Abstract: A requested volume flow ratio calculated based on a requested torque, an amount of two times a spit-back gas amount at the valve overlap time calculated based on a requested residual gas rate, and a spit-back gas amount of the time when an intake valve is closed are added together, to set a requested valve passing gas amount of the intake valve, thereby determining a target operating characteristic of the intake valve based on the requested valve passing gas amount.

Abstract: A steering damper is provided coaxially with a steering shaft, and a handlebar load is provided by causing a variable valve to generate damping force, using rotation of the steering shaft. The damping force is variably controlled in response to vehicle speed. The damping force is fixed to a minimum value C1 for vehicle speeds equal to or below first reference speed V1, fixed to a maximum value C2 for vehicle speeds equal to or above second reference speed V2, and variably controlled in response to vehicle speed and acceleration in an intermediate speed range. Fine maneuverability of a vehicle body is achieved by reducing a load on a handlebar at low vehicle speeds, and a stable movement of the vehicle body is maintained at high vehicle speed by increasing the load on the handlebar and thereby suppressing deflection of the handlebar.

Abstract: [Problem] In known methods, an improvement of the coercive force is realized by allowing the Dy metal or the like to present selectively in crystal grain boundary portions of a sintered magnet. However, since these are based on a physical film formation method, e.g., sputtering, through the use of a vacuum vessel, there is a mass productivity problem in the case where large amounts of magnet is treated. Furthermore, there is a magnet cost problem from the viewpoint that, for example, an expensive, high-purity Dy metal or the like must be used as a raw material for film formation.

Abstract: An engine control unit diagnoses whether or not a unit that controls a variable valve apparatus is failed, and when it is diagnosed that the unit is failed, the engine control unit shuts off the power supply to a drive circuit for an actuator of the variable valve apparatus.

Abstract: To reliably prevent knocking in all of the cylinders of a multicylinder engine by detecting an output signal from a knock sensor provided for only one of the cylinders. A cylinder barrel is formed with a knock sensor base on the side surface of only the third cylinder and a vibration type knock sensor is mounted on the knock sensor base. A water jacket is formed in an upper portion of the wall of the cylinder barrel. The knock sensor base is formed below the water jacket so as to prevent a problem such that knocking vibrations may be absorbed by the cooling water in the water jacket to cause a reduction in sensitivity of the knock sensor.

Abstract: An R—Fe—B based thin film magnet including an R—Fe—B based alloy which contains 28 to 45 percent by mass of R element (where R represents at least one type of rare-earth lanthanide elements) and which is physically formed into a film, wherein the R—Fe—B based alloy has a composite texture composed of R2Fe14B crystals having a crystal grain diameter of 0.5 to 30 ?m and R-element-rich grain boundary phases present at boundaries between the crystals. The magnetization characteristics of the thin film magnet are improved. The R—Fe—B based thin film magnet can be prepared by heating to 700° C. to 1,200° C. during physical film formation or/and the following heat treatment, so as to grow crystal grains and form R-element-rich grain boundary phases.

Abstract: At the time of obtaining a difference in intake air amount between right and left banks in a V-type engine, a target value of a lift-amount/operation-angle-varying mechanism provided for each of the banks is set to a target value at which flow velocity of intake air passing through an intake valve becomes almost sound velocity. In a state in which the flow velocity of intake air passing through the intake valve becomes almost sound velocity, a difference in the intake air amount in the right and left banks is detected and, to reduce the difference, a correction value for a target value of a valve lift is set for each of the banks.

Abstract: A system for performing stroke determination and cylinder determination by using intake pressure as a parameter, in order to provide a stroke determination system for a four stroke cycle engine by which accurate determination can be achieved.

Abstract: A requested volume flow ratio calculated based on a requested torque, an amount of two times a spit-back gas amount at the valve overlap time calculated based on a requested residual gas rate, and a spit-back gas amount of the time when an intake valve is closed are added together, to set a requested valve passing gas amount of the intake valve, thereby determining a target operating characteristic of the intake valve based on the requested valve passing gas amount.

Abstract: A stroke determination unit for a 4-cycle engine uses intake pressure as a parameter to provide accurate stroke determination. A combined pressure combines the detected pressures of intake ports of the first to third cylinders, and stroke determination is carried out by recognizing, within a combined pressure waveform based on a detection value for the combined pressure, shapes of the combined pressure waveform for a specified phase period of a crankshaft. The pressure pattern recognition is carried out by storing variation patterns of pressure values measured within the specified crankshaft phase period, and collating patterns with a data map stored within an ECU. Alternatively, the pattern recognition is carried out by collating with condition equations representing “rising” or “upward peak”. With the latter, pressure variation due to contamination such as electrical noise to the pressure sensor is made negligible, and noise suppression of the stroke determination unit is improved.

