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TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA Patent applications
Patent application numberTitlePublished
20120035834CONTROL DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - Disclosed is a control device that is used for an internal combustion engine and capable of periodically varying an air-fuel ratio while keeping torque generated by the internal combustion engine at a target torque. The control device can periodically vary a target air-fuel ratio and controls a fuel injection amount in accordance with the target air-fuel ratio which periodically varies. Further, the control device sets an air amount control torque in accordance with the target torque and calculates a target air amount for achieving the air amount control torque at a predetermined virtual air-fuel ratio. The control device then provides air amount control in accordance with the target air amount and calculates an air amount that is estimated to be achieved by the air amount control. Eventually, the control device calculates torque that is estimated to be achieved by the estimated air amount at the target air-fuel ratio, and provides ignition timing control so as to compensate for the difference between the estimated torque and the target torque by correcting ignition timing.02-09-2012
20120035831AIR-FUEL RATIO IMBALANCE AMONG CYLINDERS DETERMINING APPARATUS FOR A MULTI-CYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A judging device comprises a catalyst, an upstream air/fuel ratio sensor having an air/fuel ratio sensing element covered with a diffusion resistance layer, and a downstream air/fuel ratio sensor. The judging device performs main feedback control to equalize the air/fuel ratio indicated by the output value of the upstream air/fuel ratio sensor to an upstream target air/fuel ratio and sub-feedback control to equalize the output value of the downstream air/fuel ratio sensor to a downstream target value. The judging device acquires “an imbalance judging parameter” which increases with “the increase of the difference between the amount of hydrogen contained in the exhaust gas before the exhaust gas passes through the catalyst and that after the exhaust gas passes through the catalyst” according to the sub-feedback amount. When the imbalance judging parameter is larger than an abnormality judgment threshold, the judging device judges that an air/fuel ratio imbalance among the cylinders has occurred. The judging device does not make judgment on air/fuel ratio imbalance among the cylinders if a predetermined judgment prohibition condition is satisfied, for example, if the flow of the exhaust gas is a predetermined value or more.02-09-2012
20120035830CONTROL DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A control device for an internal combustion engine according to the present embodiment, includes: cooling units 02-09-2012
20120035829CONTROL DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A control device for an internal combustion engine according to an embodiment includes: cooling units arranged on a path where a coolant is circulated, and cooling an exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine with the coolant flowing through the cooling units; a pump circulating the coolant; and ECUs estimating a heat quantity of the exhaust gas and deciding whether or not to operate the pump after an ignition switch is detected to be OFF in response to the estimated heat quantity of the exhaust gas.02-09-2012
20120035828DRIVE CONTROL DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE - A drive control device for a vehicle is preferably used for controlling an internal combustion engine and/or a transmission, for example. A total fuel consumption amount calculating unit calculates total fuel consumption amount by integrating fuel consumption when the vehicle travels a unit distance at a predetermined vehicle speed and a predetermined acceleration, with respect to a time axis in accordance with a target distance. A traveling pattern calculating unit calculates a traveling pattern indicating a relationship between a vehicle speed and an acceleration when the vehicle travels the target distance, based on the total fuel consumption amount. By performing the control based on the calculated traveling pattern, it is possible to optimize the total fuel consumption amount. Therefore, it becomes possible to improve the actual fuel consumption.02-09-2012
20120035825DRIVE ASSISTING DEVICE - A radar sensor detects a traveling state of a host vehicle. An inter-vehicle control ECU gives the amount of operation for the predetermined amount of control of the host vehicle so that the traveling state of the host vehicle detected by the radar sensor becomes a predetermined state. The amount of operation given by the inter-vehicle control ECU is reduced as a kind of restriction when the amount of operation given by the inter-vehicle control ECU becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value. As a result, it is possible to reduce the dependence of the driver on the device.02-09-2012
20120035818DRIVING FORCE CONTROL DEVICE - A driving force control device for controlling engine torque generated by an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle and the engine revolution speed of the internal combustion engine based on the operation amount of driving force request operation on the vehicle to control the driving force of the vehicle is characterized by executing revolution fluctuation suppression control that suppresses fluctuations in engine revolution speeds when the operating point of the internal combustion engine in accordance with the engine torque and the engine revolution speed is within an optimum fuel economy range being a region set with a specified hysteresis width relative to an optimum fuel economy line of the internal combustion engine; accordingly, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the whole driving system.02-09-2012
20120035816VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS - A vehicle control apparatus (02-09-2012
20120035809VEHICLE - To provide a vehicle capable of maintaining a stable state when a rider gets on the step plate or get off the step plate. A vehicle is a vehicle that performs a turning movement based on the rotation of step plates on which a rider rides in the left/right direction. The vehicle includes restriction means to enable the rotation of the step plates in the left/right direction to be restricted. The vehicle preferably further includes first control means that controls the restriction means so that the rotation of the step plates in the left/right direction is restricted when the rider gets on the step plates or gets off the step plates.02-09-2012
20120035797AUTONOMOUS MOVING BODY AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - To enable stable collision avoidance operation without the need to install an infrastructure or the like even in a dangerous area where running out is likely to occur. An autonomous moving body according to the present invention includes: a distance measuring sensor that measures a distance to an object existing in an environment; a distance information acquisition unit that acquires a distance measurement value of the distance measuring sensor as distance information on a measurement point; and a dangerous area extraction unit that categorizes adjacent measurement points as an identical object according to a distance difference between the measurement points, and extracts an endpoint of the object as a dangerous area when the categorized object itself has a size equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold and when an opening formed between endpoints of the objects has a width equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold, in which the autonomous moving body travels so as to avoid a collision in the extracted dangerous area.02-09-2012
20120035017POWER CONTROL DEVICE - A power control device includes: an engine control unit and a transmission control unit provided so as to control power of the engine, and configured such that if an actual operating point, which is an operating point indicating a combination of actual revolution speed and torque of the engine, is located in a non-supercharging region and a final target operating point, which serves as a target operating point during acceleration, is located in a supercharging region, the revolution speed of the engine is increased until the actual operating point is shifted into the supercharging region, and the revolution speed of the engine is decreased after the actual operating point has entered the supercharging region, thereby shifting the actual operating point into the final target operating point when accelerating the vehicle.02-09-2012
20120035015SPEED CHANGE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR TRANSMISSION OF VEHICLE - To provide a control system for carrying out a speed change operation of a geared transmission mechanism continuously by controlling a continuously variable transmission mechanism.02-09-2012
20120034529SULFIDE SOLID ELECTROLYTE MATERIAL - The main object of the present invention is to provide a sulfide solid electrolyte material with less hydrogen sulfide generation amount. The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by providing a sulfide solid electrolyte material obtained by using a raw material composition containing Li02-09-2012
20120034071DIFFUSER APPARATUS, CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR, AND TURBO SUPERCHARGER - A diffuser apparatus which includes a diffuser provided as a passage space communicated with the exit side of an impellor radially outwardly of the impellor of a centrifugal compressor, the apparatus including a housing portion which houses a rotational plate therein so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis and forms a hub side wall portion, wherein the side surface of the rotational plate on the diffuser side is provided with a vane having one end in the circumferential direction fixed to the rotational plate, the other end in the circumferential direction movable in the direction of the axis, and flexibility, the housing portion is provided with an inclination path which has one end opened to the portion which forms the hub side wall portion, and bendably guides the vane so that the other end of the vane is moved in the circumferential direction with the rotation of the rotational plate and is moved in the direction of the axis so as to be projected into the diffuser, and an actuator rotates the rotational plate so that the vane is driven between a projected position where the other end is projected into the diffuser and a retracted position where the other end is retracted into the hub side wall portion.02-09-2012
20120032525Electrical Powered Vehicle and Power Feeding Device for Vehicle - An electrical powered vehicle includes a secondary self-resonant coil, a secondary coil, a rectifier, and a power storage device. The secondary self-resonant coil is configured to be magnetically coupled with a primary self-resonant coil of a power feeding device by magnetic field resonance, and allow reception of high frequency power from the primary self-resonant coil. The secondary coil is configured to allow reception of electric power from the secondary self-resonant coil by electromagnetic induction. The rectifier rectifies the electric power received by the secondary coil. The power storage device stores the electric power rectified by the rectifier.02-09-2012
20120032521NON-CONTACT ELECTRIC POWER FEEDING EQUIPMENT AND NON-CONTACT ELECTRIC POWER FEEDING SYSTEM - Electric power feeding equipment and an electric power receiving device include a primary self resonant coil and a secondary self resonant coil coil, respectively, resonating through an electromagnetic field to allow the electric power feeding equipment to feed the electric power receiving device with electric power in a non-contact manner. A control device sets a frequency range for a spread spectrum, as based on an S-parameter S02-09-2012
20120032505POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME - Converters are connected in parallel with each other to a pair of electric power lines. When required electric power required by a drive force generation unit is not more than a threshold value, a converter ECU causes a voltage converting operation of one of the converters that is associated with a power storage device of a higher output voltage to perform voltage converting operation, and causes the voltage converting operation of the other converter to be stopped, based on output voltages of the power storage devices detected by output voltage detection units. The first power storage device and the second power storage device are configured so that one of the power storage devices has a higher power supply voltage by a predetermined value than the power supply voltage of the other power storage device. The predetermined value is defined based on errors which may be included in detected values of the output voltage detection units.02-09-2012
20120032482VEHICLE SEAT CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A vehicle seat control apparatus includes an adjusting device that adjusts a reclining angle of a seat back of a vehicle seat, and a control portion that controls the adjusting device. When adjusting the reclining angle, the control portion controls the adjusting device to start adjusting the reclining angle at a first speed, and then after a predetermined period of time passes, the control portion controls the adjusting device to adjust the reclining angle at a second speed that is faster than the first speed. The invention also relates to a control method of this vehicle seat control apparatus.02-09-2012
20120031377SPARK IGNITION TYPE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A spark ignition type internal combustion engine of the present invention is provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a mechanical compression ratio, a variable valve timing mechanism able to control a closing timing of an intake valve, and a supercharger. At the time of engine low load operation, the mechanical compression ratio is made higher compared with at the time of engine high load operation. At the time of engine medium load operation, the supercharging action of the supercharger is used to make the pressure inside the intake pipe rise so that the intake air amount fed into a combustion chamber is increased, compared with at the time of engine low load operation, and the mechanical compression ratio is lowered to make the actual compression ratio fall.02-09-2012
20120031374CONTROL DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A control device for an internal combustion engine includes: an abnormality determination portion determining the presence of an abnormality in a fuel system, such as an injector, by comparing an air-fuel ratio detected by an A/F sensor and a learning value of the air-fuel ratio with a preset abnormality determination value; an alcohol concentration estimating portion estimating the alcohol concentration in fuel based on the air-fuel ratio detected by the A/F sensor and the learning value; and an abnormality determination value changing portion changing the abnormality determination value depending on the alcohol concentration estimated by the alcohol concentration estimating portion.02-09-2012
20120031329ELECTROSTATIC COATING APPARATUS - Provided is an electrostatic coating apparatus capable of insulating an electric motor electrically from a member, to which an electrostatic high voltage is applied, and reducing the size and weight of the electrostatic coating apparatus. This electrostatic coating apparatus comprises a rotary atomizing head, to which high voltage is electrostatically applied, an electrostatically grounded AC servomotor, and a spindle and a fixed insulating member for insulating the AC servomotor electrically from the rotary atomizing head and a speed-increasing device to be set at the same potential as that of the former. The spindle and the fixed insulating member have insulation distance enlarging portions of the mode, in which the creepage insulation distances from the speed-increasing device to the AC servomotor are enlarged.02-09-2012
20120031170CATALYST DEGRADATION DETECTION APPARATUS AND CATALYST DEGRADATION DETECTION METHOD - A determination oxygen storage amount used to determine whether a catalyst is degraded is a value obtained by applying a correction amount for removing error caused by response delay time of an output signal of an oxygen sensor to an oxygen storage amount calculated every short time. The correction amount is a value that is calculated using slopes stored in memory, i.e., the slopes for the number of storage cycles (>the short time) corresponding to the response delay time, or the like, and becomes more accurate as a value corresponding to the error as the storage cycle becomes relatively shorter with respect to the response delay time and the number of the slopes stored in the memory increases. The necessary storage capacity of the memory is inhibited from increasing excessively even if the number of the slopes stored in the memory is large.02-09-2012
20120031077PM SENSOR, PM AMOUNT SENSING DEVICE FOR EXHAUST GAS, AND ABNORMALITY DETECTION APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - Provided is a PM sensor capable of sensing the amount of particulate matter, and a PM amount sensing device for exhaust gas. Also provided is an abnormality detection apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of sensing abnormality of a particulate filter. The PM sensor and the PM amount sensing device are mounted in an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine. In the exhaust pipe, installed are an air-fuel ratio sensor, a filter, and an air-fuel ratio sensor in sequence in the direction of the flow of exhaust gas. The filter is a compact filter for trapping fine particles. The ECU has a function of calculating a difference ΔI02-09-2012
