Abstract: A surface-emitting semiconductor laser including: an active layer including a nitride semiconductor; a first semiconductor layer of a first electrical conduction type and a second semiconductor layer of a second electrical conduction type that are opposed to each other with the active layer therebetween; and a current confinement layer that is opposed to the active layer with the second semiconductor layer therebetween and has an opening, in which a side surface of the current confinement layer is inclined at at least a portion of a peripheral edge of the opening.

Abstract: A method of estimating a deteriorated state of a battery includes steps S102 to S110. S102 is a step of obtaining a voltage and a current of the battery a plurality of times for a data acquisition period. S104 is a step of calculating an amount of change in current, an amount of change in temperature, and an amount of change in SOC during the data acquisition period. S106 is a step of obtaining an allowable amount of change in current, an allowable amount of change in temperature, and an allowable amount of change in SOC based on an average temperature. S110 is a step of calculating an impedance component for each frequency bandwidth based on the voltage and the current by subjecting the voltage and the current to Fourier transform when all amounts of change are smaller than the allowable amounts of change.

Abstract: The first step includes performing FFT for a voltage and a current of a battery a plurality of times to thereby calculate the voltage and the current for each frequency. The second step includes determining whether or not the first condition and the second condition are satisfied for the current of the battery that is calculated for each frequency. The third step includes calculating an impedance component of the battery for each frequency range when at least one of the first condition and the second condition is not satisfied, and not calculating the impedance component of the battery for each frequency range when each of the first condition and the second condition is satisfied. The first condition shows that the current in a low frequency range is greater than a reference value. The second condition shows that the current in a frequency range is less than a reference value.

Abstract: A method of estimating a deteriorated state of a battery mounted on a vehicle includes first to third steps. The first step is a step of obtaining a voltage value and a current value of the battery a plurality of times during a data acquisition period and storing the values in a memory. The second step is a step of subjecting the voltage value and the current value during the data acquisition period stored in the memory to Fourier transform and calculating an impedance component for each frequency band based on the voltage value and the current value subjected to Fourier transform. The third step is a step of estimating high-rate deterioration of the battery by comparing a ratio E between a medium-frequency impedance ZM and a low-frequency impedance ZL2 with a reference value K.

Abstract: A method of estimating a deteriorated state of a battery mounted on a vehicle includes first to third steps. The first step is a step of obtaining a voltage value and a current value of the battery a plurality of times during a data acquisition period and storing the values in a memory. The second step is a step of subjecting the voltage value and the current value during the data acquisition period stored in the memory to Fourier transform and calculating an impedance component for each frequency band based on the voltage value and the current value subjected to Fourier transform. The third step is a step of estimating high-rate deterioration of the battery by comparing a ratio E between a medium-frequency impedance ZM and a low-frequency impedance ZL2 with a reference value K.

Abstract: Provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery that allows a current cutoff mechanism to operate appropriately while maintaining high battery performance. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to the present invention includes: a battery assembly provided with a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material layer retained on a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode and a separator; a battery case housing the electrode assembly together with a nonaqueous electrolyte; and a current cutoff mechanism. The positive electrode active material layer includes a positive electrode active material and a conductive material. A compound containing a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon group is retained in at least a portion of the conductive material. The content of the compound containing a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon group is 0.5% by mass or more based on a value of 100% by mass for the total solid content of the positive electrode active material layer.

Abstract: The first step includes performing FFT for a voltage and a current of a battery a plurality of times to thereby calculate the voltage and the current for each frequency. The second step includes determining whether or not the first condition and the second condition are satisfied for the current of the battery that is calculated for each frequency. The third step includes calculating an impedance component of the battery for each frequency range when at least one of the first condition and the second condition is not satisfied, and not calculating the impedance component of the battery for each frequency range when each of the first condition and the second condition is satisfied. The first condition shows that the current in a low frequency range is greater than a reference value. The second condition shows that the current in a frequency range is less than a reference value.

Abstract: Provided is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that can achieve both battery characteristics during normal usage and resistance to overcharging at high levels. In this non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, an electrode body, which includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte are housed in a battery case. The battery case is provided with a current interrupt mechanism that activates when the pressure inside the case increases. The non-aqueous electrolyte contains cyclohexylbenzene and 4,4?-difluorobiphenyl as gas generating agents that decompose and generate gas when the battery reaches an overcharged state. In addition, when the overall quantity of the non-aqueous electrolyte is taken to be 100 mass %, a ratio of the content (mass %) of the 4,4?-difluorobiphenyl (W2) relative to the content (mass %) of the cyclohexylbenzene (W1) (W2/W1) is 0.025 to 0.25.

Abstract: A method of estimating a deteriorated state of a battery includes steps S102 to S110. S102 is a step of obtaining a voltage and a current of the battery a plurality of times for a data acquisition period. S104 is a step of calculating an amount of change in current, an amount of change in temperature, and an amount of change in SOC during the data acquisition period. S106 is a step of obtaining an allowable amount of change in current, an allowable amount of change in temperature, and an allowable amount of change in SOC based on an average temperature. S110 is a step of calculating an impedance component for each frequency bandwidth based on the voltage and the current by subjecting the voltage and the current to Fourier transform when all amounts of change are smaller than the allowable amounts of change.

Abstract: A method of testing a secondary battery includes step A of charging the secondary battery to a predetermined charge voltage, step B of setting aside the secondary battery for a predetermined time (tb) after the step A, step C of discharging the secondary battery to a predetermined discharge voltage after the step B, and step D of detecting a battery voltage increase for a preset time (t2) after a predetermined time (t1) has elapsed after the step C. This method of testing a secondary battery can evaluate a measurement of how much the negative electrode active material layer covers the positive electrode active material layer based on the battery voltage increase detected in the step D.

