Abstract: A document illumination apparatus includes a first light source configured to emit light. A first lower reflector is configured to reflect the light emitted from the first light source. A first upper reflector is configured to reflect the light reflected by the first lower reflector to illuminate a document. A first non-reflective area is disposed between the first lower and upper reflectors.

Abstract: In a planetary gear unit 120, a planetary carrier 123 is linked with an engine 150, a sun gear 121 with a motor 130, and a ring gear 122 with a motor 140 and an axle 116. A clutch 160 is disposed between the planetary gear unit 120 and the motor 140 to connect and disconnect the planetary gear unit 120 with and from the motor 140. A brake 162 is also provided to constrain the ring gear 122 in a released position of the clutch 160. The state of coupling the clutch 160 attains the structure of a parallel hybrid vehicle. The state of releasing the clutch 160 and activating the brake 162 to constrain the ring gear 122 attains the structure of a series hybrid vehicle. The technique of the present invention changes over the drive mode according to the driving state of the hybrid vehicle, thus ensuring an efficient drive that takes advantage of the characteristics of the respective drive modes.

Abstract: Hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, including (a) an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, (b) a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear and a carrier one of which is connected to the engine, and a ring gear connected to an output member, (c) a motor/generator connected to the output member, and (d) a differential gear device including output shafts and an input member rotated by a drive force received from the output member, and wherein the motor/generator, the planetary gear mechanism and the output member are arranged coaxially with each other along a first axis, and the output shafts of the differential gear device are disposed along a second axis parallel to the first axis. The planetary gear mechanism is disposed in a radially inner space provided radially inwardly of a stator coil of the motor/generator, and the input member includes a radially outer portion which overlaps a radially outer portion of the motor/generator in the radial direction of the motor/generator.

Abstract: A start control system for a vehicle comprising: an electric motor brought into a starting state when an ignition key is operated to a starting position; an automatic transmission; and a shift unit having running ranges including drive, second speed, first speed and reverse ranges, and non-running ranges including parking and neutral ranges. Further comprised is a mechanism for allowing the shift unit to change the parking range to the drive range when the ignition key is operated to the starting position.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, including an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, a first motor/generator, a distributing mechanism for mechanically distributing an output of the engine to the first motor/generator and an output member, a second motor/generator whose rotary force is transferred to a power transmitting path between the output member and a drive wheel of the motor vehicle, and wherein an engine starting device is provided for operating the first motor/generator to crank the engine through the distributing mechanism, for thereby starting the engine.

Abstract: In the process of starting an engine 150, the structure of the present invention lags an open and close timing of an intake valve 152 of the engine 150, thereby enabling a first motor MG1 mechanically linked with a crankshaft 156 via a damper 157 to motor the engine 150. When the revolving speed of the engine 150 exceeds a specific range that causes a resonance, the open and close timing of the intake valve 152 is returned to an ordinary level, so as to start controls of a fuel supply to the engine 150 and ignition. The lagged open and close timing of the intake valve 152 decreases the effective compression ratio of the engine 150, thus enabling smooth rotations of the engine 150 and reducing the amplitude of the torsional vibrations of the crankshaft 156. This structure enables the revolving speed of the engine 150 to swiftly pass through the specific range that causes a resonance.

Abstract: A power output apparatus (100) includes an engine (102), a double-pinion planetary gear (110), a first motor (MG1), and a second motor (MG2). A ring gear (114), a planetary carrier (126), and a sun gear (112) of the double-pinion planetary gear (110) are respectively linked with a crankshaft (104) of the engine (102), a drive shaft (108), and the first motor (MG1). The engine (102), the second motor (MG2), the double-pinion planetary gear (110), and the first motor (MG1) are arranged sequentially along an axis running from the front to the rear of a vehicle. The second motor (MG2) is required to output a greater torque than that of the first motor (MG1) and accordingly has a larger size. The second motor (MG2) is, however, disposed closer to the engine (102) and thereby has a sufficient margin in the diametral direction. This configuration reduces the size of the whole power output apparatus (100).

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, having an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, an electric energy storage device for storing an electric energy, a motor/generator connected to the electric energy storage device, and a synthesizing/distributing mechanism which includes a first rotary element, a second rotary element connected to the motor/generator, and a third rotary element, and an output member connected to the third rotary element, wherein a first clutch is provided for connecting the first rotary element and the engine, and a second clutch is provided for connecting two elements of the first, second and third rotary elements of the synthesizing/distributing mechanism, for rotation of the two elements as a unit.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, an operating section accessible for entering various information and commands is implemented as a plurality of key units. The key units are each removably connected to the body of the operating section via cooperative connectors. When any one of the key units is damaged or or the life thereof expires, only the defective unit is replaced while the other units are continuously used.

Abstract: In a Y/C separator, a computed signal is obtained through computation on from a signal of a color carrier signal band in a Y/C composite video signal and a delayed signal obtained by delaying the signal of the color carrier signal band by a 1 H period. The computation includes one for producing an absolute value, one for producing a smaller one of a plurality of signals, and subtraction and addition. Under control of the computed signal and a reference signal, a color carrier signal is produced in accordance with the signal of the color carrier signal band and a signal obtained by comb filtering the signal of the color carrier signal band.

