`
`TRANSPERFECT
`
`AFFIDAVIT OF ACCURACY
`
`I, Hamilton Jordan. hereby certify that the following is, to the best of my knowledge and
`belief, a true and accurate translation of the enclosed documents “JP H3-85412, JP 858-
`16399" from Japanese into English.
`
`
`
`39‘h Floor
`New York. NY 10016
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`Sworn to before me this 19th day of July 2013.
`
`DI
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`
`: RYAN ALEXANDER DROST
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`,: Notary Public-=Slate of New York .
`1
`No. 91DR6262048
`'
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`J Qualified !” NEW YORK County "
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`: My Commission Expires MAY 21, 2016
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`
`
`Stamp, Notary Public
`New York, NY
`
`LANGUAGE AND TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR GLOBAL BUSINESS
`THREE PARK AVENUE 39TH FLOOR, NEW YORK. NY 10016 I T 2116895555 1 F 211689.105? l WWW.TRANSPERFECTtCOM
`OFFICES IN 80 CITIES WORLDWIDE
`
`TOYOTA Ex. 1103, p. 1
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`(19) Japan Patent Office (JP)
`(12) Japanese Unexamined Patent
`Application Publication (A)
`Identification codes
`JPO file numbers
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`R
`6860-2F
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`K
`6860-2F
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`Request for evaluation: Requested
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`
`
`(11) Japanese Unexamined Patent
`Application Publication
`H3-85412
`
`(43) Publication date: April 10, 1991
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`Number of claims: 8 (Total of 7 pages)
`
`(51) Int. Cl.5
`G 01 C 23/00
`G 01 D 9/00
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`
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`(54) [TITLE OF THE INVENTION] RECORDING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE RUNNING CONDITIONS
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`(21) Application number
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`H1-223646
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`(22) Filing date
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`August 30, 1989
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`(72) Inventor
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`Tetsuji Aoyanagi
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`2-33-1 Aobadai, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa
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`(71) Applicant
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`Digital Stream Co., Ltd.
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`2719 Kamitsuruma, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa
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`(74) Agent
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`Takao Sato, attorney
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` SPECIFICATION
`1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION
`RECORDING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE RUNNING
`CONDITIONS
`
`2. SCOPE OF CLAIMS
`(1) A recording apparatus for vehicle running conditions
`comprising:
`a sensor detecting respective data related to running of
`vehicle; and
`a running recording apparatus for periodically storing
`predetermined data within respective data while
`updating and for permanently recording data after
`stopping update at predetermined
`stop update
`conditions.
`(2) The recording apparatus for vehicle running conditions
`of claim 1, wherein
`the recording apparatus for vehicle running conditions
`receives predetermined data via a memory of an
`on-board microcomputer.
`(3) The recording apparatus for vehicle running conditions
`of claim 1, wherein
`the recording apparatus for vehicle running conditions
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`- 69 -
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`for vehicle
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`running
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`directly receives data, which are detected by the sensor,
`from the sensor.
`(4) The recording apparatus for vehicle running conditions
`of claim 1, wherein
`the recording apparatus for vehicle running conditions
`receives part of data from an on-board microcomputer
`and directly receives some of other data from the
`sensor.
`recording apparatus
`(5) The
`conditions of claim 1, wherein
`the recording apparatus for vehicle running conditions
`comprises an IC card including a CPU and a memory
`for storing data under the control of the CPU.
`(6) The recording apparatus for vehicle running conditions
`of claim 5, wherein
`the recording apparatus for vehicle running conditions
`includes heat
`insulating materials protecting
`the
`exterior of the IC card and a thermal fuse provided at
`the input and output parts of the IC card.
`(7) The recording apparatus for vehicle running conditions
`of claim 1, comprising:
`an A/D conversion and calculation means that performs
`A/D conversion of data that are input in the recording
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`TOYOTA Ex. 1103, p. 2
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`running
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`conditions
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`for vehicle
`apparatus
`predetermined calculations;
`a stop time period judgment means that judges an input
`stop time period for the data from the calculation
`results of the A/D conversion and calculation means;
`a writing means that writes data into a memory after the
`stop time period is calculated by the stop time period
`judgment means;
`a timer setting means that sets a timer based on a stop
`time period calculation by the stop time period
`judgment means;
`a means that continues data input when the timer is not
`set and that checks the timer setting time and stops data
`input when the timer is set.
