JP2946529B2 - Height control device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle height control device that suitably executes vehicle height control when an ignition switch is turned off.

[Prior Art] A vehicle height control device is intended to maintain a vehicle height at a constant vehicle height even when a vehicle load changes due to an increase or decrease in vehicle occupants, and generally detects a vehicle height, When the detected vehicle height exceeds a predetermined upper limit, the vehicle body is lowered, and when the vehicle height is lower than the predetermined lower limit, the vehicle body is raised to control the vehicle body within a predetermined target range. I have.

In order to perform such vehicle height control, power for driving a vehicle height adjustment mechanism that raises or lowers the vehicle body is required. When the control is executed, battery power is consumed, and the engine may not be able to be started.

Therefore, conventionally, as described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 61-64006, the vehicle height control when the ignition switch is turned off (that is, when the engine is stopped) is performed by setting the ignition switch to OF.
It is conceivable to execute the control only for a certain period of time, which is considered to be required for getting on and off the vehicle occupant, etc., after the F, and to prohibit the vehicle height control after the lapse of this period.

On the other hand, vehicle height control is performed by raising and lowering the vehicle body according to changes in vehicle height, so if the vehicle load is increased or decreased, the vehicle height control is also executed when opening the doors and trunk room, The vehicle height control is executed every time the vehicle body load fluctuates, and the up / down movement of the vehicle body may be frequently switched. For this reason, in order to prevent such unnecessary control, it has been proposed to prohibit vehicle height control when opening the doors for entry and exit and the trunk room, as described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-9123, for example.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, the present inventor has considered that by combining the above-described technologies, it is possible to more appropriately suppress the consumption of battery power when the ignition switch is turned off. In other words, the vehicle height control when the ignition switch is turned off is performed only for a certain time after the ignition switch is turned off, and the vehicle height control at that time is prohibited when the door is opened. In high control, power consumption due to unnecessary vehicle height control when the door is opened can be suppressed.

However, it is conceivable that the vehicle height control may not be satisfactorily executed when the door opening time is long by simply combining the above technologies. That is, as described above, if the vehicle height control when the ignition switch is turned off is performed only for a fixed time after the ignition switch is turned off, the vehicle height control can be executed when the door opening time is long. The vehicle goes out of control or the vehicle height control is terminated during control, and the ignition switch is turned off.
The subsequent vehicle height cannot be adjusted to the target vehicle height.

On the other hand, in order to be able to execute vehicle height control even when the door opening time is long in this way, it is conceivable to increase the control execution time after the ignition switch is turned off. To do so, the initial purpose of setting a time limit, that is, the ignition switch
When the vehicle is turned off, the vehicle height control can be executed only for the time required for the vehicle occupants to get on and off, and the purpose of suppressing battery power consumption cannot be achieved. Increase.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle height control device capable of appropriately controlling the vehicle height while sufficiently suppressing the power consumption accompanying the vehicle height control when the ignition switch is turned off.

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, the present invention made in order to achieve the above-mentioned object,
As illustrated in FIG. 1, vehicle height adjusting means M1 interposed between a vehicle body and wheels to adjust the vehicle height of the vehicle, vehicle height detecting means M2 for detecting the vehicle height of the vehicle, A vehicle height control device M3 for controlling the vehicle height adjustment device M1 based on the detection result of the vehicle height detection device M2 so that the vehicle height becomes a predetermined target vehicle height. An opening / closing state detecting means M4 for detecting an opening / closing state of an opening / closing member for communicating / blocking between the inside and the outside of the vehicle, and a switch state detecting means M5 for detecting an opening / closing state of an ignition switch of the vehicle. When the open state of the ignition switch is detected by the switch state detection means M5 in the height control means M3, the vehicle height is determined based on the detection result of the vehicle height detection means M2 until a predetermined determination time elapses thereafter. To control the target vehicle height Control start condition determining means M6 for determining whether a high control start condition is satisfied
When the control start condition determining means M6 determines that the vehicle height control start condition has been satisfied, the closed state of the open / close member is detected by the open / close state detecting means M4, and the switch state detecting means M5 By driving the vehicle height adjusting means M1 to execute the vehicle height control on condition that a predetermined set time longer than the determination time has not elapsed after the ignition switch is detected to be open, and When the vehicle height is controlled to the target vehicle height by driving or when the set time elapses, vehicle height control execution means M7 for stopping the driving of the vehicle height adjusting means M1 and ending the vehicle height control, The gist is a vehicle height control device characterized by being provided.

[Operation] In the vehicle height control device of the present invention configured as described above, first, when the ignition switch of the vehicle is opened (ie, turned off) and the engine is stopped, the fact is notified by the switch state detecting means M5. Is detected. Then, the control start condition determining means M6 provided in the vehicle height control means M3 measures the elapsed time after the ignition switch is turned off by the detection signal from the switch state detecting means M5, and the elapsed time is a predetermined time. Until the determination time is reached, it is determined based on the vehicle height detected by the vehicle height detecting means M2 whether or not a vehicle height control start condition for controlling the vehicle height to the target vehicle height is satisfied.

