Abstract: A steering apparatus for an automotive vehicle is provided with an electric drive unit that varies a steering ratio between a road wheel angle and a steering wheel angle of the vehicle, a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the electric drive unit, and a control unit including a steering ratio characteristic setting block that sets a characteristic of the steering ratio including a steering gain and a steering response rate in accordance with an operating state of the vehicle and, when the temperature of the electric drive unit exceeds a first temperature threshold, adjusts the steering response rate in such a manner that the steering response rate comes closer to a base steering response rate level as the temperature of the electric drive unit becomes increased and a drive block that drives the electric drive unit to vary the steering ratio according to the steering ratio characteristic.

Abstract: A steering ratio control system of a vehicle includes a variable steering ratio mechanism variably adjusting a steering ratio of a steer angle at left and right steered road wheels to a steering-wheel rotation angle, and a braking/driving force control unit individually controlling braking force and/or driving force of the left and right steered wheels. A steering ratio control unit determines a reference steering ratio based on a vehicle's driving state. The steering ratio control unit calculates a steering-ratio correction value needed for canceling torque steer resulting from a difference in braking force and/or driving force between the left and right steered wheels. A final steering ratio is determined based on both of the reference steering ratio and the steering-ratio correction value to drive the variable steering ratio mechanism responsively to the final steering ratio reflecting the steering-ratio correction value.

Abstract: In steering apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, a turning section that turns steered road wheels is provided, a clutch is installed in a predetermined position in a midway through a steering system from an operation input section to the steered road wheels to link between the operation input section and the steered road wheels, a steering angle of the operation portion is detected, a turning angle is detected, an elastically deformable member is interposed between the operation portion and the turning portion to transmit a steering torque inputted from the operation input section to the steered road wheels when the clutch causes the operation input portion and the steered road wheels to be connected; and an angular deviation between the steering angle detection value and the turning angle detection value developed due to a deformation of the member is calculated.

Abstract: A method is provided to point out which software program is causing a problem. Event records are collected from target objects being monitored. An event group is then produced by grouping the collected event records. The event group is compared with a plurality of pattern definition groups in terms of occurrence patterns of event records, where each pattern definition group defines a pattern of event records that would be produced upon occurrence of a particular problem. Subsequently a troubleshooting record is extracted. This troubleshooting record has previously been associated with a pattern definition group resembling the event group in terms of occurrence patterns of event records.

Abstract: A vehicle steering apparatus includes a steering input section having at least a steering wheel to which steering input is applied, and a steering output section having at least a steering rack shaft and operatively associated with left and right steered wheels for steering the steered wheels by steering-rack-shaft movement produced by a steering force determined based on the steering input and transmitted directly or indirectly to the steering rack shaft. The steering rack shaft is split into left and right movable rack shaft portions. Also provided is a steer angle converter enabling a differential rack stroke between left and right rack strokes of the left and right movable rack shaft portions. The steer angle converter is constructed by at least one of a variable-pitch dual rack arrangement and a dual taper-pulley arrangement of a cable back-up mechanism.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system is provided with a primary steering system, a backup steering system and a control system that switches from the primary steering system to the backup steering system when a defect is determined in the primary steering system such as a defeat in a steering reaction force actuator. The vehicle steering system has a pair of clutches that mechanically disconnect the steering wheel from the steerable vehicle wheels in normal situations, and connect them when the steering reaction force actuator is determined to be defective. The control system has a steering malfunction detection section that detects a malfunction in the steering reaction force actuator, and a steering control limiting section that limits the control commands to the steering gear unit actuator from when the steering reaction force actuator is determined to be malfunctioning to when both the clutches are connected.

Abstract: A fail-safe steering system for a vehicle, which prevents movable elements of a backup mechanism from being dragged by motions of an associated one of a steering input section and a steering output section under normal operating conditions of the system, is provided. The fail-safe steering system includes two selectively engageable clutch mechanisms operatively connectable between the steering input section and the backup mechanism and between the backup mechanism and the steering output section. The fail-safe steering system also includes a mechanism for keeping the backup mechanism in the neutral condition during backup mechanism being mechanically separated under normal operating conditions of the system.

