Suspension control apparatus

A suspension control apparatus comprising:

• an electrorheological damper sealingly containing an electrorheological fluid that is varied in properties by electric field, the electrorheological damper being configured to adjust a damping force when a voltage is applied to the electrorheological fluid;
• a voltage generating portion configured to generate a voltage applied to the electrorheological damper;
• a connecting portion configured to connect the voltage generating portion and the electrorheological damper;
• and
• a controller configured to control the voltage generating portion,
• wherein the electrorheological damper includes:
• a cylinder sealingly containing the electrorheological fluid;
• a piston slidably inserted in the cylinder;
• a piston rod coupled to the piston and extending out of the cylinder, and
• an electrode disposed in a portion through which the electrorheological fluid flows due to a sliding motion of the piston in the cylinder, the electrode being configured to apply a voltage to the electrorheological fluid,
• wherein the connecting portion includes:
• an electrode connecting portion that connects the voltage generating portion and the electrode;
• a ground connecting portion that connects the cylinder and ground;
• and
• a ground detection connecting portion disposed separately from the ground connecting portion and connected to the ground through the cylinder and the ground connecting portion;
• wherein the voltage generating portion discontinues the voltage generation with or without a command of the controller when the ground detection connecting portion and the ground are disconnected;
• wherein the voltage generating portion includes an enabling signal input portion configured to enable the voltage generation when an enabling signal is entered in the voltage generating portion and discontinue the voltage generation when the enabling signal is not entered;
• wherein the enabling signal input portion is connected to an output side of an NOR gate;
• wherein the ground detection connecting portion is connected to one input side of the NOR gate through a ground detection line;
• wherein the ground detection line is connected through a pull-up resistor to a constant voltage source that applies a high-level voltage;
• wherein the controller is connected to the other input side of the NOR gate;
• wherein the controller outputs a ground-level signal to the other input side of the NOR gate to enable the voltage generation by the voltage generating portion and outputs a high-level signal to the other input side of the NOR gate to discontinue the voltage generation by the voltage generating portion;
• and
• wherein the NOR gate outputs the enabling signal to the enabling signal input portion only when the ground-level signal is entered in the NOR gate from both the ground detection line and the controller.