20120029814COLLISION DETECTING DEVICE - An object is to be able to accurately discriminate an object of a collision. A device has a collision detection to which are connected a pressure sensor that detects pressure within a pressure chamber, and a vehicle speed sensor that detects vehicle speed, and the collision detection determines effective mass of a collided object on the basis of an integrated value obtained by integrating, at a predetermined sectional integration width, detection results of the pressure sensor, and a converted vehicle speed signal obtained by subtracting a predetermined value a from a vehicle speed signal of the vehicle speed sensor by using a predetermined vehicle speed converting map or the like. Then, when the determined effective mass exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the collided object is discriminated as a pedestrian.02-02-2012
20120029813METHOD FOR JUDGING VEHICLE TRAVELING POSITION AND VEHICLE TRAVELING POSITION JUDGMENT DEVICE - A vehicle traveling position judging method of the present invention is a vehicle traveling position judging method for judging the traveling position of a preceding vehicle, and includes: a relative position information acquisition step of acquiring the relative position information of the preceding vehicle and a host vehicle at a predetermined point in time; a host vehicle traveling trajectory information acquisition step of acquiring traveling trajectory information of the host vehicle after the predetermined point in time; and a preceding vehicle position judging step of judging a traveling position of the preceding vehicle on the basis of the relative position information and the traveling trajectory information of the host vehicle.02-02-2012
20120029792FUEL INJECTION AMOUNT CONTROL SYSTEM AND FUEL INJECTION AMOUNT CONTROL DEVICE FOR MULTI-CYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A fuel injection amount control system corrects the amount of fuel injected from each fuel injection valve in a feedback manner, based on an output value of an upstream air-fuel ratio sensor, so that the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into a three-way catalyst coincides with a target air-fuel ratio. Also, the control system performs a high-pass filtering operation on the output value of the upstream air-fuel ratio sensor, so as to obtain a post-high-pass-filtering output value by removing a component that varies with variations in the center air-fuel ratio of the engine, from the output value of the upstream air-fuel ratio sensor. Then, the control system acquires an air-fuel ratio imbalance index value that increases as the degree of ununiformity in the air-fuel ratio among cylinders is larger, based on the post-high-pass-filtering output value.02-02-2012
20120029790AIR-FUEL RATIO DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - An air-fuel ratio diagnostic device for an internal combustion engine. The device includes an air-fuel ratio that detects oxygen concentration in the exhaust. A determination unit determines a variation in air-fuel ratio between engine cylinders based on a detection value of the air-fuel ratio sensor. A change amount in the detection value for a certain time when the detection value is changing from a lean side peak value toward a rich side peak value is defined as a rich change rate. A change amount in the detection for a certain time when the detection value is changing from a rich side peak value toward a lean side peak value is defined as a lean change rate. The determination unit determines a degree of variation between the cylinders based on the rich and lean change rates.02-02-2012
20120029788CONTROL APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - The present invention provides a control apparatus used in an internal combustion engine that can switchably use a compressed natural gas and gasoline. The control apparatus carries out a miss fire check on the internal combustion engine over two or more combustion cycles, and, based on the results of the check, detects failures. The control apparatus prohibits switching of fuels (S02-02-2012
20120029782BEHAVIOR CONTROL DEVICE FOR A COMBINATION VEHICLE - There is provided a behavior control device for the prevention of a jackknife phenomenon of a combination vehicle including a tractor and a trailer pivotably coupled with the tractor, taking into account that the relative pivoting action of the trailer and tractor varies according to the magnitudes of a vehicle speed or a deceleration. The inventive behavior control device comprises a braking-driving force control portion which controls a braking-driving force of the tractor or the trailer to reduce a difference between a yaw rate of the tractor and a yaw rate of the trailer and a judgment portion which judges whether or not a braking-driving force control of the tractor or the trailer by the braking-driving force control portion is necessary; wherein the judgment portion changes based on a vehicle speed or a deceleration of the vehicle the judgment of whether or not the braking-driving force control is necessary.02-02-2012
20120029773CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - Lane keeping control is ended in accurate timing which does not give an uncomfortable feeling to a driver. In a vehicle 02-02-2012
20120029772STEERING CONTROL APPARATUS - A steering control apparatus (02-02-2012
20120029746VEHICLE CONTROLLING SYSTEM - A vehicle controlling system includes an engine as a power source of a vehicle, an electric storage device, a generator that generates power by rotating in conjunction with a rotation of the engine, a starting device that starts the engine by consuming power from the electric storage device, and a power steering device which can receive power supplied from the electric storage device and the generator, respectively, and operates by consuming the supplied power, wherein the engine is started by the starting device based on a vehicle speed and a predetermined vehicle speed which is a vehicle speed when the engine is started is changed in response to a state of the electric storage device, when an execution of an inertial running in which the engine is stopped to allow the vehicle to run with inertia.02-02-2012
20120029659SAFETY CONTROLLER AND SAFETY CONTROL METHOD - The present invention relates to time partitioning to enable execution of tasks in a constant cycle while guaranteeing dependence of a safety-related system. A safety controller includes a processor and a system program for controlling allocation of an execution time of the processor to tasks. The processor executes the system program to schedule tasks in accordance with scheduling information indicating, in a constant cycle, a period of one of a safety-related TP to which a safety-related task belongs and a non-safety-related TP to which a non-safety-related task belongs. In a task of a TP in the constant cycle, the processor stores the end information upon completion of processing in the task and brings the task into a ready state. In the scheduling, when the end information is stored, the processor inhibits allocation of the execution time even when the task in the TP in the constant cycle is in the ready state, and deletes the end information during a period between an end of the period of the TP in the constant cycle and a start of a period in a next cycle of the TP.02-02-2012
20120028757CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HYBRID VEHICLE - In a hybrid vehicle having a locking mechanism in which a play elimination process is required in the locking, a torque shock in the play elimination is reduced. In a hybrid vehicle 02-02-2012
20120028750DIFFERENTIAL GEAR AND VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH DIFFERENTIAL GEAR - A differential gear is structured such that a first differential case and a second differential case overlap one another in the radial direction such that a first joining portion of the first differential case, i.e., a portion of an outward flange that is on the outer peripheral side of a through-hole, is positioned on the outer peripheral side of a second joining portion of the second differential case, i.e., a joining protrusion that is inserted in the through-hole. In addition, the ring gear is arranged facing those joining portions in the direction of the axis, and laser beam welded from the outer peripheral side at the portion where the ring gear faces both of those joining portions. Accordingly, the three members, i.e., the first differential case, the second differential case, and the ring gear, are all integrally joined together by a single welding operation, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.02-02-2012
20120028494TERMINAL CONNECTOR AND ELECTRIC WIRE WITH TERMINAL CONNECTOR - An electric wire with a terminal connector includes an electric wire and a female terminal connector crimped onto a core wire exposed at the electric wire. A female terminal connector has a wire barrel having a surface to be applied to the core wire. The surface has a plurality of recesses formed therein. Each recess has a parallelogram-shaped opening edge. The opening edge of the recess includes a pair of first opening edges that are parallel to each other and a pair of second opening edges that are parallel to each other and different from the first opening edges. The recesses are spaced in the extending direction of the first opening edges and are spaced in the extending direction of the second opening edges.02-02-2012
20120028139FUEL CELL - An electrode structure 02-02-2012
20120028135FUEL CELL ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE - Provided is a mounting structure of a fuel cell system capable of withstanding a collision from the side face of a fuel cell vehicle. The fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell unit for housing a fuel cell, and a protective structure having a mounting surface for mounting the fuel cell unit. The protective structure includes sloping frames provided obliquely relative to the mounting surface at a position opposing at least one side face of the fuel cell unit. Since the protective structure has the sloping frames as the structural objects to be subjected to the impact of the collision from the side face, the protection of the entire height of the fuel cell unit is realized by the lightest structural objects.02-02-2012
20120026757CONVERTER CONTROLLER - Provided is a converter controller capable of preventing destruction of an element such as an auxiliary switch by preventing operation interference between auxiliary circuits of respective phases in a multiphase soft switching converter. A duty threshold input unit receives, as an input, an obtained acceptable duty deviation value. A duty deviation computation unit judges whether or not the duty deviation between the phases does not exceed an acceptable duty deviation value. When the duty deviation between the phases exceeds the acceptable duty deviation value, the duty deviation computation unit corrects an adjusted U-phase duty ratio, adjusted V-phase duty ratio and adjusted W-phase duty ratio under the PID control rule, and outputs the resultant duty ratios to an FC converter control circuit. On the other hand, when the duty deviation between the phases does not exceed the acceptable duty deviation value, the duty deviation computation unit does not correct the adjusted U-phase duty ratio, adjusted V-phase duty ratio and adjusted W-phase duty ratio and outputs them to the FC converter control circuit.02-02-2012
20120026060ANTENNA DEVICE - An antenna device that radiates or receives a radio wave includes: a first wire line: a second wire line that is parallel to the first wire line; a power feeding/receiving point that is provided at proximal portions of the first wire line and second wire line; and a terminal resistance that is provided at distal end portions of the first wire line and second wire line.02-02-2012
20120025993DEVICE RESPONDING TO IMPROPER DRIVE - There is provided a device responding to improper drive for providing drive support based on a driver's alertness, the device including a support unit that changes the control mode from a drive support mode to a sleepiness responding mode depending on the driver's alertness during an execution of a first control mode, wherein the support unit changes the control mode after the notification unit notifies the driver. The device can provide optimal response to a driver.02-02-2012
20120025897DRIVE UNIT FOR DRIVING VOLTAGE-DRIVEN ELEMENT - A drive unit comprises a first connector, second connector, switching element, and controller. The first connector is configured to be connected with a gate resistor of a voltage-driven element. The second connector is configured to be connected with a driving power source. A first input-output terminal of the switching element is connected to the first connector, and a second input-output terminal thereof is connected to the second connector. The controller is connected to a control terminal of the switching element, and controls a voltage input to the control terminal of the switching element. The controller has an error amplifier, reference power source, and switch. One input terminal of the error amplifier is connected to the reference power source, an other input terminal thereof is connected to the first connector, and an output terminal thereof is connected to the control terminal of the switching element. One end of the switch is connected to the second connector, and an other end thereof is connected to the control terminal of the switching element.02-02-2012
20120025761RESONANCE TYPE NON-CONTACT POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A resonance type non-contact power supply system is provided that includes power supplying equipment and an electric vehicle. The power supply equipment includes an alternating-current power source and a primary-side resonance coil for receiving power from the alternating-current power source. The electric vehicle includes power receiving equipment and a vehicle height control device mounted on the electric vehicle. The power receiving equipment includes a secondary-side resonance coil that receives power from the primary-side resonance coil, a rectifier that rectifies the power received by the secondary-side resonance coil, and an electrical storage device, to which the power rectified by the rectifier is supplied. A resonance system that includes the primary-side resonance coil and the secondary-side resonance coil is configured such that impedance thereof is adjusted by the use of the vehicle height control device when the electrical storage device is charged.02-02-2012
20120025658STATOR - To provide a stator capable of achieving downsizing and high output power and a stator manufacturing method, a stator comprises a split stator core including teeth and slots formed between the teeth, and protrusion-formed coils each being made of a flat rectangular conductor and placed in the slots. Each protrusion-formed coil has a shape including, in a coil end portion, a lead-side protrusion or a non-lead-side protrusion formed to protrude upward in an axial direction of the stator core from a first oblique side portion, a second oblique side portion, a third oblique side portion, and a fourth oblique side portion, and a first oblique side portion, a second oblique side portion, a third oblique side portion, and a fourth oblique side portion. The lead-side protrusion or the non-lead-side protrusion is designed with a height to avoid interference between the protrusion-formed coils placed in the stator core.02-02-2012
20120025644ELECTRIC MOTOR HAVING SPEED CHANGE FUNCTION - An electric motor having a speed change function is configured to differentiate a rotational speed of a rotor from a rotational speed of an output shaft outputting a torque transmitted from the rotor. The electric motor includes: a stator coil arranged on an inner circumferential face of a cylindrical outer case; a cylindrical rotor which is arranged in an inner circumferential side of the stator coil, and which is adapted to generate a torque by receiving a magnetic force generated by the stator coil; and a continuously variable transmission mechanism, which is arranged in an inner circumferential side of the rotor, and which is adapted to continuously vary a ratio between a rotational speed of an input member connected with the rotor, and a rotational speed of an output member connected with the output shaft and rotated by the torque from the input member.02-02-2012
20120025642ROTATING ELECTRIC MACHINE - A rotating electric machine that can be improved in cooling performance is provided. An end plate includes an annular plate portion arranged to be spaced from a rotor in an axial direction and secured to a rotation shaft, and a tubular portion protruding from an outer edge of the annular plate portion to abut on an axial end surface of the rotor. A partition plate arranged between the rotor and an end plate forms a first space between the rotor and the partition plate and a second space between the annular plate portion and the partition plate. A communication passage allowing the first space and the second space to communicate with each other is formed in the partition plate at a radially outer side relative to a permanent magnet. A through hole extending through the annular plate portion in the axial direction is formed in the annular plate portion at a radially inner side relative to the permanent magnet.02-02-2012
20120025567PASSENGER COMPARTMENT MATERIAL STRUCTURE - To inhibit the attractiveness of a ceiling material from deteriorating. According to a passenger compartment material structure (02-02-2012
20120025153SILICON 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 2×1002-02-2012
