Control device for a wheel suspension system

A control device for controlling a variable element of a wheel suspension system, comprising:

• a variable suspension element having a variable property interposed between each wheel and an associated part of a vehicle body;
• a sensor provided in a part of a vehicle body part adjacent to each wheel for detecting a corresponding dynamic state variable of the vehicle body;
• a control unit for controlling the variable suspension element associated with one of the wheels at least according to an output of the sensor associated with a different one of the wheels;
• and
• a detector for detecting an inclination angle of the vehicle, wherein the sensor further comprises a wheel load sensor for detecting a load acting upon each wheel, and the control unit controls one of the variable suspension elements according to the wheel loads of the corresponding wheel and at least one other wheel,
• wherein the control unit computes a natural frequency of a vehicle part associated with each variable suspension element by taking into account outputs of the wheel load sensors, and controls at least one of the suspension elements according to the computed natural frequencies of at least one other wheel.

A control device for controlling a variable element of a wheel suspension system, comprising:

• a variable suspension element having a variable property interposed between each wheel and an associated part of a vehicle body;
• a sensor provided in a part of a vehicle body part adjacent to each wheel for detecting a corresponding dynamic state variable of the vehicle body;
• a control unit for controlling the variable suspension element associated with one of the wheels at least according to an output of the sensor associated with a different one of the wheels;
• and
• a detector for detecting an inclination angle of the vehicle, wherein the sensor further comprises a wheel load sensor for detecting a load acting upon each wheel, and the control unit controls one of the variable suspension elements according to the wheel loads of the corresponding wheel and at least one other wheel,
• wherein the control unit controls the suspension element in a different mode when the inclination angle detected by the inclination angle detector is greater than a prescribed value.

A control device for controlling a variable element of a wheel suspension system, comprising:

• a variable suspension element having a variable property interposed between each wheel and an associated part of a vehicle body;
• a sensor provided in a part of a vehicle body part adjacent to each wheel for detecting a corresponding dynamic state variable of the vehicle body;
• a control unit for controlling the variable suspension element associated with one of the wheels at least according to an output of the sensor associated with a different one of the wheels;
• and
• further comprising a detector for detecting a turning movement of the vehicle, wherein the control unit increases a damping force of the damper corresponding to an inner one of the wheels with a prescribed delay after increasing a damping force of the damper corresponding to an outer one of the wheels when a turning movement of the vehicle is detected by the detector.

A control method for controlling a variable element of a wheel suspension system, comprising the steps of:

• detecting a dynamic state variable of a vehicle part adjacent to each wheel;
• controlling the variable element of the wheel suspension system associated with a subject wheel according to the dynamic variable of a vehicle part of a different one of the remaining wheels;
• and
• further comprising detecting a turning movement of the vehicle, wherein the variable suspension element comprises a variable damping force damper, and a damping force of the damper corresponds to an inner one of the wheels being increased with a prescribed delay after increasing a damping force of the damper corresponding to an outer one of the wheels when a turning movement of the vehicle is detected.