Abstract: A composite ceramic body with increased strength is disclosed. The composite ceramic body, composed of a matrix of alumina particles with a mean particle diameter ranging from 0.7 to 1.8 ?m and nano-zirconia particles with a particle diameter of 0.15 ?m or less, wherein the alumina particles and the nano-zirconia particles fall in a respective weight percentage ratio ranging from 80:20 to 95:5 with a relative density of 93% or more and wherein in a cross section, a total sum of surface areas of pores, having cross-sectional areas equal to or greater than surface areas of circles having the same diameters as a mean particle diameter of the alumina particles, falls in a value of 2.2% or less based on a whole of the cross-sectional areas.

Abstract: An electromagnetic relay switches to conduct and interrupt currents having different magnitudes and flowing though mutually opposite paths via the electromagnetic relay. The relay includes a coil generating a magnetic force and a pair of contact sections opened and closed selectively by the magnetic force. The contact sections comprise a pair of fixed contacts and a pair of movable contacts. Each fixed contacts is held by a pair of conductive fixed holders and is near a tip section of each fixed holder. The movable contacts are fixed to a conductive movable holder and moves toward and away from the fixed holders selectively in response to the magnetic force. The relay further includes two arc-extinguishing magnet members adjacent to the contact sections such that, the arc generated by interrupting one current having a magnitude larger than the other current is extended toward the tip section at each contact section.

Abstract: In a high frequency plasma generation system, a magnetic resonance section is provided as a frequency multiplier section between a discharge circuit and a power booster circuit. The magnetic resonance section extracts from a fundamental wave of a predetermined frequency generated by a frequency generator higher harmonic components, which are multiplied waves of the predetermined frequency and as high as two or more integer times of the fundamental wave. A resonance frequency of the power booster circuit and a first resonance coil is set to be equal to the frequency of the multiplied wave and match to equal a resonance frequency of the discharge circuit and a second resonance coil of the magnetic resonance section when a discharge electrode and a ground electrode are in a predetermined pressure range.

Abstract: An in-vehicle white line recognition apparatus is disclosed. Form an image captured by a camera, the apparatus extracts multiple white line candidates including a first white line candidate and a second white line candidate. The apparatus calculates a certainty factor of each white line candidate, the certainty factor indicating a degree of certainty that the each white line candidate represents the white line. When the first and second white line candidates are within a predetermined range and when a ratio of contrast of the first white line candidate to that of the second white line candidate is less than a predetermined value, the apparatus decreases the certainty factor of the first white line candidate.

Abstract: In a light chamber formed by a housing case and a lens cover of a headlamp assembly, a projection lens and a light source are arranged in order along an optical axis of the light source from a front side of the light chamber. Radiating fins of a plate shape is vertically placed in the light chamber and radiate heat energy generated by the light source. A heat exchange chamber is formed in a ceiling wall of the housing case above the radiating fins. The heat exchange chamber has a concave shape from the ceiling wall of the housing case, and is open toward the radiating fins side.

Abstract: A coil unit performs at least one of transmission and reception of electric power using electromagnetic resonance between the coil unit and a primary resonance coil disposed to face the coil unit. The coil unit includes a secondary resonance coil that includes a plurality of coils, and that electromagnetically resonates with the primary resonance coil. A first coil among the plurality of coils is disposed in a manner such that a magnetic field generated by the first coil has a phase opposite to a phase of a magnetic field generated by at least one coil other than the first coil among the plurality of coils, with respect to a plane that faces the primary resonance coil.

Abstract: A discharge amount measuring device includes a power source, first and second sensors, a calibration wire, and a measuring portion. The power source applies a voltage to a coil of a rotational electric machine. The first sensor detects a current flowing through the coil. The calibration wire has an end connected to the coil. The second sensor detects a current flowing through the calibration wire. The measuring portion forms a calibration line based on a first waveform detected by the first sensor and a second waveform detected by the second sensor. The measuring portion calculates a discharge amount based on the calibration line.

Abstract: A matching circuit, connected to a receiving antenna and to the input of a receiving circuit, incorporates a variable capacitor that is adjustable for tuning the resonance frequency of the antenna to a desired reception frequency. In an automatic tuning mode of operation, an oscillator signal of different frequency from the reception frequency is applied to induce resonance of the antenna and matching circuit, and the variable capacitor is adjusted until an output signal level from the receiving circuit attains a predetermined value which has been stored beforehand in a memory and which corresponds to a condition whereby the antenna resonance frequency corresponds to the reception frequency and impedance matching exists between the antenna and receiving circuit.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine is provided which is equipped with a tip protrusion disposed on a top of a hollow cylindrical housing of the spark plug. The spark plug also includes a center electrode retained in a porcelain insulator disposed inside the housing and a ground electrode is joined to the housing so as to form a spark gap. The tip protrusion serves to direct a flow of gas to be ignited by a spark produced in the spark gap and is shaped to have a radial width extending in a radial direction of the housing and a circumferential width extending in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical housing. The radial width is greater than the circumferential width. This enhances the efficiency in guiding the flow of gas toward the spark gap.

Abstract: A voltage detector for detecting a voltage generated in a second resonant coil that is disposed to face a first resonant coil and that performs at least one of electric power transmission and electric power reception to and from the first resonant coil in a contactless manner by means of electromagnetic resonance includes: a first high-impedance element having one end connected to one end of the second resonant coil; a second high-impedance element having one end connected to the other end of the second resonant coil; a low-impedance element connected between the other end of the first high-impedance element and the other end of the second high-impedance element and having an impedance smaller than each of those of the first and second high-impedance elements; and an output terminal for outputting a signal associated with a voltage applied across the low-impedance element.

