Abstract: A sliding/tilting sunroof structure whose overall height is kept relatively small by using an actuating linkage with sliding front and rear guides with a pivoting link extending from each guide to the sunroof panel. A rear portion of the front link is additionally guided by a front portion of the rear guide.

Abstract: To scavenge blow-by gas blown into a crank case with newly introduced external air at high replacement efficiency and further to provide oil separating baffle plates at both the main oil-separation passage and the subsidiary oil separation passage (used when blow-by gas follows in the reverse direction from the external air outlet to the external air inlet), the external air outlet and the blow-by gas inlet are located in diagonally furthest positional relationship with respect to each other within the cylinder head cover; and further a U-shaped blow-by gas passage including the main oil-separation passage is arranged on one longitudinal space of the head cover and another U-shaped external air passage including the subsidiary oil-separation passage is also arranged on the other longitudinal space of the head cover.

Abstract: A shift lever unit is disclosed, which comprises a shift lever; a housing of plastic having an upper cover portion, the upper cover portion being formed with a slot through which the shift lever passes; a position mark plate of transparent plastic mounted on the upper cover portion, the position mark plate having a plurality of position marks on an upper surface thereof; a light blocking layer covering the upper surface of the position mark plate except the positions where the position marks are located; a light source installed in the housing; a light conductive member of transparent plastic, the light conductive member including a horizontal part whose leading end is formed with a first light reflecting surface and located behind the position mark plate, a vertical part which is formed with a rounded recess from which the light rays from the light source enter the vertical part, and a jointed part at which the horizontal and vertical parts are jointed, the jointed part being formed with a second light refle

Abstract: An automotive vehicle is equipped with an on-board microcomputer having a function of pre-diagnosing and indicating a possibility of arising of an automotive trouble in response to electrical informations relatable to the trouble which informations are stored in a memory device. Additionally, an acoustical coupler is mounted on the vehicle and electrically connected to the memory device to convert the electrical informations to acoustic signals. The thus converted acoustical signals are to be transmitted via a telephone line to a computer for automotive trouble diagnosis purpose which computer is located remote from the vehicle, for example, in the head office of a service firm, thereby making it possible to achieve automotive trouble diagnosis without carrying the memory device to a service factory.

Abstract: An NOx concentration measuring apparatus employing first and second wide-range air/fuel ratio sensors for measuring an NOx concentration of gases introduced thereto through a first passage. First and second restricted orifices are provided in the first passage upstream of the first and second sensors. A second passage is connected to the first passage between the first and second orifices. A suction pump is connected to the first passage downstream of the first and second sensors for producing a suction vacuum in the first passage and is also connected to the second passage for producing a suction vacuum in the second passage. The first and second orifices are effective to prevent momentary gas pressure fluctuations from affecting the accuracy of measurement of the first and second sensors.

Abstract: If an alcohol sensor which determines the amount of alcohol which is mixed with gasoline, malfunctions, the fuel supply correction factor which is designed to modify the basic fuel supply amount to compensate for the amount of alcohol, is prevented from being changed in accordance with the output of the alcohol sensor, and temporarily calibrated by feedback from the air-fuel ratio sensor disposed in the exhaust system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vehicle headlamp which comprises an ellipsoidal light reflector having first and second focuses; a light source positioned at the first focus, so that light rays produced by the light source are reflected forward by the light reflector and converged at the second focus; a converging lens positioned in front of the second focus; a shading device positioned near the second focus for partially shading the light rays which have been reflected by the light reflector; and control means for controlling the shading characteristic of the shading device in accordance with an operation mode of the vehicle, wherein said shading device comprises a liquid crystal matrix which has a plurality of small light transmitting elements independently and electrically controlled by said control means.

Abstract: A steering lock system for locking a steering system of an automotive vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission. The steering lock system is comprised of a selector position sensor for detecting a selected position of a selector lever for the automatic transmission. The selector position sensor is adapted to produce a parking position signal when the selector lever is at a park position. A key cylinder is rotatable to take a LOCK position by an ignition key insertable into the key cylinder. The ignition key is enabled to be pulled out of the key cylinder at the LOCK position, upon which a steering shaft is locked. The ignition key is disabled from being pulled out of the key cylinder upon absence of the parking position signal from the selector position sensor while is enabled to be pulled out of the key cylinder only in response to the parking position signal from the selector position sensor, thereby improving reliability of operation of the steering lock system.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine operable on either of gasoline fuel, alcohol fuel and gasoline/alcohol fuel blend. The apparatus comprises an alcohol concentration sensor for producing a signal indicative of an alcohol concentration of the fuel to be delivered to the engine, an oxygen sensor for producing a signal indicative of an oxygen content of exhaust gases discharged from the engine, and an engine coolant temperature sensor for producing a signal indicative of an engine coolant temperature. A control unit is coupled to the alcohol-concentration, oxygen and engine-coolant-temperature sensors. The control unit is responsive to the air/fuel ratio feedback signal for correcting the fuel supplied to the engine to maintain a desired air/fuel ratio when the sensed engine coolant temperature exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A bearing supporting arrangement is provided for a turbocharger having a turbine shaft provided with turbine and compressor wheels. The bearing supporting arrangement includes first and second cylindrical oil film damper members, each of which is supported in a floating state through an oil film to the inner peripheral surface of a bearing housing thereby constituting an oil film damper. First and second annular ball bearings are coaxially fixedly supported respectively to the first and second oil film damper members. A generally cylindrical thrust receiving member is interposed between the first and second oil film damper members to be contactable with the first and second oil film damper members. The thrust receiving member is fixed at an axially intermediate portion to the bearing housing by a pin fixed to the bearing housing so as to be movable to make contact with the bearing housing. A first clearance (C.sub.

