Active Suspension Phase Control for Vibration Isolation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicles experience unwanted motion due to disturbances in their environment, leading to discomfort, motion sickness, and potential loss of control, while residual vibrations from engines cause fatigue, even on smooth roads.

Innovation Solution

An active suspension system with a low-bandwidth force bias eliminator and a high-bandwidth electromagnetic actuator, where the actuator's motion is within a 45-degree phase angle with the vehicle's center of gravity, providing actuation force through the center of gravity and using a crossover frequency of 1/3 Hz to separate frequency ranges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a single high-bandwidth actuator is used to suppress all vibrations, then vibration suppression performance is improved, but power consumption increases and control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration suppression performanceVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the vibration suppression task into two frequency bands: low-frequency force bias (0-0.5 Hz) handled by a force bias eliminator and high-frequency vibrations (0.5-20 Hz) handled by an electromagnetic actuator. This segmentation allows each component to operate optimally in its designated frequency range, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining effective vibration suppression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The force bias eliminator handles only the low-frequency force bias component rather than the entire vibration spectrum, allowing the electromagnetic actuator to focus on high-frequency vibrations. This partial action approach reduces the power burden on the electromagnetic actuator while maintaining comprehensive vibration suppression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Use of energy by moving object

If a force bias element operates at low bandwidth, then power consumption is reduced, but vibration suppression capability at higher frequencies is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidvibration suppression capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the vibration suppression function across two components: the force bias eliminator handles low-frequency force bias with minimal power consumption, while the electromagnetic actuator supplements high-frequency vibration suppression. This segmentation allows each component to operate within its optimal performance and power consumption characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The force bias eliminator acts as an intermediary that removes the low-frequency force bias component, allowing the electromagnetic actuator to focus on high-frequency vibrations without being burdened by the power-intensive task of counteracting gravitational force bias throughout the entire frequency spectrum.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the electromagnetic actuator operates with large phase angle deviation from center of gravity motion, then control simplicity is improved, but vibration isolation effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidvibration isolation effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback control where the electromagnetic actuator's operation is continuously adjusted based on the phase relationship with the plant's center of gravity motion. The controller maintains the phase angle within 45 degrees by monitoring and adjusting the actuator's output, ensuring effective vibration isolation while maintaining control simplicity through automated phase compensation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively reduces unwanted motion and vibrations, enhancing passenger comfort by isolating the vehicle from disturbances and minimizing power consumption, while maintaining control and safety.

Implementation Method 1

an active suspension including an electromagnetic actuator coupled to the plant and having a high bandwidth, the electromagnetic actuator providing an actuation force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP1852302B1Active suspending
Publication Date: 2015.08.12 BOSE CORP
  • EP1852302B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1852302B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1852302B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A method for actively suspending a real plant in a vehicle includes modifying a control signal on the basis of a difference between a property of the real plant, as indicated by the response of the real plant to the control signal, and a property of a nominal plant.