Abstract: In a high pressure fuel injection system, fuel is pumped up from a fuel tank by a low pressure pump and further pressurized by a high pressure pump. Pressurized fuel is accumulated in a common rail connected to injectors which inject fuel into an engine. A high pressure regulator is connected to the common rail to mechanically relieve excessive fuel pressure in the common rail or to electronically reduce the fuel pressure when required. An electronic control unit controls operation of the high pressure pump, the high pressure regulator and the injectors according to engine operating conditions which are fed to the unit from various sensors. The fuel pressure in the common rail is decreased by operation of the high pressure pump and the high pressure regulator either rapidly or gradually according to engine operating conditions.

Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus having a cross sectional area S.sub.0 of a first low pressure fuel passage which is connected to a high pressure pump and which has a pressure regulator, a cross sectional area S.sub.1 of an orifice formed between the first low pressure fuel passage and a second low pressure fuel passage, and a cross sectional area S.sub.2 of the second low pressure fuel passage for supplying the low pressure fuel to the first low pressure fuel passage. Those cross sectional areas are set to satisfy a relationship of S.sub.1 <S.sub.0 <S.sub.2 such that the pressure pulsation generated at the pressure regulator is reduced, and the noise produced by the fuel supply apparatus is reduced.

Abstract: A unique VPCI is defined for each of subscriber lines #A and #B, which are accommodated in an ATM switch. Conventionally, attribute data indicating subscriber attributes can be defined only for each of the subscriber line units #A and #B as a unit. However, the attribute data can be defined for each virtual path whose VPCI is used as the unit according to the present invention. Accordingly, it can easily be implemented, for example, to make different communication forms for each of different subscriber accommodation location numbers belonging to the same subscriber.

Abstract: According to the present invention, the operating amount of the brake is detected, and the target value of the regenerative torque is set in accordance with the detected operating amount. In the meantime, the change in the detected operating amount along with time is detected, and the rise speed of the regenerative torque is set in accordance with the detected change along with time. The regenerative torque is controlled in accordance with the set target value of the regenerative torque and the set rise speed.

Abstract: According to the present invention, the operating amount of the brake is detected, and the target value of the regenerative torque is set in accordance with the detected operating amount. In the meantime, the change in the detected operating amount along with time is detected, and the rise speed of the regenerative torque is set in accordance with the detected change along with time. The regenerative torque is controlled in accordance with the set target value of the regenerative torque and the set rise speed.

Abstract: A braking control system for an electric automobile combines the use of mechanical braking and regenerative braking by a motor. Namely, a braking control system for the electrical automobile, which permits the combined use of regenerative braking and mechanical braking, is provided with target braking force setting unit (9) for setting a target braking force on the basis of a brake pedal stroke, regeneration control system (4A,5A) for setting a target regenerative braking force on the basis of the brake pedal stroke and then controlling regenerative braking by the motor in accordance with the target regenerative braking force, and mechanical braking control unit (24) for controlling operation of a mechanical brake system (B) in accordance with a difference between said target braking force and an actual braking force determined based on a detected deceleration of a vehicle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a braking control system for an electric automobile that runs by driving wheels with an electric motor. The braking control system controls braking of a vehicle through regenerative braking by the motor. Upon application of brakes, the braking control system can make combined use of mechanical braking by a mechanical brake system (11) and regenerative braking by a drive motor (2). The braking control system is designed to control regenerative braking of the motor (2) by a regenerative braking control device (12) so that greater braking force is produced when a failure in the mechanical brake system (11) is detected by a failure detection device (22) than when the mechanical brake system (11) is detected to be normal.

Abstract: The compensation amount of the pressure for keeping the index of refraction of the gas constant is calculated on the basis of the pressures and the temperatures that have been measured at different time. Only the pressure of the gas will be varied in accordance with the calculated compensation value of the pressure, whereby the index of the gas can be maintained constant and the oscillation frequency can be kept constant as the consequence. The pressure corresponding to a desired sweeping oscillation frequency is also calculated using the measured pressures and temperatures. The pressure of the gas is varied on the basis of the result of calculation. Synchronously with the variation of the pressure of the gas, the cavity length and the angle of the frequency selecting element are compensated.

Abstract: A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car has a battery unit chargeable by an external charger, an electric drive motor capable of driving wheels by electric power from the battery unit, an internal combustion engine for driving a generator to supply electric power to the electric drive motor, and a controller for controlling operations of the electric drive motor and internal combustion engine. The hybrid electric car is further provided with a fuel-use-state detector for detecting a change in a parameter, which change corresponds to a quantity of fuel used by the internal combustion engine since charging of the battery unit by the external charger. The controller limits at least one of an output of the electric drive motor and that of internal combustion engine when from results of a detection by the fuel-use-state detector, the change in the parameter is found to have reached a predetermined value.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle is equipped with a combustion engine for driving a generator or a combustion engine for driving vehicle wheels. The hybrid electric vehicle has a battery unit, an electric drive motor, the combustion engine directly or indirectly usable for driving wheels, and a controller for controlling operations of the electric drive motor and the combustion engine. The hybrid electric vehicle is further provided with a microcomputer for determining whether or not the battery unit meets a predetermined specification. When the battery unit is determined as failing to meet the predetermined specification by the microcomputer, the controller limits an output of the electric drive motor or the combustion engine.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a fuel injection apparatus includes a casing having a control pressure chamber for storing fuel supplied from fuel passage, a needle valve to which fuel stored in the control pressure chamber applies pressure in the valve closing direction, a valve device for interrupting communication between the fuel passage and the control pressure chamber to seal fuel in said control pressure chamber, and volume changing device for expanding volume of the control pressure chamber after fuel is sealed in the control pressure chamber by the valve device. According to the above fuel injection device, pressure in the control pressure chamber is reduced while the fuel is stored therein by the volume changing device, the nozzle needle is lifted, and injection is started. For this reason, it is not necessary to supply surplus fuel in addition to the injection fuel during the fuel injection.

