Adjustable vehicle suspension system

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to improved suspension for a vehicle and in particular to systems and methods of damping and/or rebound control for shock absorbers.

Currently some off-road vehicles include adjustable shock absorbers. These adjustments include spring preload, high and low speed compression damping and/or rebound damping. In order to make these adjustments, the vehicle is stopped and the operator makes an adjustment at each shock absorber location on the vehicle. A tool is often required for the adjustment. Some on-road automobiles also include adjustable electric shocks along with sensors for active ride control systems. The system of the present disclosure allows an operator to make real time “on-the-go” adjustments to the shocks to obtain the most comfortable ride for given terrain and payload scenarios.

Exemplary systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,010,768 and US Published Patent Application No. 2016/0059660, both assigned to the present assignee and the entire disclosures of each expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Vehicles often have springs (coil, leaf, or air) at each wheel, track, or ski to support a majority of the load. The vehicle of the present disclosure also has electronic shocks controlling the dynamic movement of each wheel, ski, or track. The electronic shocks have one or more valves that control the damping force of each shock. This valve may control compression damping only, rebound damping only, or a combination of compression and rebound damping. The valve(s) may be connected to a controller having a user interface that is within the driver's reach for adjustment while operating the vehicle.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of controlling a damping characteristic of an adjustable shock absorber of a vehicle being operated by a driver, the driver steering the vehicle by holding a steering device with the hands of the driver, is provided. The method comprising the steps of (a) electronically controlling with at least one controller the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on a plurality of inputs from a plurality of sensors supported by the vehicle at a first time; (b) receiving at a second time subsequent to the first time a driver initiated request to alter the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber through an driver actuatable input; (c) altering with the at least one controller, at a third time subsequent to the second time, the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on the received driver initiated request; and (d) automatically altering with the at least one controller, at a fourth time subsequent to the third time, the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.

In an example thereof, the vehicle maintains a ground speed of greater than zero from the first time through the fourth time. In another example thereof, the damping characteristic at the fourth time is based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors supported by the vehicle at the fourth time.

In yet another example thereof, step (c) of the method includes the steps of deviating a stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber relative to the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber at the first time; and at a fifth time between the third time and the fourth time, altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber towards a current determined damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors. In a variation thereof, the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber is held at a deviated level between the third time and the fifth time. In another variation thereof, the step of altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber at the fifth time includes the step of linearly altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber from the deviated level to the current determined damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors. In yet another variation thereof, the step of altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber at the fifth time includes the step of linearly altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber to the current determined damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.

In yet another example, the vehicle includes a plurality of ground engaging members; a frame coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members through a plurality of suspensions, a first ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members being coupled to the frame through a first suspension, the first suspension including a first adjustable shock absorber of the at least one adjustable shock absorber, a second ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members being coupled to the frame through a second suspension, the second suspension including a second adjustable shock absorber of the at least one adjustable shock absorber, and a third ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members being coupled to the frame through a third suspension, the third suspension including a third adjustable shock absorber of the at least one adjustable shock absorber; and a driver seat supported by the frame and having a seating surface positioned rearward of the steering device, the first adjustable shock absorber and the second adjustable shock absorber being positioned forward of the steering device and the third adjustable shock absorber being positioned rearward of the steering device, wherein in step (c) the damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber and the damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber are altered. In a variation thereof, step (c) of the method includes the steps of deviating a stiffness of the damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber relative to the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber at the first time and deviating a stiffness of the damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber relative to the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber at the first time; and at a fifth time between the third time and the fourth time, altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber towards a current determined damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors and altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber towards a current determined damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.

In still another example, step (c) of the method includes the steps of deviating a stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber relative to the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber at the first time; and at a fifth time between the third time and the fourth time, altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber, wherein the fifth time is a predetermined time delay period from the third time. In a variation thereof, the step of altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber includes altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber towards a current determined damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors. In a further variation thereof, the driver initiated request corresponds to an actuation of the driver actuatable input from a first configuration to a second configuration and the method further comprises the step of initiating the predetermined time delay period upon the actuation of the driver actuatable input to the second configuration. In yet another variation thereof, the driver initiated request corresponds to an actuation of the driver actuatable input from a first configuration to a second configuration and the method further comprises the step of initiating the predetermined time delay period upon a detection of the driver actuatable input returning towards the first configuration. In yet still another variation, the driver initiated request corresponds to an actuation of the driver actuatable input from a first configuration to a second configuration and the method further comprises the steps of initiating the predetermined time delay period upon one of the actuation of the driver actuatable input to the second configuration and a detection of the driver actuatable input returning towards the first configuration; receiving at a sixth time subsequent to the third time and prior to the fifth time, a second driver initiated request to alter the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber through the driver actuatable input; and delaying the fifth time by resetting the predetermined time delay based on the second driver initiated request. In still a further variation, the driver actuatable input is a brake pedal and the step of receiving at the second time subsequent to the first time the driver initiated request includes the step of detecting a tapping of the brake pedal.

In yet still another example, the driver actuatable input is actuatable by the driver in the absence of requiring a removal of either of the hands of the driver from the steering device. In a variation thereof, step (c) of the method includes the steps of increasing a stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber relative to the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber at the first time; and at a fifth time between the third time and the fourth time, reducing the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber towards a current determined damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors. In a further variation, the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber is held at a constant level between the third time and the fifth time. In still a further variation, the step of reducing the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber at the fifth time includes the step of linearly reducing the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber from the constant level to the current determined damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle for operation by a driver is provided. The vehicle comprising a plurality of ground engaging members; a plurality of suspensions supported by the plurality of ground engaging members, the plurality of suspensions including a plurality of adjustable shock absorbers; a frame coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members through the plurality of suspensions, a first ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members being coupled to the frame through a first suspension, the first suspension including a first adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers, a second ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members being coupled to the frame through a second suspension, the second suspension including a second adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers, and a third ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members being coupled to the frame through a third suspension, the third suspension including a third adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers; a steering system supported by the frame and including a steering device operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members to steer the vehicle; a driver actuatable input which is positioned to be actuatable by the driver; a driver seat supported by the frame and having a seating surface positioned rearward of the steering device, the first adjustable shock absorber and the second adjustable shock absorber being positioned forward of the steering device and the third adjustable shock absorber being positioned rearward of the steering device; a plurality of sensors supported by the plurality of ground engaging members; and at least one controller operatively coupled to the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers and the plurality of sensors. The at least one controller configured to (a) determine a damping characteristic of at least one of plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on a plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors; (b) receive a driver initiated request to alter the damping characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers from the driver actuatable input; (c) alter the damping characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers in response to the received driver initiated request for a first period of time, and (d) subsequent to (c), automatically alter the damping characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers again based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors at an expiration of the first period of time.

In an example thereof, the driver actuatable input is supported by the steering device. In a variation thereof, the steering device further supports a suspension damping ride mode configuration driver actuatable input.

In another example, the steering device is a steering wheel. In still another example, the steering device is a handlebar.

In still a further example, the driver actuatable input is positioned lower than the steering device. In a variation thereof, the driver actuatable input is a foot actuatable input device. In a further variation thereof, the foot actuatable input is a brake pedal.

In still yet a further example, a driver engageable surface of the driver actuatable input is positioned lower than the seating surface of the driver seat. In a variation thereof, the driver actuatable input is a foot actuatable input device. In a further variation thereof, the foot actuatable input is a brake pedal.

In still another example, the at least one controller permits the vehicle to have a ground speed of greater than zero while the at least one controller executes (a) through (d).

In a further still example, the at least one controller in (c) deviates a stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers for a first portion of the first time period and subsequently alters the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers fora second portion of the first time period. In a variation thereof, the at least one controller holds the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers at a deviated level during the first portion of the first time period. In another variation thereof, the at least one controller linearly alters the stiffness of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers during the second portion of the first time period.

In yet a further still example, the at least one adjustable shock absorber of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers includes the first adjustable shock absorber and the second adjustable shock absorber. In a variation thereof, the at least one controller in (c) deviates the damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber and the damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber for a first portion of the first time period and subsequently alters the damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber and the damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber for a second portion of the first time period. In a further variation thereof, the damping characteristic of the first adjustable shock absorber and the damping characteristic of the second adjustable shock absorber is altered linearly during the second portion of the first time period.

In yet a still further example, the driver actuatable input which is positioned to be actuatable by the driver in the absence of requiring a removal of either of the hands of the driver from the steering device.

Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many additional features of the present system and method will become more readily appreciated and become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a representative view of components of a vehicle of the present disclosure having a suspension with a plurality of adjustable shock absorbers and a plurality of sensors;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary power system of the vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a front, left perspective view of an exemplary side-by-side vehicle;

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear right perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a left side view of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of the vehicle frame and suspensions of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 illustrates a partial rear view of the operator space of the vehicle of FIG. 3 illustrating a foot actuated accelerator pedal and a foot actuated brake pedal;

FIG. 9A illustrates an exemplary steering wheel of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary control system for the suspension of FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary processing sequence of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12A illustrates an exemplary timing diagram for a driver actuatable input of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12B illustrates an exemplary timing diagram for a damping level of an adjustable shock absorber of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 13A illustrates another exemplary timing diagram for a driver actuatable input of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 13B illustrates another exemplary timing diagram for a damping level of an adjustable shock absorber of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 14A illustrates a further exemplary timing diagram for a driver actuatable input of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 14B illustrates a further exemplary timing diagram for a damping level of an adjustable shock absorber of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 15A illustrates yet a further exemplary timing diagram for a driver actuatable input of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 15B illustrates yet a further exemplary timing diagram for a damping level of an adjustable shock absorber of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 16A illustrates an exemplary timing diagram of an occurrence of a vehicle condition modifier event for the suspension of the vehicle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 16B illustrates still a further exemplary timing diagram for a driver actuatable input of the vehicle of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 16C illustrates still a further exemplary timing diagram for a damping level of an adjustable shock absorber of the vehicle of FIG. 3.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of various features and components according to the present disclosure, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which are described below. The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the present disclosure relates to a vehicle 100 having a suspension system 102 located between a plurality of ground engaging members 104 and a vehicle frame 106. Exemplary ground engaging members 104 include wheels, skis, guide tracks, treads or other suitable devices for supporting the vehicle relative to the ground. The suspension typically includes springs 108 and adjustable shock absorbers 110 coupled between the ground engaging members 104 and the frame 106. Springs 108 may include, for example, coil springs, leaf springs, air springs or other gas springs. Exemplary air or gas springs 108 may be adjustable. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,950,486, assigned to the current assignee, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Adjustable shock absorbers 110 are often coupled between the vehicle frame 106 and the ground engaging members 104 through an A-arm linkage or other type linkage. Springs 108 are also coupled between the ground engaging members 104 and the vehicle frame 106.

In one embodiment, adjustable shock absorbers 110 include a damping control activator which is coupled to controller 120 by wires. An exemplary damping control activator is an electronically controlled valve which is activated to increase or decrease the damping characteristics of adjustable shock absorber 110.

In one embodiment, each adjustable shock absorber 110 includes solenoid valves mounted at the base of the shock body or internal to a damper piston of the adjustable shock absorber 110. The stiffness of adjustable shock absorber 110 is increased or decreased by introducing additional fluid to the interior of the shock absorber, removing fluid from the interior of the shock absorber, and/or increasing or decreasing the ease with which fluid can pass from a first side of a damping piston of the shock absorber to a second side of the damping piston of the shock absorber.

In another embodiment, adjustable shock absorber 110 includes a magnetorheological fluid internal to adjustable shock absorber 110. The stiffness of the shock is increased or decreased by altering a magnetic field experienced by the magnetorheological fluid. Additional details on exemplary adjustable shocks are provided in US Published Patent Application No. 2016/0059660, filed Nov. 6, 2015, titled VEHICLE HAVING SUSPENSION WITH CONTINUOUS DAMPING CONTROL, assigned to the present assignee, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

In one embodiment, a spring 108 and a shock 110 are located adjacent each of the ground engaging members 104. In an ATV, for example, a spring 108 and an adjustable shock 110 are provided adjacent each of the four ground engaging members 104 of the ATV. Some manufacturers offer adjustable springs 108 in the form of either air springs or hydraulic preload rings. These adjustable springs 108 allow the operator to adjust the ride height on the go. However, a majority of ride comfort comes from the damping provided by adjustable shock absorbers 110.

In one embodiment, adjustable shocks 110 are electrically controlled shocks for adjusting damping characteristics of shocks 110. A controller 120 provides signals to adjust damping of adjustable shocks 110 in a continuous or dynamic manner. Adjustable shocks 110 may be adjusted to provide differing compression damping, rebound damping or both.

In one embodiment, controller 120 is microprocessor-based and includes processing instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, such as memory 170, which are executable by the microprocessor of controller 120 to control operation of suspension system 102. The term “logic” as used herein includes software and/or firmware executing on one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field-programmable gate arrays, digital signal processors, hardwired logic, or combinations thereof. Therefore, in accordance with the embodiments, various logic may be implemented in any appropriate fashion and would remain in accordance with the embodiments herein disclosed. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising logic can additionally be considered to be embodied within any tangible form of a computer-readable carrier, such as solid-state memory, magnetic disk, and optical disk containing an appropriate set of computer instructions and data structures that would cause a processor to carry out the techniques described herein. This disclosure contemplates other embodiments in which controller 120 is not microprocessor-based, but rather is configured to control operation of suspension system 102 based on one or more sets of hardwired instructions and/or software instructions stored in memory 170. Further, controller 120 may be contained within a single device or be a plurality of devices networked together, as illustrated in FIG. 1, to provide the functionality described herein.

Vehicle 100 includes a user interface 122 including a plurality of input devices 124 and a plurality of output devices 126. Input devices 124 are actuatable by a driver of vehicle 100 to provide a driver initiated request to controller 120. Output devices 126 provide feedback to the driver of the operational characteristics of vehicle 100.

Exemplary input devices include levers, buttons, switches, soft keys, touch screens, dials, and other suitable devices which are actuatable by the driver. Input devices 124 provide the driver to communicate various driver initiated requests to controller 120. For example, a driver may communicate a driver initiated request to alter a damping characteristic of one or more of adjustable shocks 110. Further, a driver may communicate a driver initiated request to select a ride mode which alters a baseline setup, such as a damping profile, for suspension system 102 and potentially one or more additional systems of vehicle 100, such as steering system 114 and power system 116. Additional details regarding exemplary ride modes and input devices to initiate each are provided in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/424,285, filed Nov. 18, 2016, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/377,640, filed Dec. 13, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

In one embodiment, one or more input devices 24 are supported by a steering control of steering system 114. Exemplary steering controls include handlebars, a steering wheel, and other suitable devices held and actuatable by the driver to provide an input on a desired steering angle of vehicle 100.

