Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for identifying a gas type. The system includes a first sensor in contact with the gas and which produces a first electrical output signal indicative of a first condition of the gas. Similarly, a second sensor is also in contact with the gas and produces a second electrical output signal indicative of a second condition of the gas. A processor receives the output signals as input signals from the first and second sensors and determines the type of gas by calculation or from lookup tables stored in memory accessible to the processor. The first and second conditions of the gas are selected from the group of temperature, mass flow rate, temperature and pressure.

Abstract: An improved hot wire gas flow sensor is disclosed having a housing with a passageway in series with a passageway through which the gas flow is measured. The housing includes both a hot wire and cold wire disposed within the passageway. A current circuit maintains the temperature differential between the hot wire and cold wire preferably in the range of 30° C. to 100° C. by varying the current flow through the hot wire. Current limiting circuitry is then utilized to limit the current flow through the hot wire and thus the temperature of the hot wire in order to prevent possible combustion of the gas in the passageway. Additionally, a current augmenting circuit augments the current flow through the hot wire for a limited period of time following the electrical energization of the flow sensor in order to provide rapid heat up of the hot wire in the hot wire sensor.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method, an apparatus and a system for automatically recognizing motions and actions of moving objects such as humans, animals and machines. Measuring instruments are attached to an object under observation to measure a status change entailing the object's motion or action and to issue a signal denoting the measurements. A characteristic quantity extraction unit extracts a characteristic quantity from the measurement signal received which represents the motion or action currently performed by the object under observation. A signal processing unit for motion/action recognition correlates the extracted characteristic quantity with reference data in a database containing previously acquired characteristic quantities of motions and actions. The motion or action represented by the characteristic quantity with the highest degree of correlation is recognized and output.

Abstract: A time domain measurement and control system for a hot wire air flow sensor is disclosed in which the air flow sensor is of the type having a resistive heating element with an input end and an output end. The control system includes a fixed frequency variable width pulse generator which generates a pulse train through the heating element. This pulse train, furthermore, has a first predetermined voltage amplitude. The output voltage amplitude of the pulse train is determined at the outlet end of the heating element while a control circuit varies the duty cycle of the pulse train to maintain the output voltage amplitude at a second predetermined voltage level. The duty cycle of the pulse train is proportional to the air flow rate through the air flow sensor.

Abstract: A heater is provided for use in conjunction with a fuel passageway, such as a cold start passageway, in an internal combustion engine in which fuel is injected into the passageway. The heater includes a tubular housing which is insertable into the passageway so that fuel flow through the passageway flows through the interior of the housing. A plurality of heater assemblies are also provided wherein each heating assembly has a capsule and at least one electrical heating element thermally coupled to its associated capsule. The capsules are secured to the housing so that the capsules are circumferentially spaced from each other around the housing. In one embodiment, the capsules are secured to an interior surface of the housing so that one surface of each capsule is open to the passageway. In a second embodiment, the capsules are secured around the outer periphery of the housing and each heating element is thermally connected to the housing.

Abstract: An EMI energy absorber for use with an electrical circuit, such as a hot wire air flow sensor, which has at least one electrical element which exhibits antenna characteristics at a predetermined frequency range for the EMI. The energy absorber includes a component, such as a ferrite bead, which is electrically connected in series with the element of the electrical circuit. This component exhibits a resistance which varies as a function of frequency and has a maximum resistance within the predetermined frequency range. Thus, the component functions to absorb the EMI and dissipate the EMI as heat.

Abstract: A navigation system which can enhance the position determining accuracy of a mobile object without employing any high precision measuring instrument. The navigation system comprises a GPS range measuring device, an angular velocity measuring device, a velocity measuring device and an azimuth measuring device, which measure the motion of the mobile object; a GPS range error estimating device, an angular velocity error estimating device, a velocity error estimating device and an azimuth error estimating device, which estimate errors involved in the respectively corresponding measuring devices; and a position calculating device which calculates the position of the mobile object from the outputs of the error estimating devices. The error estimating devices are implemented by Kalman filters and averaging processes.

Abstract: In a data transmission system having a data processing unit (MPU) and a communication control unit (CIM) and capable of transmitting a data to a local control unit (LCU) in a half duplex mode, the data processing unit receives the data by an interruption based on an end of data reception signal supplied from the communication control unit.

Abstract: An integrated wiring system for controlling multiple vehicle systems comprising a plurality of terminal control units having different information processing speed and a central control unit. A communications interface is provided in the central control unit in the form of a dedicated programmable input/output processor for performing data communication based on a plurality of communication protocols.

Abstract: An in-cylinder pressure sensing apparatus for a multi-cylinder engine has a plurality of sensing parts packaged between a cylinder head and a cylinder block of an engine having a plurality of cylinders and being operative to detect a signal indicative of an internal pressure of each of the plurality of cylinders. A detection circuit is provided for connecting the sensing parts in series and for overlapping detection signals obtained from the individual sensing parts to take out a resulting overlapped signal. A reference signal generator operates to supply a reference signal for separating detection signals corresponding to the individual cylinders from the overlapped signal. A unit is also provided for separating the detection signals, detected in accordance with pressures of the individual cylinders, from the overlapped signal on the basis of the reference signal.

