Abstract: A first purge passage is connected to an intake-air passage at a downstream side of a throttle valve. A second purge passage is connected to the intake-air passage at an upstream side of a supercharging device. A first and a second check valve are respectively provided in the first and second purge passages. A control unit determines to which operating condition (from a first to a third operating condition) engine operation corresponds, based on downstream-side and upstream-side pressure of the throttle valve. A change of in-tank pressure of a fuel tank is detected in a condition that an air-communication valve is closed but a purge control valve is opened. The control unit diagnoses which of the valves is not normally operated and whether such valve is fixed to a valve opened or a valve closed position, based on the change of in-tank pressure for each of engine operating conditions.

Abstract: An ignition system is provided, which can restrict decreasing of constant-voltage duration of a spark plug and effectively prevents the occurrence of an accidental fire in an engine. A typical ignition system includes a secondary coil having one end connected to a positive side of a battery via a low-voltage side path and the other end connected to a center electrode via a connecting path which connects the secondary coil and the spark plug. A constant-voltage path having a grounded end is connected to the connecting path. A block diode is arranged between the secondary coil and a point where the constant-voltage path is connected with the connecting path. A Zener diode is disposed within the constant-voltage path. Each anode of the block diode and the Zener diode is mutually connected.

Abstract: An ignition system is provided, in which a Zener diode is connected in parallel with a spark plug, to suppress torque variation from becoming large in an engine when deterioration of the spark plug is advanced. Specifically, the ignition system includes a secondary coil having an end connected to a center electrode of the spark plug via a connecting path. The connecting path is connected to a constant-voltage path having a grounded end and including the Zener diode. The time from when an ignition signal is switched off until when ignition timing occurs is measured for a plurality of times. The difference between a maximum value and a minimum value among the plurality of measurements is defined to be a variation range. A breakdown voltage of the Zener diode is adjusted based on requirements such as for rendering the variation range to be a predetermined time or smaller.

Abstract: A HUD device includes a stepper motor, which rotates a reflection mirror for adjusting a display position of a virtual image. The stepper motor has an electric stabilization point and a mechanical stabilization point. A control system controls a drive signal for the stepper motor in response to an adjustment instruction. Pole teeth of a specified phase, which provides a greater magnetic attraction force with the rotor when not powered than by pole teeth of other phase, is set as stabilization pole teeth. The control system continues to apply the drive signal until the target stabilization point is attained even after the adjustment instruction is stopped. The target stabilization point is set to the electric stabilization point, at which the holding torque is provided by the stabilization pole teeth of the specified phase.

Abstract: On a vehicle equipped with a vacuum-assist type of brake booster utilizing the intake air pressure of the vehicle engine, an engine control apparatus automatically stops the engine under certain conditions and subsequently automatically restarts the engine if it is determined that the brake booster pressure has fallen below a predetermined value. The engine control apparatus also effects such automatic restarting if a predetermined maximum time interval has elapsed since the automatic engine stop occurred. This ensures that even when the booster pressure value cannot be reliably obtained after an automatic engine stop has occurred, the engine will be restarted before the booster pressure falls excessively.

Abstract: An in-vehicle operation apparatus has an operation switch, a candidate selection operation unit, and a command assignment operation unit, all of which are operable by a user. The operation switch may control multiple in-vehicle devices based on a desired command assigned thereto. In particular, the candidate selection operation unit selects a plurality of candidate commands from among a plurality of commands respectively for in-vehicle devices. The command assignment operation unit selects and assigns the desired command from among the plurality of candidate commands to the operation switch. Accordingly, the operation switch controls the in-vehicle device associated with the desired command. Thus, the apparatus reduces the amount of operation switches required and allows the user to easily select and assign a command to the operation switch for controlling a desired in-vehicle device.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system disposed in a vehicle executes a route guidance function that calculates a first route by prioritizing a special lane over a normal lane as a route calculation condition and performs route guidance when a special lane use option is turned on. A determination unit determines whether the vehicle is traveling in a parallel route section in which the special lane and normal lane are in parallel. If the vehicle is traveling in the parallel route section, a second route calculation unit calculates a second route towards the destination based on an assumption that the vehicle is traveling in the normal lane. In addition, a second route guidance unit outputs a second guidance phrase at a second guidance point, such that the second guidance phrase includes a conditional phrase that conveys that the vehicle is not in the special lane.

Abstract: A magnetic component includes a plurality of coils, a magnetic core, and a shield. The coils form at least one of a primary coil and a secondary coil to which a voltage corresponding to a voltage induced to the primary coil is induced. The magnetic core penetrates through the coils. The shield is disposed at least one of between different coils in the coils and between one or more of the coils and the magnetic core. Each of the coils and the shield are respectively pattern-formed on substrates. Each of the coils and the shield have a stacking structure.

Abstract: An input device includes an input unit, which is a separate component from a display unit. The input unit includes a first operable region and a second operable region partitioned from each other. The first operable region accepts an input operation with a first finger of a user for indicating information on the display unit. The second operable region accepts an input operation with a second finger, which is different from the first finger, for indicating information on the display unit. A display control unit modifies indication of the information correspondingly to an input operation with the first finger in the first operable region and an input operation with the second finger in the second operable region.

Abstract: A valve timing controller includes a lock mechanism that locks a rotation phase at a main lock phase when an internal combustion engine is started with an ambient temperature more than or equal to a preset temperature. The main lock phase represents a rotation phase set for closing an intake valve at a later timing later than a timing when a piston reaches a bottom dead center of a cylinder in the internal combustion engine. The lock mechanism locks the rotation phase at a sub lock phase representing a rotation phase advanced rather than the main lock phase in the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is started with an ambient temperature lower than the present temperature.