In one embodiment, a driver actuatable device of vehicle 100 may be dual purpose device. For example, a brake pedal is actuatable by a foot of the driver to provide an input to a braking system 112 of vehicle 100 to brake one or more of ground engaging members 104. The brake pedal may further be used as an input device to signal to controller 120 a driver initiated request regarding a damping characteristic of adjustable shocks 110. As an example, a driver may momentarily depress the brake pedal partway, commonly known as tapping the brakes, and controller 120 interprets that action as a driver initiated request to deviate a damping characteristic of one or more of adjustable shocks 110. In one example, the damping characteristic is deviated by increasing a damping characteristic of one or more adjustable shocks. In another example, the damping characteristic is deviated by decreasing a damping characteristic of one or more adjustable shocks. Exemplary damping characteristics include compression damping amount, rebound damping amount, or both compression damping amount and rebound damping amount.

Exemplary output devices 126 include gauges, lights, displays, touch screens, audio devices, tactile devices, and other suitable devices which provide feedback information to the driver of the operational characteristics of vehicle 100. Exemplary output devices are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/424,285, filed Nov. 18, 2016, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/377,640, filed Dec. 13, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

In one embodiment, a portion of input devices 124 and output devices are part of an integrated dashboard display of vehicle 100 and a portion of input devices 124 are provided on a steering control of steering systems 114 and/or as foot actuated input devices actuatable by the driver of vehicle 100. Additional details regarding exemplary displays are provided in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/424,285, filed Nov. 18, 2016, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/377,640, filed Dec. 13, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Referring to the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, power system 116 of vehicle 100 includes a prime mover 130. Exemplary prime movers 130 include internal combustion engines, two stroke internal combustion engines, four stroke internal combustion engines, diesel engines, electric motors, hybrid engines, and other suitable sources of motive force. To start the prime mover 130, a power supply system 132 is provided. The type of power supply system 132 depends on the type of prime mover 130 included in vehicle 100. In one embodiment, prime mover 130 is an internal combustion engine and power supply system 132 is one of a pull start system and an electric start system. In one embodiment, prime mover 130 is an electric motor and power supply system 132 is a switch system which electrically couples one or more batteries to the electric motor.

A transmission 134 is coupled to prime mover 130. Transmission 134 converts a rotational speed of an output shaft 136 of prime mover 130 to one of a faster rotational speed or a slower rotational speed of an output shaft 138 of transmission 134. It is contemplated that transmission 134 may additionally rotate output shaft 138 at the same speed as output shaft 136.

In the illustrated embodiment, transmission 134 includes a shiftable transmission 140 and a continuously variable transmission (“CVT”) 142. In one example, an input member of CVT 142 is coupled to output shaft 136 of prime mover 130. An input member of shiftable transmission 140 is in turn coupled to an output member of CVT 142. In one embodiment, shiftable transmission 140 includes a forward high setting, a forward low setting, a neutral setting, a park setting, and a reverse setting. The power communicated from prime mover 130 to CVT 142 is provided to a drive member of CVT 142. The drive member in turn provides power to a driven member through a belt or other member. Exemplary CVTs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,861,229; 6,176,796; 6,120,399; 6,860,826; and 6,938,508, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. The driven member provides power to an input shaft of shiftable transmission 140. Although transmission 134 is illustrated as including both shiftable transmission 140 and CVT 142, transmission 134 may include only one of shiftable transmission 140 and CVT 142. Further, transmission 134 may include one or more additional components.

Transmission 134 is further coupled to at least one final drive 150 which is in turn coupled to at least one of ground engaging members 104. Exemplary final drives include gear reduction units, differentials, and other suitable units for coupling transmission 134 to ground engaging members 104. Final drive 150 may communicate the power from transmission 134 to one of ground engaging members 104 or multiple ground engaging members 104. In an ATV embodiment, one or both of a front differential and a rear differential are provided. The front differential powering at least one of two front wheels of the ATV and the rear differential powering at least one of two rear wheels of the ATV. In a side-by-side vehicle embodiment having seating for at least an operator and a passenger in a side-by-side configuration, such as vehicle 200 illustrated in FIGS. 3-9, one or both of a front differential and a rear differential are provided. The front differential powering at least one of two front wheels of the side-by-side vehicle 200 and the rear differential powering at least one of multiple rear wheels of the side-by-side vehicle 200. In one example, the side-by-side vehicle has three axles and a differential is provided for each axle.

In one embodiment, braking system 112 may be coupled to any of prime mover 130, transmission 134, final drive 150, and ground engaging members 104 or the connecting drive members therebetween. Braking system 112 includes a brake sensor 162 which, in one example, monitors when braking system 112 is applied. In one example, brake sensor 162 monitors when a driver actuatable brake input, such as brake pedal 262 (see FIG. 9) in vehicle 200, is applied. In one embodiment, braking system 112 includes anti-lock brakes. In one embodiment, braking system 112 includes active descent control and/or engine braking. In one embodiment, braking system 112 includes a brake and in some embodiments a separate parking brake.

Referring to FIGS. 3-9. An exemplary vehicle 100, a side-by-side vehicle 200, is illustrated. Additional details regarding vehicle 200 are provided in US Published Patent Application No. US 2015-0259011 A1, filed Apr. 9, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Vehicle 200 generally comprises a frame 202 (FIG. 5) supported by a plurality of ground engaging members 204. As shown in this disclosure, ground engaging members 204 are wheels and tires. Vehicle 10 further comprises a drive train 206 (FIG. 5) supported by frame 202 and drivingly connected to one or more of the ground engaging members 204. In the present disclosure, the drivetrain 206 is comprised of a fuel-burning internal combustion engine and transmission combination, together with at least one driveshaft extending between drivetrain 206 and both of the ground engaging members 204 of a front set 208 of ground engaging members and a rear set 210 of ground engaging members 204.

Referring to FIG. 8, each of ground engaging members 204 of front set 208 are coupled to frame 202 through respective front suspensions 212 and each of ground engaging members 204 of rear set 208 are coupled to frame 202 through respective rear suspensions 214. Front suspensions 212 are double control arm type suspensions, such as a double A-arm suspension, having an upper control arm 216 (see FIG. 7) and a lower control arm 218 (see FIG. 7). Front suspensions 212 each also include a shock absorber 220. Rear suspensions 214 are trailing arm type suspensions generally comprised of rear trailing arms 222 and control arms 224. Rear suspensions 214 each also include a shock absorber 226. In one embodiment, each of front shock absorbers 220 and rear shock absorbers 226 are adjustable shock absorbers 110. Additional details regarding exemplary drivetrains, front suspensions, and rear suspensions are provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,827,028, 7,819,220, 8,746,719, and US Published Patent Application No. US 2015-0259011 A1, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

As shown in FIGS. 3-7, vehicle 200 further includes a body portion or chassis shown generally at 230 to include a hood 232, front fender 234, dash 236, sideboard 238, front floorboard 240, rear sideboard 242 and rear cargo area 244. As also shown, vehicle 200 is comprised of operator or seating area 250, having a driver seat 252 and a passenger seat 254. As shown best in FIG. 5, driver seat 252 includes a seat back 256 and a seat bottom 258.

Referring to FIG. 9, vehicle 200 further includes a plurality of operator controls including a foot actuated accelerator pedal 260, a foot actuated brake pedal 262, a transmission gear selector 264, a plurality of dash supported switches 266, and a steering wheel 268. Steering wheel 268 is gripped by the hands of the driver generally in areas 270 and 272 and is rotated to alter a steering direction of vehicle 200. Accelerator pedal 260 is operatively coupled to power system 116 and is depressed by the foot of the driver to increase a driving speed of vehicle 200. Brake pedal 262 is operatively coupled to braking system 112 and a pedal face of brake pedal 262 is depressed by the foot of the driver to decrease a driving speed of vehicle 200. Transmission gear selector 264 is operatively coupled to shiftable transmission 140 and is moveable by a hand of the driver to select a gear of shiftable transmission 140. Dash supported switches 266 may be used to specify a ride mode of vehicle 200. Based on the state of switches 266, controller 120 configures suspension system 102 to have the selected ride mode damping profile.

Returning to FIG. 1, controller 120 receives user inputs from operator interface 122 and adjusts the damping characteristics of adjustable shock absorbers 110 accordingly. The operator may independently adjust front and rear adjustable shock absorbers 110 to adjust the ride characteristics of vehicle 100. In certain embodiments, each of adjustable shock absorbers 110 is independently adjustable so that the damping characteristics of adjustable shock absorbers 110 are changed from one side of the vehicle to another and/or from the front of vehicle 100 to the back of vehicle 100. Side-to-side adjustment is desirable during sharp turns or other maneuvers in which different damping profiles for adjustable shock absorbers 110 on opposite sides of the vehicle improves the handling characteristics of the vehicle. Front-to-back adjustment is desirable during braking or other conditions. The damping response of adjustable shock absorbers 110 can be changed in a matter of milliseconds to provide nearly instantaneous changes in damping for potholes, dips in the road, or other driving conditions.

In one embodiment, controller 120 is operatively coupled to a plurality of vehicle condition sensors 160 and alters a damping characteristic of one or more adjustable shock absorbers 110 of suspension system 102 based at least in part on the received indications from the plurality of vehicle condition sensors 160. Vehicle condition sensors 160 may either actively provide an indication by sending a sensor signal or passively provide an indication by making available a monitored characteristic, such as a voltage, a temperature, a pressure or other suitable characteristics.

Exemplary vehicle condition sensors include a global change accelerometer 152 is coupled to each suspension adjacent each ground engaging member 104. Each accelerometer 152 provides an output signal to controller 120. Accelerometers 152 provide an output signal indicating movement of the ground engaging members 104 and suspension components 108 and 110 as vehicle 100 traverses different terrain. Additional vehicle condition sensors 160 may include a vehicle speed sensor 154, a steering sensor 156, a chassis supported accelerometer 158, a chassis supported gyroscope 161, and other sensors which monitor one or more characteristics of vehicle 100. Each of vehicle speed sensor 154, steering sensor 156, chassis supported accelerometer 158, chassis supported gyroscope 161 are operatively coupled to controller 120 and controller 120 receives input from each of vehicle speed sensor 154, steering sensor 156, chassis supported accelerometer 158, chassis supported gyroscope 161.

Vehicle speed sensor 154 provides an indication of a speed of vehicle 100. In one embodiment, vehicle speed sensor 154 monitors a rotation speed of a ground engaging member 104 or a shaft connecting a ground engaging member 104 to power system 116. Steering sensor 156 monitors an angle of rotation of a steering control or a rate that the angle of rotation is changing, such as the angle a steering wheel or handlebars, are rotated from a base position.

Vehicle accelerometer 158, in one embodiment, is a three-axis accelerometer supported on the chassis to provide an indication of acceleration forces of vehicle 100 during operation. In one embodiment, vehicle accelerometer 158 is located at or close to a center position of vehicle 100. Vehicle gyroscope 161, in one embodiment, is illustratively a three-axis gyroscope supported on the chassis to provide indications of inertial measurements of the vehicle during operation. In one embodiment, vehicle accelerometer 158 is not located at a center of gravity of vehicle 100 and the readings of vehicle gyroscope 161 are used by controller 120 to determine the acceleration values of vehicle 100 at the center of gravity of vehicle 100. In one embodiment, vehicle accelerometer 158 and vehicle gyroscope 161 are integrated into a suspension controller 196.

Additional vehicle condition sensors 160 include a brake sensor 162 which provides an indication of a position of brake pedal 262 or a brake pressure, a throttle position sensor 164 which provides an indication of a position of accelerator pedal 260, a wheel speed sensor 166, and a gear selection sensor 168 which provides an indication of a gear of shiftable transmission 140 selected with gear selector 264. Each of these vehicle condition sensors 160 are operatively coupled to controller 120 to provide an output signal coupled to controller 120.

Controller 120 has at least one associated memory 170 which stores control logic, damping profiles, and sensor readings. Controller 120 provides the electronic control of the various components of vehicle 100. Further, controller 120 is operatively coupled to the plurality of vehicle condition sensors 160 which monitor various parameters of vehicle 100 or the environment surrounding vehicle 100. Controller 120 performs certain operations to control one or more subsystems of other vehicle components. In certain embodiments, the controller 120 forms a portion of a processing subsystem including one or more computing devices having memory, processing, and communication hardware. Controller 120 may be a single device or a distributed device, and the functions of the controller 120 may be performed by hardware and/or as computer instructions on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, such as memory 170.

As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1, controller 120 is represented as including several controllers. These controllers may each be single devices or distributed devices or one or more of these controllers may together be part of a single device or distributed device. The functions of these controllers may be performed by hardware and/or as computer instructions on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, such as memory 120.

In one embodiment, controller 120 includes at least two separate controllers which communicate over a network 172. In one embodiment, network 172 is a CAN network. Details regarding an exemplary CAN network are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/218,163, filed Sep. 1, 2005, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. Of course any suitable type of network or data bus may be used in place of the CAN network. In one embodiment, two wire serial communication is used for some connections.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the illustrated embodiment, controller 120 includes an operator interface controller 180 which controls communication with an operator through operator interface 122. A steering controller 182 controls the operation of steering system 114. In one example, steering system 114 includes a power steering system and steering controller 182 controls a level of assist provided by the power steering system. Exemplary sensors and electronic power steering units are provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/135,107, assigned to the assignee of the present application, titled VEHICLE, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. A prime mover controller 184 controls the operation of prime mover 130. A transmission controller 186 controls the operation of transmission system 134.

A communications controller 194 controls operation of a communication system 192 which connects vehicle 100 to remote devices 500. Exemplary remote devices include other vehicles 100′; personal computing devices, such as cellphones or tablets; a centralized computer system maintaining one or more databases; and other types of devices remote from vehicle 100 or carried by riders of vehicle 100. In one embodiment, communication controller 194 of vehicle 100 communicates with paired devices over a wireless network. An exemplary wireless network is a radio frequency network utilizing a BLUETOOTH protocol. In this example, communication system 192 includes a radio frequency antenna. Communication controller 190 controls the pairing of devices to vehicle 100 and the communications between vehicle 100 and the remote device. In one embodiment, communication controller 190 of vehicle 100 communicates with remote devices over a cellular network. In this example, communication system 192 includes a cellular antenna and communication controller 190 receives and sends cellular messages from and to the cellular network. In one embodiment, communication controller 190 of vehicle 100 communicates with remote devices over a satellite network. In this example, communication system 188 includes a satellite antenna and communication controller 190 receives and sends messages from and to the satellite network. In one embodiment, vehicle 100 is able to communicate with other vehicles over a WIFI network. In one embodiment, vehicle 100 is able to communicate with other vehicles 100 over a Radio Frequency mesh network and communication controller 190 and communication system 188 are configured to enable communication over the mesh network. An exemplary vehicle communication system is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/262,113, filed Sep. 12, 2016, titled VEHICLE TO VEHICLE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE AND METHODS FOR RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. Additional details regarding exemplary communication systems are provided in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/424,285, filed Nov. 18, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Suspension controller 196 controls adjustable portions of suspension system 102. Exemplary adjustable components include adjustable shock absorbers 110, adjustable springs 108, and/or configurable stabilizer bars. Additional details regarding adjustable shocks, adjustable springs, and configurable stabilizer bars is provided in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/424,285, filed Nov. 18, 2016, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/377,640, filed Dec. 13, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

A vehicle controller 194 controls lights, loads, accessories, chassis level functions, and other vehicle functions. A ride height controller 198 controls the preload and operational height of vehicle 100. In one embodiment, ride height controller 198 controls springs 108 to adjust a ride height of vehicle 100, either directly or through suspension controller 196. In one example, ride height controller 198 provides more ground clearance in a comfort ride mode compared to a sport ride mode.

