Abstract: A server includes a storage storing data on chargers each configured to charge or discharge electric power to or from a vehicle with an electrical storage device, and a processor configured to send a user of the vehicle a message that makes a proposal to charge or discharge the vehicle by using at least one of the chargers when the vehicle travels toward a destination. The processor is configured to acquire, for each of the chargers, power supply and demand information on power demand or supply in a power grid of a region in which the charger is installed, extract a charger installed in a region with larger power demand or supply than another region from among the chargers based on predetermined information including the power supply and demand information, and send the message that makes a proposal to charge or discharge the vehicle by using the extracted charger.

Abstract: The vehicle includes a display (navigation screen and HUD) and a processor that causes the display to display panoramic images indicative of the surroundings of the vehicle, such that the vehicle is captured from above the vehicle. The panoramic image includes an icon that is superimposed on the panoramic image and indicates the positions of the plurality of wheels, and a recommended route that is superimposed on the panoramic image and indicates a route through which the plurality of wheels is desired to pass.

Abstract: A server includes a communicator and a processor. The communicator is configured to receive a reservation request signal requesting a reservation to use a charging station by an electrified vehicle. The reservation request signal includes information indicating that balancing power control is requested, when the electrified vehicle wants to perform the balancing power control. The processor is configured to set, based on the reservation request signal, a reservation time period during which the electrified vehicle uses the charging station. The processor is configured to set the reservation time period to a longer period when the reservation request signal includes the information indicating that the balancing power control is requested than when the reservation request signal does not include the information indicating that the balancing power control is requested.

Abstract: A server includes a communicator and a processor. The communicator is configured to receive a reservation request signal requesting a reservation to use a charging station by an electrified vehicle. The reservation request signal includes information indicating that balancing power control is requested, when the electrified vehicle wants to perform the balancing power control. The processor is configured to set, based on the reservation request signal, a reservation time period during which the electrified vehicle uses the charging station. The processor is configured to set the reservation time period to a longer period when the reservation request signal includes the information indicating that the balancing power control is requested than when the reservation request signal does not include the information indicating that the balancing power control is requested.

Abstract: An information management system including a server. The server is configured to manage reservation information for reserving use of a charging device configured to charge a power storage device mounted on a battery electric vehicle. The server is configured to receive information for temporarily providing an authority for use of the battery electric vehicle to a renting person that rents the battery electric vehicle during a reservation time.

Abstract: A server includes a storage storing data on chargers each configured to charge or discharge electric power to or from a vehicle with an electrical storage device, and a processor configured to send a user of the vehicle a message that makes a proposal to charge or discharge the vehicle by using at least one of the chargers when the vehicle travels toward a destination. The processor is configured to acquire, for each of the chargers, power supply and demand information on power demand or supply in a power grid of a region in which the charger is installed, extract a charger installed in a region with larger power demand or supply than another region from among the chargers based on predetermined information including the power supply and demand information, and send the message that makes a proposal to charge or discharge the vehicle by using the extracted charger.

Abstract: A butt position detecting method for a weld joint, when an arrangement direction of a first member and a second member is defined as a first direction, and a direction that is perpendicular to the first direction is defined as a second direction, the first member has a corner portion and a chamfer portion, and a two-dimensional displacement sensor is arranged at a position offset from the butt portion toward the first member side in the first direction, and such that an angle ?s at which the second direction and an optical axis direction of irradiation light of the two-dimensional displacement sensor intersect with each other and an angle ?a at which the second direction and a formation direction of the chamfer portion of the first member intersect with each other satisfy a condition expression: 0°<?s<?a.

Abstract: A movable sleeve of a second clutch is provided between a cylindrical ring gear and a cylindrical shaft of a differential case of a differential gear unit. In a disconnect mode in which a propeller shaft is disconnected from rear wheels, the cylindrical ring gear is disconnected from the differential case by the movable sleeve of the second clutch. Thus, in the disconnect mode, a fully differential state of the differential gear unit is prevented.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular 4-wheel drive system provided with: primary drive wheels to which a drive force is transmitted from a drive power source; auxiliary drive wheels to which the drive force is selectively transmitted; a first clutch configured to selectively place a first power transmitting path in a power transmitting state and a power cutoff state; and a second clutch disposed in a second power transmitting path to selectively place the second power transmitting path in a power transmitting state and a power cutoff state. The first and second clutches are placed in fully released states to establish a 2-wheel drive mode. The control apparatus includes a first-clutch control portion configured to bring the first clutch into a partially engaged state when a predetermined condition in which the vehicular 4-wheel drive system generates or is considered to generate a noise is satisfied in the 2-wheel drive mode.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular 4-wheel drive system provided with: primary drive wheels to which a drive force is transmitted from a drive power source; auxiliary drive wheels to which the drive force is selectively transmitted; a first clutch configured to selectively place a first power transmitting path in a power transmitting state and a power cutoff state; and a second clutch disposed in a second power transmitting path to selectively place the second power transmitting path in a power transmitting state and a power cutoff state. The first and second clutches are placed in fully released states to establish a 2-wheel drive mode. The control apparatus includes a first-clutch control portion configured to bring the first clutch into a partially engaged state when a predetermined condition in which the vehicular 4-wheel drive system generates or is considered to generate a noise is satisfied in the 2-wheel drive mode.

