Abstract: While a power transistor which is positioned in an upper arm with respect to an inductive load and a power transistor which is positioned in a lower arm are both controlled to be OFF by a controller, reverse currents flowing in current mirror circuits which respectively correspond to these power transistors positioned in the upper arm and the lower arm are detected by current detectors. Since the currents which flow in the current mirror circuits are proportional to the currents which flow in the power transistors provided corresponding thereto, it is possible to detect the load current based upon the reverse currents which are detected by the current detectors.

Abstract: A method for automatically controlling the climate in a plurality of climate control zones of a cabin of an automobile comprising at least a driver zone and a passenger zone having a temperature sensor located in a driver side zone and at least one conditioned air outlet vent in each of the zones, the method comprising, obtaining various values indicative of internal and external climate, determining outlet temperatures and mass flow rates of at least one of a driver zone outlet and at least one of a passenger zone outlet based at least on the above obtained values and on other factors relating to the design of the automobile, including a zone air crossover influence factor, providing conditioned air to the cabin from at least one of the driver zone outlets and at least one of the passenger zone outlets at the determined outlet temperatures and mass flow rates.

Abstract: A battery module comprises a flat cell including a laminate film; an electric power generating element; lead terminals; a cell outer case junction part formed by partially or completely covering the electric power generating element with the laminate film, and by sealing the laminate film by thermal fusion; a cell assembly formed by collecting a plurality of the flat cells; and a pair of planar supports for interposing the cell assembly. Further, the battery module comprises rib-shaped protrusions respectively including electrical conductors for electrically connecting the lead terminals of the flat cells, the rib-shaped protrusions being held on the planar support at predetermined intervals, and the planar supports pressing and supporting the cell assembly.

Abstract: An infrared radiation detecting device is constructed using a manufacturing method to increase the infrared radiation absorptance of the infrared radiation absorbing film. The infrared radiation detecting device has an infrared radiation absorbing film. In one embodiment, the infrared radiation absorbing film has a varying film thickness. The film thickness difference between the thickest points and the thinnest points and the spacing between the thickest points within the same plane are set to decrease the effective surface reflectance cause by the interference or scattering effects of the infrared radiation. Preferably, the film thickness differences between the thickest points and the thinnest points are equal to or greater than ¼ of the wavelength of the infrared radiation being measured, and the spacing between the thickest points within the same plane is shorter than the wavelength of the infrared radiation being measured.

Abstract: A failure diagnosis apparatus for an exhaust gas recirculation system eliminates the influence of various disturbance factors that vary the suction air pressure, diagnoses a failure of the exhaust gas recirculation system on the basis of the suction air pressure, and prevents incorrect diagnosis. The system includes a fresh air pressure unit for determining an estimated fresh air pressure inside a suction pipe from the operating condition of an internal combustion engine and an actual exhaust gas recirculation pressure estimating unit for determining an EGR gas pressure on the basis of a measured suction pipe pressure detected by a suction pipe pressure detecting unit and estimated fresh air pressure. A failure is judged on the basis of the estimated EGR gas pressure and the detected operating condition.

Abstract: A control device which controls the current supplied to a motor (1) comprises a phase sensor (2) which detects a rotor phase of the motor (1) at a predetermined angular resolution, and outputs a phase signal corresponding to plural phase determining ranges, a motor drive device (4, 5), and a controller (3). The controller (3) selects one method from plural different methods which determine a current control rotor phase from the phase signal, computes the current control rotor phase from the phase signal using the selected method, computes a command value of the current supplied to the motor (1) using the computed current control rotor phase, and outputs this to the motor drive device (4, 5).

Abstract: A method of producing a cam lobe piece of an assembled camshaft in a valve operating system for an internal combustion engine. The method comprises (a) forming a profile of the cam lobe piece by upsetting a material under forging to obtain an intermediately formed body; (b) piercing a central portion of the intermediately formed body to form a shaft bore; and (c) ironing an inner peripheral surface of the pierced intermediately formed body to form unevenness at the inner peripheral surface, all accomplished by cold working. The material at the forming the profile of the cam lobe piece has a first section located on a side of a cam nose of the cam lobe piece, and a second section located longitudinally opposite to the first section. The material has a thickness which gradually increases in a direction from the second section to the first section.

