Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission having a running status detector for detecting the running status of a vehicle to include an input torque from the engine; a running resistance estimator for estimating a running resistance on the basis of the running status of the vehicle; and shift characteristic changer for changing shift characteristics in accordance with the running resistance of the vehicle. The control system further comprises an engine output controller for reducing the output of the engine by a sub-throttle valve which acts independently of the driver at an overrun time of drive wheels; and an action status detector for detecting the action status of the sub-throttle valve. The running resistance estimator estimates the running resistance of the vehicle on the basis of the running status detector and the action status detector of the sub-throttle valve.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the type using a one-component developer, i.e., toner, a developing device has a toner layer forming member for forming a thin toner layer on the surface of a toner carrier implemented as a roller. The toner layer is transferred from the toner carrier to an image carrier. The toner layer forming member is made up of a regulating member and a leveling member formed integrally with each other. The regulating member is made of stainless steel, phosphor bronze or similar resilient metal or silicone, urethane or similar rubber. The leveling member is located downstream of the regulating member with respect to the direction of rotation of the toner carrier and formed with a plurality of obliquely extending grooves on the surface thereof.

Abstract: Optical device including an optical waveguide composed of a LiTaO.sub.3 monocrystalline substrate and a LiNbO.sub.3 monocrystalline thin film waveguide formed on the surface of the substrate, with the lattice length of the LiNbO.sub.3 monocrystalline thin film waveguide and the LiTaO.sub.3 monocrystalline substrate being matched with each other, and an electrode provided on at least one of the branched sections of the waveguide extending along the optical axis thereof for changing a refractive index of the waveguide. The optical device having the optical waveguide has excellent electro-optic effects and a resistance to optical damage as well as an advanced modulation efficiency and a stable amplitude modulation.

Abstract: An automatic transmission with a reverse inhibit feedback passage between front and rear oil sumps. The transmission includes a case, a passage in the case for returning oil to the front sump from the rear sump and a flap valve for allowing the flow from rear sump to front sump while inhibiting oil flow in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor-mounting substrate suitable for high density packaging and the substrate so made. In order to package an electron part having many terminals to be mounted in a high density, the substrate is constructed by using a lead frame comprised of a die pad and leads as a base, forming an adhesive layer or further an insulating layer onto the lead frame, forming a conductor circuit thereon by an additive process and connecting the conductor circuit and the leads to each other through a plated conductor. According to this construction, it is not required to provide a printed circuit board for IC mounting, and IC can directly be mounted onto the lead frame through the plated conductor circuit.

Abstract: An automatic transmission for a vehicle having a planetary gear mechanism, which is accommodated in an automatic transmission case, is provided with an accordion-like leaf spring disposed in a gap for allowing interior spaces of an automatic transmission case to communicate with each other, the gap being provided in the automatic transmission case between an outer peripheral surface of axially movable brake elements which are fixed against rotation on the one hand, and an inner peripheral surface of the automatic transmission case on the other. The accordion-like leaf spring is adapted to engage and bias a friction plate and has folded-back portions or pleats that lie generally parallel to the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A multi-disk brake for an automatic transmission having a plurality of annular outer lamellae having a larger diameter and a plurality of annular inner lamellae having a smaller diameter, the outer and inner lamellae being alternately arranged and interleaved in the axial direction. The outer lamellae are splined to the transmission case while the inner lamellae are rotatably supported on the case. The multi-disk brake has an engagement/disengagement mechanism capable of pressing the outer and inner lamellae so as to bring the same into frictional engagement and capable of disengaging and releasing the outer and inner lamellae from each other. A support member is inserted into the lowermost portion of an annular gap formed between outer the peripheral surfaces of the outer lamellae and the inner peripheral surface of the case, the support member supporting the outer lamellae biases them upward, thereby preventing any rotational drag motion of the outer lamellae.

