SE1450645A1 - Level adjustment of vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

Method (500) and control unit (410) for level adjustment of a vehicle (100). The procedure. (500) includes calculating (501) the existing level (310) of the vehicle at the existing position (210) of the vehicle; determining (502) a target level (330) at the subsequent destination of the vehicle. (240); determining (503) a transport level (320), based on a level limit (220) on a distance traveled (230) between the vehicle's existing position (210) and the vehicle's subsequent destination (240); and changing (504) the level of the vehicle (100), from the calculated (501) existing level (310) to the determined (502) target level (330) at the subsequent destination (240) of the vehicle, if this target level (330) is higher than the established (503) transport level. (320); or otherwise to the determined (503) transport level (320). (Publ. Fig. 3A)

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD TECHNICAL FIELD This document describes a procedure and a control unit in a vehicle. More specifically, a method and a control unit for level adaptation of the vehicle to a template level are specified.

BACKGROUND There is often a need to be able to regulate the level of a vehicle in order to facilitate loading and unloading, or pass-relaxation / relaxation of passengers.

In this context, vehicles refer to, for example, trucks, lorries, flatbed trucks, transport vehicles, buses, off-road vehicles, or other similar motorized or unmanned means of transport, adapted for land-based geographical movement. The level of the vehicle is generally controlled manually by the driver, by adjusting the level pneumatically, via a switch, as the vehicle reaches a bus stop, curb, loading dock or the like. Before the vehicle leaves the bus stop or the loading dock, the driver Viola leaves the vehicle to a cornice level, which is then maintained until the following bus stop or loading dock, when the driver changes the vehicle level again, that is to say hauling or lowering the level. This change in vehicle level is usually done with compressed air, which is generated by a compressor in the vehicle.

This cornice that the vehicle has between the hallways is usually predefined and often includes a certain security, in order to avoid the vehicle's chassis scratching the ground if a rock bump, a curb or a rock pit is passed.

A problem that arises in this context is that it requires a manual procedure of the driver of the Viola and the sunken vehicle, which distracts from the traffic situation and the surroundings. On a bus that has stopped at a bus stop, the driver often has a lot to keep track of in connection with stops at the stop, for example opening / closing doors, answering 30 questions from passengers, checking travel documents or charging for a ticket, check if a person is at risk get stuck in the doors if these rods, make sure that no one slips on board without a ticket, see if anyone else pasting approaches the bus from the outside, check that no cyclist is about to re-drive the bus on the inside, etc., why even a slight distraction from the surroundings is very disturbing father the driver and can cause an accident.

Furthermore, this step of adjusting the vehicle height takes time in the onodan, d5 the vehicle in general must first be driven to the destination and stopped completely, so that only then sar- 2 is lowered to a suitable level, where passengers can be relaxed on board. Upon departure, this procedure is repeated in reverse order.

Another problem in this context is that large and repeated level changes in the vehicle level consume a lot of energy. The compressed air that needs to be replaced is generated by generating new compressed air with a compressor in the vehicle, which increases fuel consumption.

Another problem is that an unexpected obstacle in the vehicle's cradle, such as a cradle bump or cradle bump, may require manual raising of the vehicle level by the driver, which also risks distracting the driver from the surrounding traffic situation.

Document WO2010141472 shows an adjustable gas spring which can be controlled by a height control system. Gas spring is arranged aft mounted in eft vehicles with wheels such as a car. Thereby, the height of the vehicle can be regulated by supplying and evacuating compressed air from the adjustable gas spring, respectively. The document says nothing about how this adjustment of the chassis level should be controlled.

Document US2011035104 discloses a method and apparatus for modifying the height of a vehicle chassis by pneumatically adjusting air springs in the vehicle. For example, the height of the vehicle can be lowered so that seating for a passenger, such as a wheelchair-bound seat, is facilitated. The document says nothing about how this adjustment of the chassis level should be controlled.

Document US2003193249 discloses a device for being able to quickly raise and lower the chassis level of a vehicle, thereby facilitating entry and exit of the vehicle. The document says nothing about how this adjustment of the chassis level should be controlled.

Document EP0530366 also discloses a vehicle height adjusting device which enables the raising or lowering of a vehicle chassis. The document says nothing about how this adjustment of the chassis level should be controlled.

Document US4341398 shows a system for raising and lowering a vehicle chassis, respectively, where the vehicle has air suspension elements mounted to the vehicle's wheels. The document says nothing about how this adjustment of the chassis level should be controlled.

Document W02006071169 shows a truck with adjustable chassis height. The vehicle has a height adjustment device, which may be of the hydraulic or pneumatic type, adapted for adjusting the chassis height of the vehicle. Height adjustment can be made automatically to a predetermined height when certain predetermined conditions are met, such as that the vehicle is at a certain geographical position (which is measured with GPS) and / or that the vehicle has a speed that exceeds or falls below a certain spruce speed.

Disadvantages of this unloading include, for example, that the vehicle changes height position to the same extent as according to a completely manual procedure, between a predetermined value at a predetermined position and the ordinary body position, respectively. This saves no compressed air and thus no energy. A further disadvantage of this solution is that it assumes that the vehicle is at a predetermined geographical position in order to be able to regulate the altitude, and that this altitude is predetermined and stored in a computer memory or the like, associated with the respective geographical position. Thus, this solution is susceptible to changes in the carriage, or in the vehicle's corrugation. It can be stated that much remains to be done to make it easier and simpler for a driver to adjust the height of a vehicle.

SUMMARY It is therefore an object of this invention to be able to solve at least some of the above problems and achieve improved level adjustment of a vehicle.

According to a first aspect of the invention, this grinding is achieved by a method for level adjustment of a vehicle. The procedure involves calculating the existing level of the vehicle at the existing position of the vehicle. Furthermore, the method also comprises determining a malniva at the subsequent destination of the vehicle. The method also comprises determining a transport level, based on a level limit on a road section between the vehicle's existing position and the vehicle's subsequent destination and changing the level of the vehicle, from the calculated existing level to the determined target level at the vehicle's subsequent destination, if this target level is the fixed transport level; or otherwise to the determined transport level.

According to a second aspect of the invention, this grinding is achieved by a control unit, arranged for level adjustment of the vehicle. The control unit comprises a processor circuit, arranged to calculate the existing level of the vehicle at the existing position of the vehicle. Furthermore, the processor circuit is arranged to determine a target level at the following destination of the vehicle and further arranged to determine a transport level, based on a level limitation on the road section between the existing position of the vehicle and the subsequent destination of the vehicle. In addition, the processor circuit is also arranged to generate a control signal for the second level of the vehicle, from the calculated existing level to the determined ground level at the vehicle's destination, if this level is higher than the determined transport level; or otherwise to the established transport level.

By determining the existing vehicle level, determining a main level at the vehicle's destination and detecting any level limiting obstacles along a carriage towards the destination and determining which level is needed to overcome this detected obstacle, the number of level adjustments of the vehicle level during a lane run, as well as the size of This level control is reduced, which can lead to reduced energy access for, for example, charging a compressor which compresses compressed air in a compressed air tank in the vehicle. This saves energy. By changing a level adapted to the destination already during the journey, before the destination n5s, the stop time at a bus stop or loading dock can be shortened, which saves time and reduces unnecessary time delay. By adjusting the level of the vehicle without active effort from the driver, a work step is reduced for the driver, which can thereby focus on the surrounding traffic to a correspondingly increased degree, which reduces the risk of accidents.

