Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. An ink comprising
(i) first and second organic compounds which are incompatible with each other;
(ii) at least one of a compound exhibiting fluorescence properties and a coloring material exhibiting fluorescence properties; and
(iii) a liquid medium dissolving or dispersing the components (i) and (ii) therein.
2. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the ink is a water-based ink.
3. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the liquid medium is water.
4. The ink according to claim 1, which is applied to a recording medium from an ink applying means wherein there is a gap between the ink applying means and the recording medium.
5. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the content of the component (ii) in the ink is at most 1.5% by weight.
6. The ink according to claim 5, wherein the content of the component (ii) in the ink is at most 1.0 % by weight based on the total weight of the ink.
7. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the component (ii) is water-soluble or hydrophilic.
8. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the content of the component (ii) in the ink is at least a concentration sufficient to exhibit the maximum fluorescence intensity in the ink.
9. The ink according to claim 8, wherein the content of the component (ii) in the ink is at least a concentration sufficient to exhibit the maximum fluorescence intensity in a state dissolved in water.
10. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the component (i) dissolves, disperses, or dissolves and disperses the component (ii) therein.
11. The ink according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second organic compounds of the component (i) has a solubility parameter value of at least 15, and the other has a solubility parameter value of at most 13.
12. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the first and second organic compounds of the component (i) are nonpolar compounds.
13. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the first and second organic compounds of the component (i) are both water-soluble.
14. The ink according to claim 13, wherein the first and second organic compounds of the component (i) are both liquid.
15. The ink according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second organic compounds of the component (i) has a glycerol group.
16. The ink according to claim 15, wherein the organic compound having a glycerol group has at least 3 hydroxyl groups.
17. The ink according to claim 15, wherein the organic compound having a glycerol group is liquid at normal temperature.
18. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the other of the first and second organic compounds of the component (i) is a nonionic surfactant.
19. The ink according to claim 18, wherein the nonionic surfactant is liquid at normal temperature.
20. The ink according to claim 18, wherein HLB of the nonionic surfactant is at most 13.
21. The ink according to claim 18, wherein the nonionic surfactant has a cloud point.
22. The ink according to claim 20, wherein the nonionic surfactant is contained in an amount that the nonionic surfactant is not separated at an interface of an aqueous solution in a state of the aqueous solution.
23. The ink according to claim 22, wherein the nonionic surfactant is contained in an amount that the nonionic surfactant is not separated at an interface of the ink in a state of an ink from which the component (ii) has been removed.
24. The ink according to claim 18, wherein the nonionic surfactant has an acetylene group.
25. The ink according to claim 24, wherein the nonionic surfactant has a structure represented by the following general formula (I)
34
wherein A and B are, independently of each other, CnH2n1 (n being an integer of 1 to 10), and X and Y are, independently of each other, a ring-opening ethylene oxide unit andor a ring-opening propylene oxide unit.
26. The ink according to claim 18, wherein the nonionic surfactant is contained in a proportion of at least 1% by weight based on the total weight of the ink.
27. The ink according to claim 1, which further comprises a monohydric alcohol.
28. The ink according to claim 1, which further comprises a coloring material exhibiting no fluorescence properties.
29. The ink according to claim 28, wherein the coloring material exhibiting no fluorescence properties is a coloring material having water solubility.
30. The ink according to claim 28, wherein the coloring material exhibiting no fluorescence properties is a coloring material directly coloring a recording medium.
31. The ink according to claim 28, wherein the coloring material exhibiting no fluorescence properties is an azo dye.
32. The ink according to claim 28, wherein the content of the coloring material exhibiting no fluorescence properties in the ink is not lower than the content of the coloring material exhibiting fluorescence in the ink.
33. The ink according to claim 28, wherein the coloring material exhibiting no fluorescence properties has a carboxyl group or its salt group.
34. The ink according to claim 28, wherein the counter ion to the hydrophilic group of the coloring material exhibiting no fluorescence properties contains at least one ammonium ion.
35. The ink according to claim 1, which further comprises at least one selected from urea and urea derivatives.
36. The ink according to claim 35, wherein the urea derivative is not a cyclic compound.
37. The ink according to claim 35, wherein the urea derivative is at least one selected from the group consisting of alkyl derivatives of urea and ethylene oxide andor propylene oxide adducts of urea.
38. The ink according to claim 1, which further comprises a compound having a solubility parameter value between the solubility parameter values of the two organic compounds incompatible with each other.
39. The ink according to claim 1, which further comprises a compound having a vapor pressure not higher than that of triethylene glycol.
