Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit has a chip check circuit for detecting cracks and other defects in the chip during operation. The chip check circuit extends in the chip from an input terminal to an output terminal so as to scan a predetermined wide area. The chip check circuit has at least one signal line extending near or within a circuit block in the chip so that the signal line can be broken together with the circuit block. The chip check circuit may further comprise one or more inverters, and/or one or more two-wire logic circuits.

Abstract: A shift control system detects a traveling resistance as a factor influencing the vehicular driving performance. The shift control system varies preset shift pattern according to the detected traveling resistance of the vehicle for optimizing selection of the shift pattern. The shift control system thus controls the speed ratio of an automatic power transmission depending upon the control parameters, such as an engine load and a vehicle acceleration.

Abstract: A control system for an automotive vehicle controls driving torque delivery for driven wheels. The control system basically controls an output torque of an automotive internal combustion engine toward a target engine output torque which is derived on the basis of an accelerator operational magnitude. The target engine output torque can be modified according to associated conditions, such as road friction level, a characteristic of a power train including a torque converter and a power transmission. The control system also performs selection of engine output control and transmission shift control depending upon vehicle driving condition.

Abstract: In order to determine the characteristics of combustion which takes place in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the pressure in the chamber is sampled at predetermined intervals over a predetermined sampling range, the values are mathematically processed in a manner to obtain the position of center of gravity for the instant combustion and the COG position is then compared with pre-recorded data to determine the actual nature of the combustion. Embodiments of the invention improve on the COG position derivation by screening the data with respect to the highest of the sampled values or modifying all of the data with respect to the lowest of the sampled values.

Abstract: A throttle is disposed in the intake port per cylinder. At idle, the throttles are closed. The pressure in the intake port per cylinder increases during the intake valve closed period due to flow admitted to the intake port downstream of the throttle until it recovers to ambient before the valve overlap period. The flow rate is controlled individually per cylinder such that it is higher during the intake valve closed period than it is during the intake valve opened period. This allows the increased valve overlap to be used without increasing the residual mass fraction in the cylinder. As a result, the stability engine operation at idle and part load range is improved.

Abstract: A shift control system for an automotive automatic power transmission detects operational magnitude of accelerator and thus makes prediction of vehicular acceleration demand upon initiation of accelerator operation for entry of acceleration demand. The control system derives a transmission speed ratio on the basis of the predicted magnitude of acceleration demand.

Abstract: A system and method for recognizing a stagnation state for a vehicle are disclosed in which a running characteristic pattern of the vehicle is derived on the basis of running parameters such as the vehicle speed, acceleration of the vehicle, and deceleration of the vehicle, and whether the running characteristic pattern substantially coincides with a running characteristic pattern peculiar to a state in which the vehicle runs in the stagnation state.

Abstract: A slip suppressive drive control system derives an optimal wheel slippage for slip control mode operation on the basis of an actual engine speed, a vehicle speed and the wheel speed of a driving wheel. A target engine speed is derived based on the derived optimal wheel slippage so that optimal wheel slippage is obtained at the target engine speed. The system is responsive to wheel slippage which is derived on the basis of the vehicle speed and wheel speed on the driving wheel, to perform slip control mode operation by performing fuel cut-off to shut down fuel supply for the engine in order to adjust the actual engine speed to the target engine speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a crankshaft angular position .theta..sub.pmax at which the cylinder pressure reaches its maximum level. The apparatus samples a cylinder pressure indication signal at a predetermined target crankshaft angular position and at crankshaft angular positions advanced and retarded by a predetermined number of degrees of crankshaft rotation so as to accumulate three sets of data. The sampled three sets of data are used to determine a binominal equation defining the cylinder pressure as a function of crankshaft angular position. The apparatus calculates a maximum cylinder pressure value and a corresponding crankshaft angular position .theta..sub.pmax from the determined binominal equation.

Abstract: The pressure of a combustion chamber is monitored and a pressure history in terms of crank angle, compiled over the compression and expansion phases of the engine for a period following a change from a non-transitory mode of operation to a transitory one. This data is used to derive a variable such as the maximum pressure or the like, the development characteristics of which are used to determine the type of fuel (fuel composition) being supplied. The fuel supply under transitory or both transitory and non-transitory modes of operation is modified in accordance with the fuel type analysis. During engine start-up the initial fuel supply can be modified in accordance with the last recorded analysis data.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an ignition timing for an internal combustion engine, in which a basic ignition timing angle determined according to an engine operating condition is corrected according to an MBT (Minimum Spark Angle for Best Torque) correction quantity within a range of a predetermined limited value set for the MBT correction quantity, and the ignition timing angle is corrected within the predetermined limit range on the basis of one of knock correction quantity (calculated for suppressing the knock correction quantity to fall in a predetermined level) and the MBT correction quantity (calculated for correcting the instantaneous ignition timing angle so that a maximum internal cylinder pressure coincides with a target angular position at which a magnitude of engine output torque becomes maximum) which is placed at a more retardation angle side.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an ignition timing for an internal combustion engine, in which one of knock suppression correction quantity and MBT (Maximum Spark Advance for Best Torque) correction quantity whose value is placed at a more retardation angle side is selected as the ignition timing correction quantity, the ignition timing angle correction quantity is compared with the knock suppression quantity when a magnitude of the engine knocking exceeds a predetermined level. When the knock suppression correction quantity is placed at a more advance angle side than the ignition timing correction quantity, a basic ignition timing angle determined on the basis of an engine operating condition is corrected on the basis of a value of the ignition timing correction quantity corrected toward the retardation angle side by a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A knocking control system and method for a multi-cylinder engine includes a limit value for a retardation angle correction amount which is derived separately for each engine cylinder and prevents inappropriate ignition timing resulting from malfunction of the knock detection system. Consequently, undue engine wear can be prevented.

