Abstract: A vehicle engine activation control system includes a starter connected to a battery; an input unit configured to generate an operation request in response to input from a driver; an electric parking brake device including an electric motor connected to the battery, wherein the electric motor starts driving in response to the operation request; an idle stop control unit configured to automatically stop an engine and automatically reactivate the engine by the starter; and a mediating unit configured to prohibit the driving of the electric motor in response to a predetermined operation request, in at least one of a case where the predetermined operation request is generated while the engine is automatically stopping or after the automatic stopping of the engine is completed, and a case where the predetermined operation request is generated during the reactivation of the engine.

Abstract: A vehicle engine activation control system includes a starter connected to a battery; an idle stop control unit configured to automatically stop an engine and automatically reactivate the engine by the starter; an input unit configured to generate an operation request in response to input from a driver; an electric parking brake device including an electric motor connected to the battery, wherein the electric motor starts driving in response to the operation request; and a mediating unit configured to prohibit the reactivation of the engine by the idle stop control unit when the electric motor is in a driving state in response to a predetermined operation request, and also to prohibit the driving of the electric motor in response to the predetermined operation request while the engine is being reactivated by the idle stop control unit.

Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: a brake hold unit that maintains brake force even when an operation of a brake pedal is released; an engine start unit that performs start request of an engine in a case that any one of a plurality of start conditions is satisfied; and a driving assistant unit that forcibly starts the engine when the engine is not started even if predetermined first start condition among the plurality of start conditions is satisfied in a case that the brake hold unit is- not in operation, and does not forcibly start the engine when the engine is not started even though predetermined second start condition among the first start condition is satisfied in a case that the brake hold unit is in operation.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle includes: a stop-restart unit that stops an engine if an engine stop condition is satisfied and restarts the engine if a restart condition is satisfied; a first braking force control unit and a second braking force control unit that maintain a braking force for stopping the vehicle; and an engine start unit that starts the engine in the case where a vehicle stop state achieved by the first braking force control unit is switched to a vehicle stop state achieved by the second braking force control unit while the engine is stopped by the stop-restart unit.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle includes: a stop-restart unit that stops an engine if an engine stop condition is satisfied and that restarts the engine if a restart condition is satisfied; a braking force maintenance unit that maintains a braking force for stopping the vehicle; and a braking force reduction unit that reduces the maintained braking force in different manners depending on whether or not the engine is restarted by the stop-restart unit, in the case where the vehicle is being braked by the braking force maintenance unit.

Abstract: An automatic engine control apparatus installed in a vehicle causes an engine of the vehicle to stop automatically when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied, and after the automatic stop of the engine, causes the engine to restart automatically when a predetermined restarting condition is satisfied. The apparatus includes an electronic control unit configured to inhibit or permit, while the vehicle is stopped, a second automatic stop of the engine in response to the predetermined stop condition being satisfied, depending on whether the predetermined restarting condition satisfied most recently to have caused the engine to restart automatically was a first restarting condition or a second restarting condition different from the first restarting condition. The first restarting condition represents an intention of a driver of the vehicle to start moving the vehicle.

Abstract: A controlling apparatus includes a storage unit for storing, for each sampling period, a combination of a primary frequency of connected induction motors and the amplitude of a voltage command value, and a gradient detection unit for calculating a value corresponding to an increase in the amplitude of the voltage command value divided by an increase in the primary frequency, and for outputting a failure signal upon determining, when a result of the division is less than a predetermined reference value, that the plurality of induction motors include at least one induction motor having a phase sequence that includes incorrect wiring with respect to the power converter.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle includes: ah inter-vehicle distance control unit that performs inter-vehicle distance control with respect to a preceding vehicle; a stop-restart unit that stops an engine if the host vehicle is stopped and an engine stop condition is satisfied and that restarts the engine if a restart condition is satisfied; a braking force maintenance unit that maintains a braking force which stops the vehicle in idle state; and a braking force increase unit that increases the braking force maintained by the braking force maintenance unit if the vehicle is stopped by the inter-vehicle distance control unit.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle includes: an inter-vehicle distance control unit that performs an inter-vehicle distance control with respect to a preceding vehicle; an engine stop-start unit that stops the engine when an engine stop condition is satisfied and starts the engine when an engine start condition is satisfied; a vehicle stop state maintenance unit that maintains a braking force for stopping the vehicle; the engine stop-start unit stops the engine, by activation of the vehicle stop state maintenance unit in the case where the vehicle is stopped by the inter-vehicle distance control unit; and an engine operation control unit that, in the case where the inter-vehicle distance control unit is set to be active in the vehicle stop state, maintains the operation state of the engine before the inter-vehicle distance control unit is set to be active.

Abstract: A controller for a vehicle includes: an engine controller that outputs a stop request to stop an engine when a stop condition is satisfied, and that outputs a start request to start the engine or resume the engine from a stop preparation state when a start condition is satisfied; a brake controller that, at least in a period between the outputs of the requests by the engine controlling part, automatically generates a braking force for keeping parking regardless of a driver's brake operation and that in a case where an accelerator operation amount is smaller than a predetermined ratio, when the start request has been output and the engine is being—resumed from the stop preparation state to a normal rotation state, the brake controller reduces a brake pressure to a first predetermined pressure in a shorter time than when the engine is being started from a stopped state.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is improved in reliability. A power MOSFET for switching, and a sense MOSFET for sensing a current flowing in the power MOSFET, which is smaller in area than the power MOSFET, are formed in one semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip is mounted over a chip mounting portion, and sealed in a resin. To first and second source pads for outputting the current flowing in the power MOSFET, a metal plate is bonded. A third source pad for sensing the source voltage of the power MOSFET is at a position not overlapping the metal plate. A coupled portion between a source wire forming the third pad and another source wire forming the first and second pads is at a position overlapping the metal plate.

