Abstract: A heater control device for an air-fuel ratio sensor which comprises: an air-fuel ratio sensor comprising a sensor element which detects an air-fuel ratio state of exhaust gas of an engine, and a heater which heats the sensor elements; a heater current flow control means for controlling a value of a resistance of the heater to be a target resistance value; a harness having a couple of couplers at both ends thereof which connects between the air-fuel ratio sensor and the heater current flow control means; and a current detecting resistance which is incorporated in the coupler on the air-fuel ratio sensor side, or provided adjacent to said coupler on the air-fuel ratio sensor side, and which is connected to the heater in series and detects current of the heater.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor which includes a circuit substrate, a ferromagnetic resistant element (MR element) mounted on the substrate in such a manner that a magnet-sensitive plane of the MR element directs perpendicular to the substrate plane of the substrate, and an electro-magnetic wave shielding casing for covering the MR element having a positioning portion in which the MR element is fitted to obtain an accurate position thereof.

Abstract: A starting motor with an intermediate gear wherein rotation of a rotating shaft of a DC motor is transmitted to a pinion in a one-way rotational direction by an overrunning clutch, and an intermediate gear supported rotatably and forward-and-backward slidably by an intermediate shaft retained by a front bracket through a bearing and in mesh with the pinion, meshes with a ring-gear of an internal combustion engine by a forward movement thereof thereby starting the internal combustion engine, characterized by that; a storage for a lubricant is provided at a middle portion of the intermediate gear in the axial direction, which is fixed to an inner diameter portion of the intermediate gear; and dust seals are provided in a bearing with metal back supported by the intermediate shaft and at both ends of the inner diameter portion of the intermediate gear.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electric discharge machining apparatus of the type in which a workpiece is machined by generating an electric discharge across a machining gap between a confronting electrode and the workpiece through a machining solution while feeding the electrode towards the workpiece includes the steps of determining current removal rate of material from the workpiece, calculating current removal efficiency based on the current removal rate and average machining current applied to the electrode, comparing the current removal efficiency with an optimal removal efficiency corresponding to peak current applied to the electrode, and when the current removal efficiency is less than or equal to a predetermined percentage of the optimal removal efficiency, adjusting at least one of a plurality of machining parameters to increase the current removal efficiency.

Abstract: A precision, high-resolution, absolute, multi-revolution encoder which allows a multi-revolution position value of a shaft to be detected with high reliability, using only a single revolution detector, and makes multi-revolution detection indirectly related to the accuracy of a rotary angle position signal. The output signal from the single multi-revolution detector is used, together with an inverted output signal, to increment and decrement corresponding up/down counters, based on the direction of rotation of the shaft. Each of the up/down counters is incremented or decremented at different points or zones of the shaft rotation so that the rotational value can be determined unambiguously. A conventional grey-code detector provides accurate angle values. The counters may exist as discrete hardware or integrated software embodiments.

Abstract: A "safe" position for a tool changing operation in a numerically controlled machine tool is determined based on specific tool size and machining location. In one embodiment, tool change positions are taught in a teaching operation, and are stored for future reference. During machining, as each tool changing position is encountered, a pointer has advanced to the next such position so that, upon execution of the next tool changing command, the unit moves to the appropriate location. According to other embodiments, the machining program itself is made to store the tool changing positions. This data may be added to the program by an editor on the basis of the information found in the memory, or the data may be added in the initial creation of the program. The data on tool changing positions is then decoded from the machining program when the program is read or executed.

Abstract: An ignition system for internal combustion engines has an ignition coil having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding supplies a high voltage for ignition to an ignition plug when the ignition coil is energized at the primary winding at a predetermined period. A voltage producing circuit produces a voltage on the basis of a signal developed across the primary winding when the primary winding is energized at a predetermined period. The voltage causes discharge across the electrodes of the ignition plug to form a path for an ion current developed in the cylinder. A comparator or detector detects the ion current to determine the combustion in a cylinder.

Abstract: A control method and apparatus for controlling an automatic sewing machine having a plurality of memory units different in kind to record sewing patterns in which a particular one of these memory units is automatically selected, and an electric power supply for supplying power for an initial period of time upon occurrence of an electric power interruption is provided. The sewing operation may be externally controlled. The control method and the device for practicing the method can provide an automatic sewing machine which provides interchangeability of software and high reliability, and which can be readily operated on an automation line.

Abstract: A power supply device for electric vehicle. The power supply device includes an engine, transmission, generator-motor, power converting circuit, battery and alternating drive motor. In operation, the battery supplies a direct current to the power converting circuit which converts the direct current to an alternating current which is supplied to the generator-motor to start the engine. Thereafter, the generator-motor acts as a generator so as to generating an alternating current which is supplied to the drive motor via the power converting circuit. Additionally, the power converting circuit converts the alternating current to a direct current for recharging the battery. According to another embodiment of the invention, a rectifier is provided for converting the alternating current of the generator-motor to a direct current which is supplied to the storage battery and to a direct current load.

Abstract: A strain detector to be attached to the shafts of devices such as engines, motors, electromagnetic clutches. First and second magnetic layers are disposed on the driven shaft so as to change permeability with a mechanical strain in the shaft. First and second detecting coils are wound around the first and second magnetic layers so as to be in a noncontact state therewith. Detecting means detects outputs of the detecting coils corresponding to the change in permeability. Furthermore, the driven shaft includes a heat conductive means with conductivity which is high enough to allow a temperature of each of said magnetic layers to be uniform. The outputs of the first and second detecting coils are detected in synchronism with both positive and negative drive timings of the AC drive circuit for applying an AC voltage to each of the detecting coils and smoothed and amplified thereafter, thereby allowing two strain detection outputs to be produced.

Abstract: An improved method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display unit substantially free from gate electrode breakage but with no increase in the number of manufacturing steps over the conventional method. The liquid crystal display unit includes a TFT array substrate including a plurality of gate electrode lines juxtaposed on a transparent insulating substrate, a plurality of source electrode lines arranged across the gate electrode lines, nonlinear active elements disposed at the intersections of the electrode lines, a confronting electrode substrate having a transparent conductive film on the surface thereof confronting the TFT array substrate, and a liquid crystal display material being held between the confronting electrode substrate and the TFT array substrate. Each of the gate electrode lines is constructed in the form of two layers. One of the two layers is made of display electrode material simultaneously with the formation of the display electrode.

Abstract: An information transmission system for a numerical control (NC) system having a servo mechanism with plural units, wherein the NC issues commands for processing by corresponding servo units and the servo units issue status information for monitoring and display by the NC. A plurality of serial data transmission paths are provided between the NC unit and servo amplifiers and the transmission paths are different in communication cycle in order to allow rapid-response control for large volumes of information transmitted. In particular, the invention also can be applied to a transmission loop in a programmable controller (PC).

Abstract: A strain detector includes a passive member for receiving an external force, magnetostrictive layers formed on a surface of passive member and made of a magnetic material containing nickel and at least one kind of metal sulfide produced from reaction of a metal more reactive with sulfur than nickel with sulfur as an impurity, and a detection coil provided close to an exterior of magnetostrictive layers and used for detecting variations of permeability caused by strain of the magnetostrictive layers in response to the external force.

Abstract: In an epicycle reduction gear type starter device comprising a ring-shaped internal gear 20 which is molded from resin and secured to a front frame so as to engage with planet gears driven by a DC motor, the internal gear 20 has ribs 21 in the outer periphery of an annular inner portion and which are substantially equal in thickness and are arranged at substantially equal angular intervals, and a cylinder 22 which is small in wall thickness to which the outer radial edges of the ribs are connected, locking protrusions 23 are formed on the cylinder 22 which are locked to the front frame so as to prevent the rotation of the internal gear, and through-holes 24 are formed in the locking protrusions 23, respectively, into which through-bolts are inserted to secure the DC motor and the front frame.

Abstract: A wire guide apparatus for an electrical discharge machine (EDM). A movable feeder is placed in contact with a wire electrode, so as to transmit a machining voltage thereto. A workpiece is machined to a desired shape by virtue of electrical discharge between the wire electrode and the workpiece. An eccentric die is moved in cooperation with the feeder so as to change a contact position between the wire electrode and the feeder. Accordingly, the feeder wears more evenly and the life thereof is increased.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a terminal connecting device which simplifies and facilitates achieving the proper alignment between a male-threaded portion of a terminal screw and a female-threaded hole of a stationary terminal, and moreover, which assures that a fastening operation is easily performed. The terminal connecting device includes a terminal screw guiding member adapted to be displaced along a side wall, the terminal screw being engaged with the terminal screw guiding member. The terminal screw or the terminal screw guiding member may also be supported by the resilient action of an elastic member of which one end is supported by the side wall. Alternatively, the terminal screws may be housed in a housing which is slidably attached to the side wall and which may be locked in place with the aid of a resilient member and latching apparatus.

Abstract: An inverter module design having layered printed wiring boards for main and control circuit components, the printed wiring boards having external terminals for connection to external wiring, the terminals on adjacent boards being arranged orthogonally. An optional printed wiring board is connectable to the control circuit board by quick-connect, one-touch mated connectors.

Abstract: In an application control apparatus or method for a machining unit such as an electric discharge machine, a plurality of methods of realizing desirable machining states such as those on machining know how techniques are independently described and stored as knowledge, and control is carried out according to the methods thus stored, whereby the machining unit is maintained in desirable state at all times.

Abstract: An output-terminal device for an a.c. generator for a vehicle has a connecting seat which is provided at a connecting portion formed in an output side heat sink in a rectifier device attached to the rear bracket of the generator. When an output-terminal bolt extends in the lateral direction, an output-terminal bolt, which has a flat portion at the rear end portion, a polygonal flange portion at an intermediate portion and a threaded portion for connecting a terminal of an external wire at the front end portion, is attached to the connecting seat at its flat portion so as to extend in the lateral direction of the rear bracket. When an output-terminal bolt extends in the rear direction, the output-terminal bolt, which has first and second threaded portions at its rear and front end portions, is fixed to the connecting seat by inserting the rear end portion of the bolt in an opening formed in the connecting seat.

Abstract: An error current component which becomes zero when an actual value of a primary flux coincides with a set value inducted by a product of an exciting current command and a primary self-inductance by detecting a primary current of an inductance motor, is inducted by an error current component processing circuit. A primary resistance compensation circuit processes a compensation amount of a primary resistance compensation amount. And a compensation voltage processing circuit processes a compensation voltage which directs the error current component to zero. A rotating speed of the induction motor can be controlled in a stable state even though a value of primary resistance of the induction motor is varied by temperature. Further, inadequate torque and excess current can be avoided.