Method and apparatus for an adjustable damper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10814689-B2
Application number	US-201816042563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2018
Priority date	Jan 7, 2009
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

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 said computer to perform a method for controlling vehicle motion, said method comprising:
accessing a set of control signals, wherein a first control signal of said set of control signals comprises a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle, a second control signal of said set of control signals comprises a set of values associated with at least one user-induced input, wherein a vehicle suspension damper is coupled with a frame of said vehicle;
comparing said measured vehicle speed value with a stored predetermined vehicle speed threshold value that corresponds to said vehicle, to achieve a vehicle speed value threshold approach status;
comparing said set of values associated with said at least one user-induced input with a stored predetermined user-induced input threshold value, to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status;
monitoring a state of a valve within said vehicle suspension damper, wherein said state of said valve controls a damping force of said vehicle suspension damper;
based on at least one of said vehicle speed value threshold approach status and said user-induced input threshold value approach status, 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 vehicle suspension damper by actuating said valve to adjust said vehicle suspension damper to a desired state, such that a tilt of said frame is reduced.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprising:
holding said at least one vehicle suspension damper in said desired state for a period of time wherein said period of time begins when a first threshold value is determined to have been exceeded and ends when a second threshold value is determined to have been exceeded.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 2 , wherein said method further comprising:
tracking said period of time for which said at least one vehicle suspension damper is held in said desired state.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprising:
establishing a period of time for said at least one vehicle suspension damper to settle down before a compression mode of said at least one vehicle suspension damper is set to a firm setting.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said at least one user-induced input comprises:
a movement of a steering wheel.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said at least one user-induced input comprises:
a movement of a brake.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said at least one user-induced input comprises:
a movement of a throttle.

Assignees

• Fox Factory Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B60G2500/10

  Damping action or damper · CPC title

• B60G2400/33

  Throttle position · CPC title

• B60G17/015

  the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements ({B60G17/002}, B60G17/005 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60G17/016 Primary

  characterised by their responsiveness, when the vehicle is travelling, to specific motion, a specific condition, or driver input {(B60G17/017 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60G17/0155

  pneumatic unit · CPC title