Abstract: A disconnect mechanism is configured to disconnect a predetermined rotating element from an engine and an auxiliary drive wheels while the vehicle is traveling in a two-wheel drive mode. The predetermined rotating element is configured to transmit power to the auxiliary drive wheels while the vehicle is traveling in a four-wheel drive mode. An electronic control unit is configured to: execute shift control when a shift condition of an automatic transmission is satisfied; selectively engage or release the disconnect mechanism based on a traveling state of the vehicle and a driver's predetermined operation; and control at least one of the automatic transmission or the disconnect mechanism such that a shift period based on the shift condition of the automatic transmission and an engagement-release period of the disconnect mechanism at least partially overlap with each other.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system includes a pair of drive shafts, a differential gear device for distributing a received drive torque to left and right drive wheels through the respective drive shafts, a control clutch associated with one of the drive shafts and configured to switch between its engaged and released states, and a braking device disposed to apply a braking force to one of the drive wheels which is disposed to the other of the drive shafts. The control apparatus includes: a torque control portion configured to operate the braking device for reducing the torque to be transmitted to the one of the drive wheels, in the event of an abrupt increase of the torque received by the differential gear device while the control clutch is placed in the engaged state.

Abstract: A movable sleeve of a second clutch is provided between a cylindrical ring gear and a cylindrical shaft of a differential case of a differential gear unit. In a disconnect mode in which a propeller shaft is disconnected from rear wheels, the cylindrical ring gear is disconnected from the differential case by the movable sleeve of the second clutch. Thus, in the disconnect mode, a fully differential state of the differential gear unit is prevented.

Abstract: A disconnect mechanism is configured to disconnect a predetermined rotating element from an engine and an auxiliary drive wheels while the vehicle is traveling in a two-wheel drive mode. The predetermined rotating element is configured to transmit power to the auxiliary drive wheels while the vehicle is traveling in a four-wheel drive mode. An electronic control unit is configured to: execute shift control when a shift condition of an automatic transmission is satisfied; selectively engage or release the disconnect mechanism based on a traveling state of the vehicle and a driver's predetermined operation; and control at least one of the automatic transmission or the disconnect mechanism such that a shift period based on the shift condition of the automatic transmission and an engagement-release period of the disconnect mechanism at least partially overlap with each other.

Abstract: A transfer includes an input gear, an intermediate gear, an output gear, and an electric motor. Driving torque is transmitted to the input gear. The intermediate gear engages with the input gear. The output gear engages with the intermediate gear. The electric motor is connected to the intermediate gear. A diameter of the intermediate gear is smaller than a diameter of the input gear and a diameter of the output gear.

Abstract: A power transmitting shaft transmits power of a driving force source to driven wheels. A differential gear is connected to an axle of the driven wheels. A ring gear is provided between the power transmitting shaft and the differential gear. A switching mechanism between the driving force source and the power transmitting shaft switches between a four-wheel drive state and a two-wheel drive state. A two-way clutch is provided between the ring gear and the differential gear. The two-way clutch switches between a power transmitting state and a power transmission interrupted state.

Abstract: It is a task of the present application to provide a butt position detecting method for a weld joint and a butt position detecting device for a weld joint that can detect a position of a butt portion between both members with high accuracy while reducing costs, and a manufacturing a weld joint that carries out the butt position detecting method.

Abstract: A coupling device includes a clutch mechanism portion that is provided between a propeller shaft and a drive pinion shaft, and that engages by viscous resistance of hydraulic fluid. This coupling device is able to transmit driving force from a driving source to the drive pinion shaft by the engagement of this clutch mechanism portion. Also, an oil pump is provided that supplies hydraulic fluid not used for engaging the clutch mechanism portion to the clutch mechanism portion when the drive pinion shaft rotates.

Abstract: A vehicle coupling includes a wet type multiple disc clutch that selectively connects or disconnects a driving member to or from a driven member; a piston that engages the wet type multiple disc clutch by pushing against the wet type multiple disc clutch in an axial direction; a pushing mechanism that generates force with which the piston pushes against the wet type multiple disc clutch, based on the relative torque between the driving member and the driven member; and a hydraulic mechanism that generates hydraulic pressure for generating thrust to move the piston away from the wet type multiple disc clutch, according to differential rotation between the driving member and the driven member when the wet type multiple disc clutch is released.

Abstract: The rotation of a first rotating element is shifted in speed by a speed shift device, and is transmitted to a second rotating element or a third rotating element of a differential device via a first clutch or a second clutch. In this manner, the torque of right and left driving wheels can be controlled. Furthermore, in conjunction with limitation of the differential motion, the amount of torque transmitted to a fourth rotating element is eliminated by allowing the speed shift device to freely rotate, and the accumulated amount of sliding of friction engagement elements at the time of differential motion limitation can be reduced by completely engaging the first clutch and the second clutch without allowing them to slide. Thus, the differential motion limitation control can be realized without a need to increase the size of the first clutch and the second clutch.