Active Suspension Damper Force Velocity Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active suspension systems require external sensors to estimate damper force and velocity, leading to increased costs and reduced installability due to the need for additional sensors.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize two pressure sensors mounted in the damper to calculate damper force and velocity, using pressure and flow rate characteristics of valve sets connected to the damper, eliminating the need for external sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate external sensors are used to sense damper force and damper velocity, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the measurement functions into the existing damper structure by using pressure sensors mounted on the damper body to sense chamber pressures. The control unit integrates multiple measurement functions (force, velocity, acceleration) through computational processing of pressure data, eliminating the need for separate external sensors while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensors mounted on the damper serve multiple functions: they measure chamber pressures that are then used by the control unit to calculate both damper force and damper velocity, as well as derive acceleration information. This multi-functional approach reduces the total number of sensors required while improving system integration.
2Measurement precision
If separate external sensors are added to estimate damper velocity, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The damper system performs its own velocity measurement by utilizing pressure sensors already mounted on its structure. The control unit processes pressure data from these sensors to calculate velocity, eliminating the need for separate external velocity sensors and reducing overall system cost while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If acceleration sensor and displacement sensor are embedded in damper, then damper velocity can be estimated, but installability is reduced and operation amount increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the velocity measurement function from complex sensor assemblies (acceleration and displacement sensors) and implements it through simpler pressure sensors mounted on the damper body. This extraction simplifies the installation process while maintaining the capability to calculate damper velocity through pressure-based computations.
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
Enables cost-effective estimation and control of damper force and velocity without external sensors, improving installability and reflecting hydraulic system characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
first and second pressure sensors for sensing pressures of a rebound chamber and a compression chamber of a damper
Implementation Method 2
calculating the damper velocity using pressure-fluid rate characteristics of first to third valve sets and the pressures of the rebound chamber and the compression chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A device and a method of estimating damper force and damper velocity in an active suspension system. First and second pressure sensors sense pressures of a rebound chamber and a compression chamber of a damper in the active suspension system. A controller calculates damper force using the pressures and effective hydraulic pressure areas of the rebound chamber and the compression chamber and calculating damper velocity using pressure-fluid rate characteristics of first to third valve sets and the pressures of the rebound chamber and the compression chamber such that a sum of fluid rates is zero in a node connected between any one of the first to third valve sets and the rebound chamber or the compression chamber, the first to third valve sets being connected between the rebound chamber and an accumulator, between the rebound chamber and the compression chamber, or between the compression chamber and the accumulator.