Abstract: A valve operating system in an internal combustion engine is disclosed, wherein the operational characteristic of an engine valve which is an intake valve or an exhaust valve, can be changed in accordance with the operational state of the engine. In the valve operating system, a power transmitting means comprises an inner wheel, an outer wheel surrounding the inner wheel, and a carrier on which a planetary rotor is rotatably carried. The inner wheel is operatively connected to a cam shaft, and the outer wheel is connected to the engine valve. A rotational-amount control device is connected to the carrier for controlling the rotational amount of the carrier in accordance with the operational state of the engine. Thus, the size of the valve operating system can be reduced, and moreover, the operational characteristics of the engine valve can be finely changed.

Abstract: The present invention is a non-volatile memory device, wherein programming or erasing of memory cells is carried out by injecting or removing carriers in floating gates in the memory cells, comprising: a plurality of memory blocks each comprising a plurality of memory cells, respectively; and an erasing circuit for applying an erasing stress in units of the memory blocks and verifying that erasure has been completed in units of memory cells; wherein the erasing circuit applies an erasing stress to the plurality of memory blocks simultaneously until a past erasing stress minimum value for the plurality of memory blocks. According to the aforementioned invention, an erasing stress value, such as a number of erasing stress applications, is recorded for each memory block in past erasing operations, and the minimum erasing stress value of these erasing stress values is recorded.

Abstract: A method of operating a two stroke cycle crankcase scavenged internal combustion engine, comprising selectively delivering exhaust gas from a location downstream of the engine exhaust port to the engine crankcase to be delivered together with air in the crankcase to the engine combustion chamber. The quantity of exhaust gas delivered to the crankcase during each engine cycle is controlled according with engine operating conditions and the rate of supply of exhaust gas to the crankcase is controlled relative to engine operating conditions such as by an ECU managed valve that responds to engine operating conditions such as load, speed and temperature. The exhaust gas is admitted to the crankcase during a period when the pressure in the crankcase is below that of the available exhaust gas.