By determining which vehicle level is suitable to use for a certain vehicle at a certain geographical position and storing this information, one can then in a vehicle, with knowledge of its geographical position, retrieve information regarding which vehicle level is suitable to choose at this geographical position from a database, for example. Through this, a decision support is obtained for the driver, which indicates which vehicle level is suitable to choose, alternatively after automated selection of vehicle level which completely frees the driver from worries in connection with vehicle level selection. As a result, an optimal vehicle level can be consistently selected, without the driver having to make a special effort for this, which underpins the driver at the same time as fuel can be saved, passability can be ensured and maneuvering can be facilitated.

Other advantages and additional features will become apparent from the following detailed description.

LIST OF FIGURES Embodiments of the invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying figures, which illustrate various exemplary embodiments: Figure 1 illustrates a vehicle according to an embodiment.

Figure 2 Illustrates a representation of a landscape from a helicopter perspective according to an embodiment.

Figure 2 Illustrates a representation of a landscape from a side perspective according to a form of performance.

Figure 3 Illustrates an example of different vehicle levels of a vehicle and how this level varies with the position of the vehicle according to an embodiment.

Figure 3 Illustrates an example of different vehicle levels of a vehicle and how this level varies with the position of the vehicle according to an embodiment.

Figure 4Allustrates an example of the driver environment in a vehicle arranged according to an embodiment.

Figure 4 Illustrates an example of an interface that enables fine-tuning of the vehicle level for a driver according to an embodiment.

Figure 4Cillustrates an example where a vehicle according to an embodiment backs against a loading dock and has other vehicle levels, triggered by a radio signal.

Figure 4Illustrates an example where a vehicle according to an embodiment Icor in the direction of an intersecting viaduct and at other vehicles level, triggered by a radio signal.

Figure 4Ellustrates an example of the driver environment in a vehicle arranged according to an embodiment.

Figure is a flow chart illustrating a method according to an embodiment.

Figure 6 is an illustration of a control unit according to an embodiment, arranged for level adjustment of a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments of the invention comprise a method and a control unit, which can be realized according to any of the examples described below. However, this invention can be practiced in many different forms and should not be construed as limited by the embodiments described herein, which are instead intended to illustrate and obscure various aspects.

Additional aspects and features of the invention may become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures are, however, to be considered only as examples of various embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention, which is limited only by the appended claims. Furthermore, the figures are not necessarily to scale, and are, unless otherwise specifically indicated, intended to conceptually illustrate aspects of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a vehicle 100, adapted for motorized driving in, inter alia, a first direction of travel 105. For example, but not necessarily, the vehicle 100 may be a truck, a bus, or be composed of any of the previously listed types of vehicles, or the like. land-based means of subsistence. The vehicle 100 may, for example, also, but not necessarily, be specially adapted for passenger transport, animal transport, cargo transport or the like.

The vehicle 100 is arranged for level control with pneumatically or alternatively hydraulically controlled shock absorbers, for example one of those described in the background part. The object of the invention which has been described is to save compressed air, or other transfer medium, by not elevating the vehicle more than necessary during cornering between stations or loading places due to roadblocks, etc., and partly to avoid other vehicle levels being unnecessary. for example, routinely lowering the vehicle at a bus stop if no passengers are to get on or off, or to increase the vehicle level between two stops if, for example, there is no obstacle on the lane and the vehicle ' According to various embodiments, anyands sensors for determining vehicle level, presence of rock bumps, potholes in the road or other level-controlling obstacles that may be present along a carriageway to a destination, presence of a loading bay such as a loading dock, bus stop or the like, presence of passengers at the bus stop and the like . According to other embodiments, positioning equipment, for example based on GPS, is used to determine the current position of the vehicle. In a database, different vehicle levels can also be stored, associated with certain geographical positions, and the vehicle 100 can be arranged to, for example, sink at least a part of the vehicle 100 in order to facilitate boarding and disembarking of the vehicle, respectively.

According to one embodiment, the vehicle 100 may be arranged to determine the geographical position of the vehicle with a position determining unit such as, for example, GPS or the like. Furthermore, a vehicle level that is found to be suitable for use at a certain geographical position can be determined and stored in a database, associated with the determined geographical position in the database.

A vehicle level can be found to be suitable for at a certain geographical position, for example by the driver actively choosing to associate a certain vehicle level with a certain geographical position or area; or that a rake hailer finds out the number of times the driver selects a certain vehicle level at a position and when a check value is exceeded, for example that the driver selects a certain vehicle level three times out of three passages of a certain geographical area, so that this vehicle level is selected, or recommended to the driver, according to different embodiments. 7 D5 the vehicle subsequently passes this geographical position, alternatively when another vehicle passes this geographical position, a search can be made in the database and the vehicle level5 associated with the geographical position can be selected, according to certain embodiments. This leaves the grain unattended for the driver, who does not have to manually select the vehicle level.

A certain geographical position can be associated with a certain level of the vehicle 100, however, in some embodiments the position can be determined without necessarily using GPS, or only GPS. For example, a sensor in the vehicle 100 can detect a bus hall sign, alternatively a passenger standing at a bus stop. In some embodiments, a bus hall or loading dock may include a radio transmitter or other device configured for wireless transmission that can transmit information, such as how many passengers are waiting (which can be detected by a sensor at the bus stop), what vehicle level the vehicle 100 needs and similar information .

According to certain embodiments, the vehicle's current offset level can be calculated between the existing (current) position and the next subsequent destination or destination. This is done by obtaining information on the nearest possible m51, by information stored in a database, via sensors or obtaining information via a wireless connection. The purpose is to infOr [corning return 20 to a suitable vehicle level to make the journey comfortable, as close to the next level as possible. If there are no obstacles on the road between two bus stops and the distance between them is short, the vehicle 100 in some embodiments does not need to return.

The vehicle's corneal level, or offset level as it is sometimes called, may be limited by various inputs such as the condition of the vehicle (which can be detected and evaluated using sensors), the vehicle's speed (may be different for different vehicle ranges) and / or vehicle type.

According to certain embodiments, vehicle height limiting obstacles along the carriage can be detected, for example vagal bumps, which cause a homing of the vehicle level, intersecting bridges, which can lead to a lowering of the vehicle level and the like. In addition, even additional offset from the cornering can automatically correct the vehicle height (memory management, GPS, sign reading, communication with the obstacle, etc.). Obstacles can also be detected with stored loading of the obstacle's position and correction with desired / stored offset, for example to be able to be used as a back-up if a sensor is defective or missing. 8 When driving and / or when the vehicle 100 approaches the nearest destination, an evaluation can be made of the grinding level to ensure that the previously obtained information about the grinding level was correct, for example by updating information about the grinding levels.

