Radar Chassis Height Sensing With Axle Reference Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chassis height measurement systems for vehicles, particularly those using mechanical levers or contactless sensors like ultrasonic or infrared, face issues with high costs, installation effort, sensitivity to environmental disturbances, and reliability under harsh conditions.
Innovation Solution
A chassis height measurement system utilizing a radar sensor fixed to the vehicle chassis, with a defined field of view that includes an axle reference object, providing both road and axle distance signals, enhancing reliability by ensuring functionality even if one signal is absent due to environmental interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical lever system is used to connect the angle sensor to the axle, then the chassis height can be measured, but the system becomes complex, costly, and prone to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical lever system with a radar-based measurement system. The radar sensor mounted on the chassis measures the distance to the axle reference object using electromagnetic waves, eliminating the need for mechanical linkages between the sensor and axle. This substitution of mechanical measurement with electromagnetic measurement resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement capability while removing the complex and fragile mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a reference object on the axle that replicates the reflective properties needed for measurement. By placing a radar reflector or marker on the axle, the system can measure axle position indirectly through electromagnetic reflection, replacing the direct mechanical coupling approach and reducing system complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If contactless sensors like ultrasonic or infrared are used, then installation effort is reduced, but the sensors become sensitive to environmental disturbances like dirt or water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameter of the contactless sensor from ultrasonic or infrared frequency to radar frequency (microwave range). This parameter change in the electromagnetic spectrum allows the sensor to penetrate or ignore environmental obstacles like dirt and water that block lower frequency waves, while maintaining the contactless measurement advantage. The radar frequency operates in a range less affected by common environmental contaminants.
3Device complexity
If a single radar sensor is used to provide both road distance and axle distance signals, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability must be maintained despite potential signal absence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the single radar sensor to perform multiple functions: measuring both the distance to the road surface and the distance to the axle reference object. By configuring the sensor with an appropriate field of view and measurement aperture, it can detect multiple targets (road and axle) simultaneously, achieving multi-functionality with a single device. This reduces system complexity while maintaining reliability through the availability of multiple measurement signals from one sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a evaluation unit that continuously monitors the radar signals for both road distance and axle distance. When one signal becomes unavailable or unreliable, the system uses feedback from the other signal and predefined plausibility criteria to detect and handle the failure mode. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable operation by adapting to signal absence while maintaining system functionality.
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
The system provides robust and reliable chassis height measurement by using a single radar sensor to generate additional axle distance signals, verifying sensor functionality and improving suspension system monitoring under adverse conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the height sensor is a radar sensor which is fixed to the chassis
Implementation Method 2
a millimeter wave radar system for determining selected boundary distances is implemented based upon a generation of a modulated millimeter wave signal
Implementation Method 3
the radar sensor is adapted to provide an axle distance signal, which represents a distance between the chassis and the axle reference object
Implementation Method 4
to emit an interrogation signal towards the ground and to receive a reflection of the interrogation signal from the ground
Data Source
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AI summary
A chassis height measurement system (100) for a vehicle (1000), in particular commercial vehicle (1001) or passenger vehicle (1006), with an axle (822) suspended by a suspension system (840), in particular an air suspension system (842), comprising: - a height sensor (110), adapted to provide a road distance signal (D1), which represents a distance between a road surface (2000) and a chassis (800) of the vehicle (1000), wherein - the height sensor (110) is a radar sensor (120) which is fixed to the chassis (800), and with a field of view (VF) defined by a measurement aperture (122), wherein - the radar sensor (120) is arranged such that an axle reference object (820), in particular the axle (822), is within the field of view (VF), wherein - the radar sensor (120) is adapted to provide an axle distance signal (D2), which represents a distance between the chassis (800) and the axle reference object (820).