Abstract: An output limiting control is carried out for limiting an output of a driving source when an acceleration pedal as well as a brake pedal is operated at the same time. An acceleration opening degree for a malfunction diagnosis is set based on a detected acceleration opening degree. A required output value for the malfunction diagnosis is calculated based on the acceleration opening degree for the malfunction diagnosis. A malfunction determining threshold is set in accordance with the required output value. An estimated output value of the driving source is compared with the malfunction determining threshold in order to determine whether there is a malfunction in a control system for the driving source. The acceleration opening degree for the malfunction diagnosis is limited to a predetermined limiting value, when the acceleration and brake pedal are operated at the same time.

Abstract: If it is determined that a brake pedal is pressed while an accelerator pedal is pressed, accelerator position limit control for bringing an accelerator position for engine control to a limit value corresponding to vehicle speed is performed, thereby securing safety at the time when both of the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal are pressed. If it is determined that the accelerator pedal is pressed after the brake pedal is pressed, the accelerator position limit control is prohibited, thereby responding to driver's intention to accelerate. If it is determined that the pressing of the brake pedal is cancelled during execution of the accelerator position limit control, accelerator position recovery control for returning the accelerator position for the engine control to an actual accelerator position is performed, thereby recovering normal running corresponding to the driver's intention to accelerate.

Abstract: An environmental apparatus control system for a comfortable residential environment based upon demands from the residents. The system includes a project composer which relies upon a first reference (R1) and a second reference (R2) to determine a control project based upon the demands. The references are each determined by a first proportion of the count of the temperature lowering demands in the total number of the residents, and a second proportion of the count of the temperature raising demands in the total number of the resident. A first proportion of the count of the first demands in the number of the residents, and a second proportion of the count of the second demands in the number of the residents are obtained to give a current demand ratio which is compared with first and second references for determination of the control project. The first and second references and are defined respectively as different ratios of the first proportion to the second proportion.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a monitoring system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injection control means for outputting a fuel injection signal to an injector based on a target fuel injection quantity and a target fuel injection timing according to a driving condition of the engine. The monitoring system further includes a computation means for computing an actual fuel injection quantity and an actual fuel injection timing based on the fuel injection signal, and a determination means for determining whether a fuel injection malfunction exists by comparing the actual fuel injection quantity and the target fuel injection quantity and comparing the actual fuel injection timing and the target fuel injection timing.

Abstract: An environmental apparatus control system assures a consistent temperature control for realizing a comfortable residential environment based upon demands from the residents, yet in an energy-saving manner. The system includes an apparatus for controlling a residential space, and an initializer which provides an initial target value for control of the residential space at the start of operating the system. Comfortableness demands from residents are analyzed in order modify the initial target value to a working target value. The initial target value is shifted in a direction of saving the energy such that the working target value can always approach from and settle on the energy-saving side as the demands from the residents are analyzed. The working target values within a past time period are weighted to give a corrected target value which replaces the initial target value for the start of next operation cycle of the system.

Abstract: Lubricating oil passages extending toward a power transmission mechanism from a regulator valve to lubricate the power transmission mechanism include a first lubricating oil passage for supplying lubricating oil to a low clutch used to set up a low gear speed and a second lubricating oil passage for supplying lubricating oil with line pressure to the low clutch. A check valve for preventing the lubricating oil from flowing out from frictional engagement elements other than the low clutch when the second lubricating oil passage is selected, is provided on the first lubricating oil passage. An outflow preventing section for preventing the lubricating oil, supplied to the low clutch via the first lubricating oil passage, from flowing out from any open port of hydraulic control valves when the second lubricating oil passage is not selected, is provided on the second lubricating oil passage.

Abstract: An environmental apparatus control system provides and transmits a message voluntarily to each resident as to the current control being made to residential space or environment in which the residents are presence. The system includes an apparatus for controlling the residential environment and a plurality of personal terminals belonging to individual residents in the residential environment. Each terminal is utilized to enter one of opposed demands with regard to the residential environment. The system analyzes which one of the opposed demands is predominant and determines a control project of controlling the apparatus in a direction of satisfying the predominant demand. An information provider is included in the system to provide a message indicating the number of each one of the opposed demands, and transmit the message to the personal terminals voluntarily.

