Electronic Height Control System for Vehicle Ride Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle suspension systems with mechanically actuated height control valves are prone to damage from harsh environments and can 'freeze' if not used regularly, and lack the capability for precise, electronically controlled ride height adjustments that account for various inputs such as ride-height setpoints and braking system signals.
Innovation Solution
An electronic ride height control system that uses a height sensor to generate output signals for a motorized valve actuator, allowing for precise adjustment of vehicle ride height through inflation and deflation of air bags, and incorporates a controller to process multiple input signals for enhanced control, including ride-height setpoints and braking system inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a mechanically actuated height control valve is used, then the system structure is simple, but the valve is prone to damage from harsh environments and can freeze if not used regularly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanically actuated height control valve with an electronically controlled valve system. The electronic controller receives multiple input signals (height sensor, ride-height setpoint, braking system) and actuates the valve accordingly, eliminating the mechanical linkage that is prone to environmental damage and freezing. This substitution of mechanical control with electronic control resolves the reliability issue while maintaining manageable system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If an electronically controlled height control system is implemented, then precise ride height adjustment is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic controller is designed to handle multiple functions: processing height sensor inputs, comparing against ride-height setpoints, receiving braking system signals, and controlling the height control valve. By consolidating these multiple functions into a single controller unit, the system achieves precise ride height control while managing complexity through functional integration rather than proliferation of separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback control loop where the height sensor continuously monitors actual ride height, the controller compares this with the desired setpoint, and adjusts the valve actuation accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables precise ride height maintenance while using a standardized electronic control architecture that manages complexity through systematic control theory rather than mechanical complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple input signals are processed for enhanced control, then the control accuracy is improved, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple input signals (height sensor feedback, ride-height setpoint from control module, braking system signals) into a single electronic controller that processes all inputs simultaneously. This merging of multiple control inputs into one centralized processing unit improves control accuracy by considering all factors together, while managing complexity through integrated signal processing rather than separate mechanical or electronic systems for each input.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for controlling the ride height of a vehicle, the system including a controller that receives and processes multiple variable inputs to provide enhanced ride height control. The inputs include a brake system signal including an Automatic Braking System (ABS) signal and/or an Electronic Braking System (EBS) signal, a remote setpoint signal and/or a fluid dump signal. The system also provides for measuring the actual ride height, filtering the measured ride height, determining if the filter ride height signal exceeds a threshold level, and adjusting the ride height accordingly.