`(8) The recording apparatus for vehicle running conditions
`of claim 1,
` wherein the recording apparatus for vehicle running
`conditions can decide to stop updating of the data based
`on force of impact from an impact sensor.
`
`Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication H3-85412 (2)
`
`and
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`3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`(FIELD OF THE INVENTION)
`
`This invention relates to a recording apparatus for
`vehicle running conditions, especially to a recording
`apparatus for vehicle running conditions (hereinafter
`referred to as a recording apparatus) that records running
`data at the time when the vehicle has received shocks due
`to an accident or the like, while protecting those data from
`corruption.
`(PRIOR ART)
`In urban areas like Tokyo, as traffic volume has increased
`vehicle accidents have been occurring frequently. In
`response to those accidents, the police are investigating the
`scenes by inspecting tire tracks and damage conditions to
`find the cause of the accident as well as to determine
`whether or not there was negligence, and further to study
`accident prevention countermeasures through analysis of
`those data. For judgment of possible negligence and
`countermeasures for accident prevention, it is important to
`implement more accurate analysis and inspection of
`accidents, and in order to support studies by investigators,
`it is not sufficient to study only tire tracks or damage
`conditions; extensive data
`that
`indicate
`the running
`conditions just before the accident or at the time of the
`accident are necessary.
` On the other hand, conventionally, a tachometer or the
`like has been installed in trucks or taxies and the like to
`record running distance as data to indicate running
`conditions; however, such apparatuses are being used only
`for commercial purposes.
`
`In addition, supplemental data to judge damages due to
`accidents are also necessary in some cases for insurance
`companies.
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`Further, having correct data can help to discover cases
`of defects in the vehicle itself.
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`(PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION)
` As described above, despite the necessity of extensive
`accurate data indicating the running conditions of a vehicle
`at the accident, an apparatus for recording such accurate
`data without causing data corruption has not existed so far.
`
`Therefore, the object of the present invention, in
`response to the needs described above, is to provide an
`apparatus that records data of vehicle running conditions
`without causing data corruption.
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`(MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM)
`
`In order to achieve the abovementioned object, the
`present invention employs a sensor that detects respective
`data relevant to vehicle running conditions, a running
`recording apparatus that periodically stores predetermined
`data within respective data while updating and that
`permanently records data after stopping update of the data
`at predetermined stop update conditions.
`
`(EMBODIMENTS)
` Next, a preferable embodiment of the present invention
`is described while referring to drawings.
`
`Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view denoting a recording
`apparatus of the present invention attached to a vehicle and
`part of the respective sensors employed relevant to this
`recording apparatus. Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing a
`rotation angle sensor as a concrete example of a sensor.
`Fig.3 is a schematic view illustrating a hydraulic pressure
`sensor as another concrete example of a sensor. Fig. 4 is a
`schematic plan view showing the relations between the
`recording apparatus and the respective sensors. Fig. 5 is a
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`- 70 -
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`TOYOTA Ex. 1103, p. 3
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`
`
`Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication H3-85412 (3)
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`lateral view of the recording apparatus and Fig. 6 is an
`operational flow chart of the recording apparatus of the
`present invention.
`
`First of all, the recording apparatus of the present
`invention (a running recording apparatus) is outlined as
`follows. The recording apparatus uses sensors to record
`data of the running conditions of the vehicle from these
`sensors, and the recorded data are used to judge the
`circumstances of the accident. Most of vehicles today have
`on-board microcomputers that control running of vehicles
`using respective sensors and data from these sensors, so
`that the recording apparatus of the present invention can
`utilize the respective sensors and an on-board micro
`computer in common, can utilize only the respective
`sensors
`in common, or can utilize special-purpose
`respective sensors.
`
`In addition, respective sensors necessary for the
`recording apparatus and a recording apparatus itself have to
`be attached to a vehicle by a professional service.
`Preferably, the attachment is most appropriately performed
`on an automotive manufacturing line. Necessary sensors
`are not always installed in all vehicle types, and post
`attachments, modifications and adjustments made by
`amateurs can have a negative impact on the reliability of
`recorded data.
