Abstract: Provided is a spray coating that is disposed on an inner peripheral surface of a cylinder bore of a cylinder block made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The spray coating contains 0.005% to 0.14% by mass of carbon, 0.01% to 3.0% by mass of nickel 10% to 20.5% by mass of chromium, 0.05% to 1.5% by mass of silicon, and a balance containing iron and inevitable impurities. The spray coating has a composition that forms a martensite+ferrite (M+F) region in the Schaeffler diagram, and a composition in which a nickel equivalent (NiE) and a chromium equivalent (CrE) satisfy a relationship expressed by the following Formulae (1): NiE?0.95 CrE?8.59, (2): NiE?4.1, and (3): CrE?10. The spray coating has a two-phase structure formed of a martensite phase and a ferrite phase.

Abstract: A driving support method including: detecting a first boundary point group including boundary points forming a lane boundary line, using a sensor mounted on a vehicle; converting a coordinate system of the first boundary point group to the same coordinate system as a coordinate system of map data; and performing matching between a first point group constituted by boundary points not close to each other in either one of a second boundary point group including boundary points forming a lane boundary line in the map data and the first boundary point group and the other of the first boundary point group and the second boundary point group.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame and a vehicle body. The vehicle body is supported on the vehicle frame. The vehicle body has a cabin and a cargo box. The cabin houses one or more vehicle seats of the vehicle. The cabin has a rear wall and the cargo box has a front wall that is adjacent to the rear wall. The rear wall of the cabin and the front wall of the cargo box together define a passthrough that connects a floor of the cargo box and a floor of the cabin. The passthrough is closeable by a barrier.

Abstract: A solid-state battery cell includes a cathode, an anode comprising microspheres of lithium metal embedded in an ion and electron conducting oxide-based material, with individual microspheres having a first solid electrolyte interface, and a first solid electrolyte layer comprising a sulfide-based solid electrolyte, the first electrolyte layer positioned between the cathode and the anode. The solid-state battery can also include a second solid electrolyte layer comprising an oxide-based solid electrolyte between the first solid electrolyte layer and the anode, the second solid electrolyte layer having a lower conductivity than the first solid electrolyte layer, and a second solid electrolyte interface between the first solid electrolyte layer and the second solid electrolyte layer.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell includes a metal support cell, in which an anode layer containing nickel, an electrolyte layer and a cathode layer are stacked on a metal support portion. In the method for activating the anode layer in the solid oxide fuel cell, first, an oxygen-containing gas is introduced into the anode layer to oxidize the nickel. Next, a hydrogen-containing gas HG is introduced into the anode layer to reduce the nickel oxide formed by oxidizing the nickel, and to increase conduction paths of the nickel that electrically connect the electrolyte layer to the metal support part in the anode layer.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a front side member, a tow hook, a bumper assembly and a tow hook cover. The tow hook has an attachment end and a hook end. The attachment end is fixedly attached to the front side member and the attachment end extending away from the hook end. The bumper assembly is connected to the front side member and has at least one fascia panel. The tow hook cover is removably attached to the at least one fascia panel. The tow hook cover has an upright wall portion that defines an opening. At least a portion of the hook end of the tow hook extends through the opening such that the attachment end of the tow hook is at least partially concealed by the tow hook cover.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, fuel injection is stopped to automatically stop the engine when automatic stop conditions are met. When there is a request to restart the engine while an engine speed is decreasing due to automatic stoppage, the engine is started by resuming fuel injection if the engine speed is equal to or greater than a combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold, at which restarting is possible only by fuel injection. When there is a request to restart the engine while an engine speed is decreasing due to automatic stoppage, the engine is started using a starter motor if the engine speed is less than the combustion recoverable rotational speed threshold. When there is a request to restart the engine in a brake ON state, the engine is not started by resuming fuel injection, but rotated and started using the starter motor.

