Abstract: A vehicle open/close body operating apparatus is provided with: a photoelectric sensor configured to be mounted on a vehicle, and configured to display, by optical irradiation, both of a sign indicating an open operation and a sign indicating a close operation of an open/close body, and detect the will of a user trying to open or close the open/close body through a change in light reflected by the displayed signs; a drive unit configured to open or close the open/close body; and a door control unit for controlling the drive unit configured to open or close the open/close body in accordance with a movement related to the will of the user detected by the photoelectric sensor.

Abstract: In connection with a permanent magnet rotary machine comprising a rotor comprising a rotor core and a plurality of permanent magnet segments embedded in the rotor core and a stator comprising a stator core having a plurality of slots and windings therein, the rotor and the stator being disposed to define a gap therebetween, or a permanent magnet rotary machine comprising a rotor comprising a rotor core and a plurality of permanent magnet segments mounted on the surface of the rotor core and a stator comprising a stator core having a plurality of slots and windings therein, the rotor and the stator being disposed to define a gap therebetween, the rotor wherein each of the permanent magnet segments is an assembly of further divided permanent magnet pieces, and the coercive force near the surface of the magnet piece is higher than that in the interior of the magnet piece.

Abstract: A grille shutter control device is provided with a control section configured so as to open and close a shutter adapted to be provided in an air introduction path for introducing air ahead of the vehicle into an engine compartment. The grille shutter control device drives and controls first and second drive units. The grille shutter control device is provided with: an abnormality detecting section configured to detect an abnormality in the operation of the shutter on the basis of the condition of the shutter after the start of operation thereof; and an informing section for informing, on the basis of an abnormality in the operation detected by the abnormality detection section, the user of the abnormality in the operation of the shutter.

Abstract: An opening-and-closing member drive control apparatus for a vehicle for driving the opening-and-closing member so as to be opened or closed by means of a driving force of a motor after an idling period or an idling section of the motor includes a moving speed detecting member, calculating means for calculating a moving speed changing value, a determining means for determining a sandwiching of an object on the basis of a relationship between the calculated moving speed changing value and a threshold value, a temperature estimating means for estimating a temperature of the motor on the basis of a rotational speed of the motor, detected in the idling period or the idling section, and correcting means for correcting the threshold value so that a determination sensitivity of the sandwiching of the object becomes greater when the estimated temperature of the motor is low than when the estimated temperature of the motor is high.

Abstract: A rare earth sintered magnet as an anisotropic sintered body comprising Nd2Fe14B crystal phase as primary phase and having the composition R1aTbMcSidBe wherein R1 is a rare earth element inclusive of Sc and Y, T is Fe and/or Co, H is Al, Cu, Zn, In, P, S, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Ga, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Hf, Ta, or W, “a” to “e” are 12?a?17, 0?c?10, 0.3?d?7, 5?e?10, and the balance of b, wherein Dy and/or Tb is diffused into the sintered body from its surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus provided with a pair of lower rails fixed to the vehicle floor and a pair of upper rails fixed to a vehicle seat. The seat sliding apparatus causes screw shafts supported at the upper rail to rotate relative to nut members fixed to the lower rails and the upper rails to move relative to the lower rails in the seat forward-rearward direction. A speed reducer-equipped motor comprises a motor, a gear mechanism, and a gear housing. The gear housing is designed so that the axis of the output shaft of the gear mechanism extends in the seat width direction. A manipulation switch comprises a manipulating portion fixed to the gear housing such that the operation switch is exposed at a forward end of the seat.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and programs control a seat drive mechanism that drives side support parts of a seat. The devices, methods, and programs detect a first curve ahead of a vehicle and a second curve located ahead of the first curve with respect to a travel direction. The devices, methods, and programs predict a between-curves time required to travel between the first curve and the second curve and determine whether the between-curves time is less than a predetermined time, the predetermined time being no less than a time necessary for the side support parts to operate. The devices, methods, and programs control the seat drive mechanism to arrange the side support parts at an action position to support a body of an occupant for the first curve. If the between-curves time is less than the predetermined time, the devices, methods, and programs maintain the side support parts at the action position while traveling the second curve.

