Kinetic state quantity estimating device and method for motor vehicle

A kinetic state quantity estimating device for use with a vehicle having a damper that generates a damping force corresponding to an orifice opening degree of a damper orifice, the kinetic state quantity estimating device estimating a vertical kinetic state quantity of a sprung member relative to an unsprung member, and comprising:

• an absolute kinetic state quantity detector that detects a vertical kinetic state quantity of the sprung member relative to absolute space;
• an observer that estimates the vertical kinetic state quantity of the sprung member relative to the unsprung member based upon the vertical kinetic state quantity detected by the absolute kinetic state quantity detector and a non-linear component of the damping force of the damper determined by the orifice opening degree as a control input;
• a lateral acceleration detector that detects a lateral acceleration of the vehicle;
• and
• a compensator that determines a change in road holding load generated by roll movements of the sprung member based on the lateral acceleration detected by the lateral acceleration detector, and that compensates for the control input of the observer based upon the determined change in road holding load.

A kinetic state quantity estimating device for use with a vehicle having a damper that generates a damping force corresponding to an orifice opening degree of a damper orifice, the kinetic state quantity estimating device estimating a vertical kinetic state quantity of a sprung member relative to an unsprung member, and comprising:

• an absolute kinetic state quantity detector that detects a vertical kinetic state quantity of the sprung member relative to absolute space;
• an observer that estimates the vertical kinetic state quantity of the sprung member relative to the unsprung member based upon the vertical kinetic state quantity detected by the absolute kinetic state quantity detector and a non-linear component of the damping force of the damper determined by the orifice opening degree as a control input;
• a longitudinal acceleration detector that detects a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle;
• and
• a compensator that determines a change in road holding load generated by pitch movements of the sprung member based on the longitudinal acceleration detected by the longitudinal acceleration detector, and that compensates for the control input of the observer based upon the determined change in road holding load.

A kinetic state quantity estimating method for use with a vehicle having a damper that generates a damping force corresponding to an orifice opening degree of a damper orifice, the method comprising:

• detecting a vertical kinetic state quantity of the sprung member relative to absolute space;
• estimating a vertical kinetic state quantity of the sprung member relative to the unsprung member based upon the detected vertical kinetic state quantity of the sprung member relative to absolute space and a non-linear component of the damping force of the damper determined by the orifice opening degree as a control input;
• and
• determining a spring force of a stabilizer based on an amount of displacement of the sprung member relative to the unsprung member, and compensating for the control input based upon the determined spring force.

A kinetic state quantity estimating method for use with a vehicle having a damper that generates a damping force corresponding to an orifice opening degree of a damper orifice, the method comprising:

• detecting a vertical kinetic state quantity of the sprung member relative to absolute space;
• estimating a vertical kinetic state quantity of the sprung member relative to the unsprung member based upon the detected vertical kinetic state quantity of the sprung member relative to absolute space and a non-linear component of the damping force of the damper determined by the orifice opening degree as a control input;
• detecting a lateral acceleration of the vehicle;
• and
• determining a change in road holding load generated by roll movements of the sprung member based on the detected lateral acceleration, and compensating for the control input based upon the determined change in road holding load.

A kinetic state quantity estimating method for use with a vehicle having a damper that generates a damping force corresponding to an orifice opening degree of a damper orifice, the method comprising:

• detecting a vertical kinetic state quantity of the sprung member relative to absolute space;
• estimating a vertical kinetic state quantity of the sprung member relative to the unsprung member based upon the detected vertical kinetic state quantity of the sprung member relative to absolute space and a non-linear component of the damping force of the damper determined by the orifice opening degree as a control input;
• detecting a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle;
• and
• determining a change in road holding load generated by pitch movements of the sprung member based on the detected longitudinal acceleration, and compensating for the control input based upon the determined change in road holding load.