Abstract: An object recognition method uses a sensor configured to acquire a position of an object existing in a surrounding environment as point clouds including a plurality of detection points in a top view. The method includes: grouping point clouds according to a proximity; determining, when performing polygon approximation on the grouped point clouds, whether at least part of the detection points constituting the grouped point clouds are located in a blind zone of an approximate polygon acquired by the polygon approximation with respect to the sensor; recognizing the grouped point clouds as point clouds corresponding to plural objects when it is determined that the detection points are located in the blind zone with respect to the sensor; and recognizing the grouped point clouds as point clouds corresponding to a single object of the approximate polygon when it is determined that the detection points are not located in the blind zone.

Abstract: A power transmission device includes a power transmission mechanism, an oil pump, a first electric wire, a controller and a control unit. The power transmission mechanism is arranged in a first chamber. The oil pump is arranged in a second chamber. The control unit is connected with the controller via the first electric wire. The first electric wire is provided inside the second chamber, and is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the oil pump when viewed along a first direction that is a direction facing from the oil pump to the controller.

Abstract: A vehicle sunvisor assembly includes a support structure, a sunvisor panel and an energy absorbing structure. The support structure is attached to a vehicle body structure adjacent to a first area of a windscreen. The sunvisor panel has first end and a second end. The first end is supported by the support structure and pivots about an upright axis and about an offset axis that is not parallel to the upright axis. The energy absorbing structure is installed to the vehicle body structure adjacent to a second area of the windscreen spaced apart from the first area and has a downwardly extending projection. A second attachment end of the sunvisor panel aligns with the downwardly extending projection. The energy absorbing structure is configured to absorb energy from an object moving in a forward direction contacting the sunvisor panel with the first attachment end being attached to the second attachment end.

Abstract: A vehicle sunvisor assembly includes a sunvisor panel and an energy absorbing structure. The sunvisor panel has a first end and a second attachment end. The first end is supported to a vehicle for pivotal movement about an upright axis and movement about an offset axis that is not parallel to the upright axis. The energy absorbing structure is installed to the vehicle. The energy absorbing structure has a downwardly extending projection with a second attachment end that aligns with the first attachment end such that with the first attachment end of the sunvisor panel pivoted to the second attachment end, the first attachment end releasably attaches to the second attachment end. The energy absorbing structure is configured to pivot upward in response to an object contacting the sunvisor panel, transferring forward momentum to the second attachment end and to the energy absorbing structure.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a vehicle body and elastic seal. The vehicle body is supported on the vehicle frame. The vehicle body has a cabin and a cargo box. The cabin houses one or more vehicle seats of the vehicle. The cabin and the cargo box are separately mounted on the vehicle frame and being separated by a gap. The elastic seal movably connects the cabin and the cargo box and covers the gap.

Abstract: An energy bank includes a plurality of integrated energy storage devices including a plurality of supercapacitors, a plurality of batteries and a plurality of metal shells. Each of the integrated energy storage devices includes a supercapacitor, a battery surrounding the supercapacitor and a metal shell surrounding the battery. The battery forms a shell around an exterior surface of the supercapacitor. The battery includes a first anode, a first cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between the first anode and the first cathode. The supercapacitor includes a second anode, a second cathode, and a separator disposed between the second anode and the second cathode.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a case member, a stay member and a rib. The case member is supported by a frame of a vehicle body with a mount member being interposed. The stay member is suspended between a boss part of the case member and a member of a case member side in the mount member, a longitudinal direction of the stay member intersecting a longitudinal direction of the frame. The rib extends in the case member in a direction that is an extension of the longitudinal direction of the stay member at a root of the boss part.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes lighting assemblies (e.g., taillight assemblies) for vehicles that diffuse and block light transmission from a centralized light source, which inhibits (if not entirely prevents) the creation and perception of hotspots from one or more points-of-view (e.g., from the sides and/or the rear of the vehicle) while producing a more homogenous overall appearance. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the lighting assembly includes: a light source; a diffuser that is spaced axially from the light source; a lens that is spaced axially from the diffuser; and a shield that is located axially between the diffuser and the lens. The diffuser includes first and second lateral ends and is configured to receive and disperse light from the light source through the lighting assembly. The shield is configured to interfere with light transmission from the light source through the at least one lens and thereby inhibit hotspot perception.