Abstract: A power-assisted gear shift mechanism for a manual transmission includes a lateral casing mounted on a transmission housing, a first lateral shaft rotatably mounted within the casing and being operatively connected to a manual shift lever to be rotated in shifting operation of the shift lever, and a second lateral shaft in the form of a hollow shaft rotatably and axially slidably mounted on the first lateral shaft and being operatively connected to the manual shift lever to be axially moved in selecting operation of the shift lever, the second lateral shaft being integrally provided with a shift-and-select lever which extends into an interior of the transmission housing to be selectively engaged with a plurality of shift heads in axial movement of the second lateral shaft.

Abstract: An automatic power transmitting system for an automotive vehicle, wherein the operation of an electromagnetic clutch is automatically controlled in response to automatic shifting actions of a constant-mesh transmission by synchromesh devices. The powder clutch includes a driving rotor unit having an outer yoke and an inner yoke which cooperate to define therebetween an annular space in which a thin-walled cylindrical member of a driven rotor unit is disposed, such that the cylindrical member cooperates with at least one of the outer and inner yokes to define at least one powder gap. A small thickness of the cylindrical member assures a minimum of rotational energy consumption by the synchromesh devices. A damper may be disposed so as to connect the driven rotor unit and the input shaft of the constant-mesh transmission, so as to provide a damping effect for preventing a rapid change in an amount of torque transmitted from the driven rotor unit to the input shaft.

Abstract: An automatic power transmitting system operatively connected to an engine of an automotive vehicle, having a constant-mesh transmission with at least one synchromesh device which is operated by an actuator device to selectively establish a plurality of gear positions. The system includes a first and a second clutch which are disposed in parallel relation with each other, between between the engine of the vehicle and the constant-mesh transmission. The first clutch has a one-way clutch operable to transmit an output of the engine to the constant-mesh transmission, and is engaged while the vehicle is in a normal drive mode. The second clutch is engaged while the vehicle is in an engine brake mode. Each synchromesh device is operated to effect a shifting operation after the opening of the throttle valve of the engine is reduced, and without disengaging the first clutch before the operation of the synchromesh device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a continuously variable transmission which increases the range of potential transmission ratios and thereby decreases the fuel consumption rate, and which is compact in size and thereby increases space in a passenger compartment. The continuously variable transmission has low and high gear trains and a reverse gear train. Each of the low and high gear trains has a pair of meshed gears and a one-way clutch which controls the direction of transmitting the generated torque. The high gear train further has a clutch which engages at a medium or high vehicle speed and disengages at a low vehicle speed. A jaw clutch is slidably mounted on an output shaft and is located in either a first position or a second position. The jaw clutch forms the low gear train when the jaw clutch is in the first position, and the reverse gear train when the jaw clutch is located on the second position.

Abstract: A belt means for transmitting torque between pulleys in a continuously variable transmission. The belt means comprises a plurality of abutting hoops superimposed inside of each other, with no clearance being provided between abutting hoops because the outer circumferential diameter of an inner hoop is greater than or equal to an inner diameter of an outwardly located hoop, whereby, the tensile stresses on the innermost hoop are decreased to enhance the durability and increase the service-life of the inner hoop.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission means having block members, each block member having longitudinal projections causing the rotating radius of the block members to be the same as the rotating radius of an endless carrier, the block members and endless carrier forming a belt which extends between a driving pulley and a driven pulley. When a portion of the belt is in a transition area between a straight extension between the pulleys and moving toward contacting a peripheral portion on one of the pulley, the sliding movement between adjacent block members and the carrier is obviated due to the rotating radius of the block members being equivalent to the radius of the carrier.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder engine comprising a carburetor housing forming therein at least two branch intake passages. Each of the branch intake passages is connected to a respective intake port. A throttle valve of the carburetor is provided for each cylinder. Each of the throttle valves is arranged in the respective branch intake passage. A single common passage and branch connecting passages which are connected to the common passage are provided. Each of the branch connecting passages opens into the respective intake port in the vicinity of the rear face of the valve head of the corresponding intake valve.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising a carburetor having a throttle valve. A secondary throttle valve is arranged in the intake passage at a position located downstream of the throttle valve of the carburetor. When the engine is operating under a light load, the secondary throttle valve remains fully closed. When the engine is operating under a heavy load, the secondary throttle valve remains fully opened. The intake passage located upstream of the secondary throttle valve is interconnected with the intake passage located downstream of the secondary throttle valve via an auxiliary intake passage having a cross-sectional area which is extremely smaller than that of the intake passage.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder engine comprising an intake manifold equipped with a carburetor. A secondary throttle valve is provided for each cylinder. Each of the secondary throttle valves is arranged in the respective manifold branch and fixed onto a common throttle shaft. An auxiliary intake passage is branched off from the collecting portion of the intake manifold and connected to a distribution channel. Each of the intake ports is connected to the distribution channel via a corresponding channel branch which opens into the intake port at a position near the intake valve. The common throttle shaft of the secondary throttle valves is connected to a vacuum operated diaphragm apparatus so that the secondary throttle valves are opened in accordance with a reduction in the level of vacuum produced in the intake manifold.

Abstract: A generally cylindrically shaped annular catalytic converter is provided within the manifold of an exhaust gas system with branch pipes extending from the manifold to introduce exhaust gases thereinto. Each of the branch pipes defines a flow direction extending tangentially of the catalytic converter with the central axis of each branch pipe being directed at an oblique angle relative to the central axis of the catalytic converter and spaced from each other axially relative to the converter central axis.