US 11,932,072 B2
Suspension control system and method with event detection based on unsprung mass acceleration data and pre-emptive road data
Kylian Praet, Antwerp (BE); and Miguel Dhaens, Lommel (BE)
Assigned to DRIV Automotive Inc., Northville, MI (US)
Filed by DRIV Automotive Inc., Southfield, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/194,601.
Prior Publication US 2022/0281280 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. B60G 17/0165 (2006.01); B60G 17/018 (2006.01); B60G 17/019 (2006.01)
CPC B60G 17/0165 (2013.01) [B60G 17/018 (2013.01); B60G 17/01908 (2013.01); B60G 2400/102 (2013.01); B60G 2400/204 (2013.01); B60G 2400/821 (2013.01); B60G 2401/16 (2013.01); B60G 2500/10 (2013.01); B60G 2600/1877 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A suspension control system for a vehicle comprising:
one or more adaptive suspension components connected to the vehicle, each having one or more adaptive suspension settings;
a suspension control unit (SCU) that is arranged in electronic communication with said adaptive suspension components;
an unsprung mass accelerometer positioned at each wheel of the vehicle, where each unsprung mass accelerometer is arranged in communication with said suspension control unit (SCU) and is configured to provide unsprung mass acceleration data to said suspension control unit (SCU);
a global positioning system (GPS) module mounted in the vehicle that is arranged in communication with said suspension control unit (SCU) and configured to provide vehicle location data to said suspension control unit (SCU);
said suspension control unit (SCU) is programmed to determine if a road event is approaching based on said vehicle location data and provide pre-emptive road event classification information for an approaching road event;
said suspension control unit (SCU) is programmed to set both a threshold based suspension pre-setting and a threshold based pre-trigger based on said pre-emptive road event classification information;
said suspension control unit (SCU) is programmed to monitor said unsprung mass acceleration data and calculate a slope value for said unsprung mass acceleration data; and
said suspension control unit (SCU) is configured to generate a control signal that changes said adaptive suspension settings of said adaptive suspension components if said unsprung mass acceleration data exceeds said threshold based pre-trigger and said slope value that is calculated by said suspension control unit (SCU) exceeds a maximum slope value.