Abstract: A drop-on-demand ink-jet printing head provided with an array of a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged at regular intervals and fixed at their one ends to a base, the other ends of the respective piezoelectric elements being free ends which are disposed in opposition to nozzle respective apertures, the piezoelectric elements being formed by cutting, at predetermined width, a piezoelectric plate obtained by firing a lamination of paste-like piezoelectric material and conductive material stacked alternately in layers. Since each piezoelectric element is composed of a thin piezoelectric plate interposed between electrodes, if a voltage of only about 30 V, which is sufficient to drive the thin piezoelectric plate, is applied across the electrodes, it is possible to largely flex the whole of the piezoelectric element. By this transformation, ink between the top end of the piezoelectric element and the nozzle aperture is discharged to the outside as an ink drop.

Abstract: An ink jet type recording head driving circuit comprises: a capacitor which is connected through a first switching transistor and a charging time constant adjusting resistor to a power source, and grounded through a second switching transistor and a discharging time constant adjusting resistor; and a current buffer through which the terminal voltage of the capacitor is applied to a pressure generating member scanning switch circuit. In the circuit, a first pulse for contracting a pressure generating member forming the recording head is applied to the first switching transistor, and a second pulse for expanding the pressure generating member is applied to the second switching transistor, so that the pressure generating member is contracted at a rate set by the capacitor and the charging time constant adjusting resistor, to supply ink into the pressure chamber of the recording head, and then it is expanded at a rate set by the capacitor and the discharging time constant adjusting resistor.

Abstract: A slip control apparatus for use in a motor vehicle having an engine for generating a motive power to drive the motor vehicle. The apparatus comprises a first detector for detecting a speed of a driven wheel of the motor vehicle which is driven by the motive power generated from the engine, a second detector for detecting a running speed of the motor vehicle and a third detector for detecting an acceleration of the driven wheel. Also included in the apparatus are a decision unit for determining the occurrence of slipping of the driven wheel on the basis of the detection results of the first and second detectors, a driving force adjusting device for adjusting a driving force of the motor vehicle, and a control unit for controlling the slip of the driven wheel on the basis of information from the first to third detectors.

Abstract: A traction control system controls the engine torque so as to prevent wheel slip during acceleration. The system has an electric control unit ECU which detects the state of wheel slip on the basis of the deviation of the drive wheel speed from a target drive wheel speed computed in accordance with signals from various sensors such as drive wheel speed sensors, trailing wheel speed sensors, shift position sensor for sensing the shift position in an electronic control transmission ECT, engine speed sensor and accelerator sensor for sensing the amount of operation of accelerator. The ECU computes, in accordance with the state of the slip, a limit drive torque which does not allow surplus wheel slip during acceleration.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating fuel vapor, such as in a motor vehicle fuel tank, by subjecting it to adsorption treatment to prevent its direct emission into the atmosphere. The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a fuel tank, a partitioning wall provided within the fuel tank to define a small fuel storage chamber within the fuel tank, a canister container housed in the small fuel storage chamber, the canister container storing therein a fuel adsorbing material. When fuel feeding takes place, feeding fuel is introduced into the small fuel storage chamber to cool the canister container. However, when the engine is operated, high temperature return fuel is introduced into the small storage chamber to heat the canister container thereby promoting the adsorbing and de-adsorbing action of fuel by the fuel adsorbing material.

Abstract: A control system and method for an internal combustion engine in which an intake air pressure sensor of semiconductor or strain gauge type arranged in an intake manifold is used to detect the intake air pressure at a timing at or after bottom dead center during the intake stroke, the timing being detected by detection of a predetermined crank angle at or after bottom dead center or the zero of intake air flow rate. Operating conditions of the internal combustion engine are controlled early by an air pressure detection signal. For example, the air-fuel ratio of the mixture gas before combustion is estimated to control the ignition timing.