Abstract: In a microcomputer, a signal processing device computes a control signal, such as an accelerator position, a throttle position, based on a sensor output signal, such as an output signal of an accelerator position sensor, an output signal of a throttle position sensor. A torque control device executes a torque control operation to coincide an actual torque with a requested torque based on the control signal. Furthermore, a torque monitor device determines whether a torque increase abnormality exists based on the control signal. A signal abnormality diagnosis device determines whether an operational abnormality of the signal processing device exists based on a relationship between the sensor output signal and the control signal. A monitor IC monitors operational states of the torque monitor device and of the signal abnormality diagnosis device and determines whether an operational abnormality of the torque monitor device or of the signal abnormality diagnosis device exists.

Abstract: A fuel cut failsafe function monitoring section of a microcomputer sets a fuel cut failsafe function diagnosis period in a period, in which an operation of an engine is stopped (e.g., a period before engine start), and sends a fuel cut failsafe execution command signal to a fuel cut failsafe execution section of an abnormality monitoring device during the fuel cut failsafe function diagnosis period. Thus, the fuel cut failsafe execution section is caused to output a fuel cut failsafe signal to an injector driver to stop an operation of the injector driver. The fuel cut failsafe function monitoring section monitors an output level of a disablement port of the injector driver at the time, thereby performing abnormality diagnosis of a fuel cut failsafe function.

Abstract: A fuel cut failsafe function monitoring section of a microcomputer sets a fuel cut failsafe function diagnosis period in a period, in which an operation of an engine is stopped (e.g., a period before engine start), and sends a fuel cut failsafe execution command signal to a fuel cut failsafe execution section of an abnormality monitoring device during the fuel cut failsafe function diagnosis period. Thus, the fuel cut failsafe execution section is caused to output a fuel cut failsafe signal to an injector driver to stop an operation of the injector driver. The fuel cut failsafe function monitoring section monitors an output level of a disablement port of the injector driver at the time, thereby performing abnormality diagnosis of a fuel cut failsafe function.

Abstract: An injection pulse output portion outputs an injection pulse to the fuel injector based on a target fuel injection timing and a target fuel injection quantity. A fuel injection monitor portion computes an actual fuel injection timing and an actual fuel injection quantity and determines that there is an malfunction in fuel injection when a difference between the actual fuel injection timing and a target fuel injection timing is larger than a specified value and when a difference between the actual fuel injection quantity and a target fuel injection quantity is larger than a specified value. According to a combustion mode, a torque monitor portion defines one of an air-quantity-base actual torque and a fuel-quantity-base actual torque as a malfunction determination actual torque to determine whether a torque malfunction exists. When the fuel injection malfunction exists, the air quantity base torque is defined as the malfunction determination actual torque.

Abstract: A pressure sensor has a polygonal cylindrical stem having a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls including a remarked side wall, a diaphragm constituted by a portion of the remarked side wall, and a sensing element attached to the remarked side wall. Each of the side walls extends along a longitudinal direction of the stem so as to face a hollow of the stem. A center axis of the hollow along the longitudinal direction is shifted from a center axis of the stem toward the remarked side wall so as to differentiate a thickness of the remarked side wall from those of the other side walls. The diaphragm is deformable in response to a pressure of a medium introduced in the hollow. The sensing element senses a deformation of the diaphragm and outputs a sensing signal indicating the deformation of the diaphragm.

Abstract: An environmental apparatus control system assures a consistent temperature control for realizing a comfortable residential environment based upon demands from the residents, yet in an energy-saving manner. The system includes an apparatus for controlling a residential space, and an initializer which provides an initial target value for control of the residential space at the start of operating the system. Comfortableness demands from residents are analyzed in order modify the initial target value to a working target value. The initial target value is shifted in a direction of saving the energy such that the working target value can always approach from and settle on the energy-saving side as the demands from the residents are analyzed. The working target values within a past time period are weighted to give a corrected target value which replaces the initial target value for the start of next operation cycle of the system.

