Abstract: A vehicle which is capable of recognizing shapes in a predetermined area, comprising: a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, an encoder, map drawing means for sequentially and continuously drawing a map of the prescribed area determined by information received from the encoder and ultrasonic sensors, memory means for storing the map drawn by the map drawing means and control means for instructing rectilinear movement, starting stopping and turning of the vehicle so as to move in a serpentine fashion, wherein the ultrasonic sensors, encoder and map drawing means are operated by the control means, the memory means writes and stores a history of its own movements in the area and as information is received remembers detected information from the encoder, and a change of direction of the vehicle which is instructed by the control means is determined by information on the map as well as the areas through which the vehicle has previously passed.

Abstract: A speed ratio control system of a continuously variable transmission for a vehicle is provided, wherein a speed ratio is feedback-controlled in association with a deviation between a target and a measured value, so that the speed ratio can be continuously varied and adjusted. A gain of feedback control or shift speed is utilized, which has been constant or accurately determined, and the gain of feedback control or shift speed is optimally set in accordance with the feedback control, so as to obtain a continuously variable transmission which has high response characteristics and stability.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing circuit boards which control digital displays includes a TV camera which images the digital display. The output of the TV camera is fed into a computer which controls a laser trimmer. The laser trimmer trims the resistors on the controlling circuit board until the desired value and characteristics are obtained on the digital display.

Abstract: An electronic control system mounted on a motor vehicle has an identification code representing the type of the vehicle. A control unit provided in a diagnosis device selects a diagnosis program for diagnosing the control system from a plurality of diagnosis programs in accordance with the identification code. A keyboard is provided for inputting another identification code. The control unit responds to the other identification code input with the keyboard for selecting the diagnosis program.

Abstract: An apparatus for dividing light reflected by an illuminated surface into constituent parts of illuminating light and surface spectral reflectance of the surface. The apparatus includes a receiving device for receiving signals representing measured spectral power distribution Im(.lambda.) of the light reflected by the illuminated surface. The apparatus generates a weighting coefficient .epsilon..sub.i for each of M illuminant basis functions EB.sub.i (.lambda.) for describing the illuminating light. Weighting coefficients .sigma..sub.j for each of N reflectance basis functions Sb.sub.j (.lambda.) are generated to describe the reflectance of the surface. The apparatus compares an approximation Ia(.lambda.) of the measured spectral power distribution Im(.lambda.), Ia(.lambda.) being defined by the relation: ##EQU1## where the set of product pairs Eb.sub.i (.lambda.)Sb.sub.j (.lambda.) is linearly independent.Different weighting coefficients are regenerated until said Ia(.lambda.) and said Im(.lambda.

Abstract: The invention concerns an interface for a digital electronic control for a gas turbine engine. The interface allows one to gain access to random access memory in the control, wherein data of interest is stored. The data includes information about present operating conditions of the engine, such as component speeds and temperatures, as well as data concerning the health of components. The data is in digital format, but is converted into analog format within the control and transmitted from the control in analog format. The analog data is used to drive a recording device, such as a strip chart recorder, thus allowing information about the engine to be transmitted to a location remote from the engine, in real time.

Abstract: An invention which facilitates motor vehicle accident reconstruction by providing apparatus for detecting and storing data describing the status of a motor vehicle when it is involved in a collision. The invention includes a plurality of impact detectors, a microprocessor which obtains vehicle status data from the computer systems used in modern motor vehicles, and a memory, such as an EPROM, for storing the data for later retrieval.

Abstract: An image processing system (10, 800, 804) includes an array (12, 652) of detectors (14, 654), each of which produces a signal proportional to incident radiation. The image data produced in the array (12, 652) is transferred to a "pseudo" array (662) of data storage elements (664) for temporary storage therein. A preprocessing circuit (812) includes a modulator (837) associated with each pixel location for modulating pixel data obtained from the pseudo array, and one or more demodulators (835) for demodulating the combined modulated data. The preprocessor generates pointers for use by a processor (804) in quickly identifying areas of interesting pixels.

Abstract: An image processing system (10) includes a focal plane array (652) of image detectors (654), each of which produces a signal proportional to incident radiation. The image data signals are arranged in groups, such as rows or columns that are respectively associated with a plurality of select circuits (656) which sequentially select the signals for correction by an associated offset and gain correction circuit (658). The correction circuit includes a pair of shift registers (672, 694) for respectively storing data related to a desired gain correction and offset correction of the data image signal. Under control of a processor, the stored correction data is used to pass the image data signal through a selectively configured network of resistive elements (720, 722) to thereby correct the gain and offset of the signal.

Abstract: An engine control system is disclosed in which the air-fuel ratio is controlled by feedback in accordance with the oxygen concentration detected of the exhaust gas, and a feedback control system thereof separate learning compensation values for compensating for the changes of the input/output characteristics of an air flow meter and a fuel injector respectively.

Abstract: A method of reducing stall torque from the engine to the transmission based on a desired engine speed to minimize the potential interference and possible damage to any of the electronically controlled transmission components for an automatic transmission.

