Method and apparatus for an adaptive suspension support system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for an adaptive, multi-axis suspension support system providing both coarse and fine suspension to a payload. Coarse suspension control is provided to maintain the payload within a coarse range of position. Fine suspension control is provided by monitoring and analyzing vibration characteristics in both time and frequency domains to determine the required amount of damper resistance to be exerted by a magnetorheological (MR) device.

1 . An adaptive support system, comprising: 
 a payload;    a coarse suspension device coupled to the payload and adapted to maintain a position of the payload within a first range of distance; and    a fine suspension device coupled to the payload, the fine suspension device being adaptively programmed via a control signal to dampen movement of the payload within the first range of distance.    
   
   
       2 . The adaptive support system of  claim 1 , wherein the payload comprises an equipment rack.  
   
   
       3 . The adaptive support system of  claim 2 , wherein the coarse suspension device comprises: 
 a first sensor adapted to detect a position of the equipment rack between the first range of distance and to provide a first position signal in response to the detected position; and    a second sensor adapted to detect a position of the equipment rack and to provide a second position signal in response to the detected position.    
   
   
       4 . The adaptive support system of  claim 3 , wherein the fine suspension device comprises a magnetorheological device coupled to the equipment rack.  
   
   
       5 . The adaptive support system of  claim 4 , wherein the fine suspension device further comprises: 
 an accelerometer coupled to the equipment rack and adapted to provide a time domain signal indicative of kinetic energy transferred to the equipment rack; and    a processor block coupled to the accelerometer and adapted to analyze the time domain signal to provide the control signal in response to the analysis.    
   
   
       6 . The adaptive support system of  claim 1 , wherein the payload comprises an electronic component.  
   
   
       7 . The adaptive support system of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 an outer frame coupled to a platform; and    a plurality of couplings movably attached to the outer frame to move along a length of the first and second supports, wherein the electronic component is coupled to first and second couplings of the plurality of couplings.    
   
   
       8 . The adaptive support system of  claim 7 , wherein the coarse suspension device comprises: 
 a first sensor adapted to detect a position of the electronic component between the first range of distance and to provide a first position signal in response to the detected position; and    a second sensor adapted to detect a position of the electronic component between the first range of distance and to provide a second position signal in response to the detected position.    
   
   
       9 . The adaptive support system of  claim 8 , wherein the fine suspension device comprises: 
 a first magnetorheological device coupled to the first coupling; and    a second magnetorheological device coupled to the second coupling.    
   
   
       10 . The adaptive support system of  claim 9 , wherein the fine suspension device further comprises: 
 an accelerometer coupled to the electronic component and adapted to provide a time domain signal indicative of kinetic energy transferred to the electronic component; and    a processor block coupled to the accelerometer and adapted to analyze the time domain signal to provide the control signal in response to the analysis.    
   
   
       11 . The adaptive support system of  claim 1 , wherein the payload includes a passenger seat of a vehicle.  
   
   
       12 . An equipment rack assembly, comprising: 
 an enclosure coupled to a platform;    an equipment rack coupled to the enclosure and the platform; and    a shock absorption unit coupled to the enclosure and the equipment rack, the shock absorption unit including, 
 a weight bearing device coupled to the equipment rack and adapted to maintain a position of the equipment rack within a first range of distance in a first direction relative to the enclosure; and  
 a dampening device coupled to the equipment rack, the dampening device being adaptively programmed via a control signal to dampen movement of the equipment rack within the first range of distance.  
   
   
   
       13 . The equipment rack assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the weight bearing device comprises a coiled energy spring coupled to the equipment rack and adapted to maintain a position of the equipment rack between the first range of distance.  
   
   
       14 . The equipment rack assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the weight bearing device further comprises: 
 a first sensor adapted to detect a position of a first portion of the equipment rack between the first range of distance relative to a first portion of the enclosure and to provide a first position signal in response to the detected position; and    a second sensor adapted to detect a position of a second portion of the equipment rack between the first range of distance relative to a second portion of the enclosure and to provide a second position signal in response to the detected position.    
   
   
       15 . The equipment rack assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the dampening device comprises a magnetorheological device coupled to the equipment rack and the platform.  
   
   
       16 . The equipment rack assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the dampening device further comprises: 
 an accelerometer coupled to the equipment rack and adapted to provide a time domain signal indicative of kinetic energy transferred to the equipment rack; and    a processor block coupled to the accelerometer and adapted to analyze the time domain signal to provide the control signal in response to the analysis.    
   
   
       17 . An equipment stand, comprising: 
 an outer frame coupled to a platform;    a plurality of couplings movably attached to the outer frame, wherein the plurality of couplings move along a length of the outer frame;    a payload coupled to first and second couplings of the plurality of couplings; and    a shock absorption unit coupled to the first and second couplings, the shock absorption unit including, 
 a weight bearing device coupled to the platform and adapted to maintain a position of the payload within a first range of distance relative to the platform; and  
 a dampening device coupled to the weight bearing device and adaptively programmed via a control signal to dampen movement of the payload within the first range of distance.  
   
   
   
       18 . The equipment stand of  claim 17 , wherein the weight bearing device further comprises: 
 a first sensor adapted to detect a position of the payload between the first range of distance and to provide a first position signal in response to the detected position; and    a second sensor adapted to detect a position of the payload between the first range of distance and to provide a second position signal in response to the detected position.    
   
   
       19 . The equipment stand of  claim 18 , wherein the dampening device comprises: 
 a first magnetorheological device coupled to the first coupling; and    a second magnetorheological device coupled to the second coupling.    
   
   
       20 . The equipment stand of  claim 19 , wherein the dampening device further comprises: 
 an accelerometer adapted to provide a time domain signal indicative of kinetic energy transferred to the payload; and    a processor block coupled to the accelerometer and adapted to analyze the time domain signal to provide the control signal in response to the analysis.