Ford Motor Company Limited

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Sam M Mackool

Wilford Trent Yopp

Douglas Scott Rhode

Michael W Soltis

Geoffrey F Bridges

Alan D Brunning

John A Glab

Martin Bieber

A method and apparatus for controlling continuously variable dampers in a vehicle suspension system is provided. A microcontroller receives sensor signals from the vehicle and generates heave, pitch and roll acceleration signals, heave, pitch and roll actual velocity signals, and heave, pitch and roll velocity level signals based on the received sensor signals. Heave, pitch and roll control signals are then calculated based on the acceleration, actual velocity, and velocity level signals, and the continuously variable dampers are adjusted in accordance with the calculated heave, pitch and roll control signals. A deadband schedule function is provided for adjusting the control signals in accordance with the significance of the particular ride event.

Vehicle suspension control system

A method and apparatus for determining a center position of the vehicular steering system includes a steering sensor and a control unit. A dynamic center find routine and a long term center find routine are run simultaneously and the results compared to assure accurate dynamic center position for controlling automotive devices.

Method and apparatus for determining steering position of automotive

An apparatus and method for determining the centripetal force of an automotive vehicle operating on a roadway includes a vehicle speed measuring mechanism and a steering force measuring mechanism. Information regarding vehicle speed and steering force are fed into a processor which determines the centripetal force of the vehicle.

Automotive apparatus and method for dynamically determining centripetal

A circuit for correcting a fault in an automotive system having at least two operating states includes an actuator mechanism for placing the system into one of at least two operating states and a switching mechanism, such as a relay, operatively connected with the actuator mechanism for driving the actuator mechanism upon passing a current through the switching mechanism. The circuit further includes a fault warning mechanism for detecting an inability of the actuator to place the system into a desired operating state and for generating a fault warning signal in response to the detection as well as a control unit for activating the switching mechanism according to a predetermined sequence upon generation of the fault warning signal to correct the inability of the actuator mechanism to place the system into a desired operating state.

Fault correcting circuit

A method and apparatus for determining a center position of the vehicular steering system includes a steering sensor and a control unit. A variable threshold time strategy is employed with a fixed window of operation and a movable window of operation to determine a precise center for the steering system. As an option, the control algorithm may employ both a variable theshold time and a variable size for the movable window of operation.

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Berkley, MI, United States of America

Sam M Mackool