Abstract: A reinforcing construction for rear wheel housings in automobiles, provided on the right and left sides of a car body, which comprises a connection member (24) having engagement portions at two axial ends thereof, respectively, and extending between right and left suspension towers, a first restraint device (26) mounted on one of the right and left rear wheel housings for restraining one of the two engagement portions on the connection member, and structures mounted on the other of the right and left rear where housings for restraining the other of the two engagement portions. The first restraint device comprises two lock levers (32, 34) supported independently of each other and swingably on the rear where housings to be capable of releasing and restraining one of the two engagement portions on the connection member, each of the lock levers having an inclined surface (33, 35) which is adapted to come into frictional contact with one of the engagement portions.

Abstract: A signal transmission system has a plurality of sensors, a plurality of modulation circuits connected to the sensors, a single demodulation circuit and a single power supply line for connecting the modulation circuits to the demodulation circuit. Each of the sensors has a resistor-capacitor type oscillation circuit of which the capacity varies with the variation of a physical quantity to be measured and outputs an oscillation output of the oscillation circuit as a sensor signal. Each of the modulation circuit has a one-shot circuit having a predetermined set time different from another one-shot circuit of another modulation circuit for sustaining the sensor signal for the predetermined set time. Each of the modulation circuits further has a transistor for switching and a zener diode of a zener voltage different from that of another zener diode of another modulation circuit.

Abstract: A portable transmitter for transmitting a magnetic signal is disclosed. The transmitter is provided with a transmitting coil for generating a magnetic signal upon receiving an electric current from a dry cell through an intermittently operating electric current supplying transistor. The transmitter further comprises a capacitor, a charging line provided with a diode, and a switching transistor. The switching transistor makes the induced current which is generated in the transmitting coil, flow into the capacitor by way of the charging line when the electric current supply to the transmitting coil is stopped, and supplies the electric current stored by the capacitor to the transmitting coil when the electric current supply to the transmitting coil is started.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus including: a first electrode member; a second electrode member arranged at opposing positions a predetermined distance away and electrically isolated from the first electrode member; and an electric circuit connected to the first and second electrode members. The first and the second electrode members are operatively connected by an impedance formed between the first and the second electrode members in response to existence of a substance to be sensed between the first and the second electrode members. The electric circuit outputs a signal in response to the impedance. The sensing apparatus is applicable for detecting, for example, the level of a liquid in a vessel.

Abstract: A luggage door unlocking device for a vehicle, capable of unlocking the luggage door of the vehicle without using an unlocking key includes a portable signal transmitter for transmitting an unlocking signal; signal receiving device provided on the vehicle, for receiving and discriminating the unlocking signal; and a driving device which drives an unlocking mechanism on the basis of the received and discriminated unlocking signal. The signal receiving device has a magnetic sensor, a smoothing circuit which smoothes the reception signal provided by the magnetic sensor and provides a smoothed signal, and a comparator which receives the reception signal and the smoothed signal and allows the reception signal to pass only when the signal level of the reception signal changes beyond the signal level of the smoothed signal. The noise overlapping the reception signal is eliminated by the comparator, whereby an unlocking signal including no noise is fed to the driving device.

Abstract: A luggage door unlocking device for a vehicle by which a luggage door of vehicle can be unlocked without using an unlocking key is disclosed. The device includes a portable transmitter for generating an unlocking signal, a receiver which is mounted on a vehicle for receiving and discriminating the unlocking signal when the transmitter approaches the receiver and a luggage door unlocking mechanism for operating an unlocking mechanism of the vehicle when the receiver receives the unlocking signal. The transmitter has a walk detector for detecting the periodical vibrations when the person carrying the transmitter is walking which generates a walk detecting signal. Also, a switch turns on or off upon receiving the walk detecting signal from the walk detector.

Abstract: An electric wiring system has a plurality of terminal units, a plurality of sensors connected to the terminal units by signal input lines, and a central control unit connected to the terminal units by a pair of common power supply lines, which receive signals from the sensors. The central control unit has a reference signal generator circuit which repetitively generates a reference signal composed of a train of pulses, a predetermined number of which are assigned to each of the sensors, a modulator circuit for applying the reference signal to the power supply lines, a demodulator circuit for picking up a composite signal generated by the terminal unit from the power supply line, and a control circuit for detecting abnormal and normal signals of the sensors and breakage of the power supply lines and signal input lines based on the presence and absence of high-frequency pulses in the composite signal, thus indicating sensor and line conditions.

Abstract: A device for detecting the amount of liquid in a vessel, such as a fuel tank of an automobile, using a torsion support member such as a torsion bar arranged between the vessel and the body of the automobile. The torsion displacement of the member corresponding to the amount of the liquid is detected in a detection circuit and processed in an electronic unit which includes a portion for generating a pulse width signal corresponding to the amount of the liquid on the basis of signals from the detection circuit, a portion for generating a signal having a pulse number proportional to the pulse width on the basis of the generated pulse width signal, and a portion for averaging at predetermined intervals the value corresponding to the pulse number of the signal from the pulse width detection portion using timing pulses generated at predetermined intervals and for displaying the average amount of the liquid digitally on a display portion.

Abstract: A torque sensor generates an electric signal representing a change in the state of electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling between first and second rotors coupled together by a torsion spring. The change is caused with relative rotation of the two rotors caused by detected torque in a power assisted steering system of an automotive vehicle.

