Vehicle roll rigidity control device

• US 6,295,493 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1998
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kawazoe, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US09/150,618
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/37, 701/38, 701/45, 701/1, 701/41, 701/48, 180/282, 180/415, 180/408, 180/422, 180/420, 180/446, 180/448, 280/735, 280/5.515, 280/5.514, 280/5.507, 280/5.504, 280/5.51, 280/5.518, 280/6.158, 280/5.52, 280/5.513, 280/124.106, 280/5.512, 280/5.511, 280/5.506, 280/5.502, 280/5.5, 280/5.508, 188/266.4, 188/282.7, 188/282.4
• US Class Current: 701/38
• 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 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/06 fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/154 with an accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/312 The spring being a wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/413 Hydraulic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/81 front and rear unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/82 left and right unit on same axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/8304 using a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/102 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/41 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/44 Steering speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/02 Retarders, delaying means, dead zones, threshold values, cut-off frequency, timer interruption
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/182 Active control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/1877 Adaptive Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/70 Computer memory; Data storage, e.g. maps for adaptive control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/0122 Roll rigidity ratio; Warping
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/9122 ARS - Anti-Roll System Control

Abstract

A vehicle roll rigidity control device comprises a control unit and an actuator which can adjust an attenuation force installed between the vehicle front wheel and body. The control unit reduces the attenuation force of the actuator and increases the ability of the vehicle to turn around when the vehicle is in a turn transient state. When the sequential steering operation to the left and right is performed, the controller increases the attenuation force of the actuator and increase the roll rigidity of the front wheels.

Claims

1. A roll rigidity control device comprising:

an actuator installed between a vehicle front wheel and body for generating an attenuation force according to a command signal,

a sensor for detecting a sequential steering operation to the left and right, and

a microprocessor programmed to;

output said command signal to said actuator so that, when said vehicle is in a turn transient state, the attenuation force of said actuator is smaller than the attenuation force when said vehicle is moving straight, and

output said command signal to said actuator such that the attenuation force of said actuator is larger than the attenuation force when said vehicle is in the turn transient state, when said sequential steering operation is detected.

2. A roll rigidity control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is further programmed to:

output command signal to said actuator such that the attenuation force of said actuator is larger than the attenuation force when said vehicle is moving straight, when said sequential steering operation is detected.

3. A roll rigidity control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is further programmed to:

output said command signal to said actuator such that the attenuation force of said actuator is larger than the attenuation force when said vehicle is moving straight, when said vehicle is in a turning steady state, and

output said command signal to said actuator such that the attenuation force of said actuator is still larger than the attenuation force when said vehicle is in the turning steady state, when said sequential steering operation is detected.

4. A roll rigidity control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuator is a hydraulic cylinder, and said microprocessor is programmed to vary the attenuation force of said hydraulic cylinder by varying the damping coefficient of said hydraulic cylinder.