Abstract: The control apparatus calculates the first assist component on the basis of the steering torque. The control apparatus calculates the turning angle command value from the steering torque and the first assist component on the basis of the ideal model, executes turning angle feedback control for matching the actual turning angle with the turning angle command value, and calculates the second assist component. The control apparatus adds the second assist component to the first assist component to calculate the assist command value. When the deviation between the actual turning angle and the turning angle command value is out of the allowable range, the control apparatus changes the ideal model to remove the second assist component from the assist command value and enhance convergence of the turning angle feedback control system.

Abstract: A rotation angle sensor outputs detection signals based on a rotation angle of a rotary shaft. The detection signals that are output from the rotation angle sensor include first to fourth detection signals that sinusoidally change with the rotation angle of the rotary shaft and that are different in phase from one another. Here, a phase difference between the first detection signal and the second detection signal and a phase difference between the third detection signal and the fourth detection signal are each set to 90°. In addition, a phase difference between the first detection signal and the third detection signal and a phase difference between the second detection signal and the fourth detection signal are each set to 45°.

Abstract: A driving force transmission apparatus including a tank which reserves lubricating oil in an accommodating space which is interposed between a housing and an inner shaft and an apparatus case which has a cylindrical accommodating portion which accommodates the housing, and in the case, the accommodating portion has an inner circumferential surface which faces an outer circumferential surface of the housing, and the tank has an oil inlet port which is opened to the inner circumferential surface of the accommodating portion and through which the lubricating oil in the accommodating space is let in based on a centrifugal force generated in association with the rotation of the housing when a four-wheel drive vehicle travels forwards in a two-wheel drive mode.

Abstract: A rack shaft supporting device includes a support yoke, a plug that closes the other opening of an accommodation chamber, a ball screw mechanism between the support yoke and the plug, and a torsion urging member between the ball screw mechanism and the plug. The ball screw mechanism includes: a first threaded portion in which a first thread groove is formed; a second threaded portion in which a second thread groove is formed; and balls arranged in a rolling path formed of the first thread groove and the second thread groove. The torsion urging member rotates the second threaded portion relative to the plug and moves the second threaded portion toward the support yoke.

Abstract: A distal end of a manipulator having a redundancy is constrained so as to leave one degree of freedom, an attitude of the manipulator is changed into a plurality of attitudes that are allowed by the redundancy by outputting joint position command values from a controller to servomotors that drive links that constitute the manipulator of which the distal end is fixed, and calibration is performed by obtaining parameter deviations of a robot constant of the manipulator on the basis of the joint position command values and actual measured values from rotary encoders, which are respectively provided at the servomotors, after each attitude change.

Abstract: A degree-of-dispersion inspecting apparatus accurately quantifies the degree of dispersion of particles of an electricity storage material based on in-plane uniformityand void size uniformity, which are obtained from an image of a coating film of the electricity storage material. The in-plane uniformity is a macroscopic value based on the ratio of voids between the particles in the electricity storage material, and the void size uniformity is a microscopic value based on values equivalent to the sizes of the voids between the particles in the electricity storage material. This allows the degree of dispersion of the particles of the electricity storage material to be accurately quantified even if the particles of the electricity storage material are in contact with each other or vary in size.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing an electricity storage material are provided which allow easily measuring the dissolution rate to solubility of a solution of a powder thickener dissolved in a liquid solvent. An apparatus for manufacturing an electricity storage material includes: a dissolving device that dissolves in a liquid solvent a thickener as powder that is ionized when dissolved; and a dissolution-rate-to-solubility determining device that measures conductivity of the solution produced by the dissolving device and determines a dissolution rate to solubility of the solution based on the measured conductivity. The dissolution rate to solubility can thus be determined without the need to stop the dissolving device during dissolution of the thickener in the liquid solvent. This can significantly improve production efficiency. Since excessive operation of the dissolving device can be prevented, energy saving can be achieved.

Abstract: A first valve opening degree correction value computation unit computes a correction value (first valve opening degree correction value) for the absolute value of a valve opening degree command value on the basis of a rotation speed deviation computed by a rotation speed deviation computation unit in a pump driving motor control unit. A second valve opening degree computation unit computes a correction value (second valve opening degree correction value) for the valve opening degree command value on the basis of the sign of the valve opening degree command value and the first valve opening degree correction value. A correction value addition unit adds the second valve opening degree correction value to the valve opening degree command value set by the valve opening degree command value setting unit.

Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a tilt hinge shaft fixed to a vehicle body, a steering column that rotationally supports the steering shaft, and a ground clamp, which is made of an elastically deformable conductive material. The ground clamp is arranged between the tilt hinge shaft and the steering column. The ground clamp includes a second arcuate section that contacts the tilt hinge shaft, a first bent section that contacts the steering column, and a deformation section that extends between the second arcuate section and the first bent section. The deformation section is elastically deformable such that the second arcuate section and the first bent section approach each other. The ground clamp is arranged between the tilt hinge shaft and the steering column with the deformation section being elastically deformed.

Abstract: In an in-wheel motor driving device, since an involute speed reduction gear with a small difference in number of teeth which can be made small in size can be disposed on an inner side of an inner rotor type motor, a size of the in-wheel motor driving device in the direction of a rotational axis can be reduced. Further, in the inner rotor type motor, since a first stator is disposed so as to face a radially outer side of a large-diameter rotor, heat generated in the first stator is easily dissipated. On the other hand, in an outer rotor type motor, since a second stator is disposed so as to face a radially inner side of a small-diameter rotor, a torque radius of the small-diameter rotor can be made large, thereby making it possible to ensure a large torque capacity. Because of this, the outer rotor type motor can be made smaller in diameter than the inner rotor type motor, thereby making it possible to ensure a large space within a wheel.

