IP Library Patent Application 12293544
Patent Application
App. No. 12/293,544

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING/REGULATING AN ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED DAMPING SYSTEM IN A CONVERTIBLE MOTOR VEHICLE

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/293,544
Filed
Sep 23, 2009
Examiner
JEN, MINGJEN
Art Unit
3664
USPC
701/37
Abstract

A method is provided for regulating an electronically controlled damping system in a convertible motor vehicle with a vehicle roof that can be transferred into an open position and into a closed position. The damping system includes at least one vibration damper with an electronically controllable actuator for adjusting a damping force of the vibration damper on at least one wheel suspension of the vehicle and a control unit that is functionally connected to the actuator and serves for controlling/regulating the damping force of the controllable vibration damper. The method further includes, but not limited to controlling the damping force of the at least one controllable vibration damper is in at least partial dependence on the position of the vehicle roof.

Claims (29)

1 . A method for regulating controlled damping system having a first vibration damper configured to adjust a damping force of the first vibration damper of a first wheel of a vehicle, the controlled damping system in a convertible motor vehicle with a vehicle roof that can be transferred into a first position and into a second position, comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal that describes whether the vehicle roof has transferred into at least one of the first position and the second position;

evaluating the signal; and

adjusting the damping force of the first vibration damper based at least in part on at least one of the first position and the second position of the vehicle roof determined with the evaluating of the signal.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein signal is a data signal transmitted in a general data bus of the vehicle.

4 . The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein the signal is produced by a sensor configured to determine at least one of the first position and the second position of the vehicle roof.

5 . The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein the signal is produced by a sensor configured to determine a control position of a controller configured to control a movement of the vehicle roof.

6 . The method according to claim 1 ,

further comprising the step of adjusting a damping force of a second vibration damper based at least in part on at least one of the first position and the second position of the vehicle roof determined with the evaluating of the signal.

7 . The method according to claim,

further comprising the steps of:

associating the first vibration damper and the first wheel with a first axle;

associating the second vibration damper and a second wheel with a second axle;

adjusting a relative change of a damping force distribution between the first vibration damper associated with the first axle and the second vibration damper associated with the second axle.

8 . A system configured to adjust a damping force for a first wheel of a vehicle in a convertible motor vehicle with a vehicle roof that can be transferred into a first position and into a second position, comprising:

a sensor configured to generate a signal that describes whether the vehicle roof has transferred into at least one of the first position and the second position;

a control unit configured to receive the signal and generate a control signal for adjusting the damping force based at least in part on at least one of the first position and the second position of the vehicle roof determined with an evaluation of the signal; and

a first vibration damper configured to receive the control signal and adjust the damping force for the first wheel of the vehicle.

9 - 12 . (canceled)

13 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the signal is a data signal present in a general data bus of the vehicle.

14 . The system according to claim 8 , further comprising a second vibration damper configured to receive the control signal and adjust the damping force for a second wheel of the vehicle based at least in part on at least one of the first position and the second position of the vehicle roof determined with the evaluation of the signal.

15 . The system according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a first axle associated with the first vibration damper and the first wheel; and

a second axle associated with the second vibration damper and a second wheel,

wherein a relative change of a damping force distribution is adjusted between the first vibration damper associated with the first axle and the second vibration damper associated with the second axle.

Assignments (11)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0245 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0515 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0046 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0909 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2009
From: BAIER, HILMAR; MAHNEN, JENS VAN
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023722/0039 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0237 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0313 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023126/0914 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0769 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022554/0538 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0448 →