Abstract: A knocking vibration detecting unit (1) and a knock deciding unit (c) are integrated, and the communications of a knock intensity between the knock deciding unit (c) and an engine controlling microcomputer (7) are carried out in combination of a change from the previous value of a signal line level. In the engine controlling microcomputer (7), the ignition timing is controlled by a predetermined retard angle in case of combination of no change of the present read signal line level from the previous signal line level.Thus, an internal combustion engine is prevented from any damage by relieving a failure without fail when a signal line (10) is troubled, while minimizing the influences of noises and reducing the space and size of an ECU.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus for discriminating each cylinder of an engine comprises a crank angle rotor (M1) having a configuration representing a crank angle of an engine; a crank angle sensor (M2) operatively associated with the crank angle rotor (M1) to generate a crank angle signal in accordance with the configuration of the crank angle rotor (M1). The configuration of the crank angle rotor (M1) includes first and second silent sections. The first silent section is cooperative with the crank angle sensor (M1) to constitute a part (M3) for generating a first level non-pulsation component of the crank angle signal. The second silent section being cooperative with said crank angle sensor to constitute a part (M4) for generating a second level non-pulsation component of the crank angle signal.

Abstract: In a method of forming contact holes in an interstage insulation layer having a thick portion on the semiconductor substrate in which a first contact hole leading to the substrate surface is to be formed and a thin portion on an electrode in which a second contact hole leading to the electrode is to be formed, a positive-type resist layer is formed on the interstage insulation layer. Then first and second portions of the resist layer which are aligned with the first and second contact holes to be formed are exposed to light, and thereafter the resist layer is heated, thereby making the exposed first and second portions insoluble in a developer. Thereafter, the first portion of the resist layer is exposed to light and then subjected to a developing treatment to form an opening in the first portion of the resist layer.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio feedback control apparatus for a gas engine. A mixer mixes intake air and a fuel gas. A subsidiary supply path supplies at least one of the intake air and the fuel gas downstream of the mixer. Oxygen concentration sensors detect a concentration of oxygen in an exhaust gas; and operation condition detectors detect operating conditions of the gas engine. A basic amount setting unit sets a basic amount of at least one of the intake air and the fuel gas supplied through the subsidiary supply path. A correction amount setting unit sets a correction amount proportional to a total fuel gas supply rate, and a control amount setting unit for setting a control amount of at least one of the intake air and the fuel gas supplied through the subsidiary supply path by adding the basic amount and the correction amount together, whereby the air-fuel ratio of the gas engine can be controlled at a desired value even when a bypass supply ratio of the fuel gas varies.

Abstract: Formation of an isolation region and an alignment mark different in depth in a semiconductor device is disclosed. Phenol resin positive resist has the property that when selective exposure process is implemented to such a resist to apply heat treatment thereto in an amine gas atmosphere such as ammonium, there results the state where only a photosensitive agent at the portion in which light reaction takes place is escaped or gotten away, so this resin portion is insoluble in an alkali developer. By making use of this property, when exposure process is implemented only to the region portions to be etched different in depth to carry out baking, only the position is established by a single mask. Thereafter, only the alignment mark portion required to be deeper of the regions to be etched is etched exposed to light to etch it thereafter to allow only the isolation region to be exposed to light to etch it. Thus, the alignment mark portion becomes deeper than the isolation region by two etching process steps.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus in which an air-fuel ratio of a mixture gas supplied to an engine, especially, a gas engine, is controlled in accordance with an output signal of each of oxygen concentration sensors disposed in upper and lower streams of an exhaust gas catalyzer of the engine. The output signal of the oxygen concentration sensor disposed on the upper stream side of the catalyzer is provided as one input signal of an air-fuel ratio control unit and the output signal of the oxygen concentration sensor disposed on the lower stream side of the catalyzer is provided as an input signal of an output signal correction amount determination unit, respectively. A mixing member for mixing an exhaust gas is disposed in an upper stream of each oxygen concentration sensor to detect the concentration of oxygen in the exhaust gas which is well mixed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a thin film pattern with a trapezoidal cross section. In this method, a resist pattern with an inverted-trapezoidal cross section is formed on a thin film. Using the resist pattern with the inverted-trapezoidal cross section as a mask, the thin film is dry-etched. A resist pattern is left with the resist pattern used as a mask. The resist pattern has a trapezoidal cross section.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus for an engine for controlling a fuel injection amount so that an air-fuel ratio of a mixture gas which is supplied to the engine is set to a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio is disclosed. The apparatus has a first oxygen concentration sensor on the upstream side of a catalyst arranged in an exhaust pipe of the engine and a second oxygen concentration sensor on the downstream side, respectively. The first sensor gives to the apparatus a first linear detection signal for the air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas. The second sensor gives to the apparatus a second detection signal indicating whether the air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas is rich or lean for the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. A target air-fuel ratio is set in accordance with the second detection signal and the first detection signal and the target air-fuel ratio are compared, thereby controlling a fuel injection amount.

Abstract: An automotive air conditioner controller for controlling the operation of an automotive air conditioner employing a variable displacement compressor capable of gradually or continuously varying its displacement. While the engine of the automobile is idling, the automotive air conditioner controller adjusts the displacement of the compressor to or near to the maximum, varies desired idling speed of the engine according to required cooling ability, and adjusts the actual idling speed of the engine to the desired idling speed. Thus, the engine operates at an improved fuel consumption rate without reducing the cooling ability of the automotive air conditioner.

