Patent ID: 7287760
Filing Date: 2007-10-30
Classification: B60G

Abstract:
1. A control system for an associated suspension system of an associated vehicle, the associated suspension system including an associated fluid spring operating at an associated fluid pressure and an associated variable-rate damper having an associated electronically-variable damping rate, the associated fluid spring having an associated overall pressure range within which substantially all operation of the associated fluid spring occurs and which includes the associated fluid pressure, the associated damper having an associated overall damping rate range within which substantially all operation of the associated variable-rate damper occurs and which includes the associated damping rate, said control system comprising: a pressure sensor operative to generate a pressure sensor signal indicative of the associated fluid pressure of the associated fluid spring; and, a controller in communication with said pressure sensor and the associated variable-rate damper, said controller including a memory storing first through sixth damping rates having values within the associated overall damping rate range, and said memory storing a plurality of pressure ranges that together include substantially all of the associated overall pressure range with each of said plurality of pressure ranges being stored in said memory in respective association with one of said first through sixth damping rates; and, said controller is being operative to receive said pressure sensor signal, identify said one of said first through sixth damping rates based at least in part on said pressure sensor signal by determining which one of said plurality of pressure ranges the associated fluid pressure falls within, and generate a damper adjustment signal corresponding to said identified one of said first through sixth damping rates for adjusting the associated electronically-variable damping rate of the associated variable-rate damper.