Abstract: A control system for an automotive vehicle controls driving torque delivery for driven wheels. The control system basically controls an output torque of an automotive internal combustion engine toward a target engine output torque which is derived on the basis of an accelerator operational magnitude. The target engine output torque can be modified according to associated conditions, such as road friction level, a characteristic of a power train including a torque converter and a power transmission. The control system also performs selection of engine output control and transmission shift control depending upon vehicle driving condition.

Abstract: A control system for controlling automotive vehicle driving behavior has a parameter monitoring means for monitoring vehicular driving parameters, a vehicular driving environmental condition predicting means which predicts vehicular driving environmental condition based on generalized intelligence base which is common to all vehicles, a control output generating means for deriving a control output on the basis of the predicted vehicular driving environmental condition, a personal driving characteristics detecting means for detecting unique characteristics of each individual driver, a control output recollecting means which learns relationship between said vehicular driving parameters and the personal driving characteristics for recollecting control output on the basis of said vehicular driving parameters, and a control output selecting means which selects one of control outputs from said control generating means and said control output recollecting means in such that when recollected control output present, t

Abstract: A system and method for controlling multiplex communication between a master station and a plurality of slave stations, in which a predetermined signal (dummy signal) is transmitted to the plurality of slave stations via a communication circuit (serial bus) from the master station when the master station does not communicate with any one of the slave stations. The predetermined signal indicates that the master station is operating normally, and each slave station receives the predetermined signal derived from the master station via the communication circuit so that each slave station may determine that the master station and communication circuit are operating normally.

Abstract: An active suspension system for an automotive vehicle is provided. This suspension system includes generally a hydraulic circuit which supplies pressurized fluid to hydraulic cylinders for controlling vehicle height and attitude. The hydraulic circuit includes a line pressure holding unit and a line pressure control unit. The line pressure holding unit is operable to hold the line pressure when the line pressure is lowered below a preselected pressure level after stopping supply of the pressurized fluid to the hydraulic cylinders. The line pressure control unit restricts a flow rate of the pressurized fluid to the hydraulic cylinders to build up the line pressure gradually until the line pressure reaches the preselected pressure level after starting the supply of pressurized fluid to the hydraulic cylinders to allow smooth adjustment of vehicle height and attitude.

Abstract: A vehicle dynamic characteristic control apparatus for use with a motor vehicle having a controllable dynamic characteristic. The apparatus includes an actuator for controlling the dynamic characteristic of the motor vehicle, and a control unit for calculating a value for a setting of the actuator based on vehicle running conditions and converting the calculated value into a setting of the actuator. The control unit produces a start command when it receives an abnormal signal which does not occur during normal vehicle driving. An electric signal is produced to operate the actuator in a self-checking mode in the presence of the start command. The self-checking operation is terminated when a time has elapsed after the start command is produced. This is effective to avoid troubles which will occur if the self-checking operation continues for a long time.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling ignition timing for an internal combustion engine to suppress engine knocking in which a periodic pseudo random signal (for example, M-series sequence signal) is superimposed on an ignition signal provided at an ignition timing, and a cross-correlation function between the periodic pseudo random signal .chi. and a knocking signal y is calculated to determine an actual knocking level. The ignition timing is then corrected so that the cross-correlation function coincides with a target value which is defined as a value placed in a vicinity of a knocking limit. The ignition timing for the engine is controlled so as to reach the value in the vicinity of the knocking limit but does not exceed the knocking limit.

Abstract: A throttle control system takes a strategy of sampling sensor signal values representative of maximum open angle position (fully open position) and minimum open angle position (near fully closed position) upon starting-up of the engine in response to turning ON of an ignition switch as a primary power switch. The sampled throttle angle indicative sensor signals respectively representative of the maximum throttle valve open angle and the minimum throttle valve open angle are stored as "secondary throttle fully open position indicative reference value" and as "secondary throttle fully closed position indicative reference value". Based on these stored values, correction factor for correcting a sensor signal value of a throttle angle sensor monitoring the angular position of the secondary throttle valve is derived. The correction factor is used throughout the engine operation for correcting a secondary throttle open angle indicative sensor signal value according to a predetermined characteristics.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for an automotive vehicle includes a transverse engine having a crankshaft with an axis of rotation extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a gear train of a transmission having an axis which extends in parallel with the axis of the engine crankshaft, and a differential gear unit having an axis which extends in parallel to the axes of the engine crankshaft and the transmission gear train. The axis of the engine crankshaft is located rearward of the axis of the transmission gear train and over the axis of the differential gear unit, and the axis of the differential gear unit is located rearward of the axis of the transmission gear train. Further, the engine to lower the engine hood line inclined forward.

Abstract: The operation mode of an air conditioner system is automatically controlled between VENT mode, BI-LEVEL mode, HEAT mode and so forth according to environmental conditions. The air conditioner system includes a control unit for operation mode selection. In HEAT mode, the control unit adjusts ratio of the conditioning air discharged from a defroster nozzle to that from a foot nozzle according to environmental conditions or on the basis of a required discharge air temperature necessary to obtain a desired air temperature in the vehicular cabin. The air conditioner system also includes a sensor for monitoring a preselected air conditioner control parameter for producing a sensor signal. The control unit calculates the required discharge air temperature on the basis of the monitored parameter.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer comprising first and second members in axial alignment and spaced apart, the first and second members being mutually displaceable toward and away from each other, and a transducer assembly disposed between the first and second members. The assembly includes a stationary means (first member), a piezoelectric element facing the stationary means on its entire surface, and a force converting means (second member) for generating a transverse force in direction radially outward from a center axis, facing the piezoelectric element at entire surface. The stationary means, the piezoelectric element and the force converting means are contained sequentially between the first and the second member.

