The present invention relates to an electronic control system for a motor vehicle, including a control device, an actuator, and at least one sensor. The control system according to the invention is characterized in that it has a sensor board for reading the data detected by the sensor, wherein the sensor board has a memory for storing actuator-specific data and an interface between the sensor board and the control device for transferring the data stored in the sensor board to the control device. The present invention also relates to a method for operating this type of control system.

A shock absorber includes i) a hollow base defining an axial direction and having a first mounting portion, ii) an outer axial tube, having first and second longitudinal ends, and being coaxially mounted into the hollow base via its first longitudinal end so as to allow adjusting a distance of the second longitudinal end relative to the base; and iii) an inner axial tube slidably mounted into the outer axial tube therein; the inner axial tube having a second mounting portion. The hollow tube has an opening therein that defines a window to allow visualizing a part of the outer axial tube therethrough which includes the first longitudinal end thereof.

A shock absorber includes i) a hollow base defining an axial direction and having a first mounting portion, ii) an outer axial tube, having first and second longitudinal ends, and being coaxially mounted into the hollow base via its first longitudinal end so as to allow adjusting a distance of the second longitudinal end relative to the base; and iii) an inner axial tube slidably mounted into the outer axial tube therein; the inner axial tube having a second mounting portion. The hollow tube has an opening therein that defines a window to allow visualizing a part of the outer axial tube therethrough which includes the first longitudinal end thereof.

A leading-edge steering system is provided for a front suspension of an off-road vehicle. The leading-edge steering system is comprised of a spindle assembly that supports a drive axle assembly to conduct torque from a transaxle to a front wheel. A first rod-end joint pivotally couples an upper suspension arm and the spindle assembly, and a second rod-end joint pivotally couples a lower suspension arm and the spindle assembly. A steering rod-end joint pivotally couples a first end of a steering rod with a leading-edge portion of the spindle assembly. A steering gear is coupled with a second end of the steering rod and configured to move the steering rod, such that the spindle assembly rotates with respect to the upper and lower suspension arms. The leading-edge portion is configured to exert primarily tensile forces on the steering rod during travel over rough terrain.

A leading-edge steering system is provided for a front suspension of an off-road vehicle. The leading-edge steering system is comprised of a spindle assembly that supports a drive axle assembly to conduct torque from a transaxle to a front wheel. A first rod-end joint pivotally couples an upper suspension arm and the spindle assembly, and a second rod-end joint pivotally couples a lower suspension arm and the spindle assembly. A steering rod-end joint pivotally couples a first end of a steering rod with a leading-edge portion of the spindle assembly. A steering gear is coupled with a second end of the steering rod and configured to move the steering rod, such that the spindle assembly rotates with respect to the upper and lower suspension arms. The leading-edge portion is configured to exert primarily tensile forces on the steering rod during travel over rough terrain.

A dynamic adjustment method while driving a vehicle of at least one vehicle operating parameter is for a vehicle having an electronic control unit adapted to set the operating parameter, and a communication interface operatively connected to the electronic control unit. An application program is installed on board a portable processing device including a communication interface communicating with the vehicle communication interface. The application program accesses an electronic map of a path and divides the path in sectors. Operating parameter values are stored via the application program, each value being associated to a corresponding sector. While driving, the sector occupied by the vehicle is identified in real time. Values are transmitted sector by sector, from the portable processing device to the electronic control unit so that the electronic control unit sets, sector by sector, the vehicle operating parameter vehicle to the value associated to the occupied sector.

A suspension system for a traveling vehicle body is disclosed. The system includes a suspension reference position varying mechanism (18) for varying a reference position of a suspension stroke of the suspension mechanism (100), and a controller (35) configured to calculate an intermediate value from a maximal value corresponding to the maximal position of the suspension stroke and a minimal value corresponding to the minimal position of the suspension stroke, and to control the suspension reference position varying mechanism such that, when the calculated intermediate values deviates from a set target range, the intermediate value is displaced toward the target range. The controller (35) increases a control execution frequency for the suspension reference position varying mechanism (18) when the traveling speed of the vehicle body is low, and reduces the control execution frequency for the suspension reference position varying mechanism (18) when the traveling speed of the vehicle body is high.

A suspension system for controlling movement of a vehicle wheel may include a spring and damper assembly coupling the wheel to the vehicle chassis for movement of the wheel relative to the vehicle chassis. The spring and damper assembly may include a spring coupled to a damper member configured to extend and retract the wheel relative to the vehicle chassis. The suspension system may further include a damper actuator located remotely from the spring and damper assembly and configured to modify an amount of damping and/or wheel extension. The suspension system may also include a spring actuator integrated with the damper actuator and configured to control an amount of deflection of the spring and/or to alter a spring rate. The damper actuator may be provided at a location in the vehicle separated from the spring and damper assembly.

A suspension controller includes a target current setting unit, a current limitation setting unit, a current outputting unit, a current detector, and an estimated temperature calculator. The target current setting unit sets a target current value. The current limitation setting unit sets a current limitation value. The current outputting unit supplies a solenoid with a current that is based on the target current value, the current limitation value, and a power supply voltage. The solenoid controls a damping force of a suspension. The current detector detects a current value of the current supplied to the solenoid. The estimated temperature calculator calculates an estimated temperature of the solenoid based on the current value detected by the current detector so that the current limitation setting unit changes the current limitation value based on the estimated temperature.

[Technical Field] The present invention relates to a wheel deformation mechanism and a structure of a vehicular shock-absorbing device using the mechanism. [Technical Problem] In the conventional suspension device, there are problems that a vibration damping effect for an in-wheel motor vehicle is too low to alleviate an impact on the wheel and that a mounting space is required on the vehicle body side. There is a problem that since the conventional tire is poor in ability to absorb distortion of a contact patch caused by turning, the contact patch of the wheel is subjected to horizontal friction at the time of direction change. [Solution] An expansion and contraction mechanism as shown in FIG. 1 that connects two rotors and a band-shaped tread by a movable arm is incorporated in a wheel, [Main Use of Invention] The vehicle wheel is expanded and contracted by a rotation speed difference between the two rotors so as to control the posture of the vehicle body.