Abstract: An information recording medium which ensures high reliability and favorable overwrite cyclability is provided, even when an interface layer is not provided between a recording layer and a dielectric layer. The recording layer 4 and the dielectric layers 2 and 6 are formed on the surface of the substrate 1. In the recording layer 4, a phase change is generated between a crystal phase and an amorphous phase by irradiation of light or application of an electric energy. The dielectric layers 2 and 6 are Zr—Cr—O-based material layers comprising Zr, Cr and O, preferably consisting essentially of material expressed, for example, with the formula (ZrO2)M(Cr2O3)100-M (mol %) wherein 20≦M≦80.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium having two or more information layers, wherein the irradiation of either the information layer with a laser beam converging thereon causes information signals to be recorded or reproduced; the nearer positioned information layer than the farthest information layer as viewed from the incidence side of the laser beam has a recording layer varying between two optically detectable states, and

Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes a plurality of recording layers, a reflectance of at least one of the plurality of the recording layers in a non-initialized state with respect to a light beam for initialization being smaller than a reflectance of the same in an initialized state with respect to the light beam for initialization. The recording layers are initialized by irradiating, among the plurality of recording layers, the recording layer positioned farther from a light beam irradiation side with the light beam prior to irradiating the recording layer positioned closer to the light beam irradiation side, so that the initialized recording layers have no initialization irregularities.

Abstract: A memory includes: first and second recording layers for recording information by utilizing a reversible phase change between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase which occurs due to increases in temperature caused by application of an electric current pulse. The crystallization temperatures of the first and second recording layers, Tx1 and Tx2 have the relationship Tx1<Tx2. The crystallization times of the first and second recording layers, tx1 and tx2, have the relationship tx1>tx2. Ra1+Ra2, Ra1+Rc2, Rc1+Ra2, and Rc1+Rc2are different from one another where the resistance value of the first recording layer in the amorphous phase is Ra1: the:resistance value of the first recording layer in the crystalline phase is Rc1, the resistance value of the second recording layer in the amorphous phase is Ra2 and the resistance value of the second recording layer In the crystalline phase is Rc2.

Abstract: A cockpit is supported by a motion base in a state of being capable of making swinging movement. A host computer calculate vehicle motion information in accordance with operation of various operation equipments performed by a driver accommodated in the cockpit. A simulation image is formed, the cockpit is controlled for swinging movement, and various meters or the like in the cockpit are controlled on the basis of an obtained result of the calculation. Thus, the drive simulation is carried out in a state approximate to that of a real vehicle.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a first information layer and a second information layer. The first information layer includes a first recording layer in which a reversible phase change is caused between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase by irradiation of a laser beam or application of current. The second information layer includes a second recording layer in which a reversible phase change is caused between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase by the irradiation of the laser beam or the application of the current. The first recording layer is made of a first material, the second recording layer is made of a second material, and the first material is different from the second material.

Abstract: An information recording medium of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed so as to be opposed to the first substrate, a first information layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a second information layer disposed between the first information layer and the second substrate, and an intermediate layer disposed between the first information layer and the second information layer. The first information layer includes a first recording layer that is transformed in phase reversibly between a crystal phase and an amorphous phase with a laser beam, and the second information layer includes a second recording layer that is transformed in phase reversibly between a crystal phase and an amorphous phase. The first recording layer contains, Ge, Sn, Sb, and Te, and has a thickness of 9 nm or less.

Abstract: An information recording medium that is excellent in repeated-rewriting performance and is deteriorated less in crystallization sensitivity with time is provided, with respect to which high density recording can be carried out. A method of manufacturing the same also is provided. The information recording medium includes a substrate and a recording layer disposed above the substrate. The recording layer contains, as constituent elements, Ge, Sb, Te, Sn, and at least one element M selected from Ag, Al, Cr, Mn, and N and is transformed in phase reversibly between a crystal phase and an amorphous phase by an irradiation of an energy beam.