Abstract: A method of controlling the air fuel ratio in internal combustion, engines, comprising the steps of: updating first learning terms at a first learning speed in response to a signal from the air-fuel-ratio sensor and respectively storing them in a reloadable memory device, the first learning terms being provided for respective different ranges corresponding to different engine temperature and related to factors causing variation in air-fuel ratio in such a manner that the air-fuel-ratio variate of the variation varies depending upon the engine temperature; updating second learning terms at a second learning speed which is higher than the first learning speed in response to a signal from the air-fuel-ratio sensor and storing them in the reloadable memory device, the second learning terms being related to factors causing variation in air-fuel ratio in such a manner that the air-fuel-ratio variate of the variation varies in a substantially uniform manner with respect to the engine temperature; and determining the

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device of the present invention comprises a first step of exposing a periphery of a first region of a photoresist layer coating an insulating layer formed on a semiconductor substrate and a periphery of a second region for positioning, and a second step of heating said photoresist layer in ammonia atmosphere and forming an alkali insoluble portion in the periphery of the first region and that of the second region, a third step of exposing a third region, which is smaller than the first region, and the second region and developing these regions, a fourth step of etching the third region and the second region to a predetermined depth, and a fifth step of repeating the third and fourth steps once or more in a region, which is smaller than the third region, and the second region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode for a battery comprises steps of preparing a substrate formed by a metal porous body having three-dimensionally continuous pores, a slurry mainly composed of active material powder to be filled into the pores of the substrate, a vessel for containing the slurry and a filling roller located to be at least partially dipped but not completely submerged in the slurry contained in the vessel, continuously supplying the substrate onto the filling roller so that the substrate is in contact with the filling roller in at least a point not being submerged in the slurry and rotating the filling roller in such a manner that the speed of outer peripheral surface of the filling roller facing the substrate is higher than the travel speed of the substrate thereby to fill the slurry into the pores of the substrate.

Abstract: A knock control apparatus for an internal combustion engine which prevents variation of a control knock sound even if an output of a knock sensor is varied due to the variations in performance among different engines or knock sensors, aging of the engine or knock sensor or the like. A given correction quantity is added to an average value of an output signal of the knock sensor, and the sum is increased K times by a K-value varying with the operating conditions of the engine, thereby generating a knock discrimination level. In accordance with the presence or absence of knocking determined by comparing the knock discrimination level and an output signal of the knock sensor, a knock control factor, e.g., ignition timing, supercharge pressure or the like of the engine is controlled.

Abstract: An ignition timing control arrangement for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders. It is determined whether the same cylinder is knocking on successive engine cycles or whether different cylinders are knocking. The ignition timing of only a single cylinder is retarded to cause a non-knocking ignition if the same cylinder is knocking on successive engine cycles. However, ignition timing of all cylinders is retarded to minimize the knocking and maximize the engine torque if different cylinders are knocking.

Abstract: In a system for controlling knocking in an internal combustion engine, a reference value to be compared with a knock sensor signal for determining the presence or absence of the knocking is corrected in accordance with the pattern of a distribution obtained by collecting the logarithmic transformation value of the maximum value of signal generated from the knock sensor signal within a predetermined engine rotational angle at an interval. This is based on the fact that the pattern of distribution represents the characteristic of knocking of the engine.

Abstract: Disclosed is an anti-knocking control system for controlling an internal combustion engine to prevent knocking in accordance with a knocking condition detected by a knock detecting apparatus on the basis of a distribution pattern of knock magnitude values derived from the output signal of a knock sensor. The knock detection apparatus is arranged to derive a knock magnitude value from the output signal of the knock sensor generated within a predetermined engine rotational angle at an interval thereby obtaining a plurality of knock magnitude values, determine a pattern of distribution of the plurality of the knock magnitude values on the basis of the results of comparison between the frequency that the knock magnitude value exceeds an upper threshold value and the frequency that the knock magnitude value goes below a lower threshold value, and detect a knocking condition of the engine in accordance with the determined distribution pattern.

Abstract: A knock control system for an internal combustion engine has a knock discrimination level. If an output signal from a knock sensor is higher than the knock discrimination level, then the knock control system determines that the engine is subjected to knock and retards the ignition timing. If the knock sensor output signal is lower than the knock discrimination level, i.e., if no knock or detonation is detected over a prescribed period of time, then the ignition timing is advanced. The knock discrimination level is corrected such that a probability that the maximum value of the knock sensor output signal will exceed the knock discrimination level is greater in a knock control range than outside of a knock control range.

Abstract: A knock control system for an internal combustion engine has a knock discrimination level. If an output signal from a knock sensor is higher than the knock discrimination level, then the knock control system determines that the engine is subjected to knock and retards the ignition timing. If the knock sensor output signal is lower than the knock discrimination level, i.e., if no knock or detonation is detected over a prescribed period of time, then the ignition timing is advanced. At least two corrective levels are established for comparison with a knock discrimination level, and occurrences in which the maximum value of the output signal from the knock sensor exceeds the corrective levels. The knock discrimination level is automatically corrected dependent on the counts of such occurrences.

Abstract: In a system for controlling knocking in an internal combustion engine, a reference value to be compared with a knock sensor signal for determining the presence or absence of the knocking is corrected in accordance with the pattern of a distribution obtained by collecting the logarithmic transformation value of the maximum value of signal generated from the knock sensor signal within a predetermined engine rotational angle at an interval. This is based on the fact that the pattern of distribution represents the characteristic of knocking of the engine.

Abstract: The ignition timing of an internal combustion engine is controlled to an optimum by compensating for engine knock. A microcomputer includes a memory for storing steady-state and transient-state ignition timing variables which are derived as a function of an operating condition of the engine. If engine knock occurs during a steady running state, the stored steady-state ignition timing variable is trimmed and if engine knock occurs during a transient state, the stored transient-state ignition timing variable is trimmed. Ignition is caused to occur in response to the stored value of the trimmed steady-state or transient-state ignition variable according to the detected engine condition.