Abstract: When a switch between sine wave voltage drive and rectangular wave voltage drive is effected based upon the motor rotation speed and a motor torque command value, an AC voltage forming an intermediate wave is generated by combining the sine wave and the rectangular wave and is applied to the motor.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack (8) generates power using hydrogen-rich gas obtained by reforming vaporized methanol in a reformer (6). The vaporized methanol is generated by vaporizing liquid methanol in a vaporizer (5). The vaporizer (5) is heated by combustion gas from a combustor (10). A sensor (31) detects a liquid methanol amount supplied to the vaporizer (5) by a methanol pump (4). A controller (100) calculates a prediction temperature of the vaporizer (5) based on the liquid methanol supply amount, and limits an increase of the liquid methanol supply amount from the methanol pump (4) so that the prediction temperature does not fall below a predetermined temperature (S7A, S7B). In this way, temperature drop of the vaporizer (5) from the predetermined temperature is prevented.

Abstract: A method for lane-keeping control of a lane-keeping support system provides a current command indicative of steering torque assist needed to steer a vehicle in following a target line between lane markings on a roadway during driving in lane-keeping control (LKC) mode. A map has two sets of limit data against a range of values of lateral acceleration to which the vehicle is subject, between which sets of limit data there is a range of values of the command during various phases of steering the vehicle to turn in the LKC mode. In order to compensate for undesired effect caused by any deviation of the range of values of the current command due to the presence of continuous disturbance, the two sets of limit data are corrected. To determine driver steering intervention, the instantaneous value of the current command is compared to two limit values established out of the corrected two sets of limit data.

Abstract: This invention allows storage electric power to be secured at a maximum by reducing variation in potential between a plurality of capacitors constituting an electric power storage device as follows. A plurality of capacitor banks are provided, in parallel, in the electric power storage device. A part of the respective capacitor banks is halted depending on the current flowing through the electric power storage device. Electric charge of the respective capacitor parallel circuits is individually discharged in the halted capacitor bank, thereby, the terminal voltage of the respective capacitor parallel circuits are equalized.

Abstract: A reformer (6) generates hydrogen rich gas from vaporized methanol and a fuel cell stack (8) generates electric power by a reaction of hydrogen rich gas. A combustor (10) generates heat due to combustion of fuel and supplies it to a vaporizer (5) for vaporizing liquid methanol. A controller (100) increases a fuel supply amount to the combustor (10) when the methanol supply amount to the vaporizer (5) is increased. The controller also calculates a prediction temperatures of the combustor (10) (S5) and suppresses the fuel supply amount when any one of the prediction temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature (S6, S8A).

Abstract: An intake arrangement for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine of a vehicle which has a row of cylinders. The arrangement includes an intake manifold, which includes a collector extending along a direction of the row of the cylinders and a branch portion communicated with the collector, a fuel pipe extending along the collector, and a protector extending along the fuel pipe between the branch portion and the fuel pipe. The fuel pipe is disposed at a downstream end portion of the branch portion which allows air to be introduced into the cylinders. The protector is secured to the downstream end portion of the branch portion and deformable to cover the fuel pipe upon an impact load being applied to the branch portion.

Abstract: A motor/generator comprises a stator (2) having plural coils (C1-C14), and plural rotors (3, 4) disposed coaxially with the above-mentioned stator and driven by a compound current. The phase difference between the currents (70, 71) driving the rotors (3, 4) is arranged to be other than 180 degrees. Thereby, the utilization factor of the voltage of the direct current power supply (10) is improved.

Abstract: A variable cam engine with an intake valve, including a first cam shaped to allow an increased intake valve lift and an increased intake valve duration, a second cam shaped to allow a reduced intake valve lift and a reduced intake valve duration, a cam switching mechanism for switching between the first and second cams depending on an engine speed and an engine load, and a control unit programmed to substantially equalize amounts of intake air flowing into the engine before and after switching from the first cam to the second cam, and programmed to determine a first ignition timing when the second cam is operated and a second ignition timing when the first cam is operated, and advance the first ignition timing relative to the second ignition timing upon switching from the first cam to the second cam.

Abstract: A cylindrical stator is installed in a case. First and second discal rotors are installed in the case and arranged at axially opposed end portions of the cylindrical stator to rotate about an axis of the cylindrical stator. A case bracket is installed in the case to support the cylindrical stator. The case bracket is in abutment with an inner surface of the case to be held in the case. With this arrangement, the cylindrical stator is assuredly held and supported in the case.

