Nissan Motor Company Limited

Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki

Zexel Gmbh

Tomotaka Kurozu

Mikio Takeuchi

Yoshimitsu Takeda

Sachiro Kataoka

Hiroyuki Asano

Kazuki Najima

Takeo Kushida

Yasuhiro Koike

Terukiyo Murakami

Hajime Satoh

Seiki Sakata

Yoshiaki Ishihara

Yuichi Abe

Masayuki Fukuda

Issei Ohmura

Kazuhiro Sugai

Hiroshi Kato

A charging apparatus for charging batteries of automobiles includes an inverter for converting the direct current from a direct current power source into an alternating current and a transformer having a first coil and a second coil. When an alternating current from the inverter is applied to the first coil, the second coil produces an alternating voltage. A capacitor is connected between the terminals of the second coil to increase the alternating voltage produced in the second coil. A rectifier circuit rectifies the alternating voltage increased in the booster circuit into a direct current voltage and the direct current voltage is applied to the battery. Two transistors, which function as a short circuit, are provided in the rectifier circuit. When the direct current voltage from the rectifier circuit is equal to or higher than a predetermined permissible value, a drive signal from a drive circuit turns on the two transistors. Then, the terminals of the second coil are short-circuited and the voltage applied to the terminals instantaneously turns null. This protects the elements forming the charging apparatus from high voltage.

Battery charger with monitor and protection circuits

A keyless lock system for a vehicle includes a card for transmitting a radio signal, at least one onboard antenna for receiving the radio signal, and a control unit for allowing and preventing keyless lock and unlock operations in dependence on the existence or nonexistence of the card in a predetermined area near the antenna. The control unit monitors the position of of at least one monitored door, and produces a card warning signal each time the monitored door is closed if the card is absent in the vehicle.

Keyless vehicle lock system with distance measuring

An acceleration sensor includes a tubular bobbin only one end of which is fixed to a body whereas the other end is movable relative to the body axially of the bobbin. Supported on the body are magnets for attracting a magnetic member, mounted within the bobbin, to a reference position. A detection member is mounted around the bobbin so as to detect a displacement of the magnetic member from the reference position. A gel can be filled in a receiving space of the body in which the bobbin is received. The body can be of a tubular shape, with covers fixedly secured respectively to opposite ends of the body, in which case opposite ends of the bobbin are disposed in opposed, spaced relation to inner sides of the covers, respectively. The body can be received in a housing, and a circuit board can be received in an auxiliary receiving space in the housing. An acceleration sensing system incorporating such a sensor includes a processing circuit for processing an output of the detection member to output a detection signal representative of the direction and magnitude of the acceleration. The processing circuit has a temperature compensation circuit for compensating for a temperature variation so as to keep the detection signal at a constant level when the acceleration is zero.

Acceleration sensor and acceleration sensing system

In a transmission control apparatus for an automotive vehicle having a shift lever, a controller and a transmission actuator, a shift operation detector is additionally connected between the controller and the transmission actuator to apply an actuator control signal to the transmission actuator only when the shift lever is being operated, thus preventing erroneous operation of the transmission due to external noise. The shift operation detector comprises a touch switch provided on the shift lever knob so as to be closed only when the driver grips the knob and a hold relay energized by the actuator control signal applied from the controller via the closed touch switch.

Transmission control apparatus for automotive vehicle

A keyless lock system for a vehicle includes a card for transmitting a radio signal, at least one onboard antenna for receiving the radio signal, and a control unit for allowing and preventing keyless lock and unlock operations in dependence on the existence or nonexistence of the card in a predetermined area near the antenna. The control unit monitors the position of at least one monitored door, and produces a card warning signal each time the monitored door is closed if the card is absent in the vehicle.

Keyless vehicle lock system

Sensors such as switches are arranged to detect the insertion of a key into a key cylinder, the rotation of the key to one or more operative positions, the position of a transmission shift level, the depressions of a brake pedal and the like, and to produce signals which are processed by logic circuits in a manner to determine the energization mode and timing of the solenoid or the like motor arrangement in a manner which locks or releases a safety button which must be pressed before the steering column of a vehicle can be locked. The mechanism which performs the locking operation is mounted on the exterior of the housing in which the key cylinder is disposed, thus facilitating assembly.

Steering lock for automotive vehicle

A steering lock system for an automotive vehicle includes a steering lock actuator, a control rod, a solenoid with a corresponding plunger and a portable transmitter which produces a radio signal indicative of a transmitter self-identifying code. When the transmitter self-identifying code matches a preset reference code, the solenoid is energized to move the plunger so as to release an engagement between the plunger and the control rod. Accordingly, the control rod is free to move to a position where no engagement between the control rod and the steering lock actuator is established, to allow the steering lock actuator to shift to a steering wheel unlocking position from a steering wheel locking position.

Automotive steering lock system with portable radio code signal

A power supply circuit for automotive headlamps includes an electrical wire establishing communication between one of the headlamps and a power source at a first position of a combination switch, and a control unit selectively establishing communication between the other headlamp and the power source at the first position and between both of the headlamps and the power source in series at a second position of the combination switch.

Power supply circuit for automotive headlamp

A system for controlling an ignition device for a a motor vehicle comprises a key operated movable member, a blocking mechanism for automatically blocking the key operated movable member against return movement once the key operated movable member has moved beyond a predetermined position, and means responsive to a predetermined condition of the vehicle for restraining a manual release member of the blocking mechanism from actuation for releasing the blocking mechanism.

System for controlling ignition device for vehicle

A power supply circuit for two automotive headlamps includes a power source supplying electrical power to the headlamps via two fuses, an electrical switch for establishing communication between the headlamps and the power source, a control unit for selectively establishing communication between the headlamps and the power source in series through a single fuse and between the headlamps in parallel and the power source through respective separate fuses, and for blocking communcation between the headlamps and the power source when connected in series and either of the fuses is open.

Growing community of inventors

Atsugi, Japan

Tomotaka Kurozu