Abstract: An annular wet clutch plate has lubrication grooves formed of multiple grooves in at least one of both axial end faces, the at least one of the both end faces having the lubrication grooves and a frictional engagement surface. The frictional engagement surface has a plurality of small grooves having a width and a depth that are smaller than those of the lubrication grooves. At least one of the small grooves is extended in a direction that crosses a circumferential direction of the annular clutch plate. A mean value of surface roughness of the frictional engagement surface having the small grooves is from 3.0 ?m to 4.0 ?m when the surface roughness is measured with the use of Rz at three positions that are offset from each other by 120° in the circumferential direction around a central axis of the annular clutch plate.

Abstract: A vehicle driving force distribution device includes: a differential gear; a driving force transmission device; and a case member having a first accommodating chamber accommodating the differential gear and a second accommodating chamber accommodating the driving force transmission device. The case member has a first flow passage that allows lubricating oil to flow from the first accommodating chamber into the second accommodating chamber, and a second flow passage that allows lubricating oil to flow from the second accommodating chamber into the first accommodating chamber. In a two-wheel drive mode, lubricating oil flows from the second accommodating chamber into the first accommodating chamber through the second flow passage. In a four-wheel drive mode, lubricating oil flows from the first accommodating chamber into the second accommodating chamber through the first flow passage.

Abstract: An electricity storage member in an electricity storage device is manufactured by a step of folding a positive electrode material foil and folding a negative electrode material foil, a step of arranging the positive and negative electrode material foils with a separator foil interposed therebetween, and a step of positioning the positive and negative electrode material foils by relatively moving the positive and negative electrode material foils toward each other so as to insert one end of a second material foil among the positive and negative electrode material foils into a bottom of a valley of the first material foil, and restraining the one end of the second material foil with the bottom of the valley of the first material foil.

Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a drive motor and an engaging/disengaging mechanism having a function to permit and cut off torque transmission between the drive motor and wheels. The vehicle control device further includes a smoothing capacitor that smoothes electric power applied from a secondary battery, a drive circuit for the drive motor, a drive circuit for the engaging/disengaging mechanism, and a microprocessor for controlling each drive circuit. If it is determined that a collision of a vehicle has occurred, the microprocessor disconnects each drive circuit from the secondary battery, and outputs a command to disengage the engaging/disengaging mechanism.

Abstract: A steering system configured so that the possibility of occurrence of half-lock is significantly reduced is provided. A fastening mechanism has a pair of fastening members that fasten a pair of stationary side plates of a stationary bracket fixed to a vehicle body and a pair of movable side plates of a column bracket fixed to an upper jacket. A stationary tooth row is provided at only one location, that is, a first edge portion located on a steering member side of a tilt slot in a left stationary side plate. A second cam that serves as the fastening member has a first fastening portion that fastens the first edge portion adjacent to the tilt slot. A movable tooth row having teeth that are engaged with teeth of the stationary tooth row is provided in the first fastening portion.

Abstract: A driving force transmission control system includes: an electric motor; a multi-disc clutch; a cam mechanism that converts rotation output from the electric motor into cam thrust force that is axial force in the axial direction of the multi-disc clutch; a pressure-conversion mechanism that converts reaction force against the cam thrust force into pressure of a fluid; a pressure sensor that detects the pressure; and a control unit that computes a command value of a current supplied to the electric motor. The control unit stores the pressure of the fluid during disengagement of the multi-disc clutch, and computes the current command value based on the pressure of the fluid to which the reaction force against the cam thrust force has been applied, and the stored pressure of the fluid.

Abstract: A vehicle differential apparatus is provided with: a differential case rotatable around a rotation axis in which a first shaft insertion hole is formed along a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, a pair of side gears, a pinion gear meshing with the paired side gears in which a second shaft insertion hole is formed in an axial center portion of the pinion gear, and a pinion shaft including an insertion end portion inserted in the first shaft insertion hole of the differential case and a pinion gear support portion inserted in the second shaft insertion hole of the pinion gear to rotatably support the pinion gear. The pinion gear is supported so as to be movable in the rotation axis direction by a meshing reaction force generated from a meshing engagement with the pair of side gears.

Abstract: A circuit board includes control circuit patterns and first drive circuit patterns. A base maintains the circuit board in a state in which the base is opposed to a portion of the circuit board, in which the control circuit patterns are formed, across a space that allows control circuit elements to be mounted at the circuit board. A line module includes second drive circuit patterns electrically connected to the first drive circuit patterns so as to constitute a part of lines of a drive circuit, and is sandwiched between a portion of the circuit board, in which the first drive circuit patterns are formed, and the base.

Abstract: A drive state control apparatus is applied to a vehicle which has not only a transfer including a multi-disc clutch mechanism but also a changeover mechanism interposed in an axle and which can be switched between 2WD and 4WD. When a 2WD-to-4WD changeover condition is satisfied, the multi-disc clutch is immediately switched from a “decoupled state” to a “coupled state.” Meanwhile, a connecting operation of the changeover mechanism is started upon establishment of a state in which left and right rear wheels have no acceleration slippage, and a state in which rotational speeds of first and second axles on opposite sides of the changeover mechanism are approximately equal to each other. In addition, in the case where the left and right rear wheels have acceleration slippage after the 2WD-to-4WD changeover condition has been satisfied, an E/G output reduction control is executed. Thus, the connecting operation can be performed smoothly.

Abstract: A speed reducer for an electric power steering system includes a worm, a worm wheel, and a housing. Only a meshing section where the worm and the worm wheel mesh with each other and a space between the worm wheel and the housing are filled with grease. The grease in the space is in contact with both tooth surfaces of the worm wheel and an inner peripheral face of the housing, the inner peripheral face facing the worm wheel.