Abstract: A vehicle driving force control apparatus controls a control torque command of an electric motor based on a power supplying condition of an electric power source. The power source supplies electric power to the electric motor that drives at least one wheel of the vehicle. An electric power supplying status detecting section determines an electric power supplying capacity of the electric power source based on the power supplying condition of the power source, while an electric motor torque control section controls the control torque command of the electric motor based on the power supplying condition determined by the electric power supplying status detecting section. Preferably, an internal combustion engine that drives at least one other wheel also drives a generator that acts as the power source of the electric motor. The vehicle driving force control apparatus is especially useful in a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle drive control apparatus is provided for detecting clutch trouble early and alert the driver to the need for clutch repair. The vehicle drive control apparatus is provided in a vehicle having a clutch disposed between an electric motor and a wheel driven by the electric motor. The drive control apparatus comprises a clutch control section and a diagnosis section. The clutch control section is configured to control engagement of the clutch to selectively drive the wheel by the electric motor. The diagnosis section is configured to diagnose whether or not the clutch can be operated by controlling the clutch control section to turn on and off the clutch, when the diagnosis section determines that the wheel is not being driven by the electric motor.

Abstract: A driving force control apparatus is provided to prevent shocks from being generated during clutch engagement or release. The clutch is maintained in an engaged state and shocks are prevented from accompanying clutch release during creep travel when the target motor torque is equal to or less than a motor torque prescribed value but the average rear wheel speed, which is equivalent to the travel speed of the auto vehicle, is equal to or less than a low-speed prescribed value. In addition, the drive torque on the rear wheels from the electric motor is also brought to the same level as the creep torque on the front wheels from the internal combustion engine, backlash and other types of gaps between the rear axles of the electric motor are closed, and shocks are minimized or prevented during the subsequent transition to a four-wheel drive state.

Abstract: A vehicle driving force control apparatus is provided for a vehicle to prevent a shock from being generated when a clutch disposed between a subordinate drive source and subordinate drive wheels is transferred to a disengaged state during vehicle travel. When a transition is made from a four-wheel drive state to a two-wheel drive state, and a clutch is released during vehicle travel, the motor torque is maintained constant at a level of a clutch-release torque required by the electric motor as the output for bringing the torque on the clutch substantially to zero.

Abstract: A vehicle driving force control apparatus is provided for a vehicle having a drive source configured to drive a generator and an electric motor configured to drive an electric motor driven wheel by electricity from the generator. The vehicle driving force control apparatus basically has a driving force detection section and a driving force control section. The driving force detection section is configured to detect at least one of a requested acceleration amount and a vehicle traveling speed of the vehicle. The driving force control section is configured to set a target generator driving force from the drive source based on at least one of the requested acceleration amount and the vehicle traveling speed detected by the driving force detection section. The vehicle driving force control apparatus is configured to provide a batteryless electric motor four-wheel drive vehicle that can ensure stability when starting from a stop on a low &mgr; road, while maintaining vehicle acceleration performance.

Abstract: A driving force control apparatus is provided for a vehicle capable of preventing a shock from being generated by disengaging a clutch disposed between a subordinate drive source and subordinate drive wheels during vehicle travel. When a transition determination is made in which the clutch will be released, e.g., from a four-wheel drive state to a two-wheel drive state, a clutch release section disengage the clutch, upon the drive torque of the drive source substantially reaching a target drive torque in which a difference between an output torque of the clutch and an input torque of the clutch is smaller than a prescribed value in response to the transition determination.

Abstract: A system is provided, which controls a starting and the subsequent vehicle acceleration procedure of a motor vehicle. The system compares a predetermined variable that grows continuously during the starting procedure to a threshold value. It determines a first desired value of torque in response to operator demand, and a second desired value torque in response to acceleration slip. The system performs a feed-forward 4WD control in response to the first desired value of torque when the predetermined variable is lower than or equal to the threshold value. The system determines whether or not driving situation justifies a change from performing the feed-forward 4WD control to performing a feed-back 2/4WD control in response to the second desired value of torque.

Abstract: An electronic control unit of an internal combustion engine performs preheat energization control before activation energization control. In the activation energization control, a gas sensor is energized with electric power capable of heating the gas sensor to activation temperature. In the preheat energization control, the gas sensor is energized with low electric power, which is not enough to heat the gas sensor to the activation temperature. Thus, while there is a possibility that water adheres to a sensor main body of the gas sensor, the sensor main body is prevented from being heated to high temperature. Meanwhile, even if water droplets exist in the sensor main body of the gas sensor, the water is vaporized gradually, while preventing the bumping of the water.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an electric motor (4) and a clutch (12) between the electric motor and a motor driven road wheel (3L, 3R). Powertrain play between the electric motor (4) and the road wheel is eliminated upon determination that powertrain play elimination (PPE) is needed for motor torque transmission to the motor driven road wheel. The PPE includes controlling engagement of the clutch and regulating the electric motor to produce a very small amount of motor torque required for PPE.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reflow furnace for heating a carried circuit module to perform reflow soldering. The reflow furnace has a nozzle 60 for performing an operation of spraying the inert gas on a soldering portion for the circuit module carried into the furnace while the nozzle is moved, maintaining high mounting reliability and high productivity, even if apertures of the carrying inlet and the carrying outlet are large.

