Patent US4761022A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4761022A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Suspension controller for improved turning
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1987-02-24
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Granted: 1988-08-02
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Expires: 2007-02-24
Abstract
Abstract Provided is a so-called active suspension controller for a vehicle especially effective during turning. The controller comprises: an actuator provided between the body and every wheel of the vehicle; sensors for a turning condition of the vehicle, here the turning condition including a steering angle, vehicle speed, yaw rate and others; and a control apparatus responsive to the sensed turning condition for driving the actuators in order to control the allotment ratio between the front and the rear axles of the load shift between the right and the left wheels. The allotted load shift realizes stable turning under various circumstances.
Inventors
- 👤 Kaoru Ohashi
- 👤 Chiaki Hamada
- 👤 Hiroshi Kawakami
- 👤 Yutaka Hirano
- 👤 Zensaku Murakami
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:28
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/08; G05D1/0891; B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B60G17/016; B60G17/0162; B60G2202/00; B60G2202/40; B60G2202/41; B60G2202/413; B60G2202/414; B60G2400/00; B60G2400/10; B60G2400/104; B60G2400/106; B60G2400/20; B60G2400/204; B60G2400/40; B60G2400/41; B60G2400/60; B60G2401/00; B60G2401/14; B60G2600/00; B60G2600/02; B60G2600/18; B60G2600/182; B60G2800/00; B60G2800/01; B60G2800/012
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A controller for suspensions of a vehicle, comprising: an actuator provided between the body and every wheel of the vehicle; means for sensing a turning condition of the vehicle, the turning condition including a steering angle; and control means responsive to the sensed turning condition for driving the actuators in order to control the allotment ratio between the front and the rear axles of the load shift between the right and the left wheels so as to control steering characteristics of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A controller for suspensions of a vehicle, comprising: an actuator provided between the body and every wheel of the vehicle; means for sensing a turning condition of the vehicle, the turning condition including a steering angle; and control means responsive to the sensed turning condition for driving the actuators in order to control the allotment ratio between the front and the rear axles of the load shift between the right and the left wheels so as to control steering characteristics of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The suspension controller according to claim 1, wherein the front axle is allotted with a smaller load shift when the vehicle is sensed to begin turning, while the rear axle is allotted with a smaller load shift when the steering operation is reversed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The suspension controller according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the allotment ratio so that the sensed turning condition approaches a target condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The suspension controller according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means senses, besides the steering angle, a vehicle speed and a yaw rate of the body, and the control means controls the allotment ratio so that the sensed yaw rate approaches a target yaw rate which is calculated from the sensed steering angle and the sensed vehicle speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
The suspension controller according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means senses, besides the steering angle, a vehicle speed and a yaw rate of the body, and the control means controls the allotment ratio during turning on the basis of a criterion value, the criterion value being a product of the sensed yaw rate and an error of the sensed yaw rate from a target yaw rate which is calculated from the sensed steering angle and the sensed vehicle speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
The suspension controller according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means senses, besides the steering angle, a vehicle speed, a yaw rate and a lateral acceleration of the body, and the control means controls the allotment ratio during turning on the basis of a criterion value, the criterion value being a product of the sensed lateral acceleration and an error of the sensed yaw rate from a target yaw rate which is calculated from the sensed steering angle and the sensed vehicle speed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
The suspension controller according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means senses, besides the steering angle, a vehicle speed and a yaw rate of the body, and the control means controls the allotment ratio during turning on the basis of a criterion value, the criterion value being a product of the sensed yaw rate and an error of the sensed yaw rate from a target yaw rate which is calculated from an understeer setting coefficient derived from the sensed steering angle, the sensed vehicle speed, a square of the sensed vehicle speed and characteristics of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
the suspension controller according to claim 4, wherein the target yaw rate is determined at a preset limit yaw rate which is derived from the sensed vehicle speed and a preset tolerable lateral acceleration in turning, when the calculated target yaw rate is greater than the preset limit yaw rate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The suspension controller according to claim 5, wherein the target yaw rate is determined at a preset limit yaw rate which is derived from the sensed vehicle speed and a preset tolerable lateral acceleration in turning, when the calculated target yaw rate is greater than the preset limit yaw rate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The suspension controller according to claim 6, wherein the target yaw rate is determined at a preset limit yaw rate which is derived from the sensed vehicle speed and a preset tolerable lateral acceleration in turning, when the calculated target yaw rate is greater than the preset limit yaw rate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The suspension controller according to claim 7, wherein the target yaw rate is determined at a preset limit yaw rate which is derived from the sensed vehicle speed and a preset tolerable lateral acceleration in turning, when the calculated target yaw rate is greater than the preset limit yaw rate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The suspension controller according to claim 1, wherein the control means control the allotment ratio during turning on the basis of a load distribution of the vehicle, the load distribution being determined when the vehicle is not turning.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The suspension controller according to claim 12, wherein the rear axle is allotted a larger load shift when the load distribution at the front axle is determined to be greater than at the rear axle, while the front axle is allotted with a larger load shift when the load distribution at the rear axle is determined to be greater than at the front axle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The suspension controller according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means senses, besides the steering angle, a longitudinal acceleration of the body, and the control means controls the allotment ratio during turning on the basis of the sensed longitudinal acceleration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The suspension controller according to claim 14, wherein the front axle is allotted a larger load shift when the sensed longitudinal acceleration is negative, while the rear axle is allotted with a larger load shift when the sensed longitudinal acceleration is positive.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-08-02 | 1992-02-01 | 1992-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-02 | 1996-02-01 | 1996-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-02 | 2000-02-01 | 2000-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |