Stabilizer control device for controlling roll rigidity of a stabilizer

Abstract

A stabilizer control device includes: an electric motor having a regenerative function; a stabilizer, connecting a left wheel and a right wheel, that is capable of altering a roll rigidity via the electric motor; vehicle behavior detection device that detects a vehicle behavior; regenerative current setting device that sets a regenerative current of the electric motor based on the vehicle behavior detected by the vehicle behavior detection device; and regenerative current adjusting device that adjusts the regenerative current of the electric motor so that the regenerative current set by the regenerative current setting device is reached. The spring reaction force against the twist of the stabilizer rotates the electric motor to thereby generate electricity. Vehicle behavior such as body roll is detected and the regenerative current of the electric motor is set based on the detected vehicle behavior to restrain or accelerate the twist or return of the stabilizer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following descriptions of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompany drawings, wherein like numerals are used to represent like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a construction diagram of an active stabilizer in accordance with a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of control executed in the active stabilizer in accordance with the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a construction diagram of an active stabilizer in accordance with a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows an example of time-dependent changes in the target stabilizer angle and in the actual stabilizer angle.

FIG. 5 shows an example of time-dependent changes in the target stabilizer angular speed and in the actual stabilizer angular speed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of control executed in an active stabilizer in accordance with the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of control executed in an active stabilizer in accordance with the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of control executed in an active stabilizer in accordance with the fourth embodiment.

Claims

1. A stabilizer control device for a vehicle comprising: an electric motor that has a regenerative function;a stabilizer that connects a left wheel and a right wheel and that adjusts a roll rigidity of the vehicle via the electric motor;vehicle behavior detection device that detects a vehicle behavior;regenerative current setting device that sets a regenerative current of the electric motor based on the vehicle behavior detected by the vehicle behavior detection device; andregenerative current adjusting device that adjusts the regenerative current of the electric motor so that the regenerative current set by the regenerative current setting device is reached,wherein the roll rigidity is adjusted by controlling the drive and regenerating functions of the electric motor.

2. The stabilizer control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle behavior detection device detects an amount of roll of a vehicle, andthe regenerative current setting device sets a higher regenerative current when the detected amount of roll is large than when the detected amount of roll is small.

3. The stabilizer control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle behavior detection device detects a magnitude of a disturbance-caused vehicle behavior change due to a road surface, andthe regenerative current setting device sets a lower regenerative current when the detected magnitude of the disturbance-caused vehicle behavior change is large than when the detected magnitude of the disturbance-caused vehicle behavior change is small.

4. The stabilizer control device according to claim 1, wherein if a spring reaction force of a suspension is greater than a required control amount of the electric motor when the stabilizer is in a returning direction, the regenerative current setting device sets the regenerative current to a target control amount that is equal to a difference between the reaction force of a spring of the suspension and the required control amount.

5. The stabilizer control device according to claim 1, further comprising: turning amount detection device that detects a turning amount of the vehicle, wherein if the detected turning amount exceeds a prescribed turning amount, the electric motor switches from drive to regeneration.

6. The stabilizer control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a battery, wherein if an amount of electricity stored in the battery drops below a prescribed stored electricity amount, the electric motor switches from drive to regeneration.

7. The stabilizer control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a battery, wherein if an amount of electricity stored in the battery is greater than or equal to a prescribed stored electricity amount, the electric motor does not switch from drive to regeneration.

8. A method of controlling a stabilizer comprising: detecting a vehicle behavior;setting a regenerative current of an electric motor having a regenerative function based on the detected vehicle behavior; andaltering the regenerative current of the electric motor so that the regenerative current is reachedwherein alteration of the regenerative current of the electric motor adjusts a roll rigidity of a stabilizer connecting a left wheel and a right wheel of the vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the vehicle behavior detected is an amount of roll of a vehicle, and a higher regenerative current is set when the detected amount of roll is large than when the detected amount of roll is small.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the vehicle behavior detected is a magnitude of a disturbance-caused vehicle behavior change due to a road surface, and a smaller regenerative current is set when the detected magnitude of the disturbance-caused vehicle behavior change is large than when the detected magnitude of the disturbance-caused vehicle behavior change is small.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein if a spring reaction force of a suspension is greater than a required control amount of the electric motor when the stabilizer is in a returning direction, the regenerative current is set to a target control amount that is equal to a difference between the reaction force of a spring of the suspension and the required control amount.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: detecting a turning amount of the vehicle, wherein if the detected turning amount exceeds a prescribed turning amount, the electric motor switches to a regeneration mode.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: determining an amount of electricity stored in a battery, wherein if the detected stored electricity amount is below a prescribed stored electricity amount, the electric motor switches from drive to regeneration.

14. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: determining an amount of electricity stored in a battery, wherein if a stored electricity amount is greater than or equal to a prescribed stored electricity amount, the electric motor does not switch from drive to regeneration.