Next, when the control start condition determining means M6 determines that the vehicle height control start condition is satisfied, the vehicle height control means M3
The vehicle height control execution means M7 provided in the vehicle operates, the open / closed state detecting means M4 detects the closed state of the opening / closing member that connects and disconnects the inside and the outside of the vehicle, and the switch state detecting means M5 The vehicle height adjusting means M1 is driven on condition that a predetermined set time longer than the determination time for performing the vehicle height control start determination after the ignition switch OFF state is detected has not elapsed. When the vehicle height is controlled to the target vehicle height or when the set time elapses, the driving of the vehicle height adjusting means M1 is stopped, and the vehicle height control ends.

Therefore, in the vehicle height control device of the present invention, the opening / closing member is opened even though the start condition of the vehicle height control is satisfied within a fixed time (that is, the determination time) after the ignition switch is turned off, Even if the vehicle height control could not be executed within the determination time, if the opening / closing member is closed before the ignition switch is turned off and a set time longer than the determination time elapses, the vehicle height control is executed. The Rukoto.

Further, in the vehicle height control execution means M7, when the vehicle height is controlled to the target vehicle height by driving the vehicle height adjustment means M1 after the vehicle height control execution condition is satisfied, the driving of the vehicle height adjustment means M1 is stopped. The control is terminated, and the control start condition determining means M6
Since the start condition of the vehicle height control is not determined when the determination time after the ignition switch is turned off, when the vehicle height is controlled to the target vehicle height by the vehicle height control after the ignition switch is turned off, the elapsed time after the ignition switch is turned off. The vehicle height control is not executed even within the set time.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of the entire vehicle height control device of the embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the vehicle height control device according to the present embodiment includes an air suspension 2FL, 2FR, 2RL, 2RR interposed between each of the front and rear, left and right vehicles, and the vehicle body, and each of these air suspensions 2FL. , 2FR, 2RL, 2RR, and an electronic control circuit 6 as a vehicle height control means M3 for controlling these components. However, suffixes FL, FR, RL, R attached to each air suspension 2
R represents a left front wheel, a right front wheel, a left rear wheel, and a right rear wheel, respectively. In the following description, members provided for each of these wheels will be described with the suffix.

Where each air suspension 2FL, 2FR, 2RL, 2RR
Are variable volume air chambers 10 with adjustable vehicle height.
FL, 10FR, 10RL, 10RR, shock absorber 12FL, 12FR, 12RL, 12RR with variable damping force and spring constant, and air passage from compressed air supply / discharge system 6 to air chambers 10FL, 10FR, 10RL, 10RR・ Vehicle height control valve 14FL, 14FR, 14RL, 1 to shut off
Actuator 16FL, 16FR, which switches the damping force and spring constant of 4RR and shock absorbers 12FL, 12FR, 12RL, 12RR
16RL and 16RR.

The compressed air supply / discharge system 6 includes a compressor motor 20 for generating compressed air necessary for increasing the vehicle height, a dryer 22 for absorbing the moisture of the compressed air, and air suspensions 2FL, 2FR, 2RL, 2RR air chamber 10FL, 10FR, 1
Air solenoid valve that discharges compressed air from 0RL and 10RR
24 and.

For this reason, in the present embodiment, the air solenoid valves 24 are shut off, and the vehicle height control valves 14FL, 14FR, 14RL, 14RR of the air suspensions 2FL, 2FR, 2RL, 2RR are set in a communication state, and the air chambers 10FL, 10FR, 10RL, The vehicle height at each wheel position can be raised by supplying the compressed air from the compressor with motor 20 in the 10RR through the dryer 22. Conversely, the air solenoid valve 24 is in communication with the vehicle height control valve. 14 as a communication state, and each air chamber 10FL, 10F
By discharging the compressed air in R, 10RL, and 10RR through the air solenoid valve 24, the vehicle height at each wheel position can be lowered.

Air solenoid valve 24 and air suspension
2FL, 2FR, 2RL, 2RR vehicle height control valve 14FL, 14FR, 14RL, 14RR
A normally closed valve which is normally shut off and switched to a communicating state by energization is used, and when control is stopped, each of the air chambers 10FL, 10FR, 10RL, and 10RR is in a closed state. In this embodiment, each part for raising or lowering the vehicle height, that is, the air chambers 10FL, 10FR, 1FR in each of the air suspensions 2FL, 2FR, 2RL, 2RR.
0RL, 10RR and vehicle height control valve 14FL, 14FR, 14RL, 14RR,
The compressed air supply / discharge system 4 corresponds to the above-described vehicle height adjusting means M1.

