| DENSO CORPORATION Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120036300 | CONTROLLER AND ELECTRIC CONTROL UNIT INCLUDING THE SAME - A controller capable of inhibiting storage of prescribed information associated with a control operation when the control operation cannot be normally performed, and resuming the storage immediately after the control operation has again become able to be normally performed. The controller includes determining means for determining whether or not the control operation can be normally performed on the basis of a power level of electrical power supplied to the controller, write-inhibiting means for setting a storage area for storing the information to a write-inhibited area in cases where it is determined that the control operation cannot be normally performed, and releasing means for releasing, as an interrupt process higher in priority than any other process, the write inhibited area in cases where it is determined after the setting of the storage area to the write-inhibited area that the control operation can be normally performed. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035837 | SYSTEM FOR RESTARTING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WHEN ENGINE RESTART REQUEST OCCURS - In a system, a starter includes a motor for rotatably driving an output shaft with a pinion and an actuator that shifts the pinion toward a ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. A monitor unit monitors a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine. The rotational speed of the internal combustion engine drops after an automatic control for stop of the engine. When an engine restart request occurs with the rotational speed being within a preset range during the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine dropping by the automatic control for stop of the engine, a drive unit drives the actuator to shift the pinion toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. The drive unit rotatably drives the motor with the pinion being engaged with the ring gear to thereby crank the crankshaft. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035810 | Steering control apparatus - In a steering control apparatus, a worm gear is configured to have a lead angle for a self-lock operation, by which a worm wheel is allowed to rotate by rotation of a worm but the worm is not allowed to rotate by rotation of the worm wheel. Thus, a lock mechanism need not be provided separately from a gear mechanism and the apparatus is reduced in entire size. A VGRS control part checks whether the worm gear has a self-lock failure, which disables the self-lock operation. If the worm gear has the self-lock failure, idling suppression processing is performed to suppress idling of a steering wheel. Thus, even when the self-lock failure arises, the steering wheel is suppressed from idling. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120034569 | SENSOR CONTROLLER - A sensor controller for a particulate matter detection sensor includes a heater configured to heat an attachment portion so as to burn and remove particulate matter attached to the attachment portion, a learning portion for obtaining a sensor detection value immediately after burning and removing the particulate matter due to heating of the heater. The leaning portion calculates a sensor standard value based on the obtained sensor detection value in a state where the particulate matter is removed, and stores the sensor standard value as a learning value. Furthermore, a correcting portion corrects the sensor detection value based on the sensor standard value stored by the learning portion. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120032791 | Vehicle-use obstacle detection apparatus - The vehicle-use obstacle detection apparatus having a plurality of obstacle detection sensors installed at different places of a vehicle is configured to control a voice warning device such that, when two or more of the obstacle detection sensors have detected obstacles in succession, voice messages indicative of directions in which the detected obstacles are present respectively are outputted in succession in ascending order of value of the obstacle distance. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120032625 | Electric power conversion apparatus - An electric power conversion apparatus converts electric power supplied to a motor having a winding set formed of coils corresponding to a plurality of phases. An inverter part has a plurality of FETs forming switching element pairs, each of which corresponds to each phase of the winding set. Pull-up resistors are provided between the coils and a high-potential side of a battery, respectively. A neutral point voltage detection part detects a neutral point voltage of the winding set. A microcomputer detects abnormality based on the neutral point voltage. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120032551 | STATOR FOR ROTARY ELECTRIC MACHINE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A stator includes a ring-shaped stator core having a plurality of slots arranged in a circumferential direction and a stator coil wound around the slots. The stator coil disposed within the slots is fixed by an impregnating material applied from an inner peripheral side of the stator core. An innermost-diameter coil wire of the stator coil positioned on the innermost-diameter side within the slots is provided with a first angle section that is angled towards an outward core-diameter direction side from a center section in a core-axis direction towards one end side, and a second angle section that is angled towards the outward core-diameter direction side from the center section in the core-axis direction towards another end side. The center section in the core-axis direction of the innermost-diameter coil wire projects towards an inward core-diameter direction side. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120032503 | ELECTRONIC SYSTEM HAVING RESISTORS SERIALLY CONNECTED - An electronic system has a capacitor that smoothes voltage of a direct current source, a resistance circuit that discharges charge of the capacitor, and an inverter circuit that converts the smoothed voltage into a three-phase ac voltage and applies this ac voltage to a motor. The resistance circuit has resistors and patterned wires disposed on a substrate such that the wires serially connect the resistors to discharge charge of the capacitor. The resistors are aligned in a straight line. The resistors located at positions different from ends of the series of resistors have resistance values lower than resistance values of the resistors located at respective ends of the series of resistors. More preferably, as the position of one resistor approaches the center of the series of resistors, the resistor is set at a lower the resistance value. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120032453 | STARTER CONTROLLER - A relay is provided in a power supply line from a battery to a motor of a starter in a vehicle. The relay is selectively switched between a contact side state where contacts short-circuit and a resistor side state where the contacts open and a resistor is inserted into the power supply line in series. When an engine is started, an ECU controlling the starter energizes the motor by driving the relay to the resistor side only for a first predetermined time in order to suppress inrush current and voltage fall due to the inrush current. The ECU detects a contact side state fixation abnormality of the relay based on a battery voltage at the time when the motor is energized by driving the relay to the resistor side. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120032313 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING LATERAL DIODE - A semiconductor device having a lateral diode includes a semiconductor layer, a first semiconductor region in the semiconductor layer, a contact region having an impurity concentration greater than that of the first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region located in the semiconductor layer and separated from the contact region, a first electrode electrically connected through the contact region to the first semiconductor region, and a second electrode electrically connected to the second semiconductor region. The second semiconductor region includes a low impurity concentration portion, a high impurity concentration portion, and an extension portion. The second electrode forms an ohmic contact with the high impurity concentration portion. The extension portion has an impurity concentration greater than that of the low impurity concentration portion and extends in a thickness direction of the semiconductor layer. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120032312 | SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE, SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE - A semiconductor substrate which allows desired electrical characteristics to be more easily acquired, a semiconductor device of the same, and a method of producing the semiconductor substrate. The method of producing this semiconductor substrate is provided with: a first epitaxial layer forming step (S | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120031697 | Motor and electric power steering apparatus using motor - A magnetic sensor disposed in an axial direction of a shaft of a motor detects the rotation angle of the rotor by detecting magnetism of the magnet that is disposed on one end of the shaft. A first and second conducting wires extend in parallel with an axis of the shaft, and are equidistantly positioned relative to the axis, on a virtual circle that has a center point on the axis of the shaft. The electric current flowing in the first conducting wire and the electric current flowing in the second conducting wire have the same magnitude and the same flow direction with each other at any time. When the first conducting wire and the second conducting wire are on opposite sides relative to the center point of the virtual circle, the magnetic fields around the conducting wires cancel with each other, thereby enabling accurate detection of the rotation angle. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120031685 | Occupant detection sensor and method of manufacturing the same - An occupant detection sensor includes a sensor member disposed on a surface of a vehicle seat and detecting sitting of an occupant, a wiring member electrically coupling the sensor member with an external device, and a covering member covering the sensor member and the wiring member. The wiring member and the covering member are included in a coupling section that is disposed along the surface of the vehicle seat. The coupling section includes a bent portion and a stress absorbing portion that absorbs stress generated at the bent portion. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120031593 | Oil cooler - An inner fin is an offset fin having a wavy cross-section that is perpendicular to an oil flowing direction, and has a louver that is partially cut and bent in a direction parallel with the oil flowing direction. The wavy cross-section is defined by alternately placing first-side convex parts and second-side convex parts. A fin height fh is defined by a distance from the first-side convex part to the second-side convex part in the cross-section. An area surrounded by the inner fin, a tube, and the first-side or second-side convex parts located adjacent with each other on the same side in the cross-section is converted into a corresponding circle having a diameter de. When a relationship of X=de/fh | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120031586 | Condenser - Each tube and a corresponding fin satisfy all of the following relationships: Lp−t≧0.03Tr+0.22; Lp−t≦0.115Tr | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120031169 | SENSOR CONTROLLER - A sensor controller is applied to a particulate matter detection sensor that includes an attachment portion to which conductive particulate matter contained in gas is attached, and a pair of opposed electrodes spaced from each other at the attachment portion. The particulate matter detection sensor is adapted to output a detection signal corresponding to a resistance between the pair of opposed electrodes, and the sensor controller is adapted to calculate an amount of attached particulate matter based on a sensor detection value from the particulate matter detection sensor. The sensor controller includes a heater for heating the attachment portion so as to burn and remove the particulate matter attached to the attachment portion, and an abnormality diagnosis portion for obtaining the sensor detection value during a heating of the heater and for performing diagnosis of abnormality of the particulate matter detection sensor based on the obtained sensor detection value. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120031168 | SENSOR CONTROLLER AND EXHAUST GAS TREATMENT SYSTEM USING THE SAME - A sensor controller is for a particulate matter detection sensor that includes a pair of opposed electrodes spaced from each other and disposed on an attachment portion. The sensor controller includes a calculation portion configured to calculate an amount of particulate matter attached to the particulate matter detection sensor based on a detection value from the particulate matter detection sensor, and a determination portion configured to determine whether water exists in the exhaust passage based on the detection value. Thus, it is possible to accurately determine whether water exists in the exhaust passage. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120031155 | Portable wireless key - A portable wireless key having an emergency key includes a body in which the emergency key is held. The body has an operation surface and a protrusion action portion. The operation surface defines a part of an outer side surface of the body. The protrusion action portion has a hook that is held in the body under a condition that the emergency key is held in the body. One push to the operation surface causes the protrusion action portion to perform a protrusion action. The protrusion action causes the protrusion action portion to protrude outward from the body in such a manner that the hook of the protrusion action portion is exposed outside the body. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120031078 | SENSOR CONTROLLER - A sensor controller for a particulate matter detection sensor includes a signal output circuit connected to the particulate matter detection sensor such that a sensor detection value is changeable in a predetermined output range by the signal output circuit, a heater configured to heat an attachment portion so as to burn and remove particulate matter attached to the attachment portion, a learning portion for calculating a sensor standard value in a state where the resistance between a pair of opposed electrodes is reduced based on an obtained sensor detection value and for storing the sensor standard value as a learning value, and a correcting portion for correcting the sensor detection value based on the sensor standard value stored by the learning portion. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120029837 | Engine revolution meter - An engine revolution meter for displaying an engine revolution number display value includes an obtaining device, a calculating device, and a determining device. The obtaining device obtains an engine revolution number measurement value corresponding to a measured revolution number of an engine of a vehicle. The calculating device calculates the display value based on the measurement value. The determining device determines whether the measurement value is greater or less than a reference value. When the determining device determines that the measurement value is less than the reference value, the calculating device calculates the display value in such a manner that the display value changes at a first rate different from a second rate at which the measurement value changes. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120029801 | DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS DETECTOR AND ROUTE SEARCH DEVICE - A driving characteristics detector includes: a driving information obtaining element for obtaining driving information, which relates to a driving condition of a vehicle; and a driving characteristics determining element for determining driving characteristics of a driver of the vehicle based on the driving information. The driving information includes vehicle speed relating information, which relates to at least one of a vehicle speed, acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle. A driving unit section is defined as a section from the vehicle starts to go until the vehicle stops. The driving characteristics determining element determines the driving characteristics based on the vehicle speed relating information in each driving unit section. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120029797 | SYSTEM FOR CRANKING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE BY ENGAGEMENT OF PINION WITH RING GEAR - In a system, a predictor predicts a future trajectory of a rotational speed of a crankshaft during drop of the crankshaft's rotational speed in a forward rotational direction due to automatic stop of an engine. An engaging unit | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120029760 | MALFUNCTION DIAGNOSING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - An output limiting control is carried out for limiting an output of a driving source when an acceleration pedal as well as a brake pedal is operated at the same time. An acceleration opening degree for a malfunction diagnosis is set based on a detected acceleration opening degree. A required output value for the malfunction diagnosis is calculated based on the acceleration opening degree for the malfunction diagnosis. A malfunction determining threshold is set in accordance with the required output value. An estimated output value of the driving source is compared with the malfunction determining threshold in order to determine whether there is a malfunction in a control system for the driving source. The acceleration opening degree for the malfunction diagnosis is limited to a predetermined limiting value, when the acceleration and brake pedal are operated at the same time. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120029747 | VEHICLE-USE ELECTRICITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, VEHICLE-USE ELECTRICITY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND VEHICLE-USE ELECTRICAL LOAD - The vehicle-use electricity management system includes an electricity demand detection means to detect electricity consumed by electrical loads, and an electricity price information generation means to generate electricity price information indicative of a price of electricity supplied to the electrical loads based on the electricity demand. At least one of the electrical loads includes an electricity consumption ability determination means to determine whether electricity supplied to the own electrical load can be consumed unconditionally based on comparison between the electricity price information received from the electricity price information generation means and electricity consumption ability information stored in the own electrical load, and an electricity consumption control means to control an amount of electricity consumed by the own electrical load based on a determination result made by the electricity consumption ability determination means. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120029730 | Engine automatic control system - A roadside communicator in a roadside around an intersection transmits, to vehicles around the intersection, traffic light information on traffic light at the intersection and mobile object information on vehicles and pedestrians around the intersection. An in-vehicle communicator mounted in a subject vehicle acquires the traffic light information and the mobile object information. An in-vehicle engine start determination section mounted in the subject vehicle determines a permission or prohibition of a start of an engine of the subject vehicle based on the traffic light information and mobile object information. The engine start determination section determines an engine start time in consideration of a display of the traffic light, and states of mobile objects that pass through the intersection. An in-vehicle engine control section in the subject vehicle starts the engine when the engine start determination section permits the start of the engine. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120028749 | VEHICLE POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE - A power transmission apparatus for a vehicle is provided which is equipped with a power split device and a speed variator. The power transmission device is designed to set a speed ratio of speed of rotation of an output of a power source to speed of rotation of a driven wheel in a power circulation mode of a power split device to lie within one of a positive range in which a sign of the speed ratio is positive and a negative range in which a sign of the speed ratio is negative. This results in a decrease in degree of torque acting on the speed variator such as a continuously variable transmission, thus permitting a required degree of durability of the speed variator to be reduced. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120028747 | VEHICULAR POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE - Power generated by an engine is inputted to a carrier of a first planetary gear mechanism. Power generated by a motor is inputted to a sun gear of a second planetary gear mechanism. Power from a ring gear of the first planetary gear mechanism and power from a carrier of the second planetary gear mechanism are combined and transmitted to an axle of driving wheels. While power input from the engine to the carrier of the first planetary gear mechanism is maintained, rotation of a sun gear of the first planetary gear mechanism is restricted with a first clutch, a second clutch or a first brake. While power input from the motor to the sun gear of the second planetary gear mechanism is maintained, rotation of a ring gear of the second planetary gear mechanism is restricted with a second brake or a third clutch. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120027629 | FUEL PUMP - A fuel pump has a motor portion and a pump portion, wherein fuel is sucked from an inlet port into the pump portion when an impeller is rotated and the pressurized fuel is discharged out of the fuel pump from an outlet port. A stator has multiple stator cores on which respective stator coils are wound to form a star-connection winding. A terminal sub-assembly is provided in an axial side portion of the stator. The terminal sub-assembly has multiple conductive members and each end portion of the stator coils is respectively connected to connecting portions of the conductive members, which are arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential direction of the terminal sub-assembly. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120026771 | VEHICLE-USE POWER SUPPLY CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRIC ROTATING MACHINE MOUNTED ON VEHICLE AS MAIN ENGINE - The vehicle-use power supply control apparatus is for controlling transmission of electric power between a vehicle-mounted power supply apparatus including switching elements turned on and off in accordance with manipulation signals and an external power supply located outside the vehicle. The vehicle-use power supply control apparatus includes a control section to output an electric power transmission command signal depending on an electric power transmission request signal received from an external device, and a manipulation signal generating section to generate the manipulation signals based on the electric power transmission command signal received from the control section. The control section is configured to operate in order that noise sound generated due to switching operation of the vehicle-mounted power supply apparatus is within an audio frequency range. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120026703 | In-vehicle electronic control unit housing - A housing for an in-vehicle electronic control unit is disclosed. The housing includes: a case made of resin and formed into a box shape having an opening; a board received in the case and provided with an electronic part, the electronic part being mounted to the board; a cover made of metal and covering the opening of the case so that the board is arranged between the case and the cover; and multiple stays each provided to fix the cover or the case to a vehicle. The multiple stays include a first stay made of the resin and formed on the case, and a second stay made of the metal and formed on the cover. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120025875 | APPARATUS FOR DRIVING VOLTAGE CONTROLLED SWITCHING ELEMENTS - An apparatus is provided to drive a voltage controlled switching element having a conduction control terminal. In the apparatus, it is determined whether or not voltage at the conduction control terminal is at a first voltage which is lower than a second voltage and which is equal to or more than a threshold voltage. The second voltage is a voltage provided when the switching element is in a normal on-state thereof. The threshold voltage is voltage at which the switching element is switched on. When it is determined that the voltage at the conduction control terminal is at the first voltage, the switching element is forcibly switched off. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120025874 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING SWITCHING ELEMENT AND FREE WHEEL DIODE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - A semiconductor device includes a switching element having: a drift layer; a base region; an element-side first impurity region in the base region; an element-side gate electrode sandwiched between the first impurity region and the drift layer; a second impurity region contacting the drift layer; an element-side first electrode coupled with the element-side first impurity region and the base region; and an element-side second electrode coupled with the second impurity region, and a FWD having: a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer; a diode-side first electrode coupled to the second conductive layer; a diode-side second electrode coupled to the first conductive layer; a diode-side first impurity region in the second conductive layer; and a diode-side gate electrode in the second conductive layer sandwiched between first impurity region and the first conductive layer and having a first gate electrode as an excess carrier injection suppression gate. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120025811 | ROTATION ANGLE DETECTOR - A rotation angle detector for detecting a rotation angle of a magnet rotator includes: the rotator with a magnet mounted on a rotation shaft; a sensor chip; and an operation element. The chip includes: first and second normal component detection elements for detecting a magnetic field along with a normal direction and first and second rotation component detection elements for detecting a magnetic field along with a rotation direction. A phase difference Δθ, output signals S | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120025794 | DRIVE CONTROLLER - A drive controller for driving an inductive load connected to a node between first and second switches connected in series with a direct current voltage source includes a first diode, a series circuit of a second diode and an inductor, and a control circuit. The first diode is a parasitic diode of the first switch and connected in antiparallel with the first switch. The series circuit is connected in parallel with the first diode. The control circuit drives the inductor load by applying a control voltage to the first switch before applying a first ON-voltage to the second switch. The first ON-voltage turns ON the second switch. The control voltage is greater than zero and less than a second ON-voltage. The second ON-voltage turns ON the first switch. The control voltage causes the first switch to operate in weak inversion. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120025264 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING DIODE-BUILT-IN IGBT AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING DIODE-BUILT-IN DMOS - A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a diode-built-in insulated-gate bipolar transistor having an insulated-gate bipolar transistor and a diode, which are disposed in the substrate, wherein the insulated-gate bipolar transistor includes a gate, and is driven with a driving signal input into the gate; and a feedback unit for detecting current passing through the diode. The driving signal is input from an external unit into the feedback unit. The feedback unit passes the driving signal to the gate of the insulated-gate bipolar transistor when the feedback unit detects no current through the diode, and the feedback unit stops passing the driving signal to the gate of the insulated-gate bipolar transistor when the feedback unit detects the current through the diode. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120025153 | SILICON CARBIDE SINGLE CRYSTAL AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE SAME - A silicon carbide single crystal includes nitrogen as a dopant and aluminum as a dopant. A nitrogen concentration is 2×10 | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120024511 | Intercooler - An inner fin arranged in a flat tube has a wave shape constructed by alternately connecting first walls and second walls. The first wall connects two of the second walls in a connecting direction. The first wall has a protrusion with an extending dimension in the connecting direction and a protruding dimension protruding from the first wall. A ratio of the extending dimension to a height dimension of the first wall is defined as a length ratio x/Fh, and a ratio of the protruding dimension to a width dimension of the second wall is defined as a protrusion ratio y/Fw. The ratios x/Fh, y/Fw are set to have values having a predetermined relationship. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120022775 | VEHICULAR FUEL CONSUMPTION NOTIFICATION APPARATUS AND IN-VEHICLE SYSTEM - An actual fuel consumption rate and a tentative fuel consumption rate are repeatedly acquired from an air-conditioning apparatus. The tentative fuel consumption rate is a fuel consumption amount per unit time to generate a power consumed under a post-offset preset temperature being different from a present temperature by an offset temperature. Based on the acquired actual fuel consumption rate and the acquired tentative fuel consumption rate, an actual fuel consumption accumulation amount and a tentative fuel consumption accumulation amount are calculated in the same record period and are recorded as a data set in a travel history database. Then, several data sets recorded over the several record periods are read out from the travel history database. The total of the actual fuel consumption accumulation amounts and the total of the tentative fuel consumption accumulation amounts over the read several data sets are notified. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120022773 | ENGINE AUTOMATIC STOP AND RESTART CONTROL APPARATUS - An engine automatic stop and restart control apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a control unit which stops and restarts an engine, an actual axle torque change speed calculation unit which calculates change speed in actual axle torque that is actually generated when the engine is restarted, an ideal axle torque change speed calculation unit which calculates change speed in ideal axle torque that corresponds to engine torque generated by the engine, a change speed difference calculation unit which calculates a change speed difference that is a difference between the change speed in actual axle torque and the change speed in ideal axle torque, and a vibration suppression control unit which executes a vibration suppression control for applying braking torque based on the change speed difference. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120022771 | FUEL INJECTION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR DIRECT-INJECTION ENGINE - In an engine of a direct-injection type, a split injection (a fuel injection in an intake stroke and a fuel injection in a compression stroke) is carried out. A compression-stroke injection amount is gradually decreased or increased when the split injection is carried out. Engine rotational speed, which varies by combustion of such injected fuel, is detected for respective fuel injection amounts, which are varied (decreased or increased) as above. Such a fuel injection amount, with which the engine rotational speed becomes maximum, is calculated and set as a basic injection amount for the compression-stroke injection. The fuel injection in the compression stroke is then controlled based on the basic injection amount. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120022767 | ERROR DETECTOR FOR INJECTION CHARACTERISTIC DATA - An error detector includes an injector-memory provided to a fuel injector injecting a fuel into an internal combustion engine, and an ECU-memory provided to an ECU. The injector-memory stores a characteristic data indicative of injection characteristics of the fuel injector. The ECU-memory stores a characteristic data which is identical to the data stored in the injector-memory. The injector-memory further stores another characteristic data which is identical to the characteristic data stored in the injector-memory. The ECU compares three characteristic data stored in the injector-memory and the ECU-memory to determine whether three characteristic data are identical to each other, whereby an error is detected. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120022740 | EMISSION DETERIORATION NOTIFYING DEVICE - An emission deterioration notifying device includes a low fuel pressure determining unit, an emission deterioration notifying unit, and an electric control unit. The determining unit determines whether supply pressure of fuel supplied to an injector is in a low fuel pressure state, in which the supply pressure is lower than a predetermined threshold value. The notifying unit notifies that exhaust emission is deteriorating beyond its allowable range when it is determined that the supply pressure is in the low fuel pressure state. The control unit allows notification by the notifying unit at a time of injection control at which injection of fuel from the injector is allowed, and the control unit prohibits notification by the notifying unit or reduces the threshold value at a time of injection stop control at which injection of fuel from the injector is stopped. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120021705 | Portable transmitter powered by button battery - A portable transmitter includes a circuit board having a button battery and an antenna; and a case accommodating the battery and the circuit board. The case includes first and second case members being engaged with each other. A concave portion is formed on the first or second case members to accommodate the button battery, and a lock portion is formed on the first or second case members to lock the circuit board. While the concave portion accommodates the button battery and the circuit board is locked by the lock portion, a surface of the circuit board and a surface of the button battery are attached, and the first case member and the second case member are engaged. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120020384 | FUEL TEMPERATURE DETERMINING APPARATUS - A fuel temperature determining apparatus for an internal combustion is provided which determines the temperature of fuel delivered to a fuel injector without use of a pressure sensor. The fuel temperature determining apparatus includes a pressure sensor that measures the pressure of fuel delivered to the fuel injector and works to analyze an output of the pressure sensor to determine a cycle of a pressure pulsation created in the fuel. The fuel temperature determining apparatus also calculates the temperature of the fuel delivered to the fuel injector based on the cycle of the pressure pulsation. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120020120 | SOFT-SWITCHING CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - Soft-switching is performed to switch a switching state to an ON state by controlling a delay time of a timing at which a main switch switches to an ON state relative to a timing at which a sub-switch switches to an ON state. Controllability of soft-switching decreases as a result of variations in time difference of a command for switching the main switch to the ON state and the actual switching of the switching state. To set a delay time suitable for performing soft-switching based on the variations in time difference, an EEPROM is provided that stores therein correction data for the delay time. The delay time of the timing of the command for switching the main switch to the ON state relative to the timing of the command for switching the sub-switch to the ON state is set based on the correction data. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120019181 | Power converter for rotating electric machine - A power converter for converting power supplied to a rotating electric machine that includes windings of N-phase (N≧2), includes an inverter section, a voltage detecting portion, one or more resistors, and an abnormality detecting portion. The voltage detecting portion detects a voltage applied to each winding of M-phase, where 1≦M| 01-26-2012 | |
| 20120019179 | CONTROL DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR MOTOR - A control device divides 360° corresponding to one cycle of a resolver angle into N zones, and determines whether or not a resolver angle θ in the current cycle exceeds a division border. When determined that resolver angle θ in the current cycle exceeds a division border, the control device calculates a time difference ΔT[n] between a calculation time T[n] in the immediately preceding resolver cycle and a calculation time T in the current cycle. The control device also calculates a resolver angle variation Δθ[n] with time difference ΔT[n] by adding 360° to the difference between resolver angle θ obtained in the current cycle and a resolver angle θ[n] obtained in the immediately preceding resolver cycle. The control device then calculates a rotation speed NM by multiplying, by a coefficient K, a value obtained by dividing Δθ[n] by ΔT[n]. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120019096 | Stator for Electric Rotating Machine - A stator core is comprised of first and second stator core pieces that are arranged to overlap each other in the axial direction of the stator core. The first stator core piece includes first protrusions, each of which is formed on one circumferential side of a corresponding tooth portion of the stator core, and first slot opening portions that open on the radially inner surface of the first stator core piece. The second stator core piece includes second protrusions, each of which is formed on the other circumferential side of a corresponding tooth portion, and second slot opening portions that open on the radially inner surface of the second stator core piece. For each slot of the stator core, a corresponding pair of the first and second slot opening portions which communicate with the slot are offset from each other in the circumferential direction of the stator core. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120019084 | COOLING SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC ROTATING MACHINE FOR VEHICLES - A cooling system of a AC generator for vehicles has a stator with a stator winding, a rotor that is arranged in an inner circumferential side of the stator, a rectifier that converts an alternating current voltage generated in the stator winding into direct current, and a rear cover that covers the rectifier. The rear cover has an intake duct connecting portion that projects outside and an air intake duct is attached to a tip portion of the intake duct connecting portion. A dividing wall that divides an internal space of the rear cover into a plurality of spaces along a direction extending from the rectifier backwardly relative to the direction of rotation is disposed in the intake duct connecting portion. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120019081 | STATOR FOR ELECTRIC ROTATING MACHINE - A stator includes an annular stator core and a stator coil. The stator coil is formed of a plurality of electric wires mounted on the stator core. The stator coil has a coil end part that protrudes from an axial end face of the stator core so as to be located outside slots of the stator core. The electric wires forming the stator coil are grouped into a plurality of electric wire sets. Each of the electric wire sets consists of a predetermined number of the electric wires which are electrically connected to one another. The stator coil further includes a plurality of bridging wires. Each of the bridging wires extends, on an axially outer periphery of the coil end part of the stator coil, to electrically connect a corresponding pair of the electric wire sets. Further, at least two of the bridging wires are fixed to one another. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120018655 | ELECTROMAGNETIC VALVE - A conical portion is provided at the tip of a main valve body. When brake fluid hits the conical portion of the main valve body, the brake fluid is bounced back at substantially the same angle at which it hits the conical surface of the conical portion. However, the movement direction of the bounced brake fluid is not largely inclined from the direction that the brake fluid is to be caused to flow. Therefore, the flow resistance is reduced. Further, generatrices of the conical portion agree with tangent lines to the spherical surface and the boundary area between the spherical surface and the conical surface is continuous without a step. Therefore, the brake fluid is rectified by these surfaces when it flows. It is possible to reduce the amount of fluctuation in pressure differential relative to fluctuation in the flow rate of brake fluid. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120018611 | VIBRATION ISOLATION TARGET MOUNTING STRUCTURE AND METHOD - A bonding structure of a vibration isolation target is disclosed. The structure includes: a base; a vibration isolation target mounted to the base; and a vibration isolator bonds together the base and the vibration isolation target. A lift-up portion is formed on one of the base and the vibration isolation target, and is lift-upped from the one toward the other of the base and the vibration isolation target. The lift-up portion has an apex surface located at an apex of the lift-up portion. The vibration isolator is on the apex surface. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120018304 | OXYGEN SENSOR ELEMENT AND OXYGEN SENSOR - An oxygen sensor element | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120017946 | CLEANING AND DRYING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A cleaning liquid is pressurized and superheated to a condition, in which temperature of the cleaning liquid is above an atmospheric boiling point. A product to be cleaned is interposed between a pair of liquid holding blocks, so that gaps are respectively formed between side surfaces of the product and the liquid holding blocks. The pressurized and superheated liquid is injected to the product so that layers of condensate of vapor of injected cleaning liquid are formed in the gaps. Contamination on the surface of the product is removed by the cleaning liquid and the surface is dried by latent heat of the condensate of the vapor of the cleaning liquid. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120016627 | APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING LOCATION OF VEHICLE AND PROGRAM EXECUTED THEREBY - An on-vehicle apparatus adapted to estimate a location of a subject vehicle, in which the apparatus acquires vehicle-information including a location, a velocity and a running direction of the subject vehicle at a reference time and a factor that changes the velocity of the subject vehicle. The on-vehicle apparatus predicts a location of the subject vehicle at an object time which is advanced from the reference time based on the acquired factor | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120016563 | EMISSION DETERIORATION INFORMING DEVICE - An emission deterioration informing device senses actual injection timing, at which fuel injection is actually performed from an injector. The device calculates a deviation amount of the sensed actual injection timing from target injection timing. The device has a warning light for informing deterioration of exhaust emission when the calculated deviation amount is larger than a predetermined threshold value. The device determines whether an operation state of an internal combustion engine is an impact state, in which the exhaust emission receives a predetermined influence or more from the deviation of the actual injection timing from the target injection timing. The device allows lighting of the warning light when the operation state is determined to be the impact state. The device prohibits the lighting of the warning light when the operation state is not determined to be the impact state. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120015685 | Handover control apparatus - A handover control apparatus selects, as a target station, an adjacent station having an upturn and stable transition trend of reception level of a radio wave received by a radio, when necessity to carry out handover is determined, and performs handover for switching from a serving station to the target station when the transition trend of the reception level of the received radio wave from the serving station is in a downturn trend and a calculation value of a serving station approximation equation is smaller than a calculation value of an adjacent station approximation equation at a determination timing. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120014610 | FACE FEATURE POINT DETECTION DEVICE AND PROGRAM - Detecting with good precision an eye inside corner position and an eye outside corner position as face feature points even when the eye inside corner and/or the eye outside corner portions are obscured by noise. First eyelid profile modeling is performed with a Bezier curve expressed by a fixed control point P | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120012860 | SIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A SiC semiconductor device includes a reverse type MOSFET having: a substrate; a drift layer and a base region on the substrate; a base contact layer and a source region on the base region; multiple trenches having a longitudinal direction in a first direction penetrating the source region and the base region; a gate electrode in each trench via a gate insulation film; an interlayer insulation film covering the gate electrode and having a contact hole, through which the source region and the base contact layer are exposed; a source electrode coupling with the source region and the base region through the contact hole; a drain electrode on the substrate. The source region and the base contact layer extend along with a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and are alternately arranged along with the first direction. The contact hole has a longitudinal direction in the first direction. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120012774 | REED VALVE - A reed valve is adapted to be fixed to a fixing member. The reed valve includes a valve plate and a resiliently deformable reed. The valve plate is fixed to the fixing member and includes a frame part and a supporting column. The frame part has an opening inward of the frame part. The opening passes through the frame part in a thickness direction of the valve plate. The supporting column is disposed across an inside of the opening. The reed is configured to open or close the opening. The frame part includes a frame seating surface with which the reed is engaged. The supporting column includes a column seating surface with which the reed is engaged. The column seating surface is recessed relative to the frame seating surface in the thickness direction. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120012680 | FUEL INJECTION DEVICE - A fuel injection device has therein a recovery channel provided in a first valve body, and a fuel channel provided in the first valve body and a second valve body. The fuel channel is opened by openings at a first end surface of the first valve body and a second end surface of the second valve body. One of the first end surface and the second end surface is provided with an end surface groove connected to the recovery channel. In the fuel injection device, the end surface groove is provided to enclose at least a part of the opening and is separated from the opening by a clearance, and one of the first valve body and the second valve body has a side surface groove extending in a circumferential direction at an outer periphery of the one of the first valve body and the second valve body. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120012659 | Card key having function of performing radio communication with on-vehicle device - A card key includes a circuit board and a plate-shaped key body. The circuit board is mounted with electronic parts that configure an electronic circuit for performing radio communication with an on-vehicle device. The key body is mounted with the circuit board which is covered with a resin material. The key body has a principal front surface on the side of which the electronic parts are mounted, and has a main body recess sunk to a predetermined depth level from the principal front surface and a key component accommodating recess further sunk to a level deeper than the main body recess and opened in a bottom surface of the main body recess. The key body forms an outline of the card key together with a sheet body fitted to the main body recess. The key component accommodating portion is formed between the sheet body and the key component accommodating recess. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120012082 | Air intake apparatus for internal combustion engine - A housing has an intake passage extending substantially in a vertical direction of a vehicle. A valve is configured to open and close the intake passage. A shaft supports the valve. A bearing supports the shaft. A hose is connected with an upper side of the housing in the vertical direction and configured to lead intake air into the intake passage. A communication passage configured to communicate an inside of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle with the hose. The communication passage has an opening in the vicinity of a point directly above the bearing. The hose has a wall surface defining a condensate passage, which connects the opening with a target location from which condensate is to be dropped. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120012081 | Air intake apparatus for internal combustion engine - A housing has an intake passage extending substantially in a vertical direction of a vehicle. A valve is configured to open and dose the intake passage. A shaft supports the valve. A bearing supports the shaft. A hose is connected with an upper side of the housing in the vertical direction and configured to lead intake air into the intake passage. A communication passage configured to communicate an inside of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle with the hose. The communication passage has an opening in the vicinity of a point directly above the bearing. The hose has a wall surface defining a condensate passage, which connects the opening with a target location from which condensate is to be dropped. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120011958 | PEDAL DEVICE - A pedal device includes a housing; a pedal arm rotatably supported by the housing; a biasing portion biasing the pedal arm; and a stopper having a contact face to contact an edge of an opening of the housing. The pedal arm passes through the opening of the housing. The stopper has a groove extending from the contact face, and the groove is inclined downward in a gravity direction, when the housing is mounted to a vehicle and when the contact face of the stopper contacts the edge of the housing. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120011122 | APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING GETTING-IN RECORD AND GETTING-OFF RECORD OF VEHICLE, AND METHOD OF THE SAME - An apparatus for connecting getting-in and off records of a vehicle includes: a driving information memory unit for storing getting-in and off records having a pair of getting-in and getting-off records, each of which represents a getting-in or off time and place; a grouping unit for grouping the getting-in or off records representing a same getting-in or off time zone and place, so that segmentalized getting-in or off groups are generated; a connecting unit for searching a segmentalized getting-in group connected to one segmentalized getting-off group, and for storing connection information between a searched segmentalized getting-in group and the one segmentalized getting-off group; and an estimating unit for specifying a getting-off time and a getting-off point when the getting-off action of the driver is detected, and estimating a getting-in time for a next driving according to the connection information. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120010773 | DRIVING DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND PROGRAM FOR SAME - When an accelerator is put in an OFF state to decelerate a vehicle and perform inertia travel with supply of fuel being cut off, measurement of an accelerator OFF lapse time is started. When a travel speed falls down to be lower than a pre-stop speed, a measured lapse time is stored in a memory, with the measurement of the lapse time being further continued. After finishing a travel of a downward slope, the travel speed is reduced to fall down to the pre-stop speed again, a lapse time continuously measured up to that time is updated in the memory. When the travel speed falls to a stop speed, the measurement of the lapse time is finished and the continuously-measured lapse time is determined as a required stop time of the vehicle. As the required stop time increases, driving is diagnosed as being fuel-efficient. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120008282 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE INCLUDING SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGES STACKED ON ONE ANOTHER - The semiconductor device includes a plurality of semiconductor packages stacked on one another. Each semiconductor package includes a main current electrode terminal disposed in a case section of the semiconductor package, the main current electrode terminal being exposed outside the case section to be electrically connected to an external power supply. The main current electrode terminal extends in the stack direction of the semiconductor packages, and embedded in the case section at a surface portion thereof facing an external surface of the case section. Both end surface portions of the main current electrode terminal in the stack direction respectively reach end surface portions of the case section in the stack direction so that the main current electrode terminals of each adjacent two of the semiconductor packages are in contact with each other when the semiconductor packages are stacked on one another in the stack direction. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120007724 | REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM AND MOBILE DEVICE - A remote control system includes a mobile device and a receiver connected to a control target. The mobile device includes an input unit accepting user's input operation; an operation signal transmission unit wirelessly transmitting an operation signal corresponding to the input operation during the input operation; a frequency switching determination unit determining whether to switch the transmission frequency band from a first frequency band to a second frequency band based on at least any one of a manner of the input operation and a state of wireless communication; and a transmission frequency switching unit switching the transmission frequency band when the frequency switching determination unit determines to switch the transmission frequency band. The receiver includes an operation signal reception unit receiving the operation signal; and a control unit controlling the control target on the basis of the received operation signal. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120007568 | ROTARY ELECTRIC MACHINE IMPROVED TO CARRY OUT LOAD-DUMP PROTECTION - A rectifying unit rectifies an alternating current voltage induced across each of at least two-phase stator windings. A turn-on unit monitors an output voltage of the rectifying unit, and turns on a switching element as a low-side rectifying element for at least one of the at least two-phase stator windings when the output voltage exceeds a first threshold voltage due to load dump. After the output voltage, which exceeded the first threshold voltage once, falls below a second threshold voltage, a turnoff unit waits for turnoff of the switching element until a turnoff time suited for preventing occurrence of a surge across the at least one of the at least two-phase stator windings appears. The second threshold voltage is set to be lower than the first threshold voltage. The turnoff unit turns off, at the appearance of the turnoff time, the switching element. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120007554 | VEHICULAR CHARGE APPARATUS - A vehicular charge apparatus for externally charging an in-vehicle battery of a vehicle includes a charger. The charger includes an in-charger detection section, which detects a charge needed state of a subject vehicle prior to a charge connection of a charger connector of the charger to an in-vehicle charge inlet of the subject vehicle. In the charge needed state, an electric charge is necessary for the vehicle. When the charge needed state of the subject vehicle is determined, a charger controller of the charger begins a charge preparation operation needed in the charger while transmitting charge information that indicates that the subject vehicle is in the charge needed state via an in-charger communicator to an in-vehicle communicator. When the in-vehicle communicator receives the charge information, a charge preparation section of the subject vehicle begins a charge preparation operation necessary in the subject vehicle. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120007463 | STATOR FOR ELECTRIC ROTATING MACHINE - A stator for an electric rotating machine includes a stator core that has an annular yoke portion, a plurality of tooth portions, a plurality of connecting portions and a plurality of slots. The tooth portions are separately formed from and assembled to the yoke portion. Each of the tooth portions extends radially inward from a radially inner periphery of the yoke portion. The tooth portions are arranged in the circumferential direction of the yoke portion at predetermined intervals. Each of the connecting portions circumferentially extends to connect a corresponding circumferentially-adjacent pair of the tooth portions. Each of the slots is formed between a circumferentially-adjacent pair of the tooth portions. Moreover, each of the slots is partitioned by a corresponding one of the connecting portions into a radially-outer section and a radially-inner section. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120007462 | Stator for rotary electric machine and rotary electric machine using same | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120007173 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE SAME - A semiconductor device includes: a substrate; multiple first and second conductive type regions on the substrate for providing a super junction structure; a channel layer on the super junction structure; a first conductive type layer in the channel layer; a contact second conductive type region in the channel layer; a gate electrode on the channel layer via a gate insulation film; a surface electrode on the channel layer; a backside electrode on the substrate opposite to the super junction structure; and an embedded second conductive type region. The embedded second conductive type region is disposed in a corresponding second conductive type region, protrudes into the channel layer, and contacts the contact second conductive type region. The embedded second conductive type region has an impurity concentration higher than the channel layer, and has a maximum impurity concentration at a position in the corresponding second conductive type region. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120006595 | BUS BAR MODULE - A bus bar module, which is electrically connected to a power terminal of an at least one semiconductor module having a semiconductor element, includes at least one bus bar made of a conductor, and a sealing member made of resin which seals part of the bus bar. The bus bar has at least one welded plate including an at least one welded part welded to the power terminal, and a held plate held by the sealing member. Part of the held plate configures a sealed part sealed with the sealing member. At least one slit is formed between the welded plate and the held plate. The welded plate and the held plate are connected to each other at a predetermined position farther from the sealed part than from the at least one welded part. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120006153 | POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - An output shaft is arranged to be lateral and parallel to engine input shafts and a motor input shaft. An engine side gear mechanism for transmitting a power of the engine input shafts to the output shaft is provided. A motor side gear mechanism for transmitting a power of the motor input shaft to the output shaft is provided. An input side clutch engages and disengages the engine input shafts and the motor input shaft. When the input side clutch is engaged, the power transmission between a position where the engine side gear mechanism is arranged on the engine input shafts and a position where the motor side gear mechanism is arranged on the motor input shaft is invariably possible. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120006145 | PEDAL APPARATUS - A friction washer ( | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120006099 | GAS SENSOR ELEMENT AND GAS SENSOR - A gas sensor element of the present invention detects concentration of a specific gas within a measured gas. The gas sensor element comprises: a wiring layer formed inside a sensor; an insulating layer covering a front surface of the wiring layer; an electrode terminal provided on a main surface of the insulating layer on an opposite side of the insulating layer from the wiring layer, and electrically connected to the wiring layer; and an intermediate layer interposed between the electrode terminal and the wiring layer, and electrically connecting the electrode terminal and the wiring layer. The electrode terminal is composed of a first metal material. The wiring layer is composed of a second metal material. The intermediate layer is composed of whichever of the first metal material and the second metal material has the lower melting point. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120004908 | VOICE RECOGNITION TERMINAL - A voice recognition terminal executes a local voice recognition process and utilizes an external center voice recognition process. The terminal includes: a voice message synthesizing element for synthesizing at least one of a voice message to be output from a speaker according to the external center voice recognition process and a voice message to be output from the speaker according to the local voice recognition process so as to distinguish between characteristics of the voice message to be output from the speaker according to the external center voice recognition process and characteristics of the voice message to be output from the speaker according to the local voice recognition process; and a voice output element for outputting a synthesized voice message from the speaker. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120004839 | DRIVING ASSISTANCE APPARATUS - A driving assistance apparatus mounted to a vehicle is provided. The driving assistance apparatus includes: an information acquisition component configured to acquire information on at least one of a route condition in a predetermined region of a future travel path of the vehicle, a present vehicle condition, and a past operation condition; a prediction component configured to predict, based on the information acquired by the information acquisition component, whether fuel efficiency of the vehicle is degraded in the future travel path; and a notification component configured to notify an operation for improvement of the fuel efficiency of the vehicle to an occupant of the vehicle in advance in cases where the fuel efficiency of the vehicle is predicted to be degraded in the future travel path. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120004810 | Vehicle-use safety control apparatus - The vehicle-use safety control apparatus is configured to operate on electric power supplied from a vehicle battery mounted on a vehicle through at least one of a first electric power supply path interposed with an ignition switch of the vehicle, and a second electric power supply path interposed with a changeover switch. The vehicle-use safety control apparatus includes a running state information acquiring means to acquire running state information on whether the vehicle is running or stopped, and a switch control means to change an on/off state of the changeover switch in accordance with the running state information received from the running state acquiring means. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120003916 | Ventilating device - A ventilating device includes a housing; a gas concentration detector; a passage portion defining an outside air passage and an inside air passage; a permeable membrane disposed at an interface between the outside air passage and the inside air passage; an air sending portion to generate at least one of a flow of outside air in the outside air passage and a flow of inside air in the inside air passage; and a controller. The controller controls at least one of the flow of inside air and the flow of outside air by controlling the air sending portion, based on a gas concentration of a predetermined gas detected by the gas concentration detector. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120003420 | HONEYCOMB STRUCTURE BODY AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME - A honeycomb structure body has a honeycomb base body and a pair of electrodes composed of conductive ceramic layers and intermediate layers. The honeycomb base body made of porous ceramics containing SiC is comprised of a cell formation part and an outer peripheral part. The outer peripheral part covers the cell formation part. Each electrode is comprised of a conductive ceramic layer and an intermediate layer. The conductive ceramic layers containing SiC, Si and C are formed at two opposite positions on the outer peripheral part observed from a diameter direction. The intermediate layers containing SiC, Si and C are formed in the outer peripheral part at the parts which face the conductive ceramic layers. The honeycomb structure body satisfies a relationship of 0.5≦t/T≦1, where “t” indicates the thickness of the intermediate layer and “T” indicates the thickness of the outer peripheral part. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120002843 | DROWSINESS ASSESSMENT DEVICE AND PROGRAM - Local maxima values and local minima values are derived from eyelid openness time series data in a segment in which a continuous closed eye period of extracted blinks is a specific time duration (for example 1 second) or longer. When plural local minima values are present in the segment of continuous closed eye period of 1 second or longer, blinks are extracted passing over and back through each variable closed eye threshold value of a variable closed eye threshold that is slid in a direction from the derived local maxima value towards the local minima value in set steps to a low value, and a inter-blink interval derived. Determination is made that a blink burst has occurred when the derived inter-blink interval is 1 second or less, and say greater than 0.2 seconds, thereby detecting a blink burst. Blink bursts can be detected with good precision, and the state of drowsiness can be assessed with good precision. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001769 | ROADSIDE DETECTION SYSTEM, DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM AND ROADSIDE DETECTING METHOD - A roadside detection system installed in a vehicle to detect a roadside of a road on which the vehicle travels includes detection results acquiring means, first edge line detecting means and second edge line detecting means. The detection results acquiring means emits light waves or electromagnetic waves to a target detection region in which an object to be measured is detected and acquires an objective distance and a reflection intensity, for each of separate regions obtained by separating the target detection region into a plurality of divisions. The first edge line detecting means detects a first edge line that is a candidate of a roadside based on each objective distance. The second edge line detecting means detects a second edge line that is a candidate of a roadside based on each reflection intensity. A driver assistance system and a roadside detecting method are also provided. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001746 | Vehicular electric charge control apparatus and emergency notification system - A charge control apparatus includes a main control unit and a power source control unit. The main control unit acquires time-divided temperature information, which corresponds to a predetermined period covering the present time, based on present time information and the time-divided temperature information indicating a location temperature of a backup battery in each predetermined period. The main control unit determines a charge/discharge amount of the backup battery based on the time-divided temperature information and a residual charge amount of the backup battery. The power source control unit controls the backup battery by charging and discharging in accordance with the determined charge/discharge amount. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001742 | OBSTACLE SEARCH SYSTEM - An obstacle search system includes an operation unit for accepting a direction input operation by an occupant of a vehicle and a displacement sensor for detecting displacement of the operation unit according to the direction input operation, for moving a detection enabled area of an obstacle detector. Based on the movement of the detection enabled area of the obstacle detector, the occupant is supported to correctly recognize a positional relationship between the vehicle and the obstacle and to effectively reduce the number of unnecessary obstacle detections. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001639 | VOLTAGE MONITOR - A first monitor circuit | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001598 | ROTARY ELECTRIC MACHINE IMPROVED TO CARRY OUT LOAD-DUMP PROTECTION - In a rotary electric machine, a load-dump protector turns on a switching element as a low-side rectifying element for at least one of plural-phase stator windings when the output voltage exceeds a first threshold voltage due to load dump. The load dump protector determines a turnoff timing of the switching element as the low-side rectifying element for the at least one of the plural-phase stator windings after the output voltage, which exceeded the first threshold voltage once, falls below a second threshold voltage. The second threshold voltage is set to be lower than the first threshold voltage. The load dump protector turns off, at the determined turnoff timing, the switching element as the low-side rectifying element for the at least one of the at least two-phase stator windings. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001547 | Lighting control apparatus with diagnosis and warning feature - A lighting control apparatus for a vehicle is provided which works to diagnose a malfunction of a light source which includes a plurality of lighting devices such as LEDs and emits light outside the vehicle. The lighting control apparatus determines a state of the vehicle. When the light source is determined to be malfunctioning, the lighting control apparatus operates the light source in one of predetermined warning lighting modes which is selected based on the state of the vehicle. This attracts a vehicle user's attention to the malfunctioning light source. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001516 | STATOR FOR ELECTRIC ROTATING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A stator includes an annular stator core and a stator coil. In each of slots of the stator core, there are received a predetermined number of in-slot portions of the stator coil in alignment with each other in a radial direction of the stator core. Each of side surfaces of tooth portions of the stator core includes, at its radially inner end, an oblique surface that extends obliquely with respect to the radial direction. The oblique surfaces are shaped so that for each of the slots, the circumferential width of the slot is decreased in the radially inward direction in that part of the slot which is located between a corresponding pair of the oblique surfaces. For each of the slots, the in-slot portion which is located radially innermost in the slot is held at a predetermined radial position by the corresponding pair of the oblique surfaces. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001515 | STATOR FOR ELECTRIC ROTATING MACHINE - A stator includes an annular stator core that is comprised of a plurality of stator core segments, an outer ring that is fitted on the radially outer surfaces of the stator core segments so as to fasten them together, and a stator coil mounted on the stator core. Each of the stator core segments is formed of a plurality of stator core sheets that are laminated in the axial direction of the stator core. Each of the stator core sheets has a reinforcement portion that includes a recess formed in one of the major surfaces of the stator core sheet and a protrusion formed on the other major surface. The stator core sheets are laminated so that for each adjoining pair of the stator core sheets, the protrusion of one of the stator core sheets is fitted in the recess of the other stator core sheet. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001349 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR MODULES AND SEMICONDUCTOR MODULE - A semiconductor module having an integrated structure is manufactured by mounting a semiconductor chip on the side of a surface of a cooling plate via an insulating material, and by molding the semiconductor chip and the cooling plate by a resin-molded member. This method includes the steps of: (a) forming a sprayed insulating film as the insulating material on a surface of the cooling plate; (b) forming a sprayed conductive film on a face of the sprayed insulating film opposite to a face where the cooling plate is provided; (c) checking whether the sprayed conductive film is insulated from the cooling plate by using the sprayed conductive film and the cooling plate as electrodes and applying voltage therebetween; and (d) mounting the semiconductor chip on the upper side of the sprayed conductive film when the sprayed conductive film is insulated, and then resin-molding the semiconductor chip and the cooling plate. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001341 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - The semiconductor device has a unit stack body including a plurality of units stacked on one another. Each unit includes a power terminal constituted of a lead part and a connection part. The connection part is formed with a projection and a recess. When the units are stacked on one another, the projection of one unit is fitted to the recess of the adjacent unit, so that the power terminals of the respective unit are connected to one another. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001318 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor device includes a package and a cooler. The semiconductor package includes a semiconductor element, a metal member, and a molding member for encapsulating the semiconductor element and the metal member. The metal member has a metal portion thermally connected to the semiconductor element, an insulating layer on the metal portion, and a conducting layer on the insulating layer. The conducting layer is at least partially exposed outside the molding member and serves as a radiation surface for radiating heat of the semiconductor element. The cooler has a coolant passage through which a coolant circulates to cool the conducting layer. The conducting layer and the cooler are electrically connected together. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001308 | SEMICONDUCTOR MODULE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - In a semiconductor module, a first heat sink is disposed on a rear surface of a first semiconductor chip constituting an upper arm, and a second heat sink is disposed on a front surface of the first semiconductor chip through a first terminal. A third heat sink is disposed on a rear surface of a second semiconductor chip constituting a lower arm, and a fourth heat sink is disposed on a front surface of the second semiconductor chip through a second terminal. A connecting part for connecting between the upper arm and the lower arm is integral with the first terminal, and is connected to the third heat sink while being inclined relative to the first terminal. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001278 | SEMICONDUCTOR PHYSICAL QUANTITY SENSOR - A semiconductor physical quantity sensor includes a sensor chip, a support member for fixing the sensor chip to a fixing position and an adhesive bonding the sensor chip with the support member. The sensor chip includes a semiconductor substrate and a chip base supporting the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is provided with a sensing portion for detecting a physical quantity. The chip base is bonded with the support member through the adhesive. The adhesive is provided by a mixture of an adhesive base material mainly made of a resin and a granular material mainly made of a cross-linked resin. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001111 | VALVE CONTROL APPARATUS - A rotational moving point of a connection between a rod and a valve swings between a full open point, at which the valve is fully opened, and a full close point, at which the valve is fully closed. An apex of this swing is set at a point, which is between the full close point and a half point and satisfies a relationship of θP>θA where θP denotes an angle that is defined between a first imaginary line, which connects between a bearing center of a rod bearing and the full open point, and a second imaginary line, which connects between the bearing center and the apex of the swing, and θA denotes an angle that is defined between the first imaginary line and a third imaginary line, which connects between the bearing center and the full close point. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001107 | Solenoid valve - A solenoid valve has a tapered valve seat disposed between a first flow passage and a second flow passage, a reduced diameter side of the valve seat that is connected with the first flow passage, and a valve body having a closing portion that reduces its diameter toward a tip facing the valve seat. The first flow passage and the second flow passage are connected/disconnected by sliding the valve body for contacting/detaching the closing portion to the valve seat, and a groove is disposed on the closing portion facing the direction of a fluid flow. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001105 | VALVE CONTROL APPARATUS AND ELECTRIC DRIVING APPARATUS - A valve control apparatus is provided with a valve, a shaft supporting the valve, an end-gear of an actuator driving the valve. The shaft is press-inserted into the end-gear. A stopper disposed on the shaft regulates a valve operation range. The end-gear can engage with the middle gear of the reduction-gears mechanism even in out of the gear-operation-angle range. When a rotation angle sensor detects a rotation angle of the end-gear in out of the gear-operation-angle range, it is determined that a malfunction occurs in a rotation-force-transmitting path. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001104 | VALVE CONTROL APPARATUS - A magnetic sensing surface of a stroke sensor is placed in an angular range between a first imaginary line and a second imaginary line. The first imaginary line is an imaginary line that coincides with a center line between first and second magnets of a magnetic movable body when a wastegate valve is placed to have a full close degree of the wastegate valve. The second imaginary line is an imaginary line that coincides with the center line between the first and second magnets when the wastegate valve is placed to have a half degree between the full close degree and a full open degree of the wastegate valve. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120000766 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SCANDIUM ALUMINUM NITRIDE FILM - A method for manufacturing a scandium aluminum nitride film includes: sputtering a scandium aluminum alloy target under atmosphere including nitrogen gas so that a thin film is deposited on a substrate. Since the scandium aluminum nitride film is manufactured with using one alloy target, a composition of the film is maintained even when the sputtering time is long. Further, the above method is capable of being performed by a mass production sputtering apparatus. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120000555 | FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM - A fuel supply system includes a fuel pump, a storing part, an injection nozzle, a communication part, a first fuel source, a second fuel source, and a fuel transfer passage part. The storing part stores fuel, which is drawn from a suction port. Part of fuel discharged from a discharge port is injected through the nozzle. The communication part communicates between the nozzle and the storing part. The communication part includes a first opening and a second opening, which are formed at positions where negative pressure is generated as a result of the injection of fuel through the nozzle. Fuel is drawn through the first and second openings, and is guided into the storing part through the communication part. The fuel flowing into the second opening is stored in the first source. The fuel stored in the second source is transferred into the first opening through the passage part. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120000484 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - In a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, a depression is formed in a semiconductor substrate made of silicon or silicon compound semiconductor, and foreign substances including a protection layer in the depression is removed with a cleaning solution. The cleaning solution includes a mixed solution of hydrogen peroxide water to which a chelator is added, a basic solution, and water. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120000363 | Air filter device - An air filter device includes a permeation film arranged at a boundary portion between an outside air passage and an inside air passage, such that one side surface of the permeation film is exposed to outside air in the outside air passage and the other side surface of the permeation film is exposed to inside air in the inside air passage. The permeation film is configured such that specific gas passes through the permeation film between the outside air passage and the inside air passage. Furthermore, a turbulent flow generation portion is provided to generate a turbulent flow in at least one of the outside air flowing through near the one side surface of the permeation film and the inside air flowing through near the other side surface of the permeation film. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120000309 | RANGE SENSING APPARATUS - A housing slidably guides a slider, which is driven in response to selection of a shift range of an automatic transmission. Upper and lateral sides of a movable range of the slider are covered with the housing. Thereby, application of hydraulic fluid and foreign objects to guide rails is limited to limit malfunction of the slider. Furthermore, even when the hydraulic fluid and foreign objects adhere to the guide rails, the hydraulic fluid and foreign objects can be collected at ends of the movable range of the slider and can be expelled to an outside of the housing through open ends of the housing. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20110320107 | Fuel Injection Control Device for Engine - A fuel injection control device for an engine executes a split injection constructed by a fixed injection and a variable injection. A required injection amount of the fixed injection is set in a low range. A required injection amount of the variable injection is set in a high range. An injection amount in the high range is larger than that of the low range. The required injection amount of the variable injection is changed within the high range while the required injection amount of the fixed injection is fixed when a load of the engine is varied while the split injection is performed. An injection control characteristic is corrected based on an actual air-fuel ratio detected before the load is varied and an actual air-fuel ratio detected after the load is varied. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110318884 | PRODUCTION METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR MODULE WITH RESIN-MOLDED ASSEMBLY OF HEAT SPREADER AND SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP - A method of producing a semiconductor module which includes a resin molded package and a coolant passage is provided. The resin molded package is made up of a thermosetting resin-made mold and a thermoplastic resin-made mold. The resin molded package is formed by making the thermoplastic resin-made mold, placing the thermoplastic resin-made mold and a semiconductor sub-assembly made up of a power semiconductor chip, heat spreaders, terminals, etc., and then forming the thermosetting resin-made mold. Specifically, the thermosetting resin-made mold is made after the thermoplastic resin-made mold, thereby creating a high degree of adhesion of the thermosetting resin-made mold to the thermoplastic resin-made mold before the thermosetting resin-made mold is hardened completely, thereby forming firmly an adhered interface between the thermosetting resin-made mold and the thermoplastic resin-made mold. This minimizes the risk of occurrence of air gaps at the adhered interface and avoids the leakage of the coolant outside the resin molded package. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110317366 | FIXING STRUCTURE AND FIXING METHOD OF CIRCUIT BOARD WITH EMBEDDED ELECTRONIC PARTS TO COOLER - In a fixing structure of a circuit board to a cooler, the circuit board includes a wiring part, electronic parts electrically connected to the wiring part and an insulating base material embedding the wiring part and the electronic parts therein. The insulating base material includes embedding portions in which the electronic parts are embedded and a bent portion having flexibility between the embedding portions. The cooler has fixing parts arranged in a first direction. The circuit board is fixed to the cooler while bending the bent portion. The bent portion is opposed to an end portion of one of the fixing parts, and each of the embedding portions is held between adjacent two fixing parts such that opposite surfaces of the embedding portion are closely in contact with surfaces of the adjacent two fixing parts. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110316879 | Display apparatus for vehicle - A vehicular display apparatus is disclosed. A display screen has first and second display areas for displaying first and second images generated by first and second drawing units, respectively. The apparatus displays a pointer image on an active area, which is one of the first and second display areas. In response to an input of user movement request for moving the pointer image into an inner edge portion of the active area, the apparatus switches the active area from the one of the first and second to the other, and switches the one into an inactive area, and the second drawing unit starts superimposing the pointer image on the other, and the first drawing unit stops superimposing the pointer image on the one. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110316686 | OBSTACLE POSITION INDICATING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM - An obstacle position indicating apparatus is disclosed. In the apparatus, multiple actuators are arranged in a periphery of a conduction plate so as to give an external force to an end of the conduction plate in a planer direction of the conduction plate. A drive control component determines a ratio of magnitude of amplitude of designated two actuators in accordance with information on a direction to an obstacle and causes the designated two actuators to perform reciprocating motion in accordance with the determined ratio. The conduction plate conducts the vibration, which results from the reciprocating motion of the designated two actuators, to a hand of an occupant touching the conduction plate, thereby providing the occupant with the information on the direction to the obstacle. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110316466 | Motor drive apparatus and method, and electric power steering system using the same - When failure of an inverter or a coil set of one system of a motor drive apparatus having two systems, is detected, a power supply relay of the failing system is interrupted. At the same time, a control circuit sets a same maximum current limitation value as set before detection of failure. When an IG switch is in an ON-state and a steering toque detection value exceeds a predetermined threshold value thereafter, a vibration component, which has a predetermined amplitude and frequency, is added to a current command value so that a steering wheel is vibrated in a direction of rotation so that a driver is cautioned to notice the failure surely. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110316388 | ULTRASONIC SENSOR - An ultrasonic sensor is disclosed. The ultrasonic sensor includes a piezoelectric element and an acoustic matching member. The piezoelectric element is configured to detect ultrasonic wave transmitted from a transmitter and reflected by a detection target object located in a detection target space. The acoustic matching member is configured to conduct the received ultrasonic wave to the piezoelectric element. The piezo electric element is covered with the acoustic matching member including a principal oscillation portion and a supplement oscillation portion. Thickness of a part of the supplement oscillation portion, the part covering the piezoelectric element, is smaller than a predetermined thickness threshold. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110316367 | ROTARY ELECTRIC MACHINE WITH IMPROVED COOLING CAPABILITY - In a rotary electric machine, a stator coil includes in-slot portions each contained in a corresponding one of slots of a stator core. The stator coil includes turn portions each connecting one end of a corresponding one of the in-slot portions projecting from one axial end of the stator core with one end of a corresponding alternative one of the in-slot portions projecting the one axial end of the stator core. The turn portions provide an end portion of the stator coil. A coolant guide is placed to cover a circumferential outer part of the end portion of the stator coil from radially outside thereof and provided with holes therethrough. The coolant guide guides a coolant therealong in a circumferential direction of the end portion of the stator coil while guiding, through the holes, a part of the coolant to the end portion of the stator coil. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110316143 | SEMICONDUCTOR MODULE WITH COOLING MECHANISM AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF - A semiconductor module is provided which includes a semiconductor unit which is made by a resin mold. The resin mold has formed therein a coolant path through which a coolant flows to cool a semiconductor chip embedded in the resin mold. The resin mold also includes heat spreaders, and electric terminals embedded therein. Each of the heat spreaders has a fin heat sink exposed to the flow of the coolant. The fin heat sink is welded to a surface of each of the heat spreaders through an insulator, thus minimizing an electrical leakage from the heat spreader to the coolant. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110316142 | SEMICONDUCTOR MODULE WITH RESIN-MOLDED PACKAGE OF HEAT SPREADER AND POWER SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP - A semiconductor module is provided which includes a resin molded package which is made by a resinous mold assembly. The resin molded package is clamped by covers through a fastener to make the semiconductor module. The resinous mold assembly has formed therein a coolant path that is a portion of a coolant passage through which a coolant flows to coal a semiconductor chip embedded in the resin molded package. The resinous mold assembly is made up of a first mold and a second mold. The first mold has the semiconductor chip, heat spreaders, and electric terminals embedded therein. The second mold is wrapped around an outer periphery of the first mold. The second mold is made of resin which is lower in softening temperature than that of the first mold, thereby facilitating ease of removing the first mold from the resin molded package for reusing the resin molded package. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110315909 | CONSTANT-RESIDUAL-PRESSURE VALVE - A constant-residual-pressure valve is disposed in a communication passage connecting a high-pressure fuel passage through which pressurized fuel flows with a low-pressure fuel passage through which the fuel flows toward a high-pressure pump. The constant-residual-pressure valve includes a valve body, a spring, and a spring stopper. The valve body can sit on a valve seat formed in an inner passage. The spring biases the valve body toward the valve seat. The spring stopper has a downstream-orifice of which flow passage area is smaller than that of a passage upstream of the valve seat. Thereby, cavitation between the valve body and the valve seat is less generated. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110315470 | Motor drive apparatus and method, and electric power steering system using the same - When an inverter or a coil set of one system fails in a motor drive apparatus having two power supply systems, a power supply relay of a failing system is turned off. In this case, while a travel speed detection value is less than a predetermined threshold value, current supply to a motor by the other system operating normally is stopped to thereby stop driving of the motor and generate no steering assist torque. Thus, a driver will be caused to surely notice occurrence of failure. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110315469 | Motor drive apparatus and electric power steering system using the same - When an inverter or a coil set of one system in a motor drive apparatus having two systems fails, a power supply relay of a failing system interrupts power supply and a control circuit gradually reduces a current supply limitation value of a normal system to zero. Then when a steering torque becomes greater than a predetermined threshold value, the control circuit increases the current supply limitation value by a predetermined amount. By reducing the current supply limitation value to zero once and then gradually increasing the current supply limitation value to generate steering assist torque, a driver will be caused to sense changes in the steering torque and surely notice occurrence of failure. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110315104 | VARIABLE VALVE TIMING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR - A variable valve timing device for an internal combustion engine includes: a variable valve timing mechanism that changes a valve timing; and a phase limiting mechanism that locks a rotational phase between a housing rotor and a vane rotor at an intermediate phase. The phase limiting mechanism engages a first limiting pin with a first engaging groove and engages a second limiting pin with a second engaging groove to lock the housing rotor to the vane rotor. A retard-side side surface of an engaging hole is configured so as to be able to adjust a clearance between the second limiting pin and the retard-side side surface when the first limiting pin is engaged with a first advance end portion. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110315005 | Pressure Relief Valve and High Pressure Pump with Such Valve - A valve member of a pressure relief valve has a shaft portion, a pressure receiving portion, and a guide portion, wherein the valve member is axially movable in a fuel return passage. When a forward end of the shaft portion is seated on a valve seta, the fuel return passage is closed, while the shaft portion is separated from the valve seat the fuel return passage is opened. A notched portion is formed at an outer wall of the guide portion to thereby form an outer-surface passage. A fuel inlet port is formed in the valve member for communicating a fuel inlet chamber to the fuel return passage at a downstream side of the valve member. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110314796 | PARTICULATE MATTER DETECTION SENSOR AND CONTROL DEVICE OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A particulate matter (PM) detection sensor is placed in an exhaust gas pipe of a diesel engine. The PM sensor element has a detection part composed of a pair of detection electrodes and a heater part. The detection electrodes and the heater part are stacked in the PM sensor element. A control circuit instructs a heater power supply to supply electric power to the heater part when the diesel engine is started to operate. The heater part heats the detection part at a predetermined temperature T | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110313728 | Fuel-Injector-Replacement Determining Device - A fuel-injector-replacement device obtains a learning value of characteristic data of an injector while an engine is running. The learning value stored in an ECU is updated into the learning value. When the engine is stopped, the characteristic data stored in an INJ-EEPROM are updated into the characteristic data stored in the ECU. When the engine is started, it is determined whether the characteristic data stored in the ECU agrees with the characteristic data stored in the INJ-EEPROM. When these data do not agree with each other, it is determined that the fuel-injector is improperly replaced without updating the characteristic data stored in the ECU. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110313640 | Control System Including Electronic Control Apparatus and Sensor Apparatuses Bus-Connected to Electronic Control Apparatus - The control system has a structure in which sensor apparatuses each having a data communication function are connected to an electronic control apparatus through a common communication line, and the sensors of the sensor apparatuses are connected to the electronic control apparatus through separate individual signal lines to transmit sensor signals to the electronic control apparatus. The electronic control apparatus is configured to, prior to transmitting communication data to one of the sensor apparatuses through the communication line, set the signal line connected to the selected sensor apparatus in a state in which the voltage of the signal line is outside a variation range corresponding to a voltage range of the sensor signal, and set the signal lines connected to the other sensor apparatuses to each of which the communication data is not addressed in a state in which the voltage of the signal line is within the variation range. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110313620 | Steering control apparatus - A VGRS device checks whether assist control of an EPS device for assisting steering operation of a steering wheel is being stopped. If the assist control of the EPS device is being stopped, a speed increase ratio is determined so that the rotation angle of the output shaft is less than the rotation angle of the input shaft. A VGRS motor is controlled and driven based on a determined speed increase ratio. Thus, steering operation of the steering wheel can be controlled appropriately so that the steering operation of the steering wheel can be continued with relatively small torque. It is less likely that a driver will erroneously feel that the steering wheel is locked. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110311385 | Vane Pump and Vapor Leakage Check System Having the Same - A vane pump includes a housing defining a pump chamber; a rotor rotatably arranged in the pump chamber; and a motor to rotate the rotor. An imaginary plane is defined to bisect the pump chamber in an axis direction. The housing has a first inlet port and a second inlet port located symmetrical with each other with respect to the imaginary plane, and the housing has a first outlet port and a second outlet port located symmetrical with each other with respect to the imaginary plane. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110310954 | PULSE WIDTH MODULATION COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - In a PWM communication system, a sensor unit transmits as reference pulses transmission signals, which exhibit duty cycles of 100% and 0%, respectively, prior to transmission of a transmission signal, which has data items compressed thereinto by a signal processing circuit. An input capture circuit of an ECU measures the duty time and the PWM cycle of the transmission signal according to a timer clock of a timer circuit. A signal processing circuit of the ECU produces a duty cycle correction factor k based on the measured duty times and PWM cycles of the reference pulses, produces receiving data based on the duty time and the PWM cycle of the transmission signal, and the duty cycle correction factor, and separates the receiving data into sensor output values of a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110310574 | Electronic control unit for vehicle - An electronic control unit includes: a box-shaped case having an opening face; a cover closing the opening face of the case; a board interposed between the case and the cover; and an electronic component mounted to the board. The board has corner portions respectively having mount holes passing through the board. A first side and a second side defining the corner portion therebetween are located on an outer periphery of the mount hole. The board has a slit extending on an imaginary line defined to extend from the first side to the second side. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110309840 | BATTERY ANOMALY DETERMINATION APPARATUS AND BATTERY ANOMALY WARNING APPARATUS - A memory stores information that stipulates a standard variable value of a battery residual quantity of a battery during an electric power supply in association with a consumed electric current. A battery anomaly determination apparatus specifies a standard variable value of the battery residual quantity corresponding to a total consumed electric current of loads connected with a battery mounted in a vehicle based on the information stored in the memory, and compares the specified standard variable value of the battery residual quantity with a detection value of the battery residual quantity of the battery mounted in the vehicle, thereby determining and warning an anomaly of the battery. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110309750 | Illuminant device with enhanced heat dissipation ability - An illuminant device designed to activate a light source selectively in a plurality of lighting modes. The illuminant device includes a plurality of circuit boards having thermal conductivity and a plurality of lighting circuits each of which is operable to activate the light source in a selected one of the lighting modes. The lighting circuits are mounted on the circuit boards so that when the light source is being activated, the circuit boards will be different in temperature thereof from each other due to heat generated in at least one of the lighting circuits which is activating the light source. The illuminant device also includes a connector which couples the lighting boards together to transfer the heat therebetween, thereby enhancing the dissipation of the heat. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110309464 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE INCLUDING CELL REGION AND PERIPHERAL REGION HAVING HIGH BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE STRUCTURE - A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and an electric field terminal part. The semiconductor substrate includes a substrate, a drift layer disposed on a surface of the substrate, and a base layer disposed on a surface of the drift layer. The semiconductor substrate is divided into a cell region in which a semiconductor element is disposed and a peripheral region that surrounds the cell region. The base region has a bottom face located on a same plane throughout the cell region and the peripheral region and provides an electric field relaxing layer located in the peripheral region. The electric field terminal part surrounds the cell region and a portion of the electric field relaxing layer and penetrates the electric field relaxing layer from a surface of the electric field relaxing layer to the drift layer. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110308774 | Apparatus having agitator for agitating fluid - An apparatus of a heat transfer circuit in which a heat transfer fluid with small particles circulates includes a container and an agitator. The container is located in a lower position of the apparatus in a vertical direction and defines a chamber where the heat transfer liquid passes when circulating in the heat transfer circuit. The agitator is located in the chamber to agitate the heat transfer fluid. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110308497 | Fuel-Pressure Waveform Detector - A fuel-pressure waveform detector has a detect-waveform obtaining unit for obtaining a multi-stage injection pressure waveform by means of a fuel-pressure sensor while performing a multi-stage fuel injection during one combustion cycle. A model waveform memory stores a reference model pressure waveform of when a single fuel injection is performed. A waveform extracting unit extracts a pressure waveform due to the subject fuel injection by subtracting the reference model pressure waveform from the multi-stage injection pressure waveform. A correction unit corrects the reference model pressure waveform in such a manner that its attenuation degree becomes larger as a fuel injection period of the subject fuel injection is longer. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110308355 | Adsorption agent for noble metal, method for manufacturing the same, and method for recovering noble metal - A noble metal adsorption agent includes algae or residue of algae having an amino group as a functional group. A noble metal is retrieved by a method including: adsorbing the noble metal on the noble metal adsorption agent; and retrieving the noble metal. The noble metal is solved in a liquid. Thus, by using the noble metal adsorption agent, the noble metal is selectively retrieved. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110307824 | Vehicular manipulation input apparatus - A vehicular manipulation input apparatus includes a display device and a remote manipulation device. A manipulation to a manipulation member of the manipulation device is enabled by several manipulation manners. One of the several manipulation manners is designated as a valid manipulation manner in the manipulation device according to a window displayed on a screen of the display device. The designated valid manipulation manner is suggested by not only a display on the screen of the display device, but also an ornament display portion arranged around the manipulation member of the manipulation device. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110307163 | CONTROLLER OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A controller performs compression self-ignition combustion control for combusting a mixture gas by injecting fuel into a cylinder in a negative valve overlapping period (NVO period), in which both of an exhaust valve and an intake valve are closed, and by causing self-ignition of the mixture gas using compression in a compression stroke. If knocking is detected during the above control, the controller performs knock suppression control for correcting a fuel injection quantity in the NVO period to suppress the knocking. If a pressure increase rate of cylinder pressure during the combustion is lower than a threshold value, the controller performs increase correction of the fuel injection quantity in the NVO period. If the pressure increase rate is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the controller performs decrease correction of the fuel injection quantity in the NVO period. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110307154 | BRAKING/DRIVING CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - A braking/driving control apparatus for a vehicle includes a basic control unit which calculates and outputs a target axle torque based on a target acceleration and a driving resistance of the vehicle and which determines an axle torque for a power train of the vehicle and an axle torque for a braking apparatus of the vehicle based on the calculated target axle torque, a sliding-down prediction determining unit which determines whether there is a possibility that the vehicle slides down rearwards on an uphill road, and a sliding-down preventing process executing unit which performs a process for reducing a possibility that the vehicle slides down, based on a determination result of the sliding-down prediction determining unit. After the sliding-down prediction determining unit determines that there is the possibility, the sliding-down preventing process executing unit controls the basic control unit to calculate and output the target axle torque so as to reach an axle torque which is obtained by reducing a predetermined positive amount form an estimated value of an axle torque necessary for the vehicle to achieve the target acceleration against the driving resistance. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110307123 | ELECTRIC POWER LINE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - An in-vehicle electric power line communication system includes: a pair of direct current electric power lines functioning as electrically equilibrated communication lines; multiple communication devices communicating with each other via the communication lines; and an ignition switch. Each communication device applies a high frequency signal to the communication lines so that equilibrium communication is performed. One communication line starts and stops supplying direct current electricity according to a status of the ignition switch. Each communication device detects an electric potential of the one communication line or a potential difference between the direct current electric power lines. Each communication device determines the operation status of the vehicle based on the electric potential or the potential difference. Each communication device performs the equilibrium communication according to the operation status of the vehicle. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110306338 | VEHICLE TERMINAL APPARATUS AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR VEHICLE TERMINAL APPARATUS - A vehicle terminal apparatus has a connection monitoring unit for monitoring a disconnection of a communication link between a wireless communication device and a portable terminal, considering an abnormal disconnection of the communication link as a link loss, considering a disconnection of the communication link by a disconnection process by the wireless communication device as a first disconnection, and considering a disconnection of the communication link by a disconnection process, by the portable terminal as a second disconnection; and a connection condition determination unit for determining a wireless connection condition of the wireless communication device based on a disconnection reason that accounts for a reason for disconnection and a pre-disconnection call condition that is a call condition of the portable terminal immediately before the disconnection when the disconnection of the communication link is detected by the connection monitoring unit. The vehicle terminal apparatus determines a recovery process of the communication link by appropriately considering the user convenience. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110306188 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SILICON CARBIDE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - In a manufacturing method of a silicon carbide semiconductor device, a semiconductor substrate made of single crystal silicon carbide is prepared, an amorphous layer is formed on a portion of the semiconductor substrate where an electrode is to be formed, a metal layer is formed on the amorphous layer, and the electrode including the metal layer and a silicide layer is formed by irradiating the metal layer with a laser light in such a manner that a part of the metal layer reacts with the amorphous layer and forms the silicide layer. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110305938 | Electrode layered product for cell and method for making the same - An electrode layered product for a cell includes a first electrode plate having a shape of a strip, a first separator having a shape of a strip, a second separator having a shape of a strip, a second electrode plate having a pectinate, tooth shape, and a third electrode plate having a pectinate, tooth shape. The first separator is stacked on one surface of the first plate. The second separator is stacked on the other surface of the first plate. The second plate is stacked on an opposite side of the first separator from the first plate. The second plate includes tooth sections and a joining section. The third plate is stacked on an opposite side of the second separator from the first plate. The third plate includes tooth sections and a joining section. The first and second separators and the first, second and third plates are bent in a zigzag manner. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110305601 | Electrical Heating Catalyzer Having Honeycomb Structure - A honeycomb body of a honeycomb structure is made of ceramic, and a plurality of electrodes are provided apart from one another on a surface of the honeycomb body. In the honeycomb body, energization is performed for each of a plurality of current paths Xa to Xc formed by the plurality of electrodes, thereby heating the honeycomb body. A controlling device detects heater current Ia, Ib, and IC that flow when a predetermined voltage is applied for each of the plurality of current paths Xa, Xb, and Xc, and controls an energization timing of each current path Xa to Xc based on the detection results. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110304947 | ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCH - An electromagnetic switch is provided which includes: a coil generating magnetomotive force; a frame accommodating the coil and generating a flux path; a resin cover covering an opening of the frame; and a current-supply terminal member energizing the coil. The current-supply terminal member includes: a blade-shaped terminal whose end is connected to the coil and whose another end is drawn out of the resin cover in the axial direction of the electromagnetic switch; and a plate-shaped external connection terminal whose end is joined to an end of the blade-shaped terminal and whose another end is drawn out in the direction intersecting the axial direction. A portion between the ends of the external connection terminal is insert-molded in a terminal anchor block provided with the resin cover. A female terminal of a power supply connector provided at an electric supply line is fitted and electrically connected to the external connection terminal. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110304941 | SWITCHING DEVICE - A switching device is provided which includes a switching element, and a current limiting circuit which limits current passing through the switching element when the current passing through the switching element exceeds a short-circuit detection threshold. The current limiting circuit limits the current passing through the switching element, until the current passing through the switching element becomes equal to or smaller than a current-limitation cancellation threshold which is smaller than the short-circuit detection threshold. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110304448 | ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A VIN storage electronic control unit stores a vehicle identification number (VIN). A standby RAM that holds data constantly with an electric power supplied by a battery stores failure diagnosis related information and a rewriting history flag. When the VIN storage electronic control unit rewrites the VIN upon receiving a request signal for rewriting the VIN, the standby RAM updates the rewriting history flag so as to switch into a set status indicating the rewriting is made. When receiving a request signal for eliminating the failure diagnosis related information, the failure diagnosis related information stored in the standby RAM is reset and the rewriting history flag is switched into a reset status. In addition, while the rewriting history flag is in the set status, a malfunction indicator lamp is turned on. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110304445 | Vehicle Presence Notification Apparatus - A vehicular horn device of an existing electromagnetic type is used as a dynamic speaker so as to generate a false engine sound. The shortage of a low-pitched sound in a parametric speaker device is complemented with a false engine sound which the vehicular horn device generates. Thereby, without need of mounting a large-sized dynamic speaker such as a woofer in a vehicle, a false engine sound is generated so as to model for a real engine sound. In addition, as the vehicle approaches a pedestrian, a sound tone of the false engine sound which the pedestrian hears changes, enabling the pedestrian to easily notice the approach or presence of the vehicle. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110304248 | ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE - An electronic control device includes: an accommodation element; a cover element; a connection element for fixing the cover element to the accommodation element; an extending protrusion extending and protruding to an outside from a contact portion between the cover element and the accommodation element; and a control element formed in the accommodation space. The extending protrusion includes a protrusion portion, which protrudes toward a bottom side or a cover element side and is formed to cover the contact portion. A clearance having predetermined dimensions is formed between the protrusion portion and one of an outer wall of the cover element and an outer wall of the accommodation element, which is near the contact portion. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110304245 | ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT - An electronic control unit is adapted to be in contact with and attached on an attachment object surface of a vehicle having thermal conductivity. The unit includes a thermally-conductive outer casing and an attachment surface. The outer casing accommodates a heat-generating electronic component. The attachment surface has a convex shape and is in contact with the attachment object surface. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110303860 | VALVE DRIVE APPARATUS - A final gear of a speed reducing mechanism and a magnet of a valve opening degree sensor are separately joined to a shaft, which is rotated integrally with a valve. The final gear and the magnet are arranged to satisfy at least one of θa>Θ-θswo and θb>θswc, where θa denotes a valve open side clearance that is a circumferential gap angle circumferentially measured between the magnet and an open side end part of the final gear, θb denotes a valve close side clearance that is a circumferential gap angle, which is circumferentially measured between the magnet and a close side end part of the final gear, Θ denotes a full open degree of the valve, θswo denotes a valve open sensing degree, and θswc denotes a valve close sensing degree. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110303479 | Steering control apparatus - A steering control apparatus acquires vibration torque, which is generated by vibration of a gear mechanism when a steering wheel is operated at a steering angle. By setting the acquired vibration torque as a torque difference, an EPS motor current command value is corrected based on the torque difference thereby to calculate a corrected EPS motor current command value. Rattling and vibration caused in the gear mechanism are suppressed from being transferred to the steering wheel through an input shaft so that a driver is released from uncomfortable feeling. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110303399 | Thermal diffuser and cooling apparatus for cooling heat source using the same - A thermal diffuser includes a plurality of thermally-conductive plates, each of which has a strip-like shape. The plurality of thermally-conductive plates is laminated onto one another in a plate-thickness direction of the strip-like shape to form a laminated body. Each of the plurality of thermally-conductive plates has thermal conductivities in a longitudinal direction and in a width direction of the strip-like shape better than a thermal conductivity in the plate-thickness direction. The thermally-conductive plates has sides, each of which extends in the longitudinal direction. The laminated body is formed such that the sides of the thermally-conductive plates form a plate surface of the laminated body, which surface extends in the plate-thickness direction that serves as a lamination direction, in which the thermally-conductive plates of the laminated body are laminated. A direction perpendicular to the plate surface corresponds to a thickness direction of the laminated body. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110303171 | VALVE TIMING CONTROLLER - A valve timing controller has a case which defines a fluid chamber therein. A magnetic viscosity fluid is enclosed in the fluid chamber. The magnetic viscosity fluid including magnetic particles and its viscosity varies according to a magnetic field applied thereto. A coil and a control circuit applies magnetic field to the magnetic viscosity fluid to variably control a viscosity thereof. A brake rotor is rotatably accommodated in the fluid chamber and receives a brake torque from the magnetic viscosity fluid according to the viscosity thereof. A phase adjusting mechanism is connected to the brake rotor for adjusting a relative rotational phase between the crankshaft and the camshaft according to the brake torque. When it is estimated that the engine will be started, the coil is energized to generated heat in the magnetic viscosity fluid. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110303170 | Valve Timing Adjusting Device - A sealing structure seals a clearance between a housing and a brake rotor. The housing defines a fluid chamber for sealing a magnetic viscous fluid inside. The brake rotor penetrates through the housing and generates brake torque by contacting the magnetic viscous fluid. The housing has a magnetic sleeve section and a magnetic screw section provided to the brake rotor. The magnetic sleeve section is continuous in a rotational direction of the brake rotor and generates a magnetic flux. The magnetic screw section is an external screw having a screw thread, which extends away from a fluid chamber side toward a phase adjusting mechanism side when traced in a rotational direction of the brake rotor. The magnetic flux is guided to the magnetic screw section through a sealing gap between the magnetic screw section and an inner peripheral section of the magnetic sleeve section. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110301913 | ROTATION ANGLE DETECTOR - A rotation angle detector is provided with a frame-shaped yoke which includes a first wall and a second wall in parallel. A rotation axis of a detection subject extends inside of the frame-shaped yoke. A magnetic flux vector is uniformed in a direction orthogonal to the first wall, whereby even if a position of a Hall element deviates, the detected magnetic flux density is less varied. A robustness of the detector is enhanced. A distance between the Hall element and a second inner surface of the second wall is shorter than that between the Hall element and a first inner surface of the first wall. A length of the second inner surface is longer than a length of the first inner surface. At a vicinity of the second wall, the area in which the magnetic flux vector is uniformed can be enlarged. Thus, the robustness is further enhanced. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110301846 | VEHICLE PERIMETER MONITOR - A vehicle perimeter monitor includes: a shooting device mounted on a vehicle for shooting an image of an outside of the vehicle; a controller including a detector and a generator, wherein the detector sets a detection line in a shot image, and detects a change amount of brightness of a picture cell on the detection line so that the detector detects movement of a moving object along with the detection line, and wherein the generator generates information display according to a detection result of the moving object; and a display for displaying the shot image and the information display. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110301810 | VEHICULAR INPUT MANIPULATION APPARATUS - A vehicular input manipulation apparatus has a target parameter switchover manipulating device and a setup changeover manipulating device in order to change setup contents of several control parameters for drive control of an in-vehicle apparatus. The target parameter switchover manipulating device executes switchover to designate one of the control parameters as a change target control parameter. The setup changeover manipulating device changes a setup content relative to the change target control parameter. When a control mode of the in-vehicle apparatus is changed into a predetermined control mode, a control circuit automatically enforces switchover relative to the change target control parameter by automatically replacing the control parameter, which has been designated as the change target control parameter, with an enforcement change target control parameter, which is a predetermined control parameter associated with the predetermined control mode. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110300421 | ELECTRIC POWER SOURCE DEVICE - An electric power source device has multiple layered battery cells which are electrically connected in series and/or in parallel. The battery cells are accommodated in a battery casing, which has a heat insulating structure at a portion surrounding the battery cells. The power source device further has a heating unit between lower surfaces of the battery cells and a bottom plate of the battery casing. A heat storage layer is further provided between the heating unit and the bottom plate for storing the heat generated at the heating unit. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110299243 | Power Conversion Apparatus - A power conversion apparatus is provided which includes a semiconductor module which include a switching element, a cooler which cools the semiconductor module, and has a pair of cylindrical pipes which introduce a cooling medium to a channel therein or discharge the cooling medium, a frame which holds the cooler, and a pair of clamps which fix the cylindrical pipes to the frame. Each of the clamps has a fastener portion which is fastened to the frame, and a pressing portion which presses the cylindrical pipe toward the frame. Each of the cylindrical pipes is held between a concave support portion, which is formed in the frame, and the clamp. Each of the cylindrical pipes is supported by two support surfaces of the concave support portion and the pressing portion of the clamp at three support points when viewing from the direction in which the cylindrical pipe extends. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110298653 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING AZIMUTH - A device for detecting an azimuth has a transmission array antenna having plural transmission antenna elements arrayed along an array axis and a receiving array antenna having plural receiving antenna elements arrayed along the array axis. A reception signal is acquired for each of channels by transmitting and receiving a search wave through each of the channels. The channels are arbitrary combinations of each of the transmission antenna elements and each of the receiving antenna elements. A first spatial frequency analysis is performed along the array axis of either ones of the transmission antenna elements and the receiving antenna elements using the reception signal. A second spatial frequency analysis is then performed along the array axis of the other ones of the antenna elements using results of the first spatial frequency analysis. An azimuth of a target is determined based on analysis results from the second spatial frequency analysis. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110298599 | Image generation apparatus - An image generation apparatus mounted to a vehicle to generate a display image to be displayed on a display device is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to: acquire a video signal of a main image that is generated by an in-vehicle apparatus as being smaller in the number of pixels than the display image; generate a complement image that compensates for a difference in the number of pixels between the display image and the main image; and combine the main image and the complement image, thereby generating the display image in which the main image and the complement image are placed side by side. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110298580 | IN-VEHICLE DEVICE CONTROL SYSTEM - In an in-vehicle device control system, an in-vehicle device is controlled based on a checkup result of checkup operation, in which a checkup about a portable device is performed by mutual communication of transmitting a request signal from a vehicle-side unit mounted on a vehicle and transmitting in return a response signal from the portable device in response to the request signal. If the checkup is unsuccessful, the mutual communication is performed again by switching the communication frequency to perform the checkup again. When a user operates a door lock sensor, the vehicle-side unit performs an exterior checkup first. If the checkup is successful, a communication frequency, by which the checkup was performed successfully, is stored in a memory. The vehicle-side unit sets the communication frequency stored in the memory as a communication frequency, which is to be designated to the portable device, for performing an interior checkup next time. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110298446 | CURRENT SENSOR, INVERTER CIRCUIT, AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING THE SAME - A semiconductor device having a lateral semiconductor element includes a semiconductor substrate, a first electrode on the substrate, a second electrode on the substrate, and an isolation structure located in the substrate to divide the substrate into a first island and a second island electrically insulated from the first island. The lateral semiconductor element includes a main cell located in the first island and a sense cell located in the second island. The main cell causes a first current to flow between the first electrode and the second electrode so that the first current flows in a lateral direction along the surface of the substrate. The first current is detected by detecting a second current flowing though the sense cell. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110298403 | Apparatus for carrying out improved control of rotary machine - In an apparatus, a norm setter sets, based on a request torque for a rotary machine and a rotational velocity of a rotor, a norm of a vector of an output voltage in a two-phase rotating coordinate system defined in the rotor. A phase setter sets, based on a deviation between a generated torque and the request torque, a phase of the vector of the output voltage of the power converter in the two-phase rotating coordinate system. A drive signal determiner determines, based on the norm set by the norm setter and the phase set by the phase setter, a drive signal, and applies the drive signal to a switching member to thereby drive the switching member such that the generated torque is adjusted to the request torque. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110297431 | CONNECTION STRUCTURE - A connection structure includes a circuit board and a terminal. The circuit board includes an insulation base member containing thermoplastic resin, and a wiring portion arranged in the insulation base member. The wiring portion has a conductor pattern and an interlayer connector electrically connected to the conductor pattern. The terminal is electrically connected to a part of the wiring portion, and has a first section arranged inside of the insulation base member. The first section of the terminal is tightly contact with the thermoplastic resin of the insulation base member, such that the terminal is connected to the circuit board. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110297133 | IGNITION COIL FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - An ignition coil for the internal combustion engine has a cylinder portion and a head portion. A pillar portion that forms a part of a ventilation passage that communicates inside and outside of a plug hole via a sealing member, and a cover portion that covers the pillar portion without blockading an upper opening of a ventilation opening of the pillar portion are formed on a side of the head portion. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110296946 | Pedal Apparatus for Vehicle and Manufacturing Method Thereof - A distal end portion of a pedal rod is press-fitted into a press-fitting hole, which is formed in a rotatable member. An intermediate portion of the pedal rod extends from and is bent relative to the distal end portion. The intermediate portion is received in a guide groove, which is formed in the rotatable member. An elongated portion of the pedal rod extends from the intermediate portion in a direction opposite from the distal end portion. A pad is provided to an end part of the elongated portion, which is opposite from the intermediate portion, and is adapted to receive a pedal force from a driver of a vehicle. The rotatable member includes a receiving hole that is adapted to receive a jig therethrough to enable the jig to contact the intermediate portion at time of press-fitting the distal end portion into the press-fitting hole. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110296904 | AIR FLOW RATE MEASURING DEVICE - An air flow rate measuring device includes a housing, a sensor assembly, and an urging mechanism. The housing defines an internal flow passage, through which air taken in by the device passes, and the housing includes a contact surface. The sensor assembly includes a sensor chip and a contact surface. The sensor chip is configured to generate an electrical signal through a heat transfer phenomenon. The sensor assembly is inserted and fixed in the housing such that the sensor chip is exposed to the internal flow passage. The contact surface of the sensor assembly is in surface contact with the contact surface of the housing. The urging mechanism is configured to press the contact surface of the sensor assembly on the contact surface of the housing, so that the sensor assembly is fixed to the housing by the urging mechanism. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110296340 | In-vehicle input system - An in-vehicle input system includes: a display device for displaying screen images having selection items; a selection operation device for moving a cursor from a first selection item to a second selection item to select and input the second selection item; a first image switching device for switching from a current level screen image to a lower level screen image when the selected second selection item is input; a second image switching device for switching from the current level screen image to an upper level screen image when the selection operation device selects and inputs a level return item of the selected second selection item disposed on a nearest screen edge side of the selected second selection item; and a level return item display device for emphasizing a display of the level return item when the second selection item is selected. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110295530 | FAULT DIAGNOSIS DEVICE FOR AMPLITUDE MODULATION DEVICE - The fault diagnosis device is for diagnosing presence of a fault in an amplitude modulation device which modulates an amplitude of a carrier wave signal to generate a modulated wave signal, comprising. The fault diagnosis device includes a sampling means to perform sampling of at least one of the carrier wave signal and the modulated wave signal at a period different from a period of the carrier wave signal, and a diagnosis means to perform diagnosis of presence of a fault in the amplitude modulation device based on sampled values outputted from the sampling means. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110295499 | NAVIGATION DEVICE - A navigation device includes: a map information memory; a current position detector; a route searching unit; a map image generating unit for generating a plan view map image including a current position and a destination; a display; and a display controller. The map image generating unit defines a tilt axis perpendicular to a straight line passing the current position and a certain point of a route not shown in the display, generates a transition result map image by tilting the plan view map image around the tilt axis to display the certain point, and generates a transition process map image between the plan view map image and the transition result map image. The display controller controls the display to switch from the plan view map image to the transition result map image via the transition process map image when a predetermined condition is satisfied. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110295479 | VEHICLE ENGINE CONTROLLER - If it is determined that a brake pedal is pressed while an accelerator pedal is pressed, accelerator position limit control for bringing an accelerator position for engine control to a limit value corresponding to vehicle speed is performed, thereby securing safety at the time when both of the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal are pressed. If it is determined that the accelerator pedal is pressed after the brake pedal is pressed, the accelerator position limit control is prohibited, thereby responding to driver's intention to accelerate. If it is determined that the pressing of the brake pedal is cancelled during execution of the accelerator position limit control, accelerator position recovery control for returning the accelerator position for the engine control to an actual accelerator position is performed, thereby recovering normal running corresponding to the driver's intention to accelerate. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110294705 | NOISE REDUCING GREASE COMPOSITION - The invention provides a grease composition capable of smoothly operating the lubricated parts even under wide-ranging temperature conditions, and at the same time, exhibiting excellent noise reducing effect on, the lubricated parts. The grease composition containing a base oil and a thickener is provided, wherein the base oil includes at least one first base oil selected from the group consisting of poly-α-olefins and ethylene-α-olefin oligomers and at least one second base oil selected from the group consisting of polybutene, polyisobutylene, polymethacrylate, and styrene based copolymers, with the first base oil being contained in an amount of 65 mass % or more and the second base oil being contained in an amount of 1 mass % or more and less than 35 mass % based on the total mass of the base oil, the base oil having a kinematic viscosity of 350 to 1400 mm | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110294403 | WAFER PROCESSING METHOD, WAFER POLISHING APPARATUS, AND INGOT SLICING APPARATUS - In a wafer processing method, an ingot is sliced into a wafer and the wafer is planarized by polishing a surface of the wafer. When the wafer is planarized, the wafer is disposed on a wafer holder and the wafer is rotated, a heat quantity is applied to a portion of the wafer so as to form a reformed layer at the portion of the wafer, and a polishing tool is brought into contact with the portion of wafer while rotating so as to polish the portion of the wafer. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110293036 | Communication signal generating device and communication apparatus for use in communication system - The communication signal generating device is for use in a communication system where communication signals each of which is set at a first level or a second level are exchanged among a plurality of communication apparatuses through a communication line. The communication signal generating device includes a switching element provided in a communication line to connect the communication line to a ground or a constant voltage source, and a driving means to generate a first communication signal at the first level by turning on the switching element to thereby pass a certain current to the communication line, and generate a second communication signal at the second level by turning off the switching element to thereby pass no current to the communication line. The driving means is configured to gradually increase an output impedance of the switching element during one bit time of the first communication signal. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110291236 | SEMICONDUCTOR MODULE WITH ELECTRICAL SWITCHING ELEMENTS - A semiconductor module is provided which is capable of lowering surges caused when switching elements are switched on and off. The module has a plurality of lead frames, switching elements, electronic components, and a sealing member. The switching elements are electrically connected to the lead fames respectively. Part of the lead frames, the switching elements, and the electronic components are sealed by the sealing member. The electronic components are mounted on primary surfaces of the lead frames respectively. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110291157 | LATERAL INSULATED GATE BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR - A lateral insulated gate bipolar transistor includes a semiconductor substrate including a drift layer, a collector region, a channel layer, an emitter region, a gate insulating layer, a gate electrode, a collector electrode, an emitter electrode, and a barrier layer. The barrier layer is disposed along either side of the collector region and is located to a depth deeper than a bottom of the channel layer. The barrier layer has an impurity concentration that is higher than an impurity concentration of the drift layer. The barrier layer has a first end close to the collector region and a second end far from the collector region. The first end is located between the channel layer and the collector region, and the second end is located on the bottom of the channel layer. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110291110 | SILICON CARBIDE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - The silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a substrate, a drift layer, a base region, a source region, a trench, a gate insulating layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a deep layer. The deep layer is disposed under the base region and is located to a depth deeper than the trench. The deep layer is divided into a plurality of portions in a direction that crosses a longitudinal direction of the trench. The portions include a group of portions disposed at positions corresponding to the trench and arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the trench. The group of portions surrounds corners of a bottom of the trench. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110291036 | VALVE DRIVING DEVICE - A valve driving device to open or close a valve includes a cam having a cam groove, a follower movably fitted in the cam groove, and a rod having a pivot rotatably supporting the follower. The rod has a first end connected to the cam through the follower and the pivot, and a second end connected to the valve. The rod applies a load to the valve in a load applying direction corresponding to an axis direction of the rod. A center axis of the rod is perpendicular to a tangent of a contact face between which the cam and the follower are contact with each other when the valve is totally closed or opened. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110290915 | LASER WELDING METHOD, PIPE JOINT PRODUCT, AND INJECTOR USING THE PRODUCT - In a fitting process, a first pipe made of metal and a second pipe made of metal are fitted together such that an outer wall of the first pipe and an inner wall of the second pipe are opposed to each other. In a preheating process, the pipes are heated such that temperature of a fitting surface converges at a first temperature, which is lower than melting points of the pipes. In a welding process, the second pipe is irradiated with a laser to heat the pipes such that the temperature of the fitting surface converges at a second temperature, which is equal to or higher than the melting points; a vicinity of the fitting surface is melted to produce a weld penetration part; and the pipes are joined together to form a pipe joint product. An output and irradiation time of the laser in the welding process are set, so that the second temperature becomes such a temperature that a leading end of the penetration part is located within thickness of the first pipe. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110290626 | Switching device and instrument having the same - A manipulation knob is molded from a resin material and is manually depressible by a user. A switch is depressible through the manipulation knob to execute a corresponding switching operation when the manipulation knob is depressed by the user. The manipulation knob includes a resin spring portion, which is molded integrally with the manipulation knob and projects in an axial direction of the manipulation knob. The resin spring portion is resilient and is adapted to exert a resilient reaction force against the switch when the manipulation knob is depressed by the user to depress the switch. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110290580 | Motor drive apparatus and electric power steering system using the same - A motor drive apparatus includes a control circuit, which determines that a wire connecting a battery to a first power supply relay and a second power supply relay is broken, and not failure of the power supply relays, if power is not supplied to a motor from the power supply relays when the power supply relays are controlled to turn on. The location of failure can thus be specified accurately. It is only necessary in this case to replace the wire. The motor drive apparatus need not be disassembled or investigated in detail. Man-power for specifying the failure location can be reduced. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110290205 | MOTOR CONTROL APPARATUS, VALVE TIMING REGULATING APPARATUS AND INVERTER CIRCUIT ENERGIZATION METHOD - An energization control circuit compares a target rotation direction of a motor and an actual rotation direction of a motor detected based on rotation detection sensors. If the compared rotation directions are in disagreement, the energization control circuit switches over an inverter control mode from 120-degree energization to 180-degree energization to extend an on-period of a high-side switching element of an inverter circuit to an advance phase side. Thus, the high-side switching element is turned on, when a low-side switching element of the same phase is in a turned-off state. A free-wheeling current is allowed to flow through the high-side switching element rather than through a free-wheeling diode of the high-side switching element. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110289285 | CONTROL APPARATUS HAVING NON-VOLATILE RAM, PROTECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD APPLIED THERETO - A control apparatus including a non-volatile RAM divided into a plurality of memory regions including ROM region and RAM region, CPU capable of executing a plurality of types of access to the non-volatile RAM and a protecting portion intervening between the CPU and the non-volatile RAM. The protecting portion includes a register for storing address information capable of specifying address ranges corresponding to the ROM region and RAM region among the memory regions of the non-volatile RAM, access enabling means for enabling the CPU to write data to the ROM region while an enable signal inputted to the protecting portion externally is active, when the CPU performs a write-access to the ROM region, and initializing for initializing the address information stored in the register to be predetermined access information as an initial value when the enable signal is deactivated after activating the enable signal. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110288871 | INFORMATION PRESENTATION SYSTEM - In an in-vehicle navigation apparatus, an in-vehicle BT communications device receives a speech recognition result via a BT communications link from a cellular phone. Based on the received speech recognition result, an in-vehicle control circuit outputs a talk-back sound about the speech recognition result via an in-vehicle sound output device. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110288772 | CURRENT POSITION DETECTOR FOR VEHICLE - A current position detector for a vehicle includes: an angular speed sensor; a speed sensor; a GPS receiver; a traveling trajectory estimating element for estimating a relative trajectory based on an orientation change amount and a traveling distance, and for estimating a traveling trajectory based on the relative trajectory and a GPS signal; and an error estimating element for estimating and correcting each error of an angular speed signal, a speed signal and the GPS signal. The error estimating element estimates a gain error of the angular speed signal such that an attachment angle gain error attributed to an attachment angle of the angular speed sensor and an angular speed gain error attributed to a non-linear gain property of the angular speed sensor are independently estimated. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110287732 | Wireless communication apparatus - In a wireless communication apparatus, when a first switch electrically connects a second antenna to an impedance matching circuit and a second switch electrically connects a first antenna to a reception circuit, a frequency signal output from an oscillator of the reception circuit is received by the second antenna and applied to the impedance matching circuit. Then, a controller controls the impedance of the impedance matching circuit so as to bring a RSSI voltage output from a signal strength detection circuit of the reception circuit into agreement with a reference RSSI voltage, thereby bringing the reference frequency of the first antenna into agreement with a reference frequency. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110286185 | Inverter device and drive unit using the same - In two systems of three-phase alternating-current inverter devices that drive a motor, power elements on power supply sides of bridge circuits are mounted on unit bases to constitute upper arm units. Power elements on ground sides of the bridge circuits are mounted on unit bases to constitute lower arm units. The upper arm units and the lower arm units are arranged separately on upper surfaces and outside surfaces of heat dissipation blocks of a heat sink. Heats generated by the power elements do not interfere with each other and are emitted to the heat sink, whereby heat dissipation performance of the power elements constituting the bridge circuits is improved. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285470 | SURFACE ACOUSTIC WAVE OSCILLATOR - In a SAW oscillator, each of a first SAW element and a second SAW element includes interdigital electrodes and a reflector formed on a piezoelectric material. A first oscillating circuit part forms an oscillating loop including the first SAW element. A second oscillating circuit part forms an oscillating loop including the second SAW element. The first and second oscillating circuit parts have an identical admittance property. The first and second SAW elements are configured that an electrode pitch is identical and an admittance property indicating a relation between a frequency and an admittance value is different therebetween. Further, a first intersection point between the admittance property of the first SAW element and the admittance property of the first oscillating circuit part and a second intersection point between the admittance property of the second SAW element and the admittance property of the second oscillating circuit part are at different frequencies. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285427 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer formed on a first surface; a diode having a first electrode and a second electrode; a control pad; a control electrode electrically coupled with the control pad; and an insulation member. The first electrode is formed on a second surface of the first semiconductor layer. The second electrode is formed on the first surface. Current flows between the first electrode and the second electrode. The control pad is arranged on the first surface so that the pad inputs a control signal for controlling an injection amount of a carrier into the first semiconductor layer. The insulation member insulates between the control electrode and the second electrode and between the control electrode and the semiconductor substrate. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285424 | DIFFERENTIAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE - When a transmission signal is detected as having been changed from a high level to a low level, two transmission lines are connected for only a predetermined time through a diode by a first transistor and a second transistor. The diode is arranged such that its forward direction is from a high-side transmission line to a low-side transmission line. The diode turns on, when a potential of the high-side transmission line becomes higher than that of the low-side transmission line by ringing and a potential difference therebetween exceeds a forward drop voltage of the diode. As a result, a peak wave level of a positive side in the ringing is limited to the forward drop voltage of the diode. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285408 | Occupant detection apparatus - An occupant detection apparatus includes a capacitive sensor, a signal applying circuit, a signal detector, and a voltage applying circuit. The capacitive sensor has an electrode. The signal applying circuit applies a voltage amplitude signal to the electrode during a first time period, but does not apply the voltage amplitude signal to the electrode during a second time period. The voltage amplitude signal has a voltage with a varying amplitude. The signal detector detects a change in an electric current flowing through the capacitive sensor during the first time period. The voltage applying circuit applies a predetermined voltage to the electrode during the entire first time period and during at least part of the second time period. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285384 | CURRENT SENSOR - A current sensor for detecting a first electric current flowing through a current path includes a sensor chip, a coil, a current control circuit, and an output circuit. The sensor chip includes a magnetoresistive element and is adopted to be located near the current path. The coil applies a bias magnetic field to the magnetoresistive element. The current control circuit supplies a second electric current to the coil. The second electric current periodically changes in polarity. The output circuit outputs a difference between a first voltage and a second voltage. The first voltage is generated by the magnetoresistive element, when the second electric current flowing through the coil has a positive polarity. The second voltage is generated by the magnetoresistive element, when the second electric current flowing through the coil has a negative polarity. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285336 | Semiconductor module device and driving apparatus having the same - A controller has a control board, a power module and a power board. MOS transistors, inverter input terminals, coil terminals, inverter ground terminals, control terminals, a control power input terminal and a control ground terminal are integrally molded in a molded portion of a power module. Electrical connections between the power module and the control and power boards are made through the terminals provided in the molded portion. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285243 | ROTARY ELECTRIC MACHINE WITH IMPROVED MAGNETIC RESISTANCE - In a motor, an armature includes an annular yoke having an inner surface, and a plurality of teeth radially projecting individually from the inner surface of the annular yoke, and a rotor is rotatably provided inside the armature with a gap between the outer surface thereof and the inner surface of the armature. The armature and rotor is configured to have a first magnetic resistance facilitating reactive magnetic flux to flow through at least one tooth in a plurality of teeth to an adjacent tooth of the at least one tooth therein as compared with the reactive magnetic flux toward the rotor. The armature and rotor is configured to have a second magnetic resistance facilitating main magnetic flux based on the at least one pair of magnetic poles to flow toward a yoke of the armature as compared with the main magnetic flux toward at least one tooth close to the main magnetic flux. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285238 | DOUBLE-STATOR MOTOR - In a double-stator motor has a rotary shaft, an annular rotor is coupled with a rotary shaft. First and second three-phase stators are arranged inside and outside to the rotor in the radial direction and formed to generate first and second rotating magnetic fields in response to three-phase currents, respectively. The rotor has an even number of segment poles made of soft magnetic material and arranged mutually separately at positions of the rotor. The positions are equally distanced apart from the rotary shaft in the radial direction and in the circumferential direction. Each of the first and second three-phase stators has magnetic poles which are the same in the number of poles as the segment poles and the magnetic poles are positioned such that magnetomotive forces from the magnetic poles are faced to each other between the magnetic poles of the first and second three-phase stators. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285226 | Semiconductor module device and driving apparatus having the same - An inverter input terminal, a coil terminal for a U-phase coil, and an inverter ground terminal are arranged in this order and neighboring to one another to form a U-phase terminal group. An inverter input terminal, a coil terminal for a V-phase coil, and the inverter ground terminal are arranged in this order and neighboring to one another to forma V-phase terminal group. The inverter input terminal, a coil terminal for a W-phase coil, and an inverter ground terminal are arranged in this order and neighboring to one another to form a W-phase terminal group. Flow directions of electric current in the neighboring terminals are opposite to each other, so that inductance of inverter circuits can be decreased. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285225 | DRIVE APPARATUS - A heat sink is provided on a motor. A power module is provided on the heat sink to switch current supply to motor coils. A control circuit substrate is arranged on the heat sink and connected electrically to the power module. A power circuit substrate is connected electrically to the power module and arranged at an opposite side of the control circuit substrate relative to the heat sink. A control circuit connector is electrically connected to the control circuit substrate. A power circuit connector is electrically connected to the power circuit substrate. The control circuit connector and the power circuit connector are arranged between the control circuit substrate and the power circuit substrate. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285223 | Electric drive apparatus - Two power modules, in which switching elements for switching over currents supplied to coils of a motor are resin-molded, are provided to face each other sandwiching a plane including a rotation axis of a shaft. A first smoothing capacitor, second smoothing capacitors and a choke coil are located between the power modules. By consolidating large-sized electronic parts between the power modules, a control unit can be reduced in size and impedance of electric conductor connecting the electronic parts and the power modules can be reduced. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110285010 | Electric power converter - An electric power converter includes: a heat sink having a heat receiving surface; a semiconductor module including a metal plate having a heat radiation surface, a switching element on the metal plate opposite to the heat radiation surface, and a resin member covering a part of the metal plate and the switching element; a heat radiation member between the heat receiving surface and the semiconductor module for transmitting heat of the switching element to the heat receiving surface via the metal plate. The heat receiving surface includes a concavity, and the heat radiation surface includes a convexity. The heat radiation member has a predetermined area sandwiched between the concavity and the convexity. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110284666 | LASER WELDING METHOD AND PIPE JOINT PRODUCT JOINED BY THE METHOD - According to a laser welding method, an inert gas injection process and welding process are performed. In the inert gas injection process, inert gas is injected into an inside of a first metal pipe; and air inside the first pipe is discharged into the outside. In the welding process, a second metal pipe is irradiated with a laser from radially outward of the second pipe; metal is melted with a penetration depth of a penetration part adjusted such that a leading end of the penetration part is located within thickness of the first pipe; and the first and second pipes are welded together along the circumferential direction to form a pipe joint product. An inner wall of the first pipe maintains its pre-welding metallic luster. An injector includes an injection nozzle, a fuel passage member, a valve member accommodated in the fuel passage member, and a driving unit driving the valve member. The fuel passage member is welded as the first pipe by the laser welding method to maintain pre-welding metallic luster on an inner wall of the fuel passage member. | 11-24-2011 |
