Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Nippondenso Co., Ltd.

Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha

Fujitsu Ten Limited

Takeshi Ochiai

Naoji Sakakibara

Keiichi Ito

Ken Asami

Shoji Kawata

Kazunori Sakai

Kazuhiko Hayashi

Minoru Izawa

Kazuo Sato

Kou Tanigawa

Jun Ohta

Yoshikazu Mizuno

Masahito Muto

Takaaki Kato

Akira Ikuma

Yoshio Hirano

Takashi Haneda

Seizi Ishikawa

Katsumi Gonda

Nobuyuki Yamaguchi

A main switch of a cruise control system is combined with one of a number of the control switches such as a set/coast switch, wherein when the combined switch is once turned ON, the combined switch functions as a main switch, and when the combined switch is twice turned ON, the main function of the combined switch is operated. On the other hand, when the combined switch is once turned ON and this state is continued for more than a predetermined time, the combined switch functions as a main switch at first, and after the predetermined time has passed, the main function of the combined switch is operated.

Vehicle speed control system

An automotive vehicle speed control system, in which steady speed drive control is effected. When a vehicle steady speed is increased to the next steady speed, a target signal for the next steady speed drive is increased by a predetermined value immediately after generation of a steady speed incremental signal, followed by increasing the target signal by amounts per time thereby to increase the steady speed. g

Automotive vehicle speed control system

A diagnostic monitoring system, for detecting and displaying malfunctions or abnormal operations occurring in various engine operation control computers, includes a microcomputer, actuators and sensors. Each of the engine operation control computers performs a diagnosis program as a part of their control programs and produces a signal whenever a malfunction or abnormal operation is detected. A central supervisory system receives such signals from the engine operation control computers and stores them separately for the individual control computers. A display unit displays the stored signals in response to instructions from the central supervisory system.

Motor vehicle diagnostic monitoring system

When a load to an engine of a vehicle running at a constant speed increases and a vehicle speed slows down below a preset vehicle speed for a constant speed running condition, a gear of an automatic transmission is shifted down. A shift-down signal for causing the gear to shift down is held for a predetermined time to prevent the shift-up of the gear in cases when the vehicle speed momentarily recovers the preset vehicle speed.

Apparatus for running a vehicle at a constant speed

The present invention relates to improvements in a switch for a direction indicator suitable for use in a motor car comprising: a bracket operationally associated with a control lever for a direction indicator and rotatable through a predetermined angle in dependence on a direction indicated; a rachet opposed to the main body of the bracket through a steering wheel, opposite end portions of which are constantly biased in a direction of being engaged with opposite end portions of the main body of the bracket, and rotatable through a predetermined angle in dependence on a direction indicator; and a cancel cam formed at the periphery thereof with projections capable of releasing a condition of engagement between the end portions of the main body of the bracket in response to the rotation of the steering wheel in a state of having a slight clearance in the direction of rotation and rotatable along with the steering wheel. Striking noises occurring during operation of a steering wheel are prevented by: a frictional inclusion interposed between abutting surfaces of the cancel cam and the steering wheel; shock absorbing means provided between abutting surface of the bracket and the ratchet; a lubricant of high viscosity filled in recesses formed on a shock receiving surface of either the bracket or the ratchet; shock absorbing members provided at portions of engagement between the steering wheel and the cancel cam for absorbing clearances in the direction of rotation; and shock absorbing tongues integrally formed either on the end portions of the main body of the ratchet.

Switch for direction indicator of vehicle

A digital circuit for the prohibition of operation of a motor vehicle by an intoxicated person may be fabricated by combining an ignition switch with an engine locking and unlocking means, timing means, sensing means and an indication means. The normal ignition circuit of a motor vehicle is interrupted by an engine locking and unlocking means. A timing signal is generated by the timing means in response to signals received from a clock and a sensing means which in turn is responsive to the performance of the operator in a motor ability test such as the ability to maintain a predetermined amount of steady pressure on a brake pedal. If the operator is successfully performing the test, an indication means produces a first cognizable signal which indicates a successful performance. After the operator has successfully performed the test for a predetermined duration as determined by the count stored in a register, a second cognitive signal is produced by the indication means which indicates that the operator is qualified to operate the vehicle. The normal ignition circuit is then completed by the engine locking and unlocking means in response to the timing signal. The motor vehicle may then be started in the conventional fashion.

