Suspension control system and suspension control method for vehicle

• US 7,680,573 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Fumiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US12/414,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20090187310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 701 37- 39, 180/337, 180/282, 280/5.508, 280/788, 267/2
• US Class Current: 701/37
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/102 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/41 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/821 Uneven, rough road sensing affecting vehicle body vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/824 Travel path sensing; Track monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/16 GPS track data
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/184 Semi-Active control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/162 Reducing road induced vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/916 Body Vibration Control

Abstract

A suspension control system and a suspension control method for a vehicle control the suspension based on the condition of the road surface traveled by the vehicle in addition to information pertaining to a corner obtained from a navigation device when the vehicle approaches the corner. A microprocessor controls damping forces of suspension devices on the basis of a degree of irregularity of the road surface detected immediately preceding entry of the automobile into a turn around the corner, and corner information from the navigation device.

Claims

1. A suspension control system for a vehicle equipped with a navigational device, said suspension control system comprising:

a plurality of suspension devices, each mounted between a suspension arm and a body portion of the vehicle, in association with a wheel of the vehicle, each of said suspension devices expanding and contracting in accordance with a damping force to damp forces on the vehicle received from a road surface traveled by the vehicle;

means for detecting a degree of irregularity of the road surface;

means for detecting vehicle speed;

means for detecting turning of the vehicle;

means for judging whether or not the vehicle has entered into a turn around a corner on the basis of the turning of the vehicle detected by said means for detecting turning;

means for calculating an adjustment value corresponding to the damping force on the basis of the detected vehicle speed, the detected degree of irregularity and information relative to a corner in the road surface received from the navigation device when the vehicle approaches the corner; and

means for outputting the calculated adjustment value to a suspension device so as to control the damping force of the suspension device, wherein when said means for judging judges that the vehicle has entered into the turn around the corner, said means for outputting outputs the calculated adjustment value to the suspension device so as to control the damping force of the suspension device in accordance with the calculated adjustment value until the vehicle has passed through the corner.

2. The suspension control system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said means for calculating extracts an irregularity component corresponding to a predetermined frequency from the degree of irregularity detected by said means for detecting a degree of irregularity, and calculates the adjustment value corresponding to the damping force of said suspension means on the basis of the irregularity component.

3. The suspension control system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said means for calculating stops the calculation of the adjustment valve when the means for judging judges that the vehicle has entered into a turn around said corner, and wherein the adjustment value last calculated before stopping the calculation is used to control the damping force of said suspension devices in travel of the vehicle in passing through the corner.

4. The suspension control system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said means for calculating extracts an irregularity component corresponding to a predetermined frequency from the degree of irregularity detected by said means for detecting a degree of irregularity, and calculates the adjustment value corresponding to the damping force of said suspension devices on the basis of the irregularity component.