Abstract: To supply a ground potential Vss to a starter signal level shifter and a fuse information latch circuit on the basis of a fuse starter signal of which low level is shifted from the ground potential Vss to a negative voltage Vnn by the starter signal level shifter until the fuse information is latched to the fuse information latch circuit. After the foregoing fuse information is latched, a finally attained potential is supplied to the starter signal level shifter and the fuse information latch circuit. Therefore, it is possible to latch without shifting the low level, so that it becomes possible to easily shift the low level from the ground potential Vss to the negative voltage Vnn after latching.

Abstract: A construction is provided for fastening a plurality of members which thermally expand and contract together to a base member with a screw member, in such a manner that those members do not interfere with each other when they thermally expand or contract. An interference that would otherwise be generated between a plurality of members to be fastened together when the respective members thermally expand and contract can be prevented with a simple construction by interposing an interference preventing spacer member between the respective members. The spacer member is positioned in a radial direction relative to a screw portion. With one member, the fastened portion where the members are fastened together functions as a reference point for absorbing the thermal expansion and contraction. With the other member, an elongate hole is used at this fastened portion for absorbing the thermal expansion and contraction. Accordingly, the single fastened portion allows fastening corresponding to the respective members.

Abstract: A constant-speed running controller which sets a target throttle opening of a throttle valve such that the speed of a vehicle is at a target vehicle speed, detects an amount of accelerator pedal operation as an accelerating pedal opening, adds the set target throttle opening and the detected accelerating pedal opening to generate an opening signal as the addition result, and drives the throttle valve and controls a transmission stage of an automatic transmission in accordance with the opening signal.

Abstract: Electromagnetic actuator of an improved type for controlling the valves for induction or exhaust of an internal-combustion engine, wherein an oscillating arm has a first end which is pivoted on a support frame which is secured to the head of the engine, and a second end which abuts the upper end of the stem of the valve for induction or exhaust; two electromagnets being provided to move the oscillating arm by command, such as to displace the said valve axially, between a position of closure and a position of maximum opening; the frame being pivoted on the head of the engine, such as being able to rotate around an axis of rotation, which is perpendicular to the axis of movement of the valve for induction or exhaust, and the electromagnetic actuator also being provided with a device to regulate the position of the frame relative to the head, which device can rotate the said frame by command around the said axis of rotation, such as to be able to maintain at a pre-determined value the mechanical play which exist

Abstract: A liquid-encapsulated damper mount includes an outer member fixed to a vehicle body, and an inner member fixed to an upper end of a damper. The outer member and the inner member are connected to each other by first, second and third elastomer members. A first liquid chamber defined between the first and second elastomer members communicates with a second liquid chamber defined between the second and third elastomer members through a restriction. The restriction is defined in mating surfaces of the inner member and a ring member which are made of a metal and hence, even if the second elastomer member is deformed in any manner, the cross-sectional area of the restriction is not changed. Thus, when a load of a very low speed is inputted from a road surface, a stable damping force can be generated in the liquid-encapsulated damper mount, thereby preventing the resonance of an unsprung portion to enhance the riding comfort during traveling of a vehicle on a flat road.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting wiring patterns of an integrated circuit device. A wiring pattern of a semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first line for conducting a first potential and a second line for conducting a second potential. The method detects a portion of a distal end of the first line that overlaps a distal end of the second line and generates an avoidance pattern by eliminating the overlapping portion from the first line.

Abstract: The characteristics of an output of an exhaust gas sensor with respect to an air-fuel ratio of an engine are expressed according to a quadratic function, and the parameters of the quadratic function are sequentially identified according to a sequential identifying algorithm using data of the output of the exhaust gas sensor and data of an output of an air-fuel sensor which detects the air-fuel ratio of the engine. Deterioration evaluating parameters whose values change as the deterioration of a catalytic converter processes are sequentially determined from the identified values of the parameters of the quadratic function, and the deteriorated state of the catalytic converter is evaluated based on the determined deterioration evaluating parameters.

Abstract: It is judged whether or not the output voltages of a memory cell and a first reference cell, which is for outputting a voltage at a first reference level to be compared with the output voltage of the memory cell, have reached their respective comparable levels, on the basis of the output voltages of first to third reference cells. After voltage values which can be compared with each other are obtained, the comparison result of the output voltage of the memory cell with the output voltage of the first reference cell is stored in a first latch circuit as the stored data of the memory cell, and the data is output via an output buffer. Thus, even when a reduction of an internal power supply voltage occurs, the data stored in the memory cell can be properly output.

Abstract: In the method moving a sample substance by means of a sample feeder (26) form a sample pickup site to a delivery site (20) of a sample processor (10), the invention proposes fitting the sample feeder (26) with at least one porous material element having a pore size such that the sample substance shall be kept in the liquid phase in the porous material at least during sample pickup by the sample feeder (26) and during sample delivery to the sample processor (10).

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator for the control of the intake or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine, in which an oscillating arm has a first end hinged on a fixed support and a second end in abutment, directly or via the interposition of a strut, on the upper end of the stem of the intake or exhaust valve, two electromagnets being provided in order to move, on command, the oscillating arm so as axially to displace the valve between a closed position and a position of maximum opening, a first and a second elastic member being provided to maintain the intake or exhaust valve respectively in the closed position and in the position of maximum opening, by exerting on the valve axial thrusts contrary to one another; in the balanced position, the two elastic members are adapted to maintain the valve in an intermediate position between the closed position and the position of maximum opening.

