Abstract: A vehicle seat comprising a horizontal seat cushion, a support shaft projecting upward from the seat cushion, and a rotatable backrest secured on the support shaft. The vehicle seat further comprises a mechanism for regulating the rotational movement of the backrest, which can be controlled in response to a detected driving state of the vehicle. The backrest may be immovably retained at a normal position relative to the seat cushion during the usual forward driving, and allowed to rotate to a suitable position during a stop, reverse, or cornering of the vehicle.

Abstract: A device for moving up and down and tilting a headrest of a vehicle seat having a driven shaft for moving the headrest up and down and a support member for tilting the headrest. The drive shaft is operatively connected to leg members fixed to the headrest, and provided in a backrest of the vehicle seat. The support member is provided below the driven shaft. A drive mechanism drives the driven shaft to move the headrest up and down relative to the backrest, and a tilting mechanism rotates the leg members about the support member to tilt the headrest to a back of the seat backrest.

Abstract: An active silencer provided in a pipe which has one end reaching the noise source and the other end open, the active silencer being provided with a sound generating means which is provided at the sidewall of the pipe facing inside the pipe, a sound collecting means which is provided outside the pipe close to the other end and which detects noise dissipated from the pipe opening, a phase leading means which outputs a lead phase output signal which is advanced from the phase of an output signal of the sound collecting means by a phase corresponding to a predetermined time determined by the distance between the sound generating means and the sound collecting means; and a drive means which outputs a signal constituting the lead phase output signla inverted in phase as a drive signal for the sound generating means, the predetermined time .tau. being set so that .tau.=L/C, wherein the distance between the sound generating means and the sound collecting means is L and the speed of sound is C.

Abstract: A rotary seat for a vehicle has a seat cushion member rotably supported on a support shaft vertically mounted on the vehicle floor. Driving apparatus is connected to the seat cushion member for automatically rotating the seat cushion member between a direction toward the front of the vehicle and a direction toward a side door of the vehicle when the seat cushion member is not occupied. Disconnecting equipment is included for disconnecting the driving apparatus from the seat cushion member to allow the seat cushion member to be manually rotated when the seat cushion member is occupied. Control devices are provided for controlling the driving apparatus and the disconnecting equipment to place the seat cushion member in an automatic rotating mode or a manual rotating mode depending upon whether the seat is occupied.

Abstract: A wiper device for a vehicle, has a sub-arm turnably supported by a vehicle body through a supporting shaft provided in a base end thereof. An arm shaft is turnably provided in a tip end of the sub-arm and a base end of a wiper arm is fixed to the arm shaft. The supporting shaft has a cylindrical shape and a drive shaft is inserted into the cylindrical supporting shaft. One end of the drive shaft on the side of the sub-arm, is connected to the arm shaft by a gear mechanism and the other end of the drive shaft is connected to a drive source and is reciprocally turned thereby. To the outer surface of the supporting shaft is fixed a Geneva gear. On a circular plate turnably connected to the drive source is an eccentrically provided pin.

Abstract: A monitor display unit having a hologram dry plate, formed by coating a glass base plate with sensitive material, and installed in an instrument panel of a vehicle. On the hologram dry plate are multiply recorded light interference fringes of three-dimensional images of the vehicle seen from the front and the rear of the vehicle. Two image reproduction lamps for illuminating reproduction light toward the hologram dry plate are provided on the right front and the left front of the hologram dry plate. When one image reproduction lamp is lighted, one three-dimensional image is reproduced on the hologram dry plate. Light emission diodes are provided rearward of the hologram dry plate so as to correspond to the positions of lamps on the three-dimensional image. The light emission of the light emission diodes is recognized through the hologram dry plate.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling a plurality of power seats in a vehicle includes a plurality of power seats, each having adjusting mechanisms for configuring the power seat in a number of different operational states. Operational state detectors then detect the operational state of each power seat. A switching device is provided for adjusting the adjustment mechanisms of the power seats to a desired operational state. Control apparatus is responsive to signals output from the operation state detection devices and the switching device for controlling the adjustment mechanisms of the power seats. The control apparatus causes each power seat to reach its desired operational state in response to the detected operational state of that seat and other power seats to prevent interference among the plurality of moving power seats.

Abstract: A seat belt winding apparatus with a rotation detection unit, for detecting a rotation of a belt winder shaft, and a driving unit, controlled by a detection signal from the rotation detection unit so as to apply a winding force to the belt winder shaft.When the seat belt is pulled by a passenger and a buckle is coupled with a tongue, the driving unit is controlled so that a rotational position of the belt winder shaft in a winding termination state is stored in a storage unit as a reference rotational position, thus establishing a correspondence between a reference rotational position and a count in the storage unit.In the belt fastened state, when the rotational position of the belt winder shaft is shifted from the reference rotational position, the shifted rotational position of the belt winder shaft is compared with the reference rotational position.

Abstract: A sound source searching device for searching an objective sound source out of a plurality of sound sources, is disclosed. The device comprises an intensity probe provided with one pair of microphones, pulse motors for rotating the probe on the horizontal and vertical planes, a computer for calculating acoustic intensity corresponding to the frequency of the objective sound source from the sound pressure signal generated by the intensity probe, an interface device provided with pulse motor driving circuits for driving the pulse motors in accordance with the instructions of the computer by predetermined angles and an indicator for indicating the direction in which the acoustic intensity is the minimum on the horizontal and the vertical planes, as the direction of the objective sound source.

