Kneeling position for electric medium-duty vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11794544-B2
Application number	US-202117454794-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2021
Priority date	Dec 14, 2020
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a height of an electric vehicle with an adjustable suspension system. In one example, a method comprises: during a vehicle stop event, adjusting a height of a skateboard frame of an electric vehicle via an adjustable suspension system, based on at least one sensor input indicative of a desired skateboard frame height. In this way, user activities, including loading and unloading, may be facilitated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
responsive to an electric vehicle in a stopped condition, monitoring a plurality of sensors to determine whether a kneeling position is requested;
responsive to determining that the kneeling position is requested, lowering a skateboard frame of the electric vehicle from a nominal position to the kneeling position by adjusting a suspension system of the electric vehicle;
while in the kneeling position, monitoring the plurality of sensors to determine whether the kneeling position is no longer requested; and
responsive to determining that the kneeling position is not requested, raising the skateboard frame of the electric vehicle to the nominal position by adjusting the suspension system of the electric vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a height of the skateboard frame while in the kneeling position is less than a height of the skateboard frame while in the nominal position.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the kneeling position is requested is responsive to a signal from a proximity sensor coupled to the electric vehicle corresponding to a vehicle user outside the electric vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the kneeling position is requested is responsive to a proximity signal from a key fob corresponding to a vehicle user outside the electric vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the kneeling position is requested is responsive to a signal from a motion sensor corresponding to a user gesture.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electric vehicle is in the stopped condition when a speed of the electric vehicle is zero and the electric vehicle is parked.

7. A method, comprising:
while an electric vehicle is in a stopped condition or approaching a stopped condition, monitoring a plurality of sensors to determine whether a kneeling position is requested;
responsive to determining that the kneeling position is requested, lowering a skateboard frame of the electric vehicle from a nominal position to the kneeling position by adjusting a suspension system of the electric vehicle;
while in the kneeling position, monitoring the plurality of sensors to determine whether the kneeling position is no longer requested; and
responsive to determining that the kneeling position is not requested, raising the skateboard frame of the electric vehicle to the nominal position by adjusting the suspension system of the electric vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein a height of the skateboard frame while in the kneeling position is less than a height of the skateboard frame while in the nominal position.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining that the kneeling position is requested is responsive to a signal from a proximity sensor coupled to the electric vehicle corresponding to a vehicle user outside the electric vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining that the kneeling position is requested is responsive to a proximity signal from a key fob corresponding to a vehicle user outside the electric vehicle.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining that the kneeling position is requested is responsive to a signal from a motion sensor corresponding to a user gesture.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the electric vehicle is in the stopped condition when a speed of the electric vehicle is zero and the electric vehicle is parked.

13. A system, comprising:
an electric vehicle;
a skateboard frame of the electric vehicle;
a front suspension system including a first pressurized spring and a second pressurized spring, the front suspension system coupled to the skateboard frame;
a rear suspension system including a third pressurized spring and a fourth pressurized spring, the rear suspension system coupled to the skateboard frame;
a controller including instructions stored in non-transitory memory that, when executed, cause the controller to:
while the electric vehicle is stopped, monitor one or more sensors for a sensor input indicative of a request to lower the electric vehicle to a kneeling position, wherein the request to lower the electric vehicle to the kneeling position is based on one or more of a motion sensor or a camera feed; and
responsive to the request to lower the electric vehicle to the kneeling position, adjust a height of the skateboard frame relative to the ground.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein to adjust the height of the skateboard frame relative to the ground, the controller includes further instructions stored in non-transitory memory that, when executed, cause the controller to:
decrease an amount of air in each of the first pressurized spring, the second pressurized spring, the third pressurized spring, and the fourth pressurized spring.

15. The system of claim 13 , further comprising: a key fob, the key fob including a wireless communication module, the wireless communication module communicatively coupled to the controller via a wireless connection.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the request to lower the electric vehicle to the kneeling position is based on the wireless connection.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the request to lower the electric vehicle to the kneeling position is based on a fob button press.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the request to lower the electric vehicle to the kneeling position is based on at least one of a voice command, a user gesture, and a GPS signal.

19. A system, comprising:
an electric vehicle;
a skateboard frame of the electric vehicle;
a front suspension system including a first pressurized spring and a second pressurized spring, the front suspension system coupled to the skateboard frame;
a rear suspension system including a third pressurized spring and a fourth pressurized spring, the rear suspension system coupled to the skateboard frame;
a controller including instructions stored in non-transitory memory that, when executed, cause the controller to:
while the electric vehicle is stopped, monitor one or more sensors for a sensor input indicative of a request to lower the electric vehicle to a kneeling position, wherein the request to lower the electric vehicle to the kneeling position is based on one or more of a voice command, a user gesture, and a GPS signal; and
responsive to the request to lower the electric vehicle to the kneeling position, adjust a height of the skateboard frame relative to the ground.

Assignees

• Les Moteurs Nordresa Inc
• Dana Heavy Vehicle Sys Group

Inventors

• Charmeau Mathilde
• Idrici Ali
• Castonguay Sylvain

Classifications

• B60G17/017 Primary

  characterised by their use when the vehicle is stationary, e.g. during loading, engine start-up or switch-off · CPC title

• B60G17/0155

  pneumatic unit · CPC title

• B60G17/033

  characterised by regulating means acting on more than one spring · CPC title

• B60G17/048

  with the regulating means inside the fluid springs (B60G17/044 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60G17/0525

  Height adjusting or levelling valves · CPC title