Vehicular controller with differential wheel speed input

A power steering system for a vehicle having two or more wheels, comprising:

• hydraulic pump means;
• a hydraulic power device adapted to be connected with said hydraulic pump means so as to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid for augmenting the steering force produced by said steering system;
• sensing means for detecting the rotational velocities of at least two of said wheels;
• and
• control means, operatively associated with said sensing means and said hydraulic power device, comprising means for determining the differential rotational velocity between said wheels and for controlling said hydraulic power device in response to sensed differential velocity, whereby the augmenting force provided by said hydraulic power device will be controlled as a function of said differential rotational velocity, when said differential rotational velocity exceeds a threshold value.

A power steering system for a vehicle having two or more wheels, comprising:

• a steering gear;
• adjustment means for changing the ratio of
• said steering gear;
• sensing means for detecting the rotational velocities of as least two of said wheels;
• and
• control means, operatively associated with said sensing means and said adjustment means, comprising means for determining the differential rotational velocity between said wheels and for controlling said adjustment means according to said differential velocity, whereby the ratio of said steering gear will be controlled as a function of said differential rotational velocity, when said differential rotational velocity exceeds a threshold value.

A power steering system for a vehicle having two or more wheels, comprising:

• a steering gear;
• adjustment means for changing the ratio of said steering gear and for augmenting the steering force produced by said steering gear;
• sensing means for detecting the rotational velocities of as least two of said wheels;
• and
• control means, operatively associated with said sensing means and said adjustment means, comprising means for determining the differential rotational velocity between said wheels and for controlling said adjustment means according to said differential velocity, whereby both the ratio of said steering gear and said augmenting force will be controlled as a function of said differential rotational velocity, when said differential rotational velocity exceeds a threshold value.

A vehicular controller for controlling both an adjustable steering gear and one or more adjustable suspension units, comprising:

• first adjustment means for controlling at least one operating characteristic of said steering gear;
• second adjustment means for controlling at least one operating characteristic of said suspension units;
• sensing means for detecting the rotational velocities of at least two roadwheels of said vehicle;
• and
• control means operatively associated with said first and second adjustment means as well as with said sensing means, with said control means comprising means for determining the differential rotational velocity between said roadwheels and for controlling said first and second adjustment means when said differential velocity, exceeds a threshold value.

A vehicular controller for controlling one or more adjustable suspension units, comprising:

• adjustment means for controlling at least one operating characteristic of said suspension units;
• sensing means for detecting the rotational velocities of at least two roadwheels of said vehicle;
• and
• control means operatively associated with said adjustment means as well as with said sensing means, with said control means comprising means for determining the differential rotational velocity between said roadwheels, means for determining the absolute velocity of said vehicle and means for controlling said adjustment means according to the magnitude of said differential velocity and said absolute velocity.