Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an IG switch disposed between a 14V battery and a controller. The fuel cell system also includes a start switch disposed independently of the IG switch. Upon detection of the ON state of the start switch, the controller outputs an FC start instruction to an FC auxiliary device. Moreover, an FC inverter switch is disposed between the 14V battery and the FC auxiliary device. Through the function of the controller, power supply from the 14V battery to the FC auxiliary device is suspended for a period from when a wait time, which is predeterminedly set from the moment when the IG switch is turned ON, has elapsed to the moment when the start switch is turned ON, during a wait period between the moment when the IG switch is turned ON and the moment when the start switch is turned ON.

Abstract: A gas detection system functions to detect a specific gas present in a certain space. The gas detection system includes a gas concentration detector arranged to detect concentration of the specific gas as a gas concentration. The gas detection system also has a determination module configured to determine whether the gas concentration detected by the gas concentration detector exceeds a set threshold value. In response to input of a checking instruction for checking up the gas concentration detector into the determination module, the determination module uses a threshold value for checkup purpose, in place of the set threshold value. This arrangement effectively enhances the convenience in the process of checking up the gas concentration detector.

Abstract: A gas detection system is configured to detect a preset gas in a predetermined space. The gas detection system includes a gas concentration detector constructed to detect a gas concentration of the preset gas, a recording assembly, a notification module, and a decision module. When the gas concentration detected by the gas concentration detector is higher than a preset first reference value, the decision module controls the notification module to give notice. When the detected gas concentration is higher than a preset second reference value but is lower than the preset first reference value, on the other hand, the decision module controls the notification module to give no notice but record a specific piece of information into the recording assembly. This arrangement of the gas detection system enables the user to readily detect deterioration of a device utilizing a fuel, for example, fuel cells.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes an electric motor, a homing control section, a distance determination section, and a forbiddance section. The electric motor moves a control object equipped to a vehicle at least between two positions. The homing control section executes a homing control for controlling the electric motor to move the control object so that the control object press-contacts a stopper wall when an initialization condition is satisfied. The distance determination section determines whether a user of the vehicle is apart from the vehicle at a distance greater than a predetermined distance. The forbiddance section forbids the homing control during a period, which starts at a time of the homing control execution and ends at a time when the user of the vehicle is apart from the vehicle farther than the predetermined distance, even when the initialization condition is satisfied during the period.

Abstract: In a motor ECU, a motor control unit detects an abnormality when a parking mechanism has not attained a target range within a predetermined period after control of the driving of a motor is started. A data memory unit stores diagnosis information when the motor control unit detects an abnormality. An abnormality check unit compares the state of a changeover mechanism outputted by the motor control unit with the target range and stores diagnosis information in the data memory unit, when the state of the parking mechanism has not attained the target range within a predetermined period after the state of the parking mechanism is outputted and when the motor control unit has not detected an abnormality.

Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of restraining temperature change in a fuel cell caused by a refrigerant. The fuel cell system has a refrigerant circulating system for circulating the refrigerant. The refrigerant circulating system has flow control means for restraining the inflow of the refrigerant, which has a predetermined difference in temperature from that of the fuel cell, into the fuel cell.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes an electric motor, a homing control section, a distance determination section, and a forbiddance section. The electric motor moves a control object equipped to a vehicle at least between two positions. The homing control section executes a homing control for controlling the electric motor to move the control object so that the control object press-contacts a stopper wall when an initialization condition is satisfied. The distance determination section determines whether a user of the vehicle is apart from the vehicle at a distance greater than a predetermined distance. The forbiddance section forbids the homing control during a period, which starts at a time of the homing control execution and ends at a time when the user of the vehicle is apart from the vehicle farther than the predetermined distance, even when the initialization condition is satisfied during the period.

Abstract: In a motor ECU, a motor control unit detects an abnormality when a parking mechanism has not attained a target range within a predetermined period after control of the driving of a motor is started. A data memory unit stores diagnosis information when the motor control unit detects an abnormality. An abnormality check unit compares the state of a changeover mechanism outputted by the motor control unit with the target range and stores diagnosis information in the data memory unit, when the state of the parking mechanism has not attained the target range within a predetermined period after the state of the parking mechanism is outputted and when the motor control unit has not detected an abnormality.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a power supply controller. In response to input of a first command prior to a start of fuel cells in a state of power supply from a power source to fuel cell-related auxiliary machinery, the power supply controller reduces an amount of electric power supplied to the fuel cell-related auxiliary machinery until input of a start instruction to start the fuel cells. In response to input of a second command, the power supply controller instructs to continue the power supply from the power source to the fuel cell-related auxiliary machinery without reducing the electric power level of the power supply, irrespective of the input or non-input of the first command. The fuel cell system of this arrangement effectively reduces the amount of electric power consumed by an electricity storage device before a start of the fuel cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has shutoff valves installed between an air flow channel in a fuel cell and the atmosphere. The shutoff valves have valve seats and also have valve discs for sealing in air by coming into contact with the valve seats. The valve discs are adapted to be sucked toward the valve seats by negative pressure in the air flow channel in the fuel cell. The fuel cell system further has an atmosphere release valve installed between the air flow channel in the fuel cell and the shutoff valve and releasing negative pressure in the air flow channel in the fuel cell to the atmosphere. When the fuel cell is started, the shutoff valves are opened after the negative pressure in the air flow channel of the fuel cell is released. Consequently, sealing ability of the shutoff valves when the fuel cell is stopped is improved, and easiness of opening of the shutoff valves when the fuel cell is started is also improved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system capable of restraining a temperature change in a fuel cell caused by a refrigerant. The fuel cell system has a refrigerant circulating system for circulating the refrigerant from the fuel cell to the fuel cell. The refrigerant circulating system has flow control means for restraining the inflow of the refrigerant, which has a predetermined difference in temperature from that of the fuel cell, into the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell system capable of restraining temperature change in a fuel cell caused by a refrigerant. The fuel cell system has a refrigerant circulating system for circulating the refrigerant. The refrigerant circulating system has flow control means for restraining the inflow of the refrigerant, which has a predetermined difference in temperature from that of the fuel cell, into the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a supply flow passage for flowing a fuel gas supplied from a fuel supply source to the fuel cell, a variable gas supply device for regulating the state of the gas on the upstream side of the supply flow passage to supply the gas to the downstream side, a discharge flow passage for flowing a fuel off gas discharged from the fuel cell, a discharge valve for discharging the gas from the discharge flow passage to the exterior, and a control part for closing the discharge valve when the discharge amount of the gas calculated while the discharge valve is opened exceeds a predetermined target discharge amount. The control part stops the gas supply from the variable gas supply device and simultaneously closes the discharge valve, when the discharge amount of the gas calculated while the discharge valve is opened exceeds the target discharge amount.

