# US 12,181,335 B2 · Methods and apparatus to calibrate a weight estimation

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- Number: US 12,181,335 B2
- Document ID: US12181335B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/481,065
- Filed: 2023-10-04
- Published: 2024-01-25
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2021-07-09
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull; Rani Kiwan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181335B2

## CPC

- G01G 23/01: Testing or calibrating of weighing apparatus
- G01G 19/12: having electrical weight-sensitive devices
- B60G 21/051: {Trailing arm twist beam axles}
- G01B 7/18: {using change in resistance}
- G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16)
- B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00})
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS

## Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to calibrate a weight estimation are disclosed herein. An example apparatus comprises memory including stored instructions, and a processor to execute the instructions to determine, via a first sensor, a first load estimation of a vehicle corresponding to when the vehicle under a load condition, determine, via a second sensor, a second load estimation corresponding to when the vehicle is moving and under the load condition, and calibrate, based on a difference between the second load estimation and the first load estimation, an error of the first load estimation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
an axle assembly including:
a suspension system including a component extending between a first wheel of a vehicle and a second wheel of the vehicle, wherein the component is an antiroll bar; and
a sensor disposed on the component; and
a processor to execute instructions to determine a load on the axle assembly based on an output of the sensor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antiroll bar is symmetrical about a centerline of the vehicle and the sensor is disposed at a center of the antiroll bar.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antiroll bar is asymmetrical about a centerline of the vehicle, the sensor disposed at a location offset from a center of the antiroll bar, the antiroll bar having a same torsional stiffness (1) between the location and the first wheel, and (2) between the location and the second wheel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output of the sensor is indicative of a rotational displacement of the sensor relative to a fixed portion of the vehicle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is to determine the load on the axle assembly based on product of a linear stiffness of the suspension system between the first wheel and the second wheel and the output of the sensor.

### Claim 6

A vehicle comprising:
a first wheel;
a second wheel;
an axle assembly including:
a suspension system including a component extending between the first wheel and the second wheel, wherein the component is an antiroll bar;
a sensor disposed on the component; and
a load manager to determine a load on the axle assembly based on an output of the sensor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the antiroll bar is symmetrical about a centerline of the vehicle, and the sensor is disposed at a center of the antiroll bar.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the antiroll bar is asymmetrical about a centerline of the vehicle, the sensor disposed at a location offset from a center of the antiroll bar, the antiroll bar having a same torsional stiffness (1) between the location and the first wheel, and (2) between the location and the second wheel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the output of the sensor is indicative of a rotational displacement of the sensor relative to a fixed portion of the vehicle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the component is a solid axle, and the sensor is disposed on a center of the solid axle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the load manager is to determine a load on the axle assembly based on a product of a linear stiffness of the suspension system and the output of the sensor.

### Claim 12

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed cause a processor to:
determine, via an output of a sensor, a displacement of an element extending between a first wheel of an axle assembly of a vehicle and a second wheel of the axle assembly, wherein the element is an antiroll bar; and
determine a load on the axle assembly based on the displacement.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to determine the load on the axle assembly based on the displacement and a linear stiffness of a suspension system associated with the axle assembly.