Abstract: A self tapping bolt is provided, which fastens a mounting member and a receiving member while the bolt cuts internal threads on an inner surface of a tap drill hole prepared in the receiving member. The bolt includes at least one groove formed near an end of a threaded portion of the bolt and a blade for cutting the internal threads. The bolt has the features that the blade is formed only on a rear end surface of the groove relative to a rotational direction of the bolt which is screwed into the tap drill hole.

Abstract: A sealing resin-metal assembly includes a sealing resin layer injection molded on at least one side of a sheet metal via an elastic primer layer within a mold die. A portion of the elastic primer layer that is brought into abutment with the mold die is formed thicker than the other portion of the elastic primer layer that is not brought into abutment with the mold die so that a clamping pressure of the mole die is received by the elastic primer layer at the portion formed thicker, when the sealing resin layer is laminated.

Abstract: A method and system for determining fluidborne noise characteristics of a fluid power pump. The system includes the pump, a reference pipe fluidly connected to a discharge of the pump, three pressure sensors disposed within the reference pipe at predetermined spacings from each other and the pump, first and second loading valves, and a calculating and analysis assembly. The loading valves are selectively and alternatingly actuated to pressurize fluid contained in the system. The calculating and analysis assembly receives signals from the pressure sensors and signals indicative of the rotational speed of the pump. The calculating and analysis assembly uses these signals, together with the known physical characteristics of the reference pipe and the system fluid, to determine the source flow ripple and internal impedance.

Abstract: A simple-structured and inexpensive label tape and a method of its use make it possible to roll up the label tape in the form of a roll even without a release liner, facilitate its handling and permit the label tape to be printed freely. The label tape (1) includes an elongated label base material (2) supporting a continuous row of label units having prints of a label picture. The label tape (1) has an adhesive 3 coated on the back surface. The adhesive remains unadhesive at normal temperatures but restores its adhesive force enough for adhesion when heated. Upon using the label tape (1), a length of the label tape (1), which is a label unit (9), is unrolled and cut with a blade (15) from a roll (7) of the label tape (1), then heated with a heater 3 to heat an adhesive (3) on the back surface of each cut label unit, and thereafter affixed to a product with the adhesive having restored the adhesive force.

Abstract: An air/fuel ratio control apparatus and method for an internal combustion engine, and an engine control unit are provided for conducting a perturbation control to maintain a satisfactory exhaust gas purification percentage irrespective of whether or not a catalyst is deteriorated, thereby improving the post-catalyst exhaust gas characteristics. The air/fuel ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprises an ECU, and a LAF sensor and an O2 sensor disposed at locations upstream and downstream of a first catalyst, respectively, in an exhaust pipe. The ECU sets a target air/fuel ratio for converging the output of the O2 sensor to a predetermined target value such that it fluctuates over a predetermined amplitude at a predetermined frequency higher when the output of the O2 sensor remains near a predetermined target value than when it is not near the predetermined target value.

Abstract: A fuel cell metallic separator adapted to constitute a partition wall between single cells for a fuel cell stack, includes a metallic plate and a resin portion made of a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin. At least either upper and lower peripheral edge portions or left and right peripheral edge portions of the metallic plate are integrally formed with the resin portion. The metallic plate is provided with a passage for fuel gas, oxide gas or coolant for a fuel cell and the resin portion has communication ports provided for allowing fuel gas, oxide gas or coolant to pass therethrough. The metallic plate and the resin portion are formed integrally through injection molding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the side airbag apparatus, which deploys an airbag between an occupant of a vehicle and a sidewall of said vehicle in order to protect the occupant in the event of side collision of the vehicle.

Abstract: In the parts distribution managing system and the parts distribution managing method according to the present invention, an enclosed tag to be packed with parts, is issued. The enclosed tag has at least a delivery number corresponding to a set of parts delivered according to an order and a location number indicating a location where the set of parts should be received in the warehouse located at the receiving side. Further, packing specifications data including at least the delivery number and the location number are supplied to the receiving side. At the receiving side parts can be received in the warehouse using the enclosed tag and the packing specifications data, thus saving operators time and trouble. Further, when a location number in the packing specifications data does not indicate an empty location, a new enclosed tag may be re-issued for more flexible treatment. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the enclosed tag further has a code indicating a location number.

Abstract: A control system for a plant is disclosed. The control system includes a controller which controls the plant based on a controlled object model which is obtained by modeling the plant. The controlled object model is modeled using an input and an output of the plant which are sampled at intervals of a period which is longer than a control period of the controller. The controller carries out a control process of the plant at intervals of the control period.

