Abstract: To improve accuracy in controlling battery output, a charge-storage element is connected in parallel to a plurality of power source units. Each power source unit includes a power source element, and power transmission and reception between the power source element and a neutral point N side can be controlled by controlling the ratio of time over which an open/close switch remains closed, determined according to which among the voltage at the power source element or a voltage across the power source unit is larger or smaller. As an output of each power source element can be controlled, accuracy in output control for the combination battery can be improved.

Abstract: To improve accuracy in controlling battery output, a charge-storage element is connected in parallel to a plurality of power source units. Each power source unit includes a power source element, and power transmission and reception between the power source element and a neutral point N side can be controlled by controlling the ratio of time over which an open/close switch remains closed, determined according to which among the voltage at the power source element or a voltage across the power source unit is larger or smaller. As an output of each power source element can be controlled, accuracy in output control for the combination battery can be improved.

Abstract: When the absolute values of the negative voltage V− and the positive voltage V+ of a rectangular wave to be applied to the three phase coils of the motor driven using a rectangular-waved voltage are different, time T1 and time T2 for the rectangular wave are adjusted such that the area A representing the absolute value of a time integration value of the negative voltage V− and the area B representing the absolute value of a time integration value of the positive voltage V+ becomes equal to each other. With this adjustment, the average voltage of the rectangular wave becomes of value 0, so that a DC component current is prevented from flowing into the three phase coils of the motor.

Abstract: A power output apparatus includes a planetary gear having a planetary carrier, a sun gear, and a ring gear, an engine having a crankshaft linked with the planetary carrier, a first motor attached to the sun gear, and a second motor attached to the ring gear. In response to an engine operation stop instruction, the power output apparatus stops a fuel injection into the engine and controls the first motor, in order to enable a torque acting in reverse of the rotation of the crankshaft to be output to the crankshaft via the planetary gear and a carrier shaft until the revolving speed of the engine becomes close to zero. This structure allows the revolving speed of the engine to quickly approach zero.

Abstract: A power output apparatus includes a planetary gear having a planetary carrier, a sun gear, and a ring gear. A crankshaft of an engine is mechanically linked with the planetary carrier, a first motor with the sun gear, and a second motor with the ring gear. A controller drives the second motor with electric power regenerated by the first motor or drives the first motor with electric power regenerated by the second motor, based on a gear ratio of the sun gear to the ring gear of the planetary gear, thereby enabling the power output from the engine to be converted to a desired power and output to a power transmission gear mechanically connected with the ring gear. The engine may be driven at any driving point that can output energy identical with the energy output to the ring gear. This structure allows the engine to be driven at a desired driving point of highest possible efficiency, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the whole apparatus.

Abstract: A power output apparatus 20 includes a clutch motor, an assist motor, and a controller. The clutch motor and the assist motor are controlled by the controller to enable the power output from an engine to a crankshaft 56, and expressed as the product of its revolving speed and torque, to be converted to the power expressed as the product of a revolving speed and a torque of a drive shaft and to be output to the drive shaft. The engine can be driven at an arbitrary driving point defined by a revolving speed and a torque, as long as the energy or power output to the crankshaft is identical. A desired driving point that attains the highest possible efficiency with respect to each amount of output energy is determined in advance. In order to allow the engine to be driven at the desired driving point, the controller controls the clutch motor and the assist motor as well as the fuel injection and the throttle valve position.

Abstract: A power output apparatus 110 includes a planetary gear 120 having a planetary carrier, a sun gear, and a ring gear, an engine 150 having a crankshaft 156 linked with the planetary carrier, a first motor MG1 attached to the sun gear, and a second motor MG2 attached to the ring gear. Part of the torque generated by the engine 150 is output to a power feed gear 128 via the ring gear, while the first motor MG1 receives the residual torque. The second motor MG2 outputs a torque having a greater magnitude than and an opposite direction to this torque, so as to rotate the ring gear reversely. The electric power consumed by the second motor MG2 is supplied by the electric power regenerated by the first motor MG1. This structure enables the power output from the engine 150 to be converted to a power of reverse direction and output to the ring gear.

Abstract: A clutch motor 30 that includes a rotatable outer rotor 32 and a rotatable inner rotor 34 and is driven to carry out power operation or regenerative operation is attached to an output shaft of an engine 50. The output of the clutch motor 30 is transmitted to front wheels 26 and 28 via a drive shaft 22A. An assist motor 40 is directly linked with a drive shaft 22B that transmits power to rear wheels 27 and 29. Slip rotation in the clutch motor 30 enables part of the energy of the engine 50 to be regenerated. The assist motor 40 is driven with at least part of the regenerated energy or energy stored in a battery 94. This structure allows torques to be output to the two different shafts and thereby realizes four-wheel-drive. In accordance with another possible structure, the assist motor 40 regenerates electric power, while the clutch motor 30 carries out over-drive operation.

Abstract: While a ring gear shaft 126 linked with a drive shaft rotates, a power output apparatus 110 applies a torque to a first motor MG1 attached to a sun gear shaft 125, thereby abruptly increasing a revolving speed of an engine 150, to which a fuel injection is stopped. A torque generated by a frictional force of, for example, a piston in the engine 150 and working as a reaction is applied as a braking torque to the ring gear shaft 126 via a planetary gear 120. The magnitude of the braking torque depends upon the frictional force of, for example, the piston and can be controlled by regulating the revolving speed of the engine 150 by means of the first motor MG1. This control procedure enables the energy consumed by the engine 150 to be output as a braking force to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A power output apparatus 110 includes a planetary gear 120 having a planetary carrier, a sun gear, and a ring gear, an engine 150 having a crankshaft 156 linked with the planetary carrier, a first motor MG1 attached to the sun gear, and a second motor MG2 attached to the ring gear. When the driver steps on an accelerator pedal 164 to change the driving point of the engine 150, the power output apparatus 110 calculates an angular acceleration of the sun gear, calculates a torque used for changing the driving point of the engine 150 by multiplying the angular acceleration by a moment of inertia seen from the first motor MG1 of an inertial system consisting of the first motor MG1 and the engine 150, and drives the second motor MG2 by taking into account the torque. This structure enables a desired torque to be output even in a transient time.

Abstract: An unsaturated polyester resin composition capable of affording a molded product having a small cured volume shrinkage, a superior dimensional stability, a surface quality and a high hardness, a sheet-form molding material using the composition and a process for producing a fiber-reinforced plastic molded product are provided, which composition comprises a saturated polyester obtained by reacting a saturated dibasic acid component containing 20% by mol or more of adipic acid with a saturated glycol component and having a number average molecular weight of 4,000 or higher and an acid value of 2 to 8 KOH mg/g, an unsaturated polyester and an ethylenic unsaturated monomer; which sheet-form molding material has the unsaturated resin composition together with a fiber reinforcing material placed between two films.

Abstract: An unsaturated polyester resin composition capable of affording a molded product having a small cured volume shrinkage, a superior dimensional stability, a surface quality and a high hardness, a sheet-form molding material using the composition and a process for producing a fiber-reinforced plastic molded product are provided, which composition comprises a saturated polyester obtained by reacting a saturated dibasic acid component containing 20% by mol or more of adipic acid with a saturated glycol component and having a number average molecular weight of 4,000 or higher and an acid value of 2 to 8 KOH mg/g, an unsaturated polyester and an ethylenic unsaturated monomer; which sheet-form molding material has the unsaturated resin composition together with a fiber reinforcing material placed between two films.