Then, when the vehicle 100 approaches the nearest destination, the grinding level can be activated automatically when, for example, something or some of the following conditions are met: communication with the grinding that says that the cargo / passenger wants attention; the speed of the vehicle is lower than a certain level and turn signals or auxiliary brakes are requested or applied; power switch to enable the function in position "to" and / or no vehicle is in front of the vehicle 100, or no stop light is in front of the vehicle 100.

If the grinding level is not activated as a result of such a condition not being met, the vehicle 100 remains at the same level as before and makes a new evaluation for the next possible grinding level for the next destination. The new grinding level can then be corrected during driving as described.

According to certain embodiments, it is possible to evaluate whether or where the subsequent target level should be corrected by detection made by a sensor that detects where passengers are inside a bus or outside, at a bus stop. It should also be possible to determine, with the help of switches or parameters, the last automatic level adjustment for the ground Ors. In some embodiments it is possible to have only other vehicle heights on part of the vehicle 100, for example only the Niger side or to completely skip the last target adjustment if you think the current offset is good enough, or if you want to correct the last fine adjustment . The tolerance for the offset towards the grinding level may in some embodiments be adjustable within certain limits at, for example, the vehicle 100, or at the workshop, or by the driver through a menu selection. As a result, it is possible to adapt this offset to the special conditions of the individual vehicle. For example, an airport bus such as Icor passengers from the gate to the plane may have a small need for extra, while a high-speed bus that cat * on bumpy gravel roads may have a greater need for larger ones.

Communication can be made between the vehicle 100 and the destination through, for example, a wireless interface such as V2X, where information about the desired vehicle stop can be obtained. In some embodiments, it is possible to define certain may as suspended due to few stops, based on statistics, experience or estimation. In these exceptional cases, the driver can manually adjust the level if necessary. 9 This reduces the consumption of compressed air, or other transfer medium, which saves fuel because the compressor does not need to be operated so much. This saves money. In addition, emissions are reduced. By aft adjusting vehicle level5 during 'corning s5 time is saved. In addition, the driver is relieved of a work step in connection with an often stressful work situation, which reduces the risk of accidents in connection with loading / unloading of passengers and unloading / loading, respectively.

A number of examples p5 practicing the procedure will now be described.

Figure 2A illustrates after example p5 a representation of after landscape. In this arbitrary example, the vehicle 100 is represented by an avatar showing the existing position 2 of the vehicle in the surrounding landscape. In this case a clear map view is given of the vehicle 100, which is located at the existing position 210, and moves along a roadway 2p5 which there is a level restriction 2p5 the road towards a destination 240. In a tanked journey, the vehicle 100 can travel along a roadway which consists of paved country road. For example, the vehicle 100 may be a bus, the level boundary 220 may be a bump / cradle and the destination 240 may be a bus stop.

Figure 2B shows the same scenario as in Figure 2A but in a topographical side view. The intention is to show, for example p5, a route by which the vehicle 100 is moved. The proportions in the figure are therefore rather symbolic.

Figure 3A shows an example of the method according to an embodiment. Since the vehicle 100 is at a certain arbitrary position 210, for example a bus stop, it is ascertained that the vehicle 100 has a certain existing vehicle level 310. It can be ascertained that the destination 240 which the vehicle 100 has has a certain template level 330, which is determined to example of the pavement height at the bus stop place which may, for example, constitute the destination 240. This target level 330 is in this example lower than the existing level 310, but it may sometimes be lower, or at the same level. However, a decrease in vehicle level cannot be made from the existing level 310 to the template level 330 gams directly, before the level limitation 220, for example a vagula bump, has been passed. In order to pass this level boundary 220 p5 a good set, the vehicle 100 therefore needs to raise its vehicle level5 to the transport level 320. It can be stated that this transport level 320 is lower than a traditional normal grain level, since this contains a certain / or that the vehicle 100 scrapes against the ground . The transport level can be limited, for example, by the suspension components and requirements for the vehicle's comfort at the current level. When the level limit 220 has been passed, the vehicle level can be lowered to the template level 330 while driving. When the vehicle 100 arrives at the bus hall site, it is therefore already sanctified to the level 330 and can therefore immediately open the doors and relax passengers.

Detection of the level limit 220 on the lane 230 to the destination 240 can be done by determining the position of the vehicle, for example with GPS, and extracting level limits 220 in the vicinity of the vehicle along a carriage 230 towards the destination 240. In some embodiments the vehicle has a sensor that detects obstacles in the vehicle's direction. 105 p5 carriage 230. In some embodiments, a transmitter may be provided adjacent to a level boundary 220, and true information about it via wireless interface (V2X), which information the vehicle 100 may receive via a receiver provided therefor as it approaches level limitation 220. According to certain embodiments, some or all of these may detect level limitations 220 along the carriage 230 may be combined with each other. Also other variables such as speed, current level of the vehicle 100, signal from the comfort sensor, etc., can be used in combination with the above-mentioned means of detecting level limitations 220 along the carriage 230.

Figure 3B shows an example p5 the method according to an embodiment, d5 the vehicle 100 travels along the same route 230 as before, or another similar route towards a destination 240.

D5 the vehicle 100 approaches a first level limit 220-1, Ors a level adjustment of the vehicle 100 from the existing level 310, to a transport level 320 which is adapted to the detected first level limit 220-1.

When the first level limit 220-1 has been passed, which can be detected by sensor, with positioning and / or by a radio signal or other wireless information transmission, a subsequent second level limit 220-2 is detected, which has a different and higher level than the first. the level limit 220-1 in this example. It can be mentioned that such a level limitation 220 does not necessarily have to consist of a physical limitation of the carriage 230, such as a bump / cradle bump, bumpy lane, edge to be crossed, etc., but can also consist of a different speed. In some embodiments, the level p5 of the vehicle 100 may be adjusted to the speed, so that the vehicle 100 at low speed has a lower grain level 320 than at higher speed. Different spruce barriers can be defined that control this.

D5 the second level limit 220-2 has been passed and a third level limit 2203 is detected, or when the vehicle 100 slows down below a predetermined threshold value, the grain level 320 is readjusted again, so that when this third level limit 220-3 has also been passed, the vehicle level can be lowered to the template level 330 during voyage, for example in embodiments where flooding is prioritized in terms of parameters or no detection of special passenger needs is made. D5 the vehicle 100 arrives at the destination 240, the vehicle 100 is already sanctified to the ground level 330 and can therefore immediately open the doors and relax p5 / of passengers, which provides a fast and smooth p5 / disembarkation for passengers and can be especially valuable to increase the traffic flow during rush hour traffic .

According to certain embodiments, for example when air consumption is prioritized in terms of parameters or detection of special passenger needs is made, the vehicle 100 can be lowered to a level just above, for example a few centimeters or decimetres above the mill level, and allow a final fine adjustment. for this is fulfilled. In this way, it is possible to save compressed air / other pressure-transmitting medium and thus energy if the said conditions are not met; for example, when a passenger who has signaled for disembarkation changes when the bus has stopped, or when a waiting passenger at a bus stop turns out to be waiting for another bus.

Figure 4A shows an example p5 vehicle interior of the vehicle 100, which includes a system 400, arranged for level adjustment of the vehicle 100.