Abstract: A device for monitoring around a vehicle capable of detecting objects present around the vehicle based on an image captured by at least one infrared camera member provided with the vehicle. The device includes a binary object extraction unit which subjects a gray scale image of the image captured by the infrared camera member to a binary thresholding method, and extracts a binary object from the gray scale image; a gray scale object extraction unit which extracts a gray scale object, a range of the gray scale object including the binary object, from the gray scale image based on change in luminance of the gray scale image, and a pedestrian determination unit which sets a search area in an area including the gray scale object, and recognizes a pedestrian in the gray scale image based on a luminance dispersion in the search area.

Abstract: A controller for controlling an air-fuel ratio of an engine is provided. An exhaust gas sensor is provided between an upstream catalyst disposed upstream of an exhaust pipe and a downstream catalyst disposed downstream of the exhaust pipe. A virtual exhaust gas sensor is configured downstream of the downstream catalyst. After an operating state in which the air-fuel is lean is cancelled, or after a fuel cut is cancelled, an estimated output of the virtual exhaust gas sensor is estimated based on a gas amount that contributes to reduction of the upstream and downstream catalysts and a detected output of the exhaust gas sensor provided between the upstream and downstream catalysts. The air-fuel ratio of the engine is controlled in accordance with the estimated output of the virtual exhaust gas sensor. Thus, the catalyst converter is appropriately reduced in accordance with a load of the engine and a state of the catalyst.

Abstract: In a glass panel arrangement for automotive sun roof systems having a weather strip frame which is disposed substantially flush with the glass panel, a support frame made of metallic material and attached to a lower surface of the glass panel along a peripheral part of the glass panel is provided with an outer extension for supporting a part of the weather strip frame extending away from the edge of the glass panel from below so as to resist the tendency for the weather strip frame to get detached from the outer periphery of the glass panel. Therefore, the weather strip frame can be made of plastic material which has a relatively low affinity with the glass panel. In particular, if the outer extension is provided with an upwardly directed flange, not only the retaining force of the outer extension is improved but also the bending rigidity of the outer extension is improved.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine having at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve is disclosed. The control system includes a valve operating characteristic varying mechanism and a hydraulic control valve for controlling a hydraulic pressure to be supplied to the valve operating characteristic varying mechanism. The valve operating characteristic varying mechanism continuously varies an operating phase of the at least one intake valve and/or the at least one exhaust valve of the engine. A cleaning operation of the hydraulic control valve is performed in a predetermined operating condition of the engine. An intake air amount of the engine is controlled according to an operating condition of the valve operating characteristic varying mechanism when the cleaning operation of the hydraulic control valve is performed.

Abstract: A vehicle floor structure with a floor body provided to a body frame is provided. The floor body is a hollow panel integrally formed by arranging a plurality of core materials with spaces on a flat plate and placing another flat plate over the core materials. In order to increase the rigidity of the entire floor body, core materials in edge portions of the floor body are joined to the body frame.

Abstract: A display portion of a meter device of a fuel cell vehicle has a motor output meter and a capacitor capacitometer. The motor output meter has an output indicating portion and a regenerative power indicating portion. The output indicating portion indicates an output by the power of the fuel cell and an output by the power of the capacitor in different colors. The regenerative power indicating portion indicates a regenerative power of the motor in a different color from that indicated on the output indicating portion. The capacitor capacitometer indicates an amount corresponding to a power charged to the capacitor the residual capacity of the capacity in different colors.

Abstract: The present invention provides an infrared image-processing apparatus capable of binarization processing in response to the change of the brightness histogram. The image-processing unit of the image-processing apparatus executes a binarization processing for an infrared image using a threshold brightness value determined in the previous processing, and calculates the area ratio P. When the binarization area ratio P is below a prescribed value &agr; (%), and if the threshold brightness value is not the minimum threshold brightness value Min_TH, the threshold brightness value ITH is reduced by subtracting a predetermined ratio. Similarly, when the binarization area ratio P is above a predetermined value &bgr; (%), and the threshold brightness value does not agree with the maximum threshold brightness value Max_TH, the threshold brightness value is increased by incrementing a prescribed value to the threshold brightness value ITH.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle which measures the degree of over-discharge of a battery depending on the temperature of the battery, and which performs control for protecting the battery.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle prevents a decrease in the total amount of regenerated energy in the entire vehicle while ensuring the stability of the vehicle when the vehicle decelerates. When the vehicle decelerates and regenerated energy is recovered by the regeneration operation of front motor and rear motor, the ECU sets the amount of regeneration, which is transferred from front wheels to rear wheels, depending on the steered angle of the front wheels and on the deceleration state of the vehicle. In addition, the ECU subtracts the amount of regeneration to be transferred from regeneration torque command value for rear wheels demanding from the rear motor, and adds the same amount of regeneration to regeneration torque command value for front wheels demanding from the front motor.

Abstract: A fixing band-tightening apparatus comprises a holding section for gripping a shaft section at both ends in an axial direction, the holding section being provided rotatably in a circumferential direction in accordance with a driving action of a rotary driving source, a stopper section arranged in a lateral direction substantially horizontal with respect to the holding section, for positioning a projection of a fixing band in the lateral direction except for a vertical direction, and a band-tightening section for forcibly nipping the projection of the fixing band positioned by the stopper section to tighten the fixing band.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided that is reduced in both size and weight while securing a sealed state of respective flow passages by respective sealing members between separators and an electrode assembly. In this fuel cell, there are provided in each of the separators communication ports for reaction gases and cooling medium that are provided outward from gas sealing members, and communication paths that detour around the gas sealing members in the thickness direction of the separators and connect the reaction gas communication ports with gas flow passages. A cooling surface sealing member that seals off the cooling medium flow passage from the reaction gas communication ports is placed at a position shifted from the communication paths towards the communication holes.

Abstract: A size of an area extending along a planned route is changed in accordance with a detected vehicle's speed. Map information corresponding to the extending area is extracted from the map information stored in map information storage means. The extracted map information is displayed, along with vehicle's current location, on display means.

Abstract: A check valve is disposed in a hydrogen offgas circulation path which is connected to a fuel cell so as to flow the hydrogen offgas only in one direction. Inside a valve housing, a first compression chamber and a second compression chamber are provided such that a bulkhead is disposed therebetween. In the bulkhead 14, a first communication hole 18 and a second communication hole 19 are formed so as to communicate between the first compression chamber and the second compression chamber. In a first lead valve, an opening end is disposed upward and a fixed end is disposed downward. In a second lead valve, an opening end is disposed downward and a fixed end is disposed upward. By doing this, operability in the check valve after water has frozen can be improved.

Abstract: An electric double layer capacitor having an electrode rolled body contained in an outer packaging can is disclosed. The electrode rolled body comprises a positive electrode plate having a positive electrode foil, on both sides of which an active substance is applied, a negative electrode plate having a negative electrode foil, on both sides of which the active substance is applied, and a separator interposed between these electrode plates, and is obtained by winding the above parts. The negative electrode foil is electrically connected directly to a bottom of the outer packaging can so that heat generated in an interior of the electric double layer capacitor is efficiently transferred to the outer packaging can from the negative electrode foil. The negative electrode foil has a greater thickness than that of the positive electrode foil, which is not electrically connected to the outer packaging can, so that heat quantity transferred is made large.

Abstract: A cable steering system is provided in which first control means controls the operation of a power steering motor disposed between Bowden cables and wheels based on a steering torque detected by steering torque detection means disposed between a steering wheel and the Bowden cables, and second control means controls the operation of a steering reaction force addition motor that applies a steering reaction torque to the steering wheel. It is possible to prevent deterioration of the steering feel by generating a steering reaction torque by means of the steering reaction force addition motor so as to compensate for a change in the steering torque while regulating the change in steering responsiveness due to expansion and contraction of the Bowden cables by generating an assist torque by means of the power steering motor so as to change the steering torque.

Abstract: A center console assembly including a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls, the sidewalls being interconnected at a forward end thereof by a bar member assembly. The bar member assembly includes an upper bar member and a lower bar member. The upper bar member defines a first catch that a latch of an upper lid is releasably secured thereto. The lower bar member defines a second catch that a latch of a front panel assembly is secured thereto. The front panel assembly and sidewalls cooperate to releasably retain the front panel assembly in a partially open position or a full open position. The front panel assembly holds a mobile telephone and other small items, such stored items being accessible when the front panel assembly is in one of the open positions.

Abstract: A phone holding assembly adapted to hold a mobile telephone and including an outer member and an inner member. The outer member includes a series of mounting tabs that are adapted to releasably secure the phone holding assembly to a panel. The inner member includes mounting ears that extend through openings in the outer member to releasably secure the inner member to the outer member. When the inner member is secured within the outer member, a phone of a first size can be received therein, while when the inner member is removed from the outer member, a phone of a second, larger size can be held.

Abstract: In a stator vane arrangement including a plurality of stator vanes axially opposing a plurality of rotor vanes in rotating machinery, each stator vane is tilted with respect to a radial line so that the load acting on the hub end of each stator vane is reduced and a secondary flow is minimized. This allows the aspect ratio of each stator vane to be reduced, and the number of stator vanes to be reduced without impairing the efficiency of the rotating machinery. This in turn allows the frequency of the oscillator force produced by the stator vane in relation with the motion of the rotor vanes to be lowered so that a resonant condition of the stator vanes can be avoided relatively easily.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a membrane electrode assembly and first and second metal sheet separators. The first metal sheet separator has a fuel gas passage defined on a surface thereof. The fuel gas passage has a plurality of embossed bodies projecting from the surface which faces the membrane electrode assembly, and pairs of guide ribs provided by joining two or more of the embossed bodies.

Abstract: An engine alignment jig assembly, which is used for installing an engine in a hull of a small watercraft via four engine mounts in such a manner that an output shaft of the engine is in alignment with a rotating shaft of a jet pump, is disclosed. The jig assembly includes an engine lower part dummy constructed to resemble a lower half of the engine. The engine lower part dummy includes a generally rectangular skeleton frame having substantially the same size in plan view as the lower half of the engine. Four screws are each provided at a respective corner of the rectangular skeleton frame and adapted to be threaded in a corresponding one of the engine mounts to attach the engine lower part dummy to the engine mounts. Two adjacent ones of the screws that are disposed on a bow side of the watercraft form left and right front screws, and the remaining two screws that are disposed on a stern side of the watercraft form left and right rear screws.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided that has a sufficient sealing performance while having a restrained dimension in the stacking direction thereof. The fuel cell is formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cell units, each fuel cell unit comprising: an electrode assembly formed by disposing electrodes on both sides of an electrolyte; a pair of separators that sandwich the electrode assembly in the thickness direction thereof; and gas sealing members that are disposed at an outer peripheral portion of the electrode assembly, and that seal respective reaction gas flow passages that are formed between each separator and the electrode assembly and are bounded by the separators and electrode assembly.

Abstract: A fixing band-tightening apparatus comprises a holding section for gripping a shaft section at both ends in an axial direction, the holding section being provided rotatably in a circumferential direction in accordance with a driving action of a rotary driving source, a stopper section arranged in a lateral direction substantially horizontal with respect to the holding section, for positioning a projection of a fixing band in the lateral direction except for a vertical direction, and a band-tightening section for forcibly nipping the projection of the fixing band positioned by the stopper section to tighten the fixing band.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator in which high electrical conductivity of an electricity generating portion and high corrosion resistance of an non-electricity generating portion are combined. The fuel cell separator, comprising the electricity generating portion and the non-electricity generating portion, wherein a material of at least a surface of one of the portions is different from that of a surface of other portions.

Abstract: An automotive electric power unit is provided to reduce the occurrence of electromagnetic noise caused by change in magnetic fields when the current dropps to zero when an ignition switch is being switched off. When the ignition switch is switched off, an input voltage to an ON/OFF control terminal of a DC/DC converter gently decreases through a potential difference between terminals of a motor driving load connected thereto. Accordingly, a control device, for which a detecting voltage is set relatively high, first detects an OFF state of the ignition switch and disconnects power loads such as a cooling fan, air conditioner, and defroster from the DC/DC converter by regulating relays. Then, the DC/DC converter, for which a detecting voltage is set lower than the detecting voltage for the control device, detects the OFF state of the ignition switch and stops stepping down the voltage so that a charging current for a battery of the load current thereof is shut off.

Abstract: A cargo bin lid hinge including a body member, a first hinge arm, and a second hinge arm. The first extends from said body member and is being generally aligned with the body member. The second hinge arm extends from the body member, and is curved and extends away from a plane of the body member. The first and second hinge arms cooperate to define an elongated hinge pin-receiving receptacle. The hinge pin has a flat surface that facilitates snap-fitting assembly of the hinge thereon.

