Abstract: An information control device for an electric vehicle including a vehicle-mounted battery that is charged with electric power supplied from a power supply provided at an outside of the vehicle includes a lock operation detector, a remaining power detector, and a notification controller. The lock operation detector is configured to detect a lock operation of a door lock mechanism of the vehicle. The remaining power detector is configured to detect a remaining power amount of the vehicle-mounted battery. The notification controller is configured to control a notifying device to make a notification to the outside of the vehicle. The notification is indicative of information that recommends power charge of the vehicle-mounted battery if the remaining power amount is small when the door lock mechanism has been locked or is to be locked, based on detection results of the lock operation detector and the remaining power detector.

Abstract: An information control device for an electric vehicle including a vehicle-mounted battery that is charged with electric power supplied from a power supply provided at an outside of the vehicle includes a lock operation detector, a remaining power detector, and a notification controller. The lock operation detector is configured to detect a lock operation of a door lock mechanism of the vehicle. The remaining power detector is configured to detect a remaining power amount of the vehicle-mounted battery. The notification controller is configured to control a notifying device to make a notification to the outside of the vehicle. The notification is indicative of information that recommends power charge of the vehicle-mounted battery if the remaining power amount is small when the door lock mechanism has been locked or is to be locked, based on detection results of the lock operation detector and the remaining power detector.

Abstract: An electric-motor-equipped vehicle of the present invention includes an electric motor which receives a power supply from a storage apparatus and drives the vehicle, or assists a driving of the vehicle by an internal combustion engine. The electric motor includes: an inner circumference side rotor and an outer circumference side rotor which are each provided with magnet pieces, and rotation axes of which are coaxially arranged; a stator which is arranged on an outer circumferential side or an inner circumferential side of the inner circumference side rotor and the outer circumference side rotor; and a phase modification device capable of modifying a relative phase between the inner circumference side rotor and the outer circumference side rotor.

Abstract: This electric motor is provided with an inner periphery side rotor, an outer periphery side rotor, and a rotating device that can change a relative phase between these rotors by rotating at least one of them about a rotational axis thereof. The rotating device is provided with a first member integrally and rotatably provided to the outer periphery side rotor, and a second member integrally fixed on an inside of the inner periphery side rotor which together with the first member defines a pressure chamber on the inside of the inner periphery side rotor. The rotating device changes a relative phase between the inner periphery side rotor and the outer periphery side rotor by supplying a hydraulic fluid to the pressure chamber. The rotating device is further provided with a linking passage that leaks the hydraulic fluid supplied to the pressure chamber to an outside of the pressure chamber.

Abstract: There is provided a controller for a motor capable of changing the phase difference between two rotors that can prevent demagnetization of permanent magnets or the rotors. The motor has two rotors each having a permanent magnet and phase difference changing driving means for changing the phase difference between the rotors. The controller has a demagnetization determining means for determining whether or not demagnetization of the permanent magnets of the rotors occurs during operation of the motor, and rotor phase difference controlling means for controlling the phase difference changing driving means to change the phase difference between the rotors from a current phase difference to a phase difference that results in a higher strength of a composite field of the permanent magnets if the result of determination by the demagnetization determining means is positive.

Abstract: A change in torque produced by a motor having two rotors is reduced when the motor operates in a low-velocity and low-torque operational state. The motor has a first rotor and a second rotor, each of which has a permanent magnet, and an output shaft capable of rotating integrally with the first rotor. The second rotor can relatively rotate with respect to the first rotor by a driving force from a phase difference changing driving device, and the phase difference between the rotors (rotor phase difference) can be changed by the relative rotation of the second rotor with respect to the first rotor. When the values of the torque and the rotational velocity of the motor lie within a predetermined region in the proximity of 0, the phase difference changing driving device adjusts the rotor phase difference to a predetermined phase difference for which the strength of a composite field of the permanent magnets is lower than a maximum strength.

Abstract: A controller for a motor and a control method for a motor change an operating condition of each motor, considering difference in operating conditions, such as loss and temperature, thus making it possible to reduce a total loss in a plurality of motors. The controller includes a first motor operating condition calculator and a second motor operating condition calculator which calculate the estimated values of losses incurred when a first motor and a second motor are driven, and a DC voltage control unit which carries out, on a motor having a largest estimated value of loss, the processing for changing a supply voltage to change the voltage of DC power supplied to inverters by a DC/DC converter, thereby reducing the difference between a phase voltage, which is the resultant vector of the voltages across terminals of the motor, and a target voltage set on the basis of an output voltage of the DC/DC converter.

