Abstract: An engine combustioning condition monitoring system monitors crankshaft angular position for detecting an engine cylinder in combustion cycle. The system derives variation of velocity of a crankshaft revolution on the basis of the monitored crankshaft angular positions and derives a combustioning coefficient for each engine cylinder. A value representative of the variation of the crankshaft revolution velocity is modified by the combustioning coefficient for deriving internal pressure in each engine cylinder. Discrimination of the engine combustioning conditon is made on the basis of the engine cylinder internal pressure.

Abstract: A resonator for reducing air intake noise levels occurring in air intake systems of automotive vehicles and an easy installation method therefor are provided. This resonator includes a first tube and a second tube shorter than the first tube to reduce noise at different frequency bands, each extending laterally into a bumper from an air intake duct of an air cleaner. For installation of the resonator, one of a pair of bumper stays is mounted at the front of one of a pair of side members of a vehicular frame. Then, the first tube is attached to said first bumper stay and the second tube is attached to a bracket provided on a radiator core supporting member within the engine compartment. Subsequently, a second bumper stay already installed on a bumper reinforcement member is mounted to the other front side member so as to dispose said first and second tubes within the bumper reinforcement. Finally, the bumper reinforcement is installed to the first bumper stay to be secured to the front of the vehicle frame.

Abstract: An adjustable vehicle seat for use with a passive seat belt has a seat cushion having a joining portion and a seat back having a joining portion at which it is pivotally supported on the joining portion of the seat cushion. A clearance is provided between the joining portions of the seat back and seat cushion for preventing the webbing from being held compressedly between the joining portions when the seat back is in a forwardly turned position.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for an active suspension system employs a pressure accumulator connected to a drain line at an orientation upstream of a pilot operated operational one-way check valve. The pressure accumulator absorbs back pressure generated in the drain line due to flow resistance in the drain line.

Abstract: A heating system for automotive vehicles comprises a heater core utilizing engine coolant, a blower disposed upstream of the heater core, and a closed-loop pipe heating system utilizing exhaust heat from exhaust gas. The pipe heating system comprises an evaporator section disposed in an exhaust gas passage, a condenser section disposed downstream of the heater core, a pipe section defining a first fluid passage from the evaporator section to the condenser section, a return pipe section defining a second fluid passage from the condenser section to the evaporator section, working fluid circulating in a fluid passage defined in the evaporator section and condenser section, and in the first and second fluid passages, sensors for monitoring whether activation of the pipe heating system is required, and flow control means disposed in the return pipe section, for controlling working fluid flow from the condenser section to the evaporator section, in response to signals from the sensors.

Abstract: The magnitude of line pressure used for activating a friction device to be engaged during a shift is controlled based upon data stored in a RAM of a microcomputer based control unit. The data is updated based on the result of evaluation of a shift which has taken place and the magnitude of line pressure is controlled based on this updated data at a future or subsequent time of occurrence of a shift of the same kind. This learning control to update this data stored in the RAM is effected using an inertia phase time measured as criteria which the judgement of the quality of a shift is based on. The total length of time for a shift is measured and when the total length of time is greater than a predetermined value, the data in the RAM is modulated to cause a prompt substantial increase in the magnitude of line pressure, so that the line pressure will be increased at the subsequent future time of the occurrence of a shift of the same kind.

Abstract: A throttle control system for an internal combustion engine includes a controller connected to a sensor which is, in turn, associated with an accelerator to detect position of the latter to produce an accelerator position indicative signal. A filter or smoothing means is interposed between the controller and the accelerator position sensor. The filter and smoothing means is adapted to remove a component of the accelerator position indicative signal, which has frequency higher than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A clutch-slip control arrangement for a lock-up torque converter includes an orifice which is variable in opening in response to relative rotation or relative axial movement of a turbine hub and an output hub. In accordance with the present invention, a friction member is interposed between the turbine hub and the output hub for changing a performance characteristic of the orifice in such a manner that an orifice opening characteristic is different from an orifice closing characteristic.

Abstract: An anti-skid brake control system is associated with a mechanism which controls an engine revolution speed. The anti-skid brake control system includes means for monitoring a period of time in which anti-skid control is maintained in a RELEASE mode to decrease braking pressure. The monitoring means is responsive to the period of time exceeding a predetermined period for driving the engine speed control mechanism to temporarily accelerate the engine to assist recovery of the wheel speed.

Abstract: A keyless entry system employs a pocket-portable radio signal transmitter to be carried by a user and a controller mounted on a vehicle and associated with a vehicle device, such as a door lock mechanism, a trunk lid opener, a window regulator, a steering lock device and so forth, to be operated. Radio signal communication between the transmitter and the controller is performed by electromagnetic induction. According to the present invention, electromagnetic induction is caused between antennas in the transmitter and the controller. In order to provide wide communication area, at least the antenna of the controller serves as a transformer to generate higher loop current for generating sufficiently strong magnetic field therearound.