The vehicle 100 comprises a control unit 410, arranged to calculate and / or determine vehicle level p5 the vehicle 100. It may be pointed out that a plurality of cooperating control units 410 can be used in certain embodiments for calculating and / or determining vehicle level p5 the vehicle 100. These may be interconnected. or arranged communication with each other, for example over one or more communication buses in the vehicle 100. To facilitate the use of language in this presentation, the control unit 410 is indicated in singular form, but this is to be interpreted as one or more control units 410.

In one embodiment, the vehicle 100 may also include a display 420, which may display, for example, the current vehicle level above ground; a future template level and / or include an interface for the driver to fine-tune the vehicle height, as illustrated in Figure 4B.

The vehicle 100 may also include a position determining unit 430. This position determining unit 430 may be arranged to determine the geographical position of the vehicle, based on a satellite navigation system such as the Navigation Signal Timing and Ranging (Navstar) Global Positioning System (GPS), Differential GPS (DGPS) ), Galileo, GLONASS, or the like. The position determining unit 430 in the vehicle 100 can determine the geographical position of the vehicle in certain embodiments. This position determination can be done continuously with a certain predetermined or configurable time interval according to different embodiments. Furthermore, alternatively, the driver himself, or one with passengers, can register or mark his position, for example via a keyboard, an interactive display 420 or similar input means.

Position determination based on satellite navigation is based on distance feeding with triangulation from a number of satellites 460-1, 460-2, 460-3, 460-4. Satellites 460-1, 460-2, 460-3, 460-4 continuously send out information about time and date (for example in coded form), identity (which satellite 460-1, 460-2, 460-3, 460- 4 as sander), status and information on where the satellite 460-1, 460-2, 460-3, 460-4 is at the usual time. The GPS satellites 460-1, 460-2, 460-3, 460-4 send information coded with code5 difference, for example based on p5 Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). In this way, information from an individual satellite 460-1, 460-2, 460-3, 460-4 can be distinguished from the information of the others, based on a unique code for each satellite 460-1, 460-2, 460-3, 460. -4. This transmitted information can then be received by a specially adapted GPS receiver, such as the position determining unit 430.

According to some embodiments, the distance feeding can cause the position determining unit 430 to feed the difference in time it takes for each satellite signal to reach the position determining unit 430. Since these signals travel at the speed of light, it is possible to find out how far it is to each satellite 460 -1, 460-2, 460-3, 460-4. Because the positions of the satellites are known, d6 they are continuously monitored by about 15-earth stations located mainly along and near the Earth's equator, it is then also possible to unravel where you are, latitude and longitude when you have determined the distance to at least three satellites 460-1, 460-2, 460-3, 460-4 by triangulation. To determine the altitude, signals from at least four satellites 460-1, 460-2, 460-3, 460-4 may be used according to certain embodiments.

The control unit 410 may further be arranged to determine the geographical position of the vehicle based on information from the position determining unit 430. Furthermore, the control unit 410 may be arranged to determine the existing vehicle level 310, by feeding with a sensor 490, arranged in connection with the vehicle 100. Such a sensor 490 may for example, include distance feeding with lasers, radar, ultrasonic waves or the like. The control unit 410 may also be arranged to determine an appropriate level on the vehicle 100, based on the determined geographical position of the vehicle. For example, different vehicle levels may be associated with different respective geographical positions in a memory unit 450. This memory unit 450 or database as it may also be called may in some embodiments be located in the vehicle 100. In other embodiments as illustrated in Figure 4A, the memory unit 450 may be located outside the vehicle 100.

The control unit 410 may in turn be arranged to send control signals for controlling the vehicle level, based on a fixed geographical position and an extracted vehicle level associated with this geographical position.

The control algorithm that controls the vehicle level can be affected by one or more parameters, such as vehicle inclination, vehicle weight, vehicle type, ride comfort, vehicle speed, performance selection, engine speed, accelerator pedal position, accelerator pedal change rate and / or passenger numbers. .

The control system of the vehicle 100 may be a communication bus system consisting of one or more communication buses for interconnecting a number of electronic control units (ECUs), or controllers / controllers, and various components located on the vehicle 100. Such a control system may comprise a large number of control units and / or control units, and the responsibility for a specific function may be divided into more than one control unit and / or control unit. Likewise, a control unit and / or control unit can be arranged to be responsible for several functions. The control unit 410 may also be arranged to communicate with other units, in order to receive signals and the food value and possibly also to trigger a supply, for instance at a certain time interval. Furthermore, the control unit 410 may also be arranged to communicate, for example, via the vehicle's communication bus, which may be constituted by one or more of a cable; a data bus, such as a CAN bus (Controller Area Network bus), a MOST bus (Media Oriented Systems Transport), or any other bus configuration. The control unit 410 may also, or alternatively, be arranged for wireless communication over a wireless interface according to certain embodiments.

Such communication may, for example, also include discrete communication via an input or output which, when a spruce barrier has passed, indicates that this spruce barrier has been exceeded, or the like. Furthermore, the vehicle 100 may also comprise a communication device 440, arranged for wireless communication. Such wireless communication may be based on, for example, any of the following technologies: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Access (COMA), (COMA 2000 ), Time Division Synchronous COMA (TD-SCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced; Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards 802.11 a, ac, b, g and / or n, Internet Protocol (IP), Bluetooth and / or Near Field Communication, (NFC) , or similar communication technology according to different embodiments. This enables communication or transmission of data including geographical positions associated with respective different vehicle levels, or retrieval from an external memory unit 450 with data to select vehicle level based on the determined geographical position in certain embodiments. In the illustrated example, the memory unit 450 is located outside the vehicle 100. An advantage of this is that collected data can then be shared between different vehicles, for example belonging to the same farm, the same type of vehicle, vehicles with the same agar or all vehicles allowed. accessed this data according to different embodiments. Thus, for example, vehicle level selection as an experienced driver Or for certain geographical positions can be stored and associated with these, where a less experienced driver can have his vehicle to Ora the same vehicle level selection when it reaches the same or corresponding geographical position, according to certain embodiments.

In some embodiments, the memory unit 450 may alternatively be located in the vehicle 100. This has the advantage that the vehicle 100 need not include the communication device 440, provided by wireless communication. Furthermore, increased robustness is achieved in the system as one is not dependent on radio communication with an external memory unit 450 according to these embodiments. In addition, time delay due to such communication can be eliminated.

According to certain embodiments, the -Ware may associate certain geographical positions with an appropriate vehicle level on a map, for example via a computer screen, a tablet, a touch screen, a mobile phone or similar device, which may be located in or outside the vehicle 100. This information may then stored in the memory unit 450 inside or outside the vehicle 100 and kept accessible to the vehicle 100, and in some embodiments also by other vehicles, when the geographical position is acquired. In this case, -Waren can define geographical areas in advance and select the appropriate vehicle level for this geographical area, based on its experience and / or insight into which choir conditions are raced at each geographical area.

