OPERATION

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to suspension systems of vehicles, for example electrical vehicles. The present disclosure also relates to methods of operating aforesaid suspension systems of vehicles, for example electrical vehicles. Moreover, the present disclosure relates to a software product recording on machine-readable data storage media that is executable upon computing hardware for implementing the aforesaid methods.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, a performance of a given vehicle depends upon a suspension system employed in the given vehicle along with torque, horsepower, acceleration and fuel efficiency of the given vehicle. Typically, a suspension system is employed to provide steering ability to a driver of the given vehicle and ensure comfort of passengers of the given vehicle. Furthermore, a suspension system of the given vehicle seeks to provide a high friction, for example a maximized friction, between tires (tyres) of the given vehicle and road surface supporting the given vehicle to ensure superior handling of the given vehicle. In addition, a suspension system of the given vehicle increases safety of the given vehicle and may potentially avoid road accidents. Furthermore, high performance vehicles are required to operate under standard road conditions that may include irregularities such as potholes, speed bumps, and so forth. Generally, conventional suspension systems employed in vehicles use coil suspension springs with oil-filled dampers accommodated within a volume encircled by the coil suspension springs. Such conventional suspension systems provide a fixed suspension performance characteristic that is sufficient to provide a comfortable ride on a smooth surface. However, such conventional suspension systems may not provide shock absorption on highly rough, uneven surfaces. Furthermore, a conventional suspension system may not adapt according to the surface of a road. In addition, the conventional suspension system may not adapt according to the experience desired by driver of the vehicle.

Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exist problems associated with conventional suspension systems.

SUMMARY The present disclosure seeks to provide an improved suspension system of a vehicle, for example an electrical vehicle.

Moreover, the present invention seeks to provide an improved method of operating a suspension system of a vehicle, for example an electrical vehicle. According to a first aspect, there is provided a suspension system of a vehicle, for example an electrical vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a chassis supported via suspension arrangements onto a plurality of wheels, wherein the suspension arrangements are operable to employ one or more spring-damper arrangements, characterized in that the spring damper arrangements are operable to employ a damper implemented by a piezo-electric stack vibration damper. The present disclosure seeks to provide an efficient suspension system, for a vehicle, for example an electrical vehicle, which provides adaptive damping against vibrations and shocks to be experienced by the vehicle. According to a second aspect, there is provided a method of operating a suspension system of a vehicle, for example an electrical vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a chassis supported via suspension arrangements onto a plurality of wheels, wherein the suspension arrangements are operable to employ one or more spring-damper arrangements, characterized in that the method includes arranging for the spring damper arrangements to employ a damper implemented by a piezo-electric stack vibration damper.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a software product recording on machine-readable data storage media, characterized in that the software product is executable upon computing hardware for implementing a method of operating a suspension system of a vehicle, for example an electrical vehicle.

It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

The present invention is included in the general business context, which aims to substitute vehicles powered by traditional fuels, for example gasoline or diesel, by electric vehicles. In particular, the present invention is intended for use in electric vehicles used within cities, which can be highly beneficial to the local environment due to significant reduction of gaseous emissions as well as significant reduction of noise. Overall environmental benefits can also be significant when electric vehicles are charged from renewable energy sources.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chassis of an electrical vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a spring damper arrangement, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a piezo-electric stack vibration damper of the spring damper arrangement of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the piezo-electric stack vibration damper associated with operational components of the electrical vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG.5 is an illustration of steps of a method of operating a suspension system of an electrical vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non- underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non- underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non- underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing .

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In overview, embodiments of the present disclosure are concerned with improved suspension systems of vehicles, for example electrical vehicles.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown in perspective view a chassis 100 of an electrical vehicle (not shown), in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electrical vehicle includes a suspension system associated with the chassis 100. Specifically, as shown, the electrical vehicle includes a chassis 100 supported via suspension arrangements 110 onto a plurality of wheels (not shown). The chassis 100 includes a pair of front wheels and associated therewith front wheel suspension arrangementsllO. Furthermore, the chassis 100 includes a pair of rear wheels, and associated therewith rear wheel arrangements (not shown).