Digital circuit for conditioning the operation of a motor vehicle upon

Automobile speed control to maintain actual automobile speed at a desired automobile speed, in which a superposed electrical analog signal formed by a first electrical signal indicating actual automobile speed and a feedback signal indicating fuel injection duration in an engine of an automobile is supplied to a comparator which compares it with a second electrical signal indicating desired automobile speed and memorized on a capacitor. The differential signal or error signal at the output of the comparator circuit is supplied to a servomotor which controls the position or opening of a throttle valve of the engine. The feedback signal is supplied from an injection time signal generator circuit which, in response to a fuel injection command signal from an electronic fuel injection control device associated with the engine, generates an electrical analog signal corresponding to fuel injection duration.

Automobile speed control method and system

A thyristor circuit and an apparatus using the circuit for the prohibition of operation of a motor vehicle by an intoxicated person may be fabricated by combining an ignition switch with an engine locking and unlocking means, timing means, sensing means and an indication means. The normal ignition circuit of a motor vehicle is interrupted by an engine locking and unlocking means. A timing signal is generated by the timing means by selectively charging a circuit in turn is responsive to the performance of the operator in a motor ability test such as the ability to maintain a predetermined amount of steady pressure on a brake pedal. If the operator is successfully performing the test, the charged node achieves a preselected potential and an indication means produces a first cognizable signal which indicates a successful performance. After the operator has successfully performed the test for a predetermined duration, a second cognitive signal is produced by the indication means which indicates that the operator is qualified to operate the vehicle. The normal ignition circuit is then completed by the engine locking and unlocking means in response to the timing signal. The motor vehicle may then be started in the conventional fashion.

Apparatus for evaluation of fitness of a motor vehicle operator to

A device for preventing the motion of a motor vehicle unless some predetermined condition is satisfied, such as the suitability to drive of the operator. The device includes a driving suitability discriminating means for discriminating the suitability of the operator to drive the motor vehicle, a neutral switch for detecting if the transmission is in a neutral position and a motion preventing means responsive to both the suitability discriminating means and the neutral switch such that the engine of the motor vehicle can be started if the transmission is in neutral but the motor vehicle cannot be driven unless the operator is discriminated to be suitable by the suitability discriminating means.

Motion preventing device for motor vehicles

In a skid control system a pressure modulator reduces the pressure applied by a master cylinder to a wheel cylinder when the wheel velocity as measured by a wheel detector decreases faster than a deceleration predetermined by a deceleration control. A control unit which regulates the pressure modulator corrects the predetermined deceleration when the wheel has exceeded the slip ratio at which the coefficient of friction is maximum so as to achieve an optimum deceleration that corresponds to the road surface condition. The control unit induces the pressure modulator to reduce the pressure of the brake fluid and restore the wheel velocity when the coefficient of friction of the wheel reaches the maximum. Emergency braking is thus performed with an average slip ratio at which the coefficient of friction is maximum. A comparator circuit compares the wheel velocity with a signal from the control unit indicative of the velocity of the predetermined decelerator to determine when the wheel velocity has decreased faster than the predetermined deceleration.

Skid control system for vehicles

A warning display system provides a warning when it detects an abnormal condition in an operating element closely related to the safe operation of a vehicle. An abnormal condition of an operating element is detected by one of a plurality of sensors each provided at a corresponding operating element. Detected signals of the sensors are fed as input to the fixed contacts of a rotary switch. The sliding arm of the rotary switch and a rotary drum are connected to a rotary driving device. The rotary driving device is driven step by step by the output of an energization circuit which generates a pulse signal. The drum has a plurality of display items indicated on its circumference, which display items respectively correspond to each fixed contact of the rotary switch. A display window is provided adjacent the drum for visual observation of one of the display items at a time. A control circuit discontinues the operation of the energization circuit when the sliding arm of the rotary switch reaches the position of the fixed contact corresponding to the sensor which detects an abnormal condition.

Growing community of inventors

Toyota, Japan

Takeshi Ochiai