Abstract: A frequency transmission system comprises a pulse train generator and a signal converter. The pulse train generator generates a pulse signal of a sufficiently short duration in response to oscillation frequency signals, and the signal converter circuit converts the pulse signal into a current signal and blunts the waveform of the converted signal by a capacitor to transmit through power supply lines.

Abstract: An electric liquid level detector of the condenser type comprises an electrode assembly including a pair of electrodes to be submerged into the oil within a liquid container, an electric circuit assembly provided with an electric detecting circuit for generating an output signal indicative of the level of remaining oil in dependence upon an electro-static capacity between the electrodes, and a flexible tubular guide member of conductive material fixed at its one end to the electrode assembly and at its other end to the electric circuit assembly. The guide member is provided therein with an elongated partition plate of conductive material grounded together with the guide member, and the electrodes are connected to the detecting circuit by means of a pair of insulated electric wires extending through a pair of elongated spaces subdivided by the partition plate in the guide member.

Abstract: A liquid quantity detecting device includes a float-type liquid-quantity meter and a torsion bar-type liquid meter. In the float-type liquid-quantity meter, the liquid quantity is detected by a float in a tank and the position of the float is converted to an electric signal by a variable resistor. The torsion bar-type liquid meter includes housings fixed to the tank, torsion bars, one end of each being fixed to the tank by the housings and the other end of each being fixed to a supporting member so that the torsion bars are twisted by weight of the tank, twisted angle detection means for detecting the twisted angle of the torsion bars, and an electrical processor for supplying a signal corresponding to the quantity of liquid in the tank after receiving a signal from the twisted angle detector. When the liquid quantity in the tank is larger than a predetermined quantity, the liquid quantity, for example, the quantity of gasoline in a gasoline tank, is measured by the floating-type liquid-quantity meter.

Abstract: In a liquid quantity detecting apparatus, a torsion bar is mounted on a stationary structure to support a container thereon in such a manner that the torsion bar is twisted at a torsional angle in dependence upon the weight of liquid stored within the container. An electric detector is provided to electrically detect the torsional angle of the torsion bar so as to generate an output signal indicative of the quantity of the stored liquid based on the detected torsional angle.

Abstract: A torque sensor generates an electric signal representing a change in the state of electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling between first and second rotors coupled together by a torsion spring. The change is caused with relative rotation of the two rotors caused by detected torque in a power assisted steering system of an automotive vehicle.

Abstract: A liquid level monitoring device includes a casing arranged to be immersed in liquid stored within a container, the casing having first and second ports and being integrally provided with a support member to be attached to the inner wall of the container. A flexible diaphragm is assembled to form first and second chambers in the casing, the first chamber being communicated with the atmospheric air through the first port from which an elongated tube extends into the exterior of the container, and the second chamber permitting the immerse of liquid through the second port thereinto such that an amount of the atmospheric air is compressed within the second chamber in dependence upon an amount of the stored liquid to flex the diaphragm by a pressure difference between the chambers. A pressure transducer is provided to detect the rate of flexure of the diaphragm so as to generate an electric signal indicative of the liquid surface level from a control circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus responsive to the amount of refrigerant flow in a refrigerant circulating system includes a sensing capacitor mounted in a refrigerant passage, the capacitance of the sensing capacitor being varied depending on a change in the dielectric constant of the refrigerant which in turn being dependent on the amount of the refrigerant. The sensing capacitor forms an element of a resistance-capacitance oscillatory circuit and it also forms a ring oscillator together with another capacitor and a plurality of inverters and resistors. The oscillation frequency of the ring oscillator is detected to determine the amount of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage.

Abstract: Pressure changes in the engine case of an automobile are sensed to compute and display the engine rpm irrespective of the types of engines. A pressure sensing element is mounted on the oil filler port in the engine cylinder head cover by means of a mounting member made of an elastic material.

Abstract: A rotation detecting apparatus detects the angular position of an engine by rotating from the engine an electrically conductive rotating member having a plurality of equally spaced projections and notches formed on the periphery thereof and arranging a detector to face the rotating member and detect its projections and notches. The detector incorporates a self-running blocking oscillator circuit comprising a transformer and a field-effect transistor. With the engine rotating, the oscillator circuit oscillates when one of the notches on the rotating member is opposite to the detector, whereas when one of the projections on the rotating member is opposite to the detector the oscillator circuit does not oscillate due to the eddy current loss caused in the projection. Another circuit is connected to the oscillator circuit, and this circuit generates a pulse signal whose signal level changes in synchronism with a change in the oscillation condition of the oscillator circuit.

Abstract: An electric circuit member in a housing has lead wires which protrude out an end of the housing. A portion of the housing is provided with external threading for mounting and dismounting of the whole assembly. In order to prevent twisting of the wires as assembly is mounted and dismounted, the assembly may be manipulated to let the electric circuit member and its lead wires slip relative to the threaded housing portion. Three variations are shown.

Abstract: A liquid level detecting apparatus for detecting the level of a conductive liquid, comprises a pair of electrodes which are either connected with or disconnected from each other depending on the liquid level, an oscillation circuit which is variable in the state of its oscillation signal in response to the variation in impedance between the pair of electrodes and applies between the pair of electrodes an AC signal in synchronism with the oscillation signal, and a switching circuit which detects the liquid level in response to the oscillation signal, whereby dissolution of ions from the electrode into the liquid is prevented.