Abstract: A device according to the present invention is provided with element temperature measurement voltage application circuit for temporarily applying a predetermined voltage for element temperature measurement to a sensor element of an air-fuel ratio sensor equipped to an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, first sensor output reading circuit for reading in a sensor output just before applied with the voltage, and second sensor output reading circuit for reading in a sensor output being applied with the voltage, wherein the element temperature of the air-fuel ratio sensor is estimated based on the sensor output just before applied with the voltage and the sensor output being applied with the voltage. Further, during internal resistance measurement of the sensor element of the air-fuel ratio sensor equipped to the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine, a voltage applied to the heater for heating the sensor element is maintained to be constant.

Abstract: In anti-skid control system and method for an automotive vehicle, when a calculated wheel deceleration of any one of road wheels of the vehicle has reached to a predetermined deceleration set on the basis of a pseudo vehicle body deceleration calculated from detected road wheel velocities, an electronic control unit (ECU) suspends a pressure increase control such as to increase a brake liquid pressure of the road wheel corresponding one of wheel cylinders and executes such a pressure hold control as to hold the brake liquid pressure thereof.

Abstract: When an output signal from an oxygen sensor is within a predetermined range including a value equivalent to a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the output signal is converted into air-fuel ratio data, to compute an air-fuel ratio control signal based on a deviation between the air-fuel ratio data and a target air-fuel ratio. When the output signal from the oxygen sensor is outside the predetermined range, it is judged based on the output signal whether an actual air-fuel ratio is richer or leaner than the target air-fuel ratio, to compute the air-fuel ratio control signal based on the judgment result.

Abstract: A combustion state during the initial stage after ignition is detected, and based on the detected combustion state, it is judged whether or not incomplete combustion has occurred, and when it is judged that incomplete combustion has occurred, an ignition signal is output so as to perform the re-ignition immediately.

Abstract: A viscous fluid coupling includes a housing rotatably supported to a drive shaft of an engine. An operation plate set in the housing divides a space of the housing into a reservoir and an operation chamber. The operation plate has a communication hole communicating the reservoir and the operation chamber. A rotor fixed to the drive shaft is disposed in the operation chamber. A valve mechanism installed to the operation plate to close and open the communication hole according to ambient temperature of the housing. A driven wheel fixed to the housing is located between the operation plate and the rotor. A torque transmitting section includes a first annular projection concentrically formed on the driven wheel and a plurality of second annular projections concentrically formed on the rotor. The first annular projections are overlappedly adjacent to the second annular projections so as to establish fluid coupling therebetween through the viscous fluid.

Abstract: A support structure for supporting a hydraulic unit of a brake system on a vehicle body is provided. The hydraulic unit has a housing and a motor attached to a lateral side surface of the housing. The hydraulic unit has a predetermined support width and is supported at two or more support positions on a vehicle body by way of resilient members. The support structure comprises a support member for supporting the hydraulic unit in such a manner as to allow a gravitational axis of the hydraulic unit to be disposed within the support width when viewed in a side elevation. A hydraulic unit arrangement and a method for supporting the hydraulic unit are also provided.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine equipped with a variable valve operating mechanism that performs a valve timing control and a valve lift amount control of at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve, target values of the valve timing and the valve lift amount set based on an engine operating condition are limited by a limit value to limit a control range of one of the valve timing and the valve lift amount in accordance with a control state of the other of the valve timing and the valve lift amount, so that the valve timing and the valve lift amount are controlled based on the respective target values one of which has been limited as above.

Abstract: A rotation detecting device has the following structure. An intermediate assembly includes terminal pins having projections at given portions thereof; a molded plastic base in which the given portions of the terminal pins are embedded with the projections being exposed to the outside; and a plurality of electronic elements connected to the exposed projections of the given portions of the terminal pins. One of the electronic elements is a sensor element which is mounted on the molded plastic base. A molded plastic housing entirely and hermetically covers the intermediate assembly except a connector part thereof where leading ends of the terminal pins are positioned. For producing the rotation detecting device, two or three molding assemblies are used in order.

Abstract: A valve timing control system includes a driving plate, a lever provided to a camshaft, a radial slot formed in the driving plate, an intermediate rotator arranged rotatable with respect to the driving plate and the camshaft and having a spiral slot, and a link having a base end pivotally coupled to the lever and a front end arranged swingably and including a ball engaged with the spiral slot and a block member engaged with the radial slot. The ball has a center of engagement located on a swinging axis of the front end of the link, producing no moment.