Next, the electronic control circuit 6 raises or lowers the vehicle height at each wheel position by controlling the communication / blocking state of the air solenoid valve 24 and the vehicle height control valves 14FL, 14FR, 14RL, 14RR as described above. This is for lowering the vehicle height to the target vehicle height, and is configured as a well-known logic operation circuit centered on the CPU 6a, ROM 6b, and RAM 6c. In the electronic control circuit 6, a control for driving the actuators 16FL, 16FR, 16RL, and 16RR to switch the damping force and the spring constant of the shock absorbers 12FL, 12FR, 12RL, and 12RR is also executed. Yes, because it is not particularly relevant to the present invention,
Description is omitted.

The electronic control circuit 6 includes an air solenoid valve.
24, such as a drive circuit for driving the vehicle height control valves 14FL, 14FR, 14RL, 14RR, etc., and an input circuit for inputting a detection signal from a sensor to be described later which detects the state of the vehicle, and the like. Input / output unit with various circuits for communication
6d, and a power supply circuit 6e that receives a power supply from the battery 26 and generates a drive voltage for the control circuit 6 and the like.

An ignition switch 28 is provided on a power supply line between the power supply circuit 6e and the battery 26 so that the electronic control circuit 6 can be operated when the ignition switch 28 is turned on, that is, when the engine of the vehicle is operated. Have been. In addition, the ignition switch 28 is provided with a relay switch 30 in parallel.
When 28 is ON, this relay switch is
By keeping the ON state of the electronic control circuit 30, the electronic control circuit 6 can be operably held even after the ignition switch 28 is turned off.

Next, in the vehicle height control device, a sensor for detecting the state of the vehicle is interposed between the vehicle body and the wheels (specifically, unsprung members supporting the wheels), and the vehicle height at each wheel position is provided. Height sensors 32FL, 32FR, 32 as vehicle height detection means M2 for detecting
RL, 32RR, a door switch 34 as open / closed state detecting means M4 which is turned on when all open / close members for opening / closing the inside and outside of the vehicle, such as doors for getting on / off doors and trunk rooms, are closed. And ignition switch
An ignition sensor 36 is provided as a switch state detecting means M5 for detecting the ON / OFF state of 28, and detection signals from these sensors are input to the electronic control circuit 6 via the input / output unit 6d.

Hereinafter, vehicle height control processing executed for vehicle height control in the electronic control circuit 6 configured as described above will be described.
This will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Note that the electronic control circuit 6 includes an ignition switch 28.
In the ON state, the power supply circuit 6e is activated by receiving a power supply from the battery 26 and generating a drive voltage. After the activation, the relay switch 30 is turned on, and then the vehicle height control processing described below is executed.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the vehicle height control process is started, first, step 110 is executed, and based on a detection signal from the ignition sensor 36, the ignition switch 28 is turned on.
It is determined whether or not it is in the state.

When the ignition switch 28 is in the ON state, the timer T used for measuring the elapsed time after the ignition switch 280FF is cleared in a process described later in a step 120, and the ignition in the next step 130 is performed. A flag FON indicating the ON state of the switch 28 is set, and at step 140, the ignition switch 28
IG / ON vehicle height control processing for controlling the vehicle height when the vehicle is in the ON state (hereinafter, this state is referred to as IG / ON), and ends the processing once.

On the other hand, in step 110, the ignition switch 28
If it is determined that the state is not the N state, the process proceeds to step 150 to determine whether or not the flag FON has been set, that is, the ignition switch 28 has been in the ON state, and the current ignition switch 28 has been changed from ON to OFF. It is determined whether or not it has just been switched.

If it is determined in step 150 that the flag FON has been set and it is immediately after the ignition switch 28 has been switched from ON to OFF, the next step
The process proceeds to step 160, otherwise, the process proceeds to step 200 described below.

Next, in step 160, the operation of the IG / ON vehicle height control process in step 140 determines whether or not vehicle height control is currently being performed.If vehicle height control is being performed, the process proceeds to step 170. After executing the vehicle height control stop processing for stopping the lever height control, the process proceeds to step 180. If the vehicle height control is not currently being performed, the process directly proceeds to step 180. In step 180, a timer T reset in step 120 when the ignition switch 29 is ON is started, and the ignition switch 280F is turned on.
After the elapse of the elapsed time after F, the flag FON is reset in the subsequent step 190, and the process proceeds to step 200.

In step 200, it is determined whether or not the value of the timer T, that is, the elapsed time T after the ignition switch 280FF is equal to or less than a predetermined determination time T1 (for example, three minutes). If T ≦ T1, the process proceeds to step 210, where the ignition switch 28 is turned off (hereinafter, this state is referred to as I
G / OFF. ) Until the time T1 elapses
The vehicle height control at the time of F is performed, and the first vehicle height control process at the time of IG / OFF is executed, and the process is temporarily terminated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 200 that T> T1, the process proceeds to step 220, and the IG / OFF
It is determined whether or not the later elapsed time T is equal to or less than a time T2 (for example, 30 minutes) set in advance to a value greater than the determination time T1. If it is determined in step 220 that T ≦ T2, the process proceeds to step 230, where
Is set when the execution condition of the vehicle height control after IG / OFF is satisfied in the first vehicle height control process at IG / OFF executed in
Based on the control request flag described below, which is reset when the vehicle height control after IG / OFF is completed, the vehicle height control after IG / OFF is not yet completed, and the vehicle height control after the current IG / OFF is executed. It is determined whether or not there is a state to be performed, that is, whether or not there is a request to perform vehicle height control after IG / OFF. If it is determined in step 230 that there is a request to execute the vehicle height control, the process proceeds to step 240, where the second vehicle height control at the time of IG / OFF is performed in order to complete the vehicle height control after IG / OFF. The process is executed, and the process is temporarily terminated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 220 that the post-IG / OFF time T2 has elapsed, or if it is determined in step 230 that there is no request to execute the vehicle height control after IG / OFF, step 25 is performed.
The power supply to the electronic control circuit 6 is cut off by turning off the relay switch 30 that has been turned on during the start-up time. That is, turning off the relay switch 30 in this manner prevents battery power from being consumed in the vehicle height control system.

