Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine where the inside of a combustion chamber is divided into a layer of internal EGR gas and a combustible layer to perform stratified combustion. In a port-injected engine equipped with first and second intake valves, the opening timing of the first intake valve is set before a top dead center (TDC) and the opening timing of the second intake valve is set after the TDC, and the closing timings of the first intake valve and the second intake valve are set after a bottom dead center. Then, fuel injection toward the first intake valve is started after the EGR gas, which was blown back to the intake port upstream of the first intake valve, is drawn into the combustion chamber after the top dead center.

Abstract: A gas sensor element includes a main body and a protective layer. The main body has four plane portions and four corner portions each of which is formed between one adjacent pair of the plane portions. The four corner portions include a pair of first corner portions that are formed on a porous diffusion-resistant layer side in a lamination direction of the main body and a pair of second corner portions that are formed on a heater layer side in the lamination direction. The protective layer is comprised of an inner protective layer that covers at least the first corner portions of the main body and an outer protective layer that covers the entire outer periphery of the main body and the inner protective layer. The protective layer has a larger average thickness at the first corner portions than at the plane portions of the main body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable operation angle mechanism that can improve engine performance at transient operation by optimally setting a ratio between change amounts of opening and closing timings accompanying a variation in valve operation angle of intake valve, and relates to an apparatus for and a method of controlling an engine including the variable operation angle mechanism. In the variable operation angle mechanism, ratio RIVO of change amount of opening timing IVO of intake valve to change amount of valve operation angle is set to be 20% or more and 40% or less, and preferably, to be 30%. In engine including a variable valve timing mechanism varying a rotating phase of intake camshaft relative to crankshaft and the variable operation angle mechanism, a target phase change amount varied by the variable valve timing mechanism is corrected for phase change amount accompanying the variation in the valve operation angle.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an apparatus for and a method of controlling an engine provided with: a variable operation angle mechanism that is provided for varying a valve operation angle of an engine valve driven by a camshaft, and is capable of varying a center phase of the valve operation angle in response to a variation in the valve operation angle; and a variable valve timing mechanism provided for varying a rotating phase of the camshaft relative to a crankshaft of the engine, in which a target valve operation angle and a target rotating phase is calculated based on the engine operating state, and a correction value for correcting the target rotating phase based on the target valve operation angle is set. Then, the target rotating phase is corrected by the correction value, thereby controlling the variable valve timing mechanism based on the corrected target rotating phase.

Abstract: A stacked piezoelectric device 1 including a ceramic laminate formed by laminating piezoelectric ceramic layers and inner electrode layers alternately and a pair of side electrodes. The inner electrode layers 13 and 14 have inner electrode portions 131 and 141 and the recessed portions 132 and 142. The ceramic laminate 15 has the stress absorbing portions 11 and 12. A recessed distance of one of two of the recessed portions 132 and 142 which interleave the stress absorbing portions 11 and 12 therebetween which is located on the same side surface as the stress absorbing portion 11 or 12 is greater than the depth of the stress absorbing portion 11 and 12.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of controlling a variable valve timing mechanism. The valve timing mechanism changes over between a first cam for which the closing timing IVC of the intake valve is after intake bottom dead center, and a second cam for which the closing timing IVC is closer to intake bottom dead center than the closing timing IVC with the first cam. Here at the time of stopping the internal combustion engine, the valve timing mechanism changes over to the first cam, and the initial intake stroke performs operation at low effective compression ratio. In the second and subsequent intake strokes, the valve timing mechanism changes from the first cam to the second cam.

Abstract: There is provided a configuration in which a cylinder which is in an inlet stroke when an internal combustion engine is in a stop (automatic stop) state is determined and stored, and when starting the engine upon detection of a start request, the fuel injection of an initial cycle to the cylinder, which has been determined as having been stopped in the inlet stroke when the engine was in the stop state before starting, is split into a plurality if injections at least including an injection before engine rotation, to thereby perform injections. As a result, startability is improved while suppressing pre-ignition at the time of starting.

