Abstract: A valve timing adjusting apparatus adjusts valve timing of at least one of intake and exhaust valves of an engine that are opened and closed by a camshaft driven by torque transmitted from a crankshaft. The apparatus includes an electric motor, a plurality of switching elements, a motor driver, and a phase adjusting mechanism. When a target rotational direction of a motor shaft of the electric motor is coincident with the actual rotational direction of the same, the motor driver continuously turns on a selected one of the switching elements for the whole of a predetermined rotation angle range of the motor shaft. When the target rotational direction is opposite to the actual rotational direction, the motor driver continuously turns on the selected switching element only for part of the rotation angle range, and continuously turns off the selected switching element for the remaining part of the rotation angle range.

Abstract: An electric driver unit for an electric valve timing adjusting apparatus is disclosed. The electric driver unit includes: a motor for driving the apparatus; a switching part for applying a drive voltage to the motor; a current information output part for providing current information associated with a current flowing in the switching part; a power distribution control part for controlling power distribution to the motor by controlling the switching part; and an oil temperature information output part for providing oil temperature corresponding value, which depends on temperature of oil that surrounds the apparatus. The power distribution control part controls the current based on the current information so that the current stays below a target value. The target value includes a normal value and a large value. The power distribution control part adopts the large value as the target value until the oil temperature corresponding value reaches a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A valve timing adjusting apparatus adjusts valve timing of at least one of intake and exhaust valves of an engine that are opened and closed by a camshaft driven by torque transmitted from a crankshaft. The apparatus includes an electric motor, a plurality of switching elements, a motor driver, and a phase adjusting mechanism. When a target rotational direction of a motor shaft of the electric motor is coincident with the actual rotational direction of the same, the motor driver continuously turns on a selected one of the switching elements for the whole of a predetermined rotation angle range of the motor shaft. When the target rotational direction is opposite to the actual rotational direction, the motor driver continuously turns on the selected switching element only for part of the rotation angle range, and continuously turns off the selected switching element for the remaining part of the rotation angle range.

Abstract: A valve opening and closing control device of a type making use of a motor enhances driving performance of the motor and restricts heat generated by constituent elements. A bridge circuit of a motor driving circuit comprises three rows of arms comprising two switching elements connected in series to each other and two diodes connected in parallel to corresponding switching elements. The respective arms are connected in parallel to an electric source, and motor windings are connected to points of interconnection of the switching elements on the respective arms. After putting the respective switching elements of the arms in an ON state to carry an electric current to the windings, a control circuit causes the switching element in an ON state to be put as an electricity introduction stoppage element in an OFF state and causes the switching element of the same arm as that, on which the electricity introduction stoppage element is disposed, to be put in an ON state.

Abstract: There is provided a valve opening and closing control device (10, 110, 210, 300, 410) of a type making use of a motor (12, 320), in which device the driving performance of the motor is enhanced and heat generated by constituent elements is restricted. A bridge circuit (110, 212, 382, 411) of a motor driving circuit (100, 200, 370, 400) comprises three rows of arms (113u, 113v, 113w) comprising two switching elements (111a, 111b) connected in series to each other and two diodes (112a, 112b) connected in parallel to corresponding switching elements. The respective arms are connected in parallel to an electric source (120, 213, 383, 412), and motor windings (22u, 22w, 22v) are connected to points of interconnection of the switching elements on the respective arms.

Abstract: A piezoelectric-element drive apparatus includes a direct-current power supply. An energy storing capacitor is connected in parallel with the direct-current power supply. An energy-transfer switching element becomes on when energy is transferred from the energy storing capacitor. A piezoelectric element connected in parallel with the energy storing capacitor receives energy and expands when the energy-transfer switching element becomes on. A discharging coil is connected in parallel with the piezoelectric element. A discharging switching element is operative for discharging the piezoelectric element via the discharging coil. A coupling transformer is provided between the energy storing capacitor and the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: An ignition system of an internal combustion engine for simultaneously exciting pairs of spark plugs, which system includes direct current circuits connecting in series primary windings of ignition coils having a coupling coefficient of higher than or equal to 0.9 and connected to spark plugs of engine cylinders working in pairs, one cylinder in a compression stroke while the other in an exhaust stroke, MOSFETs at one ends of the circuits, and an energy accumulating portion including a capacitor and a wiring coil, wherein the MOSFET turns on at an exciting timing for the corresponding cylinder to excite the corresponding direct current circuit by excitation energy accumulated in the energy accumulating portion in order to produce sparks in paired spark plugs, resulting in reliable firing of air/fuel mixture in engine cylinders in compression stroke in a short period and small energy of current in the windings.

Abstract: An optical system for an optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus that irradiates laser light emitted from a light emitting diode (8) to an opto-magnetic disk (2) via a relay prism (11) and an objective lens (12) and irradiates light reflected by said opto-magnetic disk to a light-receiving diode (15 A,B), and which has a first moving portion (22) that holds the objective lens, a second moving portion (33) that holds the relay prism, a connection mechanism connecting the first moving portion and the second moving portion, a focus moving device (21) to move said first moving portion in the direction of focus, and a tracking feed moving device (27) to move the first and second moving portions in the direction of tracking feed.