In one embodiment, controller 120 either includes or is operatively coupled over network 172 to a location determiner 199 which determines a current location of vehicle 100. An exemplary location determiner 199 is a GPS unit which determines the position of vehicle 100 based on interaction with a global satellite system.

Although controller 120 of vehicle 100 is illustrated as a distributed system including operator interface controller 180, steering controller 182, prime mover controller 184, transmission controller 186, communication system 188, communication controller 190, communications controller 194, suspension controller 196, ride height controller 198, and location determiner 199, in one embodiment the functionality of at least two or more of operator interface controller 180, steering controller 182, prime mover controller 184, transmission controller 186, communication system 188, communication controller 190, communications controller 194, suspension controller 196, ride height controller 198, and location determiner 199 are combined into a single controller.

Referring to FIG. 10, an exemplary control system 300 for controlling the damping of adjustable shock absorbers 110 is provided. Suspension controller 196 is operatively coupled to adjustable shock absorbers 110 and controls the damping of adjustable shock absorbers 110 based on a plurality of inputs. Exemplary inputs are provided in FIG. 10 and throughout this disclosure. Further, additional exemplary inputs for suspension controller 196 and control processing sequences for suspension controller 196 are provided in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/424,285, filed Nov. 18, 2016, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/377,640, filed Dec. 13, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Returning to FIG. 10, suspension controller 196 receives a plurality of inputs that affect the damping profiles of shock absorbers 110. First, an operator of vehicle 100 may specify a desired ride mode for vehicle 100 as represented by block 302. In the illustrated embodiment, the operator specifies the desired ride mode through user interface 122, such as with dash supported switches 266 or an input device 274 supported by steering wheel 268 of vehicle 100. Exemplary input devices include at least one button, a rocker switch, or other suitable driver actuatable device. Exemplary ride modes may alter the damping profile of shock absorbers 110 and the characteristics of other systems of vehicle 100. Suspension controller 196 has stored damping profiles that correspond to each ride mode. Additional details regarding exemplary ride modes and driver inputs for specifying a desired ride mode are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/424,285, filed Nov. 18, 2016, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/377,640, filed Dec. 13, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Exemplary ride modes include a comfort ride mode, a sport ride mode, and a firm ride mode, respectively. A comfort ride mode is generally optimized for comfort and performance. The suspension remains normally soft unless dynamic vehicle conditions sensed by more or more of vehicle condition sensors 160 demand a more firm setting. A sport ride mode increases the baseline damping of adjustable shock absorbers 110 compared to the comfort ride mode, more aggressively controls body roll for vehicle conditions such as turning or airborne, and has different speed sensitivity characteristics for increasing the damping of adjustable shock absorbers 110. A firm ride mode increases the baseline damping of adjustable shock absorbers 110 compared to sport mode. In one example, the firm ride mode provides a maximum damping characteristic of adjustable shock absorbers 110. Additional ride modes are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/424,285, filed Nov. 18, 2016, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/377,640, filed Dec. 13, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Returning to FIG. 10, second, suspension controller 196 receives inputs from vehicle condition sensors 160, as represented by block 304. Based on the conditions sensed by vehicle condition sensors 160, suspension controller 196 may alter the damping characteristics of shock absorbers 110. For example, based on the conditions sensed by vehicle condition sensors 160, suspension controller 196 may determine that one or more vehicle condition modifier states (“VCMS”) 310 exists which potentially results in altering the damping characteristics of shock absorbers 110. Exemplary vehicle condition modifier states 310 include an anti-dive VCMS 312, a cornering VCMS 314, a MODE VCMS 316, an acceleration VCMS 318, a braking VCMS 320, a roll/cornering VCMS 322, a jump/pitch VCMS 323, and an airborne VCMS 326. In anti-dive VCMS 312, suspension controller 196, in response to an indication of heavy braking from brake sensor 162, adjusts the damping levels of shock absorbers 110 adjacent the front axle to be firmer to reduce “dive” of the vehicle. Additional details regarding these and other VCMS are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/424,285, filed Nov. 18, 2016, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/377,640, filed Dec. 13, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Third, suspension controller 196 receives an input from the operator to temporarily alter the suspension damping characteristic (“TASD Request”), as represented by block 330. In one example, the TASD Request is a request to temporarily increase a damping characteristic of one or more adjustable shocks. In another example, the TASD Request is a request to temporarily decrease a damping characteristic of one or more adjustable shocks. Based on inputs 302, 304, and 330, suspension controller 196 executes a suspension damping control logic 340 to determine a current damping value for each of shock absorbers 110 (“Current Determined Damping”).

Referring to FIG. 11, an exemplary processing sequence 350 for suspension damping control logic 340 is illustrated. Suspension controller 196 determines the Current Determined Damping for each shock absorbers 110 based on inputs 302 and 304, as represented by block 352. Suspension controller 196 determines if a TASD Request is active, as represented by block 354. If a TASD Request is not active, suspension controller 196 alters the suspension damping characteristics of each shock absorbers 110 based on the Current Determined Damping, as represented by block 356.

If a TASD Request is active, suspension controller 196 determines which one of a damping characteristic of the TASD Request and the Current Determined Damping has a higher damping, as represented by block 358. If the Current Determined Damping is higher then suspension controller 196 alters the suspension damping characteristics of each shock absorber 110 based on the Current Determined Damping, as represented by block 356. If the TASD Request damping is higher then suspension controller 196 alters the suspension damping characteristics based on the TASD Request, as represented by block 360. In one embodiment, suspension controller 196 executes processing sequence 350 for each of shock absorbers 110 separately. In one embodiment, suspension controller 196 groups two or more shock absorbers 110 together and executes processing sequence 350 for the group. In one example, the TASD Request only affects a first subset of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers. Thus, suspension controller 196 takes into account the TASD Request for the first subset of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers 110 and not for the remainder of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers 110.

An operator of vehicle 100 may specify a TASD Request through user interface 122. In one embodiment, an input device 276 supported by steering wheel 268 of vehicle 100. Exemplary input devices include at least one button, a rocker switch, a momentary switch, or other suitable driver actuatable device which may be actuatable by the driver in the absence of requiring the driver to remove either of hands of the driver from steering wheel 268. As such, a driver is able to continue to grip steering wheel 268 with both hands while still having the ability to submit a TASD Request. In another embodiment, input device 276 may be positioned proximate to steering wheel 268, but not be supported by steering wheel 268. For example, a lever or other input, similar to a turn signal input lever, windshield wiper input lever in a passenger car, or a paddle shifter input on the rear of a steering wheel, may be positioned directly behind steering wheel 268 and actuatable by the driver while the driver is able to continue to grip steering wheel 268. In implementations wherein vehicle 100 includes handlebars instead of a steering wheel, input device 276 may be positioned proximate to the grips of the handlebars. In another embodiment, input device 276 may be positioned on dash 236, a center console, or other locations within vehicle 200 which are accessible from driver seat 252.

In another embodiment, a TASD Request may be submitted through a driver actuatable input that is not actuatable by the hands of the driver. Referring to FIG. 5, in one embodiment, a driver actuatable input is positioned forward of a vertical plane 280 passing through a frontmost extent of driver seat 252 and lower than a horizontal plane 282 passing through a lowermost extent of steering wheel 268. The driver actuatable input may be positioned as a foot actuatable input positioned above floorboard 240. The driver actuatable input may have a driver engageable surface positioned lower than a seating surface of seat bottom 258 of driver seat 252. In one embodiment, the driver actuatable input is brake pedal 262. As an example, a driver may momentarily depress brake pedal 262 partway, commonly known as tapping the brakes, as a TASD Request to suspension controller 196 to increase a damping characteristic of one or more of adjustable shocks 110. The input through brake pedal 262 may be turned on/off through a rocker switch, a touch display. In one embodiment, a driver may provide a TASD Request through either input 276 or brake pedal 262.

In one embodiment, a second driver actuatable input device 277 (see FIG. 9A) is provided. In this embodiment, first driver actuatable input device 276 provides a TASD Request to controller 196 to increase a stiffness of the at least one adjustable shock absorber and second driver actuatable input device 277 provides a TASD Request to controller 196 to reduce a stiffness of the at least one adjustable shock absorber.

The TASD Request may be submitted by actuation of input device 276 while vehicle 200 has a ground speed of greater than zero. The TASD Request may also be submitted while vehicle 200 is stationary.

In an exemplary processing sequence of the logic of suspension controller 196, suspension controller 196 controls the damping characteristic of an adjustable shock absorber 110 based on a plurality of inputs from vehicle condition sensors 160 supported by the vehicle 200 at a first time. Suspension controller 196 then receives at a second time subsequent to the first time a TASD Request to alter the damping characteristic of adjustable shock absorber 110 through input device 276 or brake pedal 262 which is actuatable by the driver in the absence of requiring a removal of either of the hands of the driver from the steering device, illustratively steering wheel 268. Suspension controller 196 then alters, at a third time subsequent to the second time, the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber 110 based on the received TASD Request. Suspension controller 196 then automatically alters, at a fourth time subsequent to the third time, the damping characteristic of adjustable shock absorber 110 based on the plurality of inputs from vehicle condition sensors 160. In one example, suspension controller 196 carries out this processing sequence while vehicle 200 maintains a ground speed of greater than zero from the first time through the fourth time. In a further example, the damping characteristic at the fourth time is based on the plurality of inputs from vehicle condition sensors 160 supported by vehicle 200 at the fourth time.

In one embodiment, when suspension controller 196 alters, at a third time subsequent to the second time, the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber 110 based on the received TASD Request, suspension controller 196 deviates a stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 relative to the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 at the first time and at a fifth time between the third time and the fourth time alters the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 towards a current determined damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 based on the plurality of inputs from vehicle condition sensors 160. In one example, the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 is deviated by increasing the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 and at the fifth time the alteration of the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 is a reduction of the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110. In another example, the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 is deviated by decreasing the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 and at the fifth time the alteration of the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 is an increase of the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110. In yet another example, the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 is held at a deviated level between the third time and the fifth time. In another example, the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 is held at a deviated level between the third time and the fifth time and the step of altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 at the fifth time includes the step of linearly altering, for example reducing or increasing, the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 from the deviated level to the current determined damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 based on the plurality of inputs from vehicle condition sensors 160. In another example, the step of altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 at the fifth time includes the step of linearly altering, for example reducing or increasing, the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 to the current determined damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 based on the plurality of inputs from vehicle condition sensors 160.

In one embodiment, when suspension controller 196 alters, at a third time subsequent to the second time, the damping characteristic of the adjustable shock absorber 110 based on the received TASD Request, suspension controller 196 deviates a stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 relative to the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 at the first time and at a fifth time between the third time and the fourth time, alters, for example reduces or increases, the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110, wherein the fifth time is a predetermined time delay period from the third time. In one example, the step of altering the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 includes reducing the stiffness of the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 towards a current determined damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 based on the plurality of inputs from vehicle condition sensors 160. In another example, the TASD Request corresponds to an actuation of input device 276 or brake pedal 262 from a first configuration to a second configuration and suspension controller 196 initiates the predetermined time delay period upon the actuation of input device 276 or brake pedal 262 to the second configuration. In yet another example, the TASD Request corresponds to an actuation of input device 276 or brake pedal 262 from a first configuration to a second configuration and suspension controller 196 initiates the predetermined time delay period upon a detection of input device 276 or brake pedal 262 returning towards the first configuration. In still another example, the TASD Request corresponds to an actuation of input device 276 or brake pedal 262 from a first configuration to a second configuration and suspension controller 196 initiates the predetermined time delay period upon one of the actuation of input device 276 or brake pedal 262 to the second configuration and a detection of input device 276 or brake pedal 262 returning towards the first configuration, receives at a sixth time subsequent to the third time and prior to the fifth time, a second driver initiated request to alter the damping characteristic of shock absorbers 110 through input device 276 or brake pedal 262 which is actuatable by the driver in the absence of requiring a removal of either of the hands of the driver from the steering device, and delays the fifth time by resetting the predetermined time delay based on the second driver initiated request. In yet still a further example, the TASD Request is received by detecting a tapping of the brake pedal.

In one embodiment, suspension controller 196 alters the damping characteristics of each of shock absorber 220 in response to a received input from input device 276. In one example, the damping characteristics of each of shock absorber 220 are altered to the same damping setting. In another example, the damping characteristics of each of shock absorber 220 are altered to different damping settings. In another embodiment, suspension controller 196 alters the damping characteristics of each of shock absorbers 226 in response to a received input from input device 276. In one example, the damping characteristics of each of shock absorbers 226 are altered to the same damping setting. In another example, the damping characteristics of each of shock absorbers 226 are altered to different damping settings. In yet another embodiment, suspension controller 196 alters the damping characteristics of each of shock absorber 220 and shock absorbers 226 in response to a received TASD Request from input device 276. In one example, the damping characteristics of each of shock absorbers 220 and shock absorbers 226 are altered to the same damping setting. In another example, the damping characteristics of each of shock absorbers 220 and shock absorbers 226 are altered to different damping settings.

Referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B, an exemplary damping characteristic modification based on a TASD Request is illustrated. FIG. 12A illustrates a timing diagram for the actuation of input device 276, but is also applicable to the actuation of brake pedal 262. Curve 310 represents the actuation of input device 276 wherein at time 332 input device 276 is depressed and at time 334 input device 276 is released. Curve 312 illustrates an exemplary damping profile for shock absorbers 110 for the same time span. At time 332, the stiffness of shock absorbers 110 is increased from a pre time 332 level 314 to a deviated level 316. The stiffness is held at deviated level 316 from time 332 to time 336 and then decays back to level 314 at time 338. In the illustrated example, deviated level 316 corresponds to a constant stiffness level, but the deviated level may have other profiles including at least a portion of the deviated level having an increasing slope, at least a portion of the deviated level having a decreasing slope, at least a portion of deviated level having a non-linear profile, and/or other suitable profiles. In the illustrated example, the deviated level 316 corresponds to an increase in the stiffness of the shock absorbers 110, but the deviated level may alternatively correspond to a decrease in the stiffness of the shock absorbers 110 relative to level 314. In the illustrated example, at both pre time 332 and post time 338 suspension controller 196 based on inputs 302 and 304 determines the appropriate damping levels. In the illustrated example, the levels are the same, but may differ in some examples. In the illustrated example, the decay of the stiffness of shock absorbers 110 is linear from time 336 to time 338, but may take on different profiles including non-linear profiles. The time period between time 332 and time 336 is a predetermined time period set by suspension controller 196 for holding shock absorbers 110 at stiffness level 316.

Referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, an exemplary damping characteristic modification based on a TASD Request is illustrated. FIG. 13A illustrates a timing diagram for the actuation of input device 276, but is also applicable to the actuation of brake pedal 262. Curve 320 represents the actuation of input device 276, wherein at time 342 input device 276 is depressed and at time 344 input device 276 is released. FIG. 13A illustrates a longer hold of input device 276 in the depressed configuration compared to curve 310 of FIG. 12A. Curve 322 illustrates an exemplary damping profile for shock absorbers 110 for the same time span. At time 342, the stiffness of shock absorbers 110 is deviated from a pre time 342 level 324 to a level 326. The stiffness is held at deviated level 326 from time 342 to time 346 and then decays back to level 324 at time 348. In the illustrated example, deviated level 326 corresponds to a constant stiffness level, but the deviated level may have other profiles including at least a portion of the deviated level having an increasing slope, at least a portion of the deviated level having a decreasing slope, at least a portion of deviated level having a non-linear profile, and/or other suitable profiles. In the illustrated example, the deviated level 326 corresponds to an increase in the stiffness of the shock absorbers 110, but the deviated level may alternatively correspond to a decrease in the stiffness of the shock absorbers 110 relative to level 324. In the illustrated example, at both pre time 342 and post time 348 suspension controller 196, based on inputs 302 and 304, determines the appropriate damping levels. In the illustrated example, the levels are the same, but may differ in some examples. In the illustrated example, the decay of the stiffness of shock absorbers 110 is linear from time 346 to time 348, but may take on different profiles including non-linear profiles. The time period between time 344 and time 346 is a predetermined time period set by suspension controller 196 for holding shock absorbers 110 at stiffness level 306. In FIG. 13B, the predetermined time period does not start until input device 276 is released at time 344.

Referring to FIGS. 14A and 14B, an exemplary damping characteristic modification based on a TASD Request is illustrated. FIG. 14A illustrates a timing diagram for the actuation of input device 276, but is also applicable to the actuation of brake pedal 262. Curve 370 represents the actuation of input device 276 wherein input device 276 is depressed and released twice, a first actuation 372 and a second actuation 374. First actuation 372 begins at time 362 and second actuation 374 ends at time 364. Curve 376 illustrates an exemplary damping profile for shock absorbers 110 for the same time span. At time 362, the stiffness of shock absorbers 110 is deviated from a pre time 362 level 378 to a deviated level 380. The stiffness is held at level 380 from time 362 to time 366 and then decays back to level 378 at time 368. In the illustrated example, deviated level 380 corresponds to a constant stiffness level, but the deviated level may have other profiles including at least a portion of the deviated level having an increasing slope, at least a portion of the deviated level having a decreasing slope, at least a portion of deviated level having a non-linear profile, and/or other suitable profiles. In the illustrated example, the deviated level 380 corresponds to an increase in the stiffness of the shock absorbers 110, but the deviated level may alternatively correspond to a decrease in the stiffness of the shock absorbers 110 relative to level 378. In the illustrated example, at both pre time 362 and post time 368, suspension controller 196, based on inputs 302 and 304, determines the appropriate damping levels. In the illustrated example, the levels are the same, but may differ in some examples. In the illustrated example, the decay of the stiffness of shock absorbers 110 is linear from time 366 to time 368, but may take on different profiles including non-linear profiles. Suspension controller 196 begins the predetermined time period for level 380 upon the release of input device 276 in first actuation 372. However, the subsequent second actuation 374 causes suspension controller 196 to reset the predetermined time period.

Referring to FIGS. 15A and 15B, an exemplary damping characteristic modification based on a TASD Request is illustrated. FIG. 15A illustrates a timing diagram for the actuation of input device 276, but is also applicable to the actuation of brake pedal 262. Curve 388 represents the actuation of input device 276 wherein input device 276 is depressed and released twice, a first actuation 390 and a second actuation 392. Curve 388 is similar to curve 370 of FIG. 14A, except that the time period between the first actuation and the second actuation is increased. First actuation 372 begins at time 400 and second actuation 374 ends at time 402. Curve 376 illustrates an exemplary damping profile for shock absorbers 110 for the same time span. At time 400, the stiffness of shock absorbers 110 is deviated from a pre time 362 level 396 to a deviated level 398. The stiffness is held at deviated level 398 from time 400 to time 404 and then begins decaying back to level 396 at time 400. In the illustrated example, deviated level 398 corresponds to a constant stiffness level, but the deviated level may have other profiles including at least a portion of the deviated level having an increasing slope, at least a portion of the deviated level having a decreasing slope, at least a portion of deviated level having a non-linear profile, and/or other suitable profiles. In the illustrated example, the deviated level 398 corresponds to an increase in the stiffness of the shock absorbers 110, but the deviated level may alternatively correspond to a decrease in the stiffness of the shock absorbers 110 relative to level 396. In the illustrated example, at both pre time 400 and post time 404, suspension controller 196, based on inputs 302 and 304, determines the appropriate damping levels. In the illustrated example, the decay of the stiffness of shock absorbers 110 is linear from time 404 to time 403, but may take on different profiles including non-linear profiles. Suspension controller 196 begins the predetermined time period for level 380 upon the release of input device 276 in first actuation 390. However, the subsequent second actuation 392 causes suspension controller 196 to reset the predetermined time period and to once again increase the stiffness of shock absorber 110 to level 398 at time 403. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the increase to level 398 happens prior to the stiffness of shock absorber 110 returning to level 396. The stiffness of shock absorber 398 is held at level 398 until time 406 and then begins decaying back to level 396 between time 406 and time 408. In the illustrated example, the levels pre time 400 and post time 408 are the same, but may differ in some examples.

Referring to FIGS. 16A-16C, an exemplary damping characteristic modification based on a TASD Request is illustrated. FIG. 16B illustrates a timing diagram for the actuation of brake pedal 262, but is also applicable to the actuation of input device 276. Curve 410 represents the actuation of brake pedal 262 wherein brake pedal 262 is depressed and released within a short period of time from 430 to 432, such as 20 milliseconds. Such an actuation is commonly referred to tapping the brakes. In FIG. 16C, curve 412 illustrates an exemplary damping profile for shock absorbers 110 for the same time span. At time 432, the stiffness of shock absorbers 110 is deviated from a pre time 432 level 416 to a deviated level 418. The stiffness is held at deviated level 418 from time 432 to time 436 and then decays back towards level 416 beginning at time 436 due to the expiration of the predetermined time period set by suspension controller 196. In one example, deviated level 418 corresponds to the same level of the Braking VCMS. However, before the stiffness level returns to level 416, suspension controller 196 determines the occurrence of a VCMS suspension event at time 434, as shown in FIG. 16A by curve 420. The VCMS suspension event results in suspension controller 196 selecting a stiffness level of 422. However, the then current stiffness level at time 434 is higher than level 422, thus suspension controller 196 maintains the stiffness level at level 418. At time 438, suspension controller 196 decays the stiffness level from level 418 to level 422 due to the VCMS suspension event still being active as represented by curve 420. If suspension controller 196 had determined that the VCMS suspension event was concluded, suspension controller 196 would have decayed the stiffness level from level 418 back to level 416 assuming no other inputs 302 and 304 have altered the then current suspension stiffness level. In the illustrated example, the decay of the stiffness of shock absorbers 110 is linear from time 436 to time 438, but may take on different profiles including non-linear profiles.

While embodiments of the present disclosure have been described as having exemplary designs, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.

Claims

1. A method of controlling at least one characteristic of an adjustable suspension system of a vehicle being operated by a driver, the driver steering the vehicle by holding a steering device with the hands of the driver, the method comprising the steps of: (a) electronically controlling with at least one controller at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system based on a plurality of inputs from a plurality of sensors supported by the vehicle at a first time;(b) receiving at a second time subsequent to the first time a driver initiated request to alter the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system through a driver actuatable input;(c) altering with the at least one controller, at a third time subsequent to the second time, the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system based on the received driver initiated request; and(d) automatically altering with the at least one controller, at a fourth time subsequent to the third time, the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors, wherein the adjustable suspension system includes a configurable stabilizer bar, wherein step (c) includes the steps of: deviating a value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system relative to the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system at the first time; and at a fifth time between the third and the fourth time, altering the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system, wherein the fifth time is a predetermined time delay period from the third time.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle maintains a ground speed of greater than zero from the first time through the fourth time.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) includes the steps of: at a sixth time between the fifth time and the fourth time, altering the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system towards a current determined value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of altering the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system at the sixth time includes the step of linearly altering the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system from a deviated level to the current determined value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of ground engaging members; a frame coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members through the adjustable suspension system, and the adjustable suspension system includes a first adjustable suspension system and a second adjustable suspension system, a driver seat supported by the frame and having a seating surface positioned rearward of the steering device, the first adjustable suspension system positioned forward of the steering device and the second adjustable suspension system positioned rearward of the steering device, wherein in step (c) at least one characteristic of the first adjustable suspension system and the second adjustable suspension system are altered.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein step (c) includes the steps of: deviating a value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system relative to the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system at the first time, and at a fifth time between the third and the fourth time, altering the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system, wherein the fifth time is a predetermined time delay period from the third time; and wherein the deviating the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system comprises deviating the value of the at least one characteristic of the first adjustable suspension system relative to the value of the at least one characteristic of the first adjustable suspension system at the first time and wherein the method further comprises: at a sixth time between the fifth time and the fourth time, altering the value of the at least one characteristic of the first adjustable suspension system towards a current determined value of the at least one characteristic of the first adjustable suspension system based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the driver initiated request corresponds to an actuation of the driver actuatable input from a first configuration to a second configuration and the method further comprises the steps of: initiating the predetermined time delay period upon one of the actuation of the driver actuatable input to the second configuration and a detection of the driver actuatable input returning towards the first configuration; receiving at the sixth time subsequent to the third time and prior to the fifth time, a second driver initiated request to alter the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system through the driver actuatable input; and delaying the fifth time by resetting the predetermined time delay period based on the second driver initiated request.
8. A vehicle for operation by a driver, comprising: a plurality of ground engaging members; a plurality of suspension systems supported by the plurality of ground engaging members; a frame coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members through the plurality of suspension systems, a first ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members being coupled to the frame through a first adjustable suspension system of the plurality of suspension systems, a second ground engaging member of the plurality of ground engaging members being coupled to the frame through a second adjustable suspension system of the plurality of suspension systems; a steering system supported by the frame and including a steering device operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of ground engaging members to steer the vehicle; a driver actuatable input which is positioned to be actuatable by the driver; a driver seat supported by the frame and having a seating surface positioned rearward of the steering device, the first adjustable suspension system being positioned forward of the steering device and the second adjustable suspension system being positioned rearward of the steering device; a plurality of sensors supported by the plurality of ground engaging members; and at least one controller operatively coupled to the plurality of adjustable suspension systems and the plurality of sensors, the at least one controller configured to: (a) determine at least one characteristic of at least one of the plurality of adjustable suspension systems based on a plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors; (b) receive a driver initiated request to alter the at least one characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of adjustable suspension systems from the driver actuatable input; (c) alter the at least one characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of adjustable suspension systems in response to the received driver initiated request for a first period of time, and (d) subsequent to (c), automatically alter the at least one characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of adjustable suspension systems again based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors at an expiration of the first period of time, and wherein the at least one controller in (c) deviates a value of the at least one characteristic of the at least one adjustable suspension system of the plurality of adjustable suspension systems for a first portion of the first time period and subsequently alters the value of the at least one characteristic of the at least one adjustable suspension system of the plurality of adjustable suspension systems for a second portion of the first time period; and at least one of the plurality of adjustable suspension systems is a configurable stabilizer bar.
9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the at least one controller in (c) subsequently alters the value of the at least one characteristic of the at least one adjustable suspension system by maintaining the value of the at least one characteristic at a deviated level for the second portion of the first time period, wherein the second portion is a pre-determined time delay period from the first portion of the first time period.
10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the at least one controller in (c) alters the value of the at least one characteristic of the at least one adjustable suspension system based on comparing a current determined value of the at least one characteristic with an altered value of the at least one characteristic, wherein the altered value of the at least one characteristic is based on the received driver initiated request, and wherein the current determined value of the at least one characteristic is based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.
11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the at least one controller permits the vehicle to have a ground speed of greater than zero while the at least one controller executes (a) through (d).
12. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the at least one controller holds the value of the at least one characteristic of the at least one adjustable suspension system of the plurality of adjustable suspension systems at a deviated level during the first portion of the first time period.
13. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the at least one controller linearly alters the value of the at least one characteristic of the at least one adjustable suspension system of the plurality of adjustable suspension systems during the second portion of the first time period.
14. A method of controlling at least one characteristic of an adjustable suspension system of a vehicle being operated by a driver, the driver steering the vehicle by holding a steering device with the hands of the driver, the method comprising the steps of: (a) electronically controlling with at least one controller the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system based on a plurality of inputs from a plurality of sensors supported by the vehicle at a first time; (b) receiving at a second time subsequent to the first time a driver initiated request to alter the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system through a driver actuatable input; (c) altering with the at least one controller, at a third time subsequent to the second time, the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system based on the received driver initiated request; and (d) automatically altering with the at least one controller, at a fourth time subsequent to the third time, the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors, wherein step (c) includes the steps of: deviating a value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system relative to the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system at the first time; and at a fifth time between the third time and the fourth time, altering the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system towards a current value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors, and the adjustable suspension system is a configurable stabilizer bar.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle maintains a ground speed of greater than zero from the first time through the fourth time.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system is held at a deviated level between the third time and the fifth time.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of altering the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system at the fifth time includes the step of linearly altering the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system from the deviated level to the current value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of altering the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system at the fifth time includes the step of linearly altering the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system to the current value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of altering the value of the at least one characteristic of the adjustable suspension system is based on comparing the current value of the at least one characteristic with an altered value of the at least one characteristic, wherein the altered value of the at least one characteristic is based on the received driver initiated request, and wherein the current value of the at least one characteristic is based on the plurality of inputs from the plurality of sensors.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/176,110, filed Feb. 15, 2021, titled “ADJUSTABLE VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/529,001, filed Aug. 1, 2019, titled “ADJUSTABLE VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM”, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/618,793, filed Jun. 9, 2017, titled “ADJUSTABLE VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM”, the complete disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