Abstract: A reduction in tire pressure in follower wheels and driven wheels is precisely determined irrespective of slipping states of the driven wheels through the use of apparatus wherein in a driven wheel slip amount calculating means M4 calculates a driven wheel slip amount KIDD as a left and right follower wheel speed difference FID and a left and right driven wheel speed difference RID; in a driven wheel torque calculating means M5, a driven wheel torque TQDW is calculated; in a driven wheel slip amount estimating means M6, a characteristic of variation in driven wheel slip amount KIDD relative to the variation in driven wheel torque TQDW is estimated using a least squares method; in a deviation calculating means M7, a deviation CKID between the follower wheel speed difference FID and the driven wheel speed difference RID in a state in which the driven wheels are not slipping, is calculated as an intercept of the driven wheel slip amount KIDD at a driven wheel torque equal to 0 (zero) in a graph of the variation

Abstract: A reduction in pressure in tires fitted to follower wheels and driven wheels is precisely determined irrespective of slipping states of the driven wheels. A driven wheel slip rate calculating means M1 calculates driven wheel slip rates .lambda.L and .lambda.R. A driven wheel torque calculating means M2 calculates a driven wheel torque TQDW. A driven wheel slip rate estimating means M4 estimates a characteristic of variation in driven wheel slip rates .lambda.L and .lambda.R relative to the variation in driven wheel torque TQDW using a least squares method. A rotation-number ratio calculating means M5 calculates ratios CVWL and CVWR of the numbers of rotations of the follower wheels to the numbers of rotations of the driven wheels in a state in which the driven wheel torque in a graph of the variation characteristic is equal to zero.

Abstract: The rotational speed difference between rotational speeds of front and rear road wheels of a motor vehicle is weighted by a first ratio, and the difference between the rotational speed difference between rotational speeds of front left and right road wheels and an average signal of reference steering angle or between the rotational speed difference between rotational speeds of rear left and right road wheels and the average signal of reference steering angle is weighted by a second ratio. A sum signal representative of the sum of the rotational speed difference weighted by the first ratio and the difference weighted by the second ratio is used to determine a pneumatic tire pressure reduction highly accurately even when running conditions of the motor vehicle change such as when the motor vehicle makes a turn.

Abstract: A system is provided to prevent suspension judder from being generated at the start of a vehicle which includes a traction control system. If the starting of the vehicle is detected based on driving-wheel speeds RL and RR, a shift position and an accelerator opening degree .theta.th1, an initial torque TQ2 and a delay time are map-searched based on the accelerator opening degree .theta.th1 and a steering angle .theta.st. The driving force for driven wheels is limited to the initial torque TQ2, until a delay time from the starting of the vehicle has elapsed, to prevent the generation of suspension judder. When the delay time has elapsed, an accelerating increment torque TQ3 is map-searched based on the accelerator opening degree .theta.th1 and the steering angle .theta.st, and is added to the initial torque TQ2, thereby ensuring the accelerating performance of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for determining the fully-closed state of a subsidiary throttle valve. If a stable state judging circuit judges that there is no outside influence exerted on the operational state of the engine (a state in which the vehicle is stopped and the engine is in an idling state) even if the subsidiary throttle valve is fully closed, a valve closing circuit closes the subsidiary throttle valve and a fully-closed state determination is carried out. If the opening degree of the subsidiary throttle valve or the engine revolution number is largely varied during the determination process of the fully-closed state determination circuit, a valve-closing inhibiting circuit inhibits the closing of the subsidiary throttle valve to discontinue the determination.

