Abstract: In order to prevent a plasma jet energy from discharging through a spark plug of an internal combustion engine prior to the proper ignition timing, an ignition distributor with a plurality of sliding contacts is proposed. A plasma jet energy as well as a spark energy is selectively delivered to the spark plugs at a predetermined ignition timing through a plurality of contact surfaces mounted on a shaft rotatable in synchronous with the engine crankshaft, thereby an irregular discharge of the plasma jet energy is eliminated.

Abstract: A central station of a route guidance system collects traffic data from various points of a city area and updates aural routing information stored in roadside remote stations at periodic intervals. A moving vehicle senses the location of a roadside station to transmit a coded destination signal thereto where it is decoded to retrieve desired routing information. The latter is compressed in time dimension and transmitted back to the vehicle for storage in a storage device which is later retrieved at such a rate as to reproduce the original aural information.

Abstract: A radar-operated vehicle safety assurance system includes a radar device which detects the vehicle relative speed or range to an object. A safety limit value of the detected operating parameter is computed by means of a safety range detection or safety speed detection circuit as a function of a detected operating parameter. A visual indicator is provided which visually indicates the difference between the detected value and the computed safety limit value to allow the vehicle driver to become continuously aware of the marginal conditions of the vehicle in relation to the safety limit.

Abstract: A fault indication signal from a plurality of sensors is used to advance a rotary switch to hunt in search of the terminal at which the signal appears. The terminals of the switch are associated with the corresponding visual fault indications recorded on an endless film mounted on a transport mechanism that is driven in unison with the rotary switch. Upon the occurrence of a second fault, the switch is again triggered to advance in search of the terminal where the second signal appears for successive indication of the second fault location. The switch is automatically stepped to a terminal where a signal indicating the presence of more than one fault appears for permanent indication of the number of such faults. The system can be restarted manually to provide successive indications of the first and second faults to facilitate troubleshooting.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing collision of a vehicle comprisesA device for measuring a distance R from a driving vehicle to an obstacle and a relative velocity V of the driving vehicle to said obstacle;A circuit for generating a damping signal when the relation of the distance R, the relative velocity V and a preset deceleration .alpha. becomes the relation of R < V.sup.2 /2.alpha.;a deceleration detector for detecting the actual deceleration .alpha.' of the driving vehicle;A correction circuit which compares the actual deceleration .alpha.' detected by the deceleration detector with the preset deceleration .alpha. and the damping signal is corrected depending upon the comparative data.