Abstract: When a different speed change request occurs during pre-charging, an indicated pressure is stepwise changed up to a standby pressure for after pre-charge, and a processing in accordance with the different speed change request is commenced with the indicated pressure after the stepwise change, as an initial pressure.

Abstract: In a sliding mode control system to feedback control a control object amount to a target value by calculating an operation amount based on a non-linear term calculated corresponding to a switching function and a linear term, an abnormality judgment signal is output when an operation amount by the non-linear term does not change within a predetermined time from when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the target value has changed.

Abstract: According to the present invention, when controlling a heater in an air-fuel ratio sensor, a crack of sensor element due to an exhaust condensed water is certainly avoided. To this end, an element temperature is detected by measuring an impedance of the sensor element and a power supply amount to the heater for heating the sensor element is feedback controlled so that the element temperature reaches a target temperature. Here, the target temperature is set to a lower side temperature, compared to other conditions, on a condition that a wall temperature of an exhaust system is low and a water content in the exhaust is condensed in the exhaust system. Or, an initial value of the power supply amount is set corresponding to the element temperature before the start of power supply to the heater.

Abstract: A nozzle plate is provided with annular step portions each located on the periphery of a nozzle opening rim on a valve seat side, which rises up towards the nozzle opening rim from the radial outside of the nozzle, to form a fuel flow which flows in reverse from the radial outside to collide at an incline with a fuel flow which flows directly into the nozzle.

Abstract: A device according to the present invention is provided with element temperature measurement voltage application circuit for temporarily applying a predetermined voltage for element temperature measurement to a sensor element of an air-fuel ratio sensor equipped to an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, first sensor output reading circuit for reading in a sensor output just before applied with the voltage, and second sensor output reading circuit for reading in a sensor output being applied with the voltage, wherein the element temperature of the air-fuel ratio sensor is estimated based on the sensor output just before applied with the voltage and the sensor output being applied with the voltage. Further, during internal resistance measurement of the sensor element of the air-fuel ratio sensor equipped to the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine, a voltage applied to the heater for heating the sensor element is maintained to be constant.

Abstract: An oil pressure control apparatus which includes a source of hydraulic pressure introducing the hydraulic pressure to a hydraulic actuator which is actuated by hydraulic pressure, a fluid passage which is connected between the source of hydraulic pressure and the hydraulic actuator for introducing and discharging hydraulic pressure from the source of hydraulic pressure to the actuator, a control valve which is disposed in the fluid passages for controlling the hydraulic pressure and a filter is disposed in a position that is between the actuator and the control valve. Thereby, the control valve is capable to be operated smoothly.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio detected by an air-fuel ratio sensor is estimated based on an estimation value of air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture formed inside a cylinder, and based on an air-fuel ratio estimated as being detected by this air-fuel ratio sensor and the air-fuel ratio detected based on an output signal of the air-fuel ratio sensor, the estimation value of the cylinder air-fuel ratio is corrected and a fuel injection quantity is corrected based on the corrected cylinder air-fuel ratio.

Abstract: In an apparatus for, controlling a variable valve timing mechanism that variably controls valve timing of an engine by changing a rotation phase of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft due to friction braking of an electromagnetic brake, the rotation phase is controlled while limiting a change rate of the rotation phase.

Abstract: An engine temperature and an engine start are detected, and if a lower temperature engine start of a predetermined temperature or lower is detected, while controlling the closing timing of an intake valve to the vicinity of the intake bottom dead center with respect to a reference valve operation characteristics to be normally set, valve overlapped amount is controlled to be equal to or less than a valve overlap amount in said reference valve operation characteristics.

Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine is provided which has at a top surface thereof a cavity for causing a mixture charge drawn from an intake port into a combustion chamber so as to flow with a rotational motion about a horizontal axis to flow toward a spark plug. A combustion chamber structure for an internal combustion engine is also provided.

Abstract: The reference valve timing for an intake valve and an exhaust valve are set based on operating conditions such as an engine load, an engine rotation speed and the like. A cold state of the engine is detected, and when an air-fuel ratio is set to lean during the cold state, the valve timing of the intake and exhaust valves are controlled so that the opening timing of the exhaust valve is retarded with respect to the reference valve timing while reducing a valve overlap amount.