Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a welded resin article which includes (a) bringing first and second resin members to come into contact with each other; (b) applying laser light to the first and second resin members while moving the laser light relative to the first and second resin members; (c1) obtaining a value corresponding to the intensity of infrared light from a plurality of locations on a surface; (d) successively calculating, as a section average, the average of a predetermined number of successive values, among those obtained from the plurality of locations corresponding to the intensity of the infrared light; (e) a step of successively calculating a deviation judgment value; and (f) a step of successively judging whether or not the deviation judgment value falls within a predetermined judgment threshold range.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a welded resin article which includes (a) bringing first and second resin members to come into contact with each other; (b) applying laser light to the first and second resin members while moving the laser light relative to the first and second resin members; (c1) obtaining a value corresponding to the intensity of infrared light from a plurality of locations on a surface; (d) successively calculating, as a section average, the average of a predetermined number of successive values, among those obtained from the plurality of locations corresponding to the intensity of the infrared light; (e) a step of successively calculating a deviation judgment value; and (f) a step of successively judging whether or not the deviation judgment value falls within a predetermined judgment threshold range.

Abstract: A water level measuring apparatus and a water level measuring method, in which a water level L0 of a liquid is read from a water level indicator secured to a liquid tank, and a filter value FLT is calculated by applying a filter with a time constant greater than one second to the water level L0, and the filter value FLT is output as a final water level L. Accordingly, even if the surface sloshes and the water level L0 fluctuates up and down, the water level L0 is smoothed by the filter. Hence there is little influence of the liquid sloshing, and the water level measurement accuracy can be improved.

Abstract: In an exhaust emission purifying apparatus for reductively purifying NOx in the exhaust emission by using a liquid reducing agent or its precursor, to be referred to as “liquid reducing agent” herein, a dosing flow rate of the liquid reducing agent according to engine operating conditions is computed, and the dosing of the liquid reducing agent is controlled based on the computed dosing flow rate, and also, it is judged whether or not a supply system of the liquid reducing agent is failed, based on a ratio between an integrated amount obtained by sequentially integrating the dosing flow rate and a consumed amount of the liquid reducing agent.

Abstract: A sensor control device, and a gas sensor and sensor control device for applying a voltage to a sensor element of the gas sensor including an oxygen ion conductor and a pair of electrodes formed on the oxygen ion conductor of the gas sensor. The sensor control device includes a potential output terminal electrically connected to one of the pair of electrodes and a potential reference terminal electrically connected to the other of the pair of electrodes constituting the sensor element. The sensor control device applies a target voltage to the sensor element via the potential output terminal, corrected to take into account variation in the potential of the potential reference terminal.

Abstract: Doors are made to open and close from a center of an opening of an accommodation box in such a manner as a double-leafed hinged door does via an interlocking mechanism (link mechanisms) which converts a sliding movement in a direction which is substantially normal to a plane including an opening into rotational movements of the doors around corresponding rotational axes which are set individually on left- and right-hand sides of the opening, and when they are in an open position where the opening is opened completely, the doors are stored compact to lie along left and right lateral sides of the accommodation box.

Abstract: In an exhaust emission purifying apparatus for reductively purifying NOx in the exhaust emission by using a liquid reducing agent or its precursor, to be referred to as “liquid reducing agent” herein, a dosing flow rate of the liquid reducing agent according to engine operating conditions is computed, and the dosing of the liquid reducing agent is controlled based on the computed dosing flow rate, and also, it is judged whether or not a supply system of the liquid reducing agent is failed, based on a ratio between an integrated amount obtained by sequentially integrating the dosing flow rate and a consumed amount of the liquid reducing agent.

Abstract: A water level measuring apparatus and a water level measuring method, in which a water level L0 of a liquid is read from a water level indicator secured to a liquid tank, and a filter value FLT is calculated by applying a filter with a time constant greater than one second to the water level L0, and the filter value FLT is output as a final water level L. Accordingly, even if the surface sloshes and the water level L0 fluctuates up and down, the water level L0 is smoothed by the filter. Hence there is little influence of the liquid sloshing, and the water level measurement accuracy can be improved.

Abstract: An environmental-state determination apparatus includes a pair of detection electrodes which provide therebetween a capacitance which changes in accordance with a state of a surrounding environment, for example, the level of a liquid. A detection signal is input to a signal passage connected to the detection electrodes. A first capacitance parameter representing the capacitance of the detection electrodes is detected on the basis of a signal output from the signal passage in the connected state. The detection signal is input to the signal passage from which the detection electrodes are disconnected. A second capacitance parameter representing the capacitance of the signal passage is detected on the basis of a signal output from the signal passage in the disconnected state. The first capacitance parameter is corrected by subtracting therefrom the second capacitance parameter. The state of the surrounding environment is determined on the basis of the corrected first capacitance parameter.

Abstract: A liquid state detection sensor in which temperature information of a urea aqueous solution is obtained on the basis of a voltage value acquired after the start of energization of a heating resistor corresponding to a resistance value of the heating resistor (S1-S6). Damage to the heating resistor is prevented by suspending the energization if the thus-obtained temperature is lower than or equal to the freezing point (S7: yes and S8). If the temperature is higher than the freezing point (S7: no), a voltage value corresponding to a resistance of the heating resistor after a lapse of 700 ms (S10 and S11) and a urea concentration of the urea aqueous solution are determined from a difference ?V from the previously acquired voltage value. A more accurate urea concentration can be detected by making a correction using the previously obtained temperature information of the urea aqueous solution (S13-S18).