Abstract: An environmental apparatus control system for a comfortable residential environment based upon demands from the residents. The system includes a project composer which relies upon a first reference (R1) and a second reference (R2) to determine a control project based upon the demands. The references are each determined by a first proportion of the count of the temperature lowering demands in the total number of the residents, and a second proportion of the count of the temperature raising demands in the total number of the resident. A first proportion of the count of the first demands in the number of the residents, and a second proportion of the count of the second demands in the number of the residents are obtained to give a current demand ratio which is compared with first and second references for determination of the control project. The first and second references and are defined respectively as different ratios of the first proportion to the second proportion.

Abstract: An engine stopping and starting control device predicts which cylinder will be on a compression stroke upon being stopped during a process for stopping the engine. Fuel is injected into the predicted cylinder during the process for stopping the engine to seal an air-fuel mixture therein. The same cylinder is then fired upon the next start cycle to generate a first explosion to start the engine.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a hollow cylindrical stem, a sensor chip, and a wiring board. The hollow cylindrical stem has a pressure-sensitive flexible diaphragm at a first axial end thereof and an opening at a second axial end thereof, the opening for transmitting pressure into the stem. The sensor chip is provided on the diaphragm for outputting an electrical signal in proportion to the deformation of the diaphragm. The wiring board electrically connects the sensor chip to an external circuit. The wiring board is located around the sensor chip on the first axial end of the stem.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an engine increases an intake air quantity just before engine stop to increase a compression pressure in a compression stroke. As the compression pressure is increased, a negative torque in the compression stroke increases and obstructs engine rotation, and brakes the engine rotation. Thus, a range of crank angle, in which torque is below engine friction, that is, in which engine rotation can be stopped, is reduced. As a result, variation in engine rotation stop position is reduced to be within a small range of crank angle. Information of engine rotation stop position is stored, and the stored information of engine rotation stop position is used at the start of an engine to accurately determine an initial injection cylinder and an initial ignition cylinder to start the engine.

Abstract: During a shut-down period of an engine based on an idle stop control, a computer estimates a power stroke cylinder and a compression stroke cylinder when the engine is stopped. A fuel is injected into the power stroke cylinder and the compression stroke cylinder in an intake stroke just before the engine is stopped. An air-fuel mixture is hold in each cylinder with the engine stopped. When an auto start is required while the engine is stopped, a spark ignition is performed in the power stroke cylinder to start cranking of the engine by combustion energy. At nest ignition timing, a spark ignition is performed in the compression stroke cylinder to start the engine without an aid of a starter.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an engine increases an intake air quantity just before engine stop to increase a compression pressure in a compression stroke. As the compression pressure is increased, a negative torque in the compression stroke increases and obstructs engine rotation, and brakes the engine rotation. Thus, a range of crank angle, in which torque is below engine friction, that is, in which engine rotation can be stopped, is reduced. As a result, variation in engine rotation stop position is reduced to be within a small range of crank angle. Information of engine rotation stop position is stored, and the stored information of engine rotation stop position is used at the start of an engine to accurately determine an initial injection cylinder and an initial ignition cylinder to start the engine.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for detecting a pressure such as a brake oil pressure in an automobile is composed of a cylindrical stem, a sensor chip and a circuit board for processing an electrical signal from the sensor chip. The cylindrical stem includes a thin diaphragm formed at an axial end and an opening formed at the other axial end. The sensor chip is mounted on the diaphragm, and the circuit board is mounted on a flat side surface formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical stem so that the circuit board is positioned perpendicularly to the sensor chip, thereby reducing a size of the pressure sensor in the radial direction of the stem. The pressure to be detected is introduced into the cylindrical stem from its opening, and the pressure is detected by the sensor chip mounted on the diaphragm.