Abstract: An active suspension control system includes working fluid cylinders which are respectively disposed between a vehicle body and suspension members which support road wheels rotatably. The working fluid cylinder includes a piston slidably arranged therein for adjusting a relative distance between the vehicle body and the suspension member to suppress vehicle attitude change. The system includes a pressure control unit which is responsive to vehicle attitude change to control fluid pressure to be supplied to the working fluid cylinders to cause the piston to slide such that an increase in the fluid pressure is provided which is lower than a decrease in the fluid pressure. This restricts friction, caused by fluid pressure elevation in the working fluid cylinder, created between the piston and a seal ring to allow the piston to move smoothly.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an operation of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle having an automatic transmission in which at least one of predetermined fuel supply recovery engine revolution speed or predetermined fuel supply cut-off engine revolution speed is varied during the engine deceleration condition according to a state of operation of the automatic transmission. In the first preferred embodiment, a downshift operation of the automatic transmission is detected. In the second preferred embodiment, an overrun clutch solenoid is turned on (energized). In the latter case, both fuel supply recovery and fuel supply cut-off engine revolution speeds are set to higher values than those when the clutch solenoid is turned off (deenergized).

Abstract: This invention concerns a variable cam engine wherein cam change-over is performed according to the running condition of the engine. The engine is provided with a throttle valve whose opening basically corresponds to the accelerator depression, but which nevertheless can be freely varied irrespective of the accelerator depression. When a change-over is performed between the economy cam and power cams, a target throttle opening is computed such that the torque generated after the change-over is the same as the torque before the change-over. At the time, to prevent the occurrence of torque shock, the throttle valve is made to temporally overshoot the target opening, and then return to the target opening. The amount of this overshoot and the return time constant is computed based on at least the difference of throttle openings before and after change-over and the engine speed.

Abstract: The brightness within a vehicle room is adjusted according to external brightness (i.e. illuminance or luminance) at night in such a way that the brightness is increased with increasing external brightness and decreased with decreasing external brightness, under due consideration of human eye adaptation to external lightness and darkness. Therefore, the passenger can read a book, for instance, at roughly a constant visual sensitivity, without being subjected to the influence of change in external illuminance or luminance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting a rupture initiation in an article. While a load is applied to the article repetitively, an elastic wave is monitored by an elastic wave sensor which converts it into an electric signal. The electric signal is fed to a signal transmission device having a capacity of transmitting low-frequency components of the electric signal. The transmitted electric signal is divided into successive signal segments. The successive signal segments are averaged to produce an averaged signal waveform informing the presence of a rupture initiation in the article.

Abstract: A system for controlling a fluid pressure includes a pressure modulating cylinder unit having a piston and a cylinder housing defining first and second fluid chambers separated by the piston, a cutoff valve unit for isolating the first and second chambers from a pressure source and from each other, and a motor unit for pushing and pulling the piston to vary the fluid pressure in the first chamber. When the system is used for controlling a brake fluid pressure of a vehicle, the first chamber is connected with a wheel cylinder, and the valve unit is arranged to isolate the wheel cylinder and the first and second chambers from a master cylinder.

Abstract: An actively controlled suspension system includes a vehicular rolling detecting component to adjust the suspension characteristics for suppressing the vehicular rolling. In addition, the actively controlled suspension control system may be provided for adjusting roll-stabilization load distribution between the front and rear suspension systems for adjusting vehicular driving stability by suppressing rolling and pitching of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A four-wheel drive vehicle derived from a transversely mounted front engine-front drive system incorporates an improved steering gear rack and transfer pinion arrangement in which an axis of a transfer pinion is disposed higher than an axis of a transfer ring gear or differential gear of a transaxle and a steering gear rack is disposed lower than the transfer pinion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for navigating a vehicle using GPS (Global Positioning System) are disclosed in which a plurality of GPS antennae are installed on a plurality of positions, e.g., front and rear ends or left and right sides of the vehicle. A direction sensor for detecting a forward direction of the vehicle is installed. Also, a satellite arrangement calculating block for determining satellites from which electromagnetic waves can be received through the respective antennae on the basis of; orbit data on the satellites, the mounting arrangement of the GPS antennae, and the forward direction of the vehicle is included. A receive satellite selecting block for selecting the satellites required to calculate position from among the available satellites from which each GPS antennae can receive electromagnetic waves is installed, so that the receive satellites is previously determined, differently from a diversity method, so speedy and accurate measurement of the present position of the vehicle can be made.

Abstract: This invention relates to a variable cam engine of which each cylinder has at least one valve driven by multiplicity of cams which give different engine torque outputs. This invention provides an engine comprising a decision-making device which decides change-over of the cams along with a selection of a target cam according to the engine running conditions, a cam change-over mechanism which disengages a current cam from the valve and engages said target cam instead, a crank shaft angle sensor, a sequential control device which, when the cam change-over is made at an engine speed below a predetermined speed, actuates the cam change-over mechanism at predetermined intervals starting form a specific cylinder and proceeding in turn through the other cylinders, and a regulating device which regulates the combustion in each cylinder corresponding to the cam change-over.