Abstract: An oil passage structure, includes a first tubular member configured to externally fit on a support wall portion and a second tubular member configured to internally fit in the support wall portion and supports an outer periphery of the shaft. An oil passage along a rotation axis direction of the shaft is provided at at least one of a location between the support wall portion and the first tubular member and a location between the support wall portion and the second tubular member.

Abstract: A series hybrid vehicle control method for controlling a vehicle that has a battery, an electric power generating motor, a drive motor and an internal combustion engine. The battery charged with the electric power from the electric power generating motor that generates electric power by being driven by the internal combustion engine, and charged with the electric power regenerated by regenerative braking of the drive motor. The drive motor drives a drive wheel. The electric power consumption for motoring is greater in a B range than in a D range. The control method sets deceleration caused by regenerative braking of the drive motor to be greater in the B range than in the D range, and starts motoring of the internal combustion engine in the B range at a lower SOC of the battery than the SOC of the battery in the D range.

Abstract: An electric motor control apparatus that alternately switches modulation mode between an asynchronous PWM control, which controls an electric motor by fixing a PWM frequency, and a synchronous PWM control, which controls the electric motor by making the PWM frequency proportional to a drive frequency of the electric motor, wherein when switching the modulation mode, a compensation value is calculated based on a state quantity, which correlates with a component in a rotating coordinate system of a voltage applied to the electric motor and is obtained immediately before switching, and the voltage immediately after switching is compensated for by the compensation value.

Abstract: A method detects false positives of an image-processing device of a camera located on-board a vehicle and that delivers data for modelling a marking line. The method includes: determining a first distance from the vehicle to the marking line at a first instant in time, determining a second distance from the vehicle to the marking line at a second instant, computing an initial discontinuity, in which an initial discontinuity equal to the absolute value of the difference between the first distance and the second distance is computed, and detecting a false initial-discontinuity positive, in which the initial discontinuity is compared to a predefined initial low threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle dispatching method is provided for managing a dispatch to a user of a first vehicle reserved by a user as a dispatch vehicle or a second vehicle that can be dispatched to a scheduled boarding point in which the user boards the dispatch vehicle, using a controller for communicating with communication devices in the first vehicle and the second vehicle.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control method controls a hybrid vehicle. In this control method, a rotational speed command value for a power generation system is determined in accordance with a state of a drive system, a torque command value is determined for the power generation system such that the rotational speed of the power generation system reaches the rotational speed command value, a damping control is performed to suppress a characteristic vibration component generated in a connection between the engine and the power generator to calculate a final torque command value for the power generation system, and the torque command value is set as the final torque command value without performing the damping control upon determining a system resonance can occur that is caused by vibration of a component different from the characteristic vibration component.

Abstract: A multimodal solid electrolyte for a solid-state lithium electrochemical device comprises a first layer formed of first rows each having an anode-facing base with an apex extending opposite an anode, the first layer being a first inorganic lithium conducting oxide material, and a second layer formed of second rows each having a cathode-facing base with an apex extending opposite a cathode, the second layer being a second inorganic lithium conducting oxide material, wherein the second rows are offset from the first rows such that the apex of each second row nests within the first rows. A solid polymer electrolyte layer is sandwiched between the first layer and the second layer.

Abstract: A vehicle drive force control method according to the present invention includes calculating an estimated friction circle on the basis of longitudinal and lateral accelerations of a vehicle, limiting a drive force of the vehicle depending on a size of the estimated friction circle, and limiting a change rate of the size of the estimated friction circle during vehicle traveling on the basis of a tire generation force. The method further the change rate as the tire generation force increases.