Optionally, the suspension system comprises a transverse roll bar (not shown) mutually linking the front wheel suspension arrangements 110. Furthermore, the suspension arrangements 110 are operable to employ one or more spring-damper arrangements 120 and one or more coil springs 130. It will be appreciated that the spring-damper arrangements 120 are operable to dampen (or absorb) vibrations that are experienced by the electrical vehicle during operation thereof. For example, in operation, the electrical vehicle may be driven on a road with irregularities such as potholes, speed bumps, and so forth. In such instance, when the vehicle drives over such irregularities, one or more of the wheels of the vehicle may experience a vertical deflection. Furthermore, the vertical deflection of the one or more wheels is compensated by compression of the coil springs 130. However, during expansion of the compressed coil springs 130 to its original state, vibrations are experienced by the coil springs 130. In such instance, the spring-damper arrangements 120 are operable to dampen the vibrations experienced by the coil springs 130 to enable a comfortable driving experience for passengers of the electrical vehicle. Optionally, the front wheel suspension arrangements 110 include a double wishbone suspension 140 for each wheel of the pair of front wheels.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown illustrated a block diagram of the spring damper arrangements 120, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The spring damper arrangements 120 are operable to employ a damper implemented by a piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210. As shown, the spring damper arrangement 120 is coupled to the electrical vehicle via mounts 220, 230. In an example, the mount 220 is coupled to the chassis 100 (as shown in FIG.l) of the electrical vehicle and the other mount 230 is operatively coupled to a wheel of the pair of front wheels of the electrical vehicle. Optionally, the term 'piezo-electric stack vibration damper' as used herein relates to a damper that is configured to use a piezo-electric effect to dampen the vibrations generated by the wheel of the pair of front wheels of the electrical vehicle. In an embodiment, the piezoelectric stack vibration damper 210 may be arranged within the spring damper arrangement 120. Furthermore, the spring damper arrangements 120 may be operable to employ a damper including a cylinder assembly allowing concentric movement therein, and the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210 may be arranged over the cylinder assembly. Optionally, the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210 may be operable to dampen shocks, subjected to the plurality of wheels of the electrical vehicle, by generating an anti-shock element by the spring damper arrangements 120. For example, in an event wherein a spring damper arrangement of a wheel of the electrical vehicle experiences a shock of ^λ " magnitude, an associated piezo-electric stack vibration damper 120 will generate an anti-shock that may be equivalent to the magnitude ^λ " of shock.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a schematic illustration of a piezoelectric stack vibration damper 210 of the spring damper arrangement 120 of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210 includes a piezo-electric transducer stack 310. Furthermore, a sensor 320 is connected to the piezo-electric transducer stack 310 for sensing vibration forces to be experienced by the piezo-electric transducer stack 310 and generating a corresponding electrical signal. As shown, the sensor 320 is configured to feed the corresponding electrical signal to an electronic feedback loop 330 that is operable to dampen vibration transmitted to the piezo-electric stack vibration damper. Furthermore, the electronic feedback loop 330 includes a data processing arrangement 340 and an amplifier 350.

Optionally, the term 'piezo-electric transducer stack' as used herein relates to a construction of a plurality of thin layers made of piezoelectric material configured to detect vibration forces (and/or stress) experienced by the suspension arrangements 110 of the electrical vehicle. Optionally, the plurality of thin layers of the piezo-electric transducer stack 310 may be connected in a parallel connection. Furthermore, the piezo-electric transducer stack 310 is operable to detect vibration and generate vibration in the suspension arrangements 110. In an example, the piezo-electric transducer stack 310 may operate as an actuator for generating vibration

Optionally, the material employed to manufacture the piezo-electric transducer stack 310 includes one of piezo-ceramics and piezo- crystal. In an example, the piezo-ceramics material employed to manufacture the piezo-electric transducer stack 310 may be lead zirconate titanate, barium titanate, lithium niobate and so forth. In another example, the piezo-crystal material employed to manufacture the piezo-electric transducer stack 310 may be quartz, topaz, Rochelle salt and so forth. The piezo-electric transducer stack 310 is optionally fabricated from polarized Lead Zirconate Titanate ceramic material. Optionally, the term 'sensor' as used herein relates to a component which is connected to the piezo-electric transducer stack 310. Furthermore, the sensor 320 is configured to detect the amount of vibration force experienced by the piezo-electric transducer stack 310, and thereafter generate a corresponding electrical signal. Optionally, the strength of the corresponding electrical signal generated by the sensor 320 is based on the magnitude of the vibration force experienced by the piezo-electric transducer stack 310. For example, for an Newton' vibration force experienced by the piezo-electric transducer stack 310 a Ύ volt' of electrical signal is generated. In another example, the strength of the corresponding electrical signal generated by the sensor 320 is directly proportional to the_magnitude of the vibration force experienced by the piezoelectric transducer stack 310. Alternatively, the sensor 320 may be an individual piezo-electric element of the piezo-electric transducer stack 310, and the corresponding electrical signal generated may be electrically isolated from a remainder of the piezo-electric transducer stack 310 that is feed to the electronic feedback loop 330.