Abstract: A battery set and a method for producing electric power output are disclosed as including a plurality of groups (A, B) of series-connected battery cells, wherein each group produces a voltage of x [V] in a normal state and a voltage of y [V] in an overcharged state and wherein each group includes more than y/(y−x) pieces and less than 400/x pieces of battery cells (12a, 12b, 12c, 12n; 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14n) which are connected in series, and the plurality of groups of the series-connected battery cells are connected in parallel. Preferably, the battery set includes plural groups of more than four pieces of LiMn2O4 type lithium ion battery cells which are connected in series, with the plural groups being connected in parallel.

Abstract: A combustion control system for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine includes a variable piston stroke characteristic mechanism changing a compression ratio of the engine, sensors detecting engine operating conditions, i.e., engine speed and engine load, and at least one of a variable lift and working-angle control mechanism simultaneously continuously changing an intake-valve lift and an intake-valve working angle and a variable phase control mechanism changing an angular phase at a central angle corresponding to a maximum valve lift point of the intake valve. Also provided is a control unit that controls the variable piston stroke characteristic mechanism, and at least one of the variable lift and working-angle control mechanism and the variable phase control mechanism, depending on the engine operating conditions.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo rack is provided with a carrier member and a carrier positioning device for positioning the carrier member. The carrier member is positionable in at least a deployed position and a stored position.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for estimating clutch temperature estimates clutch temperatures that closely follow actual clutch temperature without a temperature sensor and at low cost. The apparatus employs method for calculating energy applied to the driving clutch according to the detected rotational speed difference and estimated torque and method for estimating a clutch temperature variation based on the calculated energy and estimating a clutch temperature based on the estimated clutch temperature variation.

Abstract: An adaptive cruise control system for a host vehicle includes a radar device for detecting a distance between the host vehicle and a preceding vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed of the host vehicle and a controller for executing a host vehicle speed control based on the distance and the host vehicle speed. The controller cancels the host vehicle speed control when the radar device loses sight of the preceding vehicle.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a fundamental wave current control system that controls a fundamental wave component of a motor current in an orthogonal coordinate system and a higher harmonic current control system that controls a higher harmonic component contained in the motor current in an orthogonal coordinate system. In the motor control apparatus, it is judged whether an output voltage from the power conversion device is in a saturated state, and a current control gain for the higher harmonic current control system is reduced if it is judged that the output voltage is in the saturated state.

Abstract: A fender structure which includes a pair of fenders provided at sides of an engine compartment. Each of the fenders has a platform portion extending toward inside of the engine compartment, and a longitudinal wall portion extending downward from an inner edge of the platform portion and joined to a reinforcing member in the engine compartment. The longitudinal wall portion of the fender is slanted, extending outward in a vehicle transverse direction.

Abstract: A first catalyst 21 which stores or releases oxygen according to an air-fuel ratio, and a second catalyst 22 which traps or releases NOx according to the air-fuel ratio, are provided in an exhaust passage 9 of an engine 1. A controller 6 temporarily shifts the air-fuel ratio of the engine 1 to rich when it is determined that the NOx trap catalyst second catalyst 22 is released. At this time, the controller 6 increases a reducing agent supply amount due to the rich shift to be larger, the larger the oxygen amount stored by the two catalysts 21, 22. In this way, the air-fuel ratio in the second catalyst 22 is maintained at a target stoichiometric or rich air-fuel ratio.

Abstract: A seat belt control device is provided which comprises a drive motor connected to a seat belt for winding and unwinding the seat belt, a controller for controlling the drive motor, a wearing state sensor for detecting a wearing state of the seat belt, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, and a deceleration sensor for detecting deceleration of a vehicle. The controller shorts electrodes of the drive motor when the seat belt is worn, the vehicle speed is higher than a first predetermined vehicle speed value, and an absolute value of the deceleration of the vehicle is lower than an absolute value of a first predetermined deceleration value. A seat belt control method is also provided.

Abstract: A passenger restraint system actuates a passenger restraint device more appropriately in situations where a vehicle rolls over. When the steering is turned in the same direction as the roll direction before the roll angle of the vehicle exceeds a threshold value, the passenger restraint system assumes the vehicle is headed toward recovery from the rollover behavior and subtracts a predetermined angle successively from the roll angle in accordance with the steering angle. Thus, the passenger restraint device is not actuated when the steering operation will stop the rollover behavior. On the other hand, the passenger restraint device is actuated when the steering is not operated and the vehicle rolls over, and when operation of the steering begins to effect a recovery but ultimately the vehicle rolls over anyway. In this situation, the passenger restraint system bypasses executing subtraction from the roll angle after the roll angular velocity exceeds a prescribed angular velocity.