Abstract: To provide a fuel injection pump which can sufficiently and stably supply fuel to a fuel pressurization chamber during a fuel intake stroke, a plunger chamber, a spill port and a spill passage are mutually communicable, while a reflux passage, an intake gallery, an intake passage, an intake port and the plunger chamber are mutually communicable. A reflux passage communicates with a damping chamber through a communication passage. The spill passage and the reflux passage communicate with each other, and when a spill valve opens, high-pressure fuel within the plunger chamber spills from the spill valve and into the intake gallery through the reflux passage, causing pulsation having a pressure level difference to the spill fuel. When the pulsation wave passes through the damping chamber, as the level difference in the pulsation wave is reduced, a sufficient quantity of fuel can stably be supplied from the intake gallery to the plunger chamber.

Abstract: A remaining capacity meter is provided for an electric vehicle battery. This meter is suited for use in the detection of a remaining capacity of the electric vehicle battery.

Abstract: The improved metal vapor laser capable of cold operation performs plasma etching on a vaporizing metal within a laser tube in the presence of a reactive gas so that the metal is vaporized at temperatures below its boiling point to effect laser oscillation. The laser can be operated at much lower temperatures than a conventional hot-operating version which produces metal vapors by thermal evaporation; in addition, the laser will experience a smaller heat loss while undergoing limited thermal damage to its structural members; further, laser light can be oscillated to produce high output power and, at the same time, the warmup time can be shortened significantly.

Abstract: A method for transferring data between plural devices and a memory having address areas associated with the plural devices. The method includes the steps of sequentially reading out the functional information from a table memory having the functional information indicating plural functions concerning the accessing to the devices and control operations, selecting the functions corresponding to the read-out functional information, and performing a control operation in accordance with the selected functions. An apparatus for transferring data between plural devices and a memory having address areas associated with these plural devices is also disclosed. With the present method and apparatus, data transfer may be performed flexibly in order to comply with the request for a dedicated operation or in order to eliminate wasteful time consumption for a time frame during which the operation is at a standstill.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a half-bridge circuit, one of the two arms or elements of which is a thyrister, and the other is a bi-polar transistor. It is structured vertically as a single semiconductor chip with a primary conductor type cathode area of the thyrister and a primary conductor type collector area of the bi-polar transistor shared as common areas. A first isolation area is formed between a intermediate layer of the thyrister and the above described common area. A second isolation area is formed in the first isolation area provided between the intermediate layer of the thyrister and the base area of the bi-polar transistor. Because the upper and lower arms of the half-bridge are vertically structured, the circuit provides for excellent area efficiency, current amplification factor, and current capacity. No specific isolation layers are required to isolate the upper arm from the lower arm.

Abstract: A method of producing a small expansion of laser light, in a pulse laser apparatus, including producing a small preliminary laser light by pumping a laser medium, and then, after an appropriate time lag, then pumping the preliminary laser medium at a higher intensity than the first pumping, thereby producing a laser light which is smaller in beam expansion than in the case where a preliminary pumping is not performed. The laser light which is smaller in beam expansion is due to the population inversion occurring in a small beam expansion part of pulse laser light obtained by the preliminary pumping.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injection valve includes a needle valve having a sealed bore of a specified length formed therein a guide hole within which the needle valve is movable. A stopper plate and a valve seat portion ar provided for defining opened and closed positions of the needle valve. Further, a magnetic powder of a specified mass is movably received in the bore. When the needle valve collides with the stopper plate or the valve seat portion, the magnetic powder is moved by an inertia force acting. Due to collision of the magnetic powder with an end of the bore with a specified time lag, a bouncing force resulting from the collision of the needle valve can be canceled. Accordingly, a bounce of the needle valve can be restrained. further, since the inertia force acting on the magnetic powder is utilized, the durability can be improved as compared with the prior art.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a taste-modifier comprising fresh Curculigo latifolia fruits, dried fruits thereof or a curuculin-containing material obtained therefrom which comprises heating said taste-modifier to 50.degree. to 90.degree. C.; or subjecting said taste-modifier to ultrahigh-temperature short-time pasteurization at 110.degree. to 150.degree. C. for two seconds to two minutes; is disclosed. Either of these methods enables the stable preservation of said taste-modifier, which is in the form of a crude product or an aqueous solution, for prolonged period of time.

Abstract: A protein curuculin obtained by extracting from fresh Curculigo latifolia fruits or dried fruits thereof with an aqueous solution of a salt of a concentration of at least 0.01M; a taste-modifier for a sour material comprising fresh Curculigo latifolia fruits, dried fruits thereof or a curuculin-containing material obtained therefrom; a chewing gum composition comprising fresh Curculigo latifolia fruits, dried fruits thereof or a curuculin-containing material obtained therefrom; and a mouth-wash composition comprising fresh Curculigo latifolia fruits, dried fruits thereof or curuculin-containing material obtained therefrom are disclosed.