An advantage of such an embodiment is that one can relatively quickly and easily build up a database where a selected vehicle level has been associated with a certain geographical position or area. For example, one can thereby take advantage of the knowledge regarding the choice of vehicle level of an experienced driver, a knowledge which can then be disseminated and communicated to less experienced drivers.

According to another embodiment, the control unit 410 in the vehicle 100 can determine which vehicle level -Ware selects at a certain geographical position, and also include a calculator which calculates the number of times a certain vehicle level is selected at a certain geographical position within a certain time interval, and then a predefined, or configurable spruce value is reached, this vehicle level is selected and associated with this geographical position. Alternatively, a proposal to switch to this vehicle level may be visually damaged for the driver of the vehicle visually on the display 420, auditorily by a rust message or an audible signal, or by other suitable means.

An advantage of this embodiment is that consideration is given to real cross-sectional conditions on site, which may differ from the conditions that run, for example, on a map as a result of traffic works, rebuilding, asphalting and other things that can distinguish between map and reality. Also through this embodiment, one can take advantage of the knowledge regarding the choice of vehicle level of an experienced driver and spread this to less experienced drivers.

Furthermore, the vehicle 100 may comprise one or more additional sensors for reading, for example, topographically related data such as height and / or inclination of the vehicle 100. Alternatively, the level and / or inclination of the vehicle may be determined by combining unloading values from several such topology related instruments, or by that the driver makes measurements or estimates of the height and registers these via an input means, such as a keyboard, a touch screen, a tablet, a mobile phone or the like.

In some embodiments, rolling resistance / choke resistance may be fed and stored by detectors provided therefor, associated with the geographical position at which they were fed. As a result, the type of substrate can be detected for the geographical position, such as gravel, bare clay or asphalt. This information can in turn be used as a decision basis for selecting the appropriate vehicle height of the vehicle 100. In one embodiment, the control unit 410 may communicate with the position determining unit 430 in the vehicle 100, as well as with various sensors and detectors in the vehicle 100, for example via the vehicle communication bus. which may be one or more of a cable; 16 a data bus, such as a CAN bus (Controller Area Network bus), a MOST bus (Media Oriented Systems Transport), or any other bus configuration.

The control unit 410 may also, or alternatively, be arranged for wireless communication over a wireless interface according to certain embodiments, for example one of the wireless interfaces listed above.

Figure 4B shows an example of how a vehicle level determined by the control unit 410, associated with a determined geographical position where the vehicle 100 is found to be, is shown on a screen 420 for the driver of the vehicle. The driver can then be given an opportunity to fine-tune the vehicle level, for example so that a passenger with special needs, such as a pram, wheelchair or similar needs to get on board.

Figure 4C shows an example of how a vehicle 100, in this case a truck, approaches a loading dock 470, which constitutes the destination 240 of the vehicle. In this embodiment, a radio transmitter 480 is located adjacent to the loading dock 470. This radio transmitter 480 may be arranged to transmit information regarding the appropriate vehicle level for the vehicle 100 for loading / unloading at the loading dock 470. The radio transmitter 480 may be arranged for wireless communication based on wireless communication technology such as 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Global System for Mobile Communications / Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution (GSM / EDGE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), World-Wide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Bluetooth (BT), Near Field Communication (NFC) or infrared sanders to name just a few conceivable examples of wireless communication. The vehicle 100 may also be arranged to receive these wireless signals, for example through the signal receiver 440, and then adjust the vehicle level based on the transmitted information.

Figure 4D shows an example of how a vehicle 100, in this case a truck, approaches a level limit 220, which constitutes a limit with respect to the maximum permissible vehicle height. For example, this could be a tunnel, a crossing bridge, a garage opening, the ceiling height of a gas station, or the like. A radio transmitter 480 may be arranged in connection with said level limiter 220, for example built into it, or be located at a distance before the level limiter 220. Hereby the vehicle 100 may be arranged to receive these wireless signals from the radio transmitter 480, for example through the signal receiver 440, and then adjust the vehicle level based on the transmitted information.

Figure 4E shows a further example of vehicle interior of the vehicle 100, which comprises a system 400, arranged for level adjustment of the vehicle 100, comprising a plurality of the units previously presented in connection with Figures 4A-4D, as control unit 410, display 420, communication unit 430 and the memory unit 450, which in this embodiment is located in the vehicle 100.

A sensor 490 in the vehicle 100 is arranged to detect a bus hall space 470, which constitutes the destination 240 of the vehicle. The bus hall space 470 can be detected, for example, by a visual signal with a camera, laser scanner, microwave transmitter or similar device mounted in the vehicle 100, where the visual signal contains a instruction to switch to a certain 15 corm mode. For example, a certain text, sign, bar code, QR code or the like can be detected, which can be interpreted by the vehicle control unit 410 as setting a certain vehicle level as a template level. This embodiment can also be applied, for example, as a complement to the above-mentioned embodiments, and constitute a side condition for changing or fine-tuning the vehicle level according to certain embodiments. Furthermore, the sensor 490 may also be arranged to detect the presence of one or more passengers at the bus hall space 470. The sensor may also in certain embodiments be arranged to detect a passenger with special needs at the bus hall space 470, such as for example a wheelchair-bound passenger, passenger with pram , disabled passengers, passengers with a lot of luggage, drunk passengers or the like. For example, such detection may be based on image analysis of motion samples having the detected passengers.

According to certain embodiments, the loading dock / bus hall space 470 may be height-adjustable. In these cases, the vehicle 100 may transmit a signal indicating the desired level at the loading dock / bus stop 470, without any change in the level of the vehicle 100 being carried out. In these embodiments, such a signal may be sent to the loading dock / bus hall 470 with a certain delay, which corresponds to the time it takes for the loading dock / bus hall space 470 to adjust its level to the desired level. The desired level may correspond to the existing level of the vehicle at the time it approaches the loading dock / bus stop 470 and sends the wireless signal indicating the desired level at the loading dock / bus stop 470, or another desired level, such as a subsequent template level or punching. Figure illustrates an example of an embodiment of the invention. The flow chart in Figure 5 illustrates a procedure 500 for level adjustment of a vehicle 100. This level adjustment of the vehicle 100 can be made in order to reduce level changes of the vehicle 100 and thereby save compressed air, and to adjust the level of the vehicle 100 to a future target level already below graining, which speeds up the boarding and disembarking of passengers at a bus stop, or loading / unloading of goods. In addition, level adjustment can be done automatically, without active intervention from the driver, or alternatively with a reduced level adjustment for the rudder, the driver is freed from a work step in connection with a vehicle stop. This reduces the risk of the driver being distracted from the surrounding traffic situation, which leads to increased traffic safety.

The vehicle 100 is at an existing position 210 on a carriageway 230, on its way to a destination 240. At this destination 240, the vehicle occupies a target level 330. Information regarding the vehicle position 210, destination 240 and / or target level 330 can be communicated to the environment over a wireless interface.

