The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 10, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 16, 1994
Douglas C Campbell, Dearborn, MI (US);
Gary J Gloceri, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Daniel M McCoy, Shelby Township, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
One or more vehicle suspension signals, preferably already generated within a controllable suspension system, is utilized to perform switches of the damping state of variable damping shock absorbers in the suspension system while the velocity of the shock absorbers is close to zero velocity. In particular, signals generated by height sensors within a controllable suspension system are utilized as vehicle suspension signals which are filtered to generate signals to enable switching of the shock absorbers while the shock absorbers are close to zero velocity. In addition, performance of the suspension system is improved by utilizing the vehicle suspension signals as one criterion to determine when switching from soft damping to firm damping or from firm damping to soft damping is desirable. Switch enable signals are determined from vehicle suspension signals by filtering at a resonant body frequency and comparison to an appropriate threshold. Soft-to-firm/firm-to-soft switch request signals are determined from vehicle suspension signals by filtering at a resonant wheel frequency and comparison to appropriate thresholds. Preferably, firm-to-soft switches are made after expiration of predefined time periods.