Abstract: A battery charging apparatus includes a plurality of input terminals which are connected to respective phases of a three-phase AC dynamo, and a rectifying circuit including a plurality of rectifying elements and a plurality of switching elements. A switching element control unit and pulse generation unit are provided, for controlling the turning on/off of the switching elements, and for generating a pulse signal, respectively. The switching element control unit is configured to control the plurality of switching elements, and includes a potential difference detection unit configured to detect potential differences between potentials of input terminals, and a specifying unit configured to determine a phase order of AC outputs which are input to the input terminals.

Abstract: A vehicular lead storage battery according to the present invention includes a battery container provided with at least one cell chamber; and a cover plate 1 for covering an upper opening of the battery container. A guide path 8 for discharging gases within a cell chamber to the outside is formed in the cover plate 1. The guide path 8 includes a first guide portion 9B for horizontally guiding gases from the cell chamber; a second guide portion 9C connected to the first guide portion 9B to downwardly guide the gases from the first guide portion 9B; and a third guide portion 10A connected to the second guide portion 9C to horizontally guide the gases from the second guide portion 9C and discharge the gases from an exhaust vent 4K formed in the cover plate 1 to the outside. A corner portion 9K is formed by the first guide portion 9B and the second guide portion 9C, and a corner portion 10K is formed by the second guide portion 9C and the third guide portion 10A.

Abstract: A method and a system for detecting a crank angle of an engine includes detecting a non-toothed portion of a crank pulse rotor during a inlet valve open period for preventing falsely recognizing compression top dead center as a position of the non-toothed portion. A crank angle sensor is arranged at a position facing an outer circumference of a crank pulse rotor including a non-toothed portion thereof. An interval calculating unit measures crank pulse time intervals between adjacent teeth based on a sensing signal received from the crank angle sensor. The measured successive crank pulse time intervals are compared for detection of the non-toothed portion. A ratio calculating unit calculates a ratio of crank pulse intervals. A maximum ratio detecting unit determines presence of the non-toothed portion when the calculated ratio of crank pulse interval is the maximum in the cycle of the engine.

Abstract: A stroke detection apparatus performs a stroke detection of 4-cycle engine based on a rotary engine speed when a throttle opening is large. A first crank-pulse time interval between a crank pulse inputted before a top dead center by 30°, and a crank pulse of the top dead center is measured by a pulse-interval calculation unit, and at the same time, a second crank-pulse time interval between a crank pulse inputted after the top dead center by 60° and a crank pulse inputted after the top dead center 90° is measured. An interval difference calculation unit calculates time-interval difference by subtracting the second crank-pulse time interval from the first crank-pulse time interval, for two continuous top dead centers. A stroke detection unit determines whether two top dead centers are a compression top dead center or an exhaust top dead center based on magnitudes of the time-interval differences.

Abstract: To enable a circuit configuration to be easily changed over depending on whether a recoil starter is present or absent. A battery charged by a generator driven by an engine, a charging circuit for charging the battery by the generator, and a drive electric power supply circuit for supplying engine drive system loads with electric power generated by the generator, are provided. In a system having a recoil starter, a contact configuration is adopted in which, when an ignition switch is changed over to a recoil start position, the charging circuit is disconnected and the drive electric power supply circuit is connected. The disconnection of the charging circuit may be conducted by use of a charging inhibition relay. The charging inhibition relay is formed as a sub harness, and, in a system not using the recoil starter, the sub harness is replaced by a sub harness in which the charging inhibition relay is not mounted.

Abstract: A method and a system for detecting a crank angle of an engine includes detecting a non-toothed portion of a crank pulse rotor during a inlet valve open period for preventing falsely recognizing compression top dead center as a position of the non-toothed portion. A crank angle sensor is arranged at a position facing an outer circumference of a crank pulse rotor including a non-toothed portion thereof. An interval calculating unit measures crank pulse time intervals between adjacent teeth based on a sensing signal received from the crank angle sensor. The measured successive crank pulse time intervals are compared for detection of the non-toothed portion. A ratio calculating unit calculates a ratio of crank pulse intervals. A maximum ratio detecting unit determines presence of the non-toothed portion when the calculated ratio of crank pulse interval is the maximum in the cycle of the engine.