20120024746TANK AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - There are disclosed a tank which optimizes a laminating configuration of hoop layers and helical layers to enhance an efficiency of strength development by wound fibers, and a manufacturing method of the tank. In order to realize this, the tank includes a liner, and an FRP layer constituted of an axial fiber layer formed by winding fibers around the outer periphery of the liner at a winding angle in a range exceeding 0° and less than 30° with respect to a tank axis in the center of the tank and a peripheral fiber layer formed by winding the fibers around the outer periphery of the liner at a winding angle in a range of 30° or more and less than 90° with respect to the tank axis, and folded fiber ends of the peripheral fiber layer in a tank axial direction draw a track which narrows from the inside toward the outside in a laminating direction of the fiber layers. The folded fiber ends formed outwardly in the laminating direction of the fiber layers are in principle positioned closer to the center of the tank than the folded fiber ends of the peripheral fiber layer in the tank axial direction formed inwardly in the laminating direction.02-02-2012
20120024745TANK AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - There are disclosed a tank having a structure which achieves both a burst strength and a fatigue strength, and a manufacturing method of the tank. In order to realize this, in a tank comprising a liner, and an FRP layer including a hoop layer and a helical layer formed by winding fibers around the outer periphery of the liner, at least an innermost helical layer is formed as a smooth helical layer. When the smooth helical layer, i.e., a helical layer which does not have any unevenness or which has only little unevenness is formed, the unevenness can be prevented from being transferred to the hoop layer adjacent to the helical layer. When structural bends (undulations) of the fibers of the hoop layer are suppressed, a fatigue strength of the fibers themselves can be enhanced.02-02-2012
20120024652ROTARY MESHING ENGAGEMENT APPARATUS - In a locking mechanism provided with: a sleeve which is fixed in the circumferential direction and which can be stroked in the shaft line direction; a hub which can rotate in the circumferential direction orthogonal to the shaft line direction; and an actuator which can apply a driving force for displacing the sleeve in the shaft line direction, dog teeth are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve, and dog teeth are formed in the hub. Here, the engagement surfaces of the dog teeth are inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the shaft line such that the hub performs relative rotation with respect to the sleeve in a process in which the sleeve is stroked in the shaft line direction. The ECU estimates the stroke volume of the sleeve on the basis of the rotation amount of the hub and the predetermined angle.02-02-2012
20120024611COOLING AIRFLOW INTAKE STRUCTURE - A cooling airflow intake structure that can efficiently channel an airflow for cooling from outside a vehicle to a body to be cooled is obtained. The cooling airflow intake structure includes: a power unit that generates a driving force for an automobile to travel; an undercover that covers, from a vehicle underside, a power unit chamber in which the power unit is placed; a cooling unit that is placed on a vehicle rear side of the power unit; a first duct that channels air to the cooling unit from a first inlet port that is formed opening toward a road surface in the undercover; and a second duct that channels air to the cooling unit from a second inlet port that is formed opening toward a vehicle front side in a bumper cover. The second duct is disposed between the power unit and the undercover in a vehicle vertical direction.02-02-2012
20120024274INTER-CYLINDER AIR/FUEL RATIO IMBALANCE DETERMINATION APPARATUS AND INTER-CYLINDER AIR/FUEL RATIO IMBALANCE DETERMINATION METHOD - The invention provides an inter-cylinder air/fuel ratio imbalance determination apparatus and method. The determination apparatus includes a “limiting current type air/fuel ratio sensor”, and acquires a pre-correction index quantity that is greater the greater the degree of non-uniformity of the cylinder-by-cylinder air/fuel ratios, on the basis of a time differential value of the output value of the air/fuel ratio sensor. The determination apparatus obtains as the correction-purpose output value an average value of the output value obtained during a fuel-cut operation. The correction-purpose output value is greater the higher the responsiveness of the air/fuel ratio sensor. The determination apparatus acquires an air/fuel ratio imbalance index value by correcting the pre-correction index quantity so that the pre-correction index quantity is smaller the greater the correction-purpose output value. It is determined that an inter-cylinder air/fuel ratio imbalance state has occurred, when the air/fuel ratio imbalance index value is greater than or equal to an imbalance determination threshold value.02-02-2012
20120024273FUEL INJECTION AMOUNT CONTROL SYSTEM, FUEL INJECTION AMOUNT CONTROL DEVICE, AND FUEL INJECTION AMOUNT CONTROL METHOD OF MULTI-CYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A fuel injection amount control system acquires an air-fuel ratio imbalance index value that increases as the degree of ununiformity in the air-fuel ratio among cylinders increases, based on an output value of an upstream air-fuel ratio sensor, and acquires an imbalance index learned value by performing a first-order lag filtering operation for removing noise, on the air-fuel ratio imbalance index value. Also, the fuel injection amount is increased based on the imbalance index learned value. In the filtering operation, the time constant of the filter is set to a smaller value when a magnitude of a difference between the current value and the last value of the air-fuel ratio imbalance index value is equal to or larger than a threshold value.02-02-2012
20120024272FUEL INJECTION AMOUNT CONTROL SYSTEM AND FUEL INJECTION AMOUNT CONTROL DEVICE FOR MULTI-CYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A fuel injection amount control system acquires a pre-correction air-fuel ratio imbalance index value that increases as the degree of ununiformity in the air-fuel ratio among cylinders increases, based on an output value of an upstream air-fuel ratio sensor, and obtains a value (intake air amount correlation value) corresponding to the intake air amount and a value (engine speed correlation value) corresponding to the engine speed over a period in which the pre-correction air-fuel ratio imbalance index value is acquired. Also, a post-correction air-fuel ratio imbalance index value is acquired by correcting the pre-correction air-fuel ratio imbalance index value based on the intake air amount correlation value and the engine speed correlation value, and the air-fuel ratio of the engine is controlled based on the post-correction air-fuel ratio imbalance index value.02-02-2012
20120024258CONTROL SYSTEM OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - The present invention has an object to obtain an accurate amount of intake air at the time of an operation of an EGR mechanism in a control system of an internal combustion engine which is provided with a first fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into a cylinder, a second fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into an intake port, and the EGR mechanism. In order to achieve this object, the present invention resides in a control system of an internal combustion engine which is provided with a first fuel injection valve that injects fuel into a cylinder of the internal combustion engine, a second fuel injection valve that injects fuel into an intake port of the internal combustion engine, an EGR passage that introduces an EGR gas from an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine to an intake passage thereof, an EGR valve that is arranged in the EGR passage, and an obtaining means that obtains an amount of intake air in the internal combustion engine, wherein when the EGR valve is open, a determination is made based on a value of a cylinder injection ratio, as to whether the amount of intake air is in an increasing tendency or in a decreasing tendency with respect to a change in the cylinder injection ratio, and a value of the amount of intake air thus obtained is corrected according to a result of the determination.02-02-2012
20120023938VARIABLE CAPACITY SUPERCHARGER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A variable capacity supercharger for an internal combustion engine is provided with a turbine having an exhaust-side movable vane mechanism for changing the cross-sectional area of a flow path of exhaust gas introduced into a turbine wheel by open-close operation of a movable vane, a compressor having an intake-side movable vane mechanism for changing the cross-sectional area of a flow path of intake air delivered from a compressor wheel by open-close operation of a movable vane, and a drive mechanism having an actuator used in common by the exhaust-side movable vane mechanism and the intake-side movable vane mechanism to perform open-close operation of the movable vane of each movable vane mechanism as transmitting operation of the actuator to both of the movable vane mechanisms.02-02-2012
20120023913CATALYST ABNORMALITY DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - The air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas supplied to a catalyst is alternately and actively switched between a rich state value and a lean state value. In conjunction with the performance of this active air-fuel ratio control, the oxygen storage capacity of the catalyst is measured. Whether the catalyst is normal or abnormal is determined by comparing the measured value of the oxygen storage capacity with a predetermined determination value. The temperature of the catalyst is acquired, and the determination value is set based on the acquired catalyst temperature. The determination value is set so as to decreases with increasing catalyst temperature when the catalyst temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.02-02-2012
20120023731GAS TANK AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF GAS TANK - The objective is to enable the formation of an outer circumferential layer by a filament winding process to be performed appropriately, and to achieve the weight reduction of a gas tank by reducing the weight of a mouthpiece. The gas tank comprises a mouthpiece attached to an end of a tank main body in its axis direction, and an outer circumferential layer formed over an outer circumferential surface of the tank main body and an outer circumferential surface of the mouthpiece by a filament winding process. On the end of the tank main body in the axis direction, a recess section, in which an outside end surface of the mouthpiece is embedded in the inner side from an outside end surface of the outer circumferential layer, is formed.02-02-2012
20120022772ABNORMALITY DETERMINATION SYSTEM FOR MULTI-CYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - When the ratio of the amount of vaporized fuel (purge amount) to be introduced into an intake passage of an engine from a fuel tank through a purge passage pipe, a purge control valve, etc. to the total amount of fuel (total fuel amount) to be supplied to the engine is large, an abnormality determination system acquires, as a parameter Pon, the air-fuel ratio imbalance index value that increases as the difference between the air-fuel ratios of the respective cylinders increases. When the purge amount is small relative to the total fuel amount, the determination system acquires the air-fuel ratio imbalance index value as a parameter Poff. When the difference between the parameters Pon and Poff is less than a predetermined value and at least one of these parameters is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the determination system determines that an inter-cylinder air intake amount variation abnormality is occurring.01-26-2012
20120022770CONTROL DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A control device for an internal combustion engine is provided. The control device includes means which controls fuel injection by a fuel injection device, and means which controls the throttle. The fuel injection control means sequentially restarts fuel injection for each cylinder in accordance with an ignition sequence among cylinders when cancellation conditions of fuel cut are satisfied during implementation of the fuel cut. Meanwhile, the throttle control means firstly controls the throttle to a closing side when the cancellation conditions of fuel cut are satisfied. The throttle is controlled to the closing side, whereby the air amount in the intake pipe is decreased, and the air amount in a cylinder which is the basis of calculation of a fuel injection amount is also decreased.01-26-2012
20120022769CONTROL APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided, the control apparatus being capable of effectively suppressing the inflow of fresh air into a catalyst due to an operational delay of the valve stop mechanism when an execution request for fuel cut is issued. There is provided a valve stop mechanism capable of changing the operational states of intake valves and exhaust valves between a valve operating state and a valve closed/stopped state. The operational states of the intake and exhaust valves are changed into the valve closed/stopped state, if the engine rotational speed decreases to or below a predetermined rotational speed when the engine rotational speed is higher than the predetermined rotational speed in a case where an execution request for fuel cut is detected and the temperature of the catalyst is not lower than a predetermined temperature during operation of an internal combustion engine01-26-2012
20120022760WEIGHT-RELATED PHYSICAL QUANTITY ESTIMATING SYSTEM AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLES - A weight-related physical quantity estimating system and a control device according to the present invention are applied to a vehicle including a braking force changing device for changing the relationship between the braking force of front wheels and the braking force of rear wheels in accordance with the position of a displacement member which moves in accordance with the supporting load of the rear wheels. The weight-related physical quantity estimating system estimates the supporting load of the rear wheels on the basis of the braking forces of the front wheels and the rear wheels, and estimates at least one of the longitudinal position of the gravity center of the vehicle, the supporting load of the front wheels and the total weight of the vehicle, as a physical quantity relating to the weight of the vehicle. The control device modifies a value which is used for controlling the vehicle and is influenced by the physical quantities relating to the vehicle weight, on the basis of the braking forces of the front wheels and the rear wheels.01-26-2012
20120022755VEHICLE, CONTROL METHOD AND CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - Damping control, by which an engine is controlled to output torque for reducing up-and-down vibrations such as pitching and bouncing of a vehicle, is performed. When the damping control is interrupted, the behavior of engine torque after the damping control is interrupted is predicted. Shift of an automatic transmission is controlled in accordance with the predicted behavior of the engine torque.01-26-2012
20120022744VEHICLE POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - A power supply system comprises a chargeable power storage device; a charging device configured to perform external charging for charging the power storage device using alternating-current power supplied from an external power supply; an air conditioner receiving electric power from the charging device and the power storage device and air-conditioning a compartment in a vehicle; an auxiliary machinery load; and an ECU. The ECU controls at least one of the charging device and the auxiliary machinery load so as to increase the electric power output from the power storage device in a case where overcharging of the power storage device is expected when the air conditioner is intermittently operated during external charging.01-26-2012
20120022738ELECTRIC POWERED VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - An electric powered vehicle includes a motor, an inverter, a main power storage device, and a plurality of sub power storage devices. A converter is connected to a selected one of the plurality of sub power storage devices to perform voltage conversion bidirectionally between the selected sub power storage device and an electric power feeding line. A control device executes a disconnection process to disconnect a selected sub power storage device from the converter based on a state of charge of the selected sub power storage device when there is no new sub power storage device that can replace the selected sub power storage device. Further, the control device executes a braking process for the inverter for regenerative braking by the motor. The control device prohibits, during execution of one process of a disconnection process and braking process, the other process.01-26-2012
20120022737CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLE POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE - It is provided a control device for a vehicle power transmission device including a shifting portion and an electric motor that provides regeneration via the shifting portion, the control device executing a downshift of the shifting portion if a traveling loss in the vehicle power transmission device after the shift is smaller than a traveling loss in the vehicle power transmission device at a current gear ratio during regenerative traveling, and the traveling loss in the vehicle power transmission device including at least one of a loss in the shifting portion and a loss in the electric motor, the loss in the shifting portion being calculated based on the operating oil temperature of the shifting portion and the loss in the electric motor being calculated based on the temperature of the electric motor.01-26-2012
