Road vehicle level controller
First Claim
1. A vehicle level controller comprising:
- a vehicle level detector capable of producing a level detection signal indicative of at least four regions of vehicle level including a "high", a "medium high", a "medium low" and a "low" region,and a vehicle level adjuster comprising a micro-computer operative to determine a particular region of vehicle level in response to the level detection signal, the microcomputer operating to produce a level lowering command signal in response to a signal indicative of vehicle level in the "high" region, to terminate the level lowering command signal in response to a signal indicative of a level in the "medium low" region, to produce a level raising command signal in response to a signal indicative of a vehicale level in the "low" region and to terminate the level raising command signal in response to a signal indicative of a vehicle level in the "medioum high" region, the microcomputer applying a first signal to a drive system associated with a suspension system of the vehicle which causes the vehicle level to be lowered for a time interval less than or equal to a period during which the level lowering command signal is present and applying a second signal to the drive system which causes the vehicle level to be raised for a time interval less than or equal to a period during which the level raising command signal is present.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle level controller produces a level lowering command signal whenever the sprung mass of a road vehicle is higher than a given trim band and produces a level raising command signal when the sprung mass is below the trim band. The command signal is applied to a levelling system. The trim band is divided into a high (medium high) and low (medium low) regions. A vehicle level detector produces a signal which distinguishes a vehicle level in four different zones including a range higher than the trim band, a medium high region within the trim band, a medium low region within the trim band and a range lower than the trim band. The level lowering and the level raising command signal are withdrawn whenever a signal from the level detector indicates the medium low and high region within the trim band, respectively.
32 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A vehicle level controller comprising:
-
a vehicle level detector capable of producing a level detection signal indicative of at least four regions of vehicle level including a "high", a "medium high", a "medium low" and a "low" region, and a vehicle level adjuster comprising a micro-computer operative to determine a particular region of vehicle level in response to the level detection signal, the microcomputer operating to produce a level lowering command signal in response to a signal indicative of vehicle level in the "high" region, to terminate the level lowering command signal in response to a signal indicative of a level in the "medium low" region, to produce a level raising command signal in response to a signal indicative of a vehicale level in the "low" region and to terminate the level raising command signal in response to a signal indicative of a vehicle level in the "medioum high" region, the microcomputer applying a first signal to a drive system associated with a suspension system of the vehicle which causes the vehicle level to be lowered for a time interval less than or equal to a period during which the level lowering command signal is present and applying a second signal to the drive system which causes the vehicle level to be raised for a time interval less than or equal to a period during which the level raising command signal is present. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A vehicle level controller comprising:
-
a vehicle level detector including two switch means secured to a printed circuit board and switch operating means fixedly mounted on a rotary shaft; signal processing means for processing signals fed from the two switch means of the level detector to form level lowering command signal or level raising command signal; first counter means responsive to the occurrence of level lowering command signal or level raising command signal to provide a count enabling signal only if such signal continues over a given duration; a first and a second gate means which supply out level lowering command signal and level raising command signal, respectively, only if the count enabling signal exist and the gate OFF signal is not exist. - View Dependent Claims (9)
-
-
10. A vehicle level controller comprising:
-
a vehicle level detector including two switch means secured to a printed circuit board and switch operating means fixedly mounted on a rotary shaft; and a microcomputer which determines a vehicle level in either a high range, a medium high region, a medium low region and a low range responsive to signals fed from the two switch means of the level detector, counts a time duration during which a vehicle level in the high or the low range continues, clears a count representing the time duration during which a vehicle level in the high range continues whenever a vehicle level in the low range or the medium low region is detected, clears a count representing the time duration during which a vehicle level in the low range continues whenever a vehicle level in the high range or the medium high region is detected, outputs a level lowering command signal when a count representing the time duration during which a vehicle level in the high region continues exceeds a first value l, outputs a level raising command signal when a count representing the time duration during which a vehicle level in the low range continues exceeds a second value m, and resets the level lowering and the level raising command signal in response to a detected vehicle level in the medium low and high region, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
Specification