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`Further, in many of recent vehicles, most of the
`necessary sensors and a microcomputer for controlling
`vehicle running are pre-installed. Thus, if installation by an
`automotive manufacturing
`line
`is possible, a highly
`accurate and reliable recording apparatus can be obtained
`at a lower price.
`
`In the future, it is conceivable that, with advancement
`of navigation systems, enhanced bidirectional data
`transmissions, and memory devices, more sophisticated
`and active systems to prevent accidents will be created.
` Next, referring to Fig. 1 illustrating a recording
`apparatus attached to a vehicle and part of the respective
`sensors, a recording apparatus 12 of the present invention
`is provided in a vehicle 10. For the recording apparatus 12,
`it is preferable to be mounted under the driver seat where
`vibrations are weaker and the temperature is stable.
` Next, for respective data used in the present invention,
`some of the data are illustrated in relation with sensors with
`reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. The data described below are
`not always necessary but just illustrative.
`
`(1) Year, Month, Date and Time (Hour/Minute/Second/0.1
`Second)
`These data are obtained from the recording apparatus.
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`(2) Running Distance
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`The data of running distance are, for example,
`determined by the tire rotation speed obtained from
`vehicle wheel speed sensors 14 which are provided for
`the vehicle wheels 16. The vehicle wheel speed sensors
`14 preferably utilize an optical type speed indicator to
`calculate the running distance based on the wheel
`rotation speed. However, for these vehicle wheel
`sensors, (odometers)
`are equipped with all
`vehicles as separate from
`the running distance
`measurement method, so no specific sensors are
`required.
`(3) Statutory
`Information)
` Data in a memory in the recording apparatus are used.
`(4) Vehicle Speed
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`The abovementioned odometer is utilized to detect the
`vehicle speed. However, those odometers are currently
`
`(Automotive
`
`Inspection
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`equipped with all vehicles, so that specific sensors are
`not required.
`(5) Vehicle Acceleration and Deceleration
` An acceleration sensor 18 is equipped under the driver
`seat. For the acceleration sensor 18, it is preferable to
`use one that utilizes piezoelectric elements. However,
`the vehicle acceleration and deceleration can be
`indirectly calculated from
`the engine speed,
`the
`accelerator pedal position, the brake pedal position, the
`gear position used and the tire rotation speed etc., as
`described below.
`(6) Engine Speed
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`The engine speed is calculated from engine ignition
`timing pulse signals from an engine speed sensor 20
`provided for an engine 22 and since such a sensor is
`currently equipped with most vehicles, a specific sensor
`is not required.
`(7) Accelerator Pedal Position
` As shown in Fig. 2, the accelerator pedal position is
`determined by detecting the butterfly position of an
`intake manifold 22a activated by an accelerator 26
`through a rotation angle sensor 24 mounted within the
`intake manifold 22a of the engine 22. However, in
`many vehicles that have a recent electric ignition
`timing system, a sensor to detect the accelerator pedal
`position is equipped, so a specific sensor is not
`necessary.
`(8) Brake Pedal Position
` As shown in Fig. 3, the brake pedal position is
`calculated from detecting the hydraulic pressure of a
`hydraulic pressure cylinder brake 32 by a hydraulic
`pressure sensor 28 provided at the hydraulic pressure
`cylinder brake 32 activated by a brake 30. Many of
`recent vehicle types are equipped with such a hydraulic
`pressure sensor.
`(9) Gear Position (Manual Transmission Vehicles/Clutch
`Pedal Position)
`The gear position is detected by a gear position sensor
`34 mounted on the transmission. Most automatic
`transmission vehicles are equipped with such a gear
`position sensor. For manual transmission vehicles, the
`gear position can be calculated by installing a gear
`position switch or by using the engine speed and the
`vehicle speed, etc.
`(10) Steering Wheel Position (Rotation Angle)
`
`The steering wheel position is detected by attaching a
`steering angle sensor 40 (an angle gauge) to an axis 38
`of a steering wheel 36. However, some recent vehicle
`types are equipped with such a steering wheel position
`sensor.
`(11) States of Headlight and Turn Signal
`
`The states of headlights and turn signals are detected
`from states of light switches.
`(12) Tire Rotation Speed (4 wheels)
`
`The tire rotation speed can be calculated by the
`abovementioned odometer and the wheel speed sensors
`14.
`(13) State of Doors (Locked/Unlocked State of Locks)
` Recent vehicle types are equipped with sensors for
`detecting the locked/unlocked state or half-shut state of
`doors, and a similar type of sensor is adopted.