Abstract: Variable valve control method and apparatus for an internal combustion engine provided with a variable valve mechanism that varies an operating characteristic of an intake valve, for controlling a gas amount passing back through the intake valve by variably controlling the operating characteristic. A storage section stores previously a correlation between a value equivalent to an opening area of the intake valve and a valve passing gas amount, corresponding to predetermined effective cylinder capacity. A conversion section converts that value equivalent into the valve passing gas amount by referring to the correlation. A correction section corrects the value equivalent based on a ratio between the converted valve passing gas amount and a requested valve passing gas amount.

Abstract: When any one of a plurality of variable valve characteristic mechanisms which vary different operating characteristics of an intake valve is failed, a limit which is capable of satisfying predetermined conditions for a change in opening timing of the intake valve at the time when the other operating characteristic is varied by the normally operating variable valve characteristic mechanism, is set and the operating characteristics of the intake valve are controlled while limiting the intake valve opening timing by the limit, by the normally operating variable valve characteristic mechanism.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a high-performance rare earth-based magnet exhibiting a high coercive force or a high residual magnetic flux density even when the content of a rare earth element such as Dy or the like which is scarce is reduced. [Construction] A rare earth-iron-boron based magnet includes a crystal grain boundary layer enriched in element M (M is at least one rare earth element selected from Pr, Dy, Tb, and Ho) by diffusion of the element M from the surface of the magnet, wherein the relation between the coercive force Hcj and the content of the element M in the whole of the magnet is represented by the following expression: Hcj?1+0.2×M (wherein 0.05?M?10) wherein Hcj is the coercive force (unit: MA/m), and M is the content of the element M in the whole of the magnet (% by mass). Furthermore, the magnet satisfies the following expression: Br?1.68?0.17×Hcj wherein Br is the residual magnetic flux density (unit: T).

Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine which comprises a variable valve timing mechanism which varies an opening-and-closing timing of an intake valve and/or an exhaust valve of an engine, and in which the opening-and-closing timing at a time of starting the engine is set to a starting time timing which is at a further advance side than a maximum retard timing which is retarded at the maximum, said apparatus characterized in that, at a time of stopping the engine, the variable valve timing mechanism is controlled such that the opening-and-closing timing is made to be the starting time timing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rare earth permanent magnet comprises the steps of: forming a rare earth magnet by applying mechanical processing to a magnet block material, thereby damaging the surface of the magnet and causing a magnetic characteristic (BH)max of the magnet to deteriorate, followed by transforming a rare earth metal or an alloy thereof into fine particles or a vapor, and allowing the fine particles or vapor to diffuse and permeate the magnet, thereby improving the quality of the damaged magnet surface portion so that the magnetic characteristic (BH)max is recovered.

Abstract: A fuel injection valve control to correctingly increase the fuel amount appropriately for realizing a favorable acceleration performance at the time of accelerating after a throttle full closure period is finished.

Abstract: A stroke determination unit for a 4-cycle engine uses intake pressure as a parameter to provide accurate stroke determination. A combined pressure combines the detected pressures of intake ports of the first to third cylinders, and stroke determination is carried out by recognizing, within a combined pressure waveform based on a detection value for the combined pressure, shapes of the combined pressure waveform for a specified phase period of a crankshaft. The pressure pattern recognition is carried out by storing variation patterns of pressure values measured within the specified crankshaft phase period, and collating patterns with a data map stored within an ECU. Alternatively, the pattern recognition is carried out by collating with condition equations representing “rising” or “upward peak”. With the latter, pressure variation due to contamination such as electrical noise to the pressure sensor is made negligible, and noise suppression of the stroke determination unit is improved.

Abstract: In a V-type engine provided with a variable valve timing mechanism and variable valve lift mechanism for an intake valve, a torque difference between respective banks is obtained. In a region in which an opening area of the intake valve is larger than a threshold, valve timing of the intake valve by the variable valve timing mechanism is corrected so as to reduce the torque difference, whereas in a region in which the opening area of the intake valve is smaller than the threshold, lift characteristics of the intake valve by the variable valve lift mechanism is corrected so as to reduce the torque difference.

Abstract: An in-line four-cylinder engine provided with a variable valve timing mechanism which changes a rotation phase of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft, and a cam angle sensor which outputs a cam angle signal at each 45 (deg.) of the camshaft, detection of an angle spanning from a reference rotational position of the crankshaft to the cam angle signal being made to thereby detect the rotation phase of the camshaft.

Abstract: A fuel injection control apparatus is capable of supplying a proper amount of fuel by improving response when the throttle position is abruptly changed. The fuel injection control apparatus includes an electronic control unit for determining a fuel injection time period for a fuel injection system, based on the engine speed and the throttle position. The electronic control unit is operable to determine a base fuel injection time period based on engine speed and throttle position to start fuel injection, and adjusts the initial fuel injection time period thereafter, based on changes in the engine speed and the throttle position.