Abstract: A travel support method for a vehicle comprises estimating a position of a subject vehicle, generating a subject vehicle traveling route, based on the estimated position of the subject vehicle and map information, calculating a degree of first reliability indicating reliability of the subject vehicle traveling route, detecting a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the subject vehicle, generating a preceding vehicle traveling route, calculating a degree of second reliability indicating reliability of the preceding vehicle traveling route, based on the preceding vehicle traveling route, calculating, based on the degrees of the first reliability and second reliability, an integration ratio for integrating the subject vehicle traveling route and the preceding vehicle traveling route, calculating a target traveling route of the subject vehicle by integrating the subject vehicle traveling route and the preceding vehicle traveling route at the integration ratio, and controlling the subject vehicle based on the targ

Abstract: A commercial vehicle operation system is provided with a server that can respectively communicate with a vehicle terminal of a commercial vehicle and with a user terminal owned by a user via a communication network. The server includes a communication unit, a vehicle operation information management unit that acquires and manages vehicle operation information including at least current location information of the commercial vehicle, and a roaming travel execution determination unit that determines whether to carry out roaming travel based on current location information of the commercial vehicle.

Abstract: When an accelerator pedal operation amount is large enough to generate a driving force after switching from a stopping range to a starting range is performed, in order to prevent a sudden starting immediately after the range switching, an upper limit of the driving force of a driving source is limited to a driving force larger than a holding threshold value for releasing holding of a stopping state of a vehicle and smaller than a required driving force based on the accelerator pedal operation amount.

Abstract: A vehicle control method is provided for controlling a vehicle in which a clutch provided on a power transmission path between an engine and a drive wheel is disconnected when a shift range is a non-driving range and the clutch is connected when the shift range is a driving range. The vehicle control method controls the engine to a prescribed idling speed, controls engine torque to a negative torque by delaying an ignition timing of the engine; and causes the prescribed idling speed to drop within a prescribed amount of time needed for the clutch to switch from being disconnected to being connected when the shift range is switched from the non-driving range to the driving range.

Abstract: An information output device includes: an event detection unit that detects an event occurring inside or outside a vehicle; a member identification unit that identifies a person or persons who can perceive the event as a first member; an event storage unit that stores event data related to the detected event in association with the first members; and a data output unit that automatically outputs the event data stored in the event storage unit. The member identification unit identifies a person or persons who can view the event data outputted from the data output unit as a second member. The information output device further comprises an output control unit that determines whether the second members include persons other than the first members, and that prohibits the data output unit from automatically outputting the event data upon determining the second members include persons other than the first members.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a reinforcement member, a latch mechanism and a secondary reinforcement portion. The reinforcement member is installed to an inner door panel of a door structure and extends from a forward area of the door structure to a rearward area of the door structure. The latch mechanism is installed to the rearward area of the inner door panel and is positioned such that a section of a rearward portion of the reinforcement member is outboard and level with a portion of the latch mechanism. The secondary reinforcement portion is fixedly attached to a central area of the reinforcement member spaced apart from a forward area of the inner door panel. In response to an impact event where force is directed to a central area of the door structure, the reinforcement member deforms and contacts the latch mechanism retaining the latch mechanism in the latching orientation.

Abstract: A power reception control method for a power storage element controls element-receiving electric power received by the power storage element in an electric power system for supplying electric energy to a load group including plural power storage elements. The power reception control method acquires differential electric power by subtracting a current value of total transmitted electric power from a maximum value of the total transmitted electric power that is an available amount to be supplied to the entire load group via an electric power supply base point, calculates a degree of priority of the power storage element in accordance with a numerical value indicating a demand of a user, multiplies the differential electric power by the degree of priority to calculate element differential electric power, and adds the element differential electric power to the previous element-receiving electric power so as to update the element-receiving electric power.

Abstract: A travel control device carries out a travel control for a vehicle based on detected lane boundary lines. A first prescribed position, an absolute vehicle position and an absolute vehicle azimuth angle are stored while changing from a state where the lane boundary lines can be detected to a state where the lane boundary lines cannot be detected. A second prescribed position is stored while changing from a state in which the lane boundary lines cannot be detected to a state in which the lane boundary lines can be detected. The host vehicle is controlled to travel along a travel path connecting the first prescribed position and the second prescribed position where a current absolute position and a current absolute azimuth angle of the host vehicle do not deviate by a prescribed value or more from the stored absolute position and the stored absolute azimuth angle.