`(14) Seat Belt Fastened/Unfastened State
` A seat belt fastened sensor (simply a switch) is
`mounted on seat belt fasteners.
`(15) Impact Force and Direction
` At least one acceleration sensor 18 is mounted on an
`arbitrary and appropriate position in a vehicle, whereby
`
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`Inspection
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`- 71 -
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`TOYOTA Ex. 1103, p. 4
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`Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication H3-85412 (4)
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`the acceleration sensor detects the impact force and its
`direction.
`(16) Supplemental
` Next, the recording apparatus is described in more
`detail with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5.
`includes a
` A recording apparatus 12 preferably
`single-chip microcomputer 42 that is integrally created
`with a CPU, an A/D converter, and a memory and a backup
`power supply 44. When utilizing a 64-kilobyte C-MOS
`SRAM as a memory and recording the abovementioned
`items at an interval of 0.1 seconds, a recording time of a
`little over 3 minutes becomes possible. By adopting a
`single-chip microcomputer 42 in the shape of an IC card, in
`case of an accident, the microcomputer can be read on the
`spot by inserting it into a small-type decoder (in this case,
`to be owned by the police and insurance companies). If
`necessary, the recorded contents can be transmitted to
`remote locations by utilizing telephone lines or the like.
`
`The recording apparatus in the shape of an IC card is
`designed for anti-shock performance and heat resistance so
`that it can withstand possible accidents, as described below
`in further detail. To read the recorded contents at the
`accident scene, it is possible to insert the recording
`apparatus in the shape of an IC card into, for example, a
`handheld-size decoder. Further, as described above, it
`becomes possible for recorded contents to be transmitted to
`other locations through telephone lines or the like.
` As discussed above, when utilizing a memory with a
`capacity of about 64 kilobytes and when recording
`respective vehicle running data every 0.1 to 0.2 seconds,
`the recording apparatus can continuously store the latest
`running information for a total time period of about 1.5
`minutes to a little over 3 minutes. It can be constituted so
`that, when an accident occurs, the recording apparatus can
`keep recording for a specific period of time after receiving
`shocks and the like. As a result, powerful evidence can be
`provided at the investigation of accident causes. Thus,
`investigating and analyzing those data also helps provide
`critical data for preventing traffic accidents. Furthermore,
`those data can become evidence for manufacturing
`companies to find defects to find defects and the like in
`vehicles (for example, to determine whether runaway of an
`automatic transmission vehicle was caused by the driver or
`by a vehicle malfunction.)
`
`The abovementioned single-chip microcomputer 42
`receives electric power from a vehicle battery 50. In the
`event that a vehicle battery cannot be used, electric power
`can be received from a back-up power supply 44. Input and
`output parts of the single-chip microcomputer 42 are
`connected with thermal fuses 46 and the abovementioned
`respective sensors and the vehicle battery 50 etc. are
`connected via the thermal fuses. The thermal fuses 46 can
`fuse at a certain temperature or above, so that it can prevent
`heat conducted to the inside of the recording apparatus
`when the heat occurs outside the apparatus and thus can
`protect data stored within a memory of the single-chip
`microcomputer 42.
`
`Furthermore, thermal insulation 48 is wrapped around
`the single-chip microcomputer 42 and thus the data within
`a memory are protected from corruption due to vibrations
`and even the worst fire disaster.
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`The recording apparatus 12 is constituted to capture
`respective data that are input from respective sensors, for
`example, about every 0.1 seconds as described above, and
`to sequentially delete old data when the capacity of
`memory is full so as to take in the latest data, in other
`words, to update data. When data updating has to be
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`stopped due to an accident or some other reason, the
`recording apparatus 12 stops the data update and preserves
`the data recorded based on predetermined stop conditions
`and stop time period.
` Next, the present invention is described in more detail
`with reference to Fig. 6.
` Data from respective sensors as described in Fig. 1 to
`Fig. 3 are input into the recording apparatus (step S1). The
`input data are converted from analogue to digital (A/D) and
`another necessary calculation is conducted (step S2). A/D
`conversion is performed when data from respective sensors
`are directly input as analogue signals into the record
`apparatus; however, when the input is conducted via an
`on-board microcomputer memory, the data are already
`digital values, so that the conversion is not necessary.