Abstract: A method for preparing a rare earth permanent magnet material is characterized by comprising the steps of disposing a powder mixture on a surface of a sintered magnet body of R1—Fe—B composition wherein R1 is at least one element selected from rare earth elements inclusive of Sc and Y, the powder mixture comprising a powder containing at least 0.5% by weight of M which is at least one element selected from Al, Cu, and Zn and having an average particle size equal to or less than 300 ?m and a powder containing at least 30% by weight of a fluoride of R2 which is at least one element selected from rare earth elements inclusive of Sc and Y and having an average particle size equal to or less than 100 ?m, and heat treating the magnet body having the powder disposed on its surface at a temperature equal to or below the sintering temperature of the magnet body in vacuum or in an inert gas, for causing at least one of M and R2 in the powder mixture to be absorbed in the magnet body.

Abstract: A method for preparing a rare earth permanent magnet material comprises the steps of: disposing a powder comprising one or more members selected from an oxide of R2, a fluoride of R3, and an oxyfluoride of R4 wherein R2, R3 and R4 each are one or more elements selected from among rare earth elements inclusive of Y and Sc on a sintered magnet form of a R1—Fe—B composition wherein R1 is one or more elements selected from among rare earth elements inclusive of Y and Sc, and then heat treating the magnet form and the powder at a temperature equal to or below the sintering temperature of the magnet in vacuum or in an inert gas. The result high performance, compact or thin permanent magnet has a high remanence and coercivity at a high productivity.

Abstract: A permanent magnet rotary machine comprises a rotor comprising a rotor core and a plurality of permanent magnet segments embedded in the rotor core and a stator having a plurality of coils and disposed to define a gap with the rotor, or a permanent magnet rotary machine comprises a rotor comprising a rotor core and a plurality of permanent magnet segments mounted on the surface of the rotor core and a stator having a plurality of coils and disposed to define a gap with the rotor. In the rotor, each permanent magnet segment is an assembly of divided permanent magnet pieces, the coercive force near the surface of the magnet piece is higher than that in the interior of the magnet piece, and the assembly allows for electrical conduction between the magnet pieces.

Abstract: A multi-function camera system comprises a camera fixed to a vehicle component on a side of a vehicle for photographing a side area of the vehicle; a condition determination unit for determining execution conditions of a plurality of function units; an obstacle detection unit to function based on a determination result from the condition determination unit for detecting, through image recognition, an obstacle present in the vicinity of the vehicle or approaching the vehicle based on a captured image of the camera; and an individual authentication unit to function based on the determination result from the condition determination unit for ascertaining, through the image recognition, whether or not a person having reached the vehicle matches with a user who has been registered at the vehicle beforehand based on the captured image of the camera.

Abstract: When a worm wheel rotates relative to an object pinching detection plate due to pinching of a foreign object, protruding pieces respectively formed on opposed surfaces of the worm wheel and the object pinching detection plate engage with each other. Through the engagement, the object pinching detection plate axially moves. At this time, the object pinching detection plate axially moves without rotation, and hence the object pinching detection plate is brought into contact with a movable piece of an object pinching detection switch without rotation. Therefore, wear due to rotation does not occur when the object pinching detection plate and the object pinching detection switch are brought into contact with each other. Thus, deterioration in object pinching detection accuracy due to the wear is prevented.

Abstract: A rare earth permanent magnet material is prepared by covering a sintered magnet body of R1—Fe—B composition wherein R1 is a rare earth element, with a powder comprising at least 30% by weight of an alloy of R2aTbMcAdHe wherein R2 is a rare earth element, T is Fe and/or Co, and M is Al, Cu or the like, and having an average particle size up to 100 ?m, and heat treating the powder-covered magnet body at a suitable temperature, for causing R2, T, M and A in the powder to be absorbed in the magnet body.