Abstract: A stroke detection apparatus performs a stroke detection of 4-cycle engine based on a rotary engine speed when a throttle opening is large. A first crank-pulse time interval between a crank pulse inputted before a top dead center by 30°, and a crank pulse of the top dead center is measured by a pulse-interval calculation unit, and at the same time, a second crank-pulse time interval between a crank pulse inputted after the top dead center by 60° and a crank pulse inputted after the top dead center 90° is measured. An interval difference calculation unit calculates time-interval difference by subtracting the second crank-pulse time interval from the first crank-pulse time interval, for two continuous top dead centers. A stroke detection unit determines whether two top dead centers are a compression top dead center or an exhaust top dead center based on magnitudes of the time-interval differences.

Abstract: To enable a circuit configuration to be easily changed over depending on whether a recoil starter is present or absent. A battery charged by a generator driven by an engine, a charging circuit for charging the battery by the generator, and a drive electric power supply circuit for supplying engine drive system loads with electric power generated by the generator, are provided. In a system having a recoil starter, a contact configuration is adopted in which, when an ignition switch is changed over to a recoil start position, the charging circuit is disconnected and the drive electric power supply circuit is connected. The disconnection of the charging circuit may be conducted by use of a charging inhibition relay. The charging inhibition relay is formed as a sub harness, and, in a system not using the recoil starter, the sub harness is replaced by a sub harness in which the charging inhibition relay is not mounted.

Abstract: To enable restart of an engine by detecting that a vehicle is restored to the upright position after overturning in an early state. An acceleration sensor having a detection axis laid laterally of a vehicle body is integrated into an ECU and mounted on the vehicle body. Outputs of the acceleration sensor are weighted and averaged, and when an average value exceeds an overturn threshold repeatedly, an overturn determination unit determines that the vehicle is overturned. On the other hand, when outputs of the acceleration sensor are determined to be below a restoration threshold, and the determination is repeatedly made, it is determined that the vehicle is restored from the overturned state. The engine is stopped when determination of overturn is made, while restart of the engine is enabled when determination of restoration is made. Especially, the reference value of determination is set so that determination of restoration is made at an early stage.

Abstract: To enable restart of an engine by detecting that a vehicle is restored to the upright position after overturning in an early state. An acceleration sensor having a detection shaft laid laterally of a vehicle body is integrated into an ECU and mounted on the vehicle body. Outputs of the acceleration sensor are weighted and averaged, and when an average value exceeds an overturn threshold repeatedly, an overturn determination unit determines that the vehicle is overturned. On the other hand, when outputs of the acceleration sensor are determined to be below a restoration threshold, and the determination is repeatedly made, it is determined that the vehicle is restored from the overturned state. The engine is stopped when determination of overturn is made, while restart of the engine is enabled when determination of restoration is made. Especially, the reference value of determination is set so that determination of restoration is made at an early stage.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for preventing data destruction in a multiplex communication system. The invention is useful in a bit serial scheme to prevent transmission data from being destroyed by collision caused by the time delay in transmission data between transmitter and receiver. After sending transmission data, a transmitter starts a transmission clock when a receiver has received the data. When the received data has become non-priority, the receiver resets the reception clock. The transmitted data is compared with the received data, and the transmission is stopped whenever a mismatch is detected. In addition, a non-prioritized bit signal is provided after the unit address for determining transmission priority in the above-mentioned transmission data format. The invention is useful in preventing data destruction in a vehicle control system, which controls the operation of a plurality of units mounted on a vehicle, e.g. an ABS system, a vehicle speed sensor, a cam pulser, and other vehicle systems.

Abstract: An ignition device of the capacitor discharge type for small automobiles or two-wheeled vehicles, having an A.C. generator with a converter which transforms the alternating current supplied by a stator coil into direct current, increasing the voltage. Ignition voltage is provided by a charging control which releases the charge stored in a capacitor with the required timing.