Abstract: A fuel cell system performs feedback control with respect to a reactive gas supplying apparatus based on a proportional obtained by multiplying a deviation of an actual flow quantity from a target value of a reactive gas supplied to the fuel cell from the reactive gas supplying apparatus by a proportional gain and an integral term obtained by multiplying the deviation by an integration gain to perform time integration in such a manner that the actual flow quantity coincides with the target value, and changes an update arithmetic operation of the integral term in accordance with a value of the deviation.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an IG switch disposed between a 14V battery and a controller. The fuel cell system also includes a start switch disposed independently of the IG switch. Upon detection of the ON state of the start switch, the controller outputs an FC start instruction to an FC auxiliary device. Moreover, an FC inverter switch is disposed between the 14V battery and the FC auxiliary device. Through the function of the controller, power supply from the 14V battery to the FC auxiliary device is suspended for a period from when a wait time, which is predeterminedly set from the moment when the IG switch is turned ON, has elapsed to the moment when the start switch is turned ON, during a wait period between the moment when the IG switch is turned ON and the moment when the start switch is turned ON.

Abstract: A gas detection system functions to detect a specific gas present in a certain space. The gas detection system includes a gas concentration detector arranged to detect concentration of the specific gas as a gas concentration. The gas detection system also has a determination module configured to determine whether the gas concentration detected by the gas concentration detector exceeds a set threshold value. In response to input of a checking instruction for checking up the gas concentration detector into the determination module, the determination module uses a threshold value for checkup purpose, in place of the set threshold value. This arrangement effectively enhances the convenience in the process of checking up the gas concentration detector.

Abstract: A gas detection system is configured to detect a preset gas in a predetermined space. The gas detection system includes a gas concentration detector constructed to detect a gas concentration of the preset gas, a recording assembly, a notification module, and a decision module. When the gas concentration detected by the gas concentration detector is higher than a preset first reference value, the decision module controls the notification module to give notice. When the detected gas concentration is higher than a preset second reference value but is lower than the preset first reference value, on the other hand, the decision module controls the notification module to give no notice but record a specific piece of information into the recording assembly. This arrangement of the gas detection system enables the user to readily detect deterioration of a device utilizing a fuel, for example, fuel cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a power supply controller. In response to input of a first command prior to a start of fuel cells in a state of power supply from a power source to fuel cell-related auxiliary machinery, the power supply controller reduces an amount of electric power supplied to the fuel cell-related auxiliary machinery until input of a start instruction to start the fuel cells. In response to input of a second command, the power supply controller instructs to continue the power supply from the power source to the fuel cell-related auxiliary machinery without reducing the electric power level of the power supply, irrespective of the input or non-input of the first command. The fuel cell system of this arrangement effectively reduces the amount of electric power consumed by an electricity storage device before a start of the fuel cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has shutoff valves installed between an air flow channel in a fuel cell and the atmosphere. The shutoff valves have valve seats and also have valve discs for sealing in air by coming into contact with the valve seats. The valve discs are adapted to be sucked toward the valve seats by negative pressure in the air flow channel in the fuel cell. The fuel cell system further has an atmosphere release valve installed between the air flow channel in the fuel cell and the shutoff valve and releasing negative pressure in the air flow channel in the fuel cell to the atmosphere. When the fuel cell is started, the shutoff valves are opened after the negative pressure in the air flow channel of the fuel cell is released. Consequently, sealing ability of the shutoff valves when the fuel cell is stopped is improved, and easiness of opening of the shutoff valves when the fuel cell is started is also improved.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a supply flow passage for flowing a fuel gas supplied from a fuel supply source to the fuel cell, a variable gas supply device for regulating the state of the gas on the upstream side of the supply flow passage to supply the gas to the downstream side, a discharge flow passage for flowing a fuel off gas discharged from the fuel cell, a discharge valve for discharging the gas from the discharge flow passage to the exterior, and a control part for closing the discharge valve when the discharge amount of the gas calculated while the discharge valve is opened exceeds a predetermined target discharge amount. The control part stops the gas supply from the variable gas supply device and simultaneously closes the discharge valve, when the discharge amount of the gas calculated while the discharge valve is opened exceeds the target discharge amount.