20120022716MOVEMENT TRAJECTORY GENERATOR - A movement trajectory generator 01-26-2012
20120021899EXHAUST GAS PURIFYING CATALYST - An exhaust gas purifying catalyst that contains a first oxygen storage material on which no noble metal is supported and which has a pyrochlore phase type regular array structure, and a second oxygen storage material which has a higher oxygen storage rate and a lower oxygen storage capacity than the first oxygen storage material and on which a platinum group noble metal is supported.01-26-2012
20120021309FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system capable of inhibiting dew condensation in an area affected by freezing by providing an area for actively promoting dew condensation is provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and an off-gas passage for allowing an off-gas discharged from the fuel cell flow through, wherein a dew condensation promoting area for promoting dew condensation is placed around a freezing-affected area that will be adversely affected by freezing.01-26-2012
20120021308INTEGRATED APPARATUS OF GAS-LIQUID SEPARATOR AND DILUTER - An integrated apparatus includes: a gas-liquid separator that separates a gas and a liquid from a gas-liquid mixture fluid; a diluter disposed below the gas-liquid separator; and a communication pipe that communicates between the gas-liquid separator and the diluter, and that is disposed at a predetermined angle to a horizontal direction, and that introduces at least the liquid separated from the gas-liquid mixture fluid, into the diluter. The gas-liquid separator, the diluter, and the communication pipe are integrated.01-26-2012
20120021301FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND VEHICLE - Provided are a fuel cell system and a vehicle that enable effective protection of fuel cell and related devices from impacts from below. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell unit (01-26-2012
20120021264LITHIUM-ION BATTERY AND USE THEREOF - The lithium-ion battery provided by the present invention has an electrode assembly (01-26-2012
20120021263TEMPERATURE ELEVATING APPARATUS OF SECONDARY BATTERY AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH SAME - A temperature elevating apparatus of a secondary battery (01-26-2012
20120021257FUEL CELL SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD FOR THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM, AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a secondary cell, a voltage transformer, and a control portion. The control portion charges the secondary cell with surplus electric power at the time of starting the fuel cell, and adjusts voltage of the fuel cell between an open-circuit voltage and a high-potential-avoiding voltage in the case where the secondary cell is expected to become overcharged while the output voltage of the fuel cell is decreased from the open-circuit voltage to the high-potential-avoiding voltage. The foregoing case is at least one of the case where a passage electric power that passes through the voltage transformer exceeds a secondary cell-charging-purpose permitted-to-pass electric power, the case where the input electric power restriction value for the secondary cell is exceeded, and the case where amount of regeneration by the mover that is charged is not restricted.01-26-2012
20120020724BALL JOINT - A ball joint provided with a ball stud having a ball section at one end thereof, a socket for housing the ball section, and an elastically deformable anti-friction seat mounted between the ball section and the socket and rotatably supporting the ball section, wherein the socket and the anti-friction seat have an opening through which the stud section of the ball stud can be inserted in a loose fit condition. Bases and grooves are arranged in the inner surface of the anti-friction seat so as to extend in a direction across the peripheral edge of the opening and be alternately arranged in the circumferential direction extending along the peripheral edge of the opening. Each of the grooves is isolated from the opening by a partition wall extending between bases on opposite sides of the groove. The bases are in spherical contact with the ball section, and the grooves are filled with a lubricating agent.01-26-2012
20120020128FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system FCS includes a fuel cell FC, a motor ES01-26-2012
20120020124APPARATUS FOR DETECTING SHORT-CIRCUIT OF OUTPUT DIODE IN CONVERTER - An apparatus comprises: a voltage monitoring unit for monitoring input direct-current voltages of first and second converters whose output ends are connected in parallel to each other; and a judgment control unit for judging that an output diode of the first converter is short-circuited, when an input direct-current voltage monitored by the voltage monitoring unit with respect to the first converter rises up to a post-step-up voltage stepped up by the second converter during a step-up operation of the second converter.01-26-2012
20120019655OBJECT DETECTION DEVICE - An object detection device, including: an imaging unit (01-26-2012
20120019375ALARM OUTPUT CONTROL APPARATUS - An output adjustment ECU (01-26-2012
20120019191FUEL CELL SYSTEM, AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas, and a control portion that controls amount of electricity generation at a time of starting the fuel cell, characterized in that the control portion has voltage drop control means for controlling speed of dropping a starting voltage of the fuel cell from an open-circuit voltage to a high-potential-avoiding voltage according to an initial voltage of the fuel cell and to a pre-determined threshold voltage that is lower than the high-potential-avoiding voltage, when the starting voltage of the fuel cell is dropped from the open-circuit voltage to the high-potential-avoiding voltage.01-26-2012
20120019179CONTROL 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
20120019176POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND ELECTRIC POWERED VEHICLE USING THE SAME - If it is determined that excess power is generated based on overcharge information of a power storage device, a controller starts an operation of consuming the excess power by an excessive power consuming circuit. The controller counts elapsed time from the time point when the power consuming operation started, and if the counted elapsed time exceeds a minimum on-time set in advance, switches the excessive power consuming circuit from active to inactive state. The minimum on-time is set based on a pattern that is expected to cause generation of excessive regenerative power from an AC electric motor because of abrupt change in running status of an electric powered vehicle mounting a motor drive system.01-26-2012
20120019097ROTOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE ROTOR - A rotor of the invention includes a core made of laminated steel sheets and formed with a rotation-transmitting-member mounting end face (a wall surface of a through hole for shaft) extending over a lamination direction and a rotation transmitting member (a shaft) mounted to the rotation-transmitting-member mounting end face of the core. The core is formed with a welding end face (a wall surface of a through hole for welding) extending over the lamination direction and in a position adjacent to a rotation-transmitting-member mounting end face. A welded trace is formed in the welding end face, extending to the rotation transmitting member and over the lamination direction of the core. The invention can easily achieve size reduction and weight reduction of a rotary machine and manufacture a rotor in the reduced number of working processes.01-26-2012
20120019068FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The present invention detects a failure in an FC converter. A target voltage determination section determines an output target voltage for a fuel cell. A superimposition signal generation section generates a predetermined reference signal to be superimposed onto the output target voltage. A voltage command signal generation section generates a voltage command signal by superimposing the reference signal onto the output target voltage. A frequency characteristics calculation section calculates the frequency characteristics of the reference signal component superimposed on the output voltage of the fuel cell. A failure judgment section judges that a failure occurs in the FC converter if a value of the calculated frequency characteristics is less than the lower limit threshold value of an allowable range established based on reference characteristics. A gain adjustment section adjusts the gains in the FC converter so that the frequency characteristics calculated by the frequency characteristics calculation section correspond to the reference characteristics.01-26-2012
20120019014DOOR HANDLE DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - A door handle device for a vehicle includes a door handle configured to be supported by a door panel, the door handle including a first handle case arranged to have a void relative to the door panel, a second handle case fixed to the first handle case at a side opposite from the door panel, and a lock command detection sensor including a lock detection signal processing circuit fixed to an inner side of the first handle case, a circuit connection portion electrically connected to the lock detection signal processing circuit, and a lock detection electrode assembled on the second handle case in a state to be arranged along an inner surface of the second handle case, the lock detection electrode being electrically connected to the circuit connection portion in a state where the second handle case is fixed to the first handle case.01-26-2012
20120018987KNEE AIRBAG FOR VEHICLE - A knee airbag is provided to the lower part of a glove box door, and an airbag door provided to the glove box door opens in both upward and downward directions when the knee airbag expands. As the knee airbag expands, the rigidity of the lower part of the glove box door decreases, and this causes a relatively small reaction force, which corresponds to a relatively small load generated when the knees of an occupant having a relatively small body build make contact with the lower part, to be generated on the lower part of the glove box door. On the other hand, because the knee airbag is not provided to the upper part of the glove box door, the upper part can generate a relatively large reaction force which corresponds to a relatively large load generated when the knees of an occupant having a relatively large body build make contact with the upper part via the knee airbag.01-26-2012
20120017876HIGH EXPANSION RATIO INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A high expansion ratio internal combustion engine includes: a variable compression ratio mechanism that varies a mechanical compression ratio of the internal combustion engine; and a variable valve train in which some valve(s) of a plurality of intake valves is phase-variable and the remaining valve(s) is phase-fixed, the variable valve train being configured such that a working angle of the phase-variable intake valve is larger than a working angle of the phase-fixed intake valve, wherein a valve-open timing of the phase-variable intake valve is retarded after a valve-open timing of the phase-fixed intake valve when the internal combustion engine is under low-load operating state.01-26-2012
20120017863ENGINE STARTING DEVICE AND ENGINE STARTING METHOD - An ECU executes a program including the steps of selecting an engagement mode when start of an engine is requested and when an engine speed is smaller than α01-26-2012
20120017859VARIABLE VALVE TIMING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A variable valve timing apparatus includes; a variable valve timing mechanism; an intermediate locking mechanism that locks the valve timing at an intermediate timing; and a hydraulic pressure supply device that hydraulically actuates these mechanisms. The hydraulic pressure supply device uses a single oil control valve to control a state where lubricating oil is supplied to or drained from each of an advance chamber, a retard chamber and an intermediate chamber of an intermediate locking mechanism. The oil control valve has first to fourth modes. The oil control valve advances the valve timing and actuates the intermediate locking mechanism in a projecting direction in the third mode, and, under a situation that the amount of lubricating oil supplied to the variable valve timing mechanism is smaller than that in the third mode, advances the valve timing and actuates the intermediate locking mechanism in a release direction in the fourth mode.01-26-2012
20120017858VARIABLE VALVE TIMING MECHANISM WITH INTERMEDIATE LOCKING MECHANISM AND FABRICATION METHOD THEREOF - An intermediate lock mechanism is formed by first and second lock pins, an advancement restricting groove, and a retardation restricting groove. The first and second lock pins are arranged in a vane rotor 01-26-2012
20120017724CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - An ECU executes a program including the steps of: starting monitoring the turbine revolution speed and the output shaft revolution speed when a direct shift is started (YES in S01-26-2012
20120017587CONTROL SYSTEM OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A control system of an internal combustion engine which arranges in an engine exhaust passage an exhaust turbine of an exhaust driven type supercharger, arranges in the exhaust passage downstream of the exhaust turbine an exhaust purification catalyst connects the exhaust passage between the exhaust purification catalyst and the exhaust turbine with the exhaust passage upstream of the exhaust turbine by a bypass passage, arranges in the bypass passage a storing agent which stores a specific ingredient in the exhaust, and is provided with an exhaust gas flow switching device which selectively switches the exhaust gas flow between a flow which flows through the exhaust turbine into the exhaust purification catalyst and a flow which flows through the bypass passage into the exhaust purification catalyst.01-26-2012
20120017572TEMPERATURE RAISING SYSTEM FOR AN EXHAUST GAS PURIFICATION CATALYST - A technique is provided which is capable of reducing an amount of smoke generated in a temperature raising system in which fuel added to an exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust passage is caused to combust at the time of requesting a temperature rise in an exhaust gas purification catalyst.01-26-2012
20120017425STATOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A stator core is fixed by a centering jig, and in this state, a fixing hole is formed in a flange portion provided on a fastening ring for the stator core, using a central position as a reference for positioning, by drilling with a drill. The fixing hole is opened to be located at a distance relative to the central position. In a plan view, the fixing hole is opened at a predetermined central angle interval (for example, intervals of 120°) relative to the central position.01-26-2012
20120016630METHOD OF MEASURING DEFECT DENSITY OF SINGLE CRYSTAL - A method of measuring the density of a plurality of defects that occur in a single crystal for each type of defect, includes: etching an observation surface, which is a surface of the single crystal, to form an etch pits at each defect; calculating the maximum depth, mean depth and depth curvature of each of etch pits formed at a plurality of defects present within a predetermined area on the observation surface; and comparing the measured maximum depth, mean depth and depth curvature with respective reference values to determine the type of each defect within the predetermined area.01-19-2012
20120016571CONTROL APPARATUS OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A series of combustion forms including initial low-temperature combustion, premixed combustion, and diffusive combustion are performed when an engine operates under a low load and a medium load. The initial low-temperature combustion is carried out by performing a small-amount injection while performing an operation for lowering the encounter rate between oxygen and a fuel spray in a cylinder, and thereby the heat generation rate is kept low and the amount of NOx generated is suppressed. The premixed combustion is carried out as fuel receives heat in the initial low-temperature combustion, and the amount of smoke generated is suppressed. The diffusive combustion is accomplished as fuel travels through the combustion field of the premixed combustion, and by controlling the fuel injection timing thereof, it is possible to suitably control the timing at which the heat generation rate reaches its maximum in the aforementioned series of combustion. Thereby, it is possible to concurrently suppress the amount of NOx generated, suppress the amount of smoke generated, and secure the required torque.01-19-2012
20120016568COMBUSTION STATE DETECTION SYSTEM AND COMBUSTION STATE DETECTION METHOD FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - Detecting a combustion state of an internal combustion engine includes calculating a one-step difference value and a two-step difference value of a physical quantity that correlates with torque generated by the internal combustion engine; detecting that a misfire has occurred, when the calculated one-step difference value is greater than a first determining value, and the calculated two-step difference value is greater than a second determining value; and determining the first determining value and the second determining value according to a required torque of the internal combustion engine, sensitivity of a change in the one-step difference value with respect to a change in the required torque, and sensitivity of a change in the two-step difference value with respect to a change in the required torque.01-19-2012
