Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane oxygenator of external blood circulation type has a housing and a lot of porous hollow fiber membranes for gas transfer housed in the housing. In the oxygenator, blood flows along the outer side of the hollow fiber membranes, whereas oxygen-containing gas flows along the inner side thereof. An outer surface or outer layer of the hollow fiber membrane as a blood-contacting portion is coated with synthetic polymer mainly formed of alkoxyalkyl(meta)acrylate containing a C(1-4)alkoxy group and a C(1-4)alkyl group. An intermediate layer and inner layer of the hollow fiber membranes contain substantially no synthetic polymer.

Abstract: A shift control apparatus for controlling a speed ratio of an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having an engine during running of the vehicle on a downhill road, on the basis of an actual acceleration value of the vehicle as compared with a reference acceleration value of the vehicle, the apparatus including a device for determining reduction of an actual output of the engine with respect to a desired output of the engine as represented by an operating amount of an accelerator pedal, and a device for reducing the reference acceleration value by a compensating amount which decreases with an increase in the running speed of the vehicle, upon determination of the reduction of the actual output of the engine.

Abstract: A diagnosing apparatus for diagnosing a vehicle automatic transmission system including an automatic transmission having frictional coupling devices, and solenoid-operated valves for controlling the frictional coupling devices to shift the automatic transmission according to shift commands generated by a control device, the apparatus including a speed detector for detecting an engine speed of the vehicle, a device for determining a reference range of the engine speed within which the engine speed is expected to fall when the transmission is placed in a position selected by a shift command, a device for determining whether a predetermined running condition of the vehicle is satisfied, and a defect detector for determining whether there exists a defect associated with the automatic transmission system, depending upon whether the detected engine speed is held within or outside the determined reference range when the predetermined vehicle running condition is satisfied.

Abstract: In a double air-fuel sensor system including two air-fuel ratio sensors upstream and downstream of a catalyst converter provided in an exhaust gas passage, an air-fuel ratio correction amount is calculated in accordance with the outputs of the upstream-side and downstream-side air-fuel ratio sensors, thereby obtaining an actual air-fuel ratio. When the output of the downstream-side air-fuel ratio sensor is switched from the rich side to the lean side or vice versa, the speed of renewal of the air-fuel ratio correction amount by the output of the downstream-side air-fuel ratio sensor is remarkably increased, and thereafter, this renewal speed is gradually decreased.

Abstract: In a double air-fuel sensor system including two air-fuel ratio sensors upstream and downstream of a catalyst converter provided in an exhaust gas passage, an air-fuel ratio correction amount is calculated in accordance with the outputs of the upstream-side and downstream-side air-fuel ratio sensors, thereby obtaining an actual air-fuel ratio. The air-fuel ratio correction amount is guarded within a predetermined range. When this correction amount reaches the maximum or minimum value of the range, the calculation of the air-fuel ratio correction amount by the output of the downstream-side air-fuel ratio sensor is prohibited.

Abstract: In a double air-fuel sensor system including two air-fuel ratio sensors upstream and downstream of a catalyst converter provided in an exhaust gas passage, an air-fuel ratio correction amount is calculated in accordance with the outputs of the upstream-side and downstream-side air-fuel ratio sensors, thereby obtaining an actual air-fuel ratio. The speed of renewal of the air-fuel ratio correction amount is higher when output of the downstream-side air-fuel ratio sensor indicates a lean state than when the output of the downstream-side air-fuel ratio sensor indicates a rich state.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated device responsive to a signal pressure applied thereto from a source of negative pressure for controlling the atmospheric air applied to a control device and for controlling an electric signal applied to an electric control circuit. The pneumatically operated device includes a diaphragm assembly assembled within a housing to subdivide the interior of the housing into first and second chambers respectively in open communication with the negative pressure source and the atmospheric air, and valve and switch mechanisms arranged within the housing to be operated in response to movement of the diaphragm assembly caused by the pressure difference between the first and second chambers.