40. The ink according to claim 1, which further comprises a compound having a vapor pressure not lower than that of diethyleneglycol.
41. The ink according to claim 40, wherein the compound having a vapor pressure not lower than that of diethyleneglycol has a solubility parameter between the solubility parameters of the first and the second organic compounds incompatible with each other.
42. The ink according to claim 40 or 41, wherein the compound having a vapor pressure of not lower than that of diethyleneglycol is at least one of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.
43. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the ink from which the compound exhibiting fluorescence properties andor the coloring material exhibiting fluorescence properties, additives and the other coloring material have been removed is nonionic.
44. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the surface tension of the ink is at most 40 mNm (dyncm).
45. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the ink has the pH of at least 8.
46. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the coloring material of the ink has two counter ions, one of which is an ammonium ion and the other is an alkali metal ion.
47. The ink according to claim 1, which has a maximum wavelength for excitation and a fluorescence maximum wavelength, and the maximum wavelength for excitation is shoter than the fluorescnce maximum wavelength.
48. The ink according to claim 1, which is an ink for ink-jet recording.
49. An ink-jet recording process, comprising the step of ejecting the ink according to claim 48 from an orifice in response to recording signals.
50. The ink-jet recording process according to claim 49, wherein the step comprises a sub-step of applying thermal energy to the ink to eject the ink from an orifice.
51. A recorded article obtained by the ink-jet recording process according to claim 50, wherein the fluorescence intensity of a recorded portion formed on wood-free paper has a proportional relationship to the water content in the wood-free paper.
52. The recorded article according to claim 51, which has a maximum wavelength for excitation and a fluorescence maximum wavelenght, and the maximum wavelength for excitation is shorter than the fluorescence maximum wavelength.
53. A recorded article having a colored portion exhibiting fluorescence on a recording medium, wherein the colored portion contains at least one of a compound exhibiting fluorescence and a coloring material exhibiting fluorescence and has an interface at which incident light on the colored portion is reflected, the interface being between the outermost surface thereof and the surface of the recording medium.
54. A recording unit comprising an ink container containing the ink according to claim 48 and a head portion for ejecting the ink.
55. The recording unit according to claim 54, wherein the head portion has a construction that thermal energy is applied to the ink to eject the ink.
56. The recording unit according to claim 54, wherein the ink container comprises a polyolefin.
57. The recording unit according to claim 54, wherein the ink container has an ink holding member therein.
58. The recording unit according to claim 57, wherein the ink holding member comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, cellulose, polyvinyl acetate and polyolefin.
59. The recording unit according to claim 57, wherein the ink holding member comprises a polymer formed by a condensation or polymerization reaction of organic compound(s).
60. The recording unit according to claim 57, wherein the ink holding member comprises a porous material.
61. The recording unit according to claim 60, wherein the ink holding member has a surface being in contact with the ink container.
62. The recording unit according to claim 57, wherein the ink holding member has a multi-layer structure.
63. The recording unit according to claim 62, wherein the direction of the multi-layer arrangement of the multi-layer structure is aligned in an ink discharging direction of the ink container.
64. The recording unit according to claim 62, wherein the ink holding member has a contact surface with the ink container.
65. The recording unit according to claim 57, wherein the ink holding member is composed of fiber flocculate.
66. The recording unit according to claim 65, wherein the fiber flocculate is aligned in an ink discharging direction of the ink container.
67. The recording unit according to claim 66, wherein the ink holding member has a contact surface with the ink container.
68. An ink cartridge comprising an ink container containing the ink according to any of claims 1 to 48.
69. The ink cartridge according to claim 68, wherein the ink container comprises a polyolefin.
70. The ink cartridge according to claim 68, wherein the ink container has an ink holding member therein.
71. The ink cartridge according to claim 70, wherein the ink holding member comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, cellulose, polyvinyl acetate and polyolefin.
72. The ink cartridge according to claim 70, wherein the ink holding member is composed of a polymer formed by a condensation or polymerization reaction of organic compound(s).
73. The ink cartridge according to claim 70, wherein the ink holding member has a porous structure.
74. The ink cartridge according to claim 73, wherein the ink holding member has a contact surface with the ink container.
75. The ink cartridge according to claim 70, wherein the ink holding member has a multi-layer structure.
76. The ink cartridge according to claim 75, wherein the direction of the multi-layer arrangement of the multi-layer structure is aligned in an ink discharging direction of the ink container.
77. The ink cartridge according to claim 76, wherein the ink holding member has a contact surface with the ink container.
