Abstract: Apparatus for estimating a ground contact surface gripping characteristic of a vehicle wheel of a vehicle comprises an input section and an output section. The input section sets an input representing a ratio of a wheel force acting on the vehicle wheel in the ground contact surface, and a wheel slipping degree of the vehicle wheel. The output section determines, from the input, an output representing a grip characteristic parameter indicative of the gripping characteristic of the vehicle wheel.

Abstract: A display error occurs upon contention between writing of pixel data in a GRAM and reading of pixel data representing a scanning line including pixels which correspond to the pixel data above. Pixel data corresponding to pixels representing a scanning line stored in a latch circuit is displayed on a display panel, and when contention occurs between writing of pixel data in a GRAM and reading of pixel data corresponding to pixels representing a scanning line to the latch circuit from the GRAM, a controller delays reading of the pixel data corresponding to the pixels representing the scanning line and controls so as to perform reading of the pixel data corresponding to the pixels representing the scanning line to the latch circuit from the GRAM once again.

Abstract: An electric power steering system for an automotive vehicle, including a steering torque detecting device which detects a steering torque of a steering shaft. An electric motor is provided to generate an assist torque for assisting a driver's steering effort required for steering the vehicle and a counter-assist torque for increasing the driver's steering effort. The assist torque and the counter-assist torque are applied to a steering mechanism. Additionally, a controller is provided to output a drive command to the electric motor in accordance with the detected steering torque. The drive command is for causing the electric motor to generate the counter-assist torque when the detected steering torque is a transitional torque.

Abstract: In order to enhance the accuracy of estimation of sideslip angle ?, a sideslip angle estimation apparatus calculates a first sideslip angle ?2 between the direction of centrifugal force acting on the vehicle body during cornering and the lateral direction of the vehicle body based on accelerations exerted on the vehicle body and acting in two different directions. A sideslip angle between the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and the direction of travel of the vehicle is calculated based on the calculated first sideslip angle ?2.

Abstract: A display error occurs upon contention between writing of pixel data in a GRAM and reading of pixel data representing a scanning line including pixels which correspond to the pixel data above. Pixel data corresponding to pixels representing a scnaning line sotred in a latch circuit is displayed on a display panel, and when contention occurs between writing of pixel data in a GRAM and reading of pixel data corresponding to pixels representing a scanning line to the latch circuit from the GRAM, a controller delays reading of the pixel data corresponding to the pixels representing the scanning line and controls so as to perform reading of the pixel data corresponding to the pixels representing the scanning line to the latch circuit from the GRAM once again.

Abstract: A vehicle steering apparatus includes a vehicle steering system and a supplemental steering force applying device. The supplemental steering force applying device is configured and arranged to apply a supplemental steering force to the vehicle steering system to reduce a steering load on the operator. The supplemental steering force applying device includes a steering torque detecting section, a rectilinear driving condition detecting section, a pulling suppression control section. The rectilinear driving condition detecting section is configured and arranged to detect a rectilinear driving condition of the vehicle. The pulling suppression control section is configured and arranged to adjust the supplemental steering force in a direction canceling a pulling force imparted on the vehicle during the rectilinear driving condition by using a pulling suppression force calculated based on historical data of the steering torque detected during the rectilinear driving condition.

Abstract: A photoreactive resin composition contains (a) a powdered base metal, (b) an organic binder, (c) a photosensitive organic component, and (d) a polycarboxylic acid-based dispersing agent with a molecular weight of about 1,500 or less. Also disclosed is a method for making a circuit substrate or a ceramic multilayer substrate including the step of forming a conductive pattern using the photoreactive resin composition.

Abstract: A vehicular steering control apparatus is comprised of a steering system of receiving a steering torque inputted by a driver, a torque control actuator connected to the steering system to produce an actuator torque relative to the steering torque and a steering controlling section connected to the torque actuator. The steering controlling section controls the torque control actuator and increases a phase delay of the actuator torque relative to the steering torque toward a neighborhood of 180° as the frequency of the inputted steering torque increases.

Abstract: In a multiplex power steering device for a wheeled vehicle, there is provided a control unit which includes a feedback computing part. The feedback computing part comprises an operating force estimating section that, by analyzing an output from a controlled system of actuators of a steering mechanism, estimates an output of the actuators, a disturbance estimating section that, by comparing a control signal actually fed to the actuators and the estimated output of the actuators, estimates a disturbance applied to the controlled system from the exterior, and a disturbance compensating section that adjusts the control signal in a manner to remove the estimated disturbance therefrom. The control unit calculates the control signal on the assumption that the actuators constitute a single actuator.

Abstract: An electric power steering system for an automotive vehicle, including a steering torque detecting device which detects a steering torque of a steering shaft. An electric motor is provided to generate an assist torque for assisting a driver's steering effort required for steering the vehicle and a counter-assist torque for increasing the driver's steering effort. The assist torque and the counter-assist torque are applied to a steering mechanism. Additionally, a controller is provided to output a drive command to the electric motor in accordance with the detected steering torque. The drive command is for causing the electric motor to generate the counter-assist torque when the detected steering torque is a transitional torque.