Abstract: A stacked piezoelectric device 1 includes a ceramic laminate 15 formed by laminating a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic layers 11 and a plurality of inner electrode layers 13 and 14 alternately and a pair of side electrodes 17 and 18 formed on side surfaces thereof. The inner electrode layers 13 and 14 are connected electrically to either of the side electrodes. The ceramic laminate 15 has absorbing portions 12 formed in slit-like areas recessed inwardly from the side surfaces thereof. The stress absorbing portions are easier to deform than the piezoelectric ceramic layers 11. Adjacent two of the inner electrode layers 13 and 14 interleaving the stress absorbing portion 12 therebetween are both connected electrically to the positive side electrode 17.

Abstract: A stacked piezoelectric device 1 including a ceramic laminate formed by laminating piezoelectric ceramic layers and inner electrode layers alternately and a pair of side electrodes. The inner electrode layers 13 and 14 have inner electrode portions 131 and 141 and the recessed portions 132 and 142. The ceramic laminate 15 has the stress absorbing portions 11 and 12. A recessed distance of one of two of the recessed portions 132 and 142 which interleave the stress absorbing portions 11 and 12 therebetween which is located on the same side surface as the stress absorbing portion 11 or 12 is greater than the depth of the stress absorbing portion 11 and 12.

Abstract: An absorbent article 1 having a liquid retentive absorbent layer and a liquid impermeable leak preventive layer and including, in its longitudinal direction, an excretion portion facing section A which is placed opposite a wearer's liquid excretion portion, when in wear, and a rear section B which is placed more on the back side than the excretion portion facing section A, when in wear, wherein a leak preventive wall 5 is disposed on opposite side portions in the longitudinal direction, the leak preventive wall 5 having a basal wall portion and a planar elastic expansible/contractible portion connected to an upper end portion of the basal wall portion and being raised in the excretion portion facing section A and in the rear section B, and wherein a distance from an upper end portion of the basal wall portion to the leak preventive layer in the rear section is shorter than a comparable distance in the excretion portion facing section A.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an apparatus for and a method of controlling an engine provided with: a variable operation angle mechanism that is provided for varying a valve operation angle of an engine valve driven by a camshaft, and is capable of varying a center phase of the valve operation angle in response to a variation in the valve operation angle; and a variable valve timing mechanism provided for varying a rotating phase of the camshaft relative to a crankshaft of the engine, in which a target valve operation angle and a target rotating phase is calculated based on the engine operating state, and a correction value for correcting the target rotating phase based on the target valve operation angle is set. Then, the target rotating phase is corrected by the correction value, thereby controlling the variable valve timing mechanism based on the corrected target rotating phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable operation angle mechanism that can improve engine performance at transient operation by optimally setting a ratio between change amounts of opening and closing timings accompanying a variation in valve operation angle of intake valve, and relates to an apparatus for and a method of controlling an engine including the variable operation angle mechanism. In the variable operation angle mechanism, ratio RIVO of change amount of opening timing IVO of intake valve to change amount of valve operation angle is set to be 20% or more and 40% or less, and preferably, to be 30%. In engine including a variable valve timing mechanism varying a rotating phase of intake camshaft relative to crankshaft and the variable operation angle mechanism, a target phase change amount varied by the variable valve timing mechanism is corrected for phase change amount accompanying the variation in the valve operation angle.

Abstract: A bonding material and a related manufacturing method are disclosed in which an unfired ceramic body A, internally formed with a cavity portion or a surface formed with a concaved portion, and an unfired ceramic body B are bonded to each other. The bonding material is applied to a bonding area between the unfired ceramic bodies A and B in a thickness ranging from 10 to 25 ?m to provide a bonded body that is fired to obtain a ceramic bonded body. The bonding material contains an inorganic powder, an organic binder and an organic solvent in a composition to satisfy relationships 0?X—Z?2.6 and 0?Y—Z?2.6 where “X” represents a firing contraction ratio (%) of the unfired ceramic body A, “Y” a firing contraction ratio (%) of the unfired ceramic body B, and “Z” a firing contraction ratio of tie bonding material.