Abstract: A first cutoff valve 24 and a second cutoff valve 41 are closed in a state in which an internal combustion engine 1 is stopped, and a reducing amount of a pressure P0 in a high pressure passageway 11 after the passage of a predetermined decision time T0 and a reducing amount of a pressure P2 in a low pressure passageway 12 after the passage of a predetermined decision time T2 are measured. When the reducing amount of the first pressure P0 is equal to or larger than a predetermined reducing amount &Dgr;P0, it is decided that a leakage is generated in the high pressure passageway 11. When the reducing amount of the second pressure P2 is equal to or larger than a predetermined reducing amount &Dgr;P2, it is decided that a leakage is generated in the low pressure passageway 12.

Abstract: A resetting circuit includes first and second transistors that respectively receive first and second voltages through gates. The ratio W/L of the second transistor is larger than that of the first transistor. The first and second voltages rise in accordance with the rise of a supply voltage. The second voltage is lower than the first voltage. Since an increase in the current IDS of the first transistor is greater than an increase in the current IDS of the second transistor, an inversion occurs between the current IDSs of the first and second transistors by applying a predetermined supply voltage. Since a reset signal is generated when the values of the currents IDS of the first and second transistors cross, the reset signal can always be generated by the predetermined supply voltage, independent from the threshold voltage of the transistor.

Abstract: The refresh circuit generates a refresh request for refreshing memory cells at a predetermined interval. The refresh counter generates a refresh address. The holding circuit respectively holds information as to the completion/incompletion of refresh of the memory cells in each of the banks, the memory cells being designated by the refresh address. The refresh control circuit refreshes bank(s) yet to be refreshed among the banks not in operation upon the occurrence of the refresh request, based on the information held in the holding circuit. That is, under a single refresh address, banks yet to be refreshed are successively refreshed every time refresh request occurs. The refresh operations are performed on banks that are not in operation. Therefore, the refresh operations can be performed without being recognized from exterior. That is, the semiconductor memory having a plurality of banks can perform the refresh of memory cells internally and automatically.

Abstract: There is provided a control system for an internal combustion engine which controls the operation of the engine such that the combustion mode of the engine is switched between a stratified combustion mode and a homogeneous combustion mode, and torque generated by the engines is controlled based on a desired torque. The control system has an ECU which calculates a required torque based on results of detection by a crack angle position sensor and an accelerator pedal sensor, and determines a combustion mode according to the required torque. Further, the ECU smoothes the required torque in dependence on the combustion mode, to thereby calculate a smoothed required torque. Then, ECU sets the desired torque based on the smoothed required torque.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit chip has a test pad and a mounting pad that are connected together by a conductor. The mounting pad is connected also to an internal circuit by way of a conductor. Near the test pad, protection diodes are provided, and, beside the test pad, supplied-voltage and ground-voltage application pads for the protection diodes are provided. Moreover, near the mounting pad, mount-assist pads are provided. During inspection, a supplied voltage and a ground voltage are supplied to the protection diodes from probes put on the supplied-voltage and ground-voltage application pads, and inspection is conducted with another probe put on the test pad. When this semiconductor chip is mounted on a semiconductor chip having a similar structure with a bump, the mounting pads and the mount-assist pads of the two semiconductor chips are short-circuited together so that the two semiconductor chips are mounted on each other.

Abstract: Two reproducing systems are provided for reproducing CDs respectively. Each port is provided in each recording system for connecting the reproducing systems by an external cord. A switch circuit is provided in the port and arranged such that an output level is changed by connecting the external cord. A system controller is provided in each reproducing system and responsive to the change of the output level for designating one of the reproducing systems as a master system, and for designating the other reproducing system as a slave system.

Abstract: An ice guide that snap fits into a water tank of an ice making section of an ice manufacturing machine. The ice guide includes a lattice structure having a pair of substantially parallel first sides and substantially parallel second sides that are perpendicular to the first sides. The lattice structure defines an aperture in a center thereof and has a plurality of rows radiating from the center in an arcuate manner. Each row includes a plurality of spaced rails with each rail having a longitudinal axis directed toward the aperture. Also, a band bounds the rows, wherein the band at each of the first and second sides is positioned at a non-planar altitude higher relative to a horizontal plane passing through the center of the aperture to form a slope along which the dropped ice slides as the ice is directed into a storage bin below.

Abstract: Disclosed is a motor control apparatus which can detect an abnormality in a feedback control loop and can suppress a change in the behavior of a vehicle that does not meet a driver's demand when the abnormality occurs.

Abstract: A control system for an automatic vehicle transmission, in which the running resistance acting on the vehicle and the driving force generated by the vehicle are calculated, and a slope of a road on which the vehicle travels is estimated based on at least the calculated running resistance and the driving force. The vehicle running state is then discriminated by comparing the estimated slope with a predetermined value. The maximum driving force to be generated by the vehicle at the current gear ratio is calculated to determine a driving force difference from the calculated driving force and the gear ratio of the transmission is determined such that the driving force difference is a predetermined value in response to the discriminated running state, thereby enhancing the drivability.