Abstract: This electric motor includes first permanent magnets secured integrally to an outer periphery side rotor and second permanent magnets secured integrally to an inner periphery side rotor. The first permanent magnets and the second permanent magnets are arranged so as to offset the relative torque produced between the outer periphery side rotor and the inner periphery side rotor based on the magnetic flux of the inner peripheral permanent magnets and the outer peripheral permanent magnets.

Abstract: An electric-motor-equipped vehicle of the present invention includes an electric motor which receives a power supply from a storage apparatus and drives the vehicle, or assists a driving of the vehicle by an internal combustion engine. The electric motor includes: an inner circumference side rotor and an outer circumference side rotor which are each provided with magnet pieces, and rotation axes of which are coaxially arranged; a stator which is arranged on an outer circumferential side or an inner circumferential side of the inner circumference side rotor and the outer circumference side rotor; and a phase modification device capable of modifying a relative phase between the inner circumference side rotor and the outer circumference side rotor.

Abstract: There is provided a controller for a motor capable of changing the phase difference between two rotors that can prevent demagnetization of permanent magnets or the rotors. The motor has two rotors each having a permanent magnet and phase difference changing driving means for changing the phase difference between the rotors. The controller has a demagnetization determining means for determining whether or not demagnetization of the permanent magnets of the rotors occurs during operation of the motor, and rotor phase difference controlling means for controlling the phase difference changing driving means to change the phase difference between the rotors from a current phase difference to a phase difference that results in a higher strength of a composite field of the permanent magnets if the result of determination by the demagnetization determining means is positive.

Abstract: A change in torque produced by a motor having two rotors is reduced when the motor operates in a low-velocity and low-torque operational state. The motor has a first rotor and a second rotor, each of which has a permanent magnet, and an output shaft capable of rotating integrally with the first rotor. The second rotor can relatively rotate with respect to the first rotor by a driving force from a phase difference changing driving device, and the phase difference between the rotors (rotor phase difference) can be changed by the relative rotation of the second rotor with respect to the first rotor. When the values of the torque and the rotational velocity of the motor lie within a predetermined region in the proximity of 0, the phase difference changing driving device adjusts the rotor phase difference to a predetermined phase difference for which the strength of a composite field of the permanent magnets is lower than a maximum strength.

Abstract: A controller for a motor and a control method for a motor change an operating condition of each motor, considering difference in operating conditions, such as loss and temperature, thus making it possible to reduce a total loss in a plurality of motors. The controller includes a first motor operating condition calculator and a second motor operating condition calculator which calculate the estimated values of losses incurred when a first motor and a second motor are driven, and a DC voltage control unit which carries out, on a motor having a largest estimated value of loss, the processing for changing a supply voltage to change the voltage of DC power supplied to inverters by a DC/DC converter, thereby reducing the difference between a phase voltage, which is the resultant vector of the voltages across terminals of the motor, and a target voltage set on the basis of an output voltage of the DC/DC converter.

Abstract: This electric motor includes first permanent magnets secured integrally to an outer periphery side rotor and second permanent magnets secured integrally to an inner periphery side rotor. The first permanent magnets and the second permanent magnets are arranged so as to offset the relative torque produced between the outer periphery side rotor and the inner periphery side rotor based on the magnetic flux of the inner peripheral permanent magnets and the outer peripheral permanent magnets.

Abstract: This electric motor is provided with an inner periphery side rotor, an outer periphery side rotor, and a rotating device that can change a relative phase between these rotors by rotating at least one of them about a rotational axis thereof. The rotating device is provided with a first member integrally and rotatably provided to the outer periphery side rotor, and a second member integrally fixed on an inside of the inner periphery side rotor which together with the first member defines a pressure chamber on the inside of the inner periphery side rotor. The rotating device changes a relative phase between the inner periphery side rotor and the outer periphery side rotor by supplying a hydraulic fluid to the pressure chamber. The rotating device is further provided with a linking passage that leaks the hydraulic fluid supplied to the pressure chamber to an outside of the pressure chamber.