`Furthermore, the calculation
`is performed when the
`abovementioned running distance is calculated from the
`tire rotation speed.
` Based on the data obtained like this, input stop
`conditions and input stop time period are judged (step S3).
`For example, when a shock occurs and then the vehicle
`speed becomes zero in a short time, it is judged that a crash
`accident has occurred. For another example, when the
`engine gradually stops due to improper connection of a
`power supply and then the vehicle speed becomes zero, it
`is judged as such. In the former case, it is judged that the
`input stop, i.e., a stop to update data, must be performed
`after a predetermined time. In the latter case, it is judged
`that the input stop is not necessary.
` When it is decided for the input stop at step S3, a timer
`with an appropriate time period is set according to the input
`stop conditions (step S4). On the other hand, when it is not
`decided for the input stop at step S3, the step goes to step
`S5 to write data into a memory. It is to be noted here that
`the memory writing at step S5 is performed in the same
`manner even if it is judged for the input stop at step S3.
`The stop of writing is performed at step S6 as described
`later, after checking the timer set at step S4.,
` At step S6, the timer set at step S4 is checked and then
`the update is stopped after the set time elapses. When the
`timer is not set up or, even if set up, does not expire, the
`step returns to step S1 and then repeats step S2 to step S6.
`
`(EFFECT OF THE INVENTION)
`According to the recording apparatus of the present
`invention described above in detail, there are effects
`described as follows.
`(1) Constant recording of respective data at the running of
`vehicles enables complementary information to be
`obtained for investigations of accident causes. This
`helps acquire important information for preventing
`future accidents, which helps to reduce accidents.
`(2) The recording apparatus can provide supplemental
`materials to determine whether or not there was
`negligence.
`(3) The recording apparatus can investigate and detect
`defects in a vehicle itself.
`(4) The recording apparatus can utilize IC memory and be
`constituted at a low price in that case.
`(5) The recording apparatus is highly reliable, with no
`moving parts.
`insulating
`(6) The recording apparatus employs heat
`materials and thermal fuses so that there has been very
`little data corruption.
`
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`- 72 -
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`TOYOTA Ex. 1103, p. 5
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`4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view denoting a recording
`apparatus of the present invention attached to a vehicle
`and part of respective sensors employed relevant to this
`recording apparatus.
`Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing a rotation angle
`sensor as a concrete example of a sensor.
`Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a hydraulic
`pressure sensor as another concrete example of a
`sensor.
`Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view showing the relations
`between
`the
`recording apparatus and
`respective
`sensors.
`Fig. 5 is a lateral view of the recording apparatus.
`Fig. 6 is an operational flow chart of the recording
`apparatus of the present invention.
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`Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication H3-85412 (5)
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`10---vehicle
`12---running recording apparatus
`14--- wheel speed sensors
`18---acceleration sensor
`42--- single-chip microcomputer
`46--- thermal fuses
`48--- thermal insulation
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`- 73 -
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`TOYOTA Ex. 1103, p. 6
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`Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication H3-85412 (6)
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`
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`Director-General of the Patent Office
`
`
`1. Indication of the case
`
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`2. Title of the Invention
`
`
`3. Party making the amendment
`Relation to applicant
`Name
`
`4. Agent
` Address
`
`
`Name
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`
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`5. Date of amendment directive
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`6. Parts amended
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`7. Content of the amendment
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`Amendment
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`September 12, 1989
`[confirmation stamp]
`
`Fumitake Yoshida
`
`01-223646
`Patent application submitted via mail on
`August 30, 1989
`
`Recording apparatus for vehicle running
`conditions
`
`Applicant
`Digital Stream Co., Ltd.
`
`303 Sumitomo Bldg., 4-18-3 Haramachida,
`Machida-shi, Tokyo
`FAX 0427-29-2820
`TEL 0427-29-2952
`Masuakira Tanaka [stamp: illegible]
`
`[stamp: Formality examination] [stamp: Seki]
`
`Voluntary
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`In line four of Claim 4, “vehicle” is
`amended
`to “vehicle
`(including
`two
`wheeled vehicles)”.
`
`[stamp: Patent Office; Sept. 13, 1989; Application Dept.; Ogita]
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`- 74 -
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`TOYOTA Ex. 1103, p. 7
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