Abstract: An electric parking brake system includes an electric parking brake mechanism that includes a brake which suppresses rotation of a wheel and an electric motor which applies or releases the brake, and that maintains a vehicle at a standstill while the brake is applied. A parking switch selectively outputs an application command for applying the brake and a release command for releasing the brake in response to an operation of an operating portion for the parking switch. A parking switch malfunction determination unit determines whether the parking switch malfunctions, and a parking brake automatic control unit automatically applies the brake by operating the electric motor when an ignition switch of the vehicle is turned off in response to an operation of an operating portion for the ignition switch, in a case where the parking switch malfunction determination unit determines that the parking switch malfunctions.

Abstract: In a vehicle parking system, when a selected shift position is changed between Park and a shift position other than Park, if both an electric motor of an electric parking lock mechanism and an electric motor of an electric parking brake mechanism are operated, these electric motors are started in such a manner that the times at which striking currents supplied to these electric motors reach their peaks are staggered.

Abstract: An electric parking brake system includes an electric parking brake mechanism that includes a brake which suppresses rotation of a wheel and an electric motor which applies or releases the brake, and that maintains a vehicle at a standstill while the brake is applied. A parking switch selectively outputs an application command for applying the brake and a release command for releasing the brake in response to an operation of an operating portion for the parking switch. A parking switch malfunction determination unit determines whether the parking switch malfunctions, and a parking brake automatic control unit automatically applies the brake by operating the electric motor when an ignition switch of the vehicle is turned off in response to an operation of an operating portion for the ignition switch, in a case where the parking switch malfunction determination unit determines that the parking switch malfunctions.

Abstract: In a vehicle parking system, when a selected shift position is changed between Park and a shift position other than Park, if both an electric motor of an electric parking lock mechanism and an electric motor of an electric parking brake mechanism are operated, these electric motors are started in such a manner that the times at which striking currents supplied to these electric motors reach their peaks are staggered.

Abstract: A rear-wheel steering system designed to reduce noise to a minimum at a low cost. The rear-wheel steering system includes an electric motor for generating a rotational force, a nut member connected to the electric motor and rotated thereby, and a rod having both ends connected to rear wheels of a vehicle and an external thread portion in mesh with an internal thread portion of the nut member. The rod is axially moved by rotation of the nut member for rear-wheel steering, but is not allowed to rotate. In the system, the internal thread portion is in mesh with the external thread portion such that each axial center is off-center.

Abstract: A yaw-rate-sensor's anomaly detecting apparatus of the invention comprises a road-surface-condition determining device for determining a road surface condition and a yaw-rate-sensor's anomaly determining device for determining that a yaw rate sensor is abnormal, when a change amount of yaw rate outputted from the yaw rate sensor exceeds an anomaly determination threshold, wherein the yaw-rate-sensor's anomaly determining device sets one of different anomaly determination thresholds varying according to determination results by the road-surface-condition determining device. This can suppress erroneous determination of anomaly of the yaw rate sensor due to running on a bad road.

Abstract: A vehicle attitude control system for controlling an attitude of a motor vehicle, which system is provided with an attitude control device including a vehicle condition sensor for detecting at least one physical value relating to a turning condition of the vehicle, an attitude control mechanism for controlling the attitude of the vehicle, and a controller for controlling the attitude control mechanism so as to control the attitude of the vehicle on the basis of an output of the vehicle condition sensor, and wherein a deceleration control device is provided to decelerate the motor vehicle before the attitude control by the attitude control device is initiated, so that the attitude control device provides an intended effect of eliminating a drift-out or spinning tendency of the vehicle during turning, by operation of the attitude control device after initiation of the deceleration control.

Abstract: A vehicle attitude control device for controlling an attitude of an automotive vehicle, including (a) at least one sensor for obtaining information relating to the attitude of the vehicle, (b) a vehicle attitude control mechanism for controlling the attitude of the vehicle, and (c) a controller for determining an output thereof on the basis of an output of the at least one sensor and applying the determined output to the vehicle attitude control mechanism, wherein an upper limit changing device is provided for changing an upper limit of the output of the controller depending upon whether another vehicle attitude control device is available or unavailable on the vehicle.

Abstract: An actuator for steering rear wheels is reduced in size and its construction is simplified while preventing a degradation in the reliability. An electric coil 2 is disposed on the outside while a rotor is disposed on the inside, assisting in heating dissipation. One of bearings 10 which support a rotor and an electric coil 2 are integrally secured to a casing 1 when a resin 3 is molded thereon. At the same time, a ring gear 12 is formed by the molding of the resin 3. In addition, the molding operation of the resin forms one of sun gears, 11a, integrally with a rotor 4. The casing 1 is formed with a recess or projection 1a, 1b, thus preventing a slip of the resin member 3 from occurring. A permanent magnet 13 which is separate from a permanent magnet 5 used for driving is mounted on the rotor.

Abstract: A magazine in which a plurality of cartridges are contained as vertically moved stepwise by a distance separating two successive ones of the cartridges. The lift has a plurality of lift steps alternately engaged by a latching member. A rotary disk having two pins on its face is arranged adjacent the latching member. During rotation of the disk, one of the pins pivots the latching member out of engagement with a lift steps while the other of the pins supports the disengaged lift step to raise or lower the lift, depending upon the rotational direction of the disk. Further rotation of the disk permits the spring biased latching member to pivot back into a path where it engages the next lift step, thereby accomplishing one step of movement of the lift. Each time the lift is moved by one step, a pinch roller arrangement detects whether a cartridge is in the magazine corresponding to the position currently aligned with the inlet/outlet of the tape changer.

Abstract: A controller for reducing acceleration slippage of a driven wheel starts the throttle-valve control, the brake control, and the engine output torque control when acceleration slippage is detected. The output torque control is executed together with the brake control for a limited period after the detection of acceleration slippage, thus compensating for the slow effect of the throttle-valve control on the output torque. The controller quickly reduces acceleration slippage without adversely affecting the engine operation.

Abstract: The acceleration-slippage controller reduces acceleration slippage at a driven wheel of an automobile by adjusting brake force on the driven wheel, and an opening of a throttle valve of the engine. When the brake-force control increases the brake force to reduce the driven-wheel rotation, the moving speed of the throttle valve is corrected toward the closed position. Because the throttle valve control correlates to the brake control, their combined control can quickly reduce the driven-wheel speed to its target without causing hunting of the throttle valve opening.

Abstract: An acceleration-slippage controller having an instantaneous-slippage detector for maintaining a good acceleration of an automobile. After an acceleration-slippage control has started due to slippage detected at a driven wheel, the instantaneous-slippage detector determines whether the detected slippage is instantaneous. If the slippage is determined to be instantaneous, the acceleration-slippage control is immediately interrupted so that a long acceleration-slippage control cycle does not limit the acceleration of the automobile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating the distilled water obtained from an evaporation process sea water desalination plant is provided wherein carbon dioxide is extracted from sea water in the high temperature stages of the desalination plant and where the carbon dioxide thus extracted is dissolved into the water, along with calcium, thereby converting the distilled water into the quality suited for city tap water.