US Referenced Citations (880)

Number	Name	Date	Kind
3013442	Fox et al.	Dec 1961	A
3623565	Ward et al.	Nov 1971	A
3737001	Rasenberger	Jun 1973	A
3760246	Wright et al.	Sep 1973	A
3861229	Domaas	Jan 1975	A
3933213	Trowbridge	Jan 1976	A
3952829	Gray	Apr 1976	A
3982446	Van Dyken	Sep 1976	A
4075841	Hamma et al.	Feb 1978	A
4112885	Iwata et al.	Sep 1978	A
4116006	Wallis	Sep 1978	A
4319658	Collonia et al.	Mar 1982	A
4327948	Beck et al.	May 1982	A
4340126	Larson	Jul 1982	A
4453516	Filsinger	Jun 1984	A
4462480	Yasui et al.	Jul 1984	A
4508078	Takeuchi et al.	Apr 1985	A
4580537	Uchiyama	Apr 1986	A
4600215	Kuroki et al.	Jul 1986	A
4620602	Capriotti	Nov 1986	A
4658662	Rundle	Apr 1987	A
4671235	Hosaka	Jun 1987	A
4688533	Otobe	Aug 1987	A
4691676	Kikuchi	Sep 1987	A
4691677	Hotate et al.	Sep 1987	A
4722548	Hamilton et al.	Feb 1988	A
4741554	Okamoto	May 1988	A
4749210	Sugasawa	Jun 1988	A
4759329	Nobuo et al.	Jul 1988	A
4765296	Ishikawa et al.	Aug 1988	A
4779895	Rubel	Oct 1988	A
4781162	Ishikawa et al.	Nov 1988	A
4785782	Tanaka et al.	Nov 1988	A
4787353	Ishikawa et al.	Nov 1988	A
4805923	Soltis	Feb 1989	A
4809179	Klingler et al.	Feb 1989	A
4809659	Tamaki et al.	Mar 1989	A
4817466	Kawamura et al.	Apr 1989	A
4819174	Furuno et al.	Apr 1989	A
4826205	Kouda et al.	May 1989	A
4827416	Kawagoe et al.	May 1989	A
4831533	Skoldheden	May 1989	A
4838780	Yamagata et al.	Jun 1989	A
4856477	Hanaoka et al.	Aug 1989	A
4860708	Yamaguchi et al.	Aug 1989	A
4862854	Oda et al.	Sep 1989	A
4867474	Smith	Sep 1989	A
4881428	Ishikawa et al.	Nov 1989	A
4893501	Sogawa	Jan 1990	A
4895343	Sato	Jan 1990	A
4898137	Fujita et al.	Feb 1990	A
4898138	Nishimura et al.	Feb 1990	A
4901695	Kabasin et al.	Feb 1990	A
4903983	Fukushima et al.	Feb 1990	A
4905783	Bober	Mar 1990	A
4913006	Tsuyama et al.	Apr 1990	A
4919097	Mitui et al.	Apr 1990	A
4926636	Tadokoro et al.	May 1990	A
4927170	Wada	May 1990	A
4930082	Harara et al.	May 1990	A
4934667	Pees et al.	Jun 1990	A
4949262	Buma et al.	Aug 1990	A
4949989	Kakizaki et al.	Aug 1990	A
4961146	Kajiwara	Oct 1990	A
4966247	Masuda	Oct 1990	A
4969695	Maehata et al.	Nov 1990	A
5000278	Morishita	Mar 1991	A
5002028	Arai et al.	Mar 1991	A
5002148	Miyake et al.	Mar 1991	A
5015009	Ohyama et al.	May 1991	A
5018408	Bota et al.	May 1991	A
5024460	Hanson et al.	Jun 1991	A
5029328	Kamimura et al.	Jul 1991	A
5033328	Shimanaka	Jul 1991	A
5036939	Johnson et al.	Aug 1991	A
5037128	Okuyama et al.	Aug 1991	A
5040114	Ishikawa et al.	Aug 1991	A
5054813	Kakizaki	Oct 1991	A
5060744	Katoh et al.	Oct 1991	A
5062657	Majeed	Nov 1991	A
5071157	Majeed	Dec 1991	A
5071158	Yonekawa et al.	Dec 1991	A
5076385	Terazawa et al.	Dec 1991	A
5078109	Yoshida et al.	Jan 1992	A
5080392	Bazergui	Jan 1992	A
5083811	Sato et al.	Jan 1992	A
5088464	Meaney	Feb 1992	A
5092298	Suzuki et al.	Mar 1992	A
5092624	Fukuyama et al.	Mar 1992	A
5096219	Hanson et al.	Mar 1992	A
5105923	Iizuka	Apr 1992	A
5113345	Mine et al.	May 1992	A
5113821	Fukui et al.	May 1992	A
5114177	Fukunaga et al.	May 1992	A
5129475	Kawano et al.	Jul 1992	A
5144559	Kamimura et al.	Sep 1992	A
5150635	Minowa et al.	Sep 1992	A
5163538	Derr et al.	Nov 1992	A
5170343	Matsuda	Dec 1992	A
5174263	Meaney	Dec 1992	A
5189615	Rubel et al.	Feb 1993	A
5218540	Ishikawa et al.	Jun 1993	A
5233530	Shimada et al.	Aug 1993	A
5253728	Matsuno et al.	Oct 1993	A
5265693	Rees et al.	Nov 1993	A
5307777	Sasajima et al.	May 1994	A
5314362	Nagahora	May 1994	A
5315295	Fujii	May 1994	A
5337239	Okuda	Aug 1994	A
5342023	Kuriki et al.	Aug 1994	A
5343396	Youngblood	Aug 1994	A
5343780	McDaniel et al.	Sep 1994	A
5350187	Shinozaki	Sep 1994	A
5361209	Tsutsumi	Nov 1994	A
5361213	Fujieda et al.	Nov 1994	A
5362094	Jensen	Nov 1994	A
5366236	Kuriki et al.	Nov 1994	A
5375872	Ohtagaki et al.	Dec 1994	A
5377107	Shimizu et al.	Dec 1994	A
5383680	Bock et al.	Jan 1995	A
5384705	Inagaki et al.	Jan 1995	A
5390121	Wolfe	Feb 1995	A
5391127	Nishimura	Feb 1995	A
RE34906	Tamaki et al.	Apr 1995	E
5406920	Murata et al.	Apr 1995	A
5413540	Streib et al.	May 1995	A
5443558	Ibaraki et al.	Aug 1995	A
5444621	Matsunaga et al.	Aug 1995	A
5446663	Sasaki et al.	Aug 1995	A
5467751	Kumagai	Nov 1995	A
5475593	Townend	Dec 1995	A
5475596	Henry et al.	Dec 1995	A
5483448	Liubakka et al.	Jan 1996	A
5485161	Vaughn	Jan 1996	A
5490487	Kato et al.	Feb 1996	A
5510985	Yamaoka et al.	Apr 1996	A
5514049	Kamio et al.	May 1996	A
5515273	Sasaki et al.	May 1996	A
5521825	Unuvar et al.	May 1996	A
5524724	Nishigaki et al.	Jun 1996	A
5550739	Hoffmann et al.	Aug 1996	A
5555499	Yamashita et al.	Sep 1996	A
5575737	Weiss	Nov 1996	A
5586032	Kallenbach et al.	Dec 1996	A
5611309	Kumagai et al.	Mar 1997	A
5632503	Raad et al.	May 1997	A
5645033	Person et al.	Jul 1997	A
5678847	Izawa et al.	Oct 1997	A
5713428	Linden et al.	Feb 1998	A
5749596	Jensen et al.	May 1998	A
5774820	Linden et al.	Jun 1998	A
5832398	Sasaki et al.	Nov 1998	A
5845726	Kikkawa et al.	Dec 1998	A
5873802	Tabata et al.	Feb 1999	A
5880532	Stopher	Mar 1999	A
5890870	Berger et al.	Apr 1999	A
5897287	Berger et al.	Apr 1999	A
5921889	Nozaki et al.	Jul 1999	A
5922038	Horiuchi et al.	Jul 1999	A
5938556	Lowell	Aug 1999	A
5957992	Kiyono	Sep 1999	A
5992558	Noro et al.	Nov 1999	A
6000702	Streiter	Dec 1999	A
6002975	Schiffmann et al.	Dec 1999	A
6016795	Ohki	Jan 2000	A
6019085	Sato et al.	Feb 2000	A
6032752	Karpik et al.	Mar 2000	A
6038500	Weiss	Mar 2000	A
6070681	Catanzarite et al.	Jun 2000	A
6073072	Ishii et al.	Jun 2000	A
6073074	Saito et al.	Jun 2000	A
6076027	Raad et al.	Jun 2000	A
6078252	Kulczycki et al.	Jun 2000	A
6086510	Kadota	Jul 2000	A
6094614	Hiwatashi	Jul 2000	A
6112866	Boichot et al.	Sep 2000	A
6120399	Okeson et al.	Sep 2000	A
6122568	Madau et al.	Sep 2000	A
6124826	Garthwaite et al.	Sep 2000	A
6125326	Ohmura et al.	Sep 2000	A
6125782	Takashima et al.	Oct 2000	A
6134499	Goode et al.	Oct 2000	A
6138069	Ellertson et al.	Oct 2000	A
6148252	Iwasaki et al.	Nov 2000	A
6154703	Nakai et al.	Nov 2000	A
6155545	Noro et al.	Dec 2000	A
6157297	Nakai	Dec 2000	A
6157890	Nakai et al.	Dec 2000	A
6161908	Takayama et al.	Dec 2000	A
6167341	Gourmelen et al.	Dec 2000	A
6170923	Iguchi et al.	Jan 2001	B1
6176796	Lislegard	Jan 2001	B1
6178371	Light et al.	Jan 2001	B1
6181997	Badenoch et al.	Jan 2001	B1
6192305	Schiffmann	Feb 2001	B1
6206124	Mallette et al.	Mar 2001	B1
6217480	Iwata et al.	Apr 2001	B1
6226389	Lemelson et al.	May 2001	B1
6240365	Bunn	May 2001	B1
6244398	Girvin et al.	Jun 2001	B1
6244986	Mori et al.	Jun 2001	B1
6249728	Streiter	Jun 2001	B1
6249744	Morita	Jun 2001	B1
6254108	Germain et al.	Jul 2001	B1
6260650	Gustavsson	Jul 2001	B1
6263858	Pursifull et al.	Jul 2001	B1
6275763	Lotito et al.	Aug 2001	B1
6276333	Kazama et al.	Aug 2001	B1
6288534	Starkweather et al.	Sep 2001	B1
6290034	Ichimaru	Sep 2001	B1
6318337	Pursifull	Nov 2001	B1
6318490	Laning	Nov 2001	B1
6343248	Rizzotto et al.	Jan 2002	B1
6351704	Koerner	Feb 2002	B1
6352142	Kim	Mar 2002	B1
6370458	Shal et al.	Apr 2002	B1
6370472	Fosseen	Apr 2002	B1
6371884	Channing	Apr 2002	B1
6379114	Schott et al.	Apr 2002	B1
6427115	Sekiyama	Jul 2002	B1
6456908	Kumar	Sep 2002	B1
6463385	Fry	Oct 2002	B1
6470852	Kanno	Oct 2002	B1
6476714	Mizuta	Nov 2002	B2
6483201	Klarer	Nov 2002	B1
6483467	Kushida et al.	Nov 2002	B2
6485340	Kolb et al.	Nov 2002	B1
6488609	Morimoto et al.	Dec 2002	B1
6502025	Kempen	Dec 2002	B1
6507778	Koh	Jan 2003	B2
6513611	Ito et al.	Feb 2003	B2
6526342	Burdock et al.	Feb 2003	B1
6551153	Hattori	Apr 2003	B1
6573827	McKenzie	Jun 2003	B1
6581710	Sprinkle et al.	Jun 2003	B2
6604034	Speck et al.	Aug 2003	B1
6644318	Adams et al.	Nov 2003	B1
6647328	Walker	Nov 2003	B2
6655233	Evans et al.	Dec 2003	B2
6657539	Yamamoto et al.	Dec 2003	B2
6675577	Evans	Jan 2004	B2
6684140	Lu	Jan 2004	B2
6685174	Behmenburg et al.	Feb 2004	B2
6699085	Hattori	Mar 2004	B2
6704643	Suhre et al.	Mar 2004	B1
6738705	Kojima et al.	May 2004	B2
6738708	Suzuki et al.	May 2004	B2
6752401	Burdock	Jun 2004	B2
6757606	Gonring	Jun 2004	B1
6761145	Matsuda et al.	Jul 2004	B2
6772061	Berthiaume et al.	Aug 2004	B1
6795764	Schmitz et al.	Sep 2004	B2
6820712	Nakamura	Nov 2004	B2
6834736	Kramer et al.	Dec 2004	B2
6839630	Sakamoto	Jan 2005	B2
6845314	Fosseen	Jan 2005	B2
6845829	Hafendorfer	Jan 2005	B2
6848420	Ishiguro et al.	Feb 2005	B2
6848956	Ozawa	Feb 2005	B2
6851495	Sprinkle et al.	Feb 2005	B2
6851679	Downey et al.	Feb 2005	B2
6860826	Johnson	Mar 2005	B1
6874467	Hunt et al.	Apr 2005	B2
6876924	Morita et al.	Apr 2005	B2
6880532	Kerns et al.	Apr 2005	B1
6886529	Suzuki et al.	May 2005	B2
6887182	Nakatani et al.	May 2005	B2
6889654	Ito	May 2005	B2
6895318	Barton et al.	May 2005	B1
6895518	Wingen	May 2005	B2
6897629	Wilton et al.	May 2005	B2
6938508	Saagge	Sep 2005	B1
6941209	Liu	Sep 2005	B2
6942050	Honkala et al.	Sep 2005	B1
6945541	Brown	Sep 2005	B2
6964259	Raetzman	Nov 2005	B1
6964260	Samoto et al.	Nov 2005	B2
6976689	Hibbert	Dec 2005	B2
6990401	Neiss et al.	Jan 2006	B2
7005976	Hagenbuch	Feb 2006	B2
7011174	James	Mar 2006	B1
7032895	Folchert	Apr 2006	B2
7035836	Caponetto et al.	Apr 2006	B2
7036485	Koerner	May 2006	B1
7044260	Schaedler et al.	May 2006	B2
7055454	Whiting et al.	Jun 2006	B1
7055497	Maehara et al.	Jun 2006	B2
7055545	Mascari et al.	Jun 2006	B2
7058490	Kim	Jun 2006	B2
7058506	Kawase et al.	Jun 2006	B2
7066142	Hanasato	Jun 2006	B2
7070012	Fecteau	Jul 2006	B2
7076351	Hamilton et al.	Jul 2006	B2
7077713	Watabe et al.	Jul 2006	B2
7077784	Banta et al.	Jul 2006	B2
7086379	Blomenberg et al.	Aug 2006	B2
7092808	Lu et al.	Aug 2006	B2
7096851	Matsuda et al.	Aug 2006	B2
7097166	Folchert	Aug 2006	B2
7104352	Weinzierl	Sep 2006	B2
7123189	Lalik et al.	Oct 2006	B2
7124865	Turner et al.	Oct 2006	B2
7136729	Salman et al.	Nov 2006	B2
7140619	Hrovat et al.	Nov 2006	B2
7163000	Ishida et al.	Jan 2007	B2
7168709	Niwa et al.	Jan 2007	B2
7171945	Matsuda et al.	Feb 2007	B2
7171947	Fukushima et al.	Feb 2007	B2
7182063	Keefover et al.	Feb 2007	B2
7184873	Idsinga et al.	Feb 2007	B1
