Abstract: A device for detecting road surface condition in front of a running car by radiating a directional beam or beams onto a point or points on the road surface at predetermined distance or distances in front of the car body and receiving the reflected beam or beams from said point or points, and determining the road surface condition based on the measurement of the distance or distances.

Abstract: An optical switching unit including mechanisms for receiving a beam of light consisting of a plurality of component rays of different wavelengths, separating the light by making use of the reflection characteristic of suitable spectroscopic elements into the component rays to be lead to corresponding light-conductive paths, selecting either the interruption or transmission of the component rays by means of light-shielding plates provided in the respective light-conductive paths, and collecting the components rays to again compose a composite ray of the beam of light to be let out.The respective light-conductive paths are connected in parallel and have their light-separating branched portions arranged in series. In each of the branched portions is disposed a corresponding one of the spectroscopic elements, which corresponding one has its reflection characteristic reflectable of a corresponding component ray and a component ray reflectable by at least a one-stage preceding spectroscopic element.

Abstract: A light-conductive circuit unit comprises a substrate (1) made of an optical material, the substrate (1) having a light inlet surface (1a) for letting in a beam of light from a light source (2a to 2c), a light outlet surface (1b) for letting out a beam of light to a light-receiving element (3a to 3g), and a light-conductive path (4a to 4h) constituted with a part of the substrate to conduct rays of light from the light inlet surface (1a) to the light outlet surface (1b), and a combination of light course turning parts (5a to 5g) and optical switching mechanisms (6a to 6e) both substantially integrated with the substrate (1).

Abstract: A steering switch device (200) for a vehicle having a vehicle body (1), a steering wheel (100) rotatably attached to the vehicle body, and an electrical load mounted on the vehicle body. The steering switch device (200) comprises a control means (3, 23, 24, 25, 26) for providing the electrical load with a drive control signal, the control means (3, 23, 24, 25, 26) being secured to the vehicle body (1) and constituted with a light source means (23, 24) for providing an optical signal and a light-receiving means (25, 26), and a switch means (13, 19, 20, 27) for providing the control means (3, 23, 24, 25, 26) with an operational signal, the switch means (13, 19, 20, 27) being arranged in the vicinity of the steering wheel (100) and constituted with a light-conductive path (27) for conducting the optical signal from the light source means (23, 24) to the light-receiving means (25, 26) and an optical switch (19, 20) provided in the light-conductive path (27).

Abstract: A visual travel route indicating apparatus, for use in an automotive vehicle or the like, including a distance sensor for detecting a current distance of travel of the vehicle, a gas rate sensor for detecting a current azimuthal deviation generated by the vehicle during a turning motion, a thermostatic control chamber for enclosing the gas rate sensor hermetically from external temperature fluctuations, and a signal processing unit for arithmetically obtaining a current location plotted on two-dimensional coordinates per a given unit travel distance of the vehicle from the outputs of the two sensors and storing the thus-obtained location data in sequence so as to be read out subsequently for a continuous visual indication of a current locus of the vehicle on a display. The power supply to the thermostatic control chamber is optimally controlled in conjunction with the on/off state of the ignition switch of the vehicle.

Abstract: A visual travel route indicating apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle. The apparatus comprises a distance sensor for detecting a current distance of travel of the vehicle, a gas rate sensor for detecting a current azimuthal deviation generated during travel of the vehicle, a closed thermostatic chamber for hermetically enclosing the gas rate sensor such that it is isolated from external temperature fluctuations, and a signal processing unit for arithmetically obtaining a current location or point plotted on two-dimensional coordinates per a given unit travel distance from the outputs of the two sensors. A travel path store is provided for storing the thus-obtained data so as to be read out subsequently for a continuous visual indication of a current path of travel or locus of the vehicle on a display unit for visually indicating a continuous path of travel of the vehicle. A manual operating unit is provided for setting and modifying the visual indication pattern to be displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a phase locked driving circuit for a piezoelectric pump in a fluidic gas angular rate sensor in which the driving circuit comprises a voltage controlled oscillator for providing an oscillating drive signal to the piezoelectric pump. A phase difference detector is coupled to the output of the oscillator for detecting the phase of the current of the output signal and the phase of the voltage of the output signal and for providing an output indicative of the phase difference therebetween. An error amplifier is coupled to the phase difference detector for comparing the phase difference to a predetermined phase difference and for producing a voltage indicative thereof. The voltage of the error detecting circuit is applied to the control input of the voltage controlled oscillator for controlling the output thereof.

Abstract: A heating wire is wound around a casing within which a sensor body is placed. Thermo-sensitive switch means is connected to the heating wire, which is responsive to the temperature within the casing to control the rate at which electric current is supplied to the heating wire so as to keep the temperature at a constant value. The casing may be placed within an airtight housing which is made of an insulating material. A further heating wire may be arranged on the inner wall of the airtight housing, which is controlled by further thermo-sensitive switch means so as to keep the temperature within the housing at a constant value.

Abstract: An angular velocity sensor comprising an outer casing, an inner casing forming the sensor body, mounted within the outer casing, and a covering member covering an opening formed in an end of the outer casing. The inner casing includes a hollow cylindrical portion, an end wall provided at one end of the hollow cylindrical portion and formed with a central axial nozzle hole, a gas flow sensor holding portion provided within the hollow cylindrical portion in spaced and concentrical relation to the nozzle hole, and a pump housing portion provided within an opening formed in an end of the inner casing, wherein at least the hollow cylindrical portion, the end wall and the gas flow sensor holding portion are integrally formed of a one-piece structure. The outer casing may have an open end closed in an airtight manner by a hermetically sealing member serving as the covering member and formed with an annular protuberance at a periphery thereof, by means of projection welding.

Abstract: A snap action type of electric switch in which a contact plate is provided with a movable contact facing a stationary contact located in a housing. The movable contact is free to move back and forth, and the contact plate is connected through an intermediate snap spring to a switching rod which extends at the back of the spring and is also free to move back and forth. The contact plate has a play space in forward and rearward directions in relation to the snap spring, and is urged in forward direction by an auxiliary spring. The snap spring is formed of an elastic metal strip which is bent into a channel form. A pair of levers bridge a neck portion of an enlarged head portion of the switching rod. When moving back and forth, the rod 5 may apply a predetermined movement to the snap spring. A holding member extends rearwards from the contact plate and has an opening into which a transverse portion of the snap spring is loosely inserted so as to form the play space.