In the level adjustment of the vehicle 100, the method 500 may include a number of steps 501-505. Furthermore, the described steps 501-505 can be performed in a slightly different chronological order than what the number order suggests. Furthermore, some of these steps are only included in certain embodiments of the method 500, such as, for example, step 505. Some of the described steps 501-505 may also be performed in parallel with each other. The method 500 comprises the following steps: Step 501 The existing level 310 of the vehicle, at the existing position 210 of the vehicle is calculated. For example, this level 310 may be calculated by a feed with a sensor 490. Such sensor 490 may sometimes be referred to as a level sensor, and may feed the vehicle height above the ground, for example, or a specific offset from the ground to, for example, a normal level, based on laser, ultrasound, radar, image analysis, or the like. Such offset can in certain embodiments be determined from the fact that the vehicle 100 is calibrated, for example during production or later with, for example, a finished body 100.

The determination of the existing position of the vehicle 100 can be based on: a satellite-based positioning system, triangulation of signals sent from base stations in a mobile telephone, route planning data, trip feeder parking in combination with vehicle number, a wireless signal, image recognition and / or manual entry of the vehicle driver. In some embodiments, the existing position 210 of the vehicle may be determined by a position determining unit 430, for example, by satellite positioning.

Such satellite-based positioning may include or be based on, for example, GPS, Navstar, DGPS, Galileo, GLONASS, or the like. Other forms of positioning may, however, be included according to certain embodiments, for example the driver himself may mark his current position, for example on a touch screen, a keyboard or other input means to the position determining unit 430. In some embodiments the positioning may comprise determining the basket carriage / carriage number , determining the starting point and determining the distance traveled from this starting point along the determined carriage, through the vehicle's trip feeder.

The positioning may also in some embodiments include detection of a visual code 495, which by image recognition can be interpreted as a position indication. In some embodiments, detection may be made of a wireless signal which may be perceived within a particular geographic area, indicating a position determination of the receiver, to that geographic area.

In some embodiments, the positioning may include determining the direction of travel 105 of the vehicle at the determined geographical position. In certain embodiments, the direction of travel 105 of the vehicle at the geographic position can be determined by determining from which direction the vehicle 100 entered the geographic position, and in which direction the vehicle 100 departed from the geographic position, respectively.

Step 502 A malniva 330 at the vehicle's subsequent destination 240 is determined.

This step may comprise, on the one hand, determining the subsequent destination 240 of the vehicle and, on the other hand, determining the malniva 330 associated with the determined subsequent destination 240 of the vehicle 100.

Determining the grinding level 330 at the subsequent destination 240 of the vehicle may include determining the following destination 240 and determining a grinding level 330 associated with this following destination 240 stored in a memory unit 450.

The determination of the target level 330 at the vehicle's subsequent destination 240 may also include determining said destination 240, based on information from a sensor 490 indicating boarding and / or disembarking passengers or loading / unloading, at said destination 240.

For example, a stop signal from a passenger in the vehicle 100 can be detected. In certain embodiments, the sensor 490 may include a camera arranged to detect passenger presence at a bus hall 470, a motion detector adjacent to a bus hall 470, a camera adjacent a bus hall 470 and / or a heat detector adjacent a bus hall 470, for to now just name a few examples. The determined target level 330 at the subsequent destination 240 of the vehicle may in some embodiments be adjusted in connection with said destination 240, includes an assessment of level requirements at destination 240, based on a detection made by a sensor 490 which detects a particular need, such as a disabled person. a passenger, a passenger with a pram, a passenger with a movement restriction, a passenger with luggage, a passenger with children, size of cargo to be loaded or the like.

Step 503 A transport level 320 on the vehicle 100 is determined, based on a level limit 220 on a roadway 230 between the vehicle's existing position 210 and the vehicle's subsequent destination 240.

Such level limitation 220 may be environment related and include, for example: speed barriers, carriage condition, vehicle type, vehicle speed, bridge, stop signal, carriage sign and / or comfort level. Alternatively, or as a complement, said level limitation 220 may be vehicle-related and take into account the vehicle's technical level limitations, the durability of the suspension components at the current level for specific speeds or statutory level limitations to name just a few examples.

The determination of the transport level 320 may in some embodiments be based on a level restriction 220 on the track 230 between the vehicle's existing position 210 and the vehicle's subsequent destination 240 is made continuously during transport, at a certain time interval, or when a level restriction 220 is detected or passed.

In some embodiments, the level limitation 220 on the lane 230 between the vehicle's existing position 210 and the vehicle's subsequent destination 240 can be detected by a sensor 290 in the vehicle 100. 21 Step 504 The vehicle level is changed on the vehicle 100, from the calculated 501 existing level 310 to the designated 502 grinding level 3 at the subsequent destination 240 of the vehicle, if this level 330 is higher than the determined level 503 transport level 320; or else to the fixed 503 transport level 320.

Such a change in the level of the vehicle 100 can in some embodiments be based on vehicle type, such as bus, truck etc. Since the vehicle type is for example a bus and one has a lower transport level 320 than target level 330 and sensors such as cameras think that a level change is suitable to facilitate pasting further. In some cases, for example, a level can be a problem with curbs and prams, etc., in these cases you can, for example, go to the template level 330.

The change of the level of the vehicle 100 from the transport level 320 to the target level 330 can be made when the vehicle 100 is at a certain predetermined distance from the destination 240, turn signals are activated and the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined inspection value according to certain embodiments.

Furthermore, the change of the level of the vehicle 100 from the transport level 320 to the target level 3 can be made on only a part of the vehicle 100, based on a sensor-detected need. Such a sensor-detected need may be that only the right side of the vehicle 100 should be lowered to relax / unload passengers; that only the front part of the Niger side should be lowered to relax passengers; that only the rear part of the Niger side should be lowered to relax / unload passengers; that only the rear part of the vehicle 100 should be collected to relax passengers / cargo or cargo; or similar.

Said change of the level of the vehicle 100 to the ground level 330 only of a part of the vehicle 100, may in certain embodiments presuppose that additional conditions are met, such as that a brake is activated and / or the speed of the vehicle is below a certain threshold value. Furthermore, this level change can be made automatically in certain embodiments when these conditions are met, or be manually driven.

In some embodiments, the change in the level of the vehicle 100 may be dependent on a selected vehicle sinking strategy, such as an industry saving strategy or a river maximization strategy. Since an industry-saving strategy has been chosen and the vehicle type is, for example, a city bus or a detected need for special boarding / disembarking, the horizontal level can be stopped for a while before the grinding level says, for example, tilting or partial homing! 22 collection can gams. Once a river maximization strategy has been chosen, the vehicle level can be lowered as quickly as possible.

According to some embodiments, a return is made from the partially second level of the vehicle 100 to an even level before the vehicle 100 departs.

In some embodiments, a level adjustment of the vehicle 100 may be requested via a wireless interface of an external vehicle unit 480, 495.

Step 50 This process step may be included in some, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the process 500, for example, when the designated 502 target level 330 at the vehicle's subsequent destination 240 is not higher than the determined 503 transport level 320: The level of the vehicle 100 is different from the determined 503 the transport level 320, to the grinding level 330 when the level limit 220 on the route 230 has been passed.

For example, this can be done when the grinding level 330 is lower than the fixed 503 transport level 320. However, in other embodiments the grinding level may also alternatively be higher than the transport level, but may not be able to change to the grinding level during travel in any case due to limitations. The level can then be different even when the grinding level is higher than the established transport level.