Abstract: A method for preparing a rare earth permanent magnet material comprising the steps of: disposing a powder comprising one or more members selected from an oxide of R2, a fluoride of R3, and an oxyfluoride of R4 wherein R2, R3 and R4 each are one or more elements selected from among rare earth elements inclusive of Y and Sc on a sintered magnet form of a R1—Fe—B composition wherein R1 is one or more elements selected from among rare earth elements inclusive of Y and Sc, and heat treating the magnet form and the powder at a temperature equal to or below the sintering temperature of the magnet in vacuum or in an inert gas. The invention offers a high performance, compact or thin permanent magnet having a high remanence and coercivity at a high productivity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus provided with a pair of lower rails fixed to the vehicle floor and a pair of upper rails fixed to a vehicle seat. The seat sliding apparatus causes screw shafts supported at the upper rail to rotate relative to nut members fixed to the lower rails and the upper rails to move relative to the lower rails in the seat forward-rearward direction. A speed reducer-equipped motor comprises a motor, a gear mechanism, and a gear housing. The gear housing is designed so that the axis of the output shaft of the gear mechanism extends in the seat width direction. A manipulation switch comprises a manipulating portion fixed to the gear housing such that the operation switch is exposed at a forward end of the seat.

Abstract: A method for preparing a rare earth permanent magnet material comprises the steps of disposing a powder on a surface of a sintered magnet body of R1aTbAcMd composition wherein R1 is a rare earth element inclusive of Sc and Y, T is Fe and/or Co, A is boron (B) and/or carbon (C), M is Al, Cu, Zn, In, Si, P, S, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Ga, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Hf, Ta, or W, said powder comprising an oxide of R2, a fluoride of R3 or an oxyfluoride of R4 wherein R2, R3, and R4 are rare earth elements inclusive of Sc and Y and having an average particle size equal to or less than 100 ?m, heat treating the magnet body and the powder at a temperature equal to or below the sintering temperature of the magnet body for absorption treatment for causing R2, R3, and R4 in the powder to be absorbed in the magnet body, and repeating the absorption treatment at least two times.

Abstract: A rare earth permanent magnet material is based on an R—Fe—Co—B—Al—Cu system wherein R is at least one element selected from Nd, Pr, Dy, Tb, and Ho, 15 to 33% by weight of Nd being contained. At least two compounds selected from M-B, M-B—Cu and M-C compounds (wherein M is Ti, Zr or Hf) and an R oxide have precipitated within the alloy structure as grains having an average grain size of up to 5 ?m which are uniformly distributed in the alloy structure at intervals of up to 50 ?m.

Abstract: The invention provides a sintered Nd base magnet which is free of a decline of remanence, has a high coercive force, especially at the edges thereof, is unsusceptible to demagnetization even at high temperature, and is suited for use in permanent magnet rotary machines.

Abstract: An R-T-B—C rare earth sintered magnet (R?Ce, Pr, Nd, Tb, or Dy; T=Fe) is obtained by mixing an R-T-B—C magnet matrix alloy with an R fluoride and an R-rich R-T-B—C sintering aid alloy, followed by pulverization, compaction and sintering. The sintered structure consists of an R2T14B type crystal primary phase and a grain boundary phase. The grain boundary phase consists essentially of 40-98 vol % of R—O1-x—F1+2x and/or R—Fy, 1-50 vol % of R—O, R—O—C or R—C compound phase, 0.05-10 vol % of R-T phase, 0.05-20 vol % of B-rich phase or M-B2 phase (M=Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta or W), and the balance of an R-rich phase.

Abstract: When moving a head rest front portion in a full-open position direction, an ECU determines that the head rest front portion comes close to an occupant head portion on the basis of a detection result of an electrostatic capacitance sensor so as to stop the head rest front portion, and determines that the head rest front portion comes close to the occupant head portion on the basis of an absolute capacitance change with respect to a reference electrostatic capacitance value of the electrostatic capacitance sensor. Alternatively, the ECU determines that the head rest front portion comes close to the occupant head portion on the basis of a change amount of the electrostatic capacitance value of the electrostatic capacitance sensor.