Methods and apparatus for adjusting a suspension of a vehicle are described herein. An example apparatus includes a memory storing a plurality of suspension profiles. Each of the suspension profiles includes a stored performance parameter of a vehicle and a suspension setting. The apparatus includes a sensor to detect a driver performance parameter of a driver driving the vehicle. The driver performance parameter represents a behaviour of the driver of the vehicle. The apparatus further includes a processor to compare the driver performance parameter to at least one of the plurality of suspension profiles stored in the memory, and a controller to adjust a suspension of the vehicle according to a first suspension setting of a first suspension profile of the plurality of suspension profiles if the driver performance parameter corresponds to a first stored performance parameter of the first suspension profile.

A shock absorber for a vehicle, the shock absorber having an absorber body with an outer surface, and a movable piston having a first end configured to couple with the vehicle, and a second end disposed within the absorber body. There is a magnet assembly disposed around and external of the movable piston at the second end. The absorber has a sensor assembly having a sensor body coupled with the outer surface. An inner sensor body has a sensor disposed therein configured to detect a change in a linear position of the magnet assembly.

A shock absorber for a vehicle, the shock absorber having an absorber body with an outer surface, and a movable piston having a first end configured to couple with the vehicle, and a second end disposed within the absorber body. There is a magnet assembly disposed around and external of the movable piston at the second end. The absorber has a sensor assembly having a sensor body coupled with the outer surface. An inner sensor body has a sensor disposed therein configured to detect a change in a linear position of the magnet assembly.

A damper interface device (DID) includes a microcontroller including a memory and a processor, at least one algorithm stored to the memory, and a DID connector configured to connect the microcontroller to a vehicle network without having to modify the wiring system of the vehicle. The algorithm is configured to receive network messages from the vehicle network via the DID connector, where the network messages include an input message directed to a suspension controller. The algorithm is executed by the processor to identify the input message as directed to the suspension controller, parse the input message for response requirements, determine contents of a response to the input message, where the contents of the response emulate a response of the suspension controller, and generate a response message including the contents of the response. The microcontroller is configured to output the response message to the vehicle network via the DID connector.

A damper interface device (DID) includes a microcontroller including a memory and a processor, at least one algorithm stored to the memory, and a DID connector configured to connect the microcontroller to a vehicle network without having to modify the wiring system of the vehicle. The algorithm is configured to receive network messages from the vehicle network via the DID connector, where the network messages include an input message directed to a suspension controller. The algorithm is executed by the processor to identify the input message as directed to the suspension controller, parse the input message for response requirements, determine contents of a response to the input message, where the contents of the response emulate a response of the suspension controller, and generate a response message including the contents of the response. The microcontroller is configured to output the response message to the vehicle network via the DID connector.

Methods are provided for proactively controlling a component of a system. The system may comprise a vehicle and the component may comprise a suspension of the vehicle. According to various aspects, methods may include obtaining information regarding a travel surface along a travel path that the system will travel at a future time and, based on the information regarding the travel surface, controlling the component of the system to traverse the travel surface. Controlling the component based on the information regarding the travel surface may comprise comparing the information regarding the travel surface to information regarding at least one physical constraint of the system and/or comparing frequency content of the information regarding the travel surface to a threshold frequency. Proactive control methods may provide improved response to disturbances and improved tracking and isolation because a suspension may be controlled with reduced or substantially zero delay.

A modular electronic damping control system is described and includes a damping component located at a vehicle suspension location. The modular electronic damping control system also includes a control system configured to control the damping component, and determine the type of damping component present. Also, the control system is configured to automatically tune a vehicle's suspension based on the type of damping component present, and automatically monitor the damping component and determine when a change has been made to the damping component so that the control system can then automatically re-tune the vehicle's suspension based on the change to the damping component.

A modular electronic damping control system is described and includes a damping component located at a vehicle suspension location. The modular electronic damping control system also includes a control system configured to control the damping component, and determine the type of damping component present. Also, the control system is configured to automatically tune a vehicle's suspension based on the type of damping component present, and automatically monitor the damping component and determine when a change has been made to the damping component so that the control system can then automatically re-tune the vehicle's suspension based on the change to the damping component.

A system for a vehicle includes a memory storing a stored driver distribution profile of a driver input parameter and a stored suspension setting corresponding to the stored driver distribution profile. The system further includes a sensor to detect a current value of the driver input parameter. The system further includes a processor communicably coupled to the memory and the sensor. The processor is configured to determine a current driver distribution profile of the driver input parameter based on the current value of the driver input parameter. The processor is configured to determine a current suspension setting based on the current driver distribution profile. The processor is configured to adjust the stored suspension setting to generate a stored adjusted suspension setting corresponding to the current suspension setting.

The present invention obtains a controller capable of improving riding comfort of an occupant at the time when a vehicle that has jumped lands on the ground in comparison with the background art.

The controller according to the present invention is a controller that is mounted to a vehicle including a shock absorber in a damping force adjustment type between a vehicle body and a wheel and controls a damping force of the shock absorber. The controller includes: a jump detecting section detecting that the vehicle has jumped; and a control section that executes landing damping force control for restricting the damping force of the shock absorber during compression to be equal to or smaller than a prescribed damping force when the jump detecting section detects a jump of the vehicle.