Abstract: A fuel reforming apparatus quickly heats the temperature of a catalyst to an activation temperature to shorten a startup time. The apparatus supplies a hydrocarbon fuel and an oxidizer upstream from a second catalyst (2), and steam upstream from a first catalyst (1). The second catalyst starts a rapid oxidation reaction to generate a high-temperature gas which heats the first catalyst. When the apparatus changes a startup operation or an accelerating operation to a steady operation after a predetermined period, the apparatus supplies the hydrocarbon fuel and steam upstream from the second catalyst, and the oxidizer upstream from the first catalyst. As a result, the second catalyst starts a steam reforming reaction to absorb heat from the second catalyst. And the second catalyst rapidly cools to stop reactions and pass the hydrocarbon fuel and steam with out reactions. Then, a hydrogen-rich reformed gas is generated from the passed hydrocarbon fuel and steam.

Abstract: An occupant restraint system comprises a seat belt tension application device; a longitudinal acceleration detector; a lateral acceleration detector; and a control device that controls the tension applied by the seat belt tension application device based upon a longitudinal acceleration detection value and a lateral acceleration detection value and the control device engages the seat belt tension application device to apply the tension to the seat belt if a point on the map determined in conformance to the longitudinal acceleration detection value and the lateral acceleration detection value obtained as the vehicle decelerates is outside a range enclosed by the operation decision-making threshold line and the other axis.

Abstract: An apparatus provides information for a driver and passengers in a vehicle. If it is estimated that driving load is high, the apparatus stops outputting information. If it is estimated that driving load has been changed from high to low, the apparatus reads information from a storage unit and outputs the read information. If it is estimated that driving load is high, the apparatus stops outputting information so that the driver and passengers may miss no information, and if it is estimated that driving load is low, the apparatus provides information for the driver and passengers so that they may surely catch the information.

Abstract: A lower double-joint front suspension system is provided which includes an upper suspension link and a pair of lower suspensions links for supporting a front wheel. The suspension system is adapted to provide a positive scrub radius for a front wheel when the front wheel is steered to serve as an inner wheel during cornering, which positive scrub radius increases with increase of turning of the front wheel away from a neutral position thereof. One of the lower suspension links, which is located in the rear of the other, has a connecting end portion at which it is connected to a vehicle body. The connecting end portion includes a resilient bushing which is less rigid in the width direction than in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. By this, when a braking force is applied to the steered inner front wheel during cornering, the resilient bushing is deformed in the width direction and inboard of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A metallic catalyst carrier 2 has good productivity and improves the exhaust performance by causing the flow of exhaust gas therein to become turbulent, without causing tearing, cutting, and warping of its honeycomb-structure The metallic catalyst carrier 2 has a base metal sheet 5 and a corrugated metal sheet 6 laminated together with a plurality of cell passages 7 formed between the base sheet 5 and the corrugated sheet 6 such that exhaust gases passes through the cell passages 7. The base sheet 5 or the corrugated sheet 6 is equipped with a plurality of hole lines 5a or 6a arranged along hole lines 8 or 9 in a direction perpendicular to the cell passage 7. Between adjacent hole lines 8 or 9, the holes 5a or 6a that form the hole lines 8 or 9 are separated by a prescribed distance in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal directions of the cell passages 7.

Abstract: At the time of head-on collision of a vehicle, an intermediate portion of a subframe 6 is folded and deformed downwardly into a form of L-shape, an engine body 8 is moved downward, a radiator core upper rail 11 is rearwardly deformed and moved, a collision load is input to an upper portion of the engine body 8 through a rod 10, and the engine body 8 is rotated rearward around a connecting member 9. With this, a distance of a shortest portion between the engine body 8 and a dash panel 3 is increased, and a crushing stroke of the engine room 1 is increased.

Abstract: A control system of an electric motor powered by a battery comprises an inverter circuit that inverts a direct current fed from the battery to an alternating current fed to the electric motor; and an output controlling circuit that controls an output of the inverter circuit to adjust operation of the electric motor. The output controlling circuit includes a first section that detects a magnitude of output voltage of the battery; a second section that, based on the detected output voltage, derives an unloaded voltage that would be outputted from the battery when the battery is unloaded; a third section that, based on the unloaded voltage, looks up an appropriate current command from maps that store various current commands with respect to operation condition of the motor; and a fourth section that, based on the looked up current command, controls the output of the inverter circuit.

