Abstract: A power supply degradation determination apparatus which is mounted to the vehicle includes a controller and a DC-DC converter that control execution of a charge phase in which a capacitor capable of accumulating regenerative energy of the vehicle is charged and execution of a discharge phase in which the capacitor is discharged. The controller detects the internal resistance of the capacitor using the difference between the terminal voltage and the open circuit voltage of the capacitor during the execution of the discharge phase and the discharge current thereof, determines whether the internal resistance is a predetermined value or more, and delays the execution start of the discharge phase for a predetermined time when the internal resistance is determined to be the predetermined value or more.

Abstract: A power supply degradation determination apparatus which is mounted to the vehicle includes a controller and a DC-DC converter that control execution of a charge phase in which a capacitor capable of accumulating regenerative energy of the vehicle is charged and execution of a discharge phase in which the capacitor is discharged. The controller detects the internal resistance of the capacitor using the difference between the terminal voltage and the open circuit voltage of the capacitor during the execution of the discharge phase and the discharge current thereof, determines whether the internal resistance is a predetermined value or more, and delays the execution start of the discharge phase for a predetermined time when the internal resistance is determined to be the predetermined value or more.

Abstract: A spark plug for internal combustion engine, which produces a spark discharge that ignites air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber and causes combustion such that an ionic current flow during combustion can be utilized for detecting misfire of the engine. The spark plug the core connected to an ignition coil, a center electrode made of at least one of iridium and an iridium alloy and connected to the core through a seat, and a ground electrode separated from the center electrode with a gap. A sum of surface areas of the seat and the center electrode is not less than a prescribed value, specifically, is not less than 11.0 mm2, and more specifically, is not less than 11.47 mm2. Even when the diameter of the center electrode is reduced in the interest of improving ignition performance, improved ignition performance and improved ionic current detection accuracy can be achieved simultaneously.

Abstract: In a system for detecting misfire for an internal combustion engine wherein ionization current that flows following the discharge current is detected and integrated during a period (gate) and occurrence of misfire of the engine is detected based on the integrated value, a processing delay circuit is provided which inputs at least one of the discharge current or the ionization current and based on the inputted current, delays starting of the period by a time point which is not earlier than termination of the discharge current. With this, the system is unaffected by fluctuation in ignition coil discharge period, various kinds of noise and the like, and can therefore ensure accurate misfire detection by preventing erroneous detection owing to such causes.

Abstract: In an engine-starting and stopping system in a vehicle, a crank pulley for driving auxiliary parts by an endless belt is mounted at an end of a crankshaft protruding from a cylinder block of an engine, and a starter motor for cranking the crankshaft is accommodated in an internal space in the crank pulley. The starter motor includes a rotor having a permanent magnet fixed to an inner peripheral surface of a peripheral wall of the crank pulley, and a stator having a coil fixed to an outer surface of a chain cover. Thus, the starter motor for automatically carrying out the restarting of the engine after stopping of the engine can be laid out compactly.

Abstract: An ignition coil unit to be installed in a hole opened through a cylinder head of an engine having a case, an ignition coil installed in the case and comprising a primary coil connected to a power source and a secondary coil connected to a spark plug which is installed in a combustion chamber of a cylinder of the engine for producing spark discharge to ignite air-fuel mixture to generate combustion thereof in the combustion chamber, and a circuit board on which an ionic-current detection circuit, connected to the secondary coil, which detects ionic-current that flows during the combustion of the air-fuel mixture; and a processing circuit, connected to the ionic-current detection circuit, which generates an output indicative of the detected ionic-current, are formed; In the unit, an igniter is also installed in the case, thereby improving detection accuracy of ionic-current and misfiring.

Abstract: A spark plug for internal combustion engine which produces a spark discharge that ignites air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber and causes combustion such that an ionic current flowing during combustion can be utilized for detecting misfire of the engine. The spark plug comprises the core connected to an ignition coil, the center electrode made of iridium or an iridium alloy and connected to the core through a seat and the ground electrode grounded separated from the center electrode with a gap. The characteristic feature is that a sum of surface ares of the seat the center electrode is defined as not less than a prescribed value, specifically, is not less than 11.0 mm2, more specifically is not less than 11.47 mm2. With this, even when the diameter of the center electrode is reduced in the interest of improving ignition performance, the ionic current detection accuracy can nevertheless be enhanced.

Abstract: When charging a battery of a low-voltage system, a battery charging apparatus of the present invention switches on a field-effect transistor and distributes the output of a generator via a diode to the battery. Further, when charging a battery of a high-voltage system, the battery charging apparatus switches off the field-effect transistor and distributes the output of the generator via the diode to the battery. At this time, the field-effect transistor is switched, and chops the output of the generator. Then, by selecting the duty of a clock signal for controlling this switching, the output powers of the generator when charging the high-voltage system and when charging the low-voltage system are made substantially equal, reducing fluctuation in the input torque of the generator.

Abstract: An ignition coil unit to be installed in a hole opened through a cylinder head of an engine having a case, an ignition coil installed in the case and comprising a primary coil connected to a power source and a secondary coil connected to a spark plug which is installed in a combustion chamber of a cylinder of the engine for producing spark discharge to ignite air-fuel mixture to generate combustion thereof in the combustion chamber, and a circuit board on which an ionic-current detection circuit, connected to the secondary coil, which detects ionic-current that flows during the combustion of the air-fuel mixture; and a processing circuit, connected to the ionic-current detection circuit, which generates an output indicative of the detected ionic-current, are formed; In the unit, an igniter is also installed in the case, thereby improving detection accuracy of ionic-current and misfiring.

