Abstract: In equipment for recognizing misfire in an internal combustion engine, a first voltage waveform is obtained at an intermediate point (A) between a high impedance element (41) and a low impedance element (42). The first voltage waveform has a capacitive discharge component and an inductive discharge component during the spark and a voltage component after completion of the spark. The first voltage waveform is inversely amplified by a comparator (51) and divided by a shunt circuit (52) to obtain a second voltage waveform. In an integration circuit (53), a condenser (C1) is electrically charged by an output voltage from the comparator (51) to obtain a third voltage waveform. The second voltage waveform and the third voltage are compared by a comparator (54) to generate an output pulse.

Abstract: A method of controlling supercharging pressure in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The supercharging pressure is controlled based on a basic control amount determined in dependence on operating conditions of the engine. When the transmission is in a lower speed position, the basic control amount is corrected so that the supercharging pressure is lower than a value assumed when the transmission is in a higher speed position. When the engine is in a feedback control mode, the basic control amount is corrected in response to the difference between the actual supercharging pressure and a desired value of the same. The desired value of the supercharging pressure is set lower when the transmission is in the lower speed position than a value assumed when the transmission is in a higher speed position.

Abstract: An evaporative fuel-purging control system for an internal combustion engine having a canister in which evaporative fuel from a fuel tank is absorped. Purge control valves are arranged between the canister and the intake system of the engine for controlling the flow rate of evaporative fuel supplied from the canister to the intake system. An ECU is responsive to an output from an exhaust gas ingredient concentration sensor arranged in the exhaust system of the engine for calculating an air-fuel ratio correction coefficient, based upon the output from the exhaust gas ingredient concentration sensor and controlling the air-fuel ratio of a mixture supplied to the engine by the use of the air-fuel ratio correction coefficient. The ECU calculates an average value of the air-fuel ratio correction coefficient, and is responsive to the calculated average value for controlling the purge control valves.

Abstract: A system for detecting deterioration of a three-way catalyst of an internal combustion engine. Cutting-off of the fuel supply to the engine is started when the engine is decelerated with the throttle valve substantially fully closed, and the fuel supply to the engine is resumed when the rotational speed of the engine has become lower than a predetermined value. Time is measured which output from the air-fuel ratio sensor has required to reach a predetermined reference value after the resumption of the fuel supply to the engine. It is determined that the three-way catalyst is deteriorated when the time measured is shorter than a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A driving circuit for driving a stepping motor has a plurality of excitation coils, a plurality of excitation transistors for driving the excitation coils of the stepping motor, respectively, and at least one chopping transistor for effecting chopping control of current flowing to the excitation coils. A fault diagnosis transistor is connected in parallel with the chopping transistor. A current limiting resistance is serially connected to the fault diagnosis transistor. A CPU selectively turns on and off the fault diagnosis transistor. The CPU detects output states of the chopping transistor assumed respectively when the fault diagnosis transistor is turned on and turned off. The CPU compares the detected output levels of the chopping transistor with respective predetermined logic levels and detects faults in the driving circuit from results of the comparisons.

Abstract: A method of detecting deterioration of an exhaust gas ingredient concentration sensor for use in controlling an air-fuel ratio of a mixture supplied to an internal combustion engine having an exhaust system in which the sensor is arranged. The sensor has an output characteristic approximately proportional to concentration of a specific ingredient in exhaust gases emitted from the engine. The air-fuel ratio is feedback-controlled to a desired air-fuel ratio by calculating an amount of fuel supplied to the engine by the use of a desired air-fuel ratio coefficient indicative of the desired air-fuel ratio and set in dependence on operating conditions of the engine, and an air-fuel ratio correction coefficient set in dependence on a value of an output from the sensor and the desired air-fuel ratio coefficient. A plurality of average values of the air-fuel ratio correction coefficient are calculated, respectively, when the desired air-fuel ratio falls within a plurality of predetermined ranges.

Abstract: A control system for controlling driving wheels of an automotive vehicle in which when at least one of the driving wheels undergoes excessive slip, an ECU drives a pulse motor to bring a throttle valve of an internal combustion engine installed in the vehicle toward a closed position thereof to thereby suppress the excessive slip. When a state that a detected value of throttle valve opening is smaller than a detected value of accelerator pedal angle while the pulse motor is in stoppage has continued over a predetermined period of time, the ECU determines the initial position of the pulse motor by storing the detected throttle valve opening value as a reference value of the pulse motor position.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control method for an internal combustion engine. An amount of fuel to be supplied to the engine is calculated in response to operating conditions of the engine and output from an exhaust gas ingredient concentration sensor, to thereby feedback-control the air-fuel ratio of a mixture supplied to the engine to a desired air-fuel ratio. The method comprises the steps of (1) calculating a fuel cooling correction value for compensating for a change in an actual air-fuel ratio caused by cooling effects of actually-injected fuel, according to at least one parameter which can determine the amount of fuel to be supplied to the engine, and (2) calculating the amount of fuel to be supplied to the engine by the use of the fuel cooling correction value.

Abstract: A method of detecting abnormality in an internal combustion engine, which is applied to at least one of a catalyst system, an evaporative fuel-purging system, a fuel supply system, an air-fuel ratio sensor, and an ignition system, for performing detection of abnormality therein according to operating parameters of the engine. An amount of residual fuel in the fuel tank is detected and the amount of residual fuel is compared with a predetermined value. The abnormality detection is inhibited when, as a result of the comparison, the amount of residual fuel is below the predetermined value.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control method for an internal combustion engine. The air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine is feedback-controlled to a predetermined value in response to an output from the exhaust gas ingredient concentration sensor. The temperature of at least one component part of the engine, which should be controlled, is estimated based on the detected temperature of exhaust gases, engine rotational speed, and engine load. The air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture is inhibited from being feedback-controlled but enriched, when the estimated temperature of any one of the at least one component part of the engine is higher than a corresponding predetermined value.

