Nippondenso Co., Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd.

Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.

Kenji Kanemaru

Takashiroh Iwasaki

Masahito Imai

Tadao Nojiri

Naohito Mizuno

Yoji Ito

Masahiro Matsuyama

Norio Kitao

Koichi Kamabora

Yoshinori Fujihashi

Takayoshi Nishikawa

Nobuyasu Gotou

Hiroshi Fujii

Takashiro Iwasaki

Nobuyoshi Morita

Knock sensor

A counter is provided which updates a most-recent counter value to be stored in a non-volatile memory. The counter includes a counter circuit for receiving a series of count pulses defining a count operation and outputting a series of coded binary signals in response thereto. Each one of the series of coded binary signals includes at least first digit data and second digit data. A selecting circuit is coupled to the non-volatile memory and the counter circuit for logically selecting, in response to each respective second digit data, a first select memory cell in the non-volatile memory for which the corresponding first digit data is to be stored. A write control circuit is coupled to the non-volatile memory and the counter circuit for writing a subsequent first digit data over the first select memory cell when a counting operation of the respective digit value has not reached completion, and writing the subsequent first digit data in a different memory cell when a counting operation of the respective digit value has reached completion.

Memory circuit including an EEPROM provided with unique addressing means

A device for displaying a physical measure, including a reference pulse generator, a pulse counter, a memory for storing a measurement number, a second memory for storing values used for adjusting the count of pulses, a display for showing a physically measured value corresponding to the number of counted pulses, and a processing unit. The device updates the display value in accordance with pulse counts and the stored measurement number until the device detects that a correction has to be made from examining the contents of the second memory. Upon detection, the device makes proper corrections to the display values.

Device for accurately displaying physical measure by adjusting the

An analog-to-digital converter of the successive-approximation type has a successive-approximation logic circuit for successively generating selection signals defined by significant bits in a digital value, a string of high resistance elements to provide voltage dividers for successively dividing a reference voltage into divided voltages, a switch matrix circuit for generating the divided voltages when activated in response to the selection signals, a comparator for successively comparing an analog level with the divided voltages and for generating comparison signals respectively indicative of the significant bits and an output circuit for generating an output digital signal defined by the significant bits when applied with all the comparison signals, the output circuit being associated with the logic circuit for causing it to generate the selection signals in response to the comparison signals. A string of low resistance elements are provided to apply therethrough the reference voltage to at least one of the voltage dividers during a short period of time immediately after the one of the voltage dividers has been activated.

Analog-to-digital converter of successive-approximation type

A warning system for vehicles monitors malfunctions in various items of a vehicle which are to be detected, such as, the failure of the tail lamps, headlamps, etc., whereby when a malfunction is detected in any one of the items, a visual indication corresponding to the malfunction of the item is given inside the vehicle compartment and then the indicated malfunction is indicated by voice inside the vehicle compartment when it is determined that a predetermined time has expired from the time of beginning the visual indication. The magnitude of the voice is controlled by the ambient sound level detected in the vehicle compartment.

Warning method and system for vehicles

An analog-to-digital converter of integration type comprises a charging and discharging capacitor, a first comparator for comparing an analog input voltage with the terminal voltage of the capacitor, a second comparator for comparing a reference voltage predetermined in relation to the input voltage with the terminal voltage of the capacitor, a switching transistor connected in parallel with the capacitor for controlling the charging and discharging of the capacitor, and a gated logic circuit applied with outputs of the first and second comparators, a charge-discharge control pulse, and a clock pulse. When the terminal voltage of the capacitor decreases below the reference voltage during discharge through the switching transistor, the discharge is stopped and a converted output is generated through the gated logic circuit on the basis of the outputs of the comparators. When the terminal voltage increases above the input voltage during charging, the converted output is stopped. The conversion speed and the conversion accuracy are improved and are not influenced by the dispersion of the elements in the discharging path. This converter is suitable for an exposure display system employing an IC for use in a camera. In such a case, the reference voltage may be selected at a value slightly lower than the voltage corresponding to the brightness of the scene on a rainy day.

Single ramp comparison analog to digital converter

In automatic control systems for cameras, it is highly desirable to be able to conduct automatic continuous photographing under optimum photographing conditions even when a measured light value varies during the photographing operation. To achieve this, a calculation circuit is provided for calculating an amount of electricity to comprise electric information corresponding to the photographing conditions with reference to the measured light value and the sensitivity of the film. Photographing is accomplished in accordance with these photographing conditions by virtue of said automatic control circuit generating a control signal for controlling a shutter mechanism of the camera to end the exposure of the film. The automatic control system includes a memory circuit for memorizing the electric information corresponding to the photographing conditions. A system resetting signal is generated in accordance with a change in the waveform of said control signal after the control signal ends the exposure of the film so that the electric information memorized by said memory circuit is erased.

Automatic control circuit system for cameras provided with a focal-plane

An automatic control circuit system for cameras provided with a focal-plane shutter having front and rear screens, in which a battery voltage is supplied into the automatic control circuit system via a semiconductor switching element when a first release switch of a two-step release switch of a two-step release switch is closed. When a second release switch is closed, the rear screen starts running. A potential for electrically turning on the semiconductor switching element when the first release switch is closed is applied to a control electrode of the switching element. The automatic control circuit system is provided with an electric signal holding circuit, which is triggered with an electric signal generated when the second release switch is closed, to hold at the output terminal of the control electrode an output signal whereby an electric signal for electrically turning on the semiconductor switching element is held in the control electrode and retain the supply of the battery voltage into the automatic control circuit system. The electric signal holding circuit is triggered in response to a rear screen control signal whereby the starting of running of the rear screen of the focal-plane shutter is instructed, to reverse the holding of the output signal so that the semiconductor switching element is electrically turned off with the supply of the battery voltage into the automatic control circuit system stopped.

A photoreceptor is connected to an operational amplifier to convert the scene brightness to a voltage. The output of the operational amplifier is connected to a light emitting indicator to indicate exposure information. The output of the operational amplifier is also connected to an indicator brightness control circuit which changes the luminance of the light emitting indicator according to the scene brightness so that the luminance of the indicator is increased when the scene brightness is high and vice versa. The control circuit includes a digital signal generator which outputs digital level signals and a selecting circuit which selects the digital signals and controls the luminance of the indicator according to the selected signals. In order to prevent flickering of the indicator, a hysteresis is provided in the selecting circuit.

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Toyota, Japan

Kenji Kanemaru