Such a change in the level of the vehicle 100 may in some embodiments be based on the type of vehicle, such as bus, truck, etc.

The change of the level of the vehicle 100 from the transport level 320 to the target level 330 can be made when the vehicle 100 is at a certain predetermined distance from the destination 240, turn signals are activated and the speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined inspection value according to certain embodiments.

Furthermore, the change of the level of the vehicle 100 from the transport level 320 to the target level 330 can be made on only a part of the vehicle 100, based on a sensor-detected need.

Such a sensor-detected need may be that only the right side of the vehicle 100 should be lowered to relax / unload passengers; that only the front part of the Niger side should be lowered to relax passengers; that only the rear part of the [storage side] should be collected to relax 23 pa / of passengers; that only the rear part of the vehicle 100 should be collected to relax / unload passengers or cargo; or similar.

Said change of the level of the vehicle 100 to the target level 330 only of a part of the vehicle 100, may in certain embodiments presuppose that additional conditions are met, such as that a brake is activated and / or the speed of the vehicle is below a certain threshold value. Furthermore, this level change can be made automatically in certain embodiments when these conditions are met, or be manually driven. According to some embodiments, there is a return from the partially second level of the vehicle 100 to an even level before the vehicle 100 departs.

According to certain embodiments, the method 400 may also include checking that certain conditions are met before level adjustment is made. For example, a partial level reduction on the vehicle 100, or no special requirements for auxiliary brakes such as a parking space brake and when the conditions cease, it may in some cases occur that normal normal level occurs, in these cases the systems can check that it should go to horizontal before the transport level instead in certain embodiments. In some embodiments, a level adjustment of the vehicle 100 may be requested via a wireless interface of a vehicle external unit 480, 495.

Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of a level unit controller 410 for leveling a vehicle 100.

This control unit 410 is configured to perform at least some of the previously described method steps 501-505, included in the method 500 for level adjustment of a vehicle 100. To enable such level adjustment of the vehicle 100, the control unit 410 contains a number of components which in the following text described in more detail. Some of the described sub-components occur in some, but not necessarily all, embodiments. There may also be additional electronics in the control unit 410, which is not completely necessary to understand the function of the control unit 410 according to the invention and is therefore omitted in Figure 6, as well as from this description. The control unit 410 comprises a processor circuit 620, arranged to calculate the existing level 310 of the vehicle p5 the existing position 210 of the vehicle. In addition, the processor circuit 620 is arranged to determine a template level 330 at the subsequent destination 240 of the vehicle. In addition, the processor circuit 620 is arranged to determine a transport level 320. a level limit 220 on the roadway 230 between the existing position 210 of the vehicle and the subsequent destination 240 of the vehicle. subsequent destination 240, if this template level 330 is higher than the determined transport level 320; or otherwise to the determined transport level 320.

The processor circuit 620 may also in certain embodiments where the designated target level 330 at the subsequent destination 240 of the vehicle is not higher than the determined transport level 320 be arranged to have the second level of the vehicle 100, from the determined transport level 320, to the target level 330 when the level limit 220 p5 has the travel distance passed, as the grinding level 330 is lower than the fixed transport level 320 according to certain embodiments.

Furthermore, the processor circuit 620 may also in certain embodiments be arranged to determine the following destination 240 and determine a template level 330 associated with this subsequent destination 240 which is stored in a memory unit 450.

The processor circuit 620 may in some embodiments be arranged for the second level of the vehicle 100 to be based on the type of vehicle, such as, for example, passenger transport vehicles, buses, lorries, etc.

According to certain embodiments, the processor circuit 620 may be arranged to determine said destination 240, based on information from a sensor 490 indicating boarding and / or disembarking passengers or loading / unloading, at said destination 240.

Furthermore, the processor circuit 620 may also be arranged to determine the transport level 320, based on a level limit 220 on the track 230 between the vehicle's existing position 210 and the vehicle's subsequent destination 240 Ors continuously during transport, at a certain time interval, or when a level limit 220 is detected or passed.

The processor circuit 620 may also be arranged to adjust the determined target level 330 at the subsequent destination 240 of the vehicle in connection with said destination 240, by making an assessment of level requirement at destination 240, based on a detection of a sensor 490 which detects a particular need such as a disabled passenger, a passenger with a pram, a passenger with a movement limitation, a passenger with luggage, a passenger with children, size p5 cargo to be loaded.

The processor circuit 620 may also be arranged to determine the geographical position of the vehicle via a position determining unit 430. Furthermore, the processor circuit 620 may also be arranged to determine the direction of travel of the vehicle at the determined geographical position. The processor circuit 620 may furthermore also be arranged to detect and store the vehicle level the driver selects at said geographical position and in certain further embodiments the number of times the driver has selected this vehicle level selected at said geographical position. In some embodiments, storage of the selected vehicle level associated with the determined geographic position can be done in the data memory 625 when the number of times the driver has selected this vehicle level at said geographic position reaches a spruce value.

Furthermore, the processor circuit 620 may also be arranged to have the second level of the vehicle 100 from the transport level 320 to the target level 330 when the vehicle 100 is at a certain predetermined distance from the destination 240, turn signals are activated and the vehicle speed is less than a predetermined spruce value, in some embodiments.

The processor circuit 620 may also be arranged to second level the vehicle 100 to the target level 330 only on a part of the vehicle 100, based on a sensor detected need.

In some embodiments, the processor circuit 620 may also be arranged to second level 5 of the vehicle 100 to the ground level 330 only on a portion of the vehicle 100, provided that a brake on the vehicle 100 is activated and the vehicle speed is less than a certain clearance and Ors automatically, or is manually driven according to different forms of performance.

The processor circuit 620 may also be arranged to determine the existing position of the vehicle 100 based on: a satellite-based positioning system, triangulation of signals sent from base stations in a mobile telephone, route planning data, trip feeder setting in combination with carriage number, a wireless signal, image recognition and / or manual entry of the driver of the vehicle.

The processor circuit 620 may also in some embodiments be arranged to detect a location-related instruction to switch to a specified vehicle level. This location-related instruction may include a wireless signal in some embodiments, or a graphical signal. The processor circuit 620 may also be arranged to determine the geographical position of the vehicle via a position determining unit 430. Furthermore, the processor circuit 620 5N / n may be arranged to extract a vehicle level 5 associated with the determined geographical position of the vehicle from a data memory 450.

The processor circuit 620 may also in certain embodiments be arranged to detect a wireless signal comprising an instruction to switch to a certain vehicle level and to generate a control signal for changing the vehicle level when the wireless signal has been detected. The processor circuit 620 may be, for example, one or more Central Processing Unit (CPU), microprocessor or other logic designed to interpret and execute instructions and / or to read and write data. The processor circuit 620 may handle data for inflow, outflow or data processing of data including 5N / a buffer of data, control functions and the like.

