IP Library Granted Patent US 12,429,106
Granted Patent B2
US 12,429,106 · App. 17/944,118 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Wireless active suspension system with at least one wireless sensor coupled with at least one unsprung mass

Inventors: Everet Owen Ericksen (Woodland, CA); Mike Fraguglia (Santa Cruz, CA); Evan Peterson (Santa Cruz, CA); James T. Pickett (Santa Cruz, CA); Evan Power (Burnaby, CA)
Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
F16F9/5126B62K25/286F16F9/3292B62K2025/044F16F2230/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,429,106
App. No.
17/944,118
Granted
Sep 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wireless active suspension system with at least one wireless sensor coupled with at least one unsprung mass of a vehicle is disclosed. The system also includes at least one damper comprising an active valve, the damper being part of a vehicle suspension. The system additionally includes, at least one controller, the at least one controller in wireless communication with the at least one wireless sensor and the at least one damper, wherein the at least one controller receives the sensor data from the at least one wireless sensor and communicates an adjustment command to the active valve to modify a damping characteristic of the at least one damper.

Claims (34)

1. A wireless active suspension system comprising:

at least one wireless sensor coupled with an unsprung mass of a vehicle;

at least one damper comprising an active valve, the at least one damper being part of a vehicle suspension; and

at least one controller, said at least one controller in wireless communication with said at least one wireless sensor, said at least one controller in communication with said at least one damper, wherein said at least one controller receives sensor data from said at least one wireless sensor and communicates an adjustment command to said active valve to modify a damping characteristic of said at least one damper, wherein said unsprung mass is a brake caliper mount, wherein said at least one controller is configured to communicate with at least one other controller or a smart device, wherein said at least one wireless sensor is coupled with said brake caliper mount with an attachment component for a brake caliper or a swing arm, said brake caliper mount selected from the group consisting of: a front brake caliper mount and a rear brake caliper mount, said adjustment command provided to said active valve to modify a damping characteristic of said at least one damper upon said at least one wireless sensor detecting an event which would be felt by a user of said vehicle, wherein said damping characteristic is modified in a time period such that said event is absorbed by said at least one damper before said event would be felt by said used of said vehicle.

2. The wireless active suspension system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least a second wireless sensor coupled with a second unsprung mass of said vehicle, said second unsprung mass being different from said unsprung mass.

3. The wireless active suspension system of claim 2 , wherein said unsprung mass is a front brake caliper mount and said second unsprung mass is a rear brake caliper mount.

4. The wireless active suspension system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one controller is coupled with the unsprung mass of the vehicle.

5. The wireless active suspension system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one other controller is selected from a group consisting of: a front suspension controller, a rear suspension controller, a seatpost controller, a switch controller, or a controller of another vehicle.

6. A wireless active suspension system comprising:

at least one wireless sensor coupled with a brake caliper mount of a vehicle;

at least one damper comprising an active valve, the at least one damper being part of a vehicle suspension; and

at least one controller, said at least one controller in wireless communication with said at least one wireless sensor, said at least one controller in communication with said at least one damper, wherein said at least one controller receives sensor data from said at least one wireless sensor and communicates an adjustment command to said active valve to modify a damping characteristic of said at least one damper, wherein said at least one controller is configured to communicate with at least one other controller or a smart device, wherein said brake caliper mount is selected from the group consisting of: a front brake caliper mount and a rear brake caliper mount, said adjustment command provided to said active valve to modify a damping characteristic of said at least one damper upon said at least one wireless sensor detecting an event which would be felt by a user of said vehicle, wherein said damping characteristic is modified in a time period such that said event is absorbed by said at least one damper before said event would be felt by said used of said vehicle.

7. The wireless active suspension system of claim 6 , wherein said at least one wireless sensor is coupled with said brake caliper mount via an attachment component for a brake caliper.

8. The wireless active suspension system of claim 6 , further comprising:

at least a second wireless sensor coupled with a second brake caliper mount of said vehicle, said second brake caliper mount located separate from said brake caliper mount.

9. The wireless active suspension system of claim 8 , wherein said brake caliper mount is a front brake caliper mount and said second brake caliper mount is a rear brake caliper mount.

10. A method comprising:

coupling at least one wireless sensor with an unsprung mass of a vehicle;

coupling at least one damper with said vehicle, said at least one damper comprising an active valve; and

providing at least one controller in wireless communication with said at least one wireless sensor and said at least one damper, said at least one controller:

receiving sensor data from said at least one wireless sensor;

evaluating said sensor data to determine at least one damping adjustment for said at least one damper; and

communicating an adjustment command comprising said at least one damping adjustment to said active valve to modify a damping characteristic of said at least one damper, wherein said unsprung mass is a brake caliper mount, wherein said at least one controller is configured to communicate with at least one other controller or a smart device, said brake caliper mount selected from the group consisting of: a front brake caliper mount and a rear brake caliper mount, said adjustment command provided to said active valve to modify a damping characteristic of said at least one damper upon said at least one wireless sensor detecting an event which would be felt by a user of said vehicle, wherein said damping characteristic is modified in a time period such that said event is absorbed by said at least one damper before said event would be felt by said used of said vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

utilizing an attachment component for a brake caliper to couple said wireless sensor with said brake caliper mount.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

coupling at least a second wireless sensor with a second unsprung mass of said vehicle, said second unsprung mass being different from said unsprung mass.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said unsprung mass is a front brake caliper mount and said second unsprung mass is a rear brake caliper mount.

14. A vehicle suspension system comprising:

one or more sensors;

one or more dampers comprising an active valve, said one or more dampers being part of a vehicle suspension; and

one or more controllers in communication with said one or more sensors, wherein said one or more controllers are configured to receive sensor data from said one or more sensors and communicate an adjustment command to said active valve to modify a damping characteristic of said one or more dampers, wherein at least one of said one or more sensors and said one or more controllers is coupled with an unsprung mass of the vehicle, said unsprung mass comprised of a brake caliper mount, wherein said one or more controllers are configured to communicate with a smart device, said brake caliper mount selected from the group consisting of: a front brake caliper mount and a rear brake caliper mount, and wherein said one or more controllers are configured to communicate with at least one other controller, said adjustment command provided to said active valve to modify a damping characteristic of said at least one damper upon said at least one wireless sensor detecting an event which would be felt by a user of said vehicle, wherein said damping characteristic is modified in a time period such that said event is absorbed by said at least one damper before said event would be felt by said used of said vehicle.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one other controller is selected from a group consisting of: a front suspension controller, a rear suspension controller, a seatpost controller, a switch controller, or a controller of another vehicle.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63244126 · Sep 14, 2021
Related Publication 20230081873A1 · Mar 16, 2023
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