Vehicle Suspension Control Apparatus for Speed Bump Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic control suspension systems in vehicles fail to provide accurate and safe suspension control when they do not predict the behavior of the vehicle in response to shocks, particularly due to errors in damping force of the shock absorbers, which can result in inadequate ride comfort and stability.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle suspension control apparatus that includes a mode determination device to identify the mode of the shock absorber based on count values for different damping forces, and a suspension control amount calculation device to calculate the necessary control amount for passing over speed bumps, allowing for accurate and safe suspension control by adjusting damping forces accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the shock absorber is designed to have a specific damping force at a specific speed, then the damping force is optimized for that speed, but the damping force deviates from the designed value when real shocks are applied, leading to inaccurate suspension control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the damping force adjustable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically changes the damping force of the shock absorber based on predicted vehicle behavior and actual shock conditions. This allows the suspension system to adapt to varying road conditions and shock magnitudes, resolving the contradiction between having a optimized fixed damping force and needing adaptability for accurate control across different scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the damping force parameter based on predicted vehicle behavior and actual shock measurements. By adjusting the damping force parameter dynamically according to predicted vs. actual behavior comparisons, the system maintains accurate suspension control across different operating conditions, resolving the contradiction between optimized fixed design and needed adaptability.
2Reliability
If the ECS does not predict vehicle behavior in response to shocks, then the control system is simpler, but it fails to provide accurate and safe suspension control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by predicting vehicle behavior before actual shocks occur. The prediction model pre-calculates expected vehicle responses to various shock conditions, allowing the controller to compare predicted vs. actual behavior and adjust damping forces proactively. This predictive approach enables accurate control without requiring overly complex real-time sensing and reaction systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by comparing predicted vehicle behavior with actual vehicle behavior after shocks occur. The controller uses this feedback to learn and improve prediction accuracy over time, and to dynamically adjust damping forces. This feedback mechanism enables accurate and safe suspension control while maintaining relatively simple system architecture through iterative learning rather than complex real-time computation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the shock absorber damping force does not match the designed value, then manufacturing variations are accommodated, but the ECS fails to provide accurate suspension control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by having the system automatically compensate for manufacturing variations in shock absorber damping forces. The controller measures actual vehicle behavior, compares it with predicted behavior, and automatically adjusts the damping force to match the designed value. This self-compensation mechanism allows manufacturing tolerances without sacrificing control accuracy, as the system self-corrects for individual component variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback to detect deviations from designed damping forces and automatically compensates for them. By measuring actual vehicle response to shocks and comparing with predictions, the system identifies manufacturing variations and adjusts control parameters accordingly, maintaining accurate suspension control despite manufacturing tolerances in individual shock absorbers.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle suspension control apparatus includes a mode determination device that determines a mode of a shock absorber for a vehicle, corresponding to an identified speed bump, when the speed bump is identified in front of the vehicle, a suspension control amount calculation device that calculates an amount of suspension control for passing over the speed bump, based on the determined mode of the shock absorber, and a controller that controls a suspension of the vehicle based on the calculated amount of suspension control.