METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A SEAT SUSPENSION SYSTEM
A method and apparatus for an adaptive, multi-axis suspension system providing both coarse and fine suspension for a passenger seat. Coarse suspension control is provided to maintain the passenger seat and passenger within a selected position regardless of the weight of the passenger seat and the passenger. Fine suspension control is provided by monitoring and analyzing vibration characteristics in time and/or frequency domains to determine a variable amount of damper resistance to be exerted by a magnetorheological (MR) device. A nominal damper resistance of the MR device is selected based on the combined weight of the passenger seat and the passenger.
1 . A seat suspension system, comprising:
a payload;
a first pneumatic device; and
a first damper having a damper resistance based, at least in part, on first information indicative of a weight of the payload.
2 . The seat suspension system of claim 1 , further comprising a weight sensor operable to provide the first information.
3 . The seat suspension system of claim 1 , further comprising a rheostat operable to provide the first information.
4 . The seat suspension system of claim 1 , wherein an inflation level of the first pneumatic device is based on a commanded position of the payload.
5 . The seat suspension system of claim 1 , wherein an inflation level of the first pneumatic device is based on a commanded position of the payload and the commanded position is substantially maintained regardless of a weight of the payload.
6 . The seat suspension system of claim 1 , further comprising a second pneumatic device, wherein an inflation level of the first and second pneumatic devices is based on a commanded position of the payload.
7 . The seat suspension system of claim 1 , further comprising a second damper having a damper resistance based, at least in part, on the first information.
8 . The seat suspension system of claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer operable to detect acceleration of the payload, wherein the damper resistance is based, at least in part, on the first information and the detected acceleration.
9 . The seat suspension system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an accelerometer operable to detect acceleration of the payload; and
a second damper, wherein the damper resistance of the first and second dampers is based, at least in part, on the first information and the detected acceleration.
10 . A method, comprising:
pneumatically adjusting a position of a passenger seat;
generating a signal indicative of the weight of the passenger seat;
detecting an acceleration of the passenger seat; and
selecting a variable magnitude of damper resistance of a damper based on the detected acceleration, wherein a nominal magnitude of damper resistance is selected based on the signal.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a vertical position of the passenger seat is adjusted.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a reclined position of the passenger seat is adjusted.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a vertical position of the passenger seat is adjusted and the adjusted vertical position of the passenger seat is maintained regardless of the weight of the passenger seat.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a reclined position of the passenger seat is adjusted and the adjusted reclined position of the passenger seat is maintained regardless of the weight of the passenger seat.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the variable magnitude of damper resistance is based on a time-domain analysis of the detected acceleration.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the variable magnitude of damper resistance is based on a frequency-domain analysis of the detected acceleration.
17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjusted position is substantially horizontal with respect to a mounting platform of the passenger seat.
18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjusted position is not substantially horizontal with respect to a mounting platform of the passenger seat.
19 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the signal is generated by a rheostat.
20 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the signal is generated by a weight sensing device.