Abstract: An air-conditioner for a vehicle includes: a first circuit in which a cooling medium circulates; a heater heating the cooling medium; a first pump disposed in the first circuit; a second circuit cooling a heat emitting portion; a second pump disposed in the second circuit; an adjustment portion controlling a circulation amount of the cooling medium flowing in the first circuit and a circulation amount of the cooling medium flowing in the second circuit; and a control portion. The vehicle includes a regenerative device, and a storage device is charged with electric energy recovered by the regenerative device. When the regenerative device is recovering the electric energy and when it is determined that power in the storage device needs to be consumed, the control portion drives the heater to heat the cooling medium such that the power in the storage device is converted into heat energy.

Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes a cycle switching device. The cycle switching device switches a refrigerant cycle between a heating circuit, in which refrigerant flows through a heating heat exchanger, and a cooling circuit, in which refrigerant flows through a cooling heat exchanger. The air conditioner further includes an air conditioning controller, which controls the cycle switching device and includes a defroster control portion. The defroster control portion increases a temperature of air blown into the vehicle compartment through a defroster air outlet by a predetermined degree while keeping the refrigerant cycle at a state of the heating circuit for a predetermined time, when a defrosting operation is commanded to be performed during the heating circuit.

Abstract: An air-conditioner for a vehicle includes: a first circuit in which a cooling medium circulates; a heater heating the cooling medium; a first pump disposed in the first circuit; a second circuit cooling a heat emitting portion; a second pump disposed in the second circuit; an adjustment portion controlling a circulation amount of the cooling medium flowing in the first circuit and a circulation amount of the cooling medium flowing in the second circuit; and a control portion. The vehicle includes a regenerative device, and a storage device is charged with electric energy recovered by the regenerative device. When the regenerative device is recovering the electric energy and when it is determined that power in the storage device needs to be consumed, the control portion drives the heater to heat the cooling medium such that the power in the storage device is converted into heat energy.

Abstract: In a transient state caused by fuel cut, a normal output of an A/F sensor having normal response and a lowered output having response lowered by a predetermined value as compared to the normal output are estimated, and an actual output of the A/F sensor is sensed. S1 as an integration value of a deviation between the normal output and the lowered output and S2 as an integration value of a deviation between the normal output and the actual output are calculated respectively until the normal output and the lowered output converge to an oxygen concentration equivalent to an atmosphere. S2 changes in accordance with a lowering degree of the response of the actual output. Therefore, the lowering degree of the response of the A/F sensor can be diagnosed based on S2/S1.

Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes a cycle switching device. The cycle switching device switches a refrigerant cycle between a heating circuit, in which refrigerant flows through a heating heat exchanger, and a cooling circuit, in which refrigerant flows through a cooling heat exchanger. The air conditioner further includes an air conditioning controller, which controls the cycle switching device and includes a defroster control portion. The defroster control portion increases a temperature of air blown into the vehicle compartment through a defroster air outlet by a predetermined degree while keeping the refrigerant cycle at a state of the heating circuit for a predetermined time, when a defrosting operation is commanded to be performed during the heating circuit.

Abstract: An air-conditioner includes a heat pump cycle having an outdoor heat exchanger; a frost state calculator that calculates a degree of frost formed in the outdoor heat exchanger; an output portion that outputs an information of the frost; and a controller that instructs a defrosting operation for melting the frost by controlling the heat pump cycle. The controller controls the output portion to output the degree of frost when the defrosting operation is not performed, and controls the output portion to output a defrosting information representing that the defrosting operation is being performed when the defrosting operation is performed.

Abstract: An actual intake air quantity at the time when the intake air quantity is changed compulsorily with an EGR valve is measured with an airflow meter. An oxygen concentration of exhaust gas after combustion in a diesel engine is estimated based on the measured actual intake air quantity and a fuel injection quantity of the diesel engine. The estimated oxygen concentration is compared with an actual oxygen concentration sensed with an A/F sensor, thereby sensing response of the A/F sensor. Even if a response time for causing a change in the intake air quantity with the EGR valve changes, the change of the response time does not affect the estimate of the oxygen concentration since the oxygen concentration is estimated based on the actual intake air quantity. Therefore, the response of the A/F sensor can be sensed with high accuracy.