Abstract: A control apparatus for electrically operating a throttle valve adapted to adjust the amount of air drawn into an internal combustion engine to adjust the position of the throttle valve. The position and operating condition of an accelerator pedal are electrically detected to generate a signal in accordance with the accelerator position to drive an actuator adapted to operate the throttle valve, and also a desired throttle position established by the signal, the detected actual position of the throttle valve and the operating condition of the accelerator pedal are suitably compared and examined, thus monitoring to see whether the detection of the accelerator position is not faulty, whether the throttle valve is controlled to follow the desired throttle position and so on and thereby performing a safe control by using a substitute desired position upon occurrence of a faulty condition.

Abstract: A fault detection system for detecting a fault of a subcontrol apparatus as well as a main control apparatus backed up thereby in controlling the operation of an actuator for an internal combustion engine control apparatus such as a throttle control apparatus is disclosed. A second fault detection apparatus for the subcontrol apparatus is made up of a CPU consituting the main control apparatus, so that the fault detection apparatus for the subcontrol apparatus operates under condition that the main control apparatus is normal and the engine is preferably under a light load of operation. Each of the main control and the backup subcontrol apparatuses includes a fault detection apparatus, thereby preventing simultaneous fault of the two control apparatuses for improved safety of the vehicle drive.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling intake air flow rate in an internal combustion engine comprises a throttle valve disposed in intake air passage for swing movement to change a flow rate of air to be supplied to combustion chambers of the engine, a stopper portion to which the throttle valve is abutted so as to stop swinging thereof in a full closed portion thereof, a spring for continually urging the throttle valve towards the full closed position, a control unit for determining a desired opening degree of the throttle valve in accordance with requirements on the engine, an actuator for generating a driving force for swinging the throttle valve to the desired opening degree in accordance with a command signal from the control unit, and geared mechanism for transmitting the driving force from the actuator to the throttle valve. The geared mechanism includes a pair of gears, each having a gear tooth portion. The gears are able to engage with each other exclusively at such gear tooth portions.

Abstract: A vaporized fuel control apparatus for an internal combustion engine. Fuel vapor formed in the fuel tank during the refuelling period is adsorbed to a refuelling canister and fuel vapor formed in the fuel tank during the engine running period is adsorbed to a running canister. The canisters are controlled in a manner that the amount of the fuel vapor discharged into the intake system of the engine from the refuelling canister is smaller than that of the running canister.

Abstract: A fault detection system for detecting a fault of a subcontrol apparatus as well as a main control apparatus backed up thereby in controlling the operation of an actuator for an internal combustion engine control apparatus such as a throttle control apparatus is disclosed. A second fault detection apparatus for the subcontrol apparatus is made up of a CPU constituting the main control apparatus, so that the fault detection apparatus for the subcontrol apparatus operates under condition that the main control apparatus is normal and the engine is preferably under a light load of operation. Each of the main control and the backup subcontrol apparatuses includes a fault detection apparatus, thereby preventing simultaneous fault of the two control apparatuses for improved safety of the vehicle drive.

Abstract: Disclosed in an internal combustion engine control system for controlling at least one of the quantity of intake air and quantity of fuel supply, and to an internal combustion engine control system for controlling the air-fuel ratio of the mixture. The invention particularly relates to the control of the engine at a transition of operating condition. The former control system detects the change in one of the quantity of intake air and quantity of fuel supply and compensates the other, thereby controlling the engine by anticipation at a transition of control condition.

Abstract: Electric control apparatus (20) for equipment (1) comprising a driving circuit (5) for generating a signal (S.sub.1) to drive the equipment as installed in a vehicle, the driving circuit including circuitry having a first specified working voltage range, and a breaking circuit (6) operatively interposed between the driving circuit and the equipment, the breaking circuit including a first switching circuit (100) for operatively interrupting the supply of the drive signal to the equipment under a condition that the supply voltage (Vdd) is lowered below a first predetermined level (V.sub.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operating condition of an engine in which a temperature sensing element constitutes an airflow measuring device disposed in an intake air passage of the engine. The temperature sensing element is supplied with a heating current in response to a start pulse signal produced with every one-half period of each combustion cycle of the engine. A comparator delivers an output signal when a reference temperature set on the basis of the air temperature measured by an auxiliary temperature sensing element is reached by the temperature of the temperature sensing element. A pulse signal indicative of the time interval between the generation of the start pulse signal and a rise in the output signal of the comparator is delivered as an airflow measurement signal.

Abstract: A control system for an engine has a temperature sensitive element as part of a device for measuring the air flow in an air intake manifold to the engine. Further, a first pulse signal is generated, corresponding to the rotation of the engine, for controlling the setting of a flip-flop. A transistor is conducted in the set state of the flip-flop to supply a heating electric current to the element. The element supplied with the current is raised to the temperature that corresponds to the air flow in the manifold. When the temperature of the element is raised until the specified temperature difference to the air temperature (measured by a sub temperature sensitive element) is set, the temperature difference is detected by a comparator, and the flip-flop is reset by the detection signal.

Abstract: An air flowrate measuring apparatus with a heat wire measures the flow rate of the air flowing through the intake pipe of an engine. The apparatus has a temperature sensitive element which has a specific temperature-resistance characteristic and is disposed in the intake pipe. Constant heating voltage is applied to this element in response to a start signal, thus heating the element. When the temperature of the element rises to a specified value, the application of the voltage is stopped. At the same time, a pulse signal whose width corresponds to the period of applying the voltage is generated. The signal is supplied to an interface circuit through a drive circuit driven by a reference voltage which has been also used to control the heating voltage. The interface circuit comprises two wave-shaping circuits. The first wave-shaping circuit has a filter means of a small integration time constant.

Abstract: In a speech analysis and synthesis (composing) method, a phoneme transition waveform is generated to smoothly couple phoneme PHA to PHB having different pitch periods. The method involves obtaining the differential value (difference phoneme .DELTA.PH or difference phoneme .DELTA.PHI and difference clock or pitch period), and in composition merely adding phoneme PHA and difference phoneme .DELTA.PHI and clock period and difference clock period.

Abstract: The intake airflow rate supplied to an internal combustion engine is measured and an obtained airflow rate measurement signal is used for detecting the operating state of the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is electronically controlled, and an airflow rate measuring unit includes a heat-generating element having a temperature-resistance characteristic. A heating current which rises in correspondence with a signal synchronous with rotation of the engine is supplied to the heat-generating element. The heating current is controlled to rise when the heat-generating element is heated to a predetermined temperature, and the heating current duration indicates the airflow rate measurement signal. A burn-off command signal is generated so as to burn off dust attached to the heat-generating element. The command signal is used to generate a periodic signal having a preset effective duration.

Abstract: A gas-flow measuring apparatus and method providing an accurate measurement of the gas-flow in, for example, an internal combustion engine. The quantity of the gas-flow is measured with a measuring device including a heater mounted in the gas-flow, and a temperature-responsive element mounted in proximity to the heater. The temperature-responsive element is heated by the heater and cooled by the gas-flow and thus, has a temperature which varies in accordance with the quantity of gas-flow. The temperature-responsive element provides an output signal corresponding to the temperature and thus to the quantity of gas-flow. Power is provided to the heater when the engine is operating. A processing apparatus detects the start of power being provided to the heater. The processor then counts the time from when the start is detected.

Abstract: This apparatus measures and detects the air-flow taken into an intake pipe of an internal combustion engine, and includes an air-flow detecting sensor. The air-flow detecting sensor comprises a support frame made of heat-resistant insulation material, a heating line supported by the support frame on the upper side when viewed from the direction in which the air-flows, a heat-controlled heating current, and a resistance line also supported by the support frame on the lower side when viewed from the direction in which the air-flows which has a temperature characteristic. Air-flow detecting signals which represent the condition under which heat is transmitted to the resistance line through the air-flow are picked up from the sensor for every specified timing to set and calculate the transmitting coefficients of heat transmitted from the heating line to the resistance line, which is specified by the sensor and which is set corresponding to the amount of the signal detected by the sensor.