Air spring distance indicating system and method
View Patent ↗A distance indicating system includes a transmitting portion, a transceiver spaced a distance from the transmitting portion, and a receiving portion supported in spaced relation to the transceiver. The transmitting portion broadcasting a first electromagnetic wave. The transceiver receiving the first electromagnetic wave and transmitting a second electromagnetic wave to the receiving portion. The transceiver is operative to modulate the second electromagnetic wave in relation to an input to communicate a signal, data or information, such as the distance between the transmitting portion and the transceiver, an acceleration input, a pressure level or a temperature reading.
1. An air spring assembly comprising:
a first end member;
a second end member spaced from said first end member;
a flexible spring wall supported between said first and second end members and at least partially forming a fluid chamber therebetween;
a first transceiver supported on said first end member, said first transceiver configured to transmit a first electromagnetic wave and receive a second electromagnetic wave; and,
a second transceiver supported on said second end member at a distance from said first transceiver, said second transceiver configured to receive said first electromagnetic wave and transmit said second electromagnetic wave, a processing device configured to receive an electrical signal having a relation to said distance and modulating a characteristic of said second electromagnetic wave in relation to said electrical signal, and a sensor in electrical communication with said processing device, said sensor operative to output a sensor signal to said processing device indicative of an input acting on one of said second transceiver and said second end member.
2. An air spring assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said modulated characteristic of said second electromagnetic wave is one of amplitude and frequency.
3. An air spring assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said first transceiver includes a transmitting portion supported on said first end member and a receiving portion supported adjacent said first end member.
4. An air spring assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said first transceiver includes a transmitter and said transmitter operates at a frequency of from 30 kHz to 300 MHz.
5. An air spring assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said first transceiver includes a receiver operative to generate an output signal having a relation to said distance.
6. An air spring assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said first transceiver includes a processing device in electrical communication with said receiver, said processing device receiving said output signal and determining said distance based on said output signal.
7. An air spring assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said second transceiver includes a transmitter and said transmitter operates at a frequency of from 300 kHz to 6 GHz.
8. An air spring assembly according to claim 7 , wherein said second transceiver is inductively coupled to said first transceiver, and said second transceiver includes a power circuit in electrical communication operative to collect electrical energy due to said inductive coupling with said first transceiver.
9. An air spring assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor is one of an accelerometer, a thermocouple and a pressure transducer.
10. An air spring assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said processing device is operative to modulate a characteristic of said second electromagnetic wave in relation to said distance and said sensor signal.
11. An air spring assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said processing device includes one of a voltage-to-frequency converter, a microprocessor, a microcontroller or a microcomputer.
12. An air spring assembly comprising:
a first end member;
a second end member spaced from said first end member;
a flexible spring wall supported between said first and second end members and at least partially forming a fluid chamber therebetween;
a first transceiver supported on said first end member, said first transceiver configured to transmit a first electromagnetic wave and receive a second electromagnetic wave; and
a second transceiver supported on said second end member at a distance from said first transceiver, said second transceiver operative to receive said first electromagnetic wave and operative to transmit said second electromagnetic wave, said second transceiver including a processing device configured to receive an electrical signal having a relation to said distance and modulating a characteristic of said second electromagnetic wave in relation to said electrical signal, and an accelerometer in electrical communication with said processing device, said accelerometer operative to output a signal to said processing device indicative of an input acting on one of said second transceiver and said second end member.
13. The air spring assembly according to claim 12 , wherein said modulated characteristic of said second electromagnetic wave is one of amplitude and frequency.
14. An air spring assembly according to claim 12 , wherein said first transceiver includes a transmitting portion supported on said first end member and a receiving portion supported adjacent said first end member.
15. An air spring assembly according to claim 12 , wherein said first transceiver includes a transmitter and said transmitter operates at a frequency of from 30 kHz to 300 MHz.
16. An air spring assembly according to claim 12 , wherein said first transceiver includes a receiver operative to generate an output signal having a relation to said distance.
17. An air spring assembly according to claim 16 , wherein said first transceiver includes a processing device, said processing device receiving said output signal and determining said distance based on said output signal.
18. An air spring assembly according to claim 12 , wherein said second transceiver includes a transmitter and said transmitter operates at a frequency of from 300 kHz to 6 GHz.
19. An air spring assembly according to claim 18 , wherein said second transceiver is inductively coupled to said first transceiver, and said second transceiver includes a power circuit operative to collect electrical energy due to said inductive coupling with said first transceiver.
20. An air spring assembly according to claim 12 , wherein said processing device is operative to modulate a characteristic of said electromagnetic wave in relation to said distance and said accelerometer signal.
21. An air spring assembly according to claim 12 , wherein said processing device includes one of a voltage-to-frequency converter, a microprocessor, a microcontroller or a microcomputer.