Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a failure of an exhaust gas sensor disposed downstream of a catalyst converter in an exhaust manifold is provided. The apparatus comprises a control unit. The control unit determines a ratio between an amplitude value of a first output of the exhaust gas sensor and an amplitude value of a second output of an air-fuel ratio sensor. The air fuel ratio sensor disposed upstream of the catalyst converter. The control unit detects a failure of the exhaust gas sensor based on the ratio. In one embodiment, a statistical process using a successive least squares method is applied to the ratio. The control unit detects a failure of the exhaust gas sensor based on the statistically processed ratio. In another embodiment, the statistical process is applied to both the output of the exhaust gas sensor and the output of the air-fuel ratio sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a failure of an exhaust gas sensor disposed in an exhaust manifold is provided. The apparatus comprises a control unit. The control unit compares detection values of the exhaust gas sensor detected under different element temperatures of the exhaust gas sensor. The control unit detects a failure of the exhaust gas sensor based on the comparison result. In one embodiment, the different states include a state in which the element temperature is maintained at higher level and a state in which the element temperature is maintained at lower level. The element temperature can be controlled by a response assignment control scheme. In one embodiment, the detection values are subjected to a filtering process and/or a statistical process using a successive least squares method. The control unit compares the statistically processed detection values to detect a failure of the exhaust gas sensor.

Abstract: A target air-fuel ratio KCMD for an exhaust gas upstream of a catalytic converter is sequentially determined to converge the output VO2/OUT of an O2 sensor downstream of the catalytic converter to a target value VO2/TARGET, and the amount of fuel supplied to an internal combustion engine is controlled to converge the output KACT of an air-fuel ratio sensor to the target air-fuel ratio KCMD. While the amount of fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine is being thus controlled, the value of a deterioration linear function &sgr; whose variable components are represented by time-series data of the output VO2/OUT of the O2 sensor is determined. A central value of the square &sgr;2 of the value of the deterioration linear function &sgr; is determined as a deterioration evaluating parameter. A deteriorated state of the catalytic converter is evaluated on the basis of the value of the deterioration evaluating parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a fine servo control and a rough servo control with respect to the rotation of a motor for rotating a recording medium in accordance with information recorded on the recording medium. A fine servo signal is generated on the basis of a reproduction clock, filtered by a first filtering device, and used for the fine servo control. A rough servo signal is generated on the basis of a frame synchronizing signal, filtered by a second filtering device, and used for the rough servo control. The first filtering device has a first frequency band, and the second filtering device has a second frequency band. The upper limit of the second frequency band is lower than that of the first frequency band.

Abstract: An apparatus for accurately and promptly determining a failure of an oxygen concentration sensor. The oxygen concentration sensor is arranged at a location downstream of a catalyst in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus measures a time period elapsed after termination of a fuel cut-off operation, and calculates an integrated amount SUMSVS of exhaust gases exhausted after the termination of the fuel cut-off operation. A failure of the oxygen concentration sensor is determined depending on whether or not a signal value SVO2 of a signal from the oxygen concentration sensor has crossed a predetermined threshold value #SVO2CHK. Further, when a predetermined time period #TMFCCKD has elapsed, if the signal value SVO2 has not crossed the predetermined threshold value #SVO2CHK, and at the same time when the integrated amount SUMSVS of the exhaust gases has not reached a predetermined value #SUMSVAFC the failure determination is suspended.

Abstract: A process for preparing a polyurethane foam, comprising reacting a polyol having a number-average molecular weight of not less than 1000 and less than 2500 with a polyisocyanate compound in the presence of a catalyst and a blowing agent in a mold, to give a molded article having a density of 0.4 to 0.8 g/cm3, and heating the resulting molded article to a temperature of 60° to 100° C. The polyurethane foam is used as a cushioning material such as shoe soles of sports shoes.