Optionally, the term 'electronic feedback loop' as used herein an electronic circuitry arrangement comprising programmable and/or non-programmable signal processing resources configured to process and/or amply the corresponding electrical signal generated by the sensor 320, to be sent to the piezo-electric transducer stack 310 for dampening the detected vibration. Optionally, the electronic feedback loop 330 is operable to adjust a gain and/or a phase of signal components (such as the corresponding electrical signal) coupled therethrough to avoid self-oscillation of the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210 whilst providing vibration damping within the piezo-electric stack vibration damper. Furthermore, the adjustment of a gain and/or a phase may be implemented as a function of signal frequency that is applied to the corresponding electrical signal to generate an output electrical signal for exciting, in operation, the piezo-electric transducer stack 310. Additionally, the gain and/or the phase adjustment in the corresponding electrical signal are provided to achieve dampening of the vibration experienced by the electric vehicle. Furthermore, such adjustment of a gain and/or a phase is necessary in order to avoid parasitic feedback that causes self-oscillation of the piezo-electric stack vibration damper. Furthermore, the electronic feedback loop is operable to adjust the gain and/or the phase of the signal components in an adaptive manner during driving of the electrical vehicle. In an example, the vibration forces detected by the spring damper arrangements 120 at two different time-points may be different; consequently, the corresponding electrical signal feed generated at the two different time-points will be different. In order to provide dampening to the vibration forces at two different time- points, the adjustment of the gain and/or the phase of the corresponding electrical signal feed will be different. Therefore, the adjustment of the gain and/or the phase is performed in an adaptive manner.

Optionally, the term 'data processing arrangement' as used herein relates to hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of these, configured to adjust the gain and/or a phase of signal components, such as the corresponding electrical signal. More optionally, the data processing arrangement providing adjustment of the gain and/or a phase of the corresponding electrical signal is operable to employ a Fast Fourier Transform algorithm to process signal components at specific vibration frequencies. Optionally, the corresponding electrical signal, that is fed to the electronic feedback loop 330, is sent to the data processing arrangement 340 for analysis thereof. The data processing arrangement 340 amplifies and phase shifts the corresponding electrical signal feed in a frequency dependent manner, using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and/or recursive filters. Optionally, the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm can be configured to be adaptable and provide frequency tracking . It will be appreciated that by processing the corresponding electrical signal, an amount of vibrations experienced by the electrical vehicle can be determined by the data processing arrangement 340. Furthermore, an electrical feedback, in response to the corresponding electrical signal fed to the data processing arrangement 330, provided by the data processing arrangement 340to the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210 is operable to dampen the vibrations experienced by the electrical vehicle. It will be appreciated that the electrical feedback is operable to provide an amount of reverse vibration (anti-vibration/anti-shock) in the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210 that cancels the vibration forces experienced by the piezo-electric transducer stack 310. More optionally, the electrical feedback is operable to adjust the gain and/or the phase of signal components (such as the corresponding electrical signal) coupled there-through to avoid self- oscillation of the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210 whilst providing vibration damping within the piezo-electric stack vibration damper.

Optionally, the output electrical signal generated by the data processing arrangement 340 for the corresponding electrical signal is addressed by the amplifier 350. Optionally, the term 'amplifier' as used herein relates to a device that is configured to amplify a signal input to the device to produce an output signal of g reater magnitude than the mag nitude of the input sig nal. Specifically, the amplifier 350 is configured to amplify the corresponding electrical sig nal after it has been addressed by the data processing arrangement 340, to generate the output electrical signal for exciting, in operation, the piezo-electric transducer stack 310. Optionally, the amplifier 350 of the electronic feedback loop 330 includes a switch-mode electronic power amplifier having low power dissipation (for example PWM amplifier arrangement) . Referring to FIG. 4, illustrated is a block diagram of the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210 associated with operational components of the electrical vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210 is operatively coupled to a software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement 410, associated with a graphical user interface 420. The operation of the piezo ^¬ electric stack vibration damper 210 is controlled from the software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement 410, which provides the graphical user interface 420 to receive user- adjustment parameters of the electrical vehicle suspension system.

Optionally, the term ^software application management and infotainment arrangement' (SAMI) as used herein relates to a device- functionality software and/or an operating system software configured to execute other application programs and interface between the application prog rams and associated hardware (such as display, processor, memory, CAN bus, sensor and so forth) . Specifically, the software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement 410 may be a computing platform, wherein a plurality of computer prog rams (namely "software applications") may be installed. More specifically, the software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement 410 may be operable to accept data for performing data analysis, strategic control and reporting to a user of the electrical vehicle. In an embodiment, the system software defined herein may include a firmware and operating system that may be executed by a single and/or a plurality of processors. In such embodiment, the term ^{^} firmware' used herein relates to processor routines that are stored in non-volatile memory structures such as read only memories (ROMs), flash memories, and so forth. Furthermore, the operating system may interact with the firmware for providing the computing platform in which plurality of computer programs may be installed and executed.

Optionally, the software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement 410 is operable to provide a computing platform for installing a software application for implementing various algorithms to control the operation of the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210.

Optionally, the graphical user interface (GUI) 420 facilitates interaction between a user (such as a driver of the electrical vehicle) and the software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement 410. For example, the graphical user interface (GUI) 420 may be displayed on a display terminal within the electrical vehicle, such as a display panel of a carputer. More optionally, the graphical user interface (GUI) 420 may include control options, on- screen keyboards and pull-down menus to receive input from the user. Specifically, the user may interact with the graphical user interface (GUI) 420 by employing voice input, keypad input, gesture input, and so forth. For example, the user may input information to the graphical user interface (GUI) 420 in a form of a gesture via a keypad input. In such an example, the keypad input may be provided via a virtual keyboard and/or a physical keyboard. Furthermore, the user interface may consequently interact with the user by employing text output, voice output, image output, and so forth. In an embodiment, the driver of the vehicle is operable to provide user-adjustment parameters to the software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement 410 via the graphical user interface 420 for controlling the electrical vehicle suspension system. Optionally, the software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement 410 is associated with the data processing arrangement 340 of the electrical vehicle. The electrical feedback, provided by the data processing arrangement 340 to the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210, is operable to dampen the vibrations experienced by the electrical vehicle. More optionally, the electrical feedback loop is operable to adjust a gain and/or a phase of signal components coupled therethrough to avoid self-oscillation of the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210 whilst providing vibration damping within the piezo-electric stack vibration damper. In an example, the graphical user interface 420, generated by the software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement 410 associated with the data processing arrangement 340, may accept an input from the user that is related to the functioning of the electric vehicle. In such example, the input from the user, accepted at the graphical user interface 420, may describe a preference of the user of experiencing a driving environment of uneven road (such as hilly road). In such example, the graphical user interface 420 may provide the data processing arrangement 340 with the preference of the user of experiencing a driving environment of uneven road. Furthermore, in such example, the data processing arrangement 340 employs the software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement 410 to analyse the preference of the user. Furthermore, the software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement 410 may use one or more algorithms to analyse the preference of the user and according manipulate the output of the electronic feedback loop 330. Additionally, the software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement 410 may adjust a gain and/or a phase of signal components coupled therein to avoid self-oscillation of the piezoelectric stack vibration damper 210 whilst providing vibration damping within the piezo-electric stack, and generating the driving environment of uneven road in the electric vehicle for the user (such as driver and/or passenger). In such example, driving environment of uneven road in the electric vehicle may be generated by reducing the generation of electric power for received mechanical forces generated on the road, and thereby providing less dampening.

In an example, the driver may select an ambiance option of a racing car. In such example, the software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement 410 may manipulate the operation of the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210 of the electrical vehicle suspension system in order to provide less dampening, so that the driver may enjoy a driving experience of a race car. In this regard, the electrical feedback provided by the data processing arrangement 340which is further associated with the software application management and infotainment 340, to the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210, is operable to provide less dampening based on the selection of ambiance option made by the driver. In an example, the graphical user interface 420 provides the driver of the electrical vehicle with an option to select among various driving modes such as "comfort", "economy" , "sport" and so forth. In such instance, each driving mode is associated with a different set of parameters of the electrical vehicle suspension system. For example, the "comfort" driving mode is associated with maximum damping of vibrations experienced by the electrical vehicle. In another example, the user interface allows the driver to select a level of driving comfort on a scale of one to ten, wherein level one is associated with least damping provided to the vibrations experienced by the electrical vehicle and level ten is associated with maximum damping that -it ]s provided to the vibrations experienced by the electrical vehicle.

Optionally, the software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement 410 associated (namely hosted) by the data processing arrangement 340 is operable to employ the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm to process signal components at specific vibration frequencies. Consequently, the data processing arrangement 340 is operable to enable to the electronic feedback loop 330 to generate specific frequencies for adaptive dampening the vibration, namely the vibration created by the jerks experienced by the vehicle. Therefore, the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) used by the data processing arrangement 340 of the electronic feedback loop 330 is capable of considering information related to the electronic vehicle, such as vehicle weight and road surface periodic variations, for adaptive dampening the vibration and providing a desired environment in the electronic vehicle.

Referring to FIG. 5, illustrated are steps of a method 500 of operating a suspension system of an electrical vehicle having a chassis supported via suspension arrangements onto a plurality of wheels, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. At a step 510, one or more spring damper arrangements are employed in suspension arrangements. At a step 520, the spring damper arrangements are arranged to employ a damper implemented by a piezo-electric stack vibration damper.

Optionally, the suspension system is operable to be implemented in other vehicles having different types of engines. For example, the suspension system may be used in IC engine vehicles, hybrid vehicles, semi-hybrid vehicles and so forth. The steps 510 to 520 are only illustrative and other alternatives can also be provided where one or more steps are added, one or more steps are removed, or one or more steps are provided in a different sequence without departing from the scope of the claims herein. Optionally, the method includes the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210 connected to an electronic feedback loop that is operable to dampen vibration transmitted through the piezo-electric stack vibration damper. More optionally, the method includes the electronic feedback loop operable to adjust a gain and/or a phase of signal components coupled therethrough to avoid self-oscillation of the piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210 whilst providing vibration damping within the piezo-electric stack vibration damper. Yet more optionally, the method includes adjusting the gain and/or a phase of signal components by a data processing arrangement that is operable to employ a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm to process signal components at specific vibration frequencies. Optionally, the method includes controlling operation of the piezoelectric stack vibration damper 210 from a software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement that is provided with a graphical user interface for providing for user-adjustment of parameters of the suspension system of the electrical vehicle.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a software product recorded on machine-readable data storage media, characterized in that the software product is executable upon computing hardware for implementing the aforementioned described method 500 of operating a suspension system of an electrical vehicle. Such software produced is relevant to operation of a suspension system of an electrical vehicle as described in the foregoing. The present disclosure provides an efficient suspension system for a vehicle, for example an internal combustion engine vehicle, a hybrid electrical vehicle, a pure electrical vehicle. The present system uses a piezo-electric stack vibration damper that provides a damping response to high frequency vibrations. Moreover, the piezo-electric stack vibration damper allows a further increase in sensitivity to adjustment of the damping response provided to the vehicle, for example electrical vehicle. Moreover, piezo-electric stack vibration damper 210 is capable of adaptive dampening the vibration created by the jerks experienced by the vehicle. The adaptively dampening of the suspension system is operable to provide a comfortable driving experience for the driver. Furthermore, the piezo-electric stack vibration damper has quick response time, i.e. the piezo-electric stack vibration damper is operable to instantaneously dampen the vibration generated by the bumps or jerks experienced by the vehicle. Moreover, such fast response time of the piezo-electric stack vibration damper provide the adaptive dampening functionality in a temporally changeable manner. Additionally, the suspension system is connected to a software arrangement, such as software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement. The software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement is operable to accept user input from a user, such as the driver via a graphical user interface, further the user input may be user-adjustment parameters for controlling the operation of the operation of the suspension system. In addition, a driver of the vehicle may experience various driving impressions. For example, the selecting predefined user- adjustment parameters a diver may enjoy a jerk free ride in the vehicle. Furthermore, software application management and infotainment (SAMI) arrangement is operable to generate synthetic vibrations based on the user-adjustment parameters. Beneficially, such synthetic vibrations can be utilized to keep the driver of the vehicle awake in an instance when the d river of the vehicle is tired and/or sleepy, thereby increasing a safety of the driver of the electrical vehicle.

Modifications to embodiments of the present disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as "including", "comprising", "incorporating", "have", "is" used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural.