Apple may have canned its Apple Car project, but it’s still being granted patents for automotive technology. The latest is patent number US 12043073 B1 for a “Multi-Stage Active Suspension Actuator.”
About the patent
The patent relates to suspension systems for vehicles and, in particular, active suspension actuators and suspension systems with active suspension actuators. Conventional vehicle suspension systems are passive systems having a spring and a damper that transfer and damp forces between the sprung mass (e.g., vehicle body) and the unsprung mass (e.g., tires, wheels, brakes, etc.).
However, Apple says that handling characteristics of the vehicle and passenger comfort may be improved with an active suspension system that selectively controls force transfer to the vehicle body. However, since there are no plans for an Apple Car, perhaps the tech giant will work with a current car manufacturer to implement such technology.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “A suspension actuator includes an upper mount, a lower mount, a first actuator mechanism, and a second actuator mechanism. The upper mount is connectable to a sprung mass of a vehicle. The lower mount is connectable to an unsprung mass of the vehicle. The first actuator mechanism forms a first load path between the upper mount and the lower mount.
“The first actuator mechanism is one of an electromagnetic linear actuator mechanism or a ball screw actuator mechanism. The second actuator mechanism forms a second load path in parallel with the first load path between the upper mount and the lower mount. The second actuator mechanism is one of a mechanical linear actuator mechanism, an air spring actuator mechanism, or a hydraulic actuator mechanism.”
