Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules that includes a plurality of battery cells, a battery cell holder, a second-electrode assembly including a plurality of second-electrode bus bar plates, a first-electrode assembly, and a cover. The first-electrode assembly includes a plurality of first-electrode bus bar plates, a first-electrode terminal, a second-electrode terminal connected to one of the plurality of second-electrode bus bar plates, and an inter-electrode bus bar connecting the second-electrode bus bar plate and one of the first-electrode bus bar plate and the first-electrode terminal. The first-electrode assembly is in a first pattern or a second pattern. An arrangement of the first-electrode terminal and the second-electrode terminal in the battery module differs according to the pattern of the first-electrode assembly.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules that includes a plurality of battery cells, a battery cell holder, a second-electrode assembly including a plurality of second-electrode bus bar plates, a first-electrode assembly, and a cover. The first-electrode assembly includes a plurality of first-electrode bus bar plates, a first-electrode terminal, a second-electrode terminal connected to one of the plurality of second-electrode bus bar plates, and an inter-electrode bus bar connecting the second-electrode bus bar plate and one of the first-electrode bus bar plate and the first-electrode terminal. The first-electrode assembly is in a first pattern or a second pattern. An arrangement of the first-electrode terminal and the second-electrode terminal in the battery module differs according to the pattern of the first-electrode assembly.

Abstract: A solenoid device includes: at least one electromagnetic coil that generates a magnetic flux when the electromagnetic coil is energized; a yoke made of soft magnetic material, in which the magnetic flux flows; and a plurality of plungers, each of which includes at least a part made of soft magnetic material, and reciprocates when the electromagnetic coil is switched between energization and interruption of energization. The number of the plurality of plungers is larger than the number of the electromagnetic coil. The plurality of plungers reciprocate independently from each other.

Abstract: A solenoid device includes: a first electromagnetic coil; first and second plungers movable according to energization to the first electromagnetic coil; first and second fixed cores facing the first and second plungers, respectively; and a yoke. When the first electromagnetic coil is not energized, first and second gaps are formed between the first and second plungers and the first and second fixed cores, respectively. When the first electromagnetic coil is energized, the magnetic flux flows in a first magnetic circuit, provided by the first plunger, the first fixed core and the yoke, via the first gap, and a second magnetic circuit, provided by the first and second plungers, the first and second fixed cores and the yoke, via the first and second gaps, so that the first and second plungers are attracted toward the first and second fixed cores.

Abstract: An electromagnetic relay switches to conduct and interrupt currents having different magnitudes and flowing though mutually opposite paths via the electromagnetic relay. The relay includes a coil generating a magnetic force and a pair of contact sections opened and closed selectively by the magnetic force. The contact sections comprise a pair of fixed contacts and a pair of movable contacts. Each fixed contacts is held by a pair of conductive fixed holders and is near a tip section of each fixed holder. The movable contacts are fixed to a conductive movable holder and moves toward and away from the fixed holders selectively in response to the magnetic force. The relay further includes two arc-extinguishing magnet members adjacent to the contact sections such that, the arc generated by interrupting one current having a magnitude larger than the other current is extended toward the tip section at each contact section.

Abstract: An obstacle detecting device includes a wall member and an ultrasonic sensor. The wall member has a base member having an inner surface, and the base member extends in parallel with an imaginary plane. The ultrasonic sensor is attached to the inner surface of the base member for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave via the base member. The ultrasonic sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer, and is in contact with the base member via a contact portion of the inner surface of the base member. The wall member includes a plurality of rigidity changing portions that are arranged on an other part of the inner surface other than the contact portion in an arrangement direction away from the contact portion.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a transmitting device, receiving devices arranged in an array, and a circuit device. One receiving device is configured as a reference receiving device. The circuit device includes a reference signal generator and first and second synchronous detectors. The reference signal generator generates a reference signal by using a received signal of the reference receiving device. The first synchronous detector performs synchronous detection of a received signal of one of the receiving devices based on the reference signal to detect a distance to an object. The second synchronous detector performs synchronous detection of received signals of the receiving devices except the reference receiving device based on the reference signal to detect a direction of the object.

Abstract: A driving support apparatus has a display mounted in a vehicle, a driving information receiving unit receiving a steering angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle, and a control unit. The control unit produces a vehicle figure imitating a shape of the vehicle and a tire figure imitating a shape of a tire of the vehicle in a bird's-eye view, calculates a predicted running locus of the vehicle, detects positions of portions of an obstacle facing the vehicle one after another, and controls the display to display a driving support image including the vehicle figure, the tire figure, the running locus and obstacle detecting marks indicating the positions of the obstacle while changing a direction of the tire figure with respect to the vehicle figure according to the steering angle. A driver recognizes a turning rate of the vehicle from the direction of the tire figure.

Abstract: An obstacle detection device has an ultrasonic sensor fixed to a first side of a mount member. The ultrasonic sensor sends/receives ultrasonic wave toward/from a second side of the mount member, which is opposite to the first side thereof. At least one of a mounting surface of the ultrasonic sensor and a mounting surface of the mount member has a protrusion, which protrudes therefrom so that an end surface of the protrusion contacts the other of the mounting surfaces. The mounting surfaces of the mount member and the ultrasonic sensor face each other. The end surface of the protrusion and the mounting surface of the ultrasonic sensor are different from each other in at least one of shape and area thereof.