Abstract: The charging system for a vehicle includes: a motor generator which operates as a generator to generate an alternating current when the motor generator is driven by an internal combustion engine, and operates as a motor when an alternating current is supplied thereto; a switching circuit for converting the alternating current generated by the motor generator into a direct current; a first accumulator accumulating therein the direct current converted by the switching circuit; a second accumulator accumulating therein the direct current converted by the switching circuit and having a smaller accumulation voltage than that of the first accumulator; a first opening/closing unit interposed between the first accumulator and the switching circuit; a second opening/closing unit interposed between the second accumulator and the switching circuit; and, a control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the first and second opening/closing units.

Abstract: In an engine-starting and stopping system in a vehicle, a crank pulley for driving auxiliary parts by an endless belt is mounted at an end of a crankshaft protruding from a cylinder block of an engine, and a starter motor for cranking the crankshaft is accommodated in an internal space in the crank pulley. The starter motor includes a rotor having a permanent magnet fixed to an inner peripheral surface of a peripheral wall of the crank pulley, and a stator having a coil fixed to an outer surface of a chain cover. Thus, the starter motor for automatically carrying out the restarting of the engine after stopping of the engine can be laid out compactly.

Abstract: An outer rotor type brushless direct current motor has an outer rotor including a plurality of permanent magnets attached along the inner circumference of an annular yoke such that the magnetic poles face the S magnetic poles. Thin sections are formed by chamfering the radially outer periphery of the two end sections in the circumferential direction of each of the permanent magnets. Magnetic flux passage sections of the yoke providing connection between the thin sections of adjacent permanent magnets are expanded radially inwards. In accordance with the above-mentioned arrangement, the cross section of the magnetic path in the magnetic flux passage sections is increased, thereby suppressing the occurrence of magnetic saturation and preventing the maximum torque of the permanent magnets from decreasing while reducing their size. Moreover, because the magnetic flux passage sections of the yoke are expanded radially inwards, the external dimensions of the yoke do not increase.

Abstract: An outer rotor type brushless direct current motor has an outer rotor including a plurality of permanent magnets attached along the inner circumference of an annular yoke such that the magnetic poles face the S magnetic poles. Thin sections are formed by chamfering the radially outer periphery of the two end sections in the circumferential direction of each of the permanent magnets. Magnetic flux passage sections of the yoke providing connection between the thin sections of adjacent permanent magnets are expanded radially inwards. In accordance with the above-mentioned arrangement, the cross section of the magnetic path in the magnetic flux passage sections is increased, thereby suppressing the occurrence of magnetic saturation and preventing the maximum torque of the permanent magnets from decreasing while reducing their size. Moreover, because the magnetic flux passage sections of the yoke are expanded radially inwards, the external dimensions of the yoke do not increase.

Abstract: A system for automatically stopping and starting an engine of a vehicle which enables proper determination of whether the stopping of the engine is possible, in accordance with the state of a battery. A power brought out from the battery by auxiliaries is subtracted from a power generated by a generator, thereby calculating a difference corresponding to a power for actually charging the battery. By sequentially adding the value, an integrated value of power charged in the battery is calculated. Meanwhile, a value of a known power WBRK consumed by a brake lamp plus a current power consumed by the auxiliaries is multiplied by a beforehand determined target value of idling-stoppage duration, thereby evaluating an evaluated integrated value of power consumed by the battery during stoppage of an idling. If the integrated value is not less than the evaluated integrated value, the stopping of the engine E is permitted.

Abstract: The charging system for a vehicle includes: a motor generator which operates as a generator to generate an alternating current when the motor generator is driven by an internal combustion engine, and operates as a motor when an alternating current is supplied thereto; a switching circuit for converting the alternating current generated by the motor generator into a direct current; a first accumulator accumulating therein the direct current converted by the switching circuit; a second accumulator accumulating therein the direct current converted by the switching circuit and having a smaller accumulation voltage than that of the first accumulator; a first opening/closing unit interposed between the first accumulator and the switching circuit; a second opening/closing unit interposed between the second accumulator and the switching circuit; and, a control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the first and second opening/closing units.