US 12,709,124 B2 · Suspension system with pitch stiffness control

Abstract

A suspension system of a vehicle can provide configurable stiffness and damping characteristics. The system can include a plurality of shock absorbers, one or more valve assemblies, and a plurality of accumulators. The plurality of shock absorbers, which can be synchronous or non-synchronous, each correspond to a respective wheel of a vehicle. The valve assembly is configured for controlling hydraulic fluid in the plurality of shock absorbers to achieve a plurality of suspension modes affecting bounce, pitch, roll, and warp. The valve assemblies can be controlled to manage pitch stiffness of the vehicle in response to detected conditions, such as longitudinal and lateral dynamics, with overrides in response to vertical acceleration and/or damper displacement. Accordingly, the handling improvement provided by varying suspension modes is balanced with a desire to provide improved ride characteristics.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for managing a suspension system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

obtaining, by a processor, sensor data from at least one sensor of the vehicle, the sensor data indicating a torque demand and a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle;
determining, based on the sensor data, a suspension mode for the vehicle;
and
transmitting, using control circuitry, a control signal for achieving the suspension mode to a control valve that is operable to fluidly connect each of multiple hydraulic lines to each other, the multiple hydraulic lines being fluidly connected to multiple shock absorbers of the vehicle, wherein:
in accordance with a determination that the sensor data indicates that the torque demand exceeds a first threshold, the control signal includes an instruction to operate the control valve to fluidly connect each of the multiple hydraulic lines;
and
in accordance with a determination that the sensor data indicates that the longitudinal acceleration does not exceed a second threshold, the control signal includes an instruction to operate the control valve to fluidly separate the multiple hydraulic lines.

4 more elements

A semiconductor device for a vehicle, the semiconductor device comprising:

circuitry configured to:
obtain sensor data from at least one sensor of the vehicle, the sensor data indicating a damper displacement of at least one of multiple shock absorbers of the vehicle;
determine, based on the sensor data, a respective suspension mode for the vehicle;
and
transmit a control signal for achieving the respective suspension mode to a control valve that is operable to fluidly connect each of multiple hydraulic lines to each other, the multiple hydraulic lines being fluidly connected to the multiple shock absorbers, wherein:
in accordance with a determination that the damper displacement exceeds a threshold, the respective suspension mode is a first mode in which the control valve is open to fluidly connect the multiple hydraulic lines to each other;
and
in accordance with a determination that the damper displacement does not exceed the threshold, the respective suspension mode is a second mode in which the control valve is closed to fluidly separate at least some of the multiple hydraulic lines from each other.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Suspension system with pitch stiffness control

Life of this patent

Suspension system with pitch stiffness control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19