7185630	Takahashi et al.	Mar 2007	B2
7220153	Okuyama	May 2007	B2
7233846	Kawauchi et al.	Jun 2007	B2
7234707	Green et al.	Jun 2007	B2
7235963	Wayama	Jun 2007	B2
7249986	Otobe et al.	Jul 2007	B2
7259357	Walker	Aug 2007	B2
7260319	Watanabe et al.	Aug 2007	B2
7260471	Matsuda et al.	Aug 2007	B2
7270335	Hio et al.	Sep 2007	B2
7280904	Kaji	Oct 2007	B2
7286919	Nordgren et al.	Oct 2007	B2
7287511	Matsuda	Oct 2007	B2
7305295	Bauerle et al.	Dec 2007	B2
7311082	Yokoi	Dec 2007	B2
7315779	Rioux et al.	Jan 2008	B1
7316288	Bennett et al.	Jan 2008	B1
7318410	Yokoi	Jan 2008	B2
7322435	Lillbacka et al.	Jan 2008	B2
7325533	Matsuda	Feb 2008	B2
7331326	Arai et al.	Feb 2008	B2
7354321	Takada et al.	Apr 2008	B2
7359787	Ono et al.	Apr 2008	B2
7367247	Horiuchi et al.	May 2008	B2
7367316	Russell et al.	May 2008	B2
7367854	Arvidsson	May 2008	B2
7380538	Gagnon et al.	Jun 2008	B1
7386378	Lauwerys et al.	Jun 2008	B2
7399210	Yoshimasa	Jul 2008	B2
7401794	Laurent et al.	Jul 2008	B2
7413196	Borowski	Aug 2008	B2
7416458	Suemori et al.	Aug 2008	B2
7421954	Bose	Sep 2008	B2
7422495	Kinoshita et al.	Sep 2008	B2
7427072	Brown	Sep 2008	B2
7431013	Hotta et al.	Oct 2008	B2
7433774	Sen et al.	Oct 2008	B2
7441789	Geiger et al.	Oct 2008	B2
7445071	Yamazaki et al.	Nov 2008	B2
7454282	Mizuguchi	Nov 2008	B2
7454284	Fosseen	Nov 2008	B2
7458360	Irihune et al.	Dec 2008	B2
7461630	Maruo et al.	Dec 2008	B2
7475746	Tsukada et al.	Jan 2009	B2
7478689	Sugden et al.	Jan 2009	B1
7483775	Karaba et al.	Jan 2009	B2
7486199	Tengler et al.	Feb 2009	B2
7505836	Okuyama et al.	Mar 2009	B2
7506633	Cowan	Mar 2009	B2
7510060	Izawa et al.	Mar 2009	B2
7523737	Deguchi et al.	Apr 2009	B2
7526665	Kim et al.	Apr 2009	B2
7529609	Braunberger et al.	May 2009	B2
7530345	Plante et al.	May 2009	B1
7533750	Simmons et al.	May 2009	B2
7533890	Chiao	May 2009	B2
7571039	Chen et al.	Aug 2009	B2
7571073	Gamberini et al.	Aug 2009	B2
7598849	Gallant et al.	Oct 2009	B2
7600762	Yasui et al.	Oct 2009	B2
7611154	Delaney	Nov 2009	B2
7630807	Yoshimura et al.	Dec 2009	B2
7641208	Barron et al.	Jan 2010	B1
7644934	Mizuta	Jan 2010	B2
7647143	Ito et al.	Jan 2010	B2
7684911	Seifert et al.	Mar 2010	B2
7707012	Stephens	Apr 2010	B2
7711468	Levy	May 2010	B1
7740256	Davis	Jun 2010	B2
7751959	Boon et al.	Jul 2010	B2
7771313	Cullen et al.	Aug 2010	B2
7778741	Rao et al.	Aug 2010	B2
7810818	Bushko	Oct 2010	B2
7815205	Barth et al.	Oct 2010	B2
7822514	Erickson	Oct 2010	B1
7823106	Baker et al.	Oct 2010	B2
7823891	Bushko et al.	Nov 2010	B2
7826959	Namari et al.	Nov 2010	B2
7862061	Jung	Jan 2011	B2
7885750	Lu	Feb 2011	B2
7899594	Messih et al.	Mar 2011	B2
7912610	Saito et al.	Mar 2011	B2
7926822	Ohletz et al.	Apr 2011	B2
7940383	Noguchi et al.	May 2011	B2
7942427	Lloyd	May 2011	B2
7950486	Van Bronkhorst et al.	May 2011	B2
7959163	Beno et al.	Jun 2011	B2
7962261	Bushko et al.	Jun 2011	B2
7963529	Oteman et al.	Jun 2011	B2
7970512	Lu et al.	Jun 2011	B2
7975794	Simmons	Jul 2011	B2
7984915	Post et al.	Jul 2011	B2
8005596	Lu et al.	Aug 2011	B2
8027775	Takenaka et al.	Sep 2011	B2
8032281	Bujak et al.	Oct 2011	B2
8050818	Mizuta	Nov 2011	B2
8050857	Lu et al.	Nov 2011	B2
8056392	Ryan et al.	Nov 2011	B2
8065054	Tarasinski et al.	Nov 2011	B2
8075002	Pionke et al.	Dec 2011	B1
8086371	Furuichi et al.	Dec 2011	B2
8087676	McIntyre	Jan 2012	B2
8095268	Parison et al.	Jan 2012	B2
8108104	Hrovat et al.	Jan 2012	B2
8113521	Lin et al.	Feb 2012	B2
8116938	Itagaki et al.	Feb 2012	B2
8121757	Song et al.	Feb 2012	B2
8170749	Mizuta	May 2012	B2
8190327	Poilbout	May 2012	B2
8195361	Kajino et al.	Jun 2012	B2
8204666	Takeuchi et al.	Jun 2012	B2
8209087	Haegglund et al.	Jun 2012	B2
8214106	Ghoneim et al.	Jul 2012	B2
8219262	Stiller	Jul 2012	B2
8229642	Post et al.	Jul 2012	B2
8260496	Gagliano	Sep 2012	B2
8271175	Takenaka et al.	Sep 2012	B2
8296010	Hirao et al.	Oct 2012	B2
8308170	Van Der Knaap et al.	Nov 2012	B2
8315764	Chen et al.	Nov 2012	B2
8315769	Braunberger et al.	Nov 2012	B2
8321088	Brown et al.	Nov 2012	B2
8322497	Marjoram et al.	Dec 2012	B2
8352143	Lu et al.	Jan 2013	B2
8355840	Ammon et al.	Jan 2013	B2
8359149	Shin	Jan 2013	B2
8374748	Jolly	Feb 2013	B2
8376373	Conradie	Feb 2013	B2
8396627	Jung et al.	Mar 2013	B2
8417417	Chen et al.	Apr 2013	B2
8424832	Robbins et al.	Apr 2013	B2
8428839	Braunberger et al.	Apr 2013	B2
8434774	Leclerc et al.	May 2013	B2
8437935	Braunberger et al.	May 2013	B2
8442720	Lu et al.	May 2013	B2
8444161	Leclerc et al.	May 2013	B2
8447489	Murata et al.	May 2013	B2
8457841	Knoll et al.	Jun 2013	B2
8473157	Savaresi et al.	Jun 2013	B2
8517395	Knox et al.	Aug 2013	B2
8532896	Braunberger et al.	Sep 2013	B2
8534397	Grajkowski et al.	Sep 2013	B2
8534413	Nelson et al.	Sep 2013	B2
8548678	Ummethala et al.	Oct 2013	B2
8550221	Paulides et al.	Oct 2013	B2
8571776	Braunberger et al.	Oct 2013	B2
8573605	Di Maria	Nov 2013	B2
8626388	Oikawa	Jan 2014	B2
8626389	Sidlosky	Jan 2014	B2
8641052	Kondo et al.	Feb 2014	B2
8645024	Daniels	Feb 2014	B2
8666596	Arenz	Mar 2014	B2
8672106	Laird et al.	Mar 2014	B2
8672337	van der Knaap et al.	Mar 2014	B2
8676440	Watson	Mar 2014	B2
8682530	Nakamura	Mar 2014	B2
8682550	Nelson et al.	Mar 2014	B2
8682558	Braunberger et al.	Mar 2014	B2
8684887	Krosschell	Apr 2014	B2
8700260	Jolly et al.	Apr 2014	B2
8712599	Westpfahl	Apr 2014	B1
8712639	Lu et al.	Apr 2014	B2
8718872	Hirao et al.	May 2014	B2
8725351	Selden et al.	May 2014	B1
8725380	Braunberger et al.	May 2014	B2
8731774	Yang	May 2014	B2
8770594	Tominaga et al.	Jul 2014	B2
8827019	Deckard et al.	Sep 2014	B2
8903617	Braunberger et al.	Dec 2014	B2
8954251	Braunberger et al.	Feb 2015	B2
8972712	Braunberger	Mar 2015	B2
8994494	Koenig et al.	Mar 2015	B2
8997952	Goetz	Apr 2015	B2
9010768	Kinsman et al.	Apr 2015	B2
9027937	Ryan	May 2015	B2
9038791	Marking	May 2015	B2
9123249	Braunberger et al.	Sep 2015	B2
9151384	Kohler et al.	Oct 2015	B2
9162573	Grajkowski et al.	Oct 2015	B2
9205717	Brady et al.	Dec 2015	B2
9211924	Safranski et al.	Dec 2015	B2
9327726	Braunberger et al.	May 2016	B2
9365251	Safranski et al.	Jun 2016	B2
9371002	Braunberger	Jun 2016	B2
9381810	Nelson et al.	Jul 2016	B2
9381902	Braunberger et al.	Jul 2016	B2
9428242	Ginther et al.	Aug 2016	B2
9429235	Krosschell et al.	Aug 2016	B2
9527362	Scheuerell et al.	Dec 2016	B2
9643538	Braunberger et al.	May 2017	B2
9643616	Lu	May 2017	B2
9662954	Scheuerell et al.	May 2017	B2
9665418	Arnott	May 2017	B2
9695899	Smith	Jul 2017	B2
9771084	Norstad	Sep 2017	B2
9802621	Gillingham et al.	Oct 2017	B2
9809195	Giese et al.	Nov 2017	B2
9830821	Braunberger et al.	Nov 2017	B2
9834184	Braunberger	Dec 2017	B2
9834215	Braunberger et al.	Dec 2017	B2
9855986	Braunberger et al.	Jan 2018	B2
9868385	Braunberger	Jan 2018	B2
9878693	Braunberger	Jan 2018	B2
9920810	Smeljanskij	Mar 2018	B2
9945298	Braunberger et al.	Apr 2018	B2
10005335	Brady et al.	Jun 2018	B2
10046694	Braunberger et al.	Aug 2018	B2
10086698	Grajkowski et al.	Oct 2018	B2
10154377	Post et al.	Dec 2018	B2
10195989	Braunberger et al.	Feb 2019	B2
10202159	Braunberger et al.	Feb 2019	B2
10220765	Braunberger	Mar 2019	B2
10227041	Braunberger et al.	Mar 2019	B2
10266164	Braunberger	Apr 2019	B2
10363941	Norstad	Jul 2019	B2
10384682	Braunberger et al.	Aug 2019	B2
10391989	Braunberger	Aug 2019	B2
10406884	Oakden-Graus et al.	Sep 2019	B2
10410520	Braunberger et al.	Sep 2019	B2
10436125	Braunberger et al.	Oct 2019	B2
10578184	Gilbert	Mar 2020	B2
10704640	Galasso	Jul 2020	B2
10723408	Pelot	Jul 2020	B2
10731724	Laird	Aug 2020	B2
10774896	Hamers	Sep 2020	B2
10933710	Tong	Mar 2021	B2
10981429	Tsiaras	Apr 2021	B2
11001120	Cox	May 2021	B2
11110913	Krosschell et al.	Sep 2021	B2
11124036	Brady et al.	Sep 2021	B2
11148748	Galasso	Oct 2021	B2
11162555	Haugen	Nov 2021	B2
11192424	Tabata	Dec 2021	B2
11279198	Marking	Mar 2022	B2
11285964	Norstad et al.	Mar 2022	B2
11306798	Cox	Apr 2022	B2
11351834	Cox	Jun 2022	B2
11400784	Brady et al.	Aug 2022	B2
11400785	Brady et al.	Aug 2022	B2
11400786	Brady et al.	Aug 2022	B2
11400787	Brady et al.	Aug 2022	B2
11413924	Cox	Aug 2022	B2
11448283	Strickland	Sep 2022	B2
11472252	Tong	Oct 2022	B2
11479075	Graus et al.	Oct 2022	B2
20010005803	Cochofel et al.	Jun 2001	A1
20010021887	Obradovich et al.	Sep 2001	A1
20010035166	Kerns et al.	Nov 2001	A1
20010052756	Noro et al.	Dec 2001	A1
20020082752	Obradovich	Jun 2002	A1
20020113185	Ziegler	Aug 2002	A1
20020113393	Urbach	Aug 2002	A1
20020115357	Hiki et al.	Aug 2002	A1
20020125675	Clements et al.	Sep 2002	A1
20020177949	Katayama et al.	Nov 2002	A1
20020193935	Hashimoto et al.	Dec 2002	A1
20030014174	Giers	Jan 2003	A1
20030036360	Russell et al.	Feb 2003	A1
20030036823	Mahvi	Feb 2003	A1
20030038411	Sendrea	Feb 2003	A1
20030046000	Morita et al.	Mar 2003	A1
20030047994	Koh	Mar 2003	A1
20030054831	Bardmesser	Mar 2003	A1
20030062025	Samoto et al.	Apr 2003	A1
20030125857	Madau et al.	Jul 2003	A1
20030187555	Lutz et al.	Oct 2003	A1
20030200016	Spillane et al.	Oct 2003	A1
20030205867	Coelingh et al.	Nov 2003	A1
20040010383	Lu et al.	Jan 2004	A1
20040015275	Herzog et al.	Jan 2004	A1
20040024515	Troupe et al.	Feb 2004	A1
20040026880	Bundy	Feb 2004	A1
20040034460	Folkerts et al.	Feb 2004	A1
20040041358	Hrovat et al.	Mar 2004	A1
20040090020	Braswell	May 2004	A1
20040094912	Niwa et al.	May 2004	A1
20040107591	Cuddy	Jun 2004	A1
20040216550	Fallak et al.	Nov 2004	A1
20040226538	Cannone et al.	Nov 2004	A1
20040245034	Miyamoto et al.	Dec 2004	A1
20050004736	Belcher et al.	Jan 2005	A1
20050023789	Suzuki et al.	Feb 2005	A1
20050027428	Glora et al.	Feb 2005	A1
20050045148	Katsuragawa et al.	Mar 2005	A1
20050077696	Ogawa	Apr 2005	A1
20050098964	Brown	May 2005	A1
20050131604	Lu	Jun 2005	A1
20050133006	Frenz et al.	Jun 2005	A1
20050149246	McLeod	Jul 2005	A1
20050155571	Hanasato	Jul 2005	A1
20050217953	Bossard	Oct 2005	A1
20050267663	Naono et al.	Dec 2005	A1
20050279244	Bose	Dec 2005	A1
20050280219	Brown	Dec 2005	A1
20050284446	Okuyama	Dec 2005	A1
20060014606	Sporl et al.	Jan 2006	A1