Abstract: An optical fiber pressure sensor for measuring a pressure on the basis of an optical power loss depending on a configuration change of an optical fiber comprising a luminescence device optically connected with at least an optical fiber which is constructed with a main part for propagating a light protective coating member for protecting the main part. A light intercepting device detects a light passing through the optical reflected light from the optical fiber. A bending device bends at least a part of the optical fiber according to a measured pressure. The optical fiber pressure sensor is characterized by being used when a normalization frequency V value of the optical fiber is smaller than 90% of a normalization cut-off frequency defining a single transmission mode condition of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A phase modulated light is propagated through an optical fiber sensing loop, from which a propagated light is obtained. The propagated light is converted to an electric signal, from which a fundamental wave component and even number harmonic wave components of a phase modulating signal for the phase modulated signal are detected. In accordance with the changes of the fundamental and even number harmonic wave components, fault is detected. On the other hand, the electric signal may be integrated to provide an integrated signal. In accordance with the comparison between the integrated signal and a fault reference voltage, the fault may be detected.

Abstract: A physical quantity detecting apparatus comprises at least one optical fiber, at least one light emitting means for emitting an incident light beam on the optical fiber, at least one light receiving means for detecting an outgoing light beam from the optical fiber, physical quantity applied position information generating means for providing information indicative of a position of a portion at which a physical quantity is applied to the optical fiber, and operation means for receiving signals from the light receiving means and physical quantities applied position information generating means and calculating a change with time in physical quantity at respective positions on the optical fiber.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for measuring intake air for an internal combustion engine by means of a detecting unit including a heat generating resistor, and a flow amount arithmetic unit for calculating an air flow amount on the basis of the output from the detecting unit. The measuring apparatus further includes an equalizer circuit for regulating the amplitude or phase of the output signal from the detecting unit, between the detecting unit and the flow amount arithmetic unit.

Abstract: A photodetector generates an electric signal by receiving a light signal which is obtained by coupling lights having propagated through an optical fiber sensing loop in clock-wise and counter clock-wise directions, and modulated in a phase modulator. The electric signal is detected in a synchronous detection circuit to generate a fundamental wave component of the phase modulation signal, a duplicate harmonic wave component, a quadruple harmonic wave component, and an orthogonal component which is obtained in accordance with a phase shift of the quadruple harmonic wave component by one quarter period.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit of an optical fiber gyro comprises a memory for storing data measured in the signal processing circuit in accordance with angular velocities applied to an optical fiber sensing loop at preparatory stage, and the applied angular velocities. In operation, the memory is accessed in accordance with data obtained in the signal processing circuit at an operation stage, so that an angular velocity is read from the memory without complicated calculation.

Abstract: An integrated wiring system having a plurality of terminal control units and a central controlling unit (including computational processing means) for transferring information to and from the terminal control units. An input/output control unit is provided for executing communication control based on plural communication protocols with a plurality of different information processing speeds for communicating with the terminal control units. In a preferred embodiment, the input/output control units have a plurality of transmission controlling programs corresponding to the plurality of terminal control units, and the frequencies of execution of the respective terminal controlling programs are different from one another.

Abstract: A collective wiring system for an automobile provides a central control unit which communicates with a plurality of terminal control units each connected to one or more input or output devices, such as switches, sensors, motors and the like. The control over output devices in response to the status of input devices is performed by the central control unit on the basis of tables of data stored in memory. A scan table controls the order in which data communications are made to the terminal control units to obtain their status and provide them with control commands. A monitor table stores the current status of the terminal control units and a control table stores the control data for the terminal control units. A connection table stores the relationship between the terminal control unit for an input device and the terminal control unit for the output device to be controlled thereby. Thus, connection control between input and output devices is effected by software.

Abstract: In an automobile multiplex data communication system (1000), a fail-safe function is established without providing a specific function switch. The automobile multiplex data communication system (1000) includes: transmission means (3:11:101:901) for transmitting operation data about a plurality of operation units (2a:106:204:704) provided with a plurality of terminal units (1a:202:602:902) corresponding thereto, which are required to operate an automobile; drive means (4:420) for driving a relevant terminal unit (1a:202:602:902) in response to said operation data; detecting means (5:410) for detecting an extraordinary state concerning transmission/reception operations of said operation data to produce an extraordinary-state detection signal; and control means (6:12) for independently controlling the operation of said relevant terminal unit (1a:202:602:902) by AND-gating said extraordinary-state detection signal and each of operation outputs derived from said operation units.

Abstract: An interference sensor passes radiation from a source and a polariser to a loop of optical fiber so that radiation beams circulate in opposite directions around the loop and interfere. The loop contains an optical phase modulator which imposes an optical modulator on the radiation beams circulating on the loop. A converter detects the interfering and modulated beams and generates an interference signal which is then processed by an analyser. The interference in the loop is dependent on rotation of the loop and therefore analysis of the interference signal permits that rotation to be measured. In the present invention, the interference signal is (i) sampled at a frequency different from that of the optical modulation, or (ii) electronically modulated in the analyser at a frequency different from that of the optical modulation, or (iii) optically modulated in the loop at a second optical modulation frequency. The analysis in the analyser may be in the frequency domain (i.e.