Electronically controlled vehicle suspension system including an active mass damper

An electronically controlled suspension system for a motor vehicle including a sprung mass, an unsprung mass, and a control arm attached at one end to the sprung mass and at an opposite end to the unsprung mass, the electronically controlled suspension system comprising:

• an active mass damper configured to be mounted to the control arm, to the one end of the control arm, or to the sprung mass, the active mass damper including a damper mass and an actuator responsive to a drive signal to move the damper mass to apply (i) in the case that the active mass damper is mounted to the control arm, a first force to the unsprung mass through the control arm and a second force to the sprung mass through the control arm, and (ii) in the case that the active mass damper is mounted to the one end of the control arm or to the sprung mass, a total force applicable by the active mass damper to the sprung mass,
• an actuator driver to produce the drive signal to control movement of the damper mass, and
• at least one passive or electronically controlled suspension damping component attached to and between the unsprung mass and the sprung mass, the at least one passive or electronically controlled suspension component configured to apply a third force to the sprung mass,
• wherein, (iii) in the case that the active mass damper is mounted to the control arm, the active mass damper is mounted to the control arm at a distance from the one end of the control arm such that the first force applied by the active mass damper to the unsprung mass through the control arm is a fraction of the total force applicable by the active mass damper to the control arm and the second force applied by the active mass damper to the sprung mass through the control arm is a remaining fraction of the total force, wherein the fraction is defined by a ratio of the distance of the active mass damper from the one end of the control arm and a length of the control arm, and wherein the ratio is selected to minimize, or at least reduce, the combined second and third forces applied by the active mass damper and the at least one passive or electronically controlled suspension damping component respectively to the sprung mass, and (iv) in the case that the active mass damper is mounted to the one end of the control arm or to the sprung mass, the active mass damper is controlled so as to minimize, or at least reduce, the combined forces applied by the active mass damper and the at least one passive or electronically controlled suspension damping component to the sprung mass.