20060017240	Laurent et al.	Jan 2006	A1
20060018636	Watanabe et al.	Jan 2006	A1
20060052909	Cherouny	Mar 2006	A1
20060064223	Voss	Mar 2006	A1
20060065239	Tsukada et al.	Mar 2006	A1
20060112930	Matsuda et al.	Jun 2006	A1
20060162681	Kawasaki	Jul 2006	A1
20060191739	Koga	Aug 2006	A1
20060224294	Kawazoe et al.	Oct 2006	A1
20060226611	Xiao et al.	Oct 2006	A1
20060229811	Herman et al.	Oct 2006	A1
20060235602	Ishida et al.	Oct 2006	A1
20060243246	Yokoi	Nov 2006	A1
20060243247	Yokoi	Nov 2006	A1
20060247840	Matsuda et al.	Nov 2006	A1
20060270520	Owens	Nov 2006	A1
20060278197	Takamatsu et al.	Dec 2006	A1
20060284387	Klees	Dec 2006	A1
20070007742	Allen	Jan 2007	A1
20070028888	Jasem	Feb 2007	A1
20070039770	Barrette et al.	Feb 2007	A1
20070045028	Yamamoto et al.	Mar 2007	A1
20070050095	Nelson et al.	Mar 2007	A1
20070050125	Matsuda et al.	Mar 2007	A1
20070068490	Matsuda	Mar 2007	A1
20070073461	Fielder	Mar 2007	A1
20070096672	Endo et al.	May 2007	A1
20070118268	Inoue et al.	May 2007	A1
20070119419	Matsuda	May 2007	A1
20070120332	Bushko et al.	May 2007	A1
20070126628	Lalik et al.	Jun 2007	A1
20070142167	Kanafani et al.	Jun 2007	A1
20070151544	Arai et al.	Jul 2007	A1
20070158920	Delaney	Jul 2007	A1
20070168125	Petrik	Jul 2007	A1
20070169744	Maruo et al.	Jul 2007	A1
20070178779	Takada et al.	Aug 2007	A1
20070192001	Tatsumi et al.	Aug 2007	A1
20070213920	Igarashi et al.	Sep 2007	A1
20070239331	Kaplan	Oct 2007	A1
20070240917	Duceppe	Oct 2007	A1
20070244619	Peterson	Oct 2007	A1
20070246010	Okuyama et al.	Oct 2007	A1
20070247291	Masuda et al.	Oct 2007	A1
20070255462	Masuda et al.	Nov 2007	A1
20070255466	Chiao	Nov 2007	A1
20070260372	Langer	Nov 2007	A1
20070271026	Hijikata	Nov 2007	A1
20080004773	Maeda	Jan 2008	A1
20080015767	Masuda et al.	Jan 2008	A1
20080022969	Frenz et al.	Jan 2008	A1
20080059034	Lu	Mar 2008	A1
20080078355	Maehara et al.	Apr 2008	A1
20080091309	Walker	Apr 2008	A1
20080114521	Doering	May 2008	A1
20080115761	Deguchi et al.	May 2008	A1
20080119984	Hrovat et al.	May 2008	A1
20080172155	Takamatsu et al.	Jul 2008	A1
20080178838	Ota	Jul 2008	A1
20080178839	Oshima et al.	Jul 2008	A1
20080178840	Oshima et al.	Jul 2008	A1
20080183353	Post et al.	Jul 2008	A1
20080243334	Bujak et al.	Oct 2008	A1
20080243336	Fitzgibbons	Oct 2008	A1
20080269989	Brenner et al.	Oct 2008	A1
20080275606	Tarasinski et al.	Nov 2008	A1
20080287256	Unno	Nov 2008	A1
20080300768	Hijikata	Dec 2008	A1
20090008890	Woodford	Jan 2009	A1
20090020966	Germain	Jan 2009	A1
20090037051	Shimizu et al.	Feb 2009	A1
20090071437	Samoto et al.	Mar 2009	A1
20090076699	Osaki et al.	Mar 2009	A1
20090093928	Getman et al.	Apr 2009	A1
20090095252	Yamada	Apr 2009	A1
20090095254	Yamada	Apr 2009	A1
20090096598	Tengler et al.	Apr 2009	A1
20090108546	Ohletz et al.	Apr 2009	A1
20090132154	Fuwa et al.	May 2009	A1
20090171546	Tozuka et al.	Jul 2009	A1
20090173562	Namari et al.	Jul 2009	A1
20090229568	Nakagawa	Sep 2009	A1
20090234534	Stempnik et al.	Sep 2009	A1
20090240427	Siereveld et al.	Sep 2009	A1
20090243339	Orr et al.	Oct 2009	A1
20090254249	Ghoneim et al.	Oct 2009	A1
20090254259	The	Oct 2009	A1
20090261542	McIntyre	Oct 2009	A1
20090287392	Thomas	Nov 2009	A1
20090301830	Kinsman et al.	Dec 2009	A1
20090308682	Ripley et al.	Dec 2009	A1
20090312147	Oshima et al.	Dec 2009	A1
20090321167	Simmons	Dec 2009	A1
20100012399	Hansen	Jan 2010	A1
20100016120	Dickinson et al.	Jan 2010	A1
20100017059	Lu et al.	Jan 2010	A1
20100017070	Doering et al.	Jan 2010	A1
20100023236	Morgan et al.	Jan 2010	A1
20100057297	Itagaki et al.	Mar 2010	A1
20100059964	Morris	Mar 2010	A1
20100109277	Furrer	May 2010	A1
20100113214	Krueger et al.	May 2010	A1
20100121529	Savaresi et al.	May 2010	A1
20100131131	Kamio et al.	May 2010	A1
20100138142	Pease	Jun 2010	A1
20100140009	Kamen et al.	Jun 2010	A1
20100145579	O'Brien	Jun 2010	A1
20100145581	Hou	Jun 2010	A1
20100145595	Bellistri et al.	Jun 2010	A1
20100152969	Li et al.	Jun 2010	A1
20100181416	Sakamoto et al.	Jul 2010	A1
20100203933	Eyzaguirre et al.	Aug 2010	A1
20100211261	Sasaki et al.	Aug 2010	A1
20100219004	MacKenzie	Sep 2010	A1
20100230876	Inoue et al.	Sep 2010	A1
20100238129	Nakanishi et al.	Sep 2010	A1
20100252972	Cox et al.	Oct 2010	A1
20100253018	Peterson	Oct 2010	A1
20100259018	Honig et al.	Oct 2010	A1
20100276906	Galasso et al.	Nov 2010	A1
20100282210	Itagaki	Nov 2010	A1
20100301571	van der Knaap et al.	Dec 2010	A1
20110022266	Ippolito	Jan 2011	A1
20110035089	Hirao et al.	Feb 2011	A1
20110035105	Jolly	Feb 2011	A1
20110036656	Nicoson	Feb 2011	A1
20110074123	Fought et al.	Mar 2011	A1
20110109060	Earle et al.	May 2011	A1
20110153158	Acocella	Jun 2011	A1
20110166744	Lu et al.	Jul 2011	A1
20110186360	Brehob et al.	Aug 2011	A1
20110190972	Timmons et al.	Aug 2011	A1
20110270509	Whitney et al.	Nov 2011	A1
20110297462	Grajkowski et al.	Dec 2011	A1
20110297463	Grajkowski et al.	Dec 2011	A1
20110301824	Nelson et al.	Dec 2011	A1
20110301825	Grajkowski et al.	Dec 2011	A1
20110307155	Simard	Dec 2011	A1
20120017871	Matsuda	Jan 2012	A1
20120018263	Marking	Jan 2012	A1
20120029770	Hirao et al.	Feb 2012	A1
20120053790	Oikawa	Mar 2012	A1
20120053791	Harada	Mar 2012	A1
20120055745	Buettner et al.	Mar 2012	A1
20120065860	Isaji et al.	Mar 2012	A1
20120078470	Hirao et al.	Mar 2012	A1
20120119454	Di Maria	May 2012	A1
20120136506	Takeuchi et al.	May 2012	A1
20120139328	Brown et al.	Jun 2012	A1
20120168268	Bruno et al.	Jul 2012	A1
20120191301	Benyo et al.	Jul 2012	A1
20120191302	Sternecker et al.	Jul 2012	A1
20120222927	Marking	Sep 2012	A1
20120247888	Chikuma et al.	Oct 2012	A1
20120253601	Ichida et al.	Oct 2012	A1
20120265402	Post et al.	Oct 2012	A1
20120277953	Savaresi et al.	Nov 2012	A1
20130009350	Wolf-Monheim	Jan 2013	A1
20130018559	Epple et al.	Jan 2013	A1
20130030650	Norris et al.	Jan 2013	A1
20130041545	Baer et al.	Feb 2013	A1
20130060423	Jolly	Mar 2013	A1
20130060444	Matsunaga et al.	Mar 2013	A1
20130074487	Herold et al.	Mar 2013	A1
20130079988	Hirao et al.	Mar 2013	A1
20130092468	Nelson et al.	Apr 2013	A1
20130096784	Kohler et al.	Apr 2013	A1
20130096785	Kohler et al.	Apr 2013	A1
20130096793	Krosschell	Apr 2013	A1
20130103259	Eng et al.	Apr 2013	A1
20130124045	Suzuki et al.	May 2013	A1
20130158799	Kamimura	Jun 2013	A1
20130161921	Cheng et al.	Jun 2013	A1
20130173119	Izawa	Jul 2013	A1
20130190980	Ramirez Ruiz	Jul 2013	A1
20130197732	Pearlman et al.	Aug 2013	A1
20130197756	Ramirez Ruiz	Aug 2013	A1
20130218414	Meitinger et al.	Aug 2013	A1
20130226405	Koumura et al.	Aug 2013	A1
20130253770	Nishikawa et al.	Sep 2013	A1
20130261893	Yang	Oct 2013	A1
20130304319	Daniels	Nov 2013	A1
20130328277	Ryan et al.	Dec 2013	A1
20130334394	Parison et al.	Dec 2013	A1
20130338869	Tsumano	Dec 2013	A1
20130341143	Brown	Dec 2013	A1
20130345933	Norton et al.	Dec 2013	A1
20140001717	Giovanardi et al.	Jan 2014	A1
20140005888	Bose et al.	Jan 2014	A1
20140012467	Knox et al.	Jan 2014	A1
20140038755	Ijichi et al.	Feb 2014	A1
20140046539	Wijffels et al.	Feb 2014	A1
20140058606	Hilton	Feb 2014	A1
20140095022	Cashman et al.	Apr 2014	A1
20140125018	Brady et al.	May 2014	A1
20140129083	O'Connor et al.	May 2014	A1
20140131971	Hou	May 2014	A1
20140136048	Ummethala et al.	May 2014	A1
20140156143	Evangelou et al.	Jun 2014	A1
20140167372	Kim et al.	Jun 2014	A1
20140232082	Oshita	Aug 2014	A1
20140239602	Blankenship et al.	Aug 2014	A1
20140316653	Kikuchi et al.	Oct 2014	A1
20140353933	Hawksworth et al.	Dec 2014	A1
20140358373	Kikuchi et al.	Dec 2014	A1
20150039199	Kikuchi	Feb 2015	A1
20150046034	Kikuchi	Feb 2015	A1
20150057885	Brady et al.	Feb 2015	A1
20150081170	Kikuchi	Mar 2015	A1
20150081171	Ericksen et al.	Mar 2015	A1
20150084290	Norton et al.	Mar 2015	A1
20150217778	Fairgrieve et al.	Aug 2015	A1
20150329141	Preijert	Nov 2015	A1
20160059660	Brady et al.	Mar 2016	A1
20160107498	Yamazaki	Apr 2016	A1
20160121689	Park et al.	May 2016	A1
20160121905	Gillingham et al.	May 2016	A1
20160121924	Norstad	May 2016	A1
20160153516	Marking	Jun 2016	A1
20160200164	Tabata	Jul 2016	A1
20160214455	Reul et al.	Jul 2016	A1
20160347142	Seong et al.	Dec 2016	A1
20170008363	Ericksen et al.	Jan 2017	A1
20170043778	Kelly	Feb 2017	A1
20170087950	Brady et al.	Mar 2017	A1
20170129298	Lu et al.	May 2017	A1
20170129301	Harvey	May 2017	A1
20170129390	Akaza	May 2017	A1
20170313152	Kang	Nov 2017	A1
20170321729	Melcher	Nov 2017	A1
20180001729	Goffer et al.	Jan 2018	A1
20180009443	Norstad	Jan 2018	A1
20180126817	Russell et al.	May 2018	A1
20180141543	Krosschell et al.	May 2018	A1
20180264902	Schroeder	Sep 2018	A1
20180297435	Brady et al.	Oct 2018	A1
20180339566	Ericksen et al.	Nov 2018	A1
20180354336	Oakden-Graus	Dec 2018	A1
20180361853	Grajkowski et al.	Dec 2018	A1
20190100071	Tsiaras et al.	Apr 2019	A1
20190118604	Suplin et al.	Apr 2019	A1
20190118898	Ericksen et al.	Apr 2019	A1
20190389478	Norstad	Dec 2019	A1
20200016953	Oakden-Graus et al.	Jan 2020	A1
20200096075	Lindblad	Mar 2020	A1
20200156430	Oakden-Graus et al.	May 2020	A1
20200223279	McKeefery	Jul 2020	A1
20200269648	Halper	Aug 2020	A1
20200282786	Lorenz	Sep 2020	A1
20210031579	Booth	Feb 2021	A1
20210070124	Brady et al.	Mar 2021	A1
20210070125	Brady et al.	Mar 2021	A1
20210070126	Brady et al.	Mar 2021	A1
20210086578	Brady et al.	Mar 2021	A1
20210088100	Woelfel	Mar 2021	A1
20210102596	Malmborg	Apr 2021	A1
20210108696	Randall	Apr 2021	A1
20210162830	Graus et al.	Jun 2021	A1
20210162833	Graus et al.	Jun 2021	A1
20210206263	Grajkowski et al.	Jul 2021	A1
20210300140	Ericksen	Sep 2021	A1
20210316716	Krosschell et al.	Oct 2021	A1
20210362806	Hedlund et al.	Nov 2021	A1
20210379957	Tabata	Dec 2021	A1
20220016949	Graus et al.	Jan 2022	A1
20220032708	Tabata	Feb 2022	A1
20220041029	Randall	Feb 2022	A1
20220056976	Anderson	Feb 2022	A1
20220088988	Menden	Mar 2022	A1
20220266844	Norstad et al.	Aug 2022	A1
20220324282	Brady et al.	Oct 2022	A1
20220388362	Graus et al.	Dec 2022	A1
20220397194	Kohler	Dec 2022	A1
20230013665	Gagnon	Jan 2023	A1

