position data and second wheel position data, determine a terrain condition based on a greater of the first wheel position data and the second wheel position data, determine a compression damping command based on the terrain condition and the vehicle speed information, and adjust a damping system of the vehicle based on the compression damping command.

An electronically controller external damper reservoir assembly (eRESI) can be connected to a passive damper and/or substituted for an existing external reservoir to provide semi-active damping control. The eRESI includes a reservoir and a variable base valve assembly actuated by an actuator. A controller is in communication with the actuator and a sensor providing input signal indicative of vehicle movement and is programmed to generate a damping control signal to the actuator based on the input signal, to dynamically control the damping force outputted by a passive damper hydraulically connected to the eRESI. A P/T sensor can be installed to a gas chamber of a vehicle damper to generate a P/T signal indicative of the pressure and temperature of the gas. The controller is programmed to determine a damper position of the damper based on the P/T signal.

Electronically controlled external damper reservoir

Methods and apparatus to adjust vehicle suspension damping are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a sensor interface to obtain wheel position information and vehicle speed information from sensors associated with wheels of a vehicle and obtain throttle position information. The apparatus further includes a parameter analyzer to determine a compression damping command based on the wheel position information, the vehicle speed information, and the throttle position information and an instruction generator to adjust a damping system of the vehicle based on the compression damping command.

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Grass Lake, MI, United States of America

Daniel S Collins