Abstract: An apparatus provides protection to an electric traction motor of a vehicle. The vehicle has a first powertrain and a second powertrain. The first powertrain includes an engine and it is coupled with a first set of road wheels. The second powertrain includes the electric traction motor and it is coupled with a second set of road wheels. The apparatus comprises a revolution speed sensor operatively associated with the electric traction motor. The apparatus also comprises at least one controller. The controller includes control logic for modifying operation of the vehicle in response to monitoring the revolution speed sensor to restrain the vehicle speed from increasing in such a manner as to limit revolution speed of the electric traction motor to revolution speed values below an allowable upper revolution speed limit.

Abstract: An emission control apparatus for an engine has a plurality of catalysts disposed in series in an exhaust passage. An HC absorbent catalyst is utilized for at least one of the catalysts. An ECU controls an A/F ratio in an upstream side of the HC absorbent catalyst at a target value. The target value is corrected to a leaner value when the HC absorbent catalyst is in a desorbing condition. The leaner value is leaner than the target value during the HC absorbent catalyst is in an absorbing condition or an activated condition. The leaner atmosphere provides sufficient of oxygen to purify desorbed HC from the HC absorbent catalyst itself.

Abstract: A process for producing a stable photovoltaic element having an electrode structure comprising a collecting electrode and a metal bus bar which are connected to have an improved connection between them. Said electrode structure is formed by dotting an electrically conductive paste onto a metal wire as the collecting electrode such that a dotted electrically conductive paste has an elliptical form whose major axis and minor axis are respectively perpendicular to and parallel to a lengthwise direction of said metal wire, arranging the metal bus bar on said dotted electrically conductive paste, and heating the resultant while pressing it to cure the electrically conductive paste to form connection between the metal wire as the collecting electrode and the metal bus bar.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises a motor (4) and a wet clutch (12) for transmission of torque output of the motor to road wheels of the vehicle and transmission of road load from the road wheels to the motor (4). The wet clutch is disengaged in response to a clutch disengagement control signal Accounting for clutch drag state of the wet clutch, a controller (8) selects one out of various values as threshold (Voff). The controller (8) determines that the wet clutch be disengaged when a parameter indicative of the actual vehicle speed has a predetermined relationship with the threshold. The controller (20) generates the clutch disengagement control signal upon determining that the wet clutch be disengaged.

Abstract: An upstream catalyst and a downstream catalyst are disposed in series in an exhaust pipe, and first through third sensors for detecting the air-fuel ratio or an adsorption amount of hazardous components on the rich/lean side of exhaust gases are disposed on the upstream and downstream sides of the upstream catalyst and the downstream side of the downstream catalyst, respectively. An ECU for controlling an engine controls the air-fuel ratio so that when the adsorption amount of the hazardous components on the rich side of the downstream catalyst is large, that of the hazardous components on the lean side of the upstream catalyst is large. Similarly, the ECU controls the air-fuel ratio so that when the adsorption amount of the hazardous components on the lean side of the downstream catalyst is large, that of the hazardous components on the rich side of the upstream catalyst is large.

Abstract: Exhaust gas sensors are provided at the upstream side and the downstream side of a catalyst, respectively. An intermediate target value is set on the basis of the output of the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor of preceding computation time and a final target value that is a final downstream-side target air-fuel ratio. The compensation amount of the upstream-side target air-fuel ratio is calculated on the basis of the deviation between the present output of the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor and the intermediate target value. At least one of an update amount and an update rate of the intermediate value, a control gain, a control period and a control range of a sub-feedback control is varied.

Abstract: A driving force control apparatus is provided to optimize the acceleration performance and improve the energy efficiency of a vehicle. Preferably, the front wheels are driven by the internal combustion engine, while the rear wheels are driven by the electric motor. The electric motor is driven by electrical power generated by the generator. The generator is driven by the engine. When acceleration slippage occurs in the front wheels, the generator is controlled so as to produce a generation load torque corresponding to the acceleration slippage magnitude.

Abstract: Exhaust gas sensors are provided at the upstream side and the downstream side of a catalyst, respectively. An intermediate target value is set on the basis of the output of the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor of preceding computation time and a final target value that is a final downstream-side target air-fuel ratio. The compensation amount of the upstream-side target air-fuel ratio is calculated on the basis of the deviation between the present output of the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor and the intermediate target value. At least one of an update amount and an update rate of the intermediate value, a control gain, a control period and a control range of a sub-feedback control is varied.

Abstract: A variable valve drive mechanism of an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a camshaft that is operatively connected to a crankshaft of the engine such that the camshaft is rotated by the crankshaft, a rotating cam provided on the camshaft, and an intermediate drive mechanism disposed between the camshaft and an intake or exhaust valve of the engine. The intermediate drive mechanism is supported rockably on a shaft that is different from the camshaft, and includes an input portion operable to be driven by the rotating cam of the camshaft, and an output portion operable to drive the valve when the input portion is driven by the rotating cam. The variable valve drive mechanism further includes an intermediate phase-difference varying device for varying a relative phase difference between the input portion and the output portion of the intermediate drive mechanism.

Abstract: An emission control apparatus for an engine has a plurality of catalysts disposed in series in an exhaust passage. An HC absorbent catalyst is utilized for at least one of the catalysts. An ECU controls an A/F ratio in an upstream side of the HC absorbent catalyst at a target value. The target value is corrected to a leaner value when the HC absorbent catalyst is in a desorbing condition. The leaner value is leaner than the target value during the HC absorbent catalyst is in an absorbing condition or an activated condition. The leaner atmosphere provides sufficient of oxygen to purify desorbed HC from the HC absorbent catalyst itself.