20120016565CONTROLLER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - When the operating characteristics of an intake valve are changed by an intake valve stop mechanism, an ECU outputs a command signal (control on) to a solenoid. At this time, a timing, at which the command signal is output to the solenoid, is determined on the basis of a rotational position of a crankshaft, calculated from a signal of a crank position sensor. However, the output timing is corrected on the basis of a rotational phase difference of a camshaft with respect to the crankshaft.01-19-2012
20120016547CHARGING/DISCHARGING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HYBRID VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - In a traveling mode for controlling traveling of a hybrid vehicle to maintain a charge amount of a power storage device of the hybrid vehicle to fall within a predetermined control range, when a malfunction associated with the power storage device takes place, a control center value defining the control range is set higher than a control center value employed in a normal state and set at a value near a management lower limit value of the charge amount. Then, it is permitted to charge/discharge the power storage device. In this way, upon occurrence of a malfunction of a level that does not require immediate interruption of the charging/discharging of the power storage device, a vehicle operation can be continued using the power storage device while protecting the power storage device.01-19-2012
20120016545ELECTRIC DRIVE VEHICLE - In an electric drive vehicle equipped with a power generating unit that is detachable, the power generating unit includes a power-generating-unit side ECU capable of controlling an operation of the power generating unit solely, and the electric drive vehicle includes a vehicle-side ECU capable of managing a state of charge of a battery used for running, and in a case where the power generating unit is installed in the electric drive vehicle and power is supplied to the battery from the power generating unit, an instruction by the vehicle-side ECU is given priority to an instruction by the power-generating-unit side ECU, and the vehicle-side ECU controls the operation of the power generating unit.01-19-2012
20120016278WALKING ASSIST DEVICE - A walking assist device which assists walking motion of one of the legs of the human with a sensor attached only to the one leg is provided. The walking assist device comprises an actuator, a sensor, and a controller. The sensor detects a knee joint angle and a hip joint angle of the one leg. The controller stores a first target trajectory for the knee joint angle and a second target trajectory for the hip joint angle. The controller controls the actuator so that the detected knee joint angle follows the first target trajectory. Further, the controller compares time series data of the detected hip joint angle with the second target trajectory while the one leg is in a stance phase. The controller calculates a time difference between the time series data and the second target trajectory and modifies the first target trajectory based on the time difference.01-19-2012
20120016277WALK ASSISTANCE DEVICE - A walk assistance device comprises a thigh unit configured to be arranged on a thigh of the user, a shank unit configured to be arranged on a shank of the user, a foot unit configured to be arranged on a foot of the user, a knee position joint unit configured to couple the thigh unit and the shank unit in a swingable manner, and an ankle position joint unit configured to couple the shank unit and the foot unit in a swingable manner. The shank unit comprises a first replaceable member and a second replaceable member that extend along the shank of the user, and a length of the shank unit is adjustable by replacing each of the first and second replaceable members with another one having a different length.01-19-2012
20120016276WALKING ASSIST DEVICE - A walking assist device which assists the knee joint with well synchronizing with the upper leg motion during the swing phase at low cost may be provided. The walking assist device comprises an upper link, a lower link, a rotary joint, an actuator, and a controller. The upper link is to be attached to an upper leg of a user. The lower link is to be attached to the lower leg of the user. The rotary joint swingably connects the lower link to the upper link. The rotary joint is coaxially aligned with the user's knee joint when the user wears the walking assist device. The actuator swings the lower link relative to the upper link. The controller controls the actuator so that the lower link guides the user's walking motion.01-19-2012
20120015508METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device capable of preventing a relative displacement of the positions between a range where impurity ions are injected and a range where charged particles are injected. The method of manufacturing the semiconductor device includes: irradiating impurity ions in a state in which a mask is disposed between an impurity ion irradiation apparatus and a semiconductor substrate; and irradiating charged particles to form a short carrier lifetime region, in a state in which the mask is disposed between a charged particle irradiation apparatus and the semiconductor substrate. A relative positional relationship between the mask and the semiconductor substrate is not changed from a beginning of one of the irradiating the impurity ions and the irradiating the charged particles to a completion of both of the irradiating the impurity ions and the irradiating the charged particles.01-19-2012
20120015272FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system suppresses the deterioration of an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell. The fuel cell system comprises: a temperature rise speed calculation unit for calculating a target temperature rise speed of the fuel cell using a temperature of the fuel cell and a water content of the fuel cell; and a drive control unit for controlling a drive of the cooling water pump using the temperature rise speed of the fuel cell and the target temperature rise speed calculated by the temperature rise speed calculation unit. The drive control unit controls the drive of the cooling water pump such that a circulation amount of the cooling water is decreased when the temperature rise speed of the fuel cell is below the target temperature rise speed and controls the drive of the cooling water pump such that the circulation amount of the cooling water is increased when the temperature rise speed of the fuel cell is equal to or greater than the target temperature rise speed.01-19-2012
20120015270FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Provided is a fuel cell system including: a fuel cell which generates power by an electrochemical reaction between an oxidant gas supplied to an oxidant gas flow path and a fuel gas supplied to a fuel gas flow path; and a controller which adjusts an amount of the oxidant gas supplied to the fuel cell and a voltage of the fuel cell. The controller has an obstruction degree determining unit which determines a degree of obstruction of the oxidant gas flow path based on a stoichiometric ratio of the oxidant gas and the voltage of the fuel cell during a low-efficiency operation in which the stoichiometric ratio of the oxidant gas is reduced from the stoichiometric ratio of the oxidant gas during a normal operation and heat discharged from the fuel cell is increased from that during the normal operation. This improves stability of the low-efficiency operation of the fuel cell system.01-19-2012
20120015269FUEL CELL SYSTEM - Provided is a fuel cell system that performs a warm-up operation by reducing a supply of oxidant gas to a fuel cell, the system having: a fuel cell; and a control unit that regulates amounts of oxidant gas and fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell and controls a power-generation state of the fuel cell. During the warm-up operation with a reduced supply of oxidant gas to the fuel cell, the control unit varies a voltage of the fuel cell for a short period of time to obtain current-voltage characteristics which indicate a relationship of an output voltage and an output current of the fuel cell, calculates an effective catalyst area of the fuel cell based on the obtained current-voltage characteristics, and determines whether the warm-up operation of the fuel cell can be stopped or not based on the calculated effective catalyst area.01-19-2012
20120015268FUEL CELL SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD FOR THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM, AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas, and a control portion that determines whether there is leakage of the fuel gas. The control portion has start means for starting the fuel cell by raising the voltage of the fuel cell from a starting voltage to an operation voltage that is lower than an open-circuit voltage, and leakage determination means for determining whether there is leakage of the fuel gas before the voltage of the fuel cell reaches the operation voltage when the fuel cell is started.01-19-2012
20120015267FUEL CELL SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD FOR THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM, AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell that has a plurality of fuel unit cells, and a control portion that controls voltage of the fuel cell. The control portion has: start means for starting the fuel cell by raising the voltage of the fuel cell from a starting voltage to a high-potential-avoiding voltage that is lower than an open-circuit voltage; and command means for further raising the voltage of the fuel cell beyond the high-potential-avoiding voltage if cell voltage of at least one of the plurality of fuel unit cells is lower than or equal to a certain voltage after a certain time elapses after the voltage of the fuel cell is raised to the high-potential-avoiding voltage.01-19-2012
20120015263METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING HUMIDITY STATES OF INDIVIDUAL CELLS IN A FUEL CELL, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING HUMIDITY STATES OF INDIVIDUAL CELLS IN A FUEL CELL, AND A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - In order to cause a plurality of cells in a fuel cell to be recovered to a desired humidity state, it is configured to determine that the cells present a mixture of dry and overly humid states in the case where a predetermined condition is satisfied, and in the case where it is determined that the cells present the mixture, humidifying control is carried out to cause all the cells to attain the overly humid state, and thereafter, drying control is carried out to dry all the cells, to thereby cause the plurality of cells to be recovered to a predetermined humidity state.01-19-2012
20120015257FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND VEHICLE - A fuel-cell-system providing structure is provided which is capable of preventing a collision of a fuel cell with a related apparatus of the fuel cell while suppressing the increase in weight of a vehicle. A fuel cell system provided in a vehicle includes: a fuel cell unit in which a fuel cell is contained; and a related apparatus that is electrically connected to the fuel cell and that is located adjacent to the fuel cell unit. The related apparatus is arranged at a position closer to an outer surface of the vehicle than the fuel cell unit.01-19-2012
20120015251METHOD FOR PRODUCING CATHODE ACTIVE MATERIAL LAYER - The main object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a cathode active material layer, which allows a high-purity lithium complex oxide by restraining impurities from being produced, allows a flat film, and allows orientation control. The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a method for producing a cathode active material layer, in which a cathode active material layer is formed on a substrate and contains LiX01-19-2012
20120015220BATTERY AND BATTERY SYSTEM - The present invention is a battery comprising: a power section containing a sulfur-based material; a distinguishing section which discolors by chemical reaction with hydrogen sulfide; and an exterior body incorporating the power section and the distinguishing section, the distinguishing section being observable from outside the exterior body. By checking discoloration of the distinguishing section or the distinguishing means, it is possible to easily detect the presence or absence of hydrogen sulfide in the battery and then judge deterioration of the battery with non-destructive inspection.01-19-2012
20120014410CATALYST OVERHEAT PREVENTION APPARATUS - A catalyst overheat prevention apparatus has a temperature obtaining portion that estimates a convergence temperature of a catalyst provided in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine and the present temperature of the catalyst. The catalyst overheat prevention apparatus also has a fuel increment calculation portion, a comparison portion, a correction portion, and a fuel increment setting portion, which are used to execute OT fuel increase control when the convergence temperature and present catalyst temperature obtained by the temperature obtaining portion are equal to or higher than an OT determination temperature. The catalyst overheat prevention apparatus also has a present temperature correction portion that corrects the present catalyst temperature to be equal to the OT determination temperature when the present catalyst temperature is equal to or higher than the OT determination temperature and the convergence temperature is equal to the OT determination temperature.01-19-2012
20120014066HEAT EXCHANGER, SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE HEAT EXCHANGER, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - Disclosed is a heat exchanger wherein warping (bending) of an intervening member and a frame is suppressed when the intervening member and a wall portion of the frame member having different linear expansion coefficients are welded with each other. A method for manufacturing the heat exchanger, a semiconductor device wherein warping (bending) of an intervening member and a frame is suppressed, and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device are also disclosed. Specifically disclosed is a heat exchanger wherein a fin member provided with a plurality of fins forming flow channels for a refrigerant is arranged within a frame which forms the outer casing. The frame has a first frame member (a first wall portion) to which insulating plates (intervening members) interposed between the frame and heat-generating bodies (semiconductor elements) are welded. The insulating plates (intervening members) have a linear expansion coefficient different from that of the frame. The first frame member is provided with elastically deformable projections (elastically deformable portions) along an arrangement surface of the outer surface on which the insulating plates (intervening members) are arranged.01-19-2012
20120013289FUEL CELL SYSTEM, AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system starts a fuel cell by setting the voltage supplied to a secondary cell from a voltage transformer at an open-circuit voltage of the fuel cell, and raising the voltage of the fuel cell from a starting voltage to the open-circuit voltage, in the case where the secondary cell is expected to be overcharged if the secondary cell receives electric power. In the case where the secondary cell is not expected to be overcharged if the secondary cell receives electric power, the system starts the fuel cell by setting the voltage supplied from the voltage transformer at a high-potential-avoiding voltage that is lower than the open-circuit voltage of the fuel cell at or after the elapse of a predetermined time following the output of a command to close an FC relay, and raising the voltage of the fuel cell from the starting voltage to the high-potential-avoiding voltage.01-19-2012
20120013277DAMPER SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - A damper system for a vehicle including an electromagnetic damper, wherein the electromagnetic damper includes: (i) an electromagnetic motor; (ii) a motion converting mechanism; and (iii) an external circuit including (A) a first connection passage, (B) a second connection passage, (C) a first-connection-passage-current adjuster, and (D) a second-connection-passage-current adjuster, wherein the damper system comprises an external-circuit controller including: (a) a main-adjuster control portion configured to perform, on one of the first-connection-passage-current adjuster and the second-connection-passage-current adjuster that is designated as a main adjuster, a first control for mainly damping the relative vibration of the sprung portion and the unsprung portion; and (b) an auxiliary-adjuster control portion configured to perform, on one of the first-connection-passage-current adjuster and the second-connection-passage-current adjuster that is designated as an auxiliary adjuster, a second control for assisting the damping of the relative vibration of the sprung portion and the unsprung portion by the first control.01-19-2012
20120013185FUEL CELL SYSTEM - The largest possible compartment space is secured in a fuel cell hybrid vehicle. A reactor unit, a voltage-increase control unit 01-19-2012
