Abstract: A failure detection system detects a failure occurring in an exhaust secondary air supply system of an internal combustion engine, and has a catalytic converter installed in an exhaust pipe of an exhaust system of the engine for reducing pollutants from exhaust gases emitted from the engine, a conduit connected, at one end, to the exhaust pipe at a location upstream of the catalytic converter and an air pump connected to an opposite end of the conduit for supplying compressed air in the conduit. The conduit is closed by the a valve which opens in response to the negative pressure and a second valve which opens in response to the conduit pressure. In the system a first prescribed level and the second prescribed level are set and two pressure switches are provided for generating output at the levels. A failure occurring in the air pump and the valve is detected based on operation of the air pump and the output of the pressure detectors.

Abstract: A control device is provided for controlling an electrically-heated catalyzer of an internal combustion engine. Electric power generated by an alternator driven by the engine is supplied to the electrically-heated catalyzer. At least one electrical parameter dependent on the electric power supplied to the electrically-heated catalyzer is detected. It is determined that the electrically-heated catalyzer is abnormal when the at least one electrical parameter falls outside a predetermined range. The predetermined range is changed according to the rotational speed of the engine detected by an engine rotational speed sensor.

Abstract: A control system controls an alternator driven by an internal combustion engine, for generating electric power. A changeover switch selectively switches the destination of electric power generated by the alternator to a plurality of electric load groups having respective different load voltage values, each electric load group having at least one electric load. An ECU controls switching operation of the changeover switch and changes output voltage from the alternator between a plurality of different predetermined voltage values corresponding, respectively, to the plurality of electric load groups, according to a direction in which the changeover switch has been switched.

Abstract: A synchronous positioning control apparatus for servo-controlling positions of a plurality of stages in different feedback loops in order to synchronously control each of the stages, includes a synchronization compensator in which a feedback loop of each of the stages is supplied with position information of at least one of the other stages. Even when any of the plurality of stages is affected by a disturbance, synchronization performance of the stages can be improved by the present invention.

Abstract: An exhaust gas-purifying system is provided for an internal combustion engine for use in a vehicle having an alternator driven by the engine to generate electric power. An electrically-heated catalyzer is arranged in the exhaust system of the engine and connected to the alternator to be electrically heated thereby. A changeover switch is provided for selectively switching the destination of electric power generated by the alternator to the electrically-heated catalyzer and to the electrical equipment. An ECU controls the electric power generated by the alternator, depending upon a direction in which the changeover switch has been switched. The ECU detects abnormality of the changeover switch, and when the abnormality is detected, the electric power generated by the alternator is changed to a value smaller than a value assumed when the changeover switch is normal.

Abstract: An exhaust gas-purifying system for an internal combustion engine includes an alternator driven by the engine. A regulator controls voltage generated by the alternator. An electrically-heated catalyzer is arranged in the exhaust system of the engine and connected to the alternator to be electrically heated by electric power generated by the alternator. An ECU controls the regulator to control the voltage generated by the alternator and supplied to the electrically-heated catalyzer, according to operating conditions of the engine detected by sensors such as an engine coolant temperature sensor and an intake air temperature sensor.

Abstract: A system for controlling an idle speed of an internal combustion engine having an electrically heated catalytic converter which is heated up when current is supplied from an alternator driven by the engine. In the engine idle control, a basic value of a desired idle engine speed is determined with respect to the engine coolant temperature in the same manner as the prior art. However, an augmentative correction amount of the desired idle engine speed is determined with respect to the exhaust system ambient temperature. More specifically, the desired idle engine speed is increased in response to the heating of the catalytic converter so as to prevent the alternator from generating electric power insufficient for heating up the catalytic converter.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a failure occurring in an exhaust secondary air supply system of an internal combustion engine. A conduit is connected to the exhaust pipe to supply secondary air to the exhaust pipe to promote oxidization of the emissions in the exhaust gases. A valve is provided in the conduit for opening/closing it. The failure of the valve is detected by operating the air pump to supply the air in the conduit, while closing the conduit by the valve. The air/fuel ratio is detected by an oxygen sensor installed downstream of the conduit to be compared with a desired air/fuel ratio. If the detected air/fuel ratio is leaner than a desired air/fuel ratio, the air flows to the exhaust pipe so that the valve is considered to be stuck to open. Alternatively, a pump current is detected and is compared with a reference value indicative of the current at no air flow. If the detected current is less than the reference value, the valve is considered to be in failure.

Abstract: A motor vehicle alternator connected to an output shaft of an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle, comprising a rotor made of a permanent magnet for producing a magnetic field, an armature (stator) having a coil placed opposite to the permanent magnet rotor and a belt drive mechanism for connecting one of the permanent magnet and the armature to the output shaft of the engine to bring them into a relative rotation such that the armature relatively moves in the magnetic field produced by the permanent magnet. In the alternator, there is provided an axial displacement mechanism for displacing at least one of the permanent magnet rotor and the armature in an axial direction of the relative rotation, whereby a magnetic flux passing through the armature is changed.

Abstract: A system for detecting a failure of an electrically heated catalytic converter installed in an exhaust system of the engine for reducing pollutants from exhaust gases emitted from the engine, the catalytic converter having a heater which is connected with the power source to be supplied with current. A parameter such as electric power consumption indicative of an electric resistance of the heater of the catalytic converter. If the parameter is out of a range defined by reference values, it is determined hat a failure has occurred in the heater of the catalytic converter. In the system, reference values at a specific condition based on a correction coefficient obtained on the ratio between the parameter designed before manufacturing and that measured after manufacturing.