Abstract: A trench MOSFET is disclosed that includes a semiconductor substrate having a vertically oriented trench containing a gate. The trench MOSFET further includes a source, a drain, and a conductive element. The conductive element, like the gate is contained in the trench, and extends between the gate and a bottom of the trench. The conductive element is electrically isolated from the source, the gate, and the drain. When employed in a device such as a DC-DC converter, the trench MOSFET may reduce power losses and electrical and electromagnetic noise.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device having improved performance. A semiconductor substrate is formed with unit LDMOSFET elements. The unit LDMOSFET elements have respective source regions electrically coupled to each other via a first source interconnect line and a second source interconnect line. The unit LDMOSFET elements have respective gate electrodes electrically coupled to each other via a first gate interconnect line and also electrically coupled to a second gate interconnect line in the same layer as that of the second source interconnect line via the first gate interconnect line. The unit LDMOSFET elements have respective drain regions electrically coupled to a back surface electrode via a conductive plug embedded in a trench of the semiconductor substrate. Each of the first source interconnect line and the first gate interconnect line has a thickness smaller than that of the second source interconnect line. Over the plug, the first gate interconnect line extends.

Abstract: A damage detecting device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a first speed generator, a second speed generator, a first waveform shaping section, a second waveform shaping section, and a determining section. The determining section compares a second rectangular wave shaped by the second waveform shaping section and a first rectangular wave shaped by the first waveform shaping section and, if the first rectangular wave is not output while the second rectangular wave is output, determines that a supporting device for an armature shaft is damaged or worn.

Abstract: A negative pressure detection part detects a negative pressure from a signal of a negative pressure sensor detecting a negative pressure generated due to rotation of an internal combustion engine. The negative pressure is used to assist a vehicle driver's braking operation. An abnormality determination part determines, during continuation of the internal combustion engine stopped state, that the negative pressure sensor is in an abnormal condition if the detected negative pressure is out of a normal range near an atmospheric pressure to a vacuum pressure side when an operation of decreasing the negative pressure is performed on a brake pedal greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times or greater than or equal to a predetermined period of time or when a total operation amount of the decreasing operation is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A negative pressure abnormality detection apparatus includes a negative pressure sensor to output a signal representing negative pressure in a negative pressure chamber of a brake booster into which intake negative pressure of an intake manifold generated by rotation of an engine is introduced; a negative pressure detection unit to detect the negative pressure based on the signal; an abnormality determination unit to determine whether an abnormality occurs with the negative pressure sensor, based on whether the negative pressure is shifted toward atmospheric or vacuum pressure relative to a threshold, when a state continues for a predetermined time or longer during which the engine rotates and a negative-pressure-expending braking operation is not performed; and a threshold change unit to change the threshold depending on opening of a throttle valve in an intake pipe connected with the intake manifold, while the state continues.

Abstract: By slowing down the passing velocity of a DNA molecule in a nanopore, the accuracy of the reading of a nucleotide sequence of DNA is improved. A small temperature difference is introduced between a DNA molecule having an asymmetric and periodic structure and a nanopore membrane that carries the DNA molecule, whereby the DNA molecule that passes through a nanopore can move in one direction and the passing velocity of the DNA molecule in the nanopore can be controlled and reduced. In this manner, the accuracy of the analysis of a nucleotide sequence can be improved. Furthermore, it becomes possible to dissociate double-stranded DNA into single-stranded DNA molecules by the action of temperature and subject the single-stranded DNA molecules to a measurement selectively. Furthermore, it also becomes possible to select the polarity of a DNA molecule and subject the DNA molecule to a measurement.

Abstract: A vehicle control device includes an engine that is a power source of a vehicle, an electrical storage device, a starting device connected to the electrical storage device and configured to consume electrical power to start the engine, and a power steering device connected to the electrical storage device and configured to consume electrical power to generate an assist torque, wherein an engine stop control of causing the engine to be in a stopped state is executable during travelling of the vehicle, and the engine stop control is prohibited in at least one of time of turning of the vehicle, time of steering of the vehicle during travelling, and time of generating an assist torque during travelling.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is inhibited from being degraded in reliability. The semiconductor device has a tab including a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of side surfaces. Each of the side surfaces of the tab has a first portion continued to the bottom surface of the tab, a second portion located outwardly of the first portion and continued to the top surface of the tab, and a third portion located outwardly of the second portion and continued to the top surface of the tab to face the same direction as each of the first and second portions. In planar view, the outer edge of the semiconductor chip is located between the third portion and the second portion of the tab, and the outer edge of an adhesive material fixing the semiconductor chip to the tab is located between the semiconductor chip and the second portion.

Abstract: There is provided an engine control apparatus comprising: a vehicle speed detecting unit configured to detect own vehicle speed; an idle stop control unit configured to automatically stop an engine upon a stop condition being met, and restart the engine upon a restart conditions being met during or after completing the automatic engine stop operation, wherein the stop condition includes a condition of a vehicle speed being equal to or less than a first threshold value; a throttle control unit configured to perform a throttle opening increase control for increasing a target opening of throttle opening and keeping it during the automatic engine stop operation; and a determining unit configured to determine the predetermined target opening and the predetermined target period so that at least one of them is increased as the vehicle speed becomes greater.