Abstract: A control device of a powertrain with a centrifugal pendulum damper is provided in which the centrifugal pendulum damper and a power transmission shaft are operatively coupled via a connection/disconnection mechanism, and the control device of the powertrain with the centrifugal pendulum damper includes a connection/disconnection control module for controlling an engagement degree of the connection/disconnection mechanism by controlling the engagement degree of the connection/disconnection mechanism such that the centrifugal pendulum damper rotates at or below a predetermined upper rotational speed limit.

Abstract: A thermal emission source is provided that has a structure capable of suppressing deterioration of an optical assembly over time. The thermal emission source includes an optical assembly (1) having an optical structure in which a member made of a semiconductor has a refractive index distribution so as to resonate with light of a wavelength shorter than a wavelength that corresponds to an absorption edge corresponding to a band gap of the semiconductor. The optical assembly (1) includes a coating structure (30) with a coating material that differs from the semiconductor of refractive portions (10) and through which light of a wavelength included in a wavelength range from visible light to far infrared rays can be transmitted.

Abstract: A guide rail is provided on an outer surface of a chuck body. A pair of fingers is disposed on the guide rail. At least one of the pair of fingers is a movable finger that is movable along the guide rail. One or two cylinder apparatuses, each of which has a rod that advances and retracts in the direction of its axial line by the action of air pressure, are provided in the chuck body. The top end of the rod extends from an end of the chuck body to the outside. An end block is attached to the top end of the rod. The end block is linked to the movable finger.

Abstract: A control system of a vehicle is provided, which includes an automatic transmission, a brake controller, and a processor configured to execute a neutral idle controlling module, a hydraulic pressure calculating module, a hydraulic pressure controlling module to calculate a target value of hydraulic pressure supplied to a frictional engageable element according to a given parameter, and a brake hold controlling module. The calculating module includes a first calculating submodule executed to calculate the target value in a period from an issuance of a vehicle start request when a neutral idle control is executed and a brake hold control is not executed in a vehicle stopped state until the frictional engageable element is engaged, and a second calculating submodule executed to calculate the target value so that a calculated value is lower than in the first calculation when the value of the parameter is the same.

Abstract: A frictional engagement element includes: a first piston, a second piston, a first urging member for urging the first piston in a direction of releasing a friction plate, and a second urging member for urging the second piston in the direction of releasing the friction plate with an urging force larger than the urging force of the first urging member. One of the first and second pistons has a communicating hole for connecting an engaging hydraulic chamber with an opposite hydraulic chamber and the other of the first and second pistons has a valve part for closing the communicating hole. The difference in travel distance between the first and second pistons in motion due to the different urging forces of the first and second urging members causes the valve part to open the communicating hole.

Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a piston movable in an axial direction, a plurality of friction plates disposed on a side of a first surface of the piston, a fastening hydraulic chamber applying a hydraulic pressure to a second surface of the piston to move the piston to a fastening position where the friction plates are pressed to be fastened to each other, a release hydraulic chamber applying a hydraulic pressure to the first surface of the piston to move the piston to a release position where the friction plates are released, and a hydraulic pressure control valve that supplies and discharges the hydraulic pressure to and from each of the fastening hydraulic chamber and the release hydraulic chamber. An area of the second surface of the piston for receiving the hydraulic pressure is set to be larger than an area of the first surface for receiving the hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A control apparatus of a powertrain with a centrifugal pendulum absorber, includes an engine formed with a plurality of cylinders, a drive force transmission shaft for receiving an engine output torque, a centrifugal pendulum absorber for reducing a variation in the output torque, a connect-disconnect mechanism, an engine controlling module for shifting an engine operating state between an all-cylinder operation and a reduced-cylinder operation, and a connection controlling module. The connection controlling module shifts a connecting state of the connect-disconnect mechanism to a first state when the engine is in the all-cylinder operation, and shifts the connecting state to a second state in which the connection is tighter than the first state when the engine is in the reduced-cylinder operation. In response to issued requests to shift the engine operating state, the connection controlling module shifts the connecting state, and the engine controlling module shifts the engine operating state.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a vehicle includes a torque converter including a lockup clutch, and a lockup controller configured to controllably move the lockup clutch from a released state in an engagement direction when the vehicle has just started. The apparatus further includes a rolling-down sensor configured to sense whether or not the vehicle that has just started has rolled down, and a lockup retarder configured to retard the movement of the lockup clutch in the engagement direction if the vehicle is sensed to have rolled down.

