US Patent 7761205 Height controlling apparatus

A height controlling apparatus for controlling at least one actual height as a relative position of (a) a body of a vehicle and (b) at least one wheel of the vehicle relative to each other, the apparatus including at least one height controlling actuator which changes the at least one actual height; and an actuator control device which controls the at least one height controlling actuator so that the at least one actual height approaches at least one target height. The actuator control device includes a possibility detecting device which detects, before an absolute value of a difference of the at least one target height and the at least one actual height exceeds a reference value, whether there is a possibility that an object may be present in a direction in which the body is moved to change the at least one actual height, and a movement restraining portion which controls, when the possibility detecting device detects that there is the possibility, the at least one height controlling actuator to restrain a movement of the body in the direction.