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US 11,794,544 B2Granted
Kneeling position for electric medium-duty vehicle
AssigneeDana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
InventorsMathilde Charmeau, Ali Idrici, Sylvain Castonguay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a height of an electric vehicle with an adjustable suspension system. In one example, a method comprises: during a vehicle stop event, adjusting a height of a skateboard frame of an electric vehicle via an adjustable suspension system, based on at least one sensor input indicative of a desired skateboard frame height. In this way, user activities, including loading and unloading, may be facilitated.
Claims19
A method, comprising:
- responsive to an electric vehicle in a stopped condition, monitoring a plurality of sensors to determine whether a kneeling position is requested;
- responsive to determining that the kneeling position is requested, lowering a skateboard frame of the electric vehicle from a nominal position to the kneeling position by adjusting a suspension system of the electric vehicle;
- while in the kneeling position, monitoring the plurality of sensors to determine whether the kneeling position is no longer requested;
- and
- responsive to determining that the kneeling position is not requested, raising the skateboard frame of the electric vehicle to the nominal position by adjusting the suspension system of the electric vehicle.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- while an electric vehicle is in a stopped condition or approaching a stopped condition, monitoring a plurality of sensors to determine whether a kneeling position is requested;
- responsive to determining that the kneeling position is requested, lowering a skateboard frame of the electric vehicle from a nominal position to the kneeling position by adjusting a suspension system of the electric vehicle;
- while in the kneeling position, monitoring the plurality of sensors to determine whether the kneeling position is no longer requested;
- and
- responsive to determining that the kneeling position is not requested, raising the skateboard frame of the electric vehicle to the nominal position by adjusting the suspension system of the electric vehicle.
2 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an electric vehicle;
- a skateboard frame of the electric vehicle;
- a front suspension system including a first pressurized spring and a second pressurized spring, the front suspension system coupled to the skateboard frame;
- a rear suspension system including a third pressurized spring and a fourth pressurized spring, the rear suspension system coupled to the skateboard frame;
- a controller including instructions stored in non-transitory memory that, when executed, cause the controller to:
- while the electric vehicle is stopped, monitor one or more sensors for a sensor input indicative of a request to lower the electric vehicle to a kneeling position, wherein the request to lower the electric vehicle to the kneeling position is based on one or more of a motion sensor or a camera feed;
- and
- responsive to the request to lower the electric vehicle to the kneeling position, adjust a height of the skateboard frame relative to the ground.
5 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an electric vehicle;
- a skateboard frame of the electric vehicle;
- a front suspension system including a first pressurized spring and a second pressurized spring, the front suspension system coupled to the skateboard frame;
- a rear suspension system including a third pressurized spring and a fourth pressurized spring, the rear suspension system coupled to the skateboard frame;
- a controller including instructions stored in non-transitory memory that, when executed, cause the controller to:
- while the electric vehicle is stopped, monitor one or more sensors for a sensor input indicative of a request to lower the electric vehicle to a kneeling position, wherein the request to lower the electric vehicle to the kneeling position is based on one or more of a voice command, a user gesture, and a GPS signal;
- and
- responsive to the request to lower the electric vehicle to the kneeling position, adjust a height of the skateboard frame relative to the ground.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.