Abstract: A doze warning system has a circuit 20 for producing pulse signals representative of left- and right-hand steering angle variations, circuits 30 and 40 counting the pulse signal and producing a warning signal when the counter value reaches a threshold value, and a circuit 60 for producing a reset signal to clear the counter value when a difference between a number of pulse signals representative of the left-hand steering angle variations and a number of pulse signals representative of the right-hand steering angle variations exceeds a given value, or of a condition wherein the left-hand or right-hand pulse signals inputted exceeds a predetermined pulse number. The reset signal generating circuit detects a steering angle variation in excess of the threshold value in a normal driving condition such as passing through a curved road and produces the reset signal to inhibit production of the warning. By this reset signal generating circuit function, the warning system is prevented from malfunctioning.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a drowsiness alarm system which comprises: (a) a steering angle pulse generation circuit which produces first and second angle pulses at respective output terminals whenever the steering wheel is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, through an angle equal to a predetermined angular increment; (b) curved road detection circuit responsive to the first and second steering pulses which counts the number of the first and second steering pulses separately and detects whether the vehicle travels on a curved road depending on whether the counted number of either of the first and second steering pulses reaches a first predetermined number within a predetermined period of time or depending on whether the difference of the counted number between the first and second steering angle pulses reaches a second predetermined number within the predetermined period of time; (c) a first counting circuit which counts the number of the first and second steering a

Abstract: A meter useful in vehicles, having a dial plate, a swivel pointer made of a transparent material and an electrical light source such as a miniature light bulb to illuminate the pointer by light transmitted therethrough. A root portion of the pointer is bored to provide therein a cavity, and a hood member mounted on the dial plate has a shade portion above the cavity. The light source is attached to the hood member so as to be disposed in the cavity in the pointer. The hood member is detachably secured to the dial plate by a set of metal connectors which serve also as electric connectors to establish a circuit for energizing the light source.

Abstract: A first light reflecting surface is formed at either the back side of a hub section of a transparent pointer or an hole formed in a transparent dial board and a second light reflecting surface is formed on a front side of the hub section of the pointer. Light rays transmitting entirely within the dial board in a direction parallel to the longer dimensions of the dial board are reflected toward the second light reflecting surface by the first light reflecting surface and then reflected toward the pointing section of the pointer by the second light reflecting surface to illuminate the pointer.

Abstract: Light rays for illuminating the indicating portion of the indicator pointer come from the hub portion of the same where the rotational axis of the pointer lies, so that constant illumination on the indicating portion is achieved irrespective of the angular position change of the indicating portion relative to the dial board.

Abstract: An intake air control system of a fuel-injection internal combustion engine which is operable in a part-cylinder mode. With the system, there is provided an additional increase in the effective air flow area through an air induction system leading to the engine cylinders in response to a signal representing the part-cylinder mode operation, so that with the same depression degree of an accelerator pedal a sufficient amount of air will be fed to the selected ones of the engine cylinders after the engine operation has switched from full-cylinder mode to part-cylinder mode.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine operable in variable displacement modes is provided with separate exhaust systems for individual cylinder groups and a set of exhaust gas sensor and catalytic converter for each exhaust system. An electronic fuel injection control unit is arranged to respond to one of the signals from the gas sensor which is indicative of mixture richer than the other to effect correction of the duration of fuel injection pulse. Each catalytic converter is provided with a temperature sensor to detect when the temperature therein falls below the normal catalytic reaction temperture. A variable displacement control unit responds to the output from the temperature sensors by alternately deactivating the cylinder groups during low power operation.

Abstract: A constant voltage developed by a constant voltage generator is integrated, and the integrated voltage is applied to a voltage comparator. A standard voltage is applied to a voltage controller, which includes a sensor responsive to vehicle operating conditions, to control the level of the standard voltage to indicate the degree of driver alertness necessitated by the vehicle operatingconditions. The controlled standard voltage is also applied to the voltage comparator, and when the integrated voltage exceeds the controlled standard voltage the comparator develops a warning signal output. A warning device receives the warning signal and is thereby rendered operative in order to alert the driver.