Abstract: A real-time image processing system (800) includes an array (810) of storage elements (813), each of which is designed to store a signal representative of radiation of interest. This system (800) provides image processing at a viable sampling rate even for very large arrays and permits very efficient determination of single element detections.Time-varying orthogonal functions are created by digital processor (804). The processor (804) modulates these base time-varying orthogonal functions by applying to them a matrix of weighing functions. These modulated time-varying orthogonal functions are then applied to selected storage elements (813).The modulated outputs of the array (810) are combined (838) and distributed among parallel channels (886, 888, 890). Demodulators correlate the signal in each channel with a respective of the original orthogonal functions. The demodulated outputs are digitized by an analog-to digital converter (908) for processing by a digital processor (908).

Abstract: A constant-speed running apparatus for a vehicle comprising a throttle-valve actuator for activating a throttle-valve opening angle of a vehicle engine, a constant-speed running controller for controlling the throttle-speed running, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) which is constructed in a power transmission path of the vehicle engine, and a CVT controller for controlling a transmission-ratio of the CVT; further comprising a detecting element constructed in the constant-speed running controller for a control efficiency of the constant-speed running for detecting an acceleration demand of a driver and for informing the CVT controller of the demand; and further comprising a correction element for calculating a corrected transmission-ratio as a corrected vehicle acceleration corresponding to a target vehicle accelerating force on the basis of the acceleration demand detected by the detecting element.

Abstract: In order to prevent abnormally high or low line pressures during low throttle operation of the engine, a line pressure control schedule is revised when an idle switch indicates that the throttle valve has in fact assumed a fully closed position, in a manner wherein the fully closed value in the schedule is compared with that produced by throttle position sensor, and is changed incrementally at predetermined time intervals in the event that a difference exits.

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: In order to control large machines or plants, it is necessary to connect an electronic control 8' or Central Processing Unit (CPU) with a number of reporting, positioning, and measuring peripherals. This CPU is usually not in the immediate vicinity of the peripherals. In order to obviate the need to run separate lines from each of three connected devices to the CPU, an input/output system is connected to the CPU by a data bus for transmission of signals in both directions. An input/output system is often exposed to dust, cuttings, and/or moisture generated at the machine or installation, so the present invention features dust-and-water-resistant seals 5, 17, 26, 28, 52 at all sockets. A plug distribution box 1 with sockets 7, 8, 9 for power supply, bus, and diagnostic connections can be extended by input/output modules 2 which plug into box 1. The modules 2 in turn have sockets 21 for connection with reporting, positioning, and measuring units.

Abstract: In a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine for receiving outputs of a crank angle sensor, air flow sensor, etc., calculating control values from these outputs using a microcomputer to actuate actuators; calculated timings at which the respective actuators are deactuated are compared in advance with each other, the control value for the actuator which should be deactuated earliest is stored in an output compare register, and a deactuation signal for the actuator is generated with count matching of two inputs to a comparator of the output compare register. Thus the respective actuators are sequentially controlled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling an automatic transmission of a vehicle which is capable of continuously changing a transmission ratio (Rt) and transmission coefficient (Ct). The method is three fold, that is, an initial stage control procedure, a special stage control procedure and a normal stage control procedure having priority in operation in this order.At the initial stage control procedure, Rt and Ct are determined, according to a plurality of indices representing a state of the vehicle, so that the vehicle is accelerated effectively, in general.At the special stage control procedure, Rt and Ct are determined, when a propelling force transmitting path for transmitting propelling force from an engine to the ground is disconnected at least at one part, so that a shock due to a recovery of said propelling force transmitting path is minimized.At the normal stage control procedure, Rt and Ct are determined so that the vehicle responds to the operation of the driver swiftly.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a fuel injector has a microcomputer which calculates a basic pulse width of pulses to be applied to a fuel injector. When the voltage of a battery which powers a fuel pump and the fuel temperature fall below levels which cause the discharge pressure of the fuel pump to drop below a prescribed pressure, the microcomputer corrects the basic pulse width by lengthening it to compensate for the drop in fuel pressure. Pulses having the corrected pulse width are applied to the fuel injector.

Abstract: A portable electrohydraulic servo valve analyzer, which has microprocessor-based electronic controller and is operable in a fully automatic mode and a manual mode, is disclosed. The system also includes: a hydraulic manifold block and an adapter block for receiving different servo valve; a servo amplifier and electrical hook-up to the servo valve; pressure gages and hydraulic shut-off valves; a keypad for entering operating input commands and values; two digital displays indicating the current supplied to the valve and the resulting hydraulic flow rate through the valve, and a special turbine flowmeter capable of highly accurate operation of at least three orders of magnitude of flow rates. Most of the system is housed in a single small portable aluminum suitcase. Hydraulic flow is measured by digitally timing the periods between detection of the successive rotating vanes of the turbine, and compensating for nonlinearities in turbine rotation rate at low flows.