Abstract: A vehicle drive train assembly includes a propeller shaft and a nut. The nut has a first part and a second part. The first part is movable with respect to the propeller between an uninstalled position and an installed position of the nut. The second part is stationary with respect to the propeller shaft in the uninstalled position and the installed position.

Abstract: A diagnostic method of a three-phase AC motor including: applying predetermined voltage in an order of first, second, and third current paths among three current paths in which current flows from a first phase winding to a second phase winding, from the second phase winding to a third phase winding, from the third phase winding to the first phase winding, respectively, via a neutral point; and detecting an abnormality based on current values flowing in these paths, wherein the second current path is a path in which a rate of change of generated torque to change of the rotation angle at a current rotation angle of the motor is greatest among the three paths, and a rotation direction of the motor when the first current path is energized is a direction in which an absolute value of torque generated when starting energization of the second current path decreases.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine cylinder head has a water jacket, a plurality of female threaded portions for attaching an exhaust component, and a plurality of bulging portions protruding into the water jacket. The water jacket has inlet portions for receiving cooling water and outlet portions for discharging the cooling water. The inlet portions are disposed in a central position of the water jacket in a cylinder row direction. The outlet portions are disposed on a lateral side of the cylinder head to which the exhaust component is attached. A spacing between the outlet portions is wider than a spacing between the inlet portions. The female threaded portions protrude into the water jacket so that the cooling water crosses an area around the female threaded portions in the cylinder row direction. The bulging portions extend from ends of the female threaded portions towards where the inlet portions are located.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle (1) is provided. The hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor (13) that drives the vehicle to travel, a generator (12) that supplies power to the electric motor, and an engine (11) that drives the generator. The method includes calculating an amount or factor of change in target driving force (Fd) for the vehicle, setting a change rate (NRu, NRd) of a rotational speed of the engine in accordance with the amount or factor of change in the target driving force, and controlling the rotational speed of the engine on the basis of the change rate of the rotational speed of the engine.

Abstract: A current detection device (100) includes a shunt resistor (1) connected in series to a path through which a current flows; a first circuit (2) that converts a voltage across the shunt resistor (1) into a predetermined differential voltage; a second circuit (3) to which the predetermined differential voltage is input from the first circuit (2) via a pair of wirings (55) and that amplifies the predetermined differential voltage; a constant current circuit (4) connected between the pair of wirings (55); and an arithmetic circuit (5) that operates the current flowing through the path based on the voltage amplified by the second circuit (3).

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes: a fix pulley; a slide pulley: an endless annular member sandwiched by the fix pulley and the slide pulley; a cylinder member which is fixed to the fix pulley, and which includes a cylinder cylindrical portion constituting a wall of a pulley pressure receiving chamber; and a stopper member disposed at a position at which the stopper member is abutted on the cylinder member when a hydraulic pressure which is equal to or greater than a predetermined value is supplied to the pulley pressure receiving chamber.

Abstract: Provided is an electric power converter that includes an inverter which includes plural electric parts, a smoothing capacitor configured to smooth electric power, a housing configured to house the inverter and the smoothing capacitor and a first conductor portion configured to connect the smoothing capacitor and the inverter. The housing includes a base portion made of a resin material and a cover portion attached to the base portion to cover the inverter and the smoothing capacitor. The inverter and the smoothing capacitor are mounted on the base portion. The first conductor portion is placed in the vicinity of or in contact with the base portion of the housing in the middle of connection between the smoothing capacitor and the inverter.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus including a heat sink to which a heat generating body is joined, a main flow generation device configured to generate a main flow for cooling the heat sink, and an induced flow generation device configured to electrically generate an induced flow. The induced flow generation device is provided to a support member facing the heat sink.

