Abstract: A hands-free system that permits access to terminal memory data when a mobile terminal is identified through identification information is equipped with a storage portion that stores therein terminal memory data in association with first identification information and second identification information, a receiving portion that receives first identification information and second identification information from the mobile terminal, a collation portion that collates the received first identification information and the stored first identification information with each other and collates the received second identification information and the stored second identification information with each other, and a terminal memory data deletion portion that deletes the terminal memory data stored in association with the second identification information when it is determined that collation by the first identification information is impossible and that collation by the second identification information is possible.

Abstract: A hands-free system that permits access to terminal memory data when a mobile terminal is identified through identification information is equipped with a storage portion that stores therein terminal memory data in association with first identification information and second identification information, a receiving portion that receives first identification information and second identification information from the mobile terminal, a collation portion that collates the received first identification information and the stored first identification information with each other and collates the received second identification information and the stored second identification information with each other, and a terminal memory data deletion portion that deletes the terminal memory data stored in association with the second identification information when it is determined that collation by the first identification information is impossible and that collation by the second identification information is possible.

Abstract: A pedal stroke sensor a rotor that rotates with a brake pedal with a pair of brushes fixed on the rotor. The brushes are inclined oppositely to each other along rotating direction of the rotor and contact a circuit printed on a circuit board to generate output voltages V1A and V1B which increase and decrease oppositely to each other in response to the brushes sliding over the circuit board. A difference signal |V1A−V1B| is output as a signal corresponding to pedal stroke S of the brake pedal. When any kind of vibration changes the contacting positions of the brushes on the board, the output voltages V1A, V1B change in the same direction, so that, even if the contacting positions of the brushes change because of a vibration, the difference signal |V1A−V1B| does not change greatly, allowing accurate detection of the position of the brake pedal even if such vibrations occur.

Abstract: A NO.sub.x absorbent (17) is disposed in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine. This NO.sub.x absorbent (17) absorbs the NO.sub.x when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NO.sub.x absorbent (17) is lean and releases the absorbed NO.sub.x when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NO.sub.x absorbent (17) becomes rich. It estimates the amount of NO.sub.x absorbed in the NO.sub.x absorbent (17) from the engine load and the engine rotational speed and when the amount of the estimated NO.sub.x becomes the maximum NO.sub.x absorption capacity of the NO.sub.x absorbent (17), makes the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NO.sub.x absorbent (17) rich.

Abstract: An engine comprising an exhaust passage having therein a NO.sub.x absorbent which absorbs the NO.sub.x when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NO.sub.x absorbent is lean and releases the absorbed NO.sub.x when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NO.sub.x absorbent becomes the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio or rich. When the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture should be changed over from lean to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture is temporarily made rich and is then made the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.

Abstract: A NO.sub.x absorbent which absorbs NO.sub.x in exhaust gas when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is lean and releases absorbed NO.sub.x when the oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas is lowered, is disposed in an exhaust passage of an engine. When the amount of the NO.sub.x absorbed by the NO.sub.x absorbent is increased, the regenerating process of the NO.sub.x absorbent is performed by supplying a reducing agent to the NO.sub.x absorbent so that the NO.sub.x absorbed by the NO.sub.x absorbent is released and reduced by the reducing agent. Usually, to reduce the amount of the reducing agent required for the regenerating process, the inflowing exhaust gas into the NO.sub.x absorbent is shut off. In the present invention, even in the regenerating process of NO.sub.x absorbent, a small amount of the exhaust gas (carrier gas) is introduced to the NO.sub.x absorbent to carry the supplied reducing agent through the NO.sub.

Abstract: An NOx absorbent is installed in an exhaust conduit of an internal combustion engine capable of fuel combustion at lean air-fuel ratios. An oxygen concentration is repeatedly or continuously decreased by, for example, switching the air-fuel from the lean air-fuel ratio to a stoichiometric or rich air fuel ratio when the exhaust gas temperature is higher than 550.degree. C. or when NOx absorbent temperature is higher than 500.degree. C. As a result, the SOx absorbed in the NOx absorbent during lean air-fuel ratio, low temperature operation is released from the NOx absorbent, and the SOx-poisoned NOx absorbent is recovered.