Abstract: Provided is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that can achieve both battery characteristics during normal usage and resistance to overcharging at high levels. In this non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, an electrode body, which includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte are housed in a battery case. The battery case is provided with a current interrupt mechanism that activates when the pressure inside the case increases. The non-aqueous electrolyte contains cyclohexylbenzene and 4,4?-difluorobiphenyl as gas generating agents that decompose and generate gas when the battery reaches an overcharged state. In addition, when the overall quantity of the non-aqueous electrolyte is taken to be 100 mass %, a ratio of the content (mass %) of the 4,4?-difluorobiphenyl (W2) relative to the content (mass %) of the cyclohexylbenzene (W1) (W2/W1) is 0.025 to 0.25.

Abstract: Provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery that allows a current cutoff mechanism to operate appropriately while maintaining high battery performance. The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to the present invention includes: a battery assembly provided with a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material layer retained on a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode and a separator; a battery case housing the electrode assembly together with a nonaqueous electrolyte; and a current cutoff mechanism. The positive electrode active material layer includes a positive electrode active material and a conductive material. A compound containing a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon group is retained in at least a portion of the conductive material. The content of the compound containing a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon group is 0.5% by mass or more based on a value of 100% by mass for the total solid content of the positive electrode active material layer.

Abstract: A method of testing a secondary battery includes step A of charging the secondary battery to a predetermined charge voltage, step B of setting aside the secondary battery for a predetermined time (tb) after the step A, step C of discharging the secondary battery to a predetermined discharge voltage after the step B, and step D of detecting a battery voltage increase for a preset time (t2) after a predetermined time (t1) has elapsed after the step C. This method of testing a secondary battery can evaluate a measurement of how much the negative electrode active material layer covers the positive electrode active material layer based on the battery voltage increase detected in the step D.

Abstract: A vehicle power transmission device includes: a first power transmission member including a cylindrical shaft end portion rotatably supported via a first bearing on an inner circumferential side of a non-rotating support wall; and a second power transmission member supported on the inside of the cylindrical shaft end portion via a second bearing radially overlapping with the first bearing by the cylindrical shaft end portion to be rotatable concentrically and relatively to the first power transmission member, the second power transmission member including a circular disc gear portion protruded to an outer circumferential side at a predetermined distance from the second bearing in a shaft center direction of the second power transmission member, at a portion facing the first bearing, the gear portion having an annular inner circumferential guide protruding portion for guiding to the first bearing a lubricant oil that passes through the second bearing for lubrication, that enters into a gap between the second b

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a non-aqueous electrolyte solution containing a gas-forming additive, and a current interrupt device. The gas-forming additive includes a first additive and a second additive. The first additive is bicyclohexyl, and the second additive is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of biphenyl, cyclohexylbenzene, o-terphenyl, m-terphenyl and p-terphenyl.

Abstract: A battery system (SV1) comprises a lithium ion secondary battery (101), charge and discharge control means (S2, S6-S8), and internal resistance detecting means (M1). The charge and discharge control means comprises: mode control means including increasing mode control means (S2) for increasing the internal resistance of the lithium ion secondary battery and decreasing mode control means (S8) for decreasing the internal resistance; and mode selecting means (S6, S7) for selecting the decreasing mode control means (S8) or the increasing mode control means (S2) when a level of the internal resistance is estimated by the internal resistance detecting means.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a non-aqueous electrolyte solution containing a gas-forming additive, and a current interrupt device. The current interrupt device is configured to interrupt a current of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery in response to a rise of internal pressure in the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. The gas-foiming additive includes cyclohexylbenzene and at least one terphenyl selected from the group consisting of o-terphenyl and m-terphenyl.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery system wherein safety of a lithium secondary battery can be enhanced by efficiently deactivating (inactivating) lithium metal deposited on a negative electrode of the lithium secondary battery. Also disclosed is an automobile. Specifically disclosed is a battery system comprising a lithium ion secondary battery and a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the lithium ion secondary battery. The temperature control unit performs such a control that the temperature T of the lithium ion secondary battery is maintained within the following range: 55° C.<T<65° C., for a predetermined time.

Abstract: Provided are a lithium-ion secondary battery capable of measuring the concentration of lithium ions in an stored electrolyte in a predetermined portion, an assembled battery using the same, a vehicle and a battery-equipped device equipped with the battery or the assembled battery, a battery system capable of acquiring the concentration-correlated physical quantity in the lithium-ion secondary battery, and a method for detecting the deterioration of the lithium-ion secondary battery. A lithium-ion secondary battery comprises a power generation element including a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, a battery case housing the power generation element, and an electrolyte containing lithium ions and held in the battery case, and further comprises a stored-electrolyte physical quantity measuring means capable of measuring the concentration-correlated physical quantity having a correlation to the concentration of lithium ions in the stored electrolyte stored between the element and the case.

Abstract: A vehicle oil pump that is driven by a drive gear provided on a rotating shaft that rotates in one direction when a vehicle travels forward and rotates in the opposite direction when the vehicle travel backward includes a first driven gear that is in mesh with the drive gear and provided on a drive shaft of the vehicle oil pump via a first one-way clutch, an idler gear that is in mesh with the drive gear, and a second driven gear that is in mesh with the idler gear and provided on the drive shaft of the vehicle oil pump via a second one-way clutch. The first one-way clutch is configured to transmit rotation of the first driven gear to the drive shaft when the vehicle travels in one direction, from among forward and backward, and the second one-way clutch is configured to transmit rotation of the second driven gear to the drive shaft when the vehicle travels in the other direction, from among forward and backward.