Abstract: An actual intake air quantity at the time when the intake air quantity is changed compulsorily with an EGR valve is measured with an airflow meter. An oxygen concentration of exhaust gas after combustion in a diesel engine is estimated based on the measured actual intake air quantity and a fuel injection quantity of the diesel engine. The estimated oxygen concentration is compared with an actual oxygen concentration sensed with an A/F sensor, thereby sensing response of the A/F sensor. Even if a response time for causing a change in the intake air quantity with the EGR valve changes, the change of the response time does not affect the estimate of the oxygen concentration since the oxygen concentration is estimated based on the actual intake air quantity. Therefore, the response of the A/F sensor can be sensed with high accuracy.

Abstract: In a transient state caused by fuel cut, a normal output of an A/F sensor having normal response and a lowered output having response lowered by a predetermined value as compared to the normal output are estimated, and an actual output of the A/F sensor is sensed. S1 as an integration value of a deviation between the normal output and the lowered output and S2 as an integration value of a deviation between the normal output and the actual output are calculated respectively until the normal output and the lowered output converge to an oxygen concentration equivalent to an atmosphere. S2 changes in accordance with a lowering degree of the response of the actual output. Therefore, the lowering degree of the response of the A/F sensor can be diagnosed based on S2/S1.

Abstract: A method for controlling air intake into an air conditioned enclosure includes generating a plurality of sensor output voltages using a NOx sensor. A NOx voltage ratio is calculated from the sensor output voltages. A determination is made when the NOx voltage ratio one of equals and exceeds a NOx threshold. The NOx voltage ratio is reset to a unitary value for a predetermined length of time.

Abstract: An air conditioner includes a variable displacement compressor that compresses refrigerant from an evaporator and varies a displacement according to a pressure in its control pressure chamber, and an electromagnetic valve that changes an opening such that the displacement of the refrigerant is increased in accordance with an increase in a value of current passing therethrough and changes a pressure state applied into the control pressure chamber. A control unit computes a target cooling temperature of air cooled by the evaporator, and adjusts the value of current passing through the electromagnetic valve to control the displacement so that the air temperature cooled by the evaporator approaches to the target cooling temperature. Furthermore, the control unit sets the value of current passing through the electromagnetic valve at a current value equal to or higher than a predetermined value that is determined based on an operation characteristic of the electromagnetic valve.

Abstract: When a combustion mode of an engine is a diffuse combustion mode in which an initial rising inclination of a heat-release-rate is steep, an electronic control unit (ECU) calculates an ignition timing in which the heat-release-rate exceeds an ignition determining value. Thus, even if a cylinder pressure sensor has a gain deviation or an offset deviation, the ignition timing is accurately detected to control the injection start timing. When the combustion mode is a premix combustion mode in which the initial rising inclination of the heat-release-rate is moderate, a peak arising timing of the heat-release-rate is calculated. Thus, the peak arising timing is accurately detected to control the injection start timing.

Abstract: When a combustion mode of an engine is a diffuse combustion mode in which an initial rising inclination of a heat-release-rate is steep, an electronic control unit (ECU) calculates an ignition timing in which the heat-release-rate exceeds an ignition determining value. Thus, even if a cylinder pressure sensor has a gain deviation or an offset deviation, the ignition timing is accurately detected to control the injection start timing. When the combustion mode is a premix combustion mode in which the initial rising inclination of the heat-release-rate is moderate, a peak arising timing of the heat-release-rate is calculated. Thus, the peak arising timing is accurately detected to control the injection start timing.