Abstract: In steering apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, a turning section that turns steered road wheels is provided, a clutch is installed in a predetermined position in a midway through a steering system from an operation input section to the steered road wheels to link between the operation input section and the steered road wheels, a steering angle of the operation portion is detected, a turning angle is detected, an elastically deformable member is interposed between the operation portion and the turning portion to transmit a steering torque inputted from the operation input section to the steered road wheels when the clutch causes the operation input portion and the steered road wheels to be connected; and an angular deviation between the steering angle detection value and the turning angle detection value developed due to a deformation of the member is calculated.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus of the present invention includes a roll brush for scrubbing the surface of the substrate, and an ultrasonic nozzle for blowing an aqueous cleaning solution against the surface of the substrate and generating an ultrasonic wave, wherein the roll brush and the ultrasonic nozzle are provided so as to oppose one another so that the substrate can be set in between. With the synergetic effects of brush scrubbing cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning and shower-cleaning, the precision cleaning of the upper surface of the substrate can be performed at a sufficient level of cleanliness. Moreover, in a state where the substrate to be cleaned is set, the roll brush can be cleaned automatically by the ultrasonic nozzle, and it is therefore possible to maintain the roll brush at high level of cleanliness without requiring maintenance operations.

Abstract: A steering angle ratio control system is provided which includes a steering angle ratio varying mechanism capable of varying a steering angle ratio by an electric drive unit, and a controller for controlling the steering angle ratio varying mechanism based on a steering angle ratio determined by a steering angle ratio determining section. The controller includes an electric drive unit overheat protecting section that determines, when the temperature of the electric drive unit rises beyond a predetermined temperature, a smaller steering angle ratio as compared with a steering angle ratio determined thereby when the temperature of the electric drive unit is lower than the predetermined temperature. A steering angle ratio control method is also provided.

Abstract: During occurrence of slippage at drive wheels, a traction controller calculates a feedforward term of a desired drive engine torque as a sum of an accelerating resistance torque and a running resistance torque determined immediately before the occurrence of slippage. The traction controller calculates a feedback term of the desired drive torque as a function of a slip error from a desired value and determines a target engine torque in response to the feedforward and feedback terms and a speed ratio established in a transmission. The traction controller alters an engine torque modifier in the form of a throttle arranged upstream of an accelerator controlled throttle.

Abstract: To provide an ultrasonic processing device that is capable of effectively carrying out a cleaning operation, a resist-stripping operation, etc. by projecting ultrasonic uniformly over an entirety of the ultrasonic processing target region by means of ultrasonic oscillation elements each having a width smaller than an ultrasonic processing target region of a processing object, as well as to provide an electronic parts fabrication method using the foregoing device, a plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements are arranged so as to planarly extend in a glass substrate transport direction and in a glass substrate width direction, and projected figures obtained by projecting said ultrasonic oscillation elements to a plane perpendicular to the glass substrate transport direction form a single belt-like region of a width exceeding a width of the ultrasonic processing target region.

Abstract: A steering angle ratio control system is provided which includes a steering angle ratio varying mechanism capable of varying a steering angle ratio by an electric drive unit, and a controller for controlling the steering angle ratio varying mechanism based on a steering angle ratio determined by a steering angle ratio determining section. The controller includes an electric drive unit overheat protecting section that determines, when the temperature of the electric drive unit rises beyond a predetermined temperature, a smaller steering angle ratio as compared with a steering angle ratio determined thereby when the temperature of the electric drive unit is lower than the predetermined temperature. A steering angle ratio control method is also provided.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus of the present invention includes a roll brush for scrubbing the surface of the substrate, and an ultrasonic nozzle for blowing an aqueous cleaning solution against the surface of the substrate and generating an ultrasonic wave, wherein the roll brush and the ultrasonic nozzle are provided so as to oppose one another so that the substrate can be set in between. With the synergetic effects of brush scrubbing cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning and shower-cleaning, the precision cleaning of the upper surface of the substrate can be performed at a sufficient level of cleanliness. Moreover, in a state where the substrate to be cleaned is set, the roll brush can be cleaned automatically by the ultrasonic nozzle, and it is therefore possible to maintain the roll brush at high level of cleanliness without requiring maintenance operations.