Abstract: A traction control system for a vehicle includes a calculator for calculating a speed of a driven wheel of the vehicle, a calculator for calculating a vehicle speed and a calculator for calculating a slip rate of the driven wheel on the basis of the driven wheel speed and the vehicle speed, such that the feed-back control of a throttle valve is carried out to reduce the output torque from an engine to inhibit the excessive slipping of the driven wheel, when the slip rate exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The system further includes a calculator for calculating a total grip force of the vehicle, a calculator for calculating an initial engine required torque at the start of the feed-back control of the throttle valve on the basis of the total grip force, and a calculator for calculating an initial throttle opening degree of the throttle valve on the basis of the initial engine required torque.

Abstract: A subtractor calculates an actual wheel speed difference between rotational speeds of left and right wheels on a motor vehicle, and a steering angle converter calculates an actual steering angle from the actual wheel speed difference. The difference between the actual steering angle and an adequate steering angle which is produced based on a lateral acceleration is compared with a predetermined reference range. If the difference between the actual and adequate steering angles exceeds the predetermined reference range, then the pneumatic pressure of a tire on one of the left and right wheels is determined as being lowered. In the steering angle converter, a weight value is established according to a running condition of the motor vehicle, and the calculated actual steering angle or comparative sensitivity is varied according to the weight value.

Abstract: A wheel speed detecting device for a vehicle having wheel speed detectors for detecting left and right wheel speeds, respectively; a turning state detector for detecting the turning state of the vehicle; and a correcting and calculating device for correcting the wheel speeds on the basis of an output from the turning state detector and for calculating a value representative of the left and right wheel speeds on the basis of the corrected wheel speeds. Thus, an error of wheel speeds detected during turning of the vehicle can be compensated for, thereby determining a correct wheel speed.

Abstract: In a traction control device in which an initial control torque of an engine is determined in accordance with an acceleration of the vehicle, when an excessive slipping of driven wheels is detected, a time taken for proceeding of the excessive slipping of the driven wheels from a large slip state to a small slip state is counted by a timer. If such time is smaller than a reference time and a gear ratio of the vehicle is of a first gear shift to provide a low vehicle speed, it is decided that the vehicle is traveling on an upward sloping road, and a lower limit value for defining the initial control torque of the engine determined in an initial control torque calculating means is corrected into an increased value in an initial torque correcting means. This prevents the initial control torque of the engine from being excessively reduced at the start of a traction control.

Abstract: A steering stability control system for a vehicle includes a turning state judging device for judging turning state of the vehicle to output an oversteering signal or an understeering signal, and a steering stability control device for controlling an output torque from an engine on the basis of an output from the turning state judging device. This system further includes a counter-steering judging device capable of judging a counter-steering state of the vehicle and causing the turning state judging device to output an oversteering signal when the counter-steering state is judged. Thus, it is possible to reliably judge the oversteering and the understeering during turning of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a DC motor connected to an intake throttle valve in an internal combustion engine to detect an actual opening degree of the intake throttle valve and to match the actual opening degree with a command opening degree. The apparatus includes a feedback loop for defining a feedback signal indicative of a command to converge the actual opening degree of the control member to the command opening degree by reception of the command opening degree delivered by a command opening degree generating means and the actual opening degree delivered by an actual opening degree detecting means, a combined-signal generating means for combining the feedback signal defined by the feedback loop with the command opening degree delivered by the command opening degree generating means, and a motor driving means for driving the DC motor in response to an output from the combined-signal generating means.

Abstract: In a traction control system for a vehicle which controls the traction of the driven wheels according to the slip ratio of the driven wheels obtained as a relationship between the vehicle speed and the speed of the driven wheels, the vehicle speed is obtained from the speed of the non-driven wheels. Normally, the average value of the speeds of the non-driven wheels is used as the basis for computing the vehicle speed, but when one of the non-driven wheels is likely to be lifted from the road surface due to the turning maneuver of the vehicle, the speed of one of the non-driven wheels which is higher than that of the other non-driven wheel and is therefore likely to be in contact with the road surface is used for fining the vehicle speed. Thus, the vehicle speed is simply obtained from the speed of the non-driven wheels, but the traction control can be reliably carried out according to a correctly obtained vehicle speed.