Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a crankshaft angular position .theta..sub.pmax at which the cylinder pressure reaches its maximum level. The apparatus samples a cylinder pressure indication signal at a predetermined target crankshaft angular position and at crankshaft angular positions advanced and retarded by a predetermined number of degrees of crankshaft rotation so as to accumulate three sets of data. The sampled three sets of data are used to determine a binominal equation defining the cylinder pressure as a function of crankshaft angular position. The apparatus calculates a maximum cylinder pressure value and a corresponding crankshaft angular position .theta..sub.pmax from the determined binominal equation.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio feedback control system for an automotive internal combustion engine equipped with an evaporative emission control device having an activated charcoal cansiter for absorbing fuel vapor from a fuel tank. The air-fuel ratio feedback control system is operated as follows: The air-fuel ratio of air-fuel mixture to be inducted into the engine is detected in accordance with a component of exhaust gas discharged from the engine. An air-fuel ratio feedback correction coefficient is set in accordance with the air-fuel ratio in such a manner as to be modified by a feedback control constant in response to the state of the air-fuel ratio relative to stoichiomeric value. The amount of fuel to be supplied to the engine is corrected with the air-fuel ratio feedback correction coefficient.

Abstract: A bar-type antenna unit is installed at a normally non-visible point on the lower side of a vehicle body. The unit includes an antenna element, a metal plate, and noise shielding means. The metal plate functions to adjust the reactance of the antenna to obtain a desired sensitivity and protects the antenna from water, mud, or snow splashed from the vehicle's wheels to ensure good insulation between the vehicular body and the antenna element. By selecting capacitance of the metal plate, the length of the antenna can be shortened without reducing sensitivity of the unit. The shielding means shields the antenna from noise generated by for example an engine or electrical equipment which would otherwise interfere with radio broadcasts.

Abstract: An improved semiconductor device having a vertical MOS and another MOS circuit such as C-MOS is shown. To insulate the circuit from influences from the operation of the vertical MOS, the vertical MOS is fabricated in a diffused region which is formed on a semiconductor substrate while the circuit is fabricated in an epitaxial layer of an opposite conductivity type to that of the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine operable on either of gasoline fuel and gasoline/alcohol fuel blend. The apparatus comprises an alcohol concentration sensor for sensing the alcohol concentration of the fuel to be delivered to the engine, an oxygen sensor sensitive to the oxygen content of exhaust gases discharged from the engine for producing an air/fuel ratio feedback signal, and a control unit coupled to the alcohol concentration sensor and the oxygen sensor for controlling the amount of fuel metered to the engine. The control unit calculates a basic value for the amount of fuel metered to the engine based on engine operating conditions and corrects the calculated basic value for the sensed alcohol concentration. A correction factor, which is set within a control range defined by predetermined upper and lower limits, is calculated based on a deviation of the air/fuel ratio from a stoichiometric value.

Abstract: A derivation of a vehicle speed representing value includes detection of wheel slip caused at least one of vehicular wheels. The process further includes a step for deriving vehicle speed representing value with respect to each vehicular wheel and a step for selecting one of the vehicle speed representing values derived with respect to each vehicular wheel when wheel slip at least one of the wheels is detected. Selection of one of the vehicle speed representing values is performed by omitting the vehicle speed representing value derived with respect to one of the wheels on which wheel slip is caused. The selected one of the vehicle speed representing value is used as a common vehicle speed indicative parameter for performing wheel slip control, such as anti-skid brake control, traction control and so forth.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a rotation of drive wheels for a vehicle in which a slippage (slip rate in percentage) between the drive wheels and a road surface on which the vehicle runs is calculated on the basis of a drive wheel rotation speed and a vehicle body speed, a plurality of different predetermined slippages, each representing a magnitude of a slip occurrence are stored, and a plurality of different characteristic graphs, each representing a relationship between opening angles of a first throttle valve associated with an accelerator and of a second throttle valve installed in series with the first throttle valve in an intake air passage of a vehicular engine are stored.

Abstract: A sintered ferro alloy comprises 5 to 25 wt % of one or two elements selected from Mo and W, 2 to 10 wt % of Cr, 0.1 to 0.9 wt % of Si, less than or equal to 0.7 wt % of Mn, less than or equal to 0.05 wt % of P, 0.5 to 2.0 wt % of C, 0.5 to 2.0 wt % of B, 0.1 to 7.0 wt % of at least one element selected from borides of La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Yb, Y or Sc, residual Fe, and contaminants. Also the alloy may comprise less than or equal to 20 wt % of at least one element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Ti, Zr, Hf, Co or Ni, if necessary. The alloy is produced by mixing the above mentioned components and pressurizing them in an Fe matrix, then sintering the pressurized mixture at 1150.degree. C. to 1260.degree. C. for 60 min. and reheating after sintering. This alloy has wear and heat resistance and can be utilized as valve seats for internal combustion engines in automotive vehicles.

Abstract: A control system according to the present invention is to control an automatic transmission which includes a one-way clutch and a friction element, and is shiftable from one speed ratio to another speed ratio by increasing actuating hydraulic pressure applied to the friction element and releasing the one-way clutch. In the control system, the instant when the one-way clutch is released during a shift operation when the transmission shifts from the one speed ratio to the another speed ratio is determined; and actuating hydraulic pressure applied to the friction element is regulated such that the actuating hydraulic pressure applied to the friction element is held at a fixed magnitude after said instant has been determined. The fixed magnitude is not less than the magnitude of actuating hydraulic pressure applied to the friction element when said instant is determined.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed to a desired cruising speed are disclosed in which such a control is inhibited that the opening angle is adjusted toward a prohibiting range in which an engine output torque becomes substantially constant even if the opening angle of the throttle valve is increased more than necessary. At this time, the opening angle is adjusted to a predetermined limit angle (for example, 40 degrees) and a transmission gear position is controlled depending on a difference between an instantaneous vehicle speed and a target vehicle speed. Therefore, unnecessary opening of the throttle valve exceeding the predetermined limit beyond which little increase in the engine output torque occurs can be avoided. In addition, the throttle valve can immediately be controlled from the predetermined limit to a target opening angle at which the vehicle speed can be maintained at the target vehicle speed.