Abstract: In apparatus and method for controlling a driving force for an automotive vehicle, a manipulated variable of an accelerator is detected, a vehicular velocity is detected, a vehicular velocity control purpose target driving force is calculated from an absolute value of the manipulated variable of the accelerator and the vehicular velocity, an acceleration control purpose target driving force is calculated from either at least one of an absolute value of the accelerator manipulated variable and a variation velocity of the manipulated variable of the accelerator or from at least one of an absolute value of a result of calculation of the vehicular velocity control purpose target driving force and a variation velocity of the result of calculation of the same, and both of the vehicular velocity control purpose target driving force and the acceleration control purpose target driving force are synthesized to achieve a target driving force of the vehicle.

Abstract: A headrest apparatus for a vehicle has a headrest body 10a provided with a left headrest member 11 and a right headrest member 12 and a locking unit 40 for holding the left and right headrest members 11, 12 at their initial positions. At a vehicle rear-end collision, the locking unit 40 is released by a control unit 50 for detecting the vehicle rear-end collision. As a result, the left and right headrest members 11, 12 rotate forward about the vehicle, so that a sheet 13 stretched between respective separation ends of the members 11, 12 is unfolded to restrict a passenger's head without making use of the passenger's inertia at the collision, surely and rapidly.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes at least a lithium-containing manganese layered composite oxide represented by the formula Li1-xAxMnO2, or the formula Li1-xAxMn1-yMyO2. The lithium-containing manganese composite oxide includes a lithium substitute metal A, such as Na, K, Ag, substituting for part of Li. The lithium substitution quantity x may be in the range of 0.03<x≦0.2.

Abstract: A vehicle front body structure which includes a dash panel, a dash side panel joined to the dash panel and a side sill joined to the dash side panel. The dash panel is provided with a flange on its transversely outer side. The dash side panel includes an upstanding portion which has a substantially channel-shaped section open outward and includes a front wall on its front side, and a base portion which extends rearward from the upstanding portion. The side sill includes a sill inner joined to the base portion of the dash side panel. The flange of the dash panel extends along the front wall of the upstanding portion of the dash side panel to be joined to the front wall.

Abstract: A fuel injector (5) injects fuel to generate an air-fuel mixture that is burnt in the engine (1), and a sensor (16) detects an air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture from an exhaust gas composition of the engine (1). A controller (11) calculates a dead time representing a lag between the air-fuel ratio variation of the air-fuel mixture and the air-fuel ratio variation detected by the sensor (16), and calculates an estimated state quantity by applying a dead time compensation according to Smith method and a disturbance compensation to the air-fuel ratio detected by the sensor (16). By determining an air-fuel ratio feedback correction amount based on the estimated state quantity applying a sliding mode control process, the response and stability of air-fuel ratio control is improved.

Abstract: In a navigation system using a bird's-eye view display mode, map data on a plan view map are subjected to a perspective projection conversion to obtain drawing data on a bird's-eye view map. An input of the position of a view point is accepted, and a projection plane for a bird's-eye view is determined so that the display positions of the two points which have been subjected to perspective-projection conversion are coincident with predetermined positions. Alternatively, an input of a scale is accepted, so that the display positions of the two points after the perspective projection conversion are coincident with predetermined positions and the drawing scale is coincident with the input scale. In a further alternative, an input of the projection angle is accepted, and the projection plane is determined on the basis of the projection angle and the position of the view point.

Abstract: A stream of pulses related to rotation rate drives an interrupt to store first timer values of a first timer and to set a second timer to run from zero. At predetermined fixed time intervals, second timer values of the second timer are stored. The stored first timer values are sampled to determine a first rate related to the input stream. The stored second timer values are sampled to determine a second rate. The first and second rates are selectively used as a final rotation rate related to the input stream.

Abstract: A fuel injection control system for an internal combustion engine is capable of expanding a correction allowable range employed in correcting a fuel injection quantity when refueling is detected. The fuel injection control system estimates a fuel property of fuel injected into the internal combustion engine after the correction allowable range is expanded and sets the correction allowable range on the basis of the estimated fuel property.

Abstract: Systems and methods for discriminating a vehicle surrounding circumstance for monitoring the vehicle surrounding and for warning an obstacle present around the vehicle surrounding are disclosed wherein each system has a vehicle speed detecting unit (12) detecting a vehicle speed, an action detecting unit (14, 16, 38, 20) detecting a driver's action, and a vehicle surrounding circumstance discriminating unit (20) discriminating a good or bad visibility around the vehicle surrounding on the basis of the vehicle speed and the driver's action, thereby enabling a discrimination for the good or bad visibility in the vehicle surrounding at an intersecting point or at a pedestrian crossing on the basis of the vehicle speed and the driver's action.