Here, the vehicle height control process at the time of IG / ON executed in step 140 is performed so that the left front wheel-side vehicle height, the right front wheel-side vehicle height, and the rear wheel-side average vehicle height are each within a preset target range. As shown in FIG. 4 (a), in the process for maintaining the vehicle body posture in a predetermined state by controlling the
It is determined whether or not the vehicle height control is currently being executed. If the vehicle height control is not being executed, a preset priority order (in this embodiment, left front wheel → right front wheel → rear wheel). According to the vehicle height control process on each wheel side (step 142,
Conversely, if the vehicle height control has already been executed, it is determined whether the vehicle height control is being executed on the left front wheel, the right front wheel, or the rear wheel (step 143, step 144).
145, step 146), and shifting to the vehicle height control process on the wheel side where the vehicle height control is being executed.

As will be described in detail later, Step 142 to Step 1
In the vehicle height control process on each wheel side executed in 44, if the vehicle height control on the corresponding wheel side is being executed, the vehicle height control process at IG / ON is ended as it is. , The above steps 142 to 143,
Alternatively, the transition from step 143 to step 144 is performed only when the vehicle height control is not actually executed on the left front wheel side or the right front wheel side.

Next, the vehicle height control processing on each wheel side executed in steps 142 to 144 will be described. However, the vehicle height control processing on each wheel side differs only in the wheel side device to be controlled. Since the contents are the same, a description will be given of the vehicle height control on the left front wheel side (FL) as an example along the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 (b).

As shown in FIG. 4 (b), when the vehicle height control process on the left front wheel side at the time of IG / ON is started, first in step 300, the left front wheel position is determined based on the detection data from the vehicle height sensor 32FL. Then, the process proceeds to step 310. In step 310, it is determined whether or not the vehicle body ascent control is currently being performed on the left front wheel based on the ascent control execution flag FUP set when the body ascent control is started in the subsequent processing. When the ascent control execution flag FUP is in a reset state and the ascent control of the vehicle body is not executed,
In step 320, it is determined whether the vehicle height S detected in step 300 has fallen below the ascending control start vehicle height SUPS representing the lower limit of the vehicle height serving as the control target.

In this step 320, the vehicle height S starts the ascent control.
If it is determined that the vehicle speed is below the threshold value, the process proceeds to step 330 to drive the compressor with motor 20 to generate compressed air and to energize the vehicle height control valve 14FL on the left front wheel side so that the valve is in a communicating state. As a result, the ascending control for elevating the vehicle body on the left front wheel side is started, and the routine goes to the subsequent step 340 to set the ascending control execution flag FUP.

Thus, in step 340, the ascent control execution flag FUP
Is set, or when it is determined in step 310 that the ascent control execution flag FUP has already been set, the process proceeds to step 350, and the vehicle height S detected in step 300 is used as the ascent control start vehicle. It is determined whether the vehicle has exceeded the ascent control end vehicle height SUPE set to a value slightly larger than the high SUPS. If it is determined in step 350 that the vehicle height S is equal to or less than the vehicle height SUPE at the end of the upward control, the vehicle height control process at IG / ON is performed as it is to continue the vehicle height upward control on the left front wheel side. finish.

On the other hand, in step 350, the vehicle height S is increased,
If it is determined that PE has been exceeded, it is determined that the condition for terminating the vehicle height control on the left front wheel has been satisfied, and the routine proceeds to step 360, where the drive of the compressor with motor 20 and the vehicle height control valve 14 are performed.
By stopping the power supply to FL, the ascent control ends,
After resetting the ascent control execution flag FUP in the subsequent step 370, the process proceeds to the right front wheel side vehicle height control process in step 143.

Next, in step 320, when it is determined that the vehicle height S is equal to or higher than the vehicle height at which the ascent control is started, the process proceeds to step 380, and the descent set when the vehicle body descent control is started in the subsequent processing. Based on the control execution flag FDW1, it is determined whether the lowering control of the vehicle body is currently being executed on the left front wheel side. If the descent control execution flag FDW1 is in the reset state and the descent control of the vehicle body is not being executed, the process proceeds to the subsequent step 390, where the vehicle height S detected in the step 300 becomes the control target vehicle height. It is determined whether the vehicle height S exceeds the lowering control start vehicle height SDWS1 representing the upper limit value. If the vehicle height S does not exceed the machining control start vehicle height SDWS1, the execution condition of the vehicle height control on the left front wheel side is satisfied. If it is determined that there is not, the process proceeds to the right front wheel side vehicle height control process of step 143.

