Abstract: Provided are a gas detection method and a gas detector which have a high durability to silicone poisoning and is capable of detecting the type and the concentration of a target gas to be detected with certain accuracy even when the detector is used in an environment where a silicone compound exists. The gas detector employs a contact combustion-type gas sensor which includes two gas detection elements, each intermittently driven, and in which only one gas detection element is supplied with a gas through a silicone removal filter. Acquired in an energization duration of each of the gas detection elements are two or more pieces of output data by the one gas detection element and two or more pieces of output data by the other gas detection element, which constitutes output variation patterns for a test gas.

Abstract: Provided is a gas detector which has a high durability to silicone poisoning and of which power consumption is reduced. The gas detector includes a contact combustion-type gas sensor and detects a paraffinic hydrocarbon gas, a solvent gas, and a hydrogen gas. The contact combustion-type gas sensor is configured to include two gas detection elements that are disposed in two detection chambers partitioned from each other, respectively, and the gas inlet of one detection chamber is provided with a silicone removal filter. The paraffinic hydrocarbon gas is detected by one gas detection element disposed in the one detection chamber which is provided with the silicone removal filter. Furthermore, the solvent gas is detected by the other gas detection element which is disposed in the other detection chamber. Still furthermore, the hydrogen gas is detected by either the one gas detection element or the other gas detection element.

Abstract: Provided are a gas detection method and a gas detector which have a high durability to silicone poisoning and is capable of detecting the type and the concentration of a target gas to be detected with certain accuracy even when the detector is used in an environment where a silicone compound exists. The gas detector employs a contact combustion-type gas sensor which includes two gas detection elements, each intermittently driven, and in which only one gas detection element is supplied with a gas through a silicone removal filter. Acquired in an energization duration of each of the gas detection elements are two or more pieces of output data by the one gas detection element and two or more pieces of output data by the other gas detection element, which constitutes output variation patterns for a test gas.

Abstract: In a vehicle in which a torque generated in an engine is transmitted to driven wheels through a torque converter and an automatic transmission, when a speed ratio e in the torque converter is equal to or larger than a predetermined value (e.g., 0.85), and the accuracy of estimating a capacity &tgr; of the torque converter is low, an estimated engine torque Ti is multiplied by a torque ratio k of the torque converter to estimate a drive torque Td. When the speed ratio e in the torque converter is smaller than the predetermined value, and a response lag is produced in the transmission of the engine torque, a drive torque Td is estimated from an engine rotational sped Ne and the speed ratio e in the torque converter. During shifting of the automatic transmission, a drive torque Td is estimated from a wheel speed V. Thus, a correct drive torque can be estimated.

Abstract: The engagement force of an electromagnetic clutch can be precisely controlled at a target engagement force by a simple structure even when an air gap of the electromagnetic clutch varies. An electromagnetic clutch control system includes magnetic flux density sensors, a target engagement force calculating device, a target magnetic flux density calculating device, and a feedback control device. The target magnetic flux density calculating device calculates a target magnetic flux density &phgr;t based on a target engagement force Tt of electromagnetic clutches calculated by the target engagement force calculating device. The current supplied to the electromagnetic clutches is feedback controlled by the feedback control device so that an actual magnetic flux density &phgr; detected by the magnetic flux density sensors agrees with the target magnetic flux density &phgr;t.

Abstract: A driving force distribution device which controls the engagement forces of electromagnetic clutches and which govern the torque distribution between the driving wheels of a vehicle by calculating a target magnetic flux density and converting the same into a target excitation current. Since the relationship between the target magnetic flux density and the target excitation current changes according to a decrease in the air gaps accompanying wear of the frictional engagement members of the electromagnetic clutches, a relationship between the magnetic flux density and the excitation current is determined by applying current to the electromagnetic clutches when torque distribution control is not being carried out such as when the system is started, and the target excitation current is calculated from the target magnetic flux density based on the determined relationship.

Abstract: The engagement force of an electromagnetic clutch can be precisely controlled at a target engagement force by a simple structure even when an air gap of the electromagnetic clutch varies. An electromagnetic clutch control system includes magnetic flux density sensors, a target engagement force calculating device, a target magnetic flux density calculating device, and a feedback control device. The target magnetic flux density calculating device calculates a target magnetic flux density &phgr;t based on a target engagement force Tt of electromagnetic clutches calculated by the target engagement force calculating device. The current supplied to the electromagnetic clutches is feedback controlled by the feedback control device so that an actual magnetic flux density &phgr; detected by the magnetic flux density sensors agrees with the target magnetic flux density &phgr;t.

Abstract: In a vehicle in which a torque generated in an engine is transmitted to driven wheels through a torque converter and an automatic transmission, when a speed ratio e in the torque converter is equal to or larger than a predetermined value (e.g., 0.85), and the accuracy of estimating a capacity &tgr; of the torque converter is low, an estimated engine torque Ti is multiplied by a torque ratio k of the torque converter to estimate a drive torque Td. When the speed ratio e in the torque converter is smaller than the predetermined value, and a response lag is produced in the transmission of the engine torque, a drive torque Td is estimated from an engine rotational sped Ne and the speed ratio e in the torque converter. During shifting of the automatic transmission, a drive torque Td is estimated from a wheel speed V. Thus, a correct drive torque can be estimated.

Abstract: A driving force distribution device which controls the engagement forces of electromagnetic clutches and which govern the torque distribution between the driving wheels of a vehicle by calculating a target magnetic flux density and converting the same into a target excitation current. Since the relationship between the target magnetic flux density and the target excitation current changes according to a decrease in the air gaps accompanying wear of the frictional engagement members of the electromagnetic clutches, a relationship between the magnetic flux density and the excitation current is determined by applying current to the electromagnetic clutches when torque distribution control is not being carried out such as when the system is started, and the target excitation current is calculated from the target magnetic flux density based on the determined relationship.