Active Suspension Damping Control for Wheel Position Misalignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing damping control systems for vehicles face inaccuracies in controlling sprung vibrations due to misalignment of wheel positions and unsprung displacement-related values, particularly in high-frequency regions, leading to reduced controllability and accuracy in damping control.

Innovation Solution

A damping control apparatus that calculates a target control force using a combination of two unsprung displacement-related values: one based on motion state quantities and another based on pre-stored information, allowing for precise control by determining a predicted wheel passage position and applying a sum of control components to reduce sprung vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If an unsprung displacement-related value based on motion state quantity is used for damping control, then measurement precision is improved, but position misalignment occurs in high frequency regions reducing controllability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of unsprung displacement-related valueVSAvoidcontrollability of damping
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between two different unsprung displacement-related values based on the frequency characteristics of the input signal. A switching section determines whether to use the motion state quantity-based value or the preview sensor-based value according to the frequency content, allowing the system to adapt its behavior to different operating conditions and maintain both precision and controllability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If an unsprung displacement-related value acquired by preview sensor is used, then position alignment is maintained, but measurement precision is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition alignment in damping controlVSAvoidaccuracy of road surface displacement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between two different unsprung displacement-related values based on the frequency characteristics of the input signal. A switching section determines whether to use the motion state quantity-based value or the preview sensor-based value according to the frequency content, allowing the system to adapt its behavior to different operating conditions and maintain both precision and controllability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a single unsprung displacement-related value is used for control calculation, then device complexity is reduced, but damping control accuracy is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of control systemVSAvoidaccuracy of damping control
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between two different unsprung displacement-related values based on the frequency characteristics of the input signal. A switching section determines whether to use the motion state quantity-based value or the preview sensor-based value according to the frequency content, allowing the system to adapt its behavior to different operating conditions and maintain both precision and controllability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter being used for control based on frequency conditions. By switching between different unsprung displacement-related values depending on the frequency content of the road surface input, the system optimizes control accuracy for different driving conditions without requiring a completely complex multi-sensor system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3922491B1System and damping control method of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3922491B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3922491B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3922491B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A damping control apparatus has a control unit that controls an active actuator that generates a control force to damp a sprung, and a storage device for storing a unsprung displacement acquired based on a vertical motion state quantity of a vehicle when the vehicle travels, and the control unit determines a predicted wheel passage position where a wheel is predicted to pass, calculates a time derivative value of an unsprung displacement at the predicted wheel passage position acquired by a preview sensor, calculates a target control force based on a sum of a first control component proportional to the time derivative value and a second control component proportional to an unsprung displacement at the predicted wheel passage position acquired from the storage device, and controls a control force generating device so that a control force when the wheel passes the predicted wheel passage position becomes the target control force.