Abstract: A controllable muffler system is sued for use with an engine that produces a power by burning fuel. The system comprises a first passage section extending from the engine for having an exhaust gas of the engine flow therethrough. The first passage section has a catalytic converter mounted thereon. The system further comprises a dual passage section including second and third passage sections which extend separately from an end of the first passage section. The second passage has a control valve for controlling the flow rate of the exhaust gas flowing therethrough. The system further comprises a fourth passage section extending from respective ends of the second and third passage sections to the open air. The fourth passage section has a rear muffler mounted thereon. The system further comprises a control unit which controls the control valve of the second passage section in accordance with an operation condition of the engine.

Abstract: A power window apparatus for a vehicle is comprised of an operation switch which includes a raising contact for outputting a window raising command when set at on-state and a lowering contact for outputting a window lowering command when set at on-state, and a controller which is arranged to execute a manual operation during a time period from a start moment at which the operation switch starts outputting one of the window raising and lowering commands to a first moment at which a first predetermined time period elapses from the start moment, to execute an automatic operation during a time period from the first moment to a second moment at which a second predetermined time period elapses from the start moment, and to execute the manual operation from the second moment.

Abstract: In a slippage prevention apparatus of a belt-drive continuously variable transmission for an automotive vehicle in which a transmission ratio is controlled by a speed-change hydraulic pressure brought closer to a desired speed-change hydraulic pressure, a quick-acceleration-frequency decision section is provided to determine whether a frequency of quick accelerating operations is low or high. Also provided is a desired hydraulic pressure decision section that sets the desired speed-change hydraulic pressure used during an operating mode that the frequency of quick accelerating operations is low to a relatively lower pressure level than the desired speed-change hydraulic pressure used during an operating mode that the frequency of quick accelerating operations is high.

Abstract: The present invention provides a controller positioning structure for a vehicle in which the controller such as a shift lever can be positioned at a front to rear position that is optimum for the driver. Since the shift lever or controller is movable in the front to rear direction and stoppable at any desired position, the driver can adjust the front to rear position of the shift lever at the optimum position. Therefore, operation of the shift lever is made easy.

Abstract: In a vibration control apparatus for a vehicle driven by an electric motor at least, a first target torque is calculated from a vehicle operating condition such as an accelerator opening, and a second target torque is calculated from at least a sensed motor speed by using a model H(s)/Gp(s) composed of a transfer characteristic H(s) which is greater than or equal to a transfer characteristic Gp(s) in an order difference between the order of a denominator and the order of a numerator. A torque control section controls the motor to bring an actual output torque of the motor closer to a command motor torque determined from the first and second target torque.

Abstract: In combustion control apparatus and method for a spark-ignited internal combustion engine, a counter is set to correspond to a drive time duration from a time at which a combustion drive state of the engine is started to be in a stratified combustion drive state to a time immediately before a smolder of a spark plug occurs in a state of which a spark is emitted between an outer electrode of the spark plug and a carbon deposited on an insulator porcelain thereof, a determination of whether it reaches to a time at which the stratified combustion drive state is inhibited is executed on the basis of a value of the counter, and the combustion drive state is forcibly switched from the stratified combustion drive state to a homogeneous combustion drive state when such a determination is carried out that it reaches to the time at which the stratified combustion drive state is inhibited.

Abstract: A reaction state at an upstream portion of the catalyst unit in which a partial oxidation reaction occurs is detected by a first reaction state detector, and a reforming reaction state in the whole of the catalyst unit composed of a catalyst for promoting a steam reforming reaction and a catalyst for promoting a partial oxidation reaction is detected by a second reaction state detector. Based on a reaction state detected by the second reaction state detector, a first corrector corrects feed amounts of raw fuel gas and oxidation gas, which are supplied to the catalyst unit, and a second corrector corrects a feed amount of the oxidation gas supplied to the catalyst unit and/or a feed timing thereof, based on the reaction state detected by the first reaction state detector.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight strengthening member for an automobile, excellent in crush resistance in the axial direction and having high flexural strength. Further, another object thereof is to provide a strengthening member which does not generating cracks even when a high-strength steel sheet is used.