Suspension control apparatus

• US 8,296,010 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Uchiyama, Masaaki, Ichimaru, Nobuyuki, Kobayashi, Takahide, Hirao, Ryusuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beck, Karen A
• Application Number:
  US12/765,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20110035089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/37, 701/38, 701/70, 280/5.507, 280/53.508, 280/5.513, 280/5.515, 280/5.508, 280/5.51
• US Class Current: 701/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/06 Characteristics of dampers , e.g. mechanical dampersB60G17/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0512 Pitch angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0521 Roll rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/208 of wheel rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance

Abstract

A suspension control apparatus enabling a driver to obtain an excellent driving feeling. The suspension control apparatus controls an actuator disposed between a vehicle body and a wheel of a vehicle. The suspension control apparatus includes a lateral acceleration detector operable to detect a lateral acceleration, a lateral jerk detector operable to detect a lateral jerk, and a suspension controller operable to control the actuator to change a pitch of the vehicle based the detected lateral acceleration and lateral jerk.

Claims

1. A suspension control apparatus for controlling an actuator disposed between a vehicle body and a wheel of a vehicle, the suspension control apparatus comprising:

a lateral acceleration detector operable to detect a lateral acceleration;

a lateral jerk detector operable to detect a lateral jerk; and

a suspension controller operable to control the actuator to change a pitch of the vehicle based the detected lateral acceleration and lateral jerk,

wherein the suspension controller increases a pitch angle as an absolute value of the lateral jerk is increased.

2. The suspension control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a target pitch angle calculator operable to calculate a target pitch angle based on the lateral jerk detected by the lateral jerk detector,

wherein the suspension controller controls the actuator based on the target pitch angle calculated by the target pitch angle calculator.

3. The suspension control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a pitch angle detector operable to detect a pitch angle of the vehicle;

wherein the suspension controller controls the actuator based on the target pitch angle calculated by the target pitch angle calculator and the pitch angle detected by the pitch angle detector.

4. The suspension control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a damping force adjustable shock absorber capable of adjusting a damping force to be generated thereby.

5. The suspension control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises an air suspension configured to generate a force with use of an air pressure.

6. A suspension control apparatus for controlling an actuator disposed between a vehicle body and a wheel of a vehicle, the suspension control apparatus comprising:

a lateral acceleration detector operable to detect a lateral acceleration;

a lateral jerk detector operable to detect a lateral jerk; and

a suspension controller operable to control the actuator to change a pitch of the vehicle based the detected lateral acceleration and lateral jerk,

wherein the actuator is controlled such that the vehicle has a pitch of a front-down state when the lateral jerk and the lateral acceleration have a same sign.

7. The suspension control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the actuator is controlled such that the vehicle has a pitch of a front-down state when a driver progressively turns a steering wheel of the vehicle.