78. The ink cartridge according to claim 70, wherein the ink holding member is composed of fiber flocculate.
79. The ink cartridge according to claim 78, wherein the fiber flocculate is aligned in an ink discharging direction of the ink container.
80. The ink cartridge according to claim 79, wherein the ink holding member has a contact surface with the ink container.
81. An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising an ink container containing the ink according to claim 48 and a head portion for ejecting the ink.
82. A method of enhancing fluorescence of a fluorescent colored portion of a recorded article comprising a recording medium and the colored portion provided thereon, wherein the colored portion is formed by an ink-jet recording process comprising the step of applying an ink to a recording medium by an ink-jet system, and an ink comprising
(i) first and second organic compounds which are incompatible with each other;
(ii) at least one of a compound exhibiting fluorescence and a coloring material exhibiting fluorescence; and
(iii) a liquid medium dissolving or dispersing the components (i) and (ii) therein is used as said ink.
83. A method of enhancing fluorescence of a fluorescent colored portion of a recorded article comprising a recording medium and the colored portion provided thereon, which comprises providing a reflecting interface for incident light on the colored portion from the outside between the outermost surface of the colored portion and the surface of the recording medium at the colored portion.
84. A method of elongating the life time of fluorescence of a fluorescent colored portion of a recorded article comprising a recording medium and the colored portion provided thereon, wherein the colored portion is formed by an ink-jet recording process comprising the step of applying an ink to a recording medium by an ink-jet system, and an ink comprising
(i) first and second organic compounds which are incompatible with each other;
(ii) a compound having a vapor pressure not lower than that of diethyleneglycol;
(iii) at least one of a compound exhibiting fluorescence properties and a coloring material exhibiting fluorescence properties; and
(iv) a liquid medium dissolving or dispersing the components (i), (ii) and (iii) therein is used as said ink.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A gimbal mounted slider assembly comprising:
a gimbal including a ramp limiter extending distally therefrom and formed as two arms having substantially parallel and separated inner edges;
two separated, parallel transverse bars formed between and connecting said inner edges of said arms, a first of said bars being positioned approximately midway longitudinally along said arms and a second of said bars formed proximally to said first of said bars and being positioned adjacent to but not in contact with a distal edge of a slider mounting pad, whereby spaces are formed both between said first and said second of said bars and between said distal edge of said slider mounting pad and said second of said bars;
a slider mounted on said mounting pad, said slider including solder ball connections formed on a distal surface thereof and said slider pad extending proximally between a pair of separated outrigger elements that form the lateral periphery of said gimbal;
a pair of conducting traces connected to said solder ball connections, each of said pair of conducting traces thence being routed transversely outward from said connections and positioned between said connecting transverse bars and each of said traces not contacting or overlapping with said first bar and minimally overlapping with said second bar and each of said traces having a maximal transverse length to reach an outer edge of an outrigger and each of said traces thence being routed in a proximal direction along a space between a lateral edge of said mounting pad and an inner edge of an adjacent outrigger; and
a pair of trace support tabs, each of said tabs extending transversely inward from each of said outrigger elements, whereby each of said conducting traces contacts one of said tabs.
2. The gimbal mounted slider assembly of claim 1 wherein outer edges of said arms taper inward distally and said arms are, thereby, substantially trapezoidal in shape.
3. The gimbal mounted slider assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said connecting bars is formed of stainless steel.
4. The gimbal mounted slider assembly of claim 1 wherein the transverse outward routing of each trace away from the solder ball connections and extending to the gimbal outrigger insures a stress-free and mechanically strong connection to said slider.
5. The gimbal mounted slider assembly of claim 1 wherein said transverse bars provide a heat dissipating mechanism during a process wherein said traces are connected to said solder balls.
6. The gimbal mounted slider assembly of claim 1 wherein a HDI between said slider and a disk rotating thereunder is characterized by improved damping of slider vibrational modes.

1. Traction chain for an automobile vehicle, comprising:
a wheel support which carries a rotating hub designed to receive a drive wheel and having a rotation axis for the drive wheel,
a rotating toothed wheel having a rotation axis the same as that of the drive wheel, the toothed wheel meshing directly with the hub, and
an arrangement comprising at least two gear-wheels which are permanently meshed with the toothed wheel, an input shaft designed to be coupled with a shaft of an electric motor, and a gear ratio change shifter mechanism shiftable between:
a first driving position in which the shifter mechanism directly connects the input shaft with one of the gear-wheels for rotation therewith about a common axis of the input shaft,
a second driving position in which the shifter mechanism indirectly connects the input shaft with another gear-wheel through a mechanical transmission path establishing a gear reduction ratio different from a gear ratio established in the first driving position, and
a neutral non-driving position.