Abstract: A thermosensitive wire (15), including a pair of phosphor bronze round wires which cause a short-circuit when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, is laid along an induction line (14), and a protective device (25) including a DC power supply unit (33) for applying a DC voltage and a meter relay (35) for detecting that the thermosensitive wire (15) has caused a short-circuit is provided on both ends of the thermosensitive wire (15). An alarm output (35A) of the meter relay (35) is outputted to a high-frequency generating circuit (24) so as to shut down a high-frequency current to be supplied to the induction line (14). With this structure, even when a metal such as a tool made of iron is erroneously set near the induction line (14), the heating thereof may be detected by using the thermosensitive wire (15) and the high-frequency current flowing through the induction line (14) may be shut down.

Abstract: A mouse anti-human MP52 monoclonal antibody which binds to dimeric human MP52 but not to monomeric human MP52. This mouse monoclonal antibody comprising IgG and having a high specificity can be obtained by sensitizing mice with human MP52 (CHO-MP52) produced in CHO cells and human MP52 (rhMP52) produced in escherichia coli. This antibody is useful in, for example, purifying or assaying human MP52 produced b genetic engineering techniques.

Abstract: Microcellular polyurethane elastomer shoe sole components having exceptional physical properties may be prepared from isocyanate-terminated prepolymers derived from polyoxypropylene diols having a molecular weight of from about 2000 Da to 8000 Da, an unsaturation less than about 0.02 meq/g, and a random oxyethylene content of from about 5 to about 15 weight percent. The shoe sole components exhibit high tensile strength, elongation, resilience, and in addition have excellent tear strength, particularly 90° angle tear.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for determining a failure of an oxygen concentration sensor, which is capable of determining a failure of the oxygen concentration sensor accurately and promptly. The oxygen concentration sensor 25 is arranged at a location downstream of a catalyst 8 in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine 3. The apparatus 1 measures a time period elapsed after termination of a fuel cut-off operation, and calculates an integrated amount SUMSVS of exhaust gases exhausted after the termination of the fuel cut-off operation (step S13). A failure of the oxygen concentration sensor is determined depending on whether or not a signal value SVO2 of a signal from the oxygen concentration sensor 25 has crossed a predetermined threshold value #SVO2CHK (steps S51, 55).

Abstract: Disclosed are a crystalline polypropylene resin composition comprising a crystalline polyproplylene resin and a &bgr;-nucleating agent, and a method of increasing the proportion of &bgr;-form crystals in a crystalline polypropylene resin molding comprising molding the composition, the &bgr;-nucleating agent being a diamide compound.

Abstract: This invention provides a color still image sensing apparatus and method, which can obtain image quality as high as that of the three-plate type with cost as low as the single-plate type, and can prevent the input time from becoming redundant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermosetting high solids coating composition comprising (A) a carboxyl-containing compound, (B) a polyepoxide, and (C) a copolymer prepared by polymerizing monomer components comprising (a) 30 to 50% by weight of vinyltrimethoxysilane and/or vinyltriethoxysilane, (b) 5 to 15% by weight of N-methylol(meth)acrylamide alkyl ether, and (c) 35 to 65% by weight of another polymerizable unsaturated monomer, and a method for forming a topcoat using said composition. The composition of the present invention is highly effective in forming a coating film excellent in resistance to both acids and scratch, and is superior in storage stability and recoat adhesion.

Abstract: A gain controlling apparatus is provided with: an adjusting device (6, 7, 8) for adjusting a gain of a generation signal, which is generated on the basis of a light reception signal obtained by receiving a reflection light of a light beam from an information recording medium (1); and a detecting device (21, 14, 16) for detecting whether or not the generation signal is generated and outputting a detection signal when the generation signal is generated. The gain controlling apparatus is also provided with a controlling device (18) for controlling the adjusting device to increase the gain by a predetermined value set in advance when the detection signal is not outputted by the detecting device.