Abstract: An injection quantity control apparatus for accurately performing an injection quantity learning process in a diesel engine creates an environment for obtaining a characteristic value in a one-to-one relationship with an actual injection quantity. A controller performs a one-shot injection operation for a cylinder of an engine while the environment is established. An injection command quantity is corrected based on an engine speed variation caused by the one-shot injection. After establishment of the condition and before the injection, the opening of a valve is controlled to be smaller than a reference and an opening of each of a diesel throttle and variable turbocharger is controlled to be larger than a reference. A composition of an air flowing into a combustion chamber is stabilized to ensure that the characteristic value detected after the one-shot injection is in a one-to-one relationship with the actual injection quantity.

Abstract: An electronic control unit (an ECU) of a fuel injection system performs a learning injection based on a learning injection quantity and obtains multiple influence values of an operating state of an engine generated through the learning injection. The ECU calculates a learning value for correcting the injection quantity in a normal operation based on the multiple influence values. The ECU determines whether the influence value obtained during the learning injection is within a predetermined range of the influence value. The ECU calculates a provisional learning injection quantity for bringing a subsequent influence value into the predetermined range if the influence value obtained in an early stage of the obtainment is out of the predetermined range. Then, the ECU calculates the other influence values by performing the other learning injections based on the provisional learning injection quantity.

Abstract: A method for controlling air intake into an air conditioned enclosure includes generating a plurality of sensor output voltages using a NOx sensor. A NOx voltage ratio is calculated from the sensor output voltages. A determination is made when the NOx voltage ratio one of equals and exceeds a NOx threshold. The NOx voltage ratio is reset to a unitary value for a predetermined length of time.

Abstract: An injection quantity control apparatus for accurately performing an injection quantity learning process in a diesel engine creates an environment for obtaining a characteristic value in a one-to-one relationship with an actual injection quantity. A controller performs a one-shot injection operation for a cylinder of an engine while the environment is established. An injection command quantity is corrected based on an engine speed variation caused by the one-shot injection. After establishment of the condition and before the injection, the opening of a valve is controlled to be smaller than a reference and an opening of each of a diesel throttle and variable turbocharger is controlled to be larger than a reference. A composition of an air flowing into a combustion chamber is stabilized to ensure that the characteristic value detected after the one-shot injection is in a one-to-one relationship with the actual injection quantity.

Abstract: An electronic control unit (an ECU) of a fuel injection system performs a learning injection based on a learning injection quantity and obtains multiple influence values of an operating state of an engine generated through the learning injection. The ECU calculates a learning value for correcting the injection quantity in a normal operation based on the multiple influence values. The ECU determines whether the influence value obtained during the learning injection is within a predetermined range of the influence value. The ECU calculates a provisional learning injection quantity for bringing a subsequent influence value into the predetermined range if the influence value obtained in an early stage of the obtainment is out of the predetermined range. Then, the ECU calculates the other influence values by performing the other learning injections based on the provisional learning injection quantity.

Abstract: A positive-working light-sensitive composition comprising (a) a compound having at least two enol ether groups, represented by the following general formula (I); (b) a linear polymer having acidic groups; and (c) a compound capable of generating an acid through irradiation with actinic light rays or radiant rays, the component (a) and the component (b) being thermally crosslinked:(R.sup.2)(R.sup.1)C.dbd.C(R.sup.3)--O-- (I)wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, provided that each two of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may be linked together to form a saturated or olefinically unsaturated ring. The positive-working light-sensitive composition has high light-sensitivity and permits the use of light rays extending over a wide range of wavelengths. Therefore, the positive-working light-sensitive composition of the present invention can provide clear positive images and has a wide development latitude.

Abstract: A positive-working light-sensitive composition whose solubility in a developer is increased by irradiation of light, which comprises:(a) a vinyl ether compound having at least one group represented by the following formula (A); ##STR1## wherein R.sup.3 represents a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and n represents an integer of 0 or 1;(b) a compound capable of being decomposed by irradiation of an actinic light ray or a radiant ray and releasing an acid; and(c) an alkali-soluble polymer, the light-sensitive composition having high sensitivity to light and permitting the use of light of a wide wavelength range.