Accelerometer Misalignment Compensation in Active Vehicle Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle suspension systems face a trade-off between passenger comfort and handling ability, and active suspension systems that use accelerometers for control can be compromised by misalignment errors, leading to undesirable pitch, roll, and heave of the vehicle chassis.
Innovation Solution
A method to compensate for misalignment of accelerometers by using data from calibration operations and signal processing techniques, combining signals from accelerometers and inertial sensors to form corrected acceleration signals, which are then used to control active suspension elements, thereby improving alignment and vehicle stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If passive suspension systems are tuned to increase passenger comfort, then passenger comfort is improved, but handling ability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements active suspension control that dynamically adjusts suspension characteristics in real-time based on vehicle motion sensing, allowing the system to adapt between comfort-oriented and handling-oriented modes rather than being fixed in one configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes suspension parameters (stiffness, damping) dynamically through active control actuators, enabling transition between soft comfort-oriented settings and firm handling-oriented settings based on driving conditions
2Reliability
If passive suspension systems are tuned to increase handling ability, then handling ability is improved, but passenger comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The active suspension system dynamically adjusts suspension characteristics in real-time, allowing transition from hard handling-oriented settings to soft comfort-oriented settings based on vehicle motion and road conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes suspension parameters (stiffness, damping) through active control actuators, enabling adaptation between handling-focused and comfort-focused configurations
3Device complexity
If accelerometer mounting orientation is not precisely controlled, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration operations during vehicle operation to determine accelerometer misalignment characteristics, storing this data for use in signal correction without requiring precise initial mounting
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the determined misalignment characteristics to correct accelerometer signals through signal processing, creating a closed-loop system that compensates for mounting errors
4Device complexity
If accelerometer signals are not corrected for misalignment, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of active suspension control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by using determined misalignment characteristics to correct accelerometer signals in real-time, improving the reliability of active suspension control through closed-loop signal correction
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical precision mounting requirements with signal processing corrections, using computational methods to compensate for physical misalignment errors
Data Source
AI summary
In an aspect, in general, a system and method compensate for a misalignment characteristic of one or more acceleration sensors fixed to a sprung mass of a vehicle, each acceleration sensor having a location on the vehicle and a desired orientation relative to the vehicle.