Vehicle Damper Control Using Gyro Sensor Velocity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronically controlled suspension (ECS) systems for vehicles require multiple sensors, including wheel G-sensors, which increase manufacturing costs and vehicle weight, negatively affecting ride comfort and air-fuel ratio.
Innovation Solution
A damper control method that derives front and rear wheel damper velocity values using a 6-axis gyro sensor and previously stored vehicle weight values, eliminating the need for wheel G-sensors by calculating damper velocities through specific expressions and equations of vehicle motion, allowing for effective damper control without increasing sensor count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wheel G-sensors are mounted on each wheel to calculate vertical velocity of wheels, then measurement precision of wheel vertical velocity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to additional sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the function of measuring wheel vertical velocity from dedicated wheel G-sensors and relocates it to the vehicle body sensor system. By calculating wheel vertical velocity based on vehicle body vertical velocity and suspension relative velocity, the system eliminates the need for separate wheel-mounted sensors while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle body sensor serves multiple functions: it measures vehicle body vertical velocity directly and also enables calculation of wheel vertical velocity when combined with suspension relative velocity data. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of sensors required in the system.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple sensors including wheel G-sensors are installed to achieve accurate damper control, then control precision is improved, but weight of the vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes wheel G-sensors from the sensor configuration while preserving damper control precision through alternative calculation methods. The wheel vertical velocity is derived from vehicle body sensor data and suspension relative velocity, eliminating the weight penalty of additional sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directly measuring wheel vertical velocity with physical sensors, the system creates a calculated copy of this information by combining vehicle body vertical velocity with suspension relative velocity. This virtual measurement achieves the same control objective without adding physical sensor weight.
3Reliability
If wheel G-sensors are mounted on wheels to provide accurate vertical velocity data, then reliability of damper control is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to increased assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the velocity measurement function from wheel-mounted sensors and consolidates it into the vehicle body sensor system. This reduces the number of installation points and simplifies assembly while maintaining the reliability needed for accurate damper control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the function of wheel vertical velocity measurement with the existing vehicle body sensor system. By combining vehicle body vertical velocity data with suspension relative velocity measurements, the system achieves reliable wheel velocity data without requiring separate wheel sensor installations.
Data Source
AI summary
A damper control method for a vehicle may achieve normal control of dampers by maintaining the ride comfort enhancement effect of the ECS while reducing manufacturing costs in accordance with a reduction in the number of sensors through elimination of wheel G-sensors.