Abstract: An electromagnetic relay switches to conduct and interrupt currents having different magnitudes and flowing though mutually opposite paths via the electromagnetic relay. The relay includes a coil generating a magnetic force and a pair of contact sections opened and closed selectively by the magnetic force. The contact sections comprise a pair of fixed contacts and a pair of movable contacts. Each fixed contacts is held by a pair of conductive fixed holders and is near a tip section of each fixed holder. The movable contacts are fixed to a conductive movable holder and moves toward and away from the fixed holders selectively in response to the magnetic force. The relay further includes two arc-extinguishing magnet members adjacent to the contact sections such that, the arc generated by interrupting one current having a magnitude larger than the other current is extended toward the tip section at each contact section.

Abstract: An ultrasound sensor for a vehicle has a housing which is fixedly arranged at a vehicle inner side of a periphery member of the vehicle, an ultrasound vibrator for sending and receiving ultrasound, and an ultrasound transferring member which is constructed of a different material from that of the housing to have an acoustic impedance with a medium value between an acoustic impedance of the ultrasound vibrator and that of the periphery member. The ultrasound vibrator is accommodated in the housing and fixed to an end portion of the housing, which faces the periphery member. The ultrasound transferring member is arranged at the end portion of the housing, and contacts both the ultrasound vibrator and the periphery member of the vehicle.

Abstract: A washer nozzle-equipped camera apparatus includes a camera and a washer nozzle. The washer nozzle has a window spray outlet for spraying a washer fluid, supplied from a supply unit such as a pump, on a window of a vehicle. The washer nozzle further has a window duct for carrying the washer fluid to the window spray outlet. The washer nozzle further has a camera spray outlet for spraying the washer fluid on a lens of the camera. The washer nozzle further has a camera duct for carrying the washer fluid to the camera spray outlet.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a transmitting device, receiving devices arranged in an array, and a circuit device. One receiving device is configured as a reference receiving device. The circuit device includes a reference signal generator and first and second synchronous detectors. The reference signal generator generates a reference signal by using a received signal of the reference receiving device. The first synchronous detector performs synchronous detection of a received signal of one of the receiving devices based on the reference signal to detect a distance to an object. The second synchronous detector performs synchronous detection of received signals of the receiving devices except the reference receiving device based on the reference signal to detect a direction of the object.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes: a first vibrator for transmitting an ultrasonic wave; multiple second vibrators for outputting a reception signal of a reflection wave; a casing having a bottom for accommodating the vibrators, an outer surface of the bottom providing a vibrating surface; and multiple tubes for guiding the ultrasonic wave. Each tube has a first opening coupled with an outside of a mobile body. An area of the first opening is smaller than an area of the vibrating surface. A distance between two adjacent first openings is smaller than a distance between two adjacent vibrating surfaces. The length of the tubes is determined to equalize a phase difference of the reflection waves at the first openings is equal to that at the vibrating surfaces.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes: a first vibrator for transmitting an ultrasonic wave; multiple second vibrators for outputting a reception signal of a reflection wave; a casing having a bottom for accommodating the vibrators, an outer surface of the bottom providing a vibrating surface; and multiple tubes for guiding the ultrasonic wave. Each tube has a first opening coupled with an outside of a mobile body. An area of the first opening is smaller than an area of the vibrating surface. A distance between two adjacent first openings is smaller than a distance between two adjacent vibrating surfaces. The length of the tubes is determined to equalize a phase difference of the reflection waves at the first openings is equal to that at the vibrating surfaces.

Abstract: A driving support apparatus has a display mounted in a vehicle, a driving information receiving unit receiving a steering angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle, and a control unit. The control unit produces a vehicle figure imitating a shape of the vehicle and a tire figure imitating a shape of a tire of the vehicle in a bird's-eye view, calculates a predicted running locus of the vehicle, detects positions of portions of an obstacle facing the vehicle one after another, and controls the display to display a driving support image including the vehicle figure, the tire figure, the running locus and obstacle detecting marks indicating the positions of the obstacle while changing a direction of the tire figure with respect to the vehicle figure according to the steering angle. A driver recognizes a turning rate of the vehicle from the direction of the tire figure.

Abstract: An obstacle detecting device includes a wall member and an ultrasonic sensor. The wall member has a base member having an inner surface, and the base member extends in parallel with an imaginary plane. The ultrasonic sensor is attached to the inner surface of the base member for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave via the base member. The ultrasonic sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer, and is in contact with the base member via a contact portion of the inner surface of the base member. The wall member includes a plurality of rigidity changing portions that are arranged on an other part of the inner surface other than the contact portion in an arrangement direction away from the contact portion.

Abstract: An obstacle detection device has an ultrasonic sensor fixed to a first side of a mount member. The ultrasonic sensor sends/receives ultrasonic wave toward/from a second side of the mount member, which is opposite to the first side thereof. At least one of a mounting surface of the ultrasonic sensor and a mounting surface of the mount member has a protrusion, which protrudes therefrom so that an end surface of the protrusion contacts the other of the mounting surfaces. The mounting surfaces of the mount member and the ultrasonic sensor face each other. The end surface of the protrusion and the mounting surface of the ultrasonic sensor are different from each other in at least one of shape and area thereof.

Abstract: An ultrasound sensor for a vehicle has a housing which is fixedly arranged at a vehicle inner side of a periphery member of the vehicle, an ultrasound vibrator for sending and receiving ultrasound, and an ultrasound transferring member which is constructed of a different material from that of the housing to have an acoustic impedance with a medium value between an acoustic impedance of the ultrasound vibrator and that of the periphery member. The ultrasound vibrator is accommodated in the housing and fixed to an end portion of the housing, which faces the periphery member. The ultrasound transferring member is arranged at the end portion of the housing, and contacts both the ultrasound vibrator and the periphery member of the vehicle.