Abstract: A system for detecting and controlling an engine knocking the determination of occurrence of knocking is based on a present data on the detected pressure vibration energy in a combustion chamber of the engine and a value associated with a previous data on the detected pressure vibration energy in the combustion chamber so that an accurate detection of engine knocking can always be achieved. Furthermore, the knocking can be discriminated from the background noise even when the engine revolution speed is high.

Abstract: A fail safe control unit comprising a plurality of detecting means, for parameters, abnormal detecting means, correcting means for correcting a basic control value, and controlling means for controlling a controlled means, e.g. an engine in which a first parameter detected by any one of the detecting means is compared with a predetermined first target value when an abnormal signal is not produced from the abnormal detecting means and the basic control value is corrected in accordance with the difference therebetween, while a second parameter is compared with a predetermined second target value which is set on a more safe side than the first target value when the abnormal signal is produced and a control value is calculated in accordance with the difference therebetween, so as to control the engine.With this construction, when any one of the detecting means for detecting the parameters becomes defective, the controlled means, e.g. an engine is kept on operating on the safe side.

Abstract: A highly reliable, fail-safe circuit for a control system wherein a controlled device will always receive a control signal derived from a main control circuit when the main control circuit operates normally even if a back-up control circuit backing up at least one function of the main control circuit which is a minimum requirement for an operation of the controlled device fails or wherein a controlled device will receive a control signal derived from the back-up control circuit when the main control circuit fails. Replacement of the control signal from the main control circuit with a back-up control signal from the back-up circuit is carried out only when the back-up circuit outputs a particular signal at or near a predetermined frequency or alternatively when the back-up circuit outputs a plurality of parallel logical signals in a predetermined combination.

Abstract: A turbocharger including an exhaust turbine and a compressor is controlled using a variable geometry apparatus at the inlet of the exhaust turbine and an exhaust bypass valve bypassing the exhaust turbine. Operating conditions of the engine driven by the turbocharger are detected as is the supercharging pressure produced by the compressor. A deviation between the detected supercharging pressure and a target supercharging pressure is calculated and integrated. A controlled variable is calculated for actuating at least one of the variable geometry apparatus and the exhaust bypass valve based on the operating conditions and a learned value. Feedback control is used to correct the controlled variable in accordance with the integrated value of the deviation. A determination is made as to an operating range in which feedback control is to be performed and the learning amount is calculated in accordance with the result of the operating range determination and the integrated value of the deviation.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for controlling supercharge pressure in which a preset supercharge pressure is increased when an acceleration condition is determined or detected and the actual supercharge pressure can be feedback-controlled to a new target supercharge pressure in the acceleration condition through an electromagnetic valve and an actuator by a control signal from an electronic control unit including a microprocessor, in accordance with the detected parameters such as supercharge pressure, intake air flow rate. Any control errors brought about by variations in parts, such as diaphragm variations and variations during assembly of the exhaust bypass valve, as well as changes in engine performance with time, can be eliminated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling the supercharging pressure in a turbocharger to obtain sufficient turbocharging even in low speed operating ranges. The supercharging pressure is regulated by a variable geometry means and an exhaust bypass valve means, which in turn are responsive to control means which receive feedback correction. The feedback correction is based on calculated controlled variables. Optimum control of the supercharging pressure is accomplished by finding a learning amount based on the feedback correction which in turn is used to modify the calculated control variables.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling supercharge pressure for a turbocharger comprising means for determining any of operating zones to which a feedback control is applied, means for calculating a deviation between actual supercharge pressure and a target or preset supercharge pressure in accordance with the operating conditions of the engine, and means for selectively controlling capacity changing means and exhaust gas bypass valve means in accordance with the results of decisions and calculations, in which a control amount for the capacity changing means can be controlled in the direction of gradual increase in the capacity of the exhaust gas turbine or in the direction of decrease in the opening of the capacity changing means after the control is changed-over from the capacity changing means to the exhaust gas bypass valve means. Various data corresponding to the control steps for realizing the method are stored in a ROM of a microprocessor of an electronic control unit.