Abstract: In an ECU, a coolant fan performs cooling operation such that a control DUTY value is limited by a control DUTY value according to tolerable noise level of the cooling fan based on a vehicle speed in a case in which the temperature in the high-voltage battery is lower than a predetermined limitation for highest temperature. In a case in which the temperature in the high-voltage battery is higher than the predetermined limitation for highest temperature, the cooling fan performs the cooling operation by using an energy storage device cooling operation requirement value and an IPU cooling operation requirement value such that performance in the high-voltage battery is not affected.

Abstract: A temperature control apparatus for a humidity sensor is provided for preventing impurities from sticking on a sensor element, while protecting the sensor element from cracking due to the humidity sensor heated by a heater in the presence of condensation, to maintain a high detection accuracy of the humidity sensor. The temperature control apparatus is configured to control the temperature of a sensor element of a humidity sensor disposed in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine for detecting the humidity within the exhaust passage. The temperature control apparatus comprises a heater for heating the sensor element, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the sensor element, and an ECU for controlling a heating amount of the heater to bring the detected temperature of the sensor element to a first predetermined temperature during an operation of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle and a control method of the hybrid vehicle is provided, capable of suppressing discharge of the battery at the time of starting a DC/DC converter and suppressing temporal voltage drop of the battery. When the engine is in the idle state and the power generated by the motor is not sufficient, the motor controller starts the DC/DC converter at a low output voltage state, and the amount of power generated by the motor is gradually increased at a speed without disturbing the idle rotation of the engine, and when it is determined that the power generation by the motor is sufficiently high by comparing the amount of power generation with the amount of power consumption at the output of the DC/DC converter, the operation mode of the output variable DC/DC converter is switched from the low voltage mode to the high voltage mode.

Abstract: A stator and a stator manufacturing method is provided in which a space factor can be improved, while reducing the number of components and simplifying the manufacturing process. A stator comprises a plurality of teeth cores 11 positioned at predetermined intervals on a predetermined circumference, a core back core 12 provided on a circumferential outside between adjacent teeth cores, and stator windings 13 which are wound around the teeth cores. An approximately U-shaped insulating sheet 14 is provided between adjacent teeth cores 11 with the ends of the sheet facing towards the circumferential outside, the insulating sheet 14 is provided between the teeth cores 11 and the stator windings 13, and the ends of the insulating sheet 14 are bent inward and occluded by an inner end surface of the core back core 12 which is inserted from the circumferential outside.

Abstract: A method for controlling an automobile exterior temperature display during a first period of time following starting the automobile includes comparing an ambient temperature to a display temperature and comparing a speed of the automobile to a threshold speed. If the speed is above the threshold speed and the sensed ambient temperature is more than a predetermined amount above the displayed temperature, the displayed temperature is adjusted at a first rate. The comparisons are continued for a predetermined period of time and, following the predetermined period of time, the displayed temperature is permitted to increase at a second rate. The second rate of increase is slower than the first rate of increase.

Abstract: The error determination section determines whether or not an acceleration data set has been received properly with no error. Received data memories store a plurality of the received acceleration data sets. Collision judgment control unit judges a possibility of a collision on the basis of a latest error-free proper data of the received acceleration data sets stored in the received data memories. Further, in case of occurrence of a data deficiency, an error-free proper data set is constantly stored in memory.

Abstract: A failure determination system and method for an internal combustion engine and an engine control unit are provided which are capable of properly determining a failure of a variable valve mechanism for inactivating a valve system associated with at least one of cylinders during a predetermined operation of the engine, by discriminating a misfire caused by the failure of the mechanism from a normal misfire. Fuel injection valves inject fuel for each cylinder and oxygen concentration of exhaust gases is detected. A misfire condition is detected on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis. Fuel injection to a misfiring cylinder is stopped. A failure of the mechanism is determined, when a parameter based on the oxygen concentration detection indicates a richer value of an actual air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gases than a predetermined reference value does, under a condition of the fuel injection being stopped.

Abstract: A joint portion 33 of an oil pump shaft 19 and a balancer shaft (output-side balancer shaft 12) is provided in an open space between opposite surfaces of a sidewall 4b of an oil pump housing 4 and a sidewall 5c1-5c2 (a bearing portion) of a balancer shaft housing 5. The joint portion 33 of the oil pump shaft 19 and the balancer shaft 12 is comprised of a pair of engageable portions 33a, 33b provided at each end of the balancer shaft 12 and the oil pump shaft 19, respectively. The engageable portions 33a, 33b are disengageably engaged with each other in radial directions of the shafts 12, 19. The joint portion 33 can be seen from the outside, and thus a joining operation can be performed with ease.