On the other hand, in step 390, the vehicle height S starts the descending control.
If it is determined that the value exceeds 1, the process proceeds to step 400, where the vehicle height control valve 14FL and the air solenoid valve on the left front wheel side are set.
By energizing 24 to bring both valves into communication, lowering control for lowering the vehicle body on the left front wheel side is started, and the routine proceeds to step 410 where a lowering control execution flag FDW1 is set.

Thus, at step 410, the descending control execution flag FDW1
Is set, or if it is determined in step 380 that the descending control execution flag FDW1 has already been set, the process proceeds to step 420, and the vehicle height S detected in step 300 is used as the descending control starting vehicle. It is determined whether the vehicle has fallen below the descent control end vehicle height SDWE1 set to a value slightly smaller than the height SDWS1. If it is determined in this step 420 that the vehicle height S is equal to or higher than the vehicle height SDWE1 at which the lowering control has been completed, the vehicle height control process at the time of IG / ON is performed as it is to continue the vehicle height lowering control on the left front wheel side. finish.

On the other hand, in step 420, the vehicle height S decreases
If it is determined that the vehicle speed has fallen below WE1, it is determined that the condition for terminating the vehicle height control on the left front wheel has been satisfied, and the routine proceeds to step 430, in which the power supply to the vehicle height control valve 14FL and the air solenoid valve 24 is stopped, and both valves are stopped. Is turned off to terminate the descending control. At the following step 440, the descending control execution flag FDW1 is reset, and then the process proceeds to the right front wheel side vehicle height control processing at step 143.

Next, the IG / OFF first vehicle height control process executed in step 210 will be described.

The first vehicle height control process at the time of IG / OFF is performed so that the left front wheel side vehicle height, the right front wheel side vehicle height, and the rear wheel side average vehicle height are each equal to or less than a predetermined upper limit vehicle height. This is a process for executing the descent control, similar to the IG / ON vehicle height control process described above.
As shown in FIG. 7 (a), it is first determined in step 211 whether or not the vehicle height control is currently being executed. If the vehicle height control is not being executed, each wheel is controlled in accordance with a preset priority order. Performs the vehicle height control processing on the side (step 212,
On the other hand, if the vehicle height control has already been executed, it is determined whether the vehicle height control is being executed on the left front wheel, the right front wheel, or the rear wheel (step 21).
5, step 216) and then proceed to vehicle height control processing on the wheel side where vehicle height control is being performed.

Also in the first vehicle height control process at the time of IG / OFF, in the vehicle height control process on each wheel side executed in steps 212 to 214, the vehicle height control on the corresponding wheel side is executed. In this case, the vehicle height control process at the time of IG / OFF is terminated as it is, so the transition from step 212 to step 213 or from step 213 to step 214 is performed on the left front wheel side or the right front wheel. This is performed only when the vehicle height control is not actually executed on the side.

Hereinafter, the vehicle height control processing on each wheel side executed in each of these steps 212 to 214 will be described with reference to the aforementioned IG / ON.
Similar to the hourly vehicle height control process, the vehicle height control on the left front wheel side (FL) will be described as an example along the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 (b).

As shown in FIG. 5 (b), when the vehicle height control process is started, first, in step 500, the vehicle height S at the left front wheel position is detected based on the detection signal from the vehicle height sensor 32FL. Move on to 510. In step 510, IG
The IG / OFF control execution flag FDW2, which is set when the descent control on the left front wheel at the time of / OFF is started, determines whether the descent control at the time of IG / OFF is currently being executed on the left front wheel. I do. If the IG / OFF control execution flag FDW2 is in a reset state and the lowering control on the left front wheel at the time of IG / OFF has not been executed, the process proceeds to the subsequent step 520.
It is determined whether or not the vehicle height S detected in step 500 has exceeded the IG / OFF control start vehicle height SDWS2 set to a value larger than the IG / ON lowering control start vehicle height SDWS1.

When it is determined in step 520 that the vehicle height S is equal to or less than the IG / OFF control start vehicle height SDWS2, the vehicle height control on the left front wheel side does not need to be performed. After resetting the control request flag FOFF for this wheel, the process proceeds to the right front wheel side first vehicle height control process in step 213.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 520 that the vehicle height S has exceeded the IG / OFF control start vehicle height SDWS2, the control request flag FOFF is set in step 540, and the routine proceeds to step 550. In step 550, it is determined whether or not the door of the vehicle is closed based on the detection signal from the door switch. If the door is not closed, the process directly proceeds to the vehicle height control process for the right front wheel in step 213, and otherwise proceeds to step 560.

In step 560, the vehicle height control valve 14FL on the left front wheel side and the air solenoid valve 24 are energized to bring both valves into a communicating state, thereby starting a lowering control for lowering the vehicle body on the left front wheel side. After the IG / OFF control execution flag FDW2 is set, the process proceeds to step 580.

In step 580, the vehicle height S detected in step 500 is
It is determined whether or not the IG / OFF control end vehicle height SDWE2 set to a value slightly smaller than the IG / OFF control start vehicle height SDWS2 has fallen below. Then, in step 580, the vehicle height S becomes IG / OFF
When it is determined that the time control end vehicle height SDWS2 or more, the first vehicle height control process at IG / OFF is ended as it is to continue the descending control.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 580 that the vehicle height S has fallen below the IG / OFF control end vehicle height SDWE2, it is determined that the condition for ending the vehicle height control on the left front wheel has been satisfied, and the process proceeds to step 590. By stopping the energization of the high control valve 14FL and the air solenoid valve 24 to shut off both valves, the lowering control at the time of IG / OFF is completed. Then, in step 600, the control request flag FOFF is reset. In step 610, the IG / OFF control execution flag FDW2 is reset, and the process proceeds to step 213, the left front wheel-side first vehicle height control process.

If it is determined in step 510 that the IG / OFF control execution flag FDW2 has already been set, and it is determined that the lowering control on the left front wheel is currently being executed, the process proceeds to step 510.
The process proceeds to 620, where it is determined based on the detection signal from the door switch 34 whether or not the door of the vehicle is closed. If it is determined in step 620 that the door is closed, the process proceeds to step 580 to continue the lowering control. Conversely, if it is determined that the door is open, step 63
Then, the lowering control is interrupted by stopping the energization of the vehicle height control valve 14FL and the air solenoid valve 24, and furthermore, at step 610, the IG / OFF control execution flag FDW2
Is reset, the process proceeds to a right front wheel-side first vehicle height control process of step 213.

Next, at the time of IG / OFF executed in step 240 described above,
In the vehicle height control process, similarly to the above-described vehicle height control processes, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), it is first determined in step 241 whether or not the vehicle height control is currently being executed. If has not been executed, the vehicle height control processing on each wheel side is executed in accordance with the priority set in advance (step 24).
2, step 243, step 244). Conversely, if the vehicle height control has already been executed, it is determined whether the vehicle height control is being executed on the left front wheel, the right front wheel, or the rear wheel (step 243).
245, step 246), and then proceeds to a vehicle height control process on the wheel side where the vehicle height control is being executed. In the vehicle height control process, if the vehicle height control on the corresponding wheel side is being executed, the IG / OFF-time vehicle height control process is terminated. Therefore step 242
From step 243, or from step 243 to step 244, is performed only when the vehicle height control is not actually executed on the left front wheel side or the right front wheel side.

Hereinafter, the vehicle height control processing on each wheel side executed in each of Steps 242 to 244 will be described by taking the vehicle height control on the left front wheel side (FL) as an example, similarly to the above-described vehicle height control processing. This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6 (b), when the second vehicle height control process at the time of IG / OFF is started, first, step 700 is executed, and a control request flag FOF indicating a request for vehicle height control for the left front wheel is provided.
Determine whether F is set. Then, the control request flag FOFF is in a reset state, and the IG /
If the vehicle height control at the time of OFF has already been completed, the process proceeds to the left front wheel side second vehicle height control process of step 243.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 700 that the control request flag FOFF has been set, the process proceeds to step 710, and the IG / OFF control execution flag FDW2
It is determined whether or not the descent control at the time of IG / OFF is currently being executed on the left front wheel side based on. If the IG / OFF control execution flag FDW2 is in the reset state and the IG / OFF control is not being performed, the process proceeds to the subsequent step 750, where the vehicle is controlled based on the detection signal from the door switch 34. It is determined whether or not the door is closed. If the door is not closed, the second vehicle height control process at IG / OFF is terminated.

Next, when it is determined in step 750 that the door is closed, similar to steps 560 and 570 described above,
The lowering control for lowering the vehicle body on the left front wheel side is started (step 760), and the IG / OFF control execution flag FDW2 indicating this is started.
Is set (step 770). And the following step 775
Then, the vehicle height S at the left front wheel position is detected based on the detection signal from the vehicle height sensor 32FL, and the process proceeds to the subsequent step 780.

In step 780, similarly to step 580 described above, it is determined whether or not the detected vehicle height S has fallen below the IG / OFF control end vehicle height SDWE2, and if S ≧ SDW2, the descending control is continued. The second vehicle height control process at IG / OFF ends as it is,
Conversely, if S <SDW2, in steps 790 to 810, the same processing as in the above steps 590 to 610, that is, IG / OFF
The descent control at the time is ended and the control request flag FOFF and IG / OF
After executing the process of resetting the F-time control execution flag FDW2, the process proceeds to the right front wheel-side second vehicle height control process of step 243.

