Fail-safe system for vehicular driving characteristics control system

A system for generating steering angular position data, said system comprising:

• a first sensor means for monitoring steering angular displacement to produce a first sensor signal in a form of a pulse signal representative of a given angle of angular displacement of steering and steering direction;
• a second sensor means for detecting steering in a predetermined neutral range to produce a second sensor signal which is in a form of a pulse signal varying between a first level while steering angular position is within said neutral range and a second level while steering angular position is outside of said neutral range;
• third means for generating a reference angular position, in relation to which a magnitude of steering angular displacement is to be measured, in accordance with said first and second sensor signals;
• fourth means for deriving a magnitude of steering angular displacement in accordance with said first sensor signal and said reference angular position to generate steering angle data;
• and
• fifth means for detecting failure of said second sensor means and for initiating fail-safe operation in which steering angle data is generated irrespective of said second sensor signal level.

An anti-rolling automotive suspension control system for controlling vehicular suspension characteristics, said control system comprising:

• a vehicular suspension system disposed between a vehicular body and a suspension member rotatably supporting a road wheel, said suspension system having variable suspension characteristics at least between a harder mode and a softer mode;
• an actuator associated with said suspension system and operating at least between a first position for operating said suspension system at said harder mode and a second position for operating said suspension system at said softer mode;
• a first sensor means for monitoring steering angular displacement to produce a first sensor signal in a form of a pulse signal representative of a given angle of angular displacement of steering and steering direction;
• a second sensor means for detecting steering in a predetermined neutral range to produce a second sensor signal which is in a form of a pulse signal varying between a first level while steering angular position is within said neutral range and a second level while steering angular position is outside of said neutral range;
• third means for generating a reference angular position, in relation to which a magnitude of steering angular displacement is to be controlled in accordance with said first and second sensor signals;
• fourth means for deriving a magnitude of steering angular displacement in accordance with said first sensor signal and said reference angular position to generate steering angle data;
• fifth means for deriving a suspension control signal in accordance with said steering angle data for controlling said actuator between said softer and said harder modes for suppressing vehicular rolling for optimization of vehicle driving behavior;
• and
• sixth means for detecting failure of said second sensor means and for initiating fail-safe operation in which steering angle data is generated irrespective of said second sensor signal.