Abstract: An actively controlled suspension system introduces two-way mode operation in controlling suspension. A suspension control system operates in a normal mode for controlling fluid pressure in a hydraulic cylinder disposed between a vehicle body and a suspension member is adjusted depending upon the vehicle driving conditions in order to suppress vehicular attitude change, and a power OFF transition mode for controlling the fluid pressure toward a preset neutral pressure. The hydraulic circuit is constructed to maintain the pressure in the working chamber of the hydraulic cylinder at the neutral pressure while power is not supplied to control system.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an ignition timing for a vehicular internal combustion engine are disclosed in which a feedback correction quantity for the ignition timing value is calculated on the basis of a result of detection of at least one of an occurrence of engine knocking and a position at which a combustion pressure becomes maximum and the feedback correction quantity is added to a basic ignition timing angle value based on engine operating conditions to determine a final ignition timing angle value. The feedback correction quantity is limited by a limit value set so as to be varied with the increase of a vehicle speed when the feedback correction quantity is advanced toward an advance angle value. The limit value is retarded when the vehicle speed is low, thus suppressing a combustion noise. On the other hand, the limit value is advanced when the vehicle speed is high, thus achieving the engine output torque and fuel economy.

Abstract: A vertical MOSFET device including a semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type, in which a base region having a second conductivity type is formed in the semiconductor layer, and a source region having the first conductivity type is formed in the base region, in which a gate electrode is formed at least on the above described base region via an insulating gate film to form a channel between the semiconductor layer and the source region, and a protector having PN or Schottky junction, which is formed between the source region and the gate electrode and is thermally contacted with at least one of the other members.

Abstract: An anti-skid brake control system employs a technique for correcting a longitudinally based vehicular speed variation gradient by a road slop dependent correction value. The road slop dependent correction value is derived on the basis of an assumed road slop condition which is assumed on the basis of magnitude of increase of the braking pressure.

Abstract: In a throttle control system in which a controller monitors accelerator position and controls throttle valve position accordingly rather directly coupling the accelerator to the throttle valve, a sensor monitors vehicle driving conditions related to desired engine output response and the controller adjusts the relationship between throttle valve position and accelerator position in accordance with the detected vehicle driving conditions. Factors indicative of driving conditions monitored by the sensor may include wheel slippage and selection of reverse transmission gear, in which case the controller will reduce the stroke of the throttle valve when either excessive wheel slippage or reverse gear is detected. Each monitored factor may be associated with a distinct characteristic curve relating throttle valve position to accelerator position with the appropriate characteristics being selected by the controller in accordance with the detected vehicle driving conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed to a desired cruise speed are disclosed in which when at least one of conditions that any one of command signals from corresponding operation command switches is outputted and that a microcomputer of the automatic cruise speed controlling system normally operates and outputs control command signals indicating that corresponding one of control valves is energized is satisfied, the power supply to the control valves is enabled. On the contrary, when at least one of conditions that none of the command signals from the corresponding command switches is outputted and that the microcomputer erroneously outputs control command signals indicating that the corresponding one of the control valves is energized is satisfied, the power supply to the control valves is disabled.

Abstract: Two semiconductor substrates, each having a polished surface and at least one groove is formed in the surface of at least one of the two substrates, are tightly and inseparably joined by the steps of wetting the polished surface of at least one of the two substrates with a liquid not containing any solute that causes precipitation of a solid substance upon evaporation of the liquid, e.g. methanol or water, placing one substrate on the other so as to bring the polished surfaces of the two substrates into contact with each other with intervention of a thin film of the liquid therebetween and, after a while, subjecting the provisionally joined substrates to a heat treatment and then forming a dielectric layer of organic polymer or silicon compound in at least one groove. This method is suitable for joining silicon substrates such as silicon wafers now on the market.

Abstract: An anti-skid brake control system two mutually different mode for projecting the vehicle body speed representative data. In the first mode, the vehicle body speed representative data is derived on the basis of an instantaneous wheel speed data which is latched upon initiation of vehicular braking operation or upon detection of vehicular braking deceleration, and an integrated value of a longitudinal acceleration indicative signal. On the other hand, in a second mode, the vehicle body speed representative data is derived on the basis of the initially latched instantaneous wheel speed data and a fixed value of wheel deceleration gradient data. A first vehicle body speed representative data derived through the first mode of operation and a second vehicle body speed representative data derived through the second mode of operation are selectively used as the vehicle body speed representative data.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and fuel injectors provided to inject fuel in a sequential fashion for the respective cylinders. Fuel injection is made twice from a given fuel injector. The control circuit calculates a first value for the amount of fuel injected from the fuel injector during the first fuel injection and a second value for the amount of fuel injected from the fuel injector during the second fuel injection. During transition of the engine operation, an engine load variation is produced between the times at which the first and second values are calculated. A correction factor is calculated based on the engine load variation with an estimation of a first value to be calculated for the cylinder when the fuel injected during the first and second fuel injections is charged in the cylinder.

Abstract: An active suspension control system performs anti-rolling control in response to vehicular rolling by inducing counter rolling in a direction opposite to the vehicular body rolling direction. Magnitude of counter rolling is differentiated between front and rear suspension systems for providing desired steering characteristics. The steering characteristics is adjusted depending on the demand on stability factor in cornering.