In step 710, the IG / OFF control execution flag FDW2
When it is determined that is set, the process proceeds to step 820, where it is determined whether the door of the vehicle is closed as in step 620 described above, and if the door is closed, the process proceeds to step 775. Transition. If it is determined in step 820 that the door is open, the process proceeds to step 830,
The lowering control at the time of IG / OFF is interrupted as in step 630 described above, and further, at step 840, the IG / OFF control execution flag FD
After resetting W2, the second vehicle height control process at the time of IG / OFF is ended as it is.

As described above, in the vehicle height control device according to the present embodiment, when the ignition switch 28 is ON and the engine is running, the vehicle height S increases as shown in FIG. If it falls below the UPS (time t1), the vehicle height S
When the vehicle height S exceeds the vehicle height SDWS1 at which the lowering control starts,
t2) The vehicle height control process at the time of IG / ON is sequentially executed for each wheel in such a procedure that the vehicle body is lowered until the vehicle height S becomes equal to or less than the vehicle height SDWE1 at which the lowering control ends. For this reason, the vehicle height S at each wheel position at the time of IG / ON is controlled within a predetermined range determined by the ascending control starting vehicle height SUPS and the descending control starting vehicle height SDWS1.

Next, when the ignition switch 28 is switched from ON to OFF and the benzene is stopped, the vehicle height S is changed to the IG / OFF control start vehicle height SDW until the determination time T1 elapses thereafter.
The control request flag is set when the execution condition of the descending control is satisfied when S2 is exceeded, and when the executing condition of the descending control is satisfied, the vehicle height S is set to IG / OFF when the vehicle height S is IG / OFF, provided that the door is closed. The first vehicle height control process at the time of IG / OFF is sequentially executed for each wheel in such a procedure that the vehicle body is lowered until the vehicle height becomes equal to or lower than the control end vehicle height SDWS2 and the control request flag is reset when the lowering control is completed. .

When the first vehicle height control process at IG / OFF ends after the determination time T1 after IG / OFF has elapsed, it is determined whether the descent control at IG / OFF has been completed based on the control request flag of each wheel. If it is determined that the lowering control is not completed, on the condition that the time T2 after IG / OFF has not elapsed, the vehicle height S is sequentially reduced when the door is closed at wheel positions where the lowering control is not completed. But
IG / OFF-time control end The IG / OFF-time second vehicle height control process of lowering the vehicle body until the vehicle height becomes SDWE2 or less is executed.

For this reason, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, at the time of IG / OFF after time t3, the door is opened, and the vehicle height S is likely to increase or decrease due to the occupant getting on / off or loading / unloading the luggage (at time t3). In t4 → t5), even if the execution condition of the descent control at the time of IG / OFF is satisfied, the descent control is not executed.
Frequent execution of the vehicle height control at the time of / OFF can be prevented.

Until the post-IG / OFF determination time T1 elapses, even if the door is not opened in which the descent control is not performed, it is determined whether the execution condition of the descent control is satisfied, and the determination time T1 after the IG / OFF is determined. If the execution of the descending control has been established at the elapse of the elapsed time (time t4), the descending control is executed by closing the door thereafter (time t5). Therefore, the judgment time T1 after IG / OFF
Even after elapse, the vehicle body posture (appearance) when the vehicle is parked can be improved by the descending control.

Further, since the lowering control after the lapse of the determination time T1 is performed on condition that the predetermined time T2 after the IG / OFF has not elapsed, the waiting state of the lowering control continues endlessly due to forgetting to close the door. This can prevent battery power from being consumed.

Here, in the present embodiment, the function as the control start condition determining means M6 of the present invention is such that the ignition switch 28 is turned off in the vehicle height control processing executed by the electronic control circuit 6 as the vehicle height control means M3. When (S
110; YES), a determination process of step 200 for determining whether or not the elapsed time T after the ignition switch 280FF is equal to or less than a determination time T1 (for example, 3 minutes); In the IG / OFF first vehicle height control process (step 210) performed when it is determined that the following conditions are satisfied, a determination is made to determine whether or not the vehicle height control execution condition is satisfied. Processing (specifically, for example, the left front wheel side first vehicle height control processing (step 21
In step 2), it is determined whether the vehicle height S exceeds the IG / OFF control start vehicle height SDWS2.

Further, the function of the vehicle height control execution means M7 of the present invention,
When the ignition switch 28 is in the OFF state in the vehicle height control processing executed by the electronic control circuit 6 (S
110; YES), the judgment processing of step 220 for judging whether or not the elapsed time T after the ignition switch 280FF is equal to or less than a predetermined set time T2 (for example, 30 minutes), and the judgment processing of step 220 is affirmative. When it is determined (that is, the elapsed time T after the ignition switch is turned off)
Is from the judgment time T1 to the predetermined time (set time) T2)
In addition, the determination process of step 230 for determining whether there is a request for vehicle height control after IG / OFF based on the control request flag FOFF, and the determination process of step 230 determines that there is no request for vehicle height control. Or the elapsed time T after the ignition switch 28 is turned off in the determination processing of step 220 is equal to the set time T2.
Relay switch 30 is OFF when it is determined that
And the vehicle height control of steps 210 and 240 executed between the time when the ignition switch 28 is turned off and the time when the termination process of step 250 is performed. In the processing, control processing for controlling the vehicle height on condition that the door is closed (specifically, for example, steps 212 and 242)
In the left front wheel side first vehicle height control process and the left front wheel side second vehicle height control process, steps 550, 620, and 75 determine whether the door is closed based on a detection signal from the door switch 34.
Judgment processing of 0,820, control start processing of steps 560 and 760 to start vehicle height control when the door is closed and the execution condition of vehicle height control is satisfied, control stops when door is opened during execution of vehicle height control Control stop processing in steps 630 and 840).

