Look ahead vehicle suspension system
AssigneeEnpulz, LLC
InventorJames D. Bennett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An active suspension system senses roadway defects and adjusts an active and controllable suspension system of the vehicle before tires come in contact with the defect. The active suspension system identifies a type of defect or debris, e.g., pothole, bump, object, etc., along with the size, width, depth, and/or height information of the defect to more accurately control operation of the suspension system to prepare for, or avoid contact with the roadway defects and obstacles. Imaging techniques are employed to identify the defect or debris. Operation of a serviced cruise control system is controlled to enhance passenger safety and comfort.
Claims20
An active suspension system comprising:
- a plurality of transmitters mounted on a vehicle, each transmitter corresponding to a respective tire upon which the vehicle travels, the plurality of transmitters configured to send source signals toward the roadway;
- a plurality of receivers mounted on the vehicle, each receiver corresponding to a respective tire upon which the vehicle travels, the plurality of receivers configured to receive reflection signals from the roadway;
- processing circuitry, communicatively coupled to the plurality of receivers, that is configured to analyze the reflection signals to identify at least one roadway defect;
- and
- the processing circuitry is further configured to respond to the identification of the at least one roadway defect by interacting with a first adjustable suspension device before a single front tire encounters the at least one roadway defect and with a second adjustable suspension before a single rear tire encounters the at least one roadway defect.
Roadway analysis circuitry of a vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of detectors configured to translate electromagnetic waves reflected from the roadway into roadway signals, each of the plurality of detectors corresponding to a respective tire of the vehicle;
- processing circuitry, communicatively coupled to the plurality of detectors, configured to analyze the roadway signals;
- the processing circuitry further configured to, based on the analysis, selectively send control signals to at least one of a plurality of adjustable suspension devices, the control signals configured to individually adjust the plurality of adjustable suspension devices in anticipation of individual tires associated with individual adjustable suspension devices encountering at least one roadway defect;
- a driver interface circuit, coupled to the processing circuitry, configured to communicate information to a driver of the vehicle;
- and
- the processing circuitry configured to communicate information relating to the analysis to the driver of the vehicle via the driver interface circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.