Method and apparatus for an adjustable damper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10336148-B2
Application number	US-201816051023-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2018
Priority date	Jan 7, 2009
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

First claim

What we claim is:

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for controlling vehicle motion of a vehicle, said method comprising:
accessing a set of control signals, wherein at least a first control signal of said set of control signals comprises a set of values associated with at least one user-induced input, wherein at least one vehicle suspension damper is coupled to a frame of said vehicle;
accessing a set of release thresholds associated with a brake position and a brake velocity of said at least one user-induced input;
comparing said set of values associated with said at least one user-induced input with a predetermined user-induced input threshold value, to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status;
monitoring a state of at least one valve within said at least one vehicle suspension damper, wherein said state controls a damping force within said at least one vehicle suspension damper;
based on said user-induced input threshold value approach status and said set of release thresholds, determining a control mode for said at least one vehicle suspension damper; and
according to said control mode and based on said monitoring, regulating damping forces within said at least one vehicle suspension damper by actuating said at least one valve to adjust to a desired state, such that a tilt of said frame is reduced.

Assignees

• Fox Factory Inc

Inventors

• Ericksen Everet Owen
• Cox Christopher Paul
• Tsiaras Philip
• Larson Mark
• Galasso Mario
• Mclellan Matt

Classifications

• B60G17/08

  Characteristics of fluid dampers (adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53) · CPC title

• B60G2500/11

  Damping valves · CPC title

• B60G2600/70

  Computer memory; Data storage, e.g. maps for adaptive control · CPC title

• B60G2400/63

  Location of the center of gravity · CPC title

• B60G17/018

  characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method · CPC title