Abstract: A control system for controlling an alternator driven by an engine, for generating electric power, has a changeover switch for selectively switching destination of electric power generated by the alternator to a plurality of electric loads having respective different load voltage values. An ECU controls switching operation of the changeover switch and controls the alternator electric power, according to a direction in which the changeover switch has been switched.

Abstract: An active anti-vibration apparatus detects the motion of an anti-vibration table for supporting equipment with a plurality of sensors and controls actuators on the basis of detection outputs from the sensor. The sensors are arranged such that, when a motion parameter of the anti-vibration table is represented by a vector P, and an output signal group from the plurality of sensors is represented by a vector S, a condition number of a matrix A defined by an equation S=AP established between the vector P and the vector S in accordance with a geometrical arrangement of the plurality of sensors is minimized.

Abstract: A system for detecting the ambient temperature of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, where an oxygen sensor (O.sub.2 sensor) is installed for detecting oxygen content in exhaust gases generated by the engine. The oxygen sensor has a detection element and a heater for heating the detection element when supplied with current. The exhaust system is further provided with a catalytic converter which similarly has a heater for heating the catalyst for promoting the activation thereof. The electric resistance of the sensor heater is detected and based on the detected resistance, the ambient temperature of the exhaust system is detected or estimated in accordance with characteristics preestablished with respect to the electric resistance of the heater. With the arrangement, it becomes possible to detect the ambient temperature of the exhaust system without using a temperature sensor. The detected ambient temperature is used for controlling the current supply to the heater of the catalytic converter.

Abstract: An air pump abnormality-detecting system for an internal combustion engine. The engine has a catalyst arranged in the exhaust system of the engine, a passage extending from the exhaust system at a location upstream of the catalyst, and an electrically driven air pump arranged across the passage, for supplying secondary air into the exhaust system. A current sensor detects electric current flowing through the air pump, and a voltage sensor detects voltage applied to the air pump. An abnormality of the air pump is detected by comparing an output from the current sensor obtained during operation of the air pump, with predetermined abnormality-detecting reference values. At least one of the output from the current sensor or the predetermined abnormality-detecting reference values is corrected in response to an output from the voltage sensor.

Abstract: A current control system of an electrically heated catalytic converter installed in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. In the engine, fuel metering is controlled by correcting a basic quantity of fuel injection by correction factors. The correction factors are grouped into the factors for increasing the fuel injection quantity at engine warmup and other factors. Therefore, the total value of the factors for increasing the fuel injection quantity at engine warmup are compared with a predetermined value, and if the total value exceeds the predetermined value, the current supply to the heater is inhibited. Alternatively, the cranking time is compared with a predetermined value and if it exceeds the predetermined value, the current supply is inhibited. Since the quantity of fuel injection is increased in these situations, unburned emissions will accordingly be increase.

Abstract: An exhaust gas-purifying device for an internal combustion engine has an adsorbing device arranged in an exhaust passage of the engine for adsorbing unburnt fuel components in exhaust gases from the engine, a catalytic converter arranged in same at a location downstream of the adsorbing device for purifying the exhaust gases, and a heater for electrically heating the catalytic converter. The temperature of the adsorbing device is detected. The heater is controlled to be operated at least on condition that the temperature of the adsorbing device is above a predetermined value. In another form of the invention, the temperature of the catalytic converter is detected. A rate of a rise of the temperature of the catalytic converter is determined. A deterioration state of the adsorbing device is determined based on the rate of the rise of the temperature of the catalytic converter.

Abstract: An exhaust gas-purifying system for an internal combustion engine includes an alternator driven by the engine. A regulator controls voltage generated by the alternator. An electrically-heated catalyzer is arranged in the exhaust system of the engine and connected to the alternator to be electrically heated by electric power generated by the alternator. An ECU controls the regulator to control the voltage generated by the alternator and supplied to the electrically-heated catalyzer, according to a degree of aging of the electrically-heated catalyzer.

Abstract: In a fuel injection pump equipped with a plunger producing preflow effect, pressurized fuel is delivered at least in the low engine speed region by driving the plunger using a region of a cam on the decreasing velocity side of its maximum velocity point. As a result, the fuel delivery rate is reduced during low-speed engine operation and increased during high-speed engine operation, providing an ideal fuel delivery rate for an indirect-injection type engine equipped with swirl chambers or auxiliary chambers.

Abstract: An exhaust gas-purifying device for an internal combustion engine has an adsorbing device arranged in an exhaust passage of the engine for adsorbing unburnt fuel components in exhaust gases from the engine, a catalytic converter arranged in same at a location downstream of the adsorbing device for purifying the exhaust gases, and a heater for electrically heating the catalytic converter. The temperature of the adsorbing device is detected. The heater is controlled to be operated at least on condition that the temperature of the adsorbing device is above a predetermined value. In another form of the invention, the temperature of the catalytic converter is detected. A rate of a rise of the temperature of the catalytic converter is determined. A deterioration state of the adsorbing device is determined based on the rate of the rise of the temperature of the catalytic converter.

Abstract: A secondary air pump control system for an internal combustion engine having an air pump for supplying secondary air to the exhaust passage, comprises a voltage detector for detecting voltage applied to the air pump, a current detector for detecting current flowing through the air pump, and a switch for making a changeover between supply of electric power to the air pump and cutoff of same. The flow rate of secondary air supplied by the air pump is detected based on an output from the voltage detector and an output from the current detector. The operation of the switch is controlled based on the flow rate thus detected.