Abstract: An absorbent article (1) having a liquid-retentive absorbing layer (2), a liquid-impermeable leakproof layer (3), and standing gathers (4) on each side. The gathers have an elastically extensible portion (40) coming into planar contact with the wearer's skin while worn. The elastically extensible portion (40) is made of a sheet (44) and at least one elastic member (45), the elastic member (45) being fixed to the sheet (44) discretely in the longitudinal direction in its stretched state, and the parts of the sheet where the elastic member (45) is not fixed are raised by contraction of the elastic member (45) to form a plurality of hollow ridges (43) on the side of the elastically extensible portion (40) to be brought into contact with the wearer's skin.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element, for generating drive force for an injector, is provided with a plurality of alternately stacked piezoelectric layers expanding and contracting in accordance with application of voltage and internal electrode layers for supplying the applied voltage. The piezoelectric layers contain voids, but the total thickness in the stacking direction of the voids contained in any one piezoelectric layer is not more than ? of the thickness in the stacking direction of the piezoelectric layer and the thickness in the stacking direction of each of the voids is not more than 50 ?m.

Abstract: An absorbent article 1 comprising a liquid retentive absorbent layer and a liquid impermeable leak preventive layer and including, in its longitudinal direction, an excretion portion facing section A which is placed opposite a wearer's liquid excretion portion, when in wear, and a rear section B which is placed more on the back side than the excretion portion facing section A, when in wear, wherein a leak preventive wall 5 is disposed on opposite side portions in the longitudinal direction, the leak preventive wall 5 comprising a basal wall portion and a planar elastic expansible/contractible portion connected to an upper end portion of the basal wall portion and being raised in the excretion portion facing section A and in the rear section B, and wherein a distance from an upper end portion of the basal wall portion to the leak preventive layer in the rear section is shorter than a comparable distance in the excretion portion facing section A.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element, for generating drive force for an injector, provided with a plurality of alternately stacked piezoelectric layers expanding and contracting in accordance with application of voltage and internal electrode layers for supplying the applied voltage, wherein the piezoelectric layers contain voids, but the total thickness in the stacking direction of the voids contained in any one piezoelectric layer is not more than ⅓ of the thickness in the stacking direction of the piezoelectric layer and the thickness in the stacking direction of each of the voids is not more than 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A multilayer-type piezoelectric actuator having a multilayer piezoelectric unit which is capable of enduring the extension of contraction thereof to prevent the disconnection of external electrodes. The multilayer piezoelectric unit (2) includes a plurality of piezoelectric plates (21) of a piezoelectric material and a plurality of internal electrodes (22) of a conductive material arranged in alternate layers. The external electrodes (3) are arranged on the side surfaces (23), respectively, of the multilayer piezoelectric unit (2) and electrically connected to a plurality of the internal electrodes (22). The external electrodes (3) are each configured of an electrode base (31) arranged in contact with a corresponding side surface (23) of the multilayer piezoelectric unit (2), a tabular metal net conductor (32) arranged on the electrode base (31), and a plurality of conductive adhesives (33) for partially bonding the electrode base (31) and the tabular metal net conductor (32).

Abstract: A piezoelectric element, for generating drive force for an injector, is provided with a plurality of alternately stacked piezoelectric layers expanding and contracting in accordance with application of voltage and internal electrode layers for supplying the applied voltage. The piezoelectric layers contain voids, but the total thickness in the stacking direction of the voids contained in any one piezoelectric layer is not more than ⅓ of the thickness in the stacking direction of the piezoelectric layer and the thickness in the stacking direction of each of the voids is not more than 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: An absorbent article (1) having a liquid-retentive absorbing layer (2), a liquid-impermeable leakproof layer (3), and standing gathers (4) on each side thereof which have an elastically extensible portion (40) coming into planar contact with the wearer's skin while worn, wherein the elastically extensible portion (40) is made of a sheet (44) and at least one elastic member (45), the elastic member (45) being fixed to the sheet (44) discretely in the longitudinal direction thereof in their stretched state, and the parts of the sheet where the elastic member (45) is not fixed are raised by contraction of the elastic member (45) to form a plurality of hollow ridges (43) on the side of the elastically extensible portion (40) to be brought into contact with the wearer's skin.