Abstract: An integration circuit charges a capacitor by a charge current corresponding to a current flowing in a detection resistor provided in an electric power supply path extending to a DCM. A comparison circuit outputs a comparison signal, which changes to one of a high level and a low level in accordance with an integration value corresponding to a charge voltage of the capacitor. A discharge switch discharges the capacitor and stops discharge of the capacitor, when the comparison signal is at the high level and the low level, respectively. A control circuit determines an estimation value of electric power supplied from a battery to a DCM based on a count of edges, at which the signal level of the detection signal changes.

Abstract: A vehicular communication apparatus includes: a first acquisition portion acquiring a first content delivered by a radio wave from a broadcast station; a second acquisition portion acquiring a second content delivered by a communication line network; a reproduction portion reproducing the first and second contents; a determination portion determining whether a radio wave reception condition is poor; and a controller changing a content to be reproduced by the reproduction portion from the first content to the second content when the determination portion detects poor radio wave reception condition under a condition that the reproduction portion reproduces the first content, the second content being a same or a similar type of the first content.

Abstract: An internal power circuit lowers a battery voltage supplied always from an external side to generate a standby power voltage. A timer continues to measure an elapse of time in a standby state, after a main relay is turned off and supply of a power voltage is interrupted. A measured time data of the timer is saved to a save register during a time measurement operation of the timer. When a stop condition for stopping the time measurement operation of the timer is satisfied, a control circuit stops the operation of the internal power circuit. When the main relay is turned on, the internal power circuit is activated to start its operation again by the control circuit so that the measured time data saved to the save register is restored to the timer.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine which can appropriately judge deterioration of a spark plug is disclosed. The ignition system includes a spark plug and a Zener diode. These are connected in parallel. In the ignition system, a constant-voltage path whose one of two ends is grounded is connected to the connecting path which connects the center electrode of the spark plug to a secondary coil. The constant-voltage path includes a Zener diode and a resistor. In a case where electric current is detected at the resister in a term from the start of current supply to a primary coil to the end, the control apparatus judges the spark plug being deteriorated.

Abstract: A first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus are capable of wireless communication with each other. The first communication apparatus has a normal operation mode and a tuning mode that differs from the normal operation mode and allows a variable matching portion to adjust a matching state. When the tuning mode is selected, the first transmission portion transmits an operation mode transition request signal to the second communication apparatus. A first reception portion receives a tuning reference signal transmitted from the second communication apparatus in response to the operation mode transition request signal. A reception signal intensity measurement portion measures a reception signal intensity of the received tuning reference signal. The variable matching portion adjusts a matching state based on the measured reception signal intensity of the tuning reference signal.

Abstract: An electric power transmission device transmits an electric power of a power supply to a battery. The electric power transmission device includes relay capacitor, power supply side switching element, and a battery side switching element. The relay capacitor is located between the power supply and the battery, and stores an electric power of the power supply. The power supply side switching element opens and closes a first electrical path between the power supply and the relay capacitor. The battery side switching element opens and closes a second electrical path between the relay capacitor and the battery. The power supply side switching element has a pair of ends in the first electrical path, one of which is connected to the relay capacitor and the other is not connected to another capacitor that is short-circuited with the relay capacitor when the power supply side switching element is closed.

Abstract: An input apparatus includes a touch plate, a decoration layer, a film sensor, an electrode portion, a wire portion, and a guard layer. The touch plate is a basal plate for finger manipulation. The decoration layer is on a front side of the touch plate to decorate the front side. The film sensor is bonded to a rear side of the touch plate. The electrode portion is on the film sensor. The wire portion is on the film sensor and connected to the electrode portion to transmit a signal outputted from the electrode portion. The guard layer contains a guard layer formation material to suppress an electrostatic capacity between the finger and the wire portion. The guard layer formation material is combined into the decoration layer such that the decoration layer and the guard layer are provided as a single integrated member.

Abstract: A dead time generation circuit includes a high-side control signal generation circuit and a low-side control signal generation circuit which are separate circuits. The high-side control signal generation circuit inverts a level of a high-side control signal from a driving prohibition level to a driving permission level when a time corresponding to a first clock number has elapsed in a state where a control signal keeps a first level after the control signal transitions from a second level to the first level. The low-side control signal generation circuit inverts a level of a low-side control signal from the driving prohibition level to the driving permission level when a time corresponding to a second clock number has elapsed in a state where the control signal keeps the second level after the control signal transitions from the first level to the second level.

Abstract: An oil-pressure supply device includes an oil-pressure control portion, a first filtration portion which traps foreign materials in oil before a mechanical pump, a second filtration portion which traps foreign materials in oil before an electric pump, a first branch passage provided between the mechanical pump and the first filtration portion, a second branch passage provided between the electric pump and the second filtration portion, a third branch passage provided between a discharge port of the electric pump and the oil-pressure control portion, a fourth branch passage through which surplus oil is discharged, a switching portion set at a first position where the first branch passage is connected to the third branch passage when the first filtration portion is recovered, or set at a second position where the second branch passage is connected to the fourth branch passage when the second filtration portion is recovered.

Abstract: A protrusion forming device includes a holding portion holding an object that is be processed, a tool bit having a cutting portion capable of cutting an object held by a holding portion, and a drive portion capable of driving the tool bit. The tool bit is movable along a cut-in pathway so that the cutting portion is inserted into the object. The cutting portion is movable along a further-cut pathway so as to form a protrusion part that is cut in a linear shape and is connected to the object. The tool bit continuously contacts the protrusion part while moving along a forming pathway such that the protrusion part extends perpendicular to an outer surface of the object.