Abstract: A system and method for recognizing an elevated vehicle running environment are disclosed in which, when a detected vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined speed and is continued for a predetermined time, the system and method determine that a predetermined running condition is satisfied, then, the system and method detect the steering angle of the steering wheel of the vehicle and determine whether the accumulated value of the steering angle data exceeds a predetermined value, if yes, the system and method determine that the vehicle is running on an elevated freeway. Thus the reliability of recognition for elevated running environments can be remarkably improved for vehicular navigation systems.

Abstract: An air conditioner system for automotive vehicles includes a blower control unit for adjusting discharge amount of conditioning air into the vehicular cabin depending upon the difference between the set cabin temperature and the cabin temperature, and for causing the discharge amount of fluctuate so as to increase and decrease when the difference between the temperatures is less than a predetermined value. The periods through which the discharge amount is greater than and less than predetermined values, respectively, are controlled depending upon the monitored insolation. The air conditioner system also includes an air flow direction setting unit for adjusting direction of the conditioning air discharge from a vent nozzle.

Abstract: A fuel injection control system performs fuel cut-off operation intermittently so that engine output torque may not fluctuate at significant level to cause jerking at the transition from fuel injecting state to fuel to fuel cut-off state and at fuel resumption after fuel cut-off. Intermittnetly cutting off the fuel delivery for the engine cylinders, engine output torque drop at the fuel injecting state and fuel cut-off state can be reduced for reducing magnitude of jerking.

Abstract: A front end structure of a vehicle body includes a pair of front side members and a pair of bumper mounting brackets secured to front ends of the side members. A pair of shock absorbers are interposed between a bumper and the respective bumper mounting brackets to interconnect the same. The bumper mounting brackets are constructed so that a maximum compressive load thereof is smaller than that of the side members and larger than a maximum opposing force of the shock absorbers.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of diagnosing an EGR system are disclosed. A temperature within an EGR passage and a rise in temperature within the EGR passage are detected or determined by calculation. When the temperature and the temperature rise are lower than predetermined values, respectively, when the engine running condition falls in a predetermined range (a diagnosis area), it is determined that the EGR system is in trouble.

Abstract: A power drift control device produces a yaw moment in the direction of causing oversteer on the basis of acceleration and steering wheel angle during cornering of a vehicle. The yaw moment is variable depending upon variation of acceleration at a rate which increases as a steering wheel angle increases.

Abstract: A fuel tank comprises a container having a chamber adapted to receive a body of liquid fuel and wall means defining said chamber, and a structure with a number of voids, said structure being so constructed and arranged within said chamber as to provide an arrangement wherein when said structure is exposed to the body of liquid fuel, said number of voids work to dissipate energy of waves created on the surface portion of the body of liquid fuel.

Abstract: Two torque sensors (201, 202) are arranged for detecting the steering force which is added to the motor-driven power steering apparatus. One torque sensor is selected by the command signal from the micro computer (80), for controlling the auxiliary steering force from the motor-driven actuator (5) by the command signal from the micro computer (80).

Abstract: A system and method for displaying a present position of a moving object on a road are disclosed in which a road map information surrounding the present position of the moving object is displayed together with the present position of the moving object and the present position of the vehicle which is derived on the basis of output signals of a running distance sensor and running direction sensor is automatically corrected through a pattern recognition between a form of a road on which the vehicle has travelled and a form of a running locus of the moving object.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically tightening a tapped member such as a nut are disclosed. A socket of an open end air wrench mounted on a nut tightening robot is coupled with the tapped member. The robot rotates the socket in a first direction, i.e., a tightening direction, to a first relatively small torque, and subsequently rotates the socket in a second direction opposite to the first direction to a predetermined position, i.e., a central receptive position after the socket being disengaged from the tapped member. A rotary encoder is provided to generate pulses in response to the rotation of the socket in the second rotational direction. An angle of rotation of this rotation of the socket in the second direction is detected by counting the number of pulses generated by the encoder.