2. Traction chain according to claim 1,in which the gear ratio change shifter mechanism comprises a dog clutch slidable along a common axis of rotation of the input shaft and the one gear wheel.
3. Traction chain according to claim 2, in which in the other second driving state position the dog clutch rotates the other gear-wheel via an intermediate gear-wheel which causes the rotation speed to be inverted.
4. Traction chain according to claim 2, in which in the first driving position, the dog clutch moves the one gear-wheel at a 1:1 ratio directly without any intermediate gear-wheel.
5. Traction chain according to claim 1, which has no friction clutch.
6. Traction chain according to claim 1,in which the gear ratio shifter mechanism is shiftable between only two gear ratios.
7. Traction chain according to claim 1, which comprises an electric synchronous motor, having at least one integrated rotor position sensor used to control the motor.
8. Traction chain according to claim 7, in which the only sensors used to determine the wheel rotation speed are the position sensor integrated in the motor and a position sensor associated with the gear ratio change mechanism.
9. Traction chain for an automobile vehicle, comprising:
a wheel support which carries a rotating hub designed to receive a drive wheel and having a rotation axis for the drive wheel,
a rotating toothed wheel having a rotation axis the same as that of the drive wheel, the toothed wheel meshing directly with the hub,
a synchronous, self-adjusting electric motor comprising at least one integrated rotor position sensor used to control the motor, and
an arrangement comprising at least two gear-wheels permanently meshed with said toothed wheel, an input shaft coupled with a shaft of the electric motor, and a gear ratio change mechanism with a neutral position between gear ratios, the mechanism selectively producing engagement between the input shaft and one or the other of the gear-wheels, the said mechanism comprising, between the input shaft and the other gear-wheel, at least one other mechanical transmission path with a reduction ratio different from a gear ratio of the engagement between the input shaft and the one gear wheel,
wherein the only sensors used to determine the wheel rotation speed are the at least one position sensor integrated in the motor and a sensor associated with the gear ratio change mechanism.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine that serves as a power source for a vehicle, the rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device, comprising:
a parameter obtaining device that is configured to obtain a value of a fluctuation parameter that indicates a degree of non-uniformity in fluctuation of rotational speed of an output shaft of the internal combustion engine;
an automatic engine stop device that is configured to stop the internal combustion engine when an engine stop condition including that the vehicle is stopped is satisfied; and
a signal output device that is configured to output a signal that indicates a determination result of whether the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation of the rotational speed is normal or not based on the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the operation of the internal combustion engine,
wherein if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained during a disturbance fluctuation state, in which the rotational speed of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine fluctuates due to disturbances from a driving wheel, is below a first threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the determination result based on the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state, and
if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state equals or exceeds the first threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the determination results based on the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in a non-disturbance fluctuation state, in which rotational speed of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine does not fluctuate as a result of disturbances from the driving wheel of the vehicle, instead of the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state.
2. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, further comprising:
a transmission disposed in a driveline between the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the driving wheel, wherein
the disturbance fluctuation state is established when the internal combustion engine is running, the vehicle is moving, and the transmission is transmitting torque between the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the driving wheel,
the non-disturbance fluctuation state is established when the internal combustion engine is running and the vehicle is stopped.
3. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2,
wherein if the vehicle is stopped and the engine stop condition is satisfied, the signal output device prohibits the automatic engine stop device from stopping operation of the internal combustion engine and continues operation of the internal combustion engine so as to maintain the non-disturbance fluctuation state.
4. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein
if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is below the first threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is normal,
if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state equals or exceeds a second threshold value, which is greater than the first threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is abnormal, and
if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is equal to the first threshold value or between the first threshold value and the second threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is normal if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the non-disturbance fluctuation state is below a third threshold value, and outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is abnormal if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the non-disturbance state equals or exceeds the third threshold value.
5. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, further comprising:
a transmission disposed in a driveline between the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the driving wheel, wherein
the disturbance fluctuation state is established when the internal combustion engine is running, the vehicle is moving, and the transmission is transmitting torque between the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the driving wheel, and
the non-disturbance fluctuation state is established when the internal combustion engine is running and the transmission is not transmitting torque between the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and the driving wheel.
6. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 5, wherein
if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is below the first threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is normal,
if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state equals or exceeds a second threshold value, which is greater than the first threshold value, the signal output device outputs the signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is abnormal, and
if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is equal to the first threshold value or between the first threshold value and the second threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is normal if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the non-disturbance fluctuation state is below a third threshold value, and outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is abnormal if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the non-disturbance state equals or exceeds the third threshold value.
7. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1,
wherein the fluctuation parameter is a rotational fluctuation value of the internal combustion engine, and wherein the first threshold value is reduced as rotational speed of the internal combustion engine increases and increased as an intake air amount equivalent value increases.
8. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1,
wherein if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is below the first threshold value, the signal output device outputs the signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation of the rotational speed is normal,
when the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is a second threshold value or more which is larger than the first threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is abnormal, and
if the value of the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is equal to the first threshold value or between the first threshold value and the second threshold value, the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is normal if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the non-disturbance fluctuation state is below a third threshold value, and outputs a signal that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in the output shaft rotational speed is abnormal if the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in the non-disturbance state equals or exceeds the third threshold value.
9. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 8,
wherein the fluctuation parameter is the rotational fluctuation value of the internal combustion engine, and wherein the second threshold value is reduced as the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine increases and increased as the intake air amount equivalent value increases.
10. The rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 8,
wherein the fluctuation parameter is the rotational fluctuation value of the internal combustion engine, and wherein the third threshold value is reduced as the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine increases and increased as the intake air amount equivalent value increases.
11. A rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device for an internal combustion engine that serves as a power source for a vehicle, the rotational fluctuation malfunction detection device comprising:
a parameter obtaining device that is configured to obtain the value of fluctuation parameter that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in rotational speed of an output shaft of the internal combustion engine;
an automatic engine stop device that is configured to stop the internal combustion engine when an engine stop condition including that the vehicle is stopped is satisfied; and
a signal output device that is configured to output a signal that indicates a determination result of whether the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation of the rotational speed is normal based on the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained by the parameter obtaining device when the engine is in operation,
wherein the signal output device outputs a signal that indicates the determination result based on the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained in at least one of disturbance fluctuation states in which the rotational speed of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine fluctuates as a result of disturbances from a driving wheel of the vehicle to which driving torque of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine is transmitted, and also outputs the signal that indicates the determination result based on the fluctuation parameter value obtained in a non-disturbance state in which the rotational speed of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine does not fluctuate as a result of disturbances from the driving wheel of the vehicle, and
when the internal combustion engine is in a lean imbalanced state in which a fuel injection valve for a part of a plurality of cylinders sprays a smaller amount of fuel than specified, the signal output device does not output the signal that indicates the determination result in the disturbance fluctuation state but does output the signal that indicates the determination result in the non-disturbance state.
12. A method of detecting rotational fluctuation malfunctions in an internal combustion engine that serves as a power source for a vehicle, the method comprising:
obtaining the value of fluctuation parameter that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in rotational speed of an output shaft of the internal combustion engine;
outputting a signal that indicates a determination result of whether the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation of the rotational speed is abnormal based on the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained during a disturbance fluctuation state, in which disturbances from a driving wheel, to which driving torque of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine is transmitted, cause fluctuations in the rotational speed of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, and a non-disturbance state, in which disturbances from the driving wheel do not cause fluctuations in the rotational speed of the output shaft, wherein
the determination result is based on the fluctuation parameter value obtained during the disturbance fluctuation state if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state is below a first threshold value, and
the determination result is based on the fluctuation parameter value obtained during the disturbance fluctuation state if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the non-disturbance fluctuation state if the fluctuation parameter value obtained in the disturbance fluctuation state equals or exceeds the first threshold value.
13. A method of detecting rotational fluctuation malfunctions in an internal combustion engine that serves as a power source for a vehicle, comprising:
obtaining the value of fluctuation parameter that indicates the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation in rotational speed of an output shaft of an internal combustion engine;
outputting a signal that indicates a determination result of whether the degree of non-uniformity of fluctuation of the rotational speed is abnormal based on the value of the fluctuation parameter obtained during at least one of a disturbance fluctuation state, in which disturbances from a driving wheel, to which driving torque of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine is transmitted, cause fluctuations in the rotational speed of the output shaft, and a non-disturbance state, in which disturbances from the driving wheel, to which driving torque of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine is transmitted, does not cause fluctuations in the rotational speed of the output shaft, from a signal output device, wherein the signal that indicates the determination result based on the fluctuation parameter value obtained during the non-disturbance state if the internal combustion engine is in a lean imbalanced state, in which a fuel injection amount injected by at least one fuel injection valve is below a target fuel injection amount.