Abstract: An anti-skid brake control system comprises a limiter which provides an upper limit of variation of wheel speed indicative data. The limited wheel speed indicative data is derived with respect to each wheel. The greatest limited wheel speed indicative data is selected as vehicle body speed indicative initial data. The anti-skid brake control system derives a projected vehicle body speed indicative data by adding an integrated value of a longitudinal acceleration to the aforementioned vehicle body speed indicative initial data. The integrated value is provided with a predetermined offset value for compensating for error caused in a longitudinal acceleration sensor.

Abstract: A circuit and method for converting a digital input into an analog quantity are disclosed in which a resistance ladder having a 2.sup.

Abstract: An actively controlled suspension system includes a fluid circuit connecting a fluid pressure source and a working chamber of a working cylinder disposed between a vehicle body and a suspension member. The fluid circuit includes a pressure control valve which is connected to an electric control system to be controlled valve position by an electric control signal for controlling fluid pressure in the working chamber. The fluid circuit also includes a fail-safe valve which normally forms part of fluid path of the fluid circuit is responsive to a fail-safe signal generated in the control system to take place fail-safe operation for setting the fluid pressure in the working chamber at a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: The states of two solenoids which control four forward gears of a transmission, are toggled between ON and OFF states in response to the outcome of a comparative ranging of a ratio with limits derived from pre-recorded data. In the case of a power ON upshift data which is recorded in terms of throttle opening is used. On the other hand, when a power OFF upshift is induced by releasing the vehicle accelerator pedal, data which is recorded in terms of vehicle speed is used to set the limits.

Abstract: A conductivity modulated MOSFET is composed of a p.sup.+ anode layer, a second n base layer formed on the anode layer for reducing the device's on resistance by conductivity modulation due to holes injected from the anode layer, an n type doped recombination layer such as an n type doped polycrystalline silicon layer formed on the second base layer for preventing latch-up by promoting recombination of holes with electrons, a first n base layer formed on the recombination layer for serving virtually as a drain, a p channel region formed in the first base layer, an n.sup.+ source region formed in the channel region, and an insulated gate electrode.

Abstract: To facilitate program control modification and troubleshooting in sequence control system in spite of simple processing programs, sequence control processes are linked in a chain fashion. A unit process for activating an actuation member in both forward and reverse directions forms a ring so as to be activated in sequence cyclically via an execution condition recognizing switches, and these unit process rings are linked between an actuation start side activator for the present process and an actuation end side activator for the preceding process, both activated simultaneously whenever one of them is activated. Therefore, any process can be stopped at, restarted and reversed from any process steps in both the forward and reverse directions through the linked actuation start and end side activators, after the automatic operation has been switched to the manual operation or vice versa.

Abstract: A vertical power MOS transistor, in which a gate oxide film is formed over partial areas of a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type, which functions as a drain, a channel region having a second conductivity type formed in the substrate, and a source region having the first conductivity type, formed in the channel region, and a gate electrode is formed on the gate oxide film, in which an insulating film covers the gate electrode, and a source electrode is formed on the insulating film, and in which an ohmic contact electrode is formed on portions of a source region an a channel region, and a coupling member connects the ohmic contact electrode with the source electrode to separate the source electrode from the gate electrode edge portion.

Abstract: A structure is provided for headlamps for vehicles, having a light source, a reflector, and a front lens in which the lens is slanted with respect to a vertical direction of a vehicle body, a rear surface of the lens is formed with a prism zone for forming a light diffusion zone on a light distribution pattern of a given screen and another prism zone for forming a hot zone on the distribution pattern, and the reflector is formed with a first reflecting surface which corresponds optically to the light diffusion zone forming prism zone and diffuses light beams emitted from the light source in a horizontal cross section with respect to an optical axis of the light source and reflects the light beams of the light source substantially in parallel to the optical axis in a vertical cross section and with a remaining reflecting surface substantially in the form of a paraboloid of revolution. Consequently, both ends of the light distribution pattern in the horizontal direction neither droop nor rise.

Abstract: An anti-skid brake control system for an automotive brake system performs anti-skid brake control for maintaining a rotation speed of a vehicular wheel in a optimal relationship with a projected vehicular speed. The projected vehicular speed is derived on the basis of the wheel rotation speed latched at predetermined timing in each skid cycle. Based on the latched wheel rotation speed, gradient value which represents variation rate of the projected vehicular speed, is derived. The gradient value is varied with a correction which is derived on the basis of a preselected correction factor, such as magnitude of braking force exerted on the vehicular wheel.

Abstract: In a crank angle sensor signal processor including a microcomputer, the number of generated unit crank angle (1.degree.) signals are counted and compared with a predetermined level. An interrupt demand signal is generated in response to a reference signal only when the number of generated unit signals exceeds the predetermined level in order to minimize the effects of noise on the reference signal. The reference signal is expected to be inputted to the processor immediately after the number of generated unit sensor signals exceeds the predetermined level.