Method and system for controlling a dual mode vehicle suspension system

1. A method for controlling a suspension system of a vehicle having a plurality of wheels including left and right front wheels and left and right rear wheels, the suspension system switchable between two modes of operation, including a first mode for when the vehicle is experiencing an on-road driving condition and a second mode for when the vehicle is experiencing an off-road driving condition, the method comprising:

sensing a speed of the vehicle and generating a vehicle speed signal;

detecting an off-road driving condition including

sensing a front displacement for each of the front wheels;

sensing a rear displacement for each of the rear wheels;

determining whether the front displacements of the front wheels are out of phase with the rear displacements of the rear wheels; and

detecting the off-road driving condition based on the front displacements being out of phase with the rear displacements;

comparing the vehicle speed signal to a predetermined speed threshold; and

controlling the suspension system to switch to the second mode of operation upon detecting the off-road driving condition and the vehicle speed signal being less than the predetermined speed threshold.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein controlling the suspension system to switch to the second mode of operation further comprises determining if the off-road driving condition occurs for more than a predetermined amount of time.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein detecting the off-road driving condition based on the front and rear displacements of the front and rear wheels, respectively, further comprises:

determining a front relative displacement between the front displacements;

determining a rear reactive displacement between the rear displacements;

determining if the front relative displacement and the rear relative displacement exceeds a predetermined displacement threshold; and

upon determining that the front rear relative displacements exceed the predetermined threshold, then detecting the off-road driving condition based on the front displacements being out of phase with the rear displacements.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

sensing a predetermined event; and

controlling the suspension system to switch to the first mode of operation upon detecting the predetermined event.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the predetermined event is ignition off.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the predetermined event occurs when the vehicle speed signal exceeds the predetermined speed threshold.

7. A system for controlling a suspension system of a vehicle having a plurality of wheels including left and right front wheels and left and right rear wheels, the suspension system switchable between two modes of operation, including a first mode for when the vehicle is experiencing an on-road driving condition and a second mode for when the vehicle is experiencing an off-road driving condition, the system comprising:

a vehicle speed sensor for sensing a speed of the vehicle and generating a vehicle speed signal;

a height sensor coupled to each of the wheels for sensing a front displacement of each of the front wheels and a rear displacement for each of the rear wheels; and

a controller coupled to the height sensors operative to:

detect an off-road driving condition by determining whether the front displacements of the front wheels are out of phase with the rear displacements of the rear wheels and detecting the off-road driving condition based the front displacements being out of phase with the rear displacements,

compare the vehicle speed signal to a predetermined speed threshold, and

control the suspension system to switch to the second mode of operation upon detecting the off-road driving condition and the vehicle speed signal being less than the predetermined speed threshold.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein the controller, in controlling the suspension system to switch to the second mode of operation, is further operative to determine if the off-road driving condition occurs for more than a predetermined amount of time.

9. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein the controller, in detecting the off-road driving condition based on the front and rear displacements of the front and rear wheels, respectively, is further operative to:

determine a front relative displacement between the front displacements;

determine a rear relative displacement between the rear displacements;

determine if the front relative displacement and the rear relative displacement exceeds a predetermined displacement threshold; and

the controller upon determining that the front and rear relative displacements exceed the predetermined threshold, then detecting the off-road driving condition upon determining that the front displacements are out of phase with the rear displacements.

10. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein the controller is further operative to:

sense a predetermined event; and

control the suspension system to switch to the first mode of operation upon detecting the predetermined event.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein the predetermined event is ignition off.

12. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein predetermined event occurs when the vehicle speed signal exceeds the predetermined speed threshold.