Included are an electromagnetic actuator which generates drive forces for a damping operation and a telescopic operation; an information acquirer which acquires information about the drive forces of, and control mode selection information about, the electromagnetic actuator; a drive force arithmetic part which sets a predetermined control mode based on the control mode selection information about the electromagnetic actuator, and sets a target damping force and a target telescopic force of the electromagnetic actuator based on setting information about the control mode; and a drive controller which controls drive of the electromagnetic actuator using a target drive force based on the target damping and telescopic forces set by the drive force arithmetic part. The drive force arithmetic part performs an operation of switching a setting of the predetermined control mode from one to another while a driving force of the electromagnetic actuator is within a predetermined force range.

An embodiment suspension structure includes a rail housing configured to be installed in a vehicle body along a height direction of the vehicle body, a rail attached to the rail housing toward an outer side of the vehicle body, a plurality of variable position links configured to be moved in the height direction of the vehicle body by engaging with the rail, a link transfer screw threaded to the plurality of variable position links and disposed in parallel with the rail to allow the plurality of variable position links to move by rotation, and a screw motor fixed to an upper inner side of the rail housing and coupled to one end of the link transfer screw, the screw motor being configured to provide a driving force to rotate the link transfer screw.

A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

Included are an electromagnetic actuator which includes an electric motor configured to generate drive forces for a damping operation and a telescopic operation; an information acquirer which acquires a stroke velocity of the electromagnetic actuator; a drive force arithmetic part which includes a damping force calculator configured to calculate a target damping force and a telescopic force calculator configured to calculate a target telescopic force, and which obtains a target drive force based on the target damping force and the target telescopic force; and a drive controller which controls drive of the electric motor using the target drive force. The drive force arithmetic part includes an adjuster which performs an adjustment to reduce a telescopic control amount for the target telescopic force based on the stroke velocity acquired by the information acquirer.

An embodiment suspension structure includes a rail housing configured to be installed in a vehicle body along a height direction of the vehicle body, a rail attached to the rail housing toward an outer side of the vehicle body, a plurality of variable position links configured to be moved in the height direction of the vehicle body by engaging with the rail, a link transfer screw threaded to the plurality of variable position links and disposed in parallel with the rail to allow the plurality of variable position links to move by rotation, and a screw motor fixed to an upper inner side of the rail housing and coupled to one end of the link transfer screw, the screw motor being configured to provide a driving force to rotate the link transfer screw.

A vehicle air suspension installation includes pneumatics configured for operation in conjunction with a compressed air supply installation, and comprises: a pneumatic line having a port connection to the air supply installation, air bellows, each serving as a pressure chamber for an air spring, one air bellows being connected to the pneumatic line via a directional solenoid valve, and the air bellows being fillable/bleedable depending on a switching state of the valve, and first and second directional valves forming a solenoid valve system, which has a pneumatic part that is actuatable by a magnetic part. The first directional valve forms a primary valve, and the second forms a secondary valve. First and second air bellows associated with the valve system are fillable/bleedable depending on the switching state of the primary and secondary valves. The primary and secondary valves are controllable by a controller of the magnetic part. The controller is common to and acts upon both valves.

A suspension device includes: a damper that has an extension-side chamber and a contraction-side chamber; an extension-side passage connected to the extension-side chamber; a contraction-side passage connected to the contraction-side chamber; a switching device that connects one of the extension-side passage and the contraction-side passage to the supply passage and connecting the other of the extension-side passage and the contraction-side passage to the discharge passage selectively; an extension-side damping element provided in the extension-side passage; a contraction-side damping element provided in the contraction-side passage; a control valve capable of adjusting a pressure in the supply passage; an intake check valve provided midway in the intake passage; and a supply-side check valve provided in the supply passage between the control valve and the pump.

A suspension controller includes a target current setting unit configured to set a target current value, a current limitation setting unit configured to set a current limitation value, a current detector configured to detect a current value of a first current supplied to a solenoid that is configured to control a damping force of a suspension, a duty ratio setting unit configured to set a duty ratio based on the target current value, based on the current limitation value, and based on the current value detected by the current detector; and a current outputting unit configured to supply the solenoid with a second current that corresponds to the duty ratio set by the duty ratio setting unit and to a power supply voltage. The current limitation setting unit is configured to change the current limitation value based on the duty ratio set by the duty ratio setting unit.

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.