20120013184POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICALLY POWERED VEHICLE, ELECTRICALLY POWERED VEHICLE, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM OF ELECTRICALLY POWERED VEHICLE - A power supply system includes a main power storage device and a plurality of sub power storage devices. A converter is sequentially connected to one of the sub power storage devices to convert voltage between the selected sub power storage device and an electric power feeding line bidirectionally. The sub power storage device undergoes a connection switching process, and when there is no new sub power storage device remaining for replacement, then, in accordance with that sub power storage device's SOC and the vehicle's state, a request is generated to disconnect the sub power storage device. Here, when a condition regarding a temperature of at least one of the main power storage device and the plurality of sub power storage devices is satisfied, generation of a disconnection request is prohibited, in order to protect the main power storage device.01-19-2012
20120013183FUEL CELL SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD FOR THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM, AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes: a secondary cell; a voltage converter provided between the secondary cell and a load; a fuel cell; an FC relay that turns on and off electrical connection between the fuel cell and the shared electrical path; an electrical-leakage detector that detects electrical leakage in an electrical system; and a control portion that performs determination regarding electrical leakage. The control portion has: start means for starting the fuel cell by raising voltage of the fuel cell from a starting voltage to an operation voltage that is lower than an open-circuit voltage; and electrical leakage determination means for performing the determination regarding electrical leakage after a predetermined time elapses, when the FC relay is closed while a voltage difference between the voltage of the fuel cell and voltage supplied from the voltage converter to the load is greater than a predetermined threshold value.01-19-2012
20120013182POWER SOURCE SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC POWERED VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - Relays are inserted and connected between a battery and a boosting converter, and other relays are inserted and connected between another battery and another boosting converter. A controller outputs control signals that control opening/closing of the relays. When short-circuit of a switching element occurs in the boosting converters, the controller controls turning-off of the relays such that at least one of order and timing of turning off the relays is changed depending on which of the switching elements is short-circuited.01-19-2012
20120012996SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - Disclosed is a semiconductor device that can properly relax a stress produced by a difference in coefficient of linear expansion between an insulating substrate and a cooler and can properly remove heat by cooling of a semiconductor element. A semiconductor device comprises an insulating substrate, a semiconductor element provided on the insulating substrate, a cooler, and a porous metal plate provided between the insulating substrate and the cooler. Through holes in the porous metal plate are open at least to that surface of the porous metal plate which faces the cooler. The sectional size of the pores decreases gradually from the cooler side toward the insulating substrate side.01-19-2012
20120012860SIC 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
20120012777POWDER FOR DUST CORE, DUST CORE MADE OF THE POWDER FOR DUST CORE BY POWDER COMPACTION, AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE POWDER FOR DUT CORE - A powder for dust core including a soft magnetic metal powder and a silicon impregnated layer made of silicon concentrated in a surface layer of the soft magnetic metal powder, in which a silicon dioxide powder is diffusion-bonded to a surface of the silicon impregnated layer to form a diffusion-bonded part while a part of the silicon dioxide powder is impregnated and diffused in the silicon impregnated layer and the other part of the same protrudes from the surface of the silicon impregnated layer. The diffusion-bonded part creates a gap with respect to another powder for dust core, thereby providing increased specific resistance.01-19-2012
20120012295HEAT EXCHANGER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A heat exchanger is provided with a cooling fin including a plurality of fin portions and a base portion supporting the fin portions, and a plurality of pins press-fitted into the fin portions. In the heat exchanger, the pins each having a wider width than each space between the fin portions formed in advance in parallel straight shapes are press-fitted into the spaces in a direction from a top end of each fin portion toward the base portion. Accordingly, the fin portions are formed into corrugated shapes by plastic deformation, thereby fixing the pins between the fin portions in positions apart from the base portion. In each space, the pins are arranged at intervals in a longitudinal direction of each space. The pins arranged in adjacent spaces are placed with a displacement in alternating pattern.01-19-2012
20120012181SOLAR CELL - A solar cell 01-19-2012
20120012086VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS - In an internal combustion engine provided with a rotary intake control valve, preferable position convergence at the end of inertia supercharging is ensured while avoiding an influence on combustion performance. In an engine provided with an impulse valve, if the implementation of the inertia supercharging is stopped and a request to maintain the impulse valve at a fully-opened position is made, an ECU stops the supply of a braking force to the impulse valve until the rotational phase of the impulse valve enters dead band, and the ECU performs a BRK mode for stopping the impulse valve under the condition that the rotational phase enters the dead band and that the impulse valve is in a deceleration state. At this time, electrification or power distribution for acceleration of the impulse valve during stop control of the impulse valve is forbidden. Moreover, the converging position of the impulse valve by the BRK mode is allowed to deviate in a range with an allowable width set in advance with respect to a target.01-19-2012
20120011934JOINT QUALITY INSPECTION APPARATUS AND JOINT QUALITY INSPECTION METHOD - A joint quality examining device and method for accurately examining in real time the qualities of the joints of all the products where joining members are joined to members to be joined. A joining device includes an ampere meter, a frequency meter, an encoder, and a recording unit the four for detected the joining waveform produced in a joining process, a feature point extracting unit for extracting from the deleted joining waveform a feature point related to an after-endurance physical quantity usable for evaluation of the quality which the joint is required to have after an endurance test, a calculating formula setting unit storing the calculation formula for calculating the after-endurance physical quantity, a calculating unit for calculating the after-endurance physical quantity of the joint from the feature point extracted by using the calculation formula, and a judging unit for judging whether or not the joint quality of the joint is acceptable on the basis of the comparison of the calculated after-endurance physical quantity and a predetermined threshold.01-19-2012
20120011841HYDRAULIC DEVICE FOR STEPLESS TRANSMISSION - A hydraulic device includes a switch-over valve 01-19-2012
20120010801CONTROL DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - In a control device which uses a specific physical quantity as a control variable of an internal combustion engine, and controls the internal combustion engine by manipulation of one or a plurality of actuators, switching of setting of a manipulation variable based on a required value of a physical quantity and setting of the manipulation variables by direct instruction to individual actuators is performed without generating discontinuity in a realized value of the physical quantity. When a manipulation variable instruction value directly designating a manipulation variable of an actuator is present, the manipulation variable instruction value is converted into a value of a physical quantity which is realized in the internal combustion engine by the operation quantity instruction value. When a deviation between a physical quantity conversion value converted from the manipulation variable instruction value and the physical quantity required value is within a predetermined range, switch of information for use in setting of the manipulation variable of each of the actuators is permitted.01-12-2012
20120010798CONTROL DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE - In a control for a four-wheel drive vehicle that is able to travel in a non-differential mode in which differential rotation between front wheels and rear wheels is limited, it is determined whether a drive train is placed in a twisted state where a twisting torque resulting from a twist accumulated in the drive train is larger than or equal to a predetermined torque while the vehicle is cornering in the non-differential mode, and braking force is applied to the front wheels by a wheel brake device when it is determined that the drive train is placed in the twisted state.01-12-2012
20120010780DAMPING FORCE CONTROL APPARATUS - A control mode for a damping force characteristic is set to be a variable control when a product of the sum x01-12-2012
20120010771HYBRID VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - A power supply system includes a main power storage device and a plurality of sub power storage devices. A converter is connected to a selected one of the sub power storage devices to convert voltage between the selected sub power storage device and an electric power feeding line bidirectionally. The sub power storage device undergoes a connection switching process, and when the last sub power storage device is currently used, then, in accordance with that sub power storage device's SOC and the vehicle's state, a request is generated to disconnect the sub power storage device and a relay is turned off. In doing so, if a process is currently performed for starting or stopping an engine, generating the request is refrained even if a decreased SOC is sensed. Similarly, if a process is performed to disconnect a sub power storage device, and therewhile a request is generated to start/stop the engine, starting the process performed for starting or stopping the engine is refrained.01-12-2012
20120010764INFORMATION PROVIDING METHOD, INFORMATION PROVIDING SYSTEM, AND INFORMATION PROVIDING CENTER AND ON-VEHICLE DEVICE CONSTITUTING THE INFORMATION PROVIDING SYSTEM - An information providing system (SYS), which provides information with a vehicle to assist driving the vehicle via a road-to-vehicle communication, comprises an information providing center (R) which has version-controlled first static information (R01-12-2012
20120010069METHOD OF PRODUCING CORE-SHELL CATALYST PARTICLE AND CORE-SHELL CATALYST PARTICLE PRODUCED BY THIS PRODUCTION METHOD - A method of producing a core-shell catalyst particle, the method including: preparing a core particle that contains an alloy including a first core metal having a standard electrode potential of at least 0.6 V and a second core metal having a standard electrode potential lower than that of the first core metal; eluting the second core metal at least at a surface of the core particle, the elution being carried out under conditions at which an equilibrium is maintained for the first core metal between a metal state and a hydroxide and at which an equilibrium is maintained for the second core metal between a metal state and a metal ion; and, with the core particle being designed as a core portion, coating this core portion with a shell portion after the elution of the second core metal.01-12-2012
20120009492FUEL CELL SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD FOR THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM, AND STATE DETECTION METHOD FOR FUEL CELL - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel supply portion that supplies fuel to the fuel cell, a combustion portion that burns an anode exhaust gas discharged from the anode of the fuel cell, and an oxygen concentration detection portion that detects the oxygen concentration in a predetermined gas. The fuel flow control portion controls the amount of flow of fuel supplied from the fuel supply portion to the fuel cell so that the amount of fluctuation of the oxygen concentration in the combustion exhaust gas discharged from the combustion portion which is detected by the oxygen concentration detection portion is between a first value and a second value that is larger than the first value.01-12-2012
20120009447POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - A power supply device, which is simply assembled and in which a cell assembly and a measuring section are freely inserted and detached, is provided. A power supply device 01-12-2012
20120007764FRONT STRUCTURE AND REAR STRUCTURE OF VEHICLE - Provided is a front structure of a vehicle wherein damage on auxiliary equipment by a millimeter-wave radar is limited at the time of collision, and cooling efficiency for auxiliary equipment using traveling wind is not reduced. A front structure of a vehicle comprises a front right side radar for detecting an obstacle on the front right side of a vehicle by transmitting/receiving a radio wave, a front left side radar for detecting an obstacle on the front left side of a vehicle by transmitting/receiving a radio wave, a bumper reinforcement, right and left crush boxes, and a condenser cooled by traveling wind, wherein the front right side radar is disposed on the outboard side of the right end of the condenser, and the front left side radar is disposed on the outboard side of the left end of the condenser.01-12-2012
20120007724REMOTE 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
20120007553CHARGING CABLE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING CHARGING CABLE - A charging cable, used for charging an electric storage device in an electric vehicle from an external power supply, controls a usage history of the charging cable by a CCID, displays a warning on an external monitor, and regulates charging when a service life limit of the charging cable has been exceeded.01-12-2012
20120007545FUEL CELL SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD FOR THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM, AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a secondary cell, and a control portion that controls the amount of electricity generated when the fuel cell is started. A start-time target voltage is set so as to avoid the overcharged state of the secondary cell. A voltage adjustment portion that adjusts the output voltage of the fuel cell between an open-circuit voltage and a high-potential-avoiding voltage adjusts the amount of electricity generated at the time of starting the fuel cell, on the basis of the start-time target voltage.01-12-2012
20120007530 NOISE REDUCTION ARRANGEMENT RELATED TO A THREE-PHASE BRUSHLESS MOTOR - An object of the present invention is to effectively reduce noise generated when driving a three-phase brushless motor. A noise reduction arrangement applied to a three-phase brushless motor is disclosed, wherein respective current loops, which are generated when two switching elements Q01-12-2012
20120007460STATOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING UNIT COIL TO BE USED THEREIN - A stator includes a stator core and a distributed winding type multi-phase coil. This coil includes unit coils made by winding a flat conductor wire in plural turns. The unit coils are mounted in slots of the stator core and connected with each other. Each unit coil includes an outer-layer coil and an inner-layer coil each being concentrically wound. Those two layer coils are made of a single continuous flat conductor wire. A winding start portion of the outer-layer coil and a winding end portion of the inner-layer coil form first and second connection end portions of the unit coil respectively. The first and second connection end portions are located separately on both edges of the unit coil above an upper end face of the stator core. The first connection end portion is placed close to an inner circumference of the stator core and the second connection end portion is placed close to an outer circumference of the stator core. The first connection end portions of the adjacent unit coils constituting the same phase are connected with each other. The second connection end portions of the adjacent unit coils constituting the same phase are connected with each other.01-12-2012
20120007407VEHICLE SEAT WITH INTERNAL CUSHION AIR BAG APPARATUS, AND CUSHION AIR BAG APPARATUS - A cushion air bag includes a waist restraining portion that is arranged at a central portion of a cushion panel, and a gas introducing portion that connects this waist restraining portion to an inflator that is provided at a front portion of a cushion panel. This cushion air bag is inflated such that the waist restraining portion reaches a higher height than the gas introducing portion.01-12-2012
20120007241SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - The present teachings provides a semiconductor device which has a semiconductor substrate, and a lower electrode including a first layer in contact with a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate, a second layer in contact with a lower surface of the first layer, and a third layer stacked at a position farther from the semiconductor substrate than the second layer, wherein the first layer is an aluminum layer containing silicon, the second layer is a layer including silicon as a primary component, and the third layer is a solder joint layer.01-12-2012