Abstract: A battery manufacturing method includes forming a unit cell having a positive electrode that is obtained by a positive electrode active material layer containing an electrolytic solution being disposed on a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode that is obtained by a negative electrode active material layer containing an electrolytic solution being disposed on a negative electrode current collector, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The battery manufacturing method further includes applying pressure to one unit cell or with two or more stacked unit cells from the stacking direction, and charging the one unit cell or the two or more stacked unit cells after applying of the pressure. The method is performed such that the positive electrode and the negative electrode are formed without an application film being subjected to a drying process performed through heating.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo area structure has a first wall portion and a second wall portion spaced apart from one another by a first distance. The first wall portion and the second wall portion define respective first and second pairs of slots. Recessed surfaces defined within the first pair of slots are a second distance away from recessed surfaces of the second pair of slots. The second distance is larger than the first distance. A first end a panel has a first pair of projections extending therefrom. A second end of the panel has a second pair of projections extending therefrom. The panel and the first and second pair of projections are dimensioned and shaped such that the panel can be positioned in an upright or vertical orientation, a shelf or horizontal orientation and a stowed orientation.

Abstract: An oil strainer is arranged between an oil pan configured to close a lower opening of a transmission case and a control valve body which is installed in the lower opening. The control valve body has a discharge hole of oil in a portion opposing the oil strainer. The oil strainer has an oil suction port in a portion opposing the oil pan, and has a rib projecting on the control valve body side on a surface of a portion opposing the control valve body. When seen from the oil pan side, the oil suction port and the discharge hole are provided so that positions are not matched from each other. When seen from the oil pan side, the rib is provided to cross a straight line passing through the oil suction port and the discharge hole in a region between the oil suction port and the discharge hole.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a closed cross-section structural member is disclosed. The closed cross-section structural member includes: a first panel and a second panel joined to each other to form a closed cross-section; and a fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) material bonded to the first panel. The method includes: attaching the FRP material to the first panel with an adhesive; curing the FRP material and the adhesive by heating the FRP material and the adhesive together with the first panel; and joining the second panel to the first panel in which the FRP material and the adhesive are cured.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes acquiring a desired condition from a user who uses a shared vehicle, determining whether or not the shared vehicle can be reserved on the basis of the desired condition, and when the reservation of the shared vehicle is completed, providing information including a destination of the shared vehicle reserved to other users as reservation information of the shared vehicle.

Abstract: A fuel injection control method for an internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine includes a fuel pump (38) that pressure-feeds fuel, a fuel injection valve (19) that injects the fuel pressure-fed by the fuel pump directly into a cylinder of the internal combustion engine (1), and a fuel pressure detection device (45) that detects a pressure of the fuel pressure-fed by the fuel pump.

Abstract: A driving assist method reduces a possibility of missing an opportunity to correct a host vehicle position set on map data. In the driving assist method using a controller that sets a target inter-vehicular distance from a host vehicle to a preceding vehicle, whether there is a request to execute a correction of a host vehicle position set on electronic map data is determined based on a result of comparing position information on a road sign described on the electronic map data with position information on the road sign acquired by using a camera installed in the host vehicle. If an execution request has not been made, the target inter-vehicular distance is set to a preset first target inter-vehicular distance. If an execution request has been made, the target inter-vehicular distance is set to a second target inter-vehicular distance, which is longer than the first target inter-vehicular distance.

Abstract: A film forming method forms a coating film on a workpiece (e.g., a cylinder head) having a film-deposited portion (e.g., an annular valve seat part) by moving a nozzle of a cold spray device relative to the workpiece along a film formation trajectory having a film formation starting point and a film formation finishing point in which the film-deposited portion overlaps to form an overlapping portion. The coating film is formed by causing a raw material powder to collide in a solid-phase state with the workpiece and plastically deform. Also, the coating film on the film-deposited portion is further formed such that an inclination angle of an end part of the coating film relative to a surface of the film-deposited portion is 45° or less at the film formation starting point of the overlapping portion.

Abstract: An abnormality detection apparatus detects an abnormality of equipment according to sensor data that is related to a vibration of the equipment and is obtained while a brake device for braking a motion of a movable part of the equipment is in operation.