In the above embodiment, the vehicle height control processing on each wheel side executed in each vehicle height control processing at the time of IG / ON and IG / OFF will be described by taking the vehicle height control on the left front wheel as an example. However, when the vehicle height control process for controlling the average vehicle height on the rear wheel side is executed, the vehicle height sensors 32RL provided on the left and right rear wheels are used as the vehicle height S. And 32
When calculating the average value of the vehicle height obtained from the RR and actually raising or lowering the vehicle body, it goes without saying that the vehicle height control valves 14RL and 14RR of the left and right rear wheels are simultaneously driven.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, in the vehicle height control device of the present invention, when the ignition switch is open (that is, OFF), after the ignition switch is turned off,
While the predetermined determination time has elapsed, it is determined whether or not the vehicle height control start condition has been satisfied.If the vehicle height control start condition has been satisfied, the opening / closing member such as the entrance door is closed. Vehicle height control is executed on condition that the set time longer than the determination time of the control start condition has not elapsed since the ignition switch was turned off, and the vehicle height is further controlled by the vehicle height control. The vehicle height control is terminated when the set time elapses after the ignition switch is turned off or when the ignition switch is turned off. Therefore, according to the vehicle height control device of the present invention, unnecessary vehicle height control is frequently performed when the opening / closing member is opened, so that it is possible to prevent an increase in power consumption, and to prevent the opening / closing member from performing the determination time. Even when the vehicle is opened longer, the vehicle height control can be executed to improve the vehicle body posture. Further, after the determination time has elapsed, the determination of the start condition of the vehicle height control is not performed, and the vehicle height control is not performed after the vehicle height is controlled to the target vehicle height.
The power consumption for controlling the vehicle height after the lapse of the determination time to the target vehicle height can be suppressed to the minimum necessary. Further, when the open state of the opening / closing member continues for a long time due to forgetting to tighten the opening / closing member, the control can be discontinued, whereby the power consumption of the apparatus can be suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of a vehicle height control device according to an embodiment,
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a vehicle height control process executed by the electronic control circuit, FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the IG / ON vehicle height control process executed in step 140 of FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the IG / OFF first vehicle height control process executed in step 210 of FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the IG / OFF second vehicle height control process executed in step 240 of FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the vehicle height control process according to the embodiment. M1 ... vehicle height adjustment means, M2 ... vehicle height detection means M3 ... vehicle height control means, M4 ... open / closed state detection means M5 ... switch state detection means M6 ... control start condition determination means M7 ... control execution Means 2FL, 2FR, 2RL, 2RR ... Air suspension 4 ... Compressed air supply / discharge system, 6 ... Electronic control circuit 10FL, 10FR, 10RL, 10RR ... Air chamber 14FL, 14FR, 14RL, 14RR ... Vehicle height control Valve 24 …… Air solenoid valve 32FL, 32FR, 32RL, 32RR …… Vehicle height sensor 34 …… Door switch 36 …… Ignition sensor

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vehicle height adjusting means interposed between a vehicle body and wheels for adjusting a vehicle height of a vehicle, a vehicle height detecting means for detecting a vehicle height of the vehicle, and a detection of the vehicle height detecting means. And a vehicle height control device that drives and controls the vehicle height adjustment device based on the result so that the vehicle height becomes a predetermined target vehicle height. The vehicle height control device further comprises: Open / closed state detecting means for detecting the open / closed state of the opening / closing member to be shut off, and switch state detecting means for detecting the open / closed state of the ignition switch of the vehicle, and the vehicle height control means is provided by the switch state detecting means. When the open state of the ignition switch is detected, the start condition of the vehicle height control for controlling the vehicle height to the target vehicle height based on the detection result of the vehicle height detection means until a predetermined determination time elapses thereafter. Established Control start condition judging means for judging whether the vehicle height control start condition is satisfied, and the open / closed state detecting means detects the closed state of the open / close member. The vehicle height adjustment is performed to execute the vehicle height control on the condition that a predetermined set time longer than the determination time has not elapsed after the ignition switch open state is detected by the switch state detection means. Means for driving the vehicle height control means for stopping the driving of the vehicle height adjusting means and terminating the vehicle height control when the vehicle height is controlled to the target vehicle height or when the set time has elapsed. A vehicle height control device comprising: an execution unit;