Abstract: In a system for detecting misfire for an internal combustion engine wherein ionization current that flows following the discharge current is detected and integrated during a period (gate) and occurrence of misfire of the engine is detected based on the integrated value, a processing delay circuit is provided which inputs at least one of the discharge current or the ionization current and based on the inputted current, delays starting of the period by a time point which is not earlier than termination of the discharge current. With this, the system is unaffected by fluctuation in ignition coil discharge period, various kinds of noise and the like, and can therefore ensure accurate misfire detection by preventing erroneous detection owing to such causes.

Abstract: When charging a battery of a low-voltage system, a battery charging apparatus of the present invention switches on a field-effect transistor and distributes the output of a generator via a diode to the battery. Further, when charging a battery of a high-voltage system, the battery charging apparatus switches off the field-effect transistor and distributes the output of the generator via the diode to the battery. At this time, the field-effect transistor is switched, and chops the output of the generator. Then, by selecting the duty of a clock signal for controlling this switching, the output powers of the generator when charging the high-voltage system and when charging the low-voltage system are made substantially equal, reducing fluctuation in the input torque of the generator.

Abstract: An alternator for an engine normally operated as a generator is caused to operate as a synchronous motor according to the operating condition of the engine. If power generation by the alternator 1 is no longer necessary because a battery 9 is fully charged, or when the engine enters an acceleration condition, a switching controller 5 switches stator coils 12 for the alternator 1 from an output controller 7 to a rotating magnetic field generator 8. The rotating magnetic field generator 8 causes a stator 1S to generate a rotating magnetic field that rotates with a same rotation speed of a rotor 1R, so that the alternator 1 operates as a synchronous motor to generate such a torque 50 as to assist the torque or rotation of the engine.

Abstract: An induction machine used as a power generator for an internal combustion engine, and which generates a predetermined power regardless of a rotation speed of a rotor of the induction machine and the engine. A power P to be generated is controlled so as to be equal to an upper limit value Pmax or less, a lower limit value or more or, equal to a target value Pc. The power generation control is achieved in the following manner. A speed N2 of the rotating magnetic field electrically generated with a three-phase winding of the rotor 1R is controlled in accordance with the mechanical rotation speed N1 of the rotor 1R in order that a relative speed N of the rotating magnetic field generated in the rotor with respect to a stator coil is kept at an upper limit speed Nmax or less, a lower limit speed Nmin or more, or a target relative speed Nc.

Abstract: There is provided a generator system for internal combustion engines, which can produce power efficiently at all times irrespective of the engine speed even for use in an internal combustion engine operated at variable speeds such as a vehicle engine. An AC generator electronic control unit (ACG.ECU) 3 determines a rotation speed N2 of a rotating electromagnetic field to be generated by a rotor 1R based on a mechanical rotation speed N1 of the rotor 1R in an alternator 1 such that the relative speed N of the rotating magnetic field to a stator 1S agrees with the maximum efficiency speed of rotation Nx. Then the ACG.ECU 3 sends the determined value to a rotating electromagnetic field controller 2a. The rotating electromagnetic field controller 2a controls phases of AC power to be supplied to a three-phase coil 11 of the rotor 1R to generate a rotating electromagnetic field with the rotation speed N2.

Abstract: A type arrangement data editing apparatus in which type arrangement data from a type carrier is automatically edited in accordance with the carrier set carried by the type carrier. A first area of a ROM stores the basic type arrangement data for a plurality of basic character sets. A second area of the ROM stores replacement data which is replaced for specific symbols in the basic character sets, and the start addresses of the type arrangement data for each set. An identifier identifies which character set and which replacement data are carried on the type carrier. A microprocessor stores a program for retrieving the respective type arrangement data and inserting the replacement data therein. The data is sent to a RAM, where it is compared to input data to print a specific print symbol.

Abstract: In a printer of the type arranged to fire print hammers in accordance with the result of comparison between character codes and print data such that a plurality of subscans are effected during an interval in which a type carrier moves by a distance corresponding to character pitch, a flag bit storing region is provided to a character code memory and/or a print data memory. Data indicative of numerical order of subscans from a print control circuit is added to several lower bits of data used to designate the address of the character code memory, and the resultant sum is compared with the flag bits read out from the flag bit storing region to see whether the addresses of the character code memory are correctly accessed. Another flag bit storing region is provided to a print data memory, and these flag bits are read out and compared with the data indicative of the numerical order of subscans to see if the addresses of the print data memory are correctly accessed.

Abstract: A 384-character type carrier for use in a line printer coupled to a computer using a 240-character type data array of Q sets of P printable characters each. The type carrier includes K sets of characters each including P printable characters and R dummy characters, with K>Q and 384=K.multidot.(P+R).

Abstract: A line printer of the type using a 384-character type carrier receives a 240-character type data array from a computer designed for a 240-character line printer and converts the 240-character array into a 384-character data array with no partial character sets. The converted 384-character data array corresponds exactly to the characters on the type carrier. The type carrier includes a number of dummy characters in each character set if the type carrier employs other than 48-character sets.

Abstract: In an impact printer or the like having a plurality of print-hammer drive electromagnets which are respectively connected in series with switching transistors between the terminals of a voltage source, the switching transistors are normally gated into conduction by gating signals with a duration sufficient to energize the electromagnets for operating the associated print hammers. In a test mode which occurs prior to the operation of the printer, the gating signals are successively applied to the switching transistors and the duration of each gating signal is reduced so that the gated transistor remains conductive for a short interval which is insufficient to operate the hammer.