Patent · US Expired

Road surface condition determining method and suspension controlling device

US5539640A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
13References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 18, 1995
Grant dateJul 23, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 18, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60T2210/14
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A determining method of this invention includes a step of continuously measuring the relative movement between the wheel and the vehicle body by use of a linear stroke sensor while a motor vehicle is running; a step of creating spectral distribution by subjecting the output of the linear stroke sensor to the frequency analysis; a step of calculating characteristic values inherent to various types of road surfaces; and a step of specifying the type of the road surface based on the calculated characteristic values. When the type of the road surface is specified, the control device of this invention changes the damping force of the suspension to a level corresponding to the type of the road surface.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.