Abstract: A photosensitive thick film composition is provided which has superior storage stabilities and can be reliably processed by developing. The photosensitive thick film composition is composed of a photosensitive organic component containing an organic binder having an acidic functional group, such as a carboxyl group, an inorganic component containing a polyvalent metal oxide, such as borosilicate glass, and an alcohol having a plurality of hydroxyl group, such as glucitol.

Abstract: Provided is a photosensitive conductive paste that is unlikely to gel, has superior storage stability and adhesion to a substrate, and can be formed into a fine and thick pattern. In a photosensitive conductive paste containing a powdered base metal, an organic binder having acidic groups and a photosensitive organic component, a powdered base metal processed by surface oxidation treatment and a material such as a polyvalent alcohol having at least four hydroxyls, which forms microgels by reaction with metal hydroxides present on the surface of the powdered base metal, is used.

Abstract: A photoreactive resin composition having high sensitivity and causing less gelation, and methods of manufacturing a circuit board and a ceramic multilayer substrate having a high-resolution wiring pattern and via holes by a photolithography process using the photoreactive resin composition are described. The photoreactive resin composition contains an inorganic powder containing a polyvalent metal powder and/or a polyvalent metal oxide powder, an alkali-soluble first polymer having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond, a monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond, a photoreaction initiator, an organic solvent, and a second polymer having a pyrrolidone ring in a side chain.

Abstract: A photoreactive resin composition contains (a) a powdered base metal, (b) an organic binder, (c) a photosensitive organic component, and (d) a polycarboxylic acid-based dispersing agent with a molecular weight of about 1,500 or less. Also disclosed is a method for making a circuit substrate or a ceramic multilayer substrate including the step of forming a conductive pattern using the photoreactive resin composition.

Abstract: In a multiplex power steering device for a wheeled vehicle, there is provided a control unit which includes a feedback computing part. The feedback computing part comprises an operating force estimating section that, by analyzing an output from a controlled system of actuators of a steering mechanism, estimates an output of the actuators, a disturbance estimating section that, by comparing a control signal actually fed to the actuators and the estimated output of the actuators, estimates a disturbance applied to the controlled system from the exterior, and a disturbance compensating section that adjusts the control signal in a manner to remove the estimated disturbance therefrom. The control unit calculates the control signal on the assumption that the actuators constitute a single actuator.

Abstract: In an electric brake system with at least an electric wheel brake mechanism having a pair of brake friction pads to produce a braking force based on a brake manipulated variable, and a brake friction pad thrust sensor detecting a pressure of either one of the brake friction pad pair against a disk rotor, an electric brake control unit causing a temporary movement of the brake friction pad pair into contact with the disk rotor when a predetermined time period has expired from a time when a brake pedal has been recovered to an inoperative state. In the system, a position of the brake friction pad pair, at which the pressure becomes greater than a predetermined threshold value during the temporary movement of the brake friction pad pair into contact with the disk rotor, is detected or determined as a braking initiation position.

Abstract: A photoreactive resin composition having high sensitivity and causing less gelation, and methods of manufacturing a circuit board and a ceramic multilayer substrate having a high-resolution wiring pattern and via holes by a photolithography process using the photoreactive resin composition are described. The photoreactive resin composition contains an inorganic powder containing a polyvalent metal powder and/or a polyvalent metal oxide powder, an alkali-soluble first polymer having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond, a monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond, a photoreaction initiator, an organic solvent, and a second polymer having a pyrrolidone ring in a side chain.

Abstract: In an electric brake system with at least an electric wheel brake mechanism having a pair of brake friction pads to produce a braking force based on a brake manipulated variable, and a brake friction pad thrust sensor detecting a pressure of either one of the brake friction pad pair against a disk rotor, an electric brake control unit causing a temporary movement of the brake friction pad pair into contact with the disk rotor when a predetermined time period has expired from a time when a brake pedal has been recovered to an inoperative state. In the system, a position of the brake friction pad pair, at which the pressure becomes greater than a predetermined threshold value during the temporary movement of the brake friction pad pair into contact with the disk rotor, is detected or determined as a braking initiation position.

Abstract: Provided is a photosensitive copper paste permitting the formation of a fine and thick copper pattern having high adhesion to a substrate, and having excellent preservation stability without causing gelation, and a method of forming a copper pattern, a circuit board and a ceramic multilayer substrate using the photosensitive copper paste. The photosensitive copper paste includes a mixture of an organic binder having an acid functional group, a copper powder and a photosensitive organic component. The copper powder has a surface layer having a thickness of at least 0.1 &mgr;m from the surface composed CuO as a main component. The copper powder also has an oxygen content of about 0.8% to 5% by weight.

Abstract: Provided is a photosensitive conductive paste that is unlikely to gel, has superior storage stability and adhesion to a substrate, and can be formed into a fine and thick pattern. In a photosensitive conductive paste containing a powdered base metal, an organic binder having acidic groups and a photosensitive organic component, a powdered base metal processed by surface oxidation treatment and a material such as a polyvalent alcohol having at least four hydroxyls, which forms microgels by reaction with metal hydroxides present on the surface of the powdered base metal, is used.