System and method of controlling adjustable spoiler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9540057-B2
Application number	US-201414483994-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2014
Priority date	Nov 26, 2013
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A system of controlling an adjustable spoiler includes an ignition detector configured to detect whether an engine is turned on or off. A vehicle speed detector is configured to detect a vehicle speed. A weight detector is configured to detect a vehicle weight that is changed when the number of passengers or the amount of loaded freight is increased or decreased. A controller is configured to determine variation of the vehicle weight, set an extension reference speed and a retraction reference speed of the adjustable spoiler based on the variation of the vehicle weight, and extend or retract the adjustable spoiler trough an actuator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system of controlling an adjustable spoiler, comprising:
an ignition detector configured to detect whether an engine is turned on or off;
a vehicle speed detector configured to detect a vehicle speed;
a weight detector configured to detect a vehicle weight that is changed when the number of passengers or the amount of loaded freight is increased or decreased; and
a controller configured to determine variation of the vehicle weight, set an extension reference speed and a retraction reference speed of the adjustable spoiler based on the variation of the vehicle weight, and extend or retract the adjustable spoiler trough an actuator.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the weight detector comprises at least one of an overall height sensor of a suspension system, a pressure sensor of an air suspension system, and a tire air pressure sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller determines the variation of the vehicle weight until the vehicle starts moving after the engine is turned on.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller determines the variation of the vehicle weight until the vehicle speed becomes a reference vehicle speed after the engine is turned on.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls an extension height, an extension angle, and an extension width of the adjustable spoiler when the adjustable spoiler is extended.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller varies the extension reference speed and the retraction reference speed depending on the variation of the vehicle weight as a driver is inside the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the extension reference speed and the retraction reference speed of the adjustable spoiler are stored in a memory as a map table for each variation of the vehicle weight.

8. A method of controlling an adjustable spoiler, comprising steps of:
determining variation of a vehicle weight, which is changed when the number of passengers or the amount of loaded freight is increased or decreased, when an engine is turned on;
setting an extension reference speed and a retraction reference speed based on the variation of the vehicle weight;
determining whether a vehicle speed is greater than the extension reference speed; and
extending the adjustable spoiler through an actuator when the vehicle speed is greater than the extension reference speed.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the variation of the vehicle weight is determined based on at least one of a torque load of a power train, an overall height difference of a suspension system, a pressure difference of an air suspension system, and a tire air pressure difference.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of determining the variation of the vehicle weight is performed until a vehicle starts moving after the engine is turned on.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of determining the vehicle weight is performed until the vehicle speed becomes a reference vehicle speed after the engine is turned on.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the extension reference speed and the retraction reference speed vary depending on the variation of the vehicle weight as a driver is inside the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising steps of:
determining whether the vehicle speed is less than the retraction reference speed in a state where the adjustable spoiler is extended; and
retracting the adjustable spoiler through the actuator when the vehicle speed is less than the retraction reference speed.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein an extension height, an extension angle, and an extension width of the adjustable spoiler are controlled when the adjustable spoiler is extended.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions, execution of which causes a controller to perform the steps of claim 8 .

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jeong Donghyuk

Classifications

• B62D35/007

  Rear spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D37/02 Primary

  by aerodynamic means · CPC title

• G01G19/12

  having electrical weight-sensitive devices · CPC title

• G01G19/4142

  for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems (electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015) · CPC title