Abstract: A worm wheel is mounted to a steered shaft to rotate therewith. A brushless electric motor has an output shaft and is able to generate a power for assisting turning of the steered shaft when energized. A worm gear is coaxially connected to the output shaft of the motor to constitute a combined shaft structure. The worm gear is meshed with the worm wheel. Two bearings bear axially opposite end portions of the combined shaft structure respectively.

Abstract: A solenoid-valve controller provided with a solenoid valve C which is switchable between the full closed state where a plunger a abuts on a sheet face b and the full open state where the plunger separates from the sheet face, and control means e for carrying out energization to a coil d for driving the plunger a of the solenoid valve C by pulse width modulation control, configured such that there are arranged regenerative-current formation means e for forming a regenerative current in parallel with the coil d, and the control means e are arranged with regenerative-current detection means g for detecting the regenerative current, and the control means e carry out pulse width modulation control based on a detection value of the regenerative-current detection means g. This allows detection of the plunger position during actuation of the solenoid valve by a low-cost and small-sized technique requiring no enhancement of an attraction force of the coil of the solenoid valve.

Abstract: A semiconductor type acceleration sensor comprises a flexible printed circuit board on which a semiconductor type detector chip section is mounted. The detector chip is formed with openings therethrough overlapping an opening formed in a rear-side base plate of the flexible printed circuit board such that the detector chip section is supported only by a bridge portion. In case of excess input in an acceleration direction, elastic deformation of the bridge portion and a bending portion of the flexible printed circuit board provide absorption of the excess input for protecting the detector chip section.

Abstract: A method of driving a stepping motor comprises dividing a drive signal for each drive step into a plurality of portions in the direction of a time axis, and controlling the drive signal in connection with the plurality of portions thereof in a way of PWM so as to obtain a pattern of a gradual change in a on-duty ratio of the drive signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor type acceleration sensor comprises a flexible printed circuit board on which a semiconductor type detector chip section is mounted The detector chip is formed with openings therethrough overlapping an opening formed in a rear-side base plate of the flexible printed circuit board such that the detector chip section is supported only by a bridge portion. In case of excess input in an acceleration direction, elastic deformation of the bridge portion and a bending portion of the flexible printed circuit board provide absorption of tile excess input for protecting the detector chip section.

Abstract: A semiconductor type acceleration sensor comprises a flexible printed circuit board on which a semiconductor type detector chip section is mounted. The detector chip is formed with openings therethrough overlapping an opening formed in a rear-side base plate of the flexible printed circuit board such that the detector chip section is supported only by a bridge portion. In case of excess input in an acceleration direction, elastic deformation of the bridge portion and a bending portion of the flexible printed circuit board provide absorption of the excess input for protecting the detector chip section.

Abstract: A suspension control system for an automotive vehicle is provided. This suspension control system comprises variable damping force shock absorbers and a control unit which controls the shock absorbers to assume damping force characteristics in a range between preselected higher and lower damping coefficients. The control unit is operable to provide a control parameter indicative of bouncing motion of a vehicle body based on sprung vertical speed to determine a damping coefficient against the bouncing motion. When the control parameter is greater than a threshold value, the damping coefficient is modified to a lower value, while when the control parameter is less than the threshold value, the damping coefficient is modified to a higher value. With this damping coefficient modification, the bouncing motion is suppressed effectively while assuring passenger comfort.

Abstract: A suspension control system for an automotive vehicle is disclosed in which, in each shock absorber, interposed between the vehicular body and tire wheel, a damping coefficient varying adjuster is provided which changes a damping coefficient at either or both of piston stroke sides according to a control signal input thereto so that the damping coefficient is set to a target damping coefficient position, at lease one sprung mass acceleration sensor and at least one sprung mass speed sensor are provided, and the control unit is provided which outputs the control signal to the damping coefficient varying means according to a result of determination of whether the vertical sprung mass acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold value and according to a direction and magnitude of the sprung mass speed so that the damping coefficient at either or both of the stroke sides is controlled to a target damping coefficient position.

Abstract: An automotive suspension control system employs a lateral acceleration sensor monitoring a lateral acceleration exerted on a vehicular body. The output level of the lateral acceleration sensor is processed to detect frequency of a occurrence of lateral acceleration magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold level within a predetermined period of time or a predetermined distance to travel. Judgement is made that the vehicle is on a rough road when the detected frequency becomes higher than or equal to a predetermined rough road criterion. The suspension control system, according to the present invention, is responsive to the judgement of rough road condition, to order softer suspension characteristics for satisfactorily suppressing vehicular body attitude change by absorbing vibration energy.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling damping coefficients for respective vehicular shock absorbers is disclosed in which a plurality of shock absorbers are interposed between predetermined parts of a vehicle body and tire wheel and are provided with damping coefficient changing members, each changing member varying the coefficients of the damping shock absorbers at multiple stages by changing position of an associated actuator, the actuator receiving a signal to change the position of the damping coefficient changing member on the basis of an input signal derived from a sprung mass vertical G sensor. Particularly, a correction portion is provided in a control unit which varies a position change rate of the damping coefficient changing member according to a value of the input signal derived from an input signal sensor, e.g., the sprung mass vertical G sensor.

Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling a variable damping coefficient for at least one vehicular shock absorber, the shock absorber being interposed between a vehicle body and a tire wheel, an adjuster of the shock absorber which is so constructed as to change its position so as to provide an optimum damping coefficient for the shock absorber in response to a drive by means of an actuator (pulse motor), vehicle behavior detector which is so constructed as to detect a vehicle behavior, a damping coefficient control portion to derive an optimum damping coefficient according to the vehicular behavior, and a drive/control portion to form a drive/control signal to actuate the actuator, the drive/control portion is separated from the damping coefficient control portion and is integrally incorporated into the actuator.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the damping coefficient of shock absorbers which are associated with the road wheels of the vehicle, produces control signals using one or more of a bouncing rate, a pitching rate and a rolling rate value which is filtered out of a plurality of outputs provided by a plurality of acceleration sensors which are each located in proximity of a shock absorber. The control signal can be modified using the outputs of weight sensors which are used to derive the relative velocities of the road wheels with respect to the vehicle body.

Abstract: An arrangement of a vehicular suspension system is disclosed in which each drive circuit which outputs a drive current to a corresponding one of the actuators installed on each shock absorber is arranged at a position adjacent to the corresponding one of actuators. Thus, transmission of signals from each drive circuit to the corresponding one of the actuators is unaffected by electrical disturbance. In addition, a length of a wire connected between the corresponding one of the actuators and the drive circuit can be shortened. The generation of noises causing the electromagnetic wave interference can be prevented. In another preferred embodiment, a printed circuit board containing each drive circuit is mounted in a casing of the corresponding one of the actuators of the shock absorbers.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a damper of vehicular suspension in which when the vehicle runs on a paved road and a frequency at which the detected sprung mass acceleration exceeds a dead zone is below a set value, the damping force characteristic is optimally controlled in a predetermined variable range. When the vehicle runs on a rough road and a frequency at which the detected acceleration exceeds the dead zone is above the set value, a minimum damping force limit of the predetermined variable range of the damping force characteristic is shifted toward a relatively high damping force side, The dead zone is set with an average value of the acceleration of sprung mass as a center. Hence, when the vehicle turns and zigzags, the vehicular body is inclined so that an absolute value of the sprung mass acceleration is largely changed. In this case, when an average value of the acceleration of the sprung mass is accordingly changed and the dead zone is accordingly shifted.

Abstract: A controller of each suspension unit is provided with a time difference setting block for deriving a time difference between a time at which front wheels have passed over a given portion of road surface and a time at which rear wheels have passed on the same portion of road surface, a correction block for deriving a correction value corresponding to a difference between a required optimum damping force on each of the front wheel suspension units and actually generated damping force on each of the front wheel suspension units, and a rear wheel suspension controlling block for deriving an optimum damping force on the basis of a presently input signal derived from a vehicular behavior detector installed on a rear wheel side and the correction value past by the time difference and outputting a change control signal to the damping force coefficient changing mechanism installed for the rear wheel suspension units.

Abstract: A suspension control system for an automotive vehicle is provided which utilizes variable damping force shock absorbers for modifying damping force characteristics. Each of the shock absorbers has an electric motor adapted for varying an effective fluid flow restriction established by an orifice when modifying the damping force characteristics. When the electric motor is energized to initialize an angular position thereof upon starting the suspension control, operating torque of the motor is decreased below a preselected level for reducing reaction force from a stopper when an output shaft of the motor is urged into engagement with the stopper arranged at an original angular position of the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling damping coefficients for vehicular shock absorbers is disclosed comprising a filter circuit which passes only signals whose frequencies fall in a predetermined frequency band. The signals are derived from vehicle behavior detectors which detect vehicular behaviors related to sprung mass longitudinal speeds of a vehicle body. Cut-off frequencies of the filter circuit are varied according to a vehicle speed.

Abstract: An anti-rolling motion control system for an automotive vehicle is provided. This control system comprises shock absorbers each being variable of a damping coefficient within a range from softer to harder damping characteristics, a steering sensor for monitoring a steered angle of a steering wheel, and a rolling motion control unit. The rolling motion control unit is operable to derive steered angular velocity based on the steered angle of the steering wheel. The rolling motion control unit controls the shock absorbers so that the damping coefficients are modified to exhibit the harder damping characteristics when the steered angular velocity and the steered angle are greater than preselected first and second threshold values respectively for suppressing rolling motion of a vehicle body effectively while securing traveling stability.

Abstract: A method of and a system for controlling a hydraulic shock absorber of an automobile are provided. In the shock absorber, a flow of damping fluid induces a load on an actuator of the shock absorber during bouncing and rebouncing of the shock absorber, and the actuator is actuated in response to an output signal of a control unit. In order for the actuator to counteract the load applied thereto, the output signal is modified in response to the load. According to the embodiment, the load is determined by a table look-up operation based on an input load detected by a load sensor mounted to the automobile.

Abstract: A suspension control system for an automotive vehicle comprises a multi-stage variable damping force shock absorber which is variable of damping characteristics at a plurality of mutually different damping modes. The control system also comprises means for monitoring a vehicular driving parameter representing a suspension control parameter, a plurality of data maps set in a memory unit respectively containing a damping characteristics selection pattern for deriving damping characteristics, toward which the damping characteristics of the shock absorber is to be controlled, on the basis of the suspension control parameter. Means, responsive to the current damping characteristics of the shock absorber, are provided for selecting one of the data map, and means for performing suspension control with selected one of data map for deriving a suspension control signal by looking-up the selected one of data map in terms of the suspension control parameter for controlling damping characteristics of the shock absorber.