Abstract: A slew rate regulation circuit varies a slew rate of a waveform of a voltage outputted to a DC motor through a N-channel MOSFET. The slew rate regulation circuit lowers a peak level by dispersing frequency components of switching noise, which develops in a frequency range higher than a frequency range determined by a carrier frequency.

Abstract: A fuel injection system, and a structure for mounting a fuel injection valve to an internal combustion engine, that includes: a combustion chamber formed at an end surface of a piston that reciprocates in a cylinder; an intake port through which intake air drawn into the combustion chamber flows; and an intake valve that opens and closes a connection between the intake port and the combustion chamber, the fuel injection valve being placed to inject fuel into intake air in the intake port, wherein an end portion of the fuel injection valve located on a combustion chamber side thereof is placed at a location that overlaps with an imaginary plane perpendicular to a center axis of the cylinder and extends along a portion of a wall surface of the intake port where the intake valve protrudes, or is projected out from the imaginary plane toward the combustion chamber.

Abstract: In an addition-amount controller for an exhaust gas purifying agent to be used for an exhaust emission control system, a catalyst has properties of storing NH3 and further decreasing the critical reaction temperature as an amount of NH3 storage at the catalyst is increased. In the addition-amount controller, a present NH3 storage amount that is a storage amount of NH3 of the catalyst is detected at a detection time, the NH3 storage amount of the catalyst is changed by controlling an addition amount by an addition valve, and the NH3 storage amount of the catalyst is controlled to a target NH3 storage amount based on the detected present NH3 storage amount.

Abstract: A needle is received in a nozzle body and is adapted to reciprocate relative to an injection hole to open and close the injection hole. A pressure chamber receives the fuel and exerts a pressure against the needle in an opening direction away from the injection hole upon increasing of the pressure of the fuel in the pressure chamber. A damper arrangement is actuated upon increasing of the pressure in the pressure chamber to alleviate a change in the pressure in the pressure chamber. A pressurizing piston reciprocates to increase and decrease the pressure of the fuel in the pressure chamber.

Abstract: In a steering control system, an ECU calculates a basic transfer ratio in accordance with a steering angle detected by a steering angle sensor or a corrected transfer ratio by correcting the calculated basic transfer ratio in accordance with the position of a rack. The corrected transfer ratio decreases when the rack moves from a predetermined first position close to one end of a movable range, to the one end or from a predetermined second position close to the other end of the movable range, to the other end. The ECU determines either the basic transfer ratio or the corrected transfer ratio as the transfer ratio in accordance with the position of the rack. The ECU controls an actuator for a variable gear ratio system in accordance with the transfer ratio.

Abstract: In a steering control system, an ECU calculates a basic assist torque in accordance with a steering torque detected by a torque sensor, and a corrected assist torque by correcting the calculated basic assist torque in accordance with the position of a rack by making corrections so that the basic assist torque decreases when the rack moves from a predetermined first position, which is close to a first end of a movable range, to the first end or from a predetermined second position, which is close to a second end of the movable range, to the second end. The ECU determines either the basic assist torque or the corrected assist torque as the assist torque in accordance with the position of the rack. The ECU controls the drive of an actuator in accordance with the determined assist torque.

Abstract: In an addition-amount controller for an exhaust gas purifying agent to be used for an exhaust emission control system of an engine, one mode is executed based on satisfaction of an execution condition for each mode, from among a plurality of control modes. The control modes includes a purification control mode in which an addition amount of NH3 or an additive serving as a generating source of the NH3 is determined according to a predetermined parameter associated with an amount of NOx in the exhaust gas, and a storage control mode in which the addition amount is set to be larger than that in the purification control mode. When a load on an output shaft of the engine is higher than an allowable level, the execution condition of the storage control mode is determined to be satisfied.

Abstract: A sensor detection controller is used in combination with a capacitive sensor that is mounted on a seat of a vehicle in such a manner that a capacitance of the capacitive sensor changes according to whether the seat is occupied. The sensor detection controller has a fault detection mode and a normal detection mode. The sensor detection controller includes a signal source for applying an amplitude signal to the capacitive sensor, a switch for switching a signal path, through which the amplitude signal is applied, between the fault detection mode and the normal detection mode, a signal detector for detecting a change in a voltage or a current of the amplitude signal when the amplitude signal is applied, and an impedance member connected to the signal path.

Abstract: An object detection apparatus disposed in a moving body generates a transmission signal of multiple pulse sequences as a plurality of sequences of multiple pulses. A modulation signal of the transmission signal is generated by performing digital modulation on each of the multiple pulse sequences of the transmission signal according to a code sequence. A transmission wave based on the modulation signal is transmitted and a reflected wave of the transmission wave is received by the apparatus. The apparatus further detects a speed of the moving body to determine a length of the code sequence. The apparatus calculates a code correlation value between the modulation signal and a received signal, which is derived from the reflected wave, and performs pulse compression on the received signal based on the code correlation value to generate a pulse-compressed received signal. The apparatus detects an object based on the pulse-compressed received signal.

Abstract: A phase adjusting mechanism is engaged with a brake shaft, and adjusts a rotation phase between a crankshaft and a camshaft according to a braking torque acting on a rotor. The rotation phase is adjusted in a predetermined direction when the braking torque is increased. A torque input mechanism inputs a return torque into the phase adjusting mechanism to return the rotation phase in an opposite direction opposite from the predetermined direction. The torque input mechanism increases the return torque corresponding to the rotation phase as an environmental temperature of the variable valve timing apparatus is lowered.