# US 2014/0156142 A1 · System and method for automatic control of the ride height setting on a road-going vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156142 A1 - Document ID: US20140156142A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/815,145 - Filed: 2013-02-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Engine Control and Monitoring - Inventors: Ronald S. Patrick; Alan R. Eaton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156142A1 ## CPC - B60G 17/019: characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof {(B60G17/01941 takes precedence)} - B60G 2400/80: Exterior conditions - B60G 2401/16: GPS track data - B60G 2500/30: Height or ground clearance - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract A method for automatically controlling the ride height system of a road going vehicle, based on the proximity of the vehicle to specified waypoints defined by the user. Waypoints are added or deleted by the user via a user interface. A program loop continually checks the proximity of the road going vehicle to the waypoints defined by the user and triggers the vehicle ride height system when the vehicle approaches a stored waypoint. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for automatically controlling the ride height system of a road-going vehicle comprising: receiving, at a road-going vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data determining a location of said road-going vehicle based on said received GPS data; a user interface allowing user-defined waypoints; retrieving said user-defined waypoints; and automatically modifying the ride height system of said road-going vehicle; based upon the proximity of said road-going vehicle to said user-defined waypoints. ### Claim 2 A method for automatically controlling the ride height of a road-going vehicle comprising: receiving, at a road-going vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data determining a location of said road-going vehicle based on said received GPS data; a user interface allowing user-defined waypoints; retrieving said user-defined waypoints; actuators to actuate the ride height of said road-going vehicle; automatically modifying the ride height of said road-going vehicle, based upon the proximity of said road-going vehicle to said user-defined waypoints. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method for controlling operating characteristics according to claim 1, wherein said user-defined waypoints are imputed directly through the said user interface of said road-going vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method for controlling operating characteristics according to claim 1, wherein said user-defined waypoints are automatically compared at set intervals to said received GPS data; and allowing for a user-defined proximity trigger allowing changes to said ride height system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method for controlling the ride height system according to claim 1, wherein said user-defined waypoints can be associated with flags in said user interface that specify changes in said ride height system; based upon the proximity of said road-going vehicle to said user-defined waypoints. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method for controlling the ride height system according to claim 1, wherein said user-defined waypoints are automatically compared at set intervals to said received GPS data; and allowing for a user-defined variable proximity trigger considerate of the current speed of said road-going vehicle approaching said user-defined waypoints, modifying said ride height system of said road going vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method for controlling the ride height system according to claim 1, wherein said user-defined waypoints are imported from an existing set of waypoints. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method for controlling the ride height system according to claim 1, wherein said user-defined waypoints are imported by the user from an external source. ### Claim 9 A method for automatically controlling the ride height system of a road-going vehicle comprising: receiving, at a road-going vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data determining a location of said road-going vehicle based on said received GPS data; retrieving user-defined waypoints; and automatically modifying the ride height setting of said ride height system of said road-going vehicle, based upon a certain proximity of said road-going vehicle to said user-defined waypoints. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method for controlling the ride height system according to claim 9, wherein said user-defined waypoints are imported from an existing set of waypoints. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method for controlling operating characteristics according to claim 9, wherein said user-defined waypoints are imported by the user from an external source. ### Claim 12 A system for controlling the ride height system of a road-going vehicle, said system comprising: means for wirelessly receiving location data concerning the current location of said road-going vehicle; means for storing street map information; means for determining a location of said road-going vehicle based on said received location data; means for identifying street map information associated with the determined location; means for outputting at least one signal to modify said ride height system of said road-going vehicle based on a certain proximity of said road-going vehicle to at least one user-defined waypoint. ### Claim 13 A system for automatically controlling the ride height of a road-going vehicle, said system comprising: means for wirelessly receiving location data concerning the location; means for storing street map information; means for determining a location of said road-going vehicle based on said received location data; means for identifying street map information associated with the determined location; means for the user to define waypoints in the user interface of the road-going vehicle; means for comparing said determined location of the road-going vehicle to said waypoints; means for outputting at least one signal to modify the ride height of said road-going vehicle based on a defined proximity of said road-going vehicle to said user-defined waypoints. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system for automatically controlling the ride height of a road-going vehicle according to claim 13, wherein said retrieved location data triggers said signal to modify said ride height of said road-going vehicle based on a variable proximity to one or more said user-defined waypoints. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system for automatically controlling the ride height system of a road-going vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said means for determining is further responsive to means for measuring a distance traveled by said road-going vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system for automatically adjusting the ride height of a road-going vehicle according to claim 13, wherein said means for determining is further responsive to means for measuring a predetermined time period. ### Claim 17 Software, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform at least the following operations: receiving, at a road-going vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data; determining a location of said road-going vehicle based on said received GPS data; retrieving user-defined waypoints; comparing said user-defined waypoints with said received GPS data; and automatically outputting a signal representing an adjustment to the ride height system of said road-going vehicle, based on a user-defined proximity of said road-going vehicle to said user-defined waypoints. ### Claim 18 Software, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform at least the following operations: receiving, at a road-going vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data; determining a location of said road-going vehicle based on said received GPS data; retrieving user definable waypoints; comparing said user-defined waypoints with determined location, selecting a ride height adjustment system; and automatically outputting a signal representing an adjustment to the ride height system, based on a user-defined proximity trigger of said road-going vehicle to said user-defined waypoints. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The computer readable medium according to claim 18, wherein said selecting comprises selecting a ride height adjustment system, and said signal represents a desired automatic adjustment to the actual ride height of said road-going vehicle responsive to the proximity of the current location of said road-going vehicle to said user-defined waypoints.