Abstract: A driving circuit for driving a stepping motor has a plurality of excitation coils, a plurality of excitation transistors for driving the excitation coils of the stepping motor, respectively, at least one chopping transistor for effecting chopping control of current flowing to the excitation coils, and a CPU for supplying at least one control signal to the at least one chopping transistor. High and low pulse duty factor detecting circuits detect whether the at least one control signal has a pulse duty factor thereof falling outside a predetermined range defined by predetermined upper and lower limit values. The CPU is responsive to outputs from the high and low pulse duty factor detecting circuits for interrupting the supply of current to the stepping motor when the latter detect that the pulse duty factor falls outside the predetermined range.

Abstract: A method of detecting failure in a secondary air supply system for an internal combustion engine comprises the steps of (1) causing the secondary air supply system to operate when the engine is in a predetermined decelerating condition, (2) detecting a first value of concentration of an exhaust gas ingredient, from an output from a first exhaust gas ingredient concentration sensor arranged in the exhaust passage at a location upstream of the secondary air supply system when the engine is in the predetermined decelerating condition, (3) detecting a second value of concentration of the exhaust gas ingredient, from an output from a second exhaust gas ingredient concentration sensor arranged in the exhaust passage at a location downstream of the secondary air supply system when the engine is in the predetermined decelerating condition, (4) determining whether or not the first value of concentration of the exhaust gas ingredient is lower than a first predetermined value, (5) determining whether or not the second v

Abstract: A method of controlling exhaust gas recirculation for an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas recirculation control system comprises the step of determining that there is failure in the exhaust gas recirculation control system when a difference between an actual value of valve opening of an exhaust gas recirculation valve of the system arranged in an exhaust gas recirculation passage for controlling an amount of exhaust gases returned from an exhaust passage to an intake passage of the engine and a desired value of the valve opening of the exhaust gas recirculation valve is equal to or larger than a predetermined value which is dependent on operating conditions of the engine.

Abstract: A non-heat refining steel having a high fatigue strength in addition to an excellent machinability, which consists essentially of 0.30-0.50 wt % of C, 0.35-0.70 wt % of Si, 0.80-1.40 wt % of Mn, 0.30-0.80 wt % of Cr, 0.05-0.35 wt % of V, not more than 0.15 wt % of S and not more than 0.35 wt % of Pb so that (S+Pb) is not less than 0.06 wt % and (S+Pb/4) is not more than 0.15 wt %, 0.0003 to 0.0050 wt % of Ca, not more than 0.010 wt % of Al, 0.0015-0.0030 wt % of O and the balance of being Fe and inevitable impurities, and has a micro-structure composed of 10 to 40% by area of ferrite and balanced pearlite after hot working and air cooling.

Abstract: An electronically controlled fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine comprises a fuel supply source, at least one fuel passage in the form of a nozzle disposed to be supplied with fuel from the fuel supply source, and a heater arranged in each of the at least one fuel passage for heating fuel in each fuel passage to generate a bubble therein so that pressure of the fuel therein is increased, whereby the fuel in each fuel passage is injected into the intake passage of the engine through an injection port of each fuel passage.

Abstract: A sound-absorption material for an automobile includes a damping material, a sound-absorption material and a surface material. The damping, sound-absorption and surface materials are integrated together. The damping material includes a moldable plastic constraining material and an adhesive damping sheet containing a petroleum resin. The sound-proof material is integrally attachable to an automotive sheet material such as a dashboard.

Abstract: A method of transferring at least one signal between a first central processing unit provided in an electronic control system of an internal combustion engine for controlling fuel supply to the engine and a second central processing unit provided in the control system for controlling ignition of a mixture supplied to the engine. At least one signal transfer line is connected between the first and the second central processing units. One of the central processing units produces a digital signal representing a detected value of at least one engine operating parameter and transfers same to the other central processing unit through the signal transfer line in a start-stop serial manner.

Abstract: A method of detecting abnormality in an evaporative fuel-purging system (evaporative emission control system) for an internal combustion engine comprises the steps of: (1) determining whether or not the engine is in a predetermined operating condition after completion of warming-up of the engine, (2) temporarily inhibiting purging of evaporative fuel into an intake passage when it is determined that the engine is in the predetermined operating condition, (3) obtaining a first value based on a parameter reflecting an amount of evaporative fuel purged into the intake passage during the temporary inhibition of the purging of the evaporative fuel, (4) obtaining a second value based on the parameter during execution of the purging of the evaporative fuel carried out after the temporary inhibition of the purging of the evaporative fuel, (5) comparing the first value with the second value, and (6) determining whether or not there is abnormality in the evaporative fuel-purging system, based on a result of the compari

Abstract: A fuel supply control system for an internal combustion engine having an intake pipe, and a throttle valve arranged in the intake pipe. A basic value of a fuel amount to be supplied to the engine is determined based on a load on the engine. The determined basic value of the fuel amount is corrected by a correction value for increasing the fuel amount during and/or after acceleration of the engine. The correction value is determined based on a change in the opening degree of the throttle valve. The correction valve is further determined based on a change in the magnitude of the load on the engine.