The control unit 410 may also comprise a signal receiver 610, arranged to receive a position determination of the vehicle 100 from a positioning unit 430 included in the vehicle 100, according to certain embodiments. Furthermore, the signal receiver 610 may also be arranged to receive the value from other sensors 490 or feeders in, or associated with the vehicle 100, such as height feeders, distance feeders, tilt feeders, speed feeders, thermometers, clocks, etc. Such feed data may refer to, for example, height, slope, chrome resistance against the ground, curvature of the plane, average speed, time, date, weather, temperature, speed, gear added, vehicle type and / or vehicle weight. Furthermore, the signal receiver 610 may also be arranged to receive data from the database 450 according to certain embodiments.

Furthermore, the control unit 410 may also comprise a memory unit 6 according to certain embodiments, arranged to store one or more vehicle levels, associated with a geographical position. The memory unit 625 may in some embodiments comprise, or form part of, the database 450.

The memory unit 625 may consist of, for example, a memory card, flash memory, USB memory, hard disk or other similar non-volatile data storage device of a permanent nature, for example one of the group: ROM (Read-Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable PROM), Flash memory, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM), etc. in various embodiments. Furthermore, according to certain embodiments, the control unit 410 may also comprise a sanding circuit 630, arranged to send measured data or detected location-related data to the database 450, over a wireless or wired interface. In some embodiments, the sanding circuit 630 may be included in the control unit 410, so that they form a common unit. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the control unit 410 may be arranged to send data to a monitor 420.

Furthermore, the invention comprises a computer program for leveling a vehicle 100, by performing a method 500 according to at least some of the steps 501-505, when the computer program is executed in a processor circuit 620 in a control unit 410.

Furthermore, certain embodiments also comprise a system 400 for leveling a vehicle 100. This system 400 may comprise a sensor 490 in the vehicle 100, arranged to supply existing vehicle level 310 for the vehicle 100, for example in relation to the ground of the vehicle.

The sensor 490 can, for example, detect such feeding with laser, radar, ultrasonic waves or the like. Furthermore, system 400 may also comprise a position determining unit 430 in the vehicle 100 and a control unit 410. The position determining unit 430 may be arranged to determine the geographical position of the vehicle, for example based on GPS. 28

Claims (18)

PATENT REQUIREMENTS A method (500) for leveling a vehicle (100), the method (500) being characterized by: calculating (501) the existing level (310) of the vehicle at the existing position (210) of the vehicle; determining (502) a malniva (330) at the subsequent destination (240) of the vehicle; determining (503) a transport level (320), based on a level limit (220) on a roadway (230) between the vehicle's existing position (210) and the vehicle's subsequent destination (240); and changing (504) the level of the vehicle (100), from the existing (501) existing level (310) to the determined (502) ground level (330) at the subsequent destination (240) of the vehicle, if this ground level (330) is higher at the fixed (503) transport level (320); or else to the fixed (503) transport level (320). The method (500) of claim 1, further comprising, wherein the determined (502) maximum level (330) at the subsequent destination (240) of the vehicle is not higher than the determined (503) transport level (320): change (505) of the level of the vehicle (100), from the determined (503) transport level (320), to the target level (330) when the level limit (220) on the road (230) has been passed. The method (500) of any of claims 1-2, wherein determining (502) the grinding level (330) at the subsequent destination (240) of the vehicle comprises determining the following destination (240) and determining a grinding level (330) associated therewith. The following destination (240) stored in a memory device (450). The method (500) of any of claims 1-3, wherein the change (504, 505) of the level of the vehicle (100) is based on the vehicle type. The method (500) of any of claims 1-4, wherein determining (502) the target level (330) at the vehicle's subsequent destination (240) comprises determining said destination (240), based on information from a sensor (490) which indicates boarding and / or disembarking passengers or loading / unloading, at said destination (240). The method (500) according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the level restriction (220) comprises an environment-related parameter such as: speed, carriage condition, vehicle type, vehicle speed, bridge, stop signal, road sign and / or a vehicle-related parameter such as the vehicle's technical 29 level limitations, comfort level, limitations of suspension components in the vehicle 100, level limitations at the current speed and / or statutory level limitations. The method (500) of any of claims 1-6, wherein determining (503) the transport level (320), based on a level limit (220) on the roadway (230) between the vehicle's existing position (210) and the vehicle's subsequent destination. (240) Ors continuously during transport, with a certain time interval, or when a level limit (220) is detected or passed. The method (500) according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the determined (502) grinding level (330) at the subsequent destination (240) of the vehicle is adjusted in connection with said destination (240), comprises an assessment of level requirements at the destination (240). ), based on a detection of a sensor (490) that detects a special need such as a disabled passenger, a passenger with a pram, a passenger with a movement limitation, a passenger with luggage, a passenger with children, size of cargo that to be loaded. The method (500) according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the determination (501) of the existing position of the vehicle (100) is based on: a satellite-based positioning system, triangulation of signals sent from base stations in a mobile telephone, route planning data, trip feeder parking in combination with vehicle number, a wireless signal, image recognition and / or manual entry of the vehicle's driver. The method (500) of any of claims 1-9, wherein changing (504, 505) the level of the vehicle (100) from the transport level (320) to the target level (330) is provided when the vehicle (100) is on a certain predetermined distance from the destination (240), turn signals are activated and the speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined spruce value. The method (500) of any of claims 1-10, wherein changing (504, 505) the level of the vehicle (100) to the target level (330) is performed on only a portion of the vehicle (100), based on a sensor detected need. The method (500) of claim 11, wherein said changing (504, 505) the level of the vehicle (100) to the ground level (330) of only a portion of the vehicle (100) assumes that a brake is applied to the vehicle (100). 100) is activated and the vehicle's speed is less than a certain spruce value and Ors automatically or is manually driven. The method (500) of any of claims 11-12, wherein a return from the partially second level of the vehicle (100) is converted to an even level before the vehicle (100) departs. The method (500) of any of claims 1-13, wherein information regarding the vehicle position (210), destination (240) and / or template level (330) is transmitted to the environment over a wireless interface. The method (500) of any of claims 1-14, wherein a level adjustment of the vehicle (100) is requested via a wireless interface of a vehicle external unit (480, 495). A control unit (410) for level adjustment of a vehicle (100), comprising: a processor circuit (620), arranged to calculate the existing level (310) of the vehicle p5 the existing position (210) of the vehicle; and arranged to determine a m5InivA (330) at the subsequent destination of the vehicle (240); and further arranged to determine a transport level (320), based on a level limitation (220) on the track (230) between the existing position of the vehicle (210) and the subsequent destination (240) of the vehicle; and further arranged to generate a control signal for the second level of the vehicle (100), from the calculated existing level (310) to the determined template level (330) at the subsequent destination (240) of the vehicle, if this template level (330) is higher than the determined transport level (320); or otherwise to the determined transport level (320). A computer program for leveling a vehicle (100), by performing a method (500) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the computer program is executed in a processor circuit (620) in a control unit (410) according to claim 16. A system (400) for leveling a vehicle (100), comprising: a sensor (490) in the vehicle (100), arranged to supply existing vehicle level (310) to the vehicle (100) in relation to the vehicle base; a position determining unit (430) in the vehicle (100), arranged to determine the geographical position of the vehicle; and a control unit (410) according to claim 16. 1/9 <--- 100