Abstract: An emergency locking retractor (ELR) for a safety seat belt system provided with a slack-take-up spring operable to instantaneously bias a belt retracting reel to take-up a slack in the seat belt in an emergency situation of the vehicle. The retractor is further provided with a rewinding mechanism including an electric motor for rewinding the slack-take-up spring after the spring energy thereof has been released. Switching circuits for automatically energizing the electric motor are also possible.

Abstract: A retractable safety belt system for restraining a vehicle occupant in a seat comprising a seat belt secured at one end to a reel of an electric-motor driven retractor. The retractor motor is controlled by control means (9) having a drive circuit (92G) and a reverse rotation or protraction rotation detection circuit (94A) which senses the reverse rotation of the motor as the seat belt is protracted and energizes the motor to retract the seat belt, thereby removing any slack in the seat belt. Preferably, the control means includes an increasing voltage circuit (94C) for gradually increasing the voltage applied to the motor, thereby reducing the motor torque at the initial stage of retraction. Also, the control means preferably includes a load sensing circuit (94B) which de-energizes the motor as the load on the motor and, hence, the tension in the seat belt reaches a predetermined level.

Abstract: A system for controlling the throttling of intake air and pressure of fuel injection in a diesel engine, including an intake air throttling mechanism in an intake air passage and a fuel injection apparatus in a swirl chamber. The fuel injection pressure of the fuel injection apparatus is variable. The intake air throttling mechanism is operated in accordance with predetermined operating parameters of the engine to reduce the fuel injection pressure when necessary.

Abstract: A seat belt system including: a seat belt device including at least one seat belt and at least one seat belt drive device thereof; two electrodes; a heart beat calculating circuit for receiving signals detected at the electrodes and calculating a heart beat in response to signals from the electrodes; and a control circuit for outputting a control signal to the seat belt drive device to wind or unwind the seat belt in response to the heart beat signal from the heart beat calculating circuit.

Abstract: A lock-type seat belt retractor including a ratchet mechanism, an inertia member which senses shock to the automobile, and a transmitting mechanism which transmits a movement of the inertia member to a pawl of the ratchet mechanism. The inertia member senses the shock by its relative motion to the transmitting mechanism. The transmitting mechanism includes a rod which moves in response to movement of the inertia member and pushes up a lever to raise the pawl. When the pawl engages with a tooth of a ratchet wheel, the seat belt is locked. The transmitting mechanism further includes a member which supports the rod and the inertia member. The support member swings relative to the automobile body so that this retractor can be locked reliably regardless of its angular position.

Abstract: A fuel injection device of a diesel engine which stops fuel injection and throttles intake air during engine braking so that engine vibration, noise, harmful exhaust gas, and fuel consumption are all reduced. The device includes an intake valve interlocked with an accelerator to throttle intake air during accelerator nonoperation, sensors for detecting an engine braking condition, and a computer for controlling fuel injection in response to signals from engine sensors.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifier suitable for use in a diesel engine of the type in which the intake air is throttle by a throttle valve provided in an intake passage during engine idling to reduce engine vibration and noise. Unburned combustibles produced by intake air throttling are treated by the exhaust gas purifier having a main passage and a bypass passage in which an oxidation catalyst is received. A bypass control valve, operable in synchronization with the throttle valve, urges the exhaust gas to flow through the bypass passage during engine idling. Preferably, means for preheating the catalyst is provided, which comprises an injector and an igniting glow plug.

Abstract: An automobile seat belt winding device is disclosed. The device comprises a retractor which has a belt winding shaft. The shaft is driven by a motor, the operation of which is controlled by control circuits so that the belt is wound when not being worn and when a slack occurs.A slack sensor comprises a switch and a slip joint, and a slack in the belt is detected due to changing of the position of the slip joint.

Abstract: A safety seatbelt retractor for use in a vehicle including a frame adapted to be fixed to the vehicle and a winding shaft rotatably mounted on the frame. The seatbelt is normally wound around the winding shaft. The winding shaft has associated therewith a spring member. When the seatbelt is unwound out of the winding shaft, the spring member applies no or weak biasing force to the winding shaft in such direction as to cause the seatbelt to be wound therearound. During the normal fastening of the seatbelt on a passenger taking his seat of the vehicle, the spring member continuously applies a weak biasing force to the winding shaft in the direction mentioned above. The winding shaft has also associated therewith a drive unit which, when operated, drives the winding shaft to rotate the same so as to cause the seatbelt to be wound around the winding shaft. The drive unit is operated when the seatbelt is unfastened or the passenger gets off the vehicle with the seatbelt unwound out of the winding shaft.

Abstract: An EGR apparatus of a diesel engine having a particulate trapper means for preventing the particulate matter included in the exhaust gas from entering the engine cylinders.The EGR apparatus has two valve means, one disposed in the EGR passage for controlling the flow of the recirculated gas, the other being disposed in the intake passage for throttling the fresh air. When the engine is in an idle condition, one valve is opened and the other valve is closed, thereby improving the performance of the engine in the idle condition.

Abstract: An intake air throttling system for a diesel engine comprising an air intake passage. The system includes a throttling valve mounted in the air intake passage so as to selectively throttle air flow through it. This throttling valve can be positioned to at least a first position in which it substantially fully closes the air intake passage, a second position in which it partly throttles the air intake passage to a substantial extent but does not fully close it, and a third position in which it does not throttle the air intake passage to any substantial extent. The throttling valve is controlled by a control system, which positions it to the first position when the engine is being stopped, which positions it to the second position when the engine is being idled, and which positions it to the third position when the engine is being operated in non idling load bearing operational condition.