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Control system for adapting suspension characteristics and steering characteristics to vehicle driving condition

  • US 4,954,957 A
  • Filed: 01/23/1989
  • Issued: 09/04/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A control system for controlling an automotive suspension system and a power steering system in combination, comprising:

  • first sensor means for monitoring a vehicular speed for producing a vehicular speed signal;

    second sensor means for monitoring steering angular displacement for producing a steering angle signal indicative of offset from a neutral position;

    third means, associated with said suspension system for controlling suspension characteristics at least between a first softer suspension mode and a second harder suspension mode on the basis of said vehicle speed signal and said steering angle signal, said third means alters said suspension control characteristics at least between a first suspension control characteristics mode having lower responsive characteristics and a second suspension control characteristics mode having higher response characteristics;

    fourth means, associated with said power steering system, for controlling assisting force to be distributed in said power steering system at least between a first smaller assisting force mode and a second greater assisting force mode on the basis of said vehicle speed signal, said fourth means alters the assisting force control characteristics at least between a first assisting force control characteristics mode having lower responsive characteristics and a second assisting force control characteristics mode having higher response characteristics;

    fifth means for detecting steering operation pattern matching with a preset reference pattern and counting up the occurrence of the steering operation pattern matching said preset pattern; and

    sixth means, periodically operable, for detecting vehicular driving condition on the basis of said vehicle speed signal, said counted value of said fifth means representative of frequency of occurrence of steering behaviour matching with said preset pattern, for setting one of said control characteristics modes correspond to said third and fourth means depending upon said vehicle driving condition.

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