Abstract: An ignition system of multispark type having an ignitability superior to that of a combination an ignition system of capacitor discharge type and a multispark system is disclosed. A first control signal is generated for turning on a first switching device a predetermined time before an ignition timing to store energy in an energy storage coil and turning off the first switching device at the ignition timing. A multispark control signal is generated for turning on a second switching device from the ignition timing and turning on and off the first and second switching devices alternately for a predetermined spark period. A second control signal is generated for turning on the first switching device upon the turning off of the second switching device to store energy in the energy storage coil and then turning off the first switching device to charge a capacitor with the energy stored in the energy storage coil.

Abstract: A high-energy ignition system for an internal combustion engine in which both magnetic and electrical energy stored in an energy storage coil and in a capacitor are supplied to the primary winding of an ignition coil at a predetermined timing. When a first or second switching device is turned off, the capacitor is charged with the energy stored in advance in the energy storage coil, and upon subsequent turning on of the first switching device, energy is stored in the energy storage coil from a DC power supply. At substantially the same time as the turning off of the first switching device at an ignition timing, the second switching device is turned on to supply the primary winding with the energy stored in the energy storage coil and the capacitor. Alternatively, the capacitor is charged with the energy stored in advance in the energy storage coil through the primary winding of the ignition coil and a charging diode at the time of turning off of the second switching device.

Abstract: In an ignition device for an internal combustion engine, the ignition device comprises: three closed circuits including first, second and third closed circuits, each circuit having at least a DC power source, a primary coil and a switching transistor; an ignition coil having three primary coils and a secondary coil; an ignition command signal generating means producing first and second ignition command signals, the first ignition command signal being applied to the third closed circuit and the second ignition command signal being applied to the control circuit; and a control circuit for causing the first and second switching elements to push-pull operate based on the input timing of the second ignition command signal.

Abstract: A current-interrupting type ignition device having an ignition coil having a primary winding, a secondary winding and an auxiliary winding disposed in the primary circuit, the number of turns of the auxiliary winding being less than that of the primary one. The auxiliary winding is energized in such a manner that electromagnetic flux passes in a direction opposite to that of the primary winding when energized. In this arrangement current flows through the auxiliary winding via a transistor and a diode when the primary current flowing through the primary winding is interrupted, thereby adding a voltage induced across the secondary winding by the transferring effect upon the energization of the auxiliary winding to the corresponding high voltage induced across the secondary winding upon the interruption of the current flow through the primary winding.

Abstract: An electromagnetic driving device for causing linear movement of a movable member. The device includes a fixed magnetic core around the entire length of which a coil is wound. The cross-sectional area of the central portion of the fixed magnetic core is greater than the cross-sectional area of the end portions of the fixed magnetic core so that the fixed magnetic core is not excessively heavy even if the stroke of the movable member is relatively large.

Abstract: A multi-gap spark ignition system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of spark gaps which are formed in series. The length of the spark gaps increases from the high voltage power source side towards the earth side. According to the present invention, necessary voltage to be applied to the spark ignition system can be decreased.

Abstract: An electromagnetic linear driving device comprising a stationary magnetic member, a first winding wound around the stationary magnetic member along the longitudinal direction thereof, and a movable permanent magnet for generating a magnetic flux which links some turns of the winding. A second winding is wound around at least one terminal of the stationary magnetic member so as to generate a magnetic flux opposing the magnetic flux generated by the first winding.

Abstract: A multi-gap spark ignition device to be installed in a spark ignition engine, is disclosed. The device comprises a metallic base member provided with a hole which forms one portion of the combustion chamber of the engine. Within the wall defining the hole, a high voltage electrode, a plurality of intermediate electrodes and an earth electrode are embedded at regular intervals so that each end of the electrodes project into the hole to form a plurality of spark gaps between the adjacent ends of the electrodes. Each of the intermediate electrodes is composed of an electrode member and an insulating member for covering one end of the electrode member, and is closely inserted into a groove formed in one end surface of the base member along the hole thereof at regular intervals.

Abstract: An ignition system for internal combustion engines of the type in which after the energizing current flow to the primary winding of an ignition coil has been interrupted and an ignition spark generating high voltage has been produced in the secondary winding, the primary winding is energized again to interrupt the ignition spark. The ignition spark is interrupted at around the TDC only when the engine is at high speed operating conditions and the deenergizing current in the primary winding is not interrupted in a moment but decreased gradually. Also, the ignition spark is interrupted only when the ignition spark is to continue beyond the top dead center.

Abstract: Particle-laden exhaust gases flow through a first stage consisting of a filter cake so the particles of sizes of the order of microns are trapped over the surface of the filter cake and agglomerated or granulated and the agglomerated or granulated particles are entrained by the flow of exhaust gases into an inertia type particle collector or separator in which they are separated from the exhaust gases and the collected particles are burned out by an electric heating element.

Abstract: An ignition system for the internal combustion engine comprising a high voltage circuit for generating a spark, having the primary and secondary windings. In response to a first signal, the current in the primary winding is cut off thereby to generate a high voltage at the secondary winding. In response to a subsequent second signal, the primary winding is shorted thereby to cut off the high voltage thus far generated in the secondary winding, thus properly regulating the duration of the spark generated.

Abstract: A pair of power transistors in a push-pull connection are connected with a pair of primary coils of a transformer acting as an ignition coil. Between the neutral point of the pair of the primary coils and a power source at least one diode is connected. The paired power transistors are turned on and off with a high frequency to generate in the secondary coil of the transformer high voltage trigger pulses and substantially continuous discharge voltages which last over a long period during each ignition period.