20120007222METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DIODE, AND DIODE - The present specification provides a method of efficiently manufacturing diodes in which recovery surge voltage is hardly generated.01-12-2012
20120007142SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE INCLUDING DIODE REGION AND IGBT REGION - Provided is a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate in which a diode region and an IGBT region are formed. A separation region formed of a p-type semiconductor is formed in a range between the diode region and the IGBT region and extending from an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate to a position deeper than both a lower end of an anode region and a lower end of a body region. A diode lifetime control region is formed within a diode drift region. A carrier lifetime in the diode lifetime control region is shorter than that in the diode drift region outside the diode lifetime control region. An end of the diode lifetime control region on an IGBT region side is located right below the separation region.01-12-2012
20120007141SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE INCLUDING DIODE REGION AND IGBT REGION - A semiconductor device, including a semiconductor substrate in which a diode region and an IGBT region are formed, is provided. A lifetime control region is formed within a diode drift region. The diode drift region and the IGBT drift region are a continuous region across a boundary region between the diode region and the IGBT region. A first separation region and a second separation region are formed within the boundary region. The first separation region is formed of a p-type semiconductor, formed in a range extending from an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate to a position deeper than both of a lower end of an anode region and a lower end of a body region, and bordering with the anode region. The second separation region is formed of a p-type semiconductor, formed in a range extending from the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate to a position deeper than both of the lower end of the anode region and the lower end of the body region, and bordering with the body region. The second separation region is separated from the first separation region.01-12-2012
20120007139SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - The present teachings provides a bipolar semiconductor device comprising: a main cell region consisting of a trench gate type element region; and a sense cell region including a planar gate type element region.01-12-2012
20120006607FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND VEHICLE - Provided is a mounting structure of a fuel cell system capable of inhibiting a related device from colliding with the fuel cell when a crash impact is applied from the vehicle front while inhibiting the increase in the vehicle weight. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, and a related device electrically connected to the fuel cell and disposed adjacent to the, wherein related device has an inclined part on a side of a forward direction of a vehicle. When a crash impact is applied to the vehicle from the forward direction side, the moving direction of the related device is changed to a direction (for example, downward) that is not parallel to the forward direction. Thus, it is possible to inhibit the related device from advancing directly toward and damaging the fuel cell.01-12-2012
20120006606FUEL CELL STACK MOUNTING STRUCTURE AND FUEL CELL STACK MOUNTING METHOD - The fuel cell stack is placed in an attitude for which the stacking direction of the plurality of cells are tilted in relation to the front-back direction of the vehicle, and the second end plate is positioned at forward and upper position relative to the first end plate in the vehicle. The radiator is provided at a forward position relative to the second end plate, and along the second end plate. The first compressor is fixed at a total of three or more points to both the first and second end plates below the fuel cell stack.01-12-2012
20120006523HEAT EXCHANGER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A heat exchanger having a fin member which can be easily formed by extrusion molding and warps (bends) less and configured such that an occurrence of voids at a weld portion between the fin member and a frame is suppressed. A method of manufacturing the heat exchanger is also provided. A heat exchanger has, mounted inside a frame forming an outer frame, a fin member having fins for forming flow channels for a refrigerant. The fin member is an integrally formed fin member formed by extrusion molding and is provided with a base formed in a rectangular flat plate-like shape, front side fins projecting from the front side of the base, and back side fins projecting from the back side of the base. In the fin member, the front side and the back side are not welded to the frame but the front ends of at least either the front side fins or the back side fins are welded to the frame.01-12-2012
20120006307AIR-FUEL RATIO CONTROL APPARATUS OF A MULTI-CYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - An air-fuel ratio control apparatus includes a catalytic converter disposed at a position downstream of an exhaust gas aggregated portion; a downstream air-fuel ratio sensor disposed in an exhaust passage at a position downstream of the catalytic converter; first feedback amount updating means for updating a first feedback amount to have an output value of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor coincide with a target downstream-side air-fuel ratio based on the output value of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor; and a learning means for updating a leaning value of the first feedback amount in such a manner that the leaning value brings in a steady-state component of the first feedback amount based on the first feedback amount.01-12-2012
20120006303PULSATION DAMPER - A pulsation damper mounted in a fuel chamber (01-12-2012
20120006291CONTROL APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - There is provided a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which can favorably reduce a load necessary for cranking at the time of the next start, while preventing the fresh air inflow to a catalyst at the time of the stop of the internal combustion engine. A valve stop command is issued to an electrically-driven actuator so that the operational states of intake and exhaust valves becomes a valve closed/stopped state when fuel supply is stopped in response to an establishment of a predetermined stop condition of the internal combustion engine. Then, to return the operational states of the intake and exhaust valves to a valve operating state after the completion of the stopping operation of the internal combustion engine, a valve return command is issued to the actuator, and a crankshaft is rotationally driven by a predetermined angle required to return the operational states of the intake and exhaust valves to the valve operating state.01-12-2012
20120006002DEVICE FOR DETERMINING DETERIORATION OF CATALYST AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING DETERIORATION OF CATALYST - The degree of deterioration of a catalyst is obtained accurately in cases where a plurality of catalysts is disposed at an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine. Under the assumption that the degree of deterioration of a catalyst which is disposed at a location upstream of an NO01-12-2012
20120005787GENE FOR INCREASING THE PRODUCTION OF PLANT BIOMASS AND/OR SEEDS AND METHOD FOR USE THEREOF - A technique by which the production of plant biomass can be significantly increased is provided. A gene encoding protein phosphatase 2C having 3 consensus sequences comprising the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS: 1-3 from the N-terminal side in such order and a gene encoding glutathione-binding plastid-type fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase is introduced, or an expression control region of endogenous genes corresponding to the genes are modified.01-05-2012
20120005535FAILURE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FOR VEHICLE, FAILURE DIAGNOSTIC METHOD - A failure diagnostic system (01-05-2012
20120004843AZIMUTH DETECTING DEVICE AND AZIMUTH DETECTING METHOD - An azimuth detecting device mounted in a mobile object and having: a geomagnetic sensor; GPS signal receiving means; and measuring means for measuring a position of the mobile object by using a GPS signal, the azimuth detecting device being characterized in calculating a gain correction amount by means of a method of least squares, using an output value of the geomagnetic sensor when a level of the GPS signal received by the GPS signal receiving means is lower than a predetermined level, and calculating a declination correction amount and/or an inclination correction amount on the basis of information obtained from the GPS signal and correcting the output value of the geomagnetic sensor, when the level of the GPS signal is at least the predetermined level.01-05-2012
20120004835VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - A vehicle control device includes: a road-to-vehicle communication device which acquires information regarding the volume of traffic in a predetermined section on a road where a vehicle travels and which transmits the traffic volume information to a determination section; a deceleration acquisition section which acquires deceleration of a vehicle in front in the predetermined section and transmits information regarding the deceleration to the determination section; the determination section which determines whether or not a lane change is necessary on the basis of the traffic volume information acquired by the road-to-vehicle communication device and the deceleration acquired by the deceleration acquisition section; and an instruction section which instructs at least either the host vehicle or a vehicle behind to change lane when the determination section determines that a lane change is necessary. Therefore, it is possible to provide a vehicle control device capable of suppressing the occurrence of a traffic jam.01-05-2012
20120004831CONTROLLER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSION ENGINE - An internal combustion engine uses, as the fuel, ammonia and gasoline (supporting fuel) for promoting the combustion of the ammonia. The ammonia is injected from an ammonia injector into an intake pipe, and the gasoline is injected from a gasoline injector into the intake pipe. An electronic control unit for drivingly controlling the ammonia injector and the gasoline injector stops the injection of the ammonia from the ammonia injector and allows the injection of the gasoline from the gasoline injector when the temperature of a cooling water of the internal combustion engine detected by a cooling water temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.01-05-2012
20120004830CONTROLLER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - An internal combustion engine (01-05-2012
20120004828SPARK IGNITION TYPE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - The control system of an internal combustion engine of the present invention comprises an S/V ratio changing mechanism able to change an S/V ratio of a combustion chamber and a detection device having an output value changing in accordance with a hydrogen concentration in exhaust gas, which increases along with an increase in the S/V ratio, the internal combustion engine being controlled by the output value of the detection device. Further, the output value of the detection device or a parameter relating to operation of the internal combustion engine is corrected in accordance with the S/V ratio of the above S/V ratio changing mechanism. Due to this, even if the hydrogen concentration in the exhaust gas increases along with an increase in the S/V ratio, the internal combustion engine can be suitably controlled.01-05-2012
20120004821TORQUE ESTIMATING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A torque estimating system for an internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders is provided that is capable of accurately estimating torque for each cylinder.01-05-2012
20120004801VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING VEHICLE - In a hybrid vehicle, an ECU executes drive control of an EHC. For the control, the ECU first executes low-voltage drive in which a drive voltage is reduced to 50 V when an energization request of the EHC is made. Then, based on a resistance value of the EHC, the ECU detects whether or not electric leakage is caused by dew formation of condensed water in the EHC. Consequently, if the electric leakage is detected, the energization of the EHC is inhibited. If electric leakage is not detected, the drive voltage Vd is increased to 200 V for normal drive to heat a catalyst by the EHC.01-05-2012
20120004775ROBOT APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - A robot apparatus includes a robot mechanism having a plurality of joints, and actuators that drive joint axes of the robot mechanism. The robot apparatus includes a robot controller that controls the driving of the actuators based on a cost function that is a function of torque reference inputs for the actuators.01-05-2012
20120004064CONTROL DEVICE FOR POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE - It is provided a control device for a power transmission device including a regenerative electric motor via a stepped shifting mechanism, wherein when a shift of the stepped shifting mechanism is performed in a regenerative state of the electric motor, the control device for a power transmission device increases an input shaft rotation speed of the stepped shifting mechanism through hydraulic control before a shift ending period, and, in the shift ending period, restrains an increase of the input shaft rotation speed through the hydraulic control and controls an input shaft rotation speed of the stepped shifting mechanism with the electric motor to be a target rotation speed after the shift.01-05-2012
20120003562FUEL CELL - A fuel cell 01-05-2012
20120003557FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND START-UP CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An object is to suppress the degradation of durability due to a heat concentration while performing a rapid warm-up operation as necessary, when starting a fuel cell system at temperatures below freezing point. In order to achieve such an object, the present invention stores in a memory an operation termination condition of the last operation of the system, data such as the start-up temperature, or the remaining amount of product water at the time of the last scavenging; calculates the remaining amount of product water based on data read out from the memory at the time of starting the system to make judgments, from the remaining amount and the start-up temperature, on whether or not a rapid warm-up of the system is necessary and whether to start without circulating the cooling water when a rapid warm-up is necessary; and conducts, based on the judgment result provided by the judgment means, with or without circulating the cooling water, a low-efficiency power generation where a reactant gas to be supplied to the fuel cell is less than that in a normal power generation and an electronic power loss is larger than that in a normal power generation. The data includes, for example, an impedance, a temperature of the fuel cell and a scavenging air amount at the last termination of the operation of the fuel cell.01-05-2012
20120003054TAP WITH DRILL AND METHOD FOR CUTTING INTERNAL THREAD - A tap with drill includes a drill portion including a plurality of chip discharge grooves and having drill blades for cutting a prepared hole. The tap further includes a tap portion for cutting the internal thread on an inner circumferential surface of the prepared hole formed by the drill blades, and oil holes. The tap with drill is applied for performing cutting work. The drill blades and thread cutting edges include three blades formed along chip discharge grooves, respectively. The oil holes are helically formed in three with the same leads as the chip discharge grooves and opened at relief surfaces of the drill blades, respectively. The chip discharge grooves straddle the drill portion and the tap portion in fixed groove sectional shapes and have negative lands swelled into grooves.01-05-2012
20120003034FASTENING STRUCTURE OF RESIN MEMBER - A fastening structure of a resin roof panel is disclosed for fastening a sunshade housing thereto. The sunshade housing includes an attaching portion. The roof panel includes coupling portions. The attaching portion and the coupling portions are fastened to each other by combined members. Each combined member is formed by combining a fastening bolt and a plate spring, and is inserted in an elongated hole. Each combined member permits the attaching portion and the associated coupling portion to be relatively displaced along the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole, and permits the attaching portion and the associated coupling portion to be relatively displaced along the axial direction of the fastening bolt through elastic deformation of the associated plate spring.01-05-2012
20120001639VOLTAGE MONITOR - A first monitor circuit 01-05-2012
