Method and apparatus for an adjustable damper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12377699-B2
Application number	US-202418740129-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2024
Priority date	Jan 7, 2009
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

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, said method comprising:
detecting that a suspension damper, to which a vehicle is coupled, is in a zero gravity condition; and
controlling said suspension damper in a firm setting control mode based on the detection, wherein said firm setting control mode comprises a calculated rebound mode and a calculated firm compression mode for said suspension damper.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said suspension damper is determined to be in said zero gravity condition defined in a Cartesian coordinate system, of said vehicle has a value which is less than a predetermined threshold value.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 2 , wherein said predetermined threshold value is tunable.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , further comprising:
allowing said suspension damper to exit from said firm setting control mode when said suspension damper is determined to no longer be in said zero gravity condition.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , further comprising:
returning said suspension damper to a damping mode which existed immediately prior to said suspension damper being placed in said firm setting control mode when said suspension damper is determined to no longer be in said zero gravity condition.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , further comprising:
allowing said suspension damper to exit from said firm setting control mode when said suspension damper is determined to no longer have been in said zero gravity condition for a predetermined amount of time.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said suspension damper is determined to no longer be in said zero gravity condition when a resultant magnitude of X, Y, and Z accelerations, as defined in a Cartesian coordinate system, of said vehicle has a value which exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said suspension damper is determined to no longer be in said zero gravity condition when a resultant magnitude of X, Y, and Z accelerations, as defined in a Cartesian coordinate system, of said vehicle has a value which exceeds a predetermined threshold value for a predetermined amount of time.

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

• B60G2800/91

  Suspension Control · CPC title

• B60G2800/014

  Pitch; Nose dive · CPC title