Control system for adjustable damping force damper

• US 20060224287A1
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Izawa, Masaki, Kato, Takafumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,165,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/37
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0152 characterised by the action on a particular type of suspension unit B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0523 Yaw rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/102 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/106 longitudinal with regard to vehicle, e.g. braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/202 Piston speed; Relative velocity between vehicle body and wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/206 Body oscillation speed; Body vibration frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/184 Semi-Active control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/22 Magnetic elements

Abstract

A control system for an adjustable damping force damper of a suspension apparatus of a vehicle, includes a lateral acceleration detecting unit detecting a lateral acceleration of the vehicle at a gravity point thereof, a yaw rate detecting unit detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle and a control unit controlling a damping force of the damper. The control unit calculates a first target damping force based on an output of the lateral acceleration detecting unit, calculates a second target damping force based on a lateral acceleration at an axel position which is estimated by an output of the yaw rate detecting unit, compares an absolute value of the first target damping force with that of the second target damping force and sets a target controlling value of the damping force in accordance with the first or second target damping force which has a larger absolute value.

Claims

1. A control system for an adjustable damping force damper provided to a suspension apparatus of a vehicle, comprising:

a lateral acceleration detecting unit which detects a lateral acceleration of the vehicle at a gravity point of the vehicle;

a yaw rate detecting unit which detects a yaw rate of the vehicle; and

a control unit which controls a damping force of the damper in such a manner that;

calculating a first target damping force based on an output value of the lateral acceleration detecting unit;

calculating a second target damping force based on a lateral acceleration at an axel position which is estimated in accordance with an output value of the yaw rate detecting unit;

comparing an absolute value of the first target damping force with an absolute value of the second target damping force; and

setting a target controlling damping force in accordance with the first or second target damping force which has a larger absolute value.

2. A control system for an adjustable damping force damper, comprising:

a damper provided to a suspension apparatus of a vehicle;

a lateral acceleration sensor provided on a predetermined position of a vehicle body and detecting a lateral acceleration of the vehicle;

a yaw rate sensor detecting a yaw rate; and

a control unit which calculates a lateral acceleration at a position of the suspension apparatus in accordance with the lateral acceleration detected by the lateral acceleration sensor and the yaw rate detected by the yaw rate sensor, and determines a damping force of the damper in accordance with the thus calculated lateral acceleration.

3. The control system for an adjustable damping force damper, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the damping force of the damper is decided in accordance with a time derivative value of the lateral acceleration at the position of the suspension apparatus.

4. A control method for controlling an adjustable damping force of a damper provided to a suspension apparatus of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

detecting a lateral acceleration of the vehicle at a gravity point of the vehicle;

detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle; and

calculating a first target damping force based on the detected lateral acceleration at the gravity point of the vehicle;

estimating a lateral acceleration at an axel position in accordance with the detected yaw rate;

calculating a second target damping force based on the estimated lateral acceleration at the axel position;

comparing an absolute value of the first target damping force with an absolute value of the second target damping force; and

setting a target controlling damping force in accordance with the first or second target damping force which has a larger absolute value.

5. A control method for controlling an adjustable damping force of a damper provided to a suspension apparatus of a vehicle;

detecting a lateral acceleration of the vehicle at a predetermined position;

detecting a yaw rate;

calculating a lateral acceleration at a position of the suspension apparatus in accordance with the detected lateral acceleration and the detected yaw rate; and

determining a damping force of the damper in accordance with the thus calculated lateral acceleration.

6. The control method for controlling an adjustable damping force damper, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the damping force of the damper is decided in accordance with a time derivative value of the lateral acceleration at the position of the suspension apparatus.