Automotive suspension control system with manually adjustable suspension characteristics and/or suspension control characteristics
First Claim
1. An automotive suspension control system comprising:
- a suspension system having suspension characteristics variable at least between a first harder suspension mode and a second softer suspension mode;
a sensor means for monitoring a preselected suspension control parameter and producing a sensor signal indicative of the monitored control parameter;
a controller means for comparing said control parameter indicative sensor signal value with a reference value and for deriving a control signal based on a difference between said control parameter indicative sensor signal and said reference value for operating said suspension system into first and second suspension mode, according to a predetermined suspension control characteristic; and
a manual switch means connected to said controller for modifying said reference value so as to adjust the sensing ability of said suspension control system with respect to said control parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A suspension control system has a manual operator which is manually accessible is provided for adjusting suspension control characteristics depending upon the driver'"'"'s tastes or depending upon the vehicle condition. The adjustment of the suspension control characteristics can take place with respect to each of a plurality of suspension control items, such as roll-suppressive suspension control, anti-dive suspension control, anti-scout suspension control, road roughness dependent suspension control, bottoming control and so forth. By allowing adjustment of the suspension control characteristics with respect to each control item independently of that with respect to other control items, the suspension control characteristics of the overall suspension control system can be precisely fit the driver'"'"'s feeling and/or precisely adapted to the vehicle condition.
70 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An automotive suspension control system comprising:
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a suspension system having suspension characteristics variable at least between a first harder suspension mode and a second softer suspension mode; a sensor means for monitoring a preselected suspension control parameter and producing a sensor signal indicative of the monitored control parameter; a controller means for comparing said control parameter indicative sensor signal value with a reference value and for deriving a control signal based on a difference between said control parameter indicative sensor signal and said reference value for operating said suspension system into first and second suspension mode, according to a predetermined suspension control characteristic; and a manual switch means connected to said controller for modifying said reference value so as to adjust the sensing ability of said suspension control system with respect to said control parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system, comprising:
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a suspension system having suspension characteristics which are variable at least between a first harder suspension mode and a second softer suspension mode; a first sensor for monitoring a preselected first suspension control parameter to produce a first sensor signal, which first suspension control parameter represents preselected first vehicular driving condition affecting at least one of vehicular driving stability and driver comfort; a second sensor for monitoring a preselected second suspension control parameter to produce a second sensor signal, said second sensor control parameter being different from said first suspension control parameter and represents a preselected second vehicular driving condition affecting at least one of vehicular driving stability and driver comfort; a controller receiving said first and second sensor signals and deriving a control signal for operating said suspension system into one of said first and second suspension modes based on said first and second sensor signals, according to predetermined first and second suspension control characteristics which are derived with respect to respective first and second suspension control parameters; a manually operable adjusting means for selecting one of said first and second suspension control characteristics and for modifying the selected one of said first and second suspension control characteristics for adjusting the sensing ability of said suspension control system with respect to at least one of said first and second control parameters corresponding to said selected one of said first and second suspension control characteristics.
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6. An automotive suspension control system comprising:
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a suspension system having suspension characteristics which are variable at least between a first harder suspension mode and a second softer suspension mode; a first sensor for monitoring a preselected first suspension control parameter to produce a first sensor signal; a second sensor for monitoring a preselected second suspension control parameter to produce a second sensor signal; a controller receiving said first and second sensor signals and deriving a control signal for operating said suspension system to one of said first and second suspension modes based on said first and second sensor signals, according to predetermined first and second suspension control characteristics which are derived with respect to respective first and second suspension control parameters; a manually operable adjusting means for selecting one of said first and second suspension control characteristics for modifying the selected one of said first and second suspension control characteristics to adjust the sensing ability of said suspension control system with respect to at least one of said first and second control parameters corresponding to said selected one of said first and second suspension control characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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a suspension system having suspension characteristics which are variable at least between a first harder suspension mode and a second softer suspension mode; a sensor means for monitoring a preselected suspension control parameter and producing a control parameter indicative sensor signal indicative of the monitored control parameter; a controller means for comparing said control parameter indicative sensor signal value with a reference value which represents a harder suspension criterion, operating the suspension system into said first mode when said control parameter indicative sensor signal is greater than said reference value, and operating said suspension system into said second mode when said control parameter indicative sensor signal value is smaller than said reference value; and a manual switch means connected to said controller for accepting manual adjustments for modifying said reference value so as to adjust suspension control system sensitivity with respect to said control parameter.
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Specification