Abstract: A humidifier obtains, based on detection values of a first and second temperature and humidity sensors, the amount of humidification, the amount of water evaporated by a humidifying material per preset time, controls the amount of water supplied by a water supply unit per the preset time to be smaller than a specific value when the amount of humidification obtained at the present time is increased compared to the amount of humidification obtained at the previous time, and controls the amount of water supplied by the water supply unit per the preset time to be equal to or greater than the specific value when the amount of humidification obtained at the present time is decreased compared to the amount of humidification obtained at the previous time or when the amount of humidification obtained at the present time is equal to the amount of humidification obtained at the previous time.

Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic transmission is provided. The automatic transmission includes a piston having first and second surfaces opposite from each other, friction plates, engaging and disengaging hydraulic pressure chambers for supplying hydraulic pressure and directing the piston to push the friction plates to be engaged and disengaged, a hydraulic pressure control valve for supplying and discharging hydraulic pressure to and from the chambers, and first and second oil paths communicating the valve with the chambers. The second surface has a larger area for receiving hydraulic pressure than that of the first surface. The method includes controlling the friction plates to change from the disengaged state to the engaged state. Controlling the friction plates includes adjusting the hydraulic pressure to a first instruction pressure in a first period in response to a gear shift command, and to a second instruction pressure in a second period.

Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic transmission mounted on a vehicle having an automatic engine stop mechanism for automatically stopping and restarting an engine, is provided. The transmission includes a piston having first and second surfaces, friction plates, engaging and disengaging hydraulic pressure chambers, a hydraulic pressure control valve for supplying/discharging hydraulic pressure to/from the chambers, first and second oil paths communicating the control valve with the chambers, a pressure reducing valve for preventing pressure of the disengaging chamber from exceeding a given set pressure, a hydraulic pressure supply device for supplying pressure to the control valve in the automatic stop state, and a mechanical oil pump for supplying pressure to the control valve while the engine is driving, the second surface having a larger pressure receiving area than the first surface. The method includes adjusting the set pressure to be lower in the automatic stop state than while driving.

Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic transmission is provided. The automatic transmission includes a piston having first and second surfaces opposite from each other, friction plates, engaging and disengaging hydraulic pressure chambers for supplying and discharging hydraulic pressure and directing the piston to push the friction plates to be engaged and disengaged, a hydraulic pressure control valve for supplying and discharging hydraulic pressure to and from the chambers, first and second oil paths communicating the valve with the chambers, and a pressure reducing valve disposed in the second oil path and for preventing hydraulic pressure of the disengaging hydraulic pressure chamber from exceeding a given set pressure. The second surface has a larger area for receiving hydraulic pressure than an area of the first surface for receiving hydraulic pressure. The method includes changing the given set pressure according to information regarding a state of the automatic transmission.

Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic transmission is provided. The automatic transmission includes first and second frictional engageable elements and a hydraulic mechanism. The method includes controlling a first hydraulic pressure control valve of the first element to adjust hydraulic pressure to a given value in a first period in response to the gear shift command and increase the hydraulic pressure until first friction plates engaged in a second period, and a second hydraulic pressure control valve of the second element to pre-charge in response to the gear shift command, maintain the hydraulic pressure at a lower value than a highest target value immediately after the pre-charging, and increase the hydraulic pressure until second friction plates engaged immediately after the maintaining the pressure, a time length of the first period being shorter than a time length between a start of the pre-charging and a start of the increasing the pressure.

Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic transmission is provided. The automatic transmission includes a piston having first and second surfaces opposite from each other, friction plates, engaging and disengaging hydraulic pressure chambers for supplying/discharging hydraulic pressure and directing the piston to push the friction plates to be engaged and disengaged, a hydraulic pressure control valve for supplying/discharging hydraulic pressure to/from the chambers, and first and second oil paths communicating the valve with the chambers. The second surface has a larger area for receiving hydraulic pressure than the first surface. The method includes controlling the disengaged friction plates to be engaged by adjusting the hydraulic pressure to a first pressure in a first period in response to a gear shift command and adjusting the hydraulic pressure to a second pressure in a second period. The first pressure is changed depending on a state of the automatic transmission.