Abstract: To provide an ultrasonic processing device that is capable of effectively carrying out a cleaning operation, a resist-stripping operation, etc. by projecting ultrasonic uniformly over an entirety of the ultrasonic processing target region by means of ultrasonic oscillation elements each having a width smaller than an ultrasonic processing target region of a processing object, as well as to provide an electronic parts fabrication method using the foregoing device, a plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements are arranged so as to planarly extend in a glass substrate transport direction and in a glass substrate width direction, and projected figures obtained by projecting said ultrasonic oscillation elements to a plane perpendicular to the glass substrate transport direction form a single belt-like region of a width exceeding a width of the ultrasonic processing target region.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor which is excellent in sensitivity, durability and environmental capability comprises a photosensitive layer containing dihydroxysilicon phthalocyanine which is monoclinic and has lattice constants a=12.8.+-.1.ANG., b=14.5.+-.1.ANG., c=6.8.+-.1.ANG. and .beta.=94.4.+-.1.degree..

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the provision of a storage apparatus using a recording area management method and an error recovery processing method suitable for processing moving picture data and the like, wherein empty areas are registered separately in an empty area list for high-speed processing and an empty area list for low-speed processing according the classification made based on the result of comparing the length of each empty area with a minimum area length, and in the event of an error occurrence, a remaining time available for error processing is estimated from the difference between the time required to execute accumulated record or read requests and a limit time, and an error processing method, from among a plurality of error processing methods requiring different lengths of time for processing, is selected and carried out according to the remaining time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a toner for electrostatic image development comprising:a lubricant having a DSC determined endothermic peak at 50.degree.-130.degree. C., with the half value width of said endothermic peak being not more than 15.degree. C., and represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl or alkoxyl group having 10 or more carbon atoms, and R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having 10 or more carbon atoms or a group represented by --X--COOR.sup.3 wherein X represents an alkylene group and R.sup.3 represents an alkyl group having 10 or more carbon atoms;a binder resin comprising a styrene-based resin in which tetrahydrofuran soluble matter has the weight-average molecular weight of not less than 50,000, and has one or more peaks of molecular weight in the range of not more than 5.times.10.sup.4 and the range of 1.times.10.sup.5 to 1.times.10.sup.7 respectively, on the gel permeation chromatogram; anda coloring agent.

Abstract: A terminal housing mounting structure adapted for use with an electromagnetic switch includes a terminal housing mounted to a switch cover, and a terminal bolt that passes through the terminal housing and the switch cover. The terminal housing has an alignment groove that receives a lug plate in a predetermined orientation. A cylindrical end portion of the switch cover and a cylindrical end portion of the terminal housing are provided with engagable sawteeth equally spaced apart from one another so that the terminal housing is angularly displaceable and releaseably engagable with respect to the switch cover in a plurality of angular increments.

Abstract: An automobile traction control system in combination with a throttle control system of an internal combustion engine for controlling traction of drive wheels, comprises a sub-throttle for adjusting an engine-power by varying its opening amount and a controller responsive to a slip amount of the drive wheel for controlling the sub-throttle opening to reduce an engine-power irrespective of an accelerator pedal work when the slip amount exceeds a predetermined threshold. To effectively suppress undesired acceleration-slip for example when starting on a low-.mu. road, the controller performs a sub-throttle slow-opening control under a particular condition of at least a low vehicle speed, a low-.mu. road and a great depression of an accelerator. During the slow-opening control, the sub-throttle opening increases slowly, after once adjusting the sub-throttle opening essentially to zero irrespective of the slip amount of the drive wheel.