Abstract: A center console is provided with a movable console, a guide rail and an actuation mechanism. A rail main body of the guide rail and a lock member of the actuation mechanism lock the movable console against movement. An operation lever is provided in an upper portion of the movable console. The movable console locked by the rail main body and the lock member of the actuation mechanism is unlocked by operating the operation lever along a moving direction of the movable console.

Abstract: A center console is provided with a movable console, a guide rail and an actuation mechanism. A rail main body of the guide rail and a lock member of the actuation mechanism lock the movable console against movement. An operation lever is provided in an upper portion of the movable console. The movable console locked by the rail main body and the lock member of the actuation mechanism is unlocked by operating the operation lever along a moving direction of the movable console.

Abstract: An environmental-state determination apparatus includes a pair of detection electrodes which provide therebetween a capacitance which changes in accordance with a state of a surrounding environment, for example, the level of a liquid. A detection signal is input to a signal passage connected to the detection electrodes. A first capacitance parameter representing the capacitance of the detection electrodes is detected on the basis of a signal output from the signal passage in the connected state. The detection signal is input to the signal passage from which the detection electrodes are disconnected. A second capacitance parameter representing the capacitance of the signal passage is detected on the basis of a signal output from the signal passage in the disconnected state. The first capacitance parameter is corrected by subtracting therefrom the second capacitance parameter. The state of the surrounding environment is determined on the basis of the corrected first capacitance parameter.

Abstract: A locking canceling operation is made to be performed using as a driving force a restoring force produced when a deformable canceling member made of a shape memory alloy is heated to restore its memorized shape.

Abstract: NOx sensor element of oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte body 15; flow passage (7, 5, 8, 6) provided within the body for introducing analyte gas; oxygen partial pressure detection cell 3; first oxygen pump cell 1 for controlling oxygen partial pressure of the gas in the flow passage; and nitrogen oxides detection cell 2 for decomposing nitrogen oxides in the gas having a controlled oxygen partial pressure and for causing dissociated oxygen to migrate through the solid electrolyte body (see FIG. 1). Operational amplifier 22b is connected between the nitrogen oxides detection cell 2 and a 12 V battery power source to generate a voltage applied to the nitrogen oxides detection cell 2; and diode 22d connected to a point between the operational amplifier 22b and the nitrogen oxides detection cell. The diode clamps the voltage to an activation voltage higher than the measurement voltage during activation.

Abstract: A sensor control device, and a gas sensor and sensor control device for applying a voltage to a sensor element of the gas sensor including an oxygen ion conductor and a pair of electrodes formed on the oxygen ion conductor of the gas sensor. The sensor control device includes a potential output terminal electrically connected to one of the pair of electrodes and a potential reference terminal electrically connected to the other of the pair of electrodes constituting the sensor element. The sensor control device applies a target voltage to the sensor element via the potential output terminal, corrected to take into account variation in the potential of the potential reference terminal.

Abstract: Vertical louvers are swingably supported at a duct outlet of a vehicle air conditioner. Two left and right shape-memory alloy (SMA) wires are coupled to a swing shaft of one of the vertical louvers. When electrically heated, the SMA wires contract, and the swing shaft is rotated, accordingly. The SMA wires are alternately supplied with electricity, so that the vertical louvers are swung leftward and rightward.

Abstract: A liquid state detection sensor in which temperature information of a urea aqueous solution is obtained on the basis of a voltage value acquired after the start of energization of a heating resistor corresponding to a resistance value of the heating resistor (S1-S6). Damage to the heating resistor is prevented by suspending the energization if the thus-obtained temperature is lower than or equal to the freezing point (S7: yes and S8). If the temperature is higher than the freezing point (S7: no), a voltage value corresponding to a resistance of the heating resistor after a lapse of 700 ms (S10 and S11) and a urea concentration of the urea aqueous solution are determined from a difference ?V from the previously acquired voltage value. A more accurate urea concentration can be detected by making a correction using the previously obtained temperature information of the urea aqueous solution (S13-S18).

Abstract: Air conducting connector with simplified wiring layout and water-proofing. Connector 2 has air conduction path 3, having a first opening 3a and a second opening 3b. A heater wire 5, air conducting wire and terminal 6 of ECU side are inserted into the first opening 3a, while an air-conducting heater wire 7 and terminal 8 of sensor side are inserted into second opening 3b. Within the air conduction path 3, the ECU side terminal 6 and the sensor side terminal 8 are electrically interconnected. First opening 3a is sealed with resin. The rear part of the air conduction path 3 is sealed with a sealing material 8b. The sensor side terminal 8 and the ECU side terminal 6 are electrically interconnected on insertion to communicate an air conducting part of the sensor side heater wire 7 with an air conducting part of the ECU side heater wire 5 through air conduction path 3.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring NOx concentration comprises a NOx sensor element having an oxygen partial-pressure detection cell 3 which detects oxygen concentration of an analyte gas in first measurement chamber 5, first oxygen pump cell 1 across which a current corresponding to oxygen concentration of analyte gas (“a first oxygen pump current”) flows by pumping oxygen from inside to outside of first measurement chamber 1, second measurement chamber 6 into which gas is introduced from first measurement chamber 5 via second diffusion resistance 8, and second oxygen pump cell 2 across which a current corresponding to NOx concentration (“a second oxygen pump current”) flows by transferring oxygen dissociated by decomposition of nitrogen oxide in second measurement chamber 6; and first diagnostic means 30a for diagnosing the apparatus as normally functioning if the second oxygen pump current Ip2 or a predetermined voltage Vp2 applied to second oxygen pump cell 2 is within a predetermined range,