Foreign Referenced Citations (138)

Number	Date	Country
2012323853	May 2014	AU
2015328248	May 2017	AU
2260292	Jul 2000	CA
2851626	Apr 2013	CA
2963790	Apr 2016	CA
2965309	May 2016	CA
3018906	Apr 2019	CA
1129646	Aug 1996	CN
2255379	Jun 1997	CN
2544987	Apr 2003	CN
1660615	Aug 2005	CN
1664337	Sep 2005	CN
1746803	Mar 2006	CN
1749048	Mar 2006	CN
1810530	Aug 2006	CN
101417596	Apr 2009	CN
101549626	Oct 2009	CN
201723635	Jan 2011	CN
102069813	May 2011	CN
102168732	Aug 2011	CN
201914049	Aug 2011	CN
202040257	Nov 2011	CN
102616104	Aug 2012	CN
102627063	Aug 2012	CN
102678808	Sep 2012	CN
202449059	Sep 2012	CN
102729760	Oct 2012	CN
202468817	Oct 2012	CN
102840265	Dec 2012	CN
103079934	May 2013	CN
103303088	Sep 2013	CN
103318184	Sep 2013	CN
103507588	Jan 2014	CN
104755348	Jul 2015	CN
105564437	May 2016	CN
106183688	Dec 2016	CN
106794736	May 2017	CN
103857576	Aug 2017	CN
107406094	Nov 2017	CN
107521449	Dec 2017	CN
107521499	Dec 2017	CN
3811541	Oct 1988	DE
4017255	Dec 1990	DE
4323589	Jan 1994	DE
4328551	Mar 1994	DE
19508302	Sep 1996	DE
19922745	Dec 2000	DE
60029553	Jul 2007	DE
102010020544	Jan 2011	DE
102012101278	Aug 2013	DE
0361726	Apr 1990	EP
0398804	Nov 1990	EP
0403803	Dec 1990	EP
0544108	Jun 1993	EP
0546295	Jun 1993	EP
0405123	Oct 1993	EP
0473766	Feb 1994	EP
0691226	Jan 1996	EP
0745965	Dec 1996	EP
0829383	Mar 1998	EP
0829383	Mar 1998	EP
0953470	Nov 1999	EP
1022169	Dec 1999	EP
1005006	May 2000	EP
1022169	Jul 2000	EP
1172239	Jan 2002	EP
1219475	Jul 2002	EP
1238833	Sep 2002	EP
1238833	Sep 2002	EP
1258706	Nov 2002	EP
1355209	Oct 2003	EP
1449688	Aug 2004	EP
1481876	Dec 2004	EP
1164897	Feb 2005	EP
2123933	Nov 2009	EP
2216191	Aug 2010	EP
2268496	Jan 2011	EP
2397349	Dec 2011	EP
2517904	Oct 2012	EP
3150454	Apr 2017	EP
3204248	Aug 2017	EP
2935642	Mar 2010	FR
2233939	Jan 1991	GB
2234211	Jan 1991	GB
2259063	Mar 1993	GB
2262491	Jun 1993	GB
2329728	Mar 1999	GB
2377415	Jan 2003	GB
2377415	Jan 2003	GB
2412448	Sep 2005	GB
2441348	Mar 2008	GB
2445291	Jul 2008	GB
20130233813	Aug 2014	IN
01-208212	Aug 1989	JP
02-155815	Jun 1990	JP
03-137209	Jun 1991	JP
04-368211	Dec 1992	JP
05-178055	Jul 1993	JP
06-156036	Jun 1994	JP
07-117433	May 1995	JP
07-186668	Jul 1995	JP
08-332940	Dec 1996	JP
09-203640	Aug 1997	JP
2898949	Jun 1999	JP
2956221	Oct 1999	JP
11-321754	Nov 1999	JP
3087539	Sep 2000	JP
2001-018623	Jan 2001	JP
3137209	Feb 2001	JP
2001-121939	May 2001	JP
2001-233228	Aug 2001	JP
2002-219921	Aug 2002	JP
2003-328806	Nov 2003	JP
2008-273246	Nov 2008	JP
2009-035220	Feb 2009	JP
2009-160964	Jul 2009	JP
4584510	Nov 2010	JP
2011-126405	Jun 2011	JP
5149443	Feb 2013	JP
2013-173490	Sep 2013	JP
2013-189109	Sep 2013	JP
10-2008-0090833	Oct 2008	KR
M299089	Oct 2006	TW
9210693	Jun 1992	WO
9605975	Feb 1996	WO
9727388	Jul 1997	WO
9959860	Nov 1999	WO
0053057	Sep 2000	WO
0220318	Mar 2002	WO
2004009433	Jan 2004	WO
2004098941	Nov 2004	WO
2009008816	Jan 2009	WO
2009133000	Nov 2009	WO
2012028923	Mar 2012	WO
2015004676	Jan 2015	WO
2016057555	Apr 2016	WO
2016069405	May 2016	WO
2020089837	May 2020	WO

Non-Patent Literature Citations (55)

Entry
Scott Tsuneishi, “2005 Subaru WRX Sti—Blitz Throttle Controller,” Oct. 1, 2008, Super Street Online, <http://www.superstreetonline.com/how-to/engine/turp-0810-2005-subam-wrx-sti-blitz-throttle-controller>; see appended screenshot retrived from the Internet Nov. 30, 2015; 11 pages.
Throttle Controller, Blitz Power USA, <http://www.blitzpowerusa.com/products/throcon/throcon.html>.; earliest known archive via Internet Archive Wayback Machine Sep. 14, 2009: <http://web.archive.Org/web/20090914102957/http://www.blitzpowerusa.com/products/throcon/throcon.html>.; see appended screenshot.
Trebi-Ollennu et al., Adaptive Fuzzy Throttle Control of an All Terrain Vehicle, 2001, Abstract.
Unno et al.; Development of Electronically Controlled DVT Focusing on Rider's Intention of Acceleration and Deceleration; SAE International; Oct. 30, 2007.
Written Opinion issued by the International Searching Authority, dated Jun. 7, 2018, for related International Patent Application No. PCT/US2017/062303; 22 pages.
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, dated Aug. 31, 2018, for International Patent Application No. PCT/US2018/036383; 8 pages.
3Drive Compact Throttle Controller, Blitz Power USA, <http://pivotjp.com/product/thf_c/the.html>; earliest known archive via Internet Archive Wayback Machine Aug. 27, 2009; <http://web.archive.org/web/20090827154111/http://pivotjp.com/product/thf_c/the.html>; see appended screenshot retrieved from the Internet Nov. 30, 2015; 2 pages.
Ackermann et al., “Robust steering control for active rollover avoidance of vehicles with elevated center of gravity”, Jul. 1998, pp. 1-6.
Article 34 Amendment, issued by the European Patent Office, dated Aug. 29, 2016, for related International patent application No. PCT/US2015/057132; 34 pages.
Bhattacharyya et al., “An Approach to Rollover Stability In Vehicles Using Suspension Relative Position Sensors And Lateral Acceleration Sensors”, Dec. 2005, 100 pages.
Compare: Three Selectable Terrain Management Systems, Independent Land Rover News Blog, retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20120611082023/ . . . ; archive date Jun. 11, 2012; 4 pages.
EDFC Active Adjust Damping Force Instantly according to G-Force & Speed, TEIN, retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20140528221849/ . . . ; archive date May 28, 2014; 18 pages.
EDFC Active Adjust Damping Force Instantly according to G-Force & Speed, TEIN, retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20160515190809/ . . . ; archive date May 15, 2016; 22 pages.
English translation of Examination Report issued by the State Intellectual Property Office of People's Republic of China, dated Jun. 1, 2015, for Chinese Patent Application No. 201180037804.3; 13 pages.
European Search Report issued by the European Patent Office, dated Feb. 10, 2017, for corresponding European patent application No. 16193006; 7 pages.
Examination Report issued by the European Patent Office, dated Aug. 1, 2016, for European Patent Application No. 11724931.8; 5 pages.
Examination Report issued by the State Intellectual Property Office of People's Republic of China, dated Feb. 3, 2016, for Chinese Patent Application No. 201180037804.3; 14 pages.
Examination Report No. 1 issued by the Australian Government IP Australia, dated Apr. 15, 2014, for Australian Patent Application No. 2011261248; 5 pages.
Examination Report No. 1 issued by the Australian Government IP Australia, dated Aug. 10, 2018, for Australian Patent Application No. 2015328248; 2 pages.
Examination Report No. 1 issued by the Australian Government IP Australia, dated Jan. 12, 2017, for corresponding Australian patent application No. 2015271880; 6 pages.
Examination Report No. 2 issued by the Australian Government IP Australia, dated Jun. 29, 2017, for Australian Patent Application No. 2015271880; 8 pages.
Examination Report No. 2 issued by the Australian Government IP Australia, dated May 29, 2015, for Australian Patent Application No. 2011261248; 8 pages.
Examination Report No. 3 issued by the Australian Government IP Australia, dated Dec. 1, 2017, for Australian Patent Application No. 2015271880; 7 pages.
Extended European Search Report issued by the European Patent Office, dated Sep. 7, 2018, for European Patent Application No. 18183050.6; 7 pages.
First drive: Ferrari's easy-drive supercar, GoAuto.com.au, Feb. 16, 2010; 4 pages.
Gangadurai et al.; Development of control strategy for optimal control of a continuously variable transmission operating in combination with a throttle controlled engine; SAE International; Oct. 12, 2005.
Hac et al., “Improvements in vehicle handling through integrated control of chassis systems”, Int. J. of Vehicle Autonomous Systems(IJVAS), vol. 1, No. 1, 2002, pp. 83-110.
Huang et al., “Nonlinear Active Suspension Control Design Applied to a Half-Car Model”, Procccdings of the 2004 IEEE International Conference on Networking, Mar. 21-23, 2004, pp. 719-724.
Ingalls, Jake; Facebook post https://www.facebook.com/groups/877984048905836/permalink/110447996625624-2; Sep. 11, 2016; 1 page.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US15/57132, dated Jan. 30, 2017 (6 pages).
International Preliminary Report on Patentability issued by the European Patent Office, dated Apr. 11, 2017, for International Patent Application No. PCT/US2015/054296; 7 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability issued by the International Bureau of WIPO, dated Dec. 10, 2019, for International Patent Application No. PCT/US2018/036383; 8 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability issued by the International Bureau of WIPO, dated May 12, 2015, for International Application No. PCT/US2013/068937; 7 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability issued by The International Bureau of WIPO, dated Dec. 4, 2012, for International Application No. PCT/US2011/039165; 9 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/IB2019/060089, dated Jun. 3, 2021, 22 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2013/068937, dated May 21, 2015, 8 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2017/062303, dated May 31, 2019, 23 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion issued by the European Patent Office, dated Feb. 18, 2014, for International Application No. PCT/US2013/068937; 11 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority for International Application No. PCT/US2011/39165, dated Jan. 3, 2012; 15 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, dated Aug. 31, 2018, for International Patent Application No. PCT/US2018/036383; 12 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/IB2019/060089, dated May 29, 2020, 24 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2013/068937, dated Feb. 26, 2014, 10 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2015/054296, dated Dec. 18, 2015, 9 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2015/057132, dated May 13, 2016, 17 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2021/033199, dated Aug. 23, 2021, 14 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2021/042230, dated Dec. 17, 2021, 4 pages.
International Search Report issued by the International Searching Authority, dated Jun. 7, 2018, for related International Patent Application No. PCT/US2017/062303; 7 pages.
International Search Report of the International Searching Authority, dated Aug. 31, 2018, for International Patent Application No. PCT/US2018/036383; 7 pages.
McKay et al., Delphi Electronic Throttle Control Systems for Model Year 2000; Driver Features, System Security, and OEM Benefits. ETC for the Mass Market, Electronic Engine Controls 2000: Controls (SP-1500), SAE 2000 World Congress, Detroit, MI, Mar. 6-9, 2000, 13 pages.
Office Action issued by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, dated Apr. 21, 2017, for corresponding Canadian patent application No. 2,801,334; 3 pages.
Office Action issued by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, dated Jul. 26, 2019, for Canadian Patent Application No. 2,963,790; 3 pages.
Office Action issued by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, dated Jun. 22, 2021, for Canadian Patent Application No. 3,043,481; 3 pages.
Office Action issued by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, dated May 10, 2021, for Canadian Patent Application No. 2,890,996; 3 pages.
Office Action issued by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, dated Oct. 1, 2019, for Canadian Patent Application No. 2,965,309; 8 pages.
Office Action issued by the Mexican Patent Office, dated Jun. 25, 2014, for corresponding Mexican patent application No. MX/a/2012/014069; 2 pages.

Related Publications (1)

	Number	Date	Country
	20230079941 A1	Mar 2023	US

Continuations (3)

	Number	Date	Country
Parent	17176110	Feb 2021	US
Child	17948336		US
Parent	16529001	Aug 2019	US
Child	17176110		US
Parent	15618793	Jun 2017	US
Child	16529001		US

Adjustable vehicle suspension system

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

Field of Search

CPC

International Classifications

Disclaimer

Abstract