Abstract: In an accumulator including a piston which slides freely in a cylinder and a spring which presses the piston, a hole of the piston end where, at the bottom, a large diameter section is made, and small diameter section whose diameter is smaller than that of the large diameter section is located at another side of the large diameter section is located at another side of the large diameter section against the bottom of the hole is provided, and the spring assembly having the retaining member and the coil spring whose one end is fixed to the retaining member and another end is free is provided, and the snap ring is provided to hold the retaining member between the bottom of the hole and the snap ring which is installed in the large diameter section with radial expansion force, so that the spring assembly is installed in the hole of the piston.

Abstract: Described herein is a hydraulic control system for vehicular automatic transmission, including an accumulator back pressure control circuit which is provided between a line pressure conduit and a back pressure supply conduit, and comprises a first accumulator control valve for dropping the line pressure according to the throttle opening, and a second accumulator control valve receiving an input pressure commensurate with the throttle opening and dropping the output pressure of the first accumulator control valve according to the throttle opening to apply to the piston of the accumulator a back pressure varying in corresponding to the engine output shaft torque.

Abstract: A selecting valve is provided, which is switched by different signals sent out when the vehicle is stopped or when the vehicle is to start to move. The selecting valve is connected to a hydraulic servo unit for a forward clutch which is engaged to transmit torque when the vehicle is to move forward, and is supplied with line pressure and a control pressure provided by an electronically operated regulating valve, such as an electronically controlled throttle valve. The regulated control pressure from the electronically operated regulating valve is supplied to the hydraulic servo unit for the forward clutch when the vehicle is stopped, while line pressure is supplied when the vehicle is to move, thus preventing creeping and shift shock at starts. Since the selecting valve is provided with a port leading to the hydraulic servo unit for a brake which restricts vehicle movement, the brake can be applied when the vehicle is stopped and released when moved, thus providing hill-holding capability.

Abstract: Under idle condition of a vehicle, control valve 90 is "left half position", line pressure modulated by throttle valve 41 is applied to clutch hydraulic servo C.sub.1 through ports .delta., .mu.; and the clutch is held just under connection, line pressure is applied to brake hydraulic servo B.sub.1 through shift valve 52 being under low speed condition;in case of high speed running, shift valve 52 is "left half position", so that line pressure is not applied to brake hydraulic servo B.sub.1 ;when a vehicle starting, control valve 90 becomes "right half position", then, line pressure is applied to clutch hydraulic servo C.sub.1 through ports .alpha., .mu. and port .beta. is drained;in case of high speed coasting, control valve becomes "left half position", line presure is not applied to clutch hydraulic servo C.sub.1 ;in case of speed higher than certain level, if a manual valve being shifted to R range, control valve 90 becomes "left half position" and ports .epsilon., .eta.

Abstract: In an automatic transmission, friction elements are engaged and disengaged by a hydraulic servo connected alternately to a pressure source or to a drain through a selector valve, and an accumulator is connected to the line between the selector valve and the servo. The resistance against the oil discharged from the accumulator, the resistance against the oil discharged from the servo, and the return biasing forces in the accumulator and servo are adjusted so that the hydraulic pressure at the servo is lower than the hydraulic pressure of the accumulator for a predetermined time when the selector valve connects the servo with the drain. In one embodiment, a relief valve responsive to a vehicle running condition, controls the discharge rate of working oil through the drain. In another embodiment, a pressure regulator varies the level of the pressure of the working oil discharged from the accumulator in response to variations in a vehicle running condition.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for controlling an automatic transmission. The hydraulic circuit has a control valve connected between a shift valve and a hydraulic servomotor for actuating a frictional engagement element such as a brake in a main transmission unit. The control valve is controlled by a signal from a control means in such a manner that, when the hydraulic servomotor is drained by the operation of the shift valve to disengage the brake, the engagement of a frictional engaging element in another transmission unit is synchronized therewith.