20120001625ULTRASENSITIVE MAGNETIC SENSOR BASED ON GIANT FARADAY ROTATION - A high-resolution sensor of magnetic field sensor system and materials for use in such a system are described. The sensor systems measure a magnetic field using inorganic and/or organic magneto-optically active materials, e.g. polymer material and have an interferometer based on Faraday rotation. The polymer material is preferably in the form of a film. The polymer material has an optical property that is sensitive to the magnetic field, e.g. the Faraday rotation effect. The present invention also provides a sensor head structure comprising the above polymer material. The sensor head may be designed for use with an optical fiber or with mirrors. In particular the present invention provides a fiber Sagnac interferometer to measure the rotation of polarized plane of light. The present invention provides a fiber or mirror based Sagnac interferometer with passive phase bias applied to magnetic field sensing. This invention has the following three major aspects each being an embodiment of the present invention: 1. Sensing material: a conjugate polymer such as polythiophene and/or a polymer containing superparamagnetic nanoparticles that exhibits a giant Faraday rotation. 2. Magnetic field probe that incorporates the above polymer or polymer/nanoparticle composite, e.g. in the form of a film. 3. Sensor: The sensor combines an optical fiber-based Sagnac interferometer and the above magnetic field probe.01-05-2012
20120001349METHOD 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
20120001109ELECTROMAGNETIC LINEAR VALVE - An electromagnetic linear valve includes: (a) a plunger including a large outside-diameter portion and a small outside-diameter portion, and (b) a housing having a through-hole and including a large inside-diameter portion in which the large outside-diameter portion is inserted with a clearance being defined between the large inside-diameter portion and the large outside-diameter portion, and a small inside-diameter portion in which the small outside-diameter portion is inserted with a clearance being defined between the small inside-diameter portion and the outside-diameter portion. The plunger has an end portion which serves as a valve body that is to be seated on a valve seat constituted by an opening of the through-hole. The large outside-diameter portion has an end portion constituted by another end portion of the plunger that is opposite to the above-described end portion of the plunger. The clearance between the small inside-diameter portion and the small outside-diameter portion is smaller than the clearance between the large inside-diameter portion and the large outside-diameter portion.01-05-2012
20120000996FUEL INJECTION VALVE AND INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A fuel injection valve includes: a nozzle body provided with an injection hole at a tip portion; a needle that is located slidably in the nozzle body and includes a seat portion seated on a seat position in the nozzle body; and an air bubble generation means generating air bubbles in a fuel flowing through the nozzle body, and when a curvature radius is R, a length of a curve is L and a constant is a, an inner peripheral shape of the injection hole includes a curving part passing through a region surrounded by a clothoid curve which is expressed by R×L=a01-05-2012
20120000737BRAKING SYSTEM - Provided is a braking system which can enhance the power generation efficiency of a thermoelectric conversion element by efficiently recovering the heat generated during braking, or by increasing the temperature difference between a heat source and the thermoelectric conversion element. A brake pad body in a brake pad is provided with a thermoelectric conversion element. The thermoelectric conversion element includes an n-type semiconductor layer and a p-type semiconductor layer. The n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer are provided in a recess formed in the back surface of the brake pad body.01-05-2012
20120000574GAS FILLING YSTEM - To provide a gas filling system capable of optimizing filling of a gas tank depending on the cooling capability of a gas station. A gas filling system comprises: a vehicle having a gas tank; a gas station having a cooling device that cools a gas from a gas supply source, the gas station discharging the gas cooled by the cooling device to fill the gas tank with the gas, and a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the gas cooled by the cooling device on the upstream side of the gas tank. The vehicle has a first controller that determines the filling flow rate of the gas to the gas tank based on the gas temperature detected by the temperature sensor.01-05-2012
20120000190EXHAUST GAS PURIFICATION SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - In an exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine, a NO01-05-2012
20110320102VEHICLE TRAVEL CONTROL DEVICE - An ECU designates a value of a variation “V12-29-2011
20110320097CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - When a post-direct shift gear position does not match a target gear position during a direct shift but before engagement of an input clutch for the post-direct shift gear position begins, an ECU executes engagement control on a reaction brake for the new target gear position instead of executing engagement control on a reaction brake for the post-direct shift gear position, and executes engagement control on an input clutch for the new target gear position instead of executing engagement control on an input clutch for the post-direct shift gear position.12-29-2011
20110320096CONTROL APPARATUS FOR AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - The present invention provides a control apparatus for an automatic transmission which is capable of preventing friction engagement elements from being kept in an engagement state in accordance with the traveling state of a vehicle when a shift lever is operated to the position where an neutral range is formed, even if the malfunction of one or more solenoid valves occurs.12-29-2011
20110320084MISLOCKING PREVENTING APPARATUS - In a hybrid vehicle in which a fixed speed change mode can be realized by the locking of a rotational element, the mislocking of the rotational element is prevented. A hybrid drive apparatus which has an engine, a MG12-29-2011
20110320083VEHICULAR ELECTRIC POWER SOURCE CONTROL DEVICE - A vehicular electric power source control device provided on a vehicle provided with an engine that may be stopped even in a vehicle drivable state which is established when a predetermined condition is satisfied and in which a vehicle drive force can be generated, and an electric-energy storage device which is charged by an operation of said engine, the vehicular electric power source control device permitting implementation of an automatic engine starting control to start said engine when an amount of an electric energy stored in said electric-energy storage device has been reduced to or below a predetermined charging start threshold value while the engine is held at rest in said vehicle drivable state, the vehicle electric power source control device includes an engine start permitting portion configured to permit the implementation of said automatic engine starting control under a condition that any passenger is present within the vehicle.12-29-2011
20110320082HYBRID VEHICLE CONTROLLER AND CONTROL METHOD - A charge/discharge power upper limit value is set by referencing different maps for a catalyst warm-up period and other period so as to limit charge/discharge of a main battery in accordance with increase of the battery temperature. As a result, during the catalyst warm-up period, a limit start temperature at which a limit of the charge/discharge power is started and a charge/discharge inhibit temperature at which the charge/discharge is inhibited are set in accordance with the characteristic of the main battery. During a period other than the catalyst warm-up period, the limit start temperature and the charge/discharge inhibit temperature are set lower than during the catalyst warm-up period.12-29-2011
20110320079VEHICLE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM, VEHICLE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT, AND VEHICLE CONTROL SYNCHRONIZATION METHOD - A vehicle electronic control system includes a first electronic control unit that completes execution of a first control process in a predetermined time, and a second electronic control unit connected to the first electronic control unit that executes a second control process inseparable from the first control process. The first electronic control unit transmits a synchronization signal at periods sufficiently less than the predetermined time. The second electronic control unit starts execution of the second control process with reference to the synchronization signal received.12-29-2011
20110319721SLEEP DEPTH DETERMINING DEVICE, SLEEP DEPTH MAINTAINING DEVICE, AND SLEEP DEPTH DETERMINING METHOD - A sleep depth determining device 12-29-2011
20110319222CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION MECHANISM AND TRANSMISSION USING THE SAME - A continuously variable transmission adapted to set a speed change ratio in accordance with a tilt angle of a rolling member mediating a torque being transmitted, and to transmit a torque among three elements. The transmission mechanism is provided with a rolling member having a smooth outer face and capable of tilting a rotational center axis thereof, and a rotary member arranged to be contacted with a predetermined portion of the outer face of the rolling member in a torque transmittable manner. Specifically, the continuously variable transmission mechanism is configured to vary a rotational speed of the rotary member by changing a rotation radius of a contact point between the rolling member and the rotary member by tilting the rotational center axis of the rolling member.12-29-2011
20110319220DIFFERENTIAL DEVICE - A differential device has a differential case that houses a gear group, and a ring gear that is disposed fitted to the differential case. The differential case and the ring gear are supported rotatably about a drive shaft. The ring gear is made up of a helical gear. The ring gear abuts the differential case in the axial direction of the drive shaft. The ring gear and the differential case are welded at an abutting portion of the ring gear and the differential case in the axial direction of the drive shaft.12-29-2011
20110319215LUBRICATION OF A PLANETARY GEAR DEVICE - A vehicle motive power transmission apparatus includes: a planetary gear device; an oil pump for sucking oil present in an apparatus case; a one-way clutch that transmits normal-direction rotation output of the planetary gear device to the oil pump, but does not transmit reverse-direction rotation output of the planetary gear device to the oil pump; an oil tank which is provided in the apparatus case, and which is provided with a first introduction portion that receives oil that is splashed upward as a gear in the apparatus case rotates in a normal direction, and a second introduction portion that receives oil that is splashed upward as the gear rotates in a reverse direction; and an oil passageway that supplies the planetary gear device with oil present in the oil tank or oil sucked by the oil pump.12-29-2011
20110319212RATTLING NOISE REDUCTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - A simply structured rattling noise reduction device for a vehicle capable of preventing rattling certainly under neutral position. The rattling noise reduction device is applied to a vehicle having a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a torque of a prime mover to an output member through a mating transmission mechanism, and a shifting means capable of selecting a drive position in which the torque of the prime mover is transmitted to the output member and a neutral position in which the torque of the prime mover is not transmitted to the output member, and in which the transmission mechanism is configured to idle any one of rotary members thereof to prevent the torque from being applied to the output member in case the neutral position is selected. The rattling noise reduction device comprises a slidable contact means, which is contacted frictionally with the output member, or with a rotary member and transmitting the torque to the output member, or with a member integrated with the rotary member and, in case the neutral position is selected by operating the shifting means.12-29-2011
20110318136FEMALE SCREW COMPONENT AND FASTENING COMPONENT UTILIZING THE SAME - A female thread member capable of preventing seizing caused by inclined insertion, and being smoothly fastened from any directions in which a bolt is inserted, and a fastening member using the female thread member. A non-thread portion is formed on an inner peripheral surface of a female thread member body having a female thread for a length corresponding to at least one pitch from an end surface on a bolt-inserting side, and a projection which comes into contact with a flank surface of a male thread of an inserted bolt is formed on a line extending from a helical line of the female thread. The female thread member is used in combination with the bolt having no incomplete thread portion, and there is no adverse possibility of seizing regardless of any directions in which the bolt is inserted.12-29-2011
20110316382ROTOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE ROTOR - A rotor includes a core made of a laminated steel sheet assembly including a plurality of laminated magnetic steel sheets each having a flat plate shape, the core including a through hole at a rotation center, a shaft inserted in a through hole of the core, an inner-peripheral-side welded part located on an inner peripheral side of the core, the welded part being a welded section joining between adjacent steel sheets and joining the laminated steel sheet assembly to the shaft over a laminating direction, and an outer-peripheral-side welded part located on an outer peripheral side of the core and in an end part in the laminating direction, the welded part being a welded section joining between some of the magnetic steel sheets, the joined steel sheets including a steel sheet forming an end face of the core in the laminating direction.12-29-2011
20110316049NITRIDE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - Provided are a vertical nitride semiconductor device in which occurrence of leak currents can be suppressed, and a method for manufacturing such nitride semiconductor device. A nitride semiconductor device, which is a vertical HEMT, is provided with an n12-29-2011
20110315506OIL PUMP MOUNTING STRUCTURE - A mounting structure for mounting a separate shaft type oil pump in a case of a transmission. The separate shaft type oil pump is driven by a shaft that is separate from and rotated in cooperation with a shaft arranged in a torque input route extending from an engine to the transmission to supply hydraulic oil to a transmission oil pressure control mechanism. The mounting structure includes a spacer coupler that fastens the oil pump to the transmission case. The spacer coupler includes a plurality of spacers that couple the oil pump and the transmission case. An oil passage is formed in the spacers of the spacer coupler to connect an oil pressure system, which includes the oil pressure control mechanism, and the oil pump. A manual shaft for operating the transmission is arranged in a clearance between the spacers of the spacer coupler.12-29-2011
20110315499CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - An ECU executes a program including the steps of: starting monitoring the turbine revolution speed and the output shaft revolution speed when a direct shift is started; performing complete disengagement control on a disengagement element; lowering control pressure of a disengagement element to preliminarily fixed control pressure; starting engagement control on an engagement element when a set time period Ts passes; performing complete disengagement control on the disengagement element when a set time period Ts passes; and starting the engagement control on an engagement element when turbine revolution speed NT is equal to or larger than (the synchronous revolution speed of a gear after a shift—a set value Ns).12-29-2011
20110315461Vehicle - A vehicle is a hybrid vehicle including an engine driven by fuel, and the vehicle includes a motor-generator driven by electric power and a charge plug to which a connector is removably connected, the charge plug being capable of at least one of being supplied with electric power from the connector and supplying electric power to the connector. An engine is arranged to be offset toward one side surface and the charge plug is provided in the other side surface.12-29-2011
20110315138PRETREATMENT METHOD FOR SACCHARIFICATION OF PLANT FIBER MATERIAL AND SACCHARIFICATION METHOD - A pretreatment method for saccharification of plant fiber materials includes: immersing the plant fiber material in a solution that contains an organic solvent, in which a cluster acid is dissolved, prior to saccharifying cellulose contained in the plant fiber material; and distilling off the organic solvent from the immersed plant fiber material to obtain a pretreated mixture that contains the cluster acid and the pretreated plant fiber material.12-29-2011
20110315121FUEL INJECTION APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - The temperature of the fuel is raised without consuming the fuel in a fuel injection apparatus for an internal combustion engine. The fuel injection apparatus for the internal combustion engine comprises judging means which judges whether or not a fuel cut state, in which supply of fuel to the internal combustion engine is temporarily stopped during deceleration of a vehicle, is given; and discharge means which discharges the fuel by means of a motive power applied from a rotary shaft of the internal combustion engine; the fuel injection apparatus for the internal combustion engine further comprising increasing means which increases work of the discharge means when it is judged by the judging means that the fuel cut state is given as compared with when it is not judged by the judging means that the fuel cut state is given.12-29-2011

Patent applications by TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA