Kneeling position for electric medium-duty vehicle

{
  "publication_number": "US11766912B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Kneeling position for electric medium-duty vehicle",
  "abstract": "Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a height of an electric vehicle with an adjustable suspension system. In one example, a method comprises: during a vehicle stop event, adjusting a height of a skateboard frame of an electric vehicle via an adjustable suspension system, based on at least one sensor input indicative of a desired skateboard frame height. In this way, user activities, including loading and unloading, may be facilitated.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method, comprising: during a vehicle stop event, adjusting a height of a skateboard frame of an electric vehicle via an adjustable suspension system, based on at least one sensor input indicative of a desired skateboard frame height; responsive to the skateboard frame at a first height and the desired skateboard frame height being a second height, lowering the skateboard frame to the second height via the adjustable suspension system, the second height less than the first height; responsive to the skateboard frame at the second height and the desired skateboard frame height being the first height, raising the skateboard frame to the first height via the adjustable suspension system; responsive to the skateboard frame at the first height and the desired skateboard frame height being a third height, lowering the skateboard frame to the third height via the adjustable suspension system, the third height less than the second height; responsive to the skateboard frame at the second height and the desired skateboard frame height being the third height, lowering the skateboard frame to the third height via the adjustable suspension system; responsive to the skateboard frame at the third height and the desired skateboard frame height being the second height, raising the skateboard frame to the second height via the adjustable suspension system; and responsive to the skateboard frame at the third height and the desired skateboard frame height being the first height, raising the skateboard frame to the first height via the adjustable suspension system.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustable suspension system is coupled to the skateboard frame, the adjustable suspension system comprising a front suspension system and a rear suspension system, each of the front suspension system and the rear suspension system including at least one pressurized spring.",
    "3. The method of claim 2, wherein adjusting the height of the skateboard frame of the electric vehicle via the adjustable suspension system includes adjusting an amount of air in the at least one pressurized spring of the front suspension system and adjusting an amount of air in the at least one pressurized spring of the rear suspension system.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired skateboard frame height is determined based on one of a user position and a user request.",
    "5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user position is determined based on the at least one sensor input indicative of the desired skateboard frame height, the at least one sensor input indicative of the desired skateboard frame height including one or more of a proximity sensor, a motion sensor, a strength of a wireless connection to a key fob, a key fob button press, a camera feed, and a voice command.",
    "6. The method of claim 1, wherein the skateboard frame houses a battery pack, the battery pack providing power to the electric vehicle.",
    "7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle stop event is determined in response to at least one of a speed of the electric vehicle being zero, a driver-requested stop, and the electric vehicle in a park gear.",
    "8. A method, comprising: responsive to an expected vehicle stop event, adjusting a height of a skateboard frame of an electric vehicle via an adjustable suspension system, based on at least one sensor input indicative of a desired skateboard frame height; wherein adjusting the height of the skateboard frame includes modifying the height upon detecting a request for stopping the vehicle; and wherein adjusting the height based on the at least one sensor input, includes detecting one or more of a voice command, a user gesture, or a key fob button press.",
    "9. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting the request for stopping the vehicle includes detecting actuation of a brake pedal.",
    "10. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting the request for stopping the vehicle includes detecting a decrease in speed of the vehicle.",
    "11. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting the request for stopping vehicle is activated based on GPS data indicating that the vehicle is approaching a scheduled stop location.",
    "12. The method of claim 8, wherein adjusting the height of the skateboard frame of the electric vehicle includes adjusting the height when the vehicle is moving at speed within a threshold of zero speed.",
    "13. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor input is the key fob button press.",
    "14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor input includes detecting one or more of a voice command, a user gesture, or a key fob button press."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present description relates generally to suspension systems for electric medium-duty vehicles.\n\nAn internal combustion engine vehicle may be configured with rear-wheel drive to enhance initial acceleration and increase traction. Increasing interest in reducing fossil fuel combustion has led to efforts to provide electric vehicles. In order to electrically propel such vehicles, a large battery pack may be demanded. The battery pack may be positioned low in the vehicle, such as along a chassis of the vehicle, and may have a large footprint, resulting in packaging constraints along an underside of the vehicle. Furthermore, a low vertical positioning of a floor of the vehicle, and hence the chassis and the battery pack, may be desirable in medium-duty (e.g., commercial) vehicles to enable efficient loading and unloading thereof.\n\nThe large size of the battery pack and low floor of the vehicle may demand modifications to various vehicle components and systems. For example, the vehicle may be configured with front-wheel drive instead of rear-wheel drive as a result of the space between the rear wheels being occupied by the vehicle floor. The lack of packaging space between the rear wheels may also demand adjustments to a suspension system at the vehicle rear wheels. In addition, modification of a suspension system at the vehicle's front wheels may be desired to accommodate motorization of the front wheels.\n\nFurther, a vehicle user may desire the ability to adjust a height of the floor/chassis of the vehicle, such as by directing the vehicle to move into a kneeling position.",
  "cpc": [
    "B60G 17/017",
    "B60G 11/27",
    "B60G 17/0155",
    "B60G 17/0161",
    "B60G 17/019",
    "B60G 17/033",
    "B60G 17/048",
    "B60G 17/052",
    "B60G 17/0525",
    "B60G 2200/144",
    "B60G 2200/315",
    "B60G 2200/44",
    "B60G 2200/446",
    "B60G 2202/15",
    "B60G 2202/152",
    "B60G 2300/02",
    "B60G 2300/024",
    "B60G 2300/50",
    "B60G 2400/106",
    "B60G 2400/204",
    "B60G 2400/252",
    "B60G 2400/51222",
    "B60G 2401/142",
    "B60G 2401/16",
    "B60G 2500/30",
    "B60G 2600/20",
    "B60G 3/20",
    "B60G 9/022",
    "B60L 2240/12",
    "B60L 2240/622",
    "B60L 2250/22",
    "B60L 2250/26",
    "B60L 50/66"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60G 17/017",
    "B60G 17/033",
    "B60G 17/048",
    "B60L 50/60",
    "B60G 17/015",
    "B60G 17/052"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Mathilde Charmeau",
    "Ali IDRICI",
    "Sylvain Castonguay"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-11-12",
  "publication_date": "2023-09-26",
  "grant_date": "2023-09-26",
  "priority_date": "2020-12-14",
  "application_number": "US-202117454788-A",
  "family_id": "81750036",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
  "citations": [
    "US5736935A",
    "JP3512047B2",
    "US6552649B1",
    "US6727800B1",
    "US6454178B1",
    "US6850148B2",
    "JP2004352043A",
    "DE10337900A1",
    "US20070227489A1",
    "CA2593469A1",
    "DE102008012413A1",
    "US8203424B2",
    "US8414455B2",
    "US20110035104A1",
    "US20110218709A1",
    "US8413997B1",
    "US9827825B2",
    "US9422014B1",
    "US10380817B2",
    "DE202017003282U1",
    "US11173766B1",
    "JP2019081524A",
    "US10493893B2",
    "US20210347221A1",
    "US20220032704A1",
    "US20220205308A1"
  ]
}