Patent ID: 11970037
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A method for controlling a vertical vibration damping of a wheel of a vehicle, in which the wheel has a suspension, which includes a vibration damper with a control element including an actuating element for adapting a damping characteristic of the vibration damper, and the vehicle includes a first sensor for detecting roadway anomalies in a region of a roadway surface situated ahead in the movement direction of the vehicle, a second sensor for detecting a vertical displacement of the wheel, and a control unit connected to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the control element, the method comprising:
detecting roadway anomalies with the first sensor during movement of the vehicle;
detecting the vertical displacement with the second sensor; and
switching the vibration damper with the control element at a first point in time from a first state with a first damping characteristic into a second state with a second damping characteristic responsive to a first sensor signal generated by the first sensor indicates a roadway anomaly with a minimum height,
wherein a reset of the vibration damper with the control element from the second state into the first state takes place responsive to a second sensor signal generated by the second sensor does not indicate a change of the vertical displacement by at least the minimum height within a detection period starting with the first point in time and/or a speed of the change of the vertical displacement exceeds a minimum speed,
wherein switching the vibration damper into the second state includes:
applying a force requirement to the control element that depends on a classification of the roadway anomaly with respect to a vertical dimension, a gradient of edges of the roadway anomaly, and the speed of the vehicle, or
operating the control element with a skyhook control reduced as compared to a skyhook control in the first state with a reduced force requirement, and
wherein switching the vibration damper into the second state includes determining a plurality of possible force requirements and, from the possible force requirements determined, selecting a minimum force requirement to be applied to the control element.