Abstract: A lamp body control system includes a steering angle sensor, a light emitting unit which can change a illuminating direction laterally, a driving unit changing the illuminating direction, a control unit controlling the driving unit based on an output from the steering angle sensor, and a straight driving condition determining unit determining the straight ahead driving condition of a vehicle. The control unit directs the illuminating direction to a direction according to a steering direction and a variation in the steering angle in the event that the variation is larger than a predetermined value, whereas in the event that the variation is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, the control unit returns the illuminating direction toward a forward direction of the vehicle at a predetermined returning speed until the determining unit determines that the vehicle is in a straight driving condition after an ignition switch is turned on.

Abstract: A method of starting an electric brushless rotating machine is provided which enables the rotor to produce a large power of startup torque with no use of any rotor position detectors. At Steps S1 and S2, a first and a second initial magnetization respectively are carried out for shifting the rotor at its free pausing state by forced commutation to a desired location to start the forward rotation at the maximum torque. At Step S3, the energization at single-phase is conducted with the rotor and the stator having a positional relationship for permitting generation of the maximum torque after the forced commutation or the second the initial magnetization. An induced voltage at the not-energized phase is measured by the forced commutation and used for determining the location of the rotor. Step S4 follows where a normal action of the energization is carried out.

Abstract: In en electric power steering apparatus, a motor controller unit controls PWM driving of a brushless motor for imparting a steering torque assist, on the basis of output signals of at least a steering torque detector section, motor current detector section and rotational angle detector section that includes a resolver. Either one of a predetermined frequency of the PWM driving and predetermined exciting frequency of the resolver is set to be an integral multiple of the other of the predetermined PWM driving frequency and the predetermined exciting frequency.

Abstract: A system detecting leakage of an internal combustion engine having a secondary air passage, bypassing a throttle valve, at an air intake pipe connecting to the intake manifold and a secondary air control valve which regulates opening of the secondary air passage. In the system, when the changes in the absolute manifold pressure and the atmospheric pressure before and after the engine starts rotation, are small, it is determined that the intake manifold may possibly leak and should be monitored. Specifically, the opening of the secondary air passage is changed and the changes in the pressure, etc., before and after the opening is changed, are calculated and based thereon, it is determined whether the intake manifold, in fact, leaks. With this, it becomes possible to detect intake manifold leakage accurately with a simple configuration.

Abstract: A humidity sensor is disposed near an HC adsorbent in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. After the internal combustion engine is shut off, it is detected whether the humidity sensor has failed or not based on the value of the humidity detected by the humidity sensor when the detected value of the humidity is substantially constant, by determining the detected value of the humidity falls in a range between upper and lower limit thresholds that are set depending on the temperature near the HC adsorbent. It is stably and easily detected whether the humidity sensor disposed near the HC adsorbent in the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine has failed or not.

Abstract: A filter element is made of a first filtering member, and a second filtering member that is arranged on a downstream side of the first filtering member and is impregnated with an oil. The first filtering member consists of a downstream wet layer that is impregnated with the oil, which is transferred by contact to the second filtering member, and an upstream dry layer that is not impregnated with the oil. A density of the first filtering member may be set smaller than that of the second filtering member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a panel seal structure having a seal mounted around the outer circumferential edge of a panel body, such as glass panel, covering an opening formed in a vehicle body. An upper face of the seal is set to be substantially flush with an upper face of the panel body. A lip to be contactable with an edge of the panel body is formed along the upper face of the seal, and the edge of the lip is deformed downward upon contact with the edge of the panel body. Thereby, since the edge of the lip is deformed downward, a dimensional error of the panel body is accommodated for, and the continuity between the upper face of the seal and the upper face of the panel body is enhanced.

Abstract: A method of starting an electric brushless rotating machine is provided where a large startup torque is obtained with no use of any rotor position detecting device and the forced commutation can be switched to normal energization easily and smoothly. At the startup stage, any two of three-phase stator windings are energized for initial magnetization (Steps S1 and S2) to hold the magnetic rotor at a position. Then, the windings of the phases are energized in a sequence while gradually increasing the level of the energization (Step S3). During the forced commutation, the magnetic rotor is rotated by a rotating position detecting signal generated from a voltage signal induced on the not-energized windings to drive the output shaft of an engine. Then, the energization is canceled when the number of revolutions in the internal combustion engine determined from the rotating position detecting signal reaches its predetermined level.