Abstract: Provided are a coating film, a manufacturing method for the same, and a PVD device that not only sufficiently improve the balance of low-friction properties and wear resistance, but also improve chipping resistance and peeling resistance. This film is coated on a substrate surface, wherein the coating film has a hard carbon that presents relatively black and white when observed in a cross-sectional bright-field TEM image, a mesh-shaped hard carbon layer is formed using a PVD method, said layer having white-colored hard carbon in a mesh shape extending in the thickness direction and black-colored hard carbon dispersed into the cavities in the mesh, and the ID/IG ratio is 1-6 when the mesh-shaped hard carbon layer is measured using Raman spectroscopy, said ratio being the ratio of the Raman spectrum D band peak area intensity and G band peak area intensity.

Abstract: A control device of a powertrain with a centrifugal pendulum damper is provided comprising a power transmission shaft which transmits power between a drive source and an automatic transmission, and a centrifugal pendulum damper which is coupled to the power transmission shaft and a connection/disconnection mechanism. The automatic transmission has a transmission mechanism of a hydraulic pressure control type, which includes a transmission control module which performs a control to supply transmission hydraulic pressure to the transmission mechanism. The transmission control module includes a transmission characteristic changing module which changes a control characteristic of transmission hydraulic pressure according to an engagement degree of the connection/disconnection mechanism.

Abstract: Provided are a coating film, a manufacturing method for the same, and a PVD device that not only sufficiently improve the balance of low-friction properties and wear resistance, but also improve chipping resistance (defect resistance) and peeling resistance. This coating film coats a substrate surface, wherein a hard carbon layer is formed extending in columns-shape perpendicular to the substrate when observed in a cross-sectional bright-field TEM image, the hard carbon layer is formed using a PVD method, and the ID/IG ratio is 1-6 when the hard carbon layer is measured using Raman spectroscopy, said ratio being the ratio of the Raman spectrum D band peak area intensity and G band peak area intensity.

Abstract: Provided is a frictional engagement element including: a plurality of friction plates; a piston movable between a releasing position and an engaging position; and a first urging mechanism and a second urging mechanism configured to urge the piston in an engaging direction from the releasing position toward the engaging position. Urging forces of both of the first urging mechanism and the second urging mechanism act on the piston from the releasing position to a first position in the engaging direction. The urging force of the first urging mechanism acts on the piston from the first position to a second position closer to the engaging position than the first position. The first position is a predetermined position where the piston does not abut against the friction plates, and the second position is a position where the piston abuts against the friction plates and the clearances are reduced.

Abstract: Provided is an automatic transmission including: an input section to which power generated by a drive source is input; an output section configured to output a drive force; and a gear shifting mechanism configured to change a gear ratio. The power is input to the input section without intervention of a hydraulic power transmission device. The gear shifting mechanism includes a predetermined frictional engagement element for achieving a starting gear ratio of a vehicle. The frictional engagement element includes: a plurality of friction plates arranged with clearances therebetween; a piston movable between a releasing position where the friction plates are brought into a released state, and an engaging position where the friction plates are brought into an engaged state by pressing the friction plates; and an urging mechanism configured to urge the piston so that the piston abuts against the friction plates and the clearances are reduced.

Abstract: A control apparatus of a powertrain with a centrifugal pendulum absorber, includes an engine formed with a plurality of cylinders, a drive force transmission shaft for receiving an engine output torque, a centrifugal pendulum absorber for reducing a variation in the output torque, a connect-disconnect mechanism, an engine controlling module for shifting an engine operating state between an all-cylinder operation and a reduced-cylinder operation, and a connection controlling module. The connection controlling module shifts a connecting state of the connect-disconnect mechanism to a first state when the engine is in the all-cylinder operation, and shifts the connecting state to a second state in which the connection is tighter than the first state when the engine is in the reduced-cylinder operation. In response to issued requests to shift the engine operating state, the connection controlling module shifts the connecting state, and the engine controlling module shifts the engine operating state.