JPS62113613A - Electronically controlled suspension - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the drive comfortability and stability of a vehicle, in a variable damping force type shock absorber, by detecting the seating of passengers with the use of seat switches so that the damping force is decreased when the seating is detected, but the damping force is increased when no seating is detected. CONSTITUTION:Photo-interrupters 16, 18 and light shielding plates 20, 22 are disposed in rear seats 12, 14 in an one-box car to detect the seating of passengers, and a microcomputer 24 receives detection signals from the photo- interrupters. The microcomputer 24 controls a drive circuit 32 to increase the damping force of a shock absorber 34 when no seating signal is received, but decreases the same when a seating signal is received. With this arrangement, the drive comfortability may be enhanced when the passengers are on the vehicle while the treading characteristic of the vehicle may be enhanced when no passangers are on the vehicle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electronically controlled suspension that controls the damping force of a variable damping force shock absorber used in a vehicle.

[Prior Art] In a vehicle such as a one-box vehicle that has a seat approximately on the axle, the damping force of the rear wheel side absorber is set large to improve the ground contact, taking into account the ground contact of the rear wheels and the ride comfort of the occupants. The damping force was set low to ensure ride comfort.

However, if the damping force is set high to improve ground contact, the passenger will experience poor ride comfort when seated on the seat.
Also, if the damping force is set small to improve riding comfort,
A problem arises in that the ground contact is poor when no occupant is seated on the seat.

There is also a vehicle in which the damping force is changed depending on the loading condition (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11924/1983).

However, at VLA, the damping force is increased to ensure steering stability, so even when a passenger is on board, it is considered to be loaded.
There is a problem in that the damping force becomes large and the riding comfort deteriorates, and the damping force becomes small when no passenger is on the vehicle, resulting in poor ground contact.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention takes the above-mentioned problems into account and provides an electronically controlled suspension that can satisfy both ride comfort when a passenger is on board and ground contact when no passenger is on board. The purpose is to

[Means for Solving the Problems] The electronically controlled suspension according to the present invention includes a seat switch that detects when an occupant is seated on a seat substantially above the axle, and a variable damping force shock absorber that damps vibrations of the vehicle body. 1. The damping force control means reduces the damping force of the shock absorber when the seating is detected, and increases the damping force of the shock absorber when the seating is not detected.

[Operation] When the occupant is seated on the seat, the damping force of the shock absorber is reduced, improving riding comfort on rough roads.

When no occupant is seated on the seat, the damping force of the shock absorber increases, and ground contact on rough roads is good.

[Example] An example of an electronically controlled suspension according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in Figure 1, the rear seat 1 of a one-box vehicle 10
2.14 is located on the rear axle. The center of gravity of this one-box vehicle 10 is on the front side, and the load on the rear side varies greatly depending on whether a passenger is seated on the rear seat 12, 14, and the vibration characteristics change greatly. Photo interrupters 16 and 18 are fixed to the inner bottom surfaces of the seats of the rear seats 12 and 14, respectively. rear seat 12
．． A light-shielding plate 20.22 is provided on the upper surface of the seat portion of the seat 14 to protrude downward, and when one occupant is seated on the rear seat 12.14, the light-shielding plate 20.22 is connected to the projection of the photointerrupter 16.18. It passes between the light section and the light receiving section and blocks the light emitted from the light projecting section. This light blocking signal, that is, the seating signal is supplied to the microcomputer 24. Based on this signal, the microcomputer 24 outputs a drive signal to the shock absorber 34, which can switch the damping force between strong and weak levels, via the drive circuit 32, in order to optimize the damping force of the shock absorber 34. ing.

This shock absorber has a known configuration in which an orifice is opened and closed using, for example, a rotary valve to change the amount of oil passing through.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step 100, the photointerrupter 16.18
If the occupant is seated on the rear seat) 12 or rear seat 14, the seating signal 1 is input, and the process proceeds to step 104, where the shock absorber 3
4. Decrease the damping force of the shock absorber 34 to improve riding comfort.0 If no seating signal has been input, proceed to step 106, increase the damping force of the shock absorber 34 to improve ground contact.0. Then return to step 100, and perform the above steps. Repeat the process.

It goes without saying that the sheet switch may be another non-contact type switch using a magnetic resistance element or the like, or a contact type limit switch.

Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which a signal from a vehicle speed sensor, a vehicle height sensor, etc. is also input, and the damping force is changed depending on the combination with vehicle speed, amplitude, etc.

[Effects of the Invention] In the electronically controlled suspension according to the present invention, the seating of an occupant on the seat is detected by the seat switch provided on the seat substantially on the axle, and when five seats are detected, the damping of the variable damping force shock absorber is activated. Since the force is reduced, the ride comfort on rough roads can be improved. In addition, the system increases the damping force of the shock absorber when it is not detected that a passenger is seated on the seat, which has the excellent effect of improving ground contact on rough roads. have

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of an electronically controlled suspension according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a control flowchart. 12.14...φ rear seat, 16.18-@φ photo interrupter. 20.22...shading plate, 24 lives...microcomputer. 341 Shock absorber.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A seat switch that detects when a passenger is seated on a seat approximately on the axle, a variable damping force shock absorber that dampens vibrations of the vehicle body, and a shock absorber that reduces the damping force of the shock absorber when a passenger is detected and when no passenger is detected. damping force control means for increasing the damping force of the
An electronically controlled suspension characterized by having.