Abstract: A control system for a plant includes a sensor for detecting an output from the plant, an adaptive controller for controlling a manipulated variable applied to control of the plant in such a manner that an output from the sensor becomes equal to a desired value, and an adaptive parameter-adjusting device for adjusting adaptive parameters used by the adaptive controller. The adaptive parameter-adjusting device has an identification error-calculating device for calculating an identification error of the adaptive parameters and generating an identification error signal indicative of the calculated identification error, and an adjusting device for adjusting the adaptive parameters based on the calculated identification error. The adaptive parameter-adjusting device includes a non-linear filter for generating an output of 0 or approximately 0 in response to the identification error signal when the identification error is within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A system for controlling an air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine, including a feedback control loop having an adaptive controller (STR controller) that receives as inputs a desired value r and a controlled variable y output from the plant (engine) and an adaptation mechanism that estimates adaptive parameters. The STR controller calculates a feedback correction coefficient KSTR, as an output u based upon at least the adaptive parameters, for correcting a basic amount of fuel supply calculated by retrieving mapped data, prepared beforehand, such that the controlled variable y converges to the desired value r. The system is configured such that the controlled variable y is determined based upon the detected air/fuel ratio KACT and a desired air/fuel ratio KCMD so that the desired value r is a predetermined value. More specifically, the controlled variable is determined to be a ratio between the detected air/fuel ratio and the desired air/fuel ratio such that the desired value r is 1.0 or thereabout.

Abstract: A control system for a plant includes a sensor for detecting an output from the plant, an adaptive controller for controlling a manipulated variable applied to control of the plant in a manner such that an output from the sensor becomes equal to a desired value, and an adaptive parameter vector-adjusting mechanism for adjusting an adaptive parameter vector used by the adaptive controller. The adaptive parameter vector-adjusting mechanism is constructed such that an updating component for updating the adaptive parameter vector is added to an initial value of the adaptive parameter vector, and updates the adaptive parameter vector by multiplying at least part of preceding values of the updating component by a predetermined coefficient which is larger than 0 but smaller than 1.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control system for a multi-cylinder engine is provided. An air-fuel ratio sensor is arranged in an exhaust system of the engine for detecting an air-fuel ratio of a mixture supplied to the engine and for generating an output indicative of the air-fuel ratio of the mixture. An adaptive controller determines an amount of fuel to be supplied to the engine with a first predetermined repetition period in a manner such that the output from the air-fuel ratio sensor becomes equal to a desired value. An adaptive parameter-adjusting mechanism adjusts adaptive parameters used by the adaptive controller. In the adaptive parameter-adjusting mechanism, the adaptive parameters are calculated with a second predetermined repetition period longer than the first predetermined repetition period, and output data indicative of results of the calculation is generated.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine includes an air-fuel ratio sensor arranged in the exhaust system of the engine, for detecting the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gases from the engine. An ECU calculates an adaptive control amount, based on an output from the air-fuel ratio sensor, by using an adaptive controller having an adaptive parameter-adjusting mechanism, such that the air-fuel ratio of a mixture supplied to the engine is converged to a desired air-fuel ratio, and controls the air-fuel ratio of the mixture in a feedback manner, according to the adaptive control amount. When a particular engine operating condition in which the adaptive controller can become unstable in operation is detected, the adaptive parameters are initialized according to the adaptive control amount.

Abstract: A display device displaying a plurality of information sets with a simple structure, and a keyboard instrument that has a key guide device including such a display device. The display is driven at cycles shorter than those discernible by human beings, and the time ratio of ON period to OFF period for the display is changed based on control data. More specifically, the ON state and OFF state are inverted each drive cycle, or the number of cycles during which the display is in ON or OFF state can selected, or the drive cycles are cyclically changed to turn ON the display means only in a designated cycle. In this manner, the luminance of and the hues of the display can be changed relative to the continuous lighting, and a plurality of information sets can be displayed based on this change. This display device may be employed as a fingering guide display device for a keyboard instrument, and position data for keys to be depressed and other playing guide information are displayed at the same time.