Abstract: A car phone can be run from the battery of a vehicle in which it is mounted or from its own battery. If the vehicle ignition switch is turned off during communication, interrupting the supply of electric power from the vehicle battery, communication can continue because the internal power supply is automatically switched in. The phone has a speaker capable of emitting a key-click sound. A setting device sets the volume of the key-click sound. A controller is operative when communication is not in progress for adjusting the key-click sound to the volume set by the setting device. The controller is operative when communication is in progress for adjusting the key-click sound to a volume set by the setting device if the volume set by the setting device is equal to or less than a predetermined volume and for adjusting the key-click sound to the predetermined volume if the volume set by the setting device is greater than the predetermined volume.

Abstract: Extraneous matter such as snow or mud sticking to ultrasonic sensor is detected. An obstacle 10 reflects transmitted waves from an ultrasonic sensor 3, and the indirect waves k are received by an ultrasonic sensor 2, whereby the obstacle 10 is detected. The ultrasonic sensor 3 generates direct waves t directly received by the ultrasonic sensors 2 and 4, and therefore the ultrasonic sensors 2 and 4 are arranged to monitor also the direct waves t. The direct waves t are attenuated when extraneous matter 8 such as snow or mud sticks to the ultrasonic sensor 4, and the presence of the extraneous matter is detected according to this attenuation.

Abstract: A ultrasonic transceiver includes a case for housing a ultrasonic sensor having a transducer provided therein, and a resilient member to be interposed between the case and an ultrasonic sensor. The surface of the case opposing the side surface of the ultrasonic sensor is tapered with respect to the surface of the ultrasonic sensor without involvement of the resilient member.

Abstract: In the obstruction detection apparatus incorporated in a vehicle (11), ultrasonic wave transmitter/receiver (16 to 19 171) for changing a combination of transmitting of ultrasonic waves and of receiving of reflected ultrasonic waves, a CPU (20) calculates a distance between the vehicle (11) and an obstruction and stores data corresponding to the calculated distance into the distance table (23), and the LC display device (27) displays the obstruction on display bars of a lattice shape corresponding to the data stored in the distance table (23), and a buzzer (26) sounds an alarm for a driver.

Abstract: A shock absorber adapted to be mounted between a body and a wheel shaft in a vehicle such as a car or a motorcycle for reducing shocks and vibrations derived from a road. The shock absorber includes a sub-cylinder mounted in a cylinder at one end thereof, a rebound cushion mounted in the sub-cylinder at one end thereof, and an oil-lock piston mounted on a piston rod of the cylinder in confronting relation to the interior of the sub-cylinder. As the piston approaches the end of the expanding stroke, the oil-lock piston is fitted in the sub-cylinder, at which time oil in the sub-cylinder is compressed and then flows into an oil chamber below the oil-lock piston via an annular gap around a periphery of the oil-lock piston and a small-diameter hole in the oil-lock piston. Due to the flow resistance of the small-diameter hole, an oil-lock load can be obtained.