Modular Air Suspension Control for Expandable Multi-Corner Leveling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air suspension systems for vehicles face challenges in adjusting suspension characteristics when vehicle weight or weight distribution changes, as adjustments to one unit can affect others, and require complex coordination for installation of additional systems.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic control system with electronically controllable valves, a master control unit, and modular design allowing for serial expansion, featuring pressure sensors and wireless connectivity for user interface and firmware updates, enabling independent control of each suspension unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single centralized control system is used for air suspension, then system coordination is simplified, but adaptability to different suspension configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into a master control unit and multiple independent pneumatic control units, each capable of autonomous operation. Each pneumatic control unit contains its own pressure sensor, valves, and control circuitry, allowing it to independently manage its associated suspension unit while the master control unit coordinates overall system behavior through standardized communication protocols.
2Device complexity
If the system is designed for a fixed number of suspension units, then initial system complexity is reduced, but expandability to accommodate different vehicle configurations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic control units are designed with universal interfaces and standardized communication protocols that allow them to be interconnected in various configurations. The system can accommodate 1-corner, 2-corner, 3-corner, or 4-corner suspension systems using the same modular components, with each pneumatic control unit capable of being added or removed without requiring system redesign.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional suspension systems are integrated into existing units, then system functionality is enhanced, but installation complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each pneumatic control unit is equipped with integrated pressure sensors, electronically controlled valves, and diagnostic capabilities that enable the system to monitor and adjust its own operation. The modular design allows for easy installation and removal of individual units without requiring complex coordination or reconfiguration of the entire system, as each unit operates independently with standardized interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A Modular and Expandable Air Suspension Control System utilizes three basic units, a suspension control module, one or more pneumatic control modules, and an end cap usable across a variety of applications with different quantities of air springs, including 1-Corner, 2-Corner, 3-Corner, 4-Corner and more than 4-Corner systems. The invention is field expandable, with multiple sensing options as each pneumatic control module has an integrated air spring pressure sensor plus an electrical plug to connect with an electronic height sensor. This capability allows the system to level based on air spring pressure or air spring height depending on the customer use case. The sleek and compact design is piconet-enabled which gives the system connectivity to smartphone apps and dedicated piconet devices for user interface, and allows for over-the-air updating of the firmware inside of the suspension control module and pneumatic control modules to enhance functionality.