Abstract: A rotational speed detecting device for detecting the rotational speed of a predetermined element of a shifting unit is provided for at least one of a main shifting unit and a sub-shifting unit. A control is provided for controlling a predetermined friction engaging element of at least one of the shifting units according to signals from the rotational speed detecting device, so that shifting operations of both the shifting units will be synchronized when both the units are shifted. Therefore, the output of speed of the transmission is not temporarily increased or decreased and thus, smooth shifting is obtained.

Abstract: A cut-back pressure control device for a multi-speed automatic transmission includes a cut-back valve that has a spool which is controlled by both hydraulic pressure which changes in response to shifting of a sub-transmission unit between high-speed and low-speed modes and a hydraulic pressure which is established by the operation of the main transmission unit at 2nd or higher speeds. The spool is moved to a position where it interrupts the cut-back pressure when the main transmission unit selects the 1st speed while the sub-transmission unit is in the low-speed mode, whereas, when the sub-transmission unit is in the high-speed mode or when the main transmission unit selects the 2nd or a higher speed, the spool is held at a position at which it permits the supply of the cut-back pressure.

Abstract: An oil pass for communicating a hydraulic servo a change-over valve is provided with an orifice and a by-pass disposed parallel to one another. The by-pass is provided with a sequence valve. When the hydraulic servo is subjected to less than a predetermined pressure, the sequence valve communicates to the change-over valve and the hydraulic servo through the by-pass, and when the hydraulic servo is subjected to a pressure that is higher than the predetermined pressure, the sequence valve is cut off.

Abstract: An accumulator control device for controlling the back pressure of an accumulator includes an accumulating control valve having a first port communicating with a control oil source and a second port communicating with an accumulator back pressure chamber. The accumulator control valve is controlled by a oil pressure from a shift control. According to the control position of the shift control, the accumulator control valve controls the communicating state of the first and second ports to increase or decrease the back pressure of the accumulator.

Abstract: A lock-up clutch control device for an automatic transmission having a torque converter with a lock-up clutch and a speed changing gear mechanism including a sub-transmission unit and a main transmission unit. The device has a lock-up operation device for producing a control signal when the sub-transmission unit is in the higher speed mode or when the main transmission unit selects 2nd or a higher speed gear. The control signal is delivered to a lock-up relay valve which operates effectively while it receives the control signal. Therefore, the torque converter can be locked up at 2nd or higher speeds of the automatic transmission which, because of various combinations of the states of the sub-transmission and main transmission units, outputs multiple speed.

Abstract: The transmission of the invention is capable of attaining a plurality of shift ranges by locking and releasing one or more elements of a gear mechanism to a casing of the transmission or by connecting and releasing the elements with the input shaft, the output shaft or into and out of engagement with each other. The control system for controlling the action of the elements of the gear set is a hydraulic control system having friction elements which achieve a higher speed range and a lower speed range of the transmission upon actuation by servo valves. An additional servo valve is included to work in opposition to one of the other servo valves and communicates with another of the servo valves. A communication control valve is disposed in a hydraulic line which communicates with another of the servo valves and with the servo valve acting in opposition so as to control the communication between these valves in response to a signal pressure developed by a signal pressure valve.

Abstract: An electronically controlled automatic transmission control system for controlling an automatic transmission for a vehicle, comprising an electronic controller which receives functions on the basis of input signals corresponding to the running conditions of the vehicle to control a hydraulic controller including a fluid pressure source, shift control valves for changing over the connection of the fluid pressure source to the respective hydraulic servomotors of frictional engaging mechanisms which controls the operation of the components of a gear train included in the automatic transmission, solenoid valves adapted to be controlled by the electronic controller to change input signal pressures to the shift control valves and a manual selector valve having a spool capable of moving through predetermined set positions corresponding to the shift positions of the manual shift lever of the vehicle, in which the input signal pressure is supplied to one of the shift control valves, namely, 1-2 shift control valve, wh