Abstract: A steering control device includes a control unit configured to control at least an operation of a steering-side motor. The control unit is configured to calculate a target reaction torque; calculate a difference axial force that is used to limit steering for turning the turning wheels in a predetermined direction, the difference axial force being reflected in the target reaction torque; and set a reference angle to one of a steering angle and a turning angle, set a converted angle to an angle obtained by converting another of the steering angle and the turning angle according to a steering angle ratio, and calculate the difference axial force based on a difference between the reference angle and the converted angle.

Abstract: An electric power source device includes an auxiliary electric power source for a main electric power source that supplies electric power to electric power supply targets, including an electric circuit of a control system for controlling a specific control target and an electric circuit of a power system that requires larger electric power than the electric circuit of the control system; and a selection circuit configured to supply the electric power from one electric power source having a higher voltage, out of the main electric power source and the auxiliary electric power source, to at least the electric circuit of the control system among the electric power supply targets.

Abstract: An actuator that applies force to a member associated with steering, and a control device that controls the actuator, have duplex configuration. First and second control devices compute the same controlled variable as first and second controlled variables, respectively. In a normal mode, the control device controls the actuator according to the first controlled variable. The first and second control devices send and receive respectively computed controlled variables to and from each other via communications. When a discrepancy arises between the first and second controlled variables, or an abnormality occurs in communications between the first and second control devices, the operating mode is switched from the normal mode to an independent mode. In the independent mode, the first and second control devices control the first and second actuators, according to the first and second controlled variables, respectively.

Abstract: A steer-by-wire vehicle includes a steering actuator configured to turn a wheel and a reaction actuator configure to apply a torque to a steering wheel. An electronic control unit of a control apparatus for the vehicle is configured to execute normal steering control for turning the wheel and applying a reaction torque to the steering wheel according to a rotation of the steering wheel, and, when an activation condition including that the normal steering control is not needed is satisfied, execute rotation suppression control for suppressing the rotation of the steeling wheel without prohibiting the rotation of the steering wheel. Specifically, the electronic control unit is configured to, based on a steering speed or a steering torque, determine a rotation suppression torque for suppressing the rotation of the steering wheel, and control the reaction actuator such that the rotation suppression torque is applied to the steering wheel.

Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system, including: a two-system reaction force applying device including two reaction force controllers and configured to obtain operation information and apply an operation reaction force; a two-system steering device including two steering controllers and configured to steer a wheel; an operation information obtaining device; an auxiliary steering device capable of changing a direction of a vehicle; two dedicated communication lines one of which information-transmittably and information-receivably connects one of the two reaction force controllers and one of the two steering controllers to each other, and the other of which information-transmittably and information-receivably connects the other of the two reaction force controllers and the other of the two steering controllers to each other; and a first communication bus to which the operation information obtaining device is at least information-transmittably connected and to which the two steering controllers and the auxiliary stee

Abstract: The steering apparatus includes a first seal member and a second seal member. The first seal member is fixed to one of an outer peripheral surface of a rack shaft and an inner peripheral surface of a housing. The first seal member slidably contacts with a cylindrical surface which is centered on the axis and is provided on the other of the outer peripheral surface of the rack shaft and the inner peripheral surface of the housing. The second seal member is fixed to the other of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface. The second seal member slidably contacts with a cylindrical surface which is centered on the axis and is provided on the one of the outer peripheral surface of the rack shaft and the inner peripheral surface of the housing.

Abstract: The steering apparatus includes a first seal member and a second seal member. The first seal member is fixed to one of an outer peripheral surface of a rack shaft and an inner peripheral surface of a housing. The first seal member slidably contacts with a cylindrical surface which is centered on the axis and is provided on the other of the outer peripheral surface of the rack shaft and the inner peripheral surface of the housing. The second seal member is fixed to the other of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface. The second seal member slidably contacts with a cylindrical surface which is centered on the axis and is provided on the one of the outer peripheral surface of the rack shaft and the inner peripheral surface of the housing.

Abstract: A plant processing system of the present invention includes: a plant cultivation facility (1) which cultivates plants including a sugar solution; a crushing facility (2) which crushes plants felled in the plant cultivation facility (1); a juicing facility (3) which harvests sap from plant chips obtained by the crushing facility (2); a methane fermentation facility (5) which performs a methane fermentation process on the sap; and a power generation facility (6) which generates electric power using a biogas obtained by the methane fermentation facility (5) as a fuel.

Abstract: The present invention is a cellulose-based biomass juicing method in which a cellulose-based biomass is chipped, and the cellulose-based biomass is juiced after a predetermined pre-treatment is performed on the cellulose-based biomass, wherein the pre-treatment is a mechanical treatment in which parenchyma constituting the cellulose-based biomass is crushed.

Abstract: A liquid fuel production method of the present invention includes: a saccharification step in which a biomass is saccharified; a methane fermentation step in which a saccharified liquid acquired in the saccharification step undergoes methane fermentation; and a biogas to liquid (BTL) step in which a liquid fuel is generated from a biogas acquired in the methane fermentation step.

Abstract: A vehicle steering device has an electric power abnormality detection portion that detects abnormality of the source power supply capability of an electric power source device, a vehicle speed detection portion that detects the vehicle speed, and a motor control portion that controls the driving of the electric motor on the basis of the steering torque detected by the steering torque detection portion. The motor control portion enhances the output restriction of the electric motor if the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detection portion declines while the abnormality of the source power supply capability of the electric power source device is detected by the electric power abnormality detection portion.

Abstract: If the main electric power source has failed, an assist control portion shifts the characteristic of an assist map in which the steering torque and the target current are connected in a relation by one step of shift in a direction of increase of the steering torque each time a steering operation that satisfies a steering operation criterion condition is performed. This allows a driver to feel a decline in the steering assist force each time of performing steering operation and therefore become aware of the abnormality. Besides, an upper-limit current of the assist map may be reduced each time the steering operation that satisfies the steering operation criterion condition is performed. Besides, an upper-limit electric power of an electric motor may be reduced each time the steering operation that satisfies the steering operation criterion condition is performed.

Abstract: A power supply control section calculates a target charge/discharge current of a secondary power supply apparatus based on an actual charged amount and a target charged amount of the secondary power supply apparatus, and feedback-controls the stepped-up voltage of a step-up circuit such that an actual charge/discharge current detected by a secondary current sensor coincides with a target charge/discharge current. When the actual charged amount (1) is equal to or greater than the target charged amount, the target charge/discharge current is set to zero to prevent overcharging, and (2) is less than the target charged amount, a target charge current corresponding to a capacity margin of the step-up circuit is set to quickly charge the secondary power supply apparatus. When the output of the step-up circuit has no margin, the target charge/discharge current is set to zero.

Abstract: A subsidiary power supply, which is an electric power storage device, is connected in parallel to a circuit that connects a main power supply to a motor drive circuit. A power supply control portion controls a boosted voltage of a voltage-boosting circuit so that an actual amount of charge in the subsidiary power supply is equal to a target amount of charge. The target amount of charge is set to increase as deceleration of a vehicle increases.

Abstract: An assist control portion, upon detecting source power supply abnormality of a main electric power source, switches the characteristic of an assist map in which the steering torque and the target current are related to each other from an original assist characteristic to an abnormality-time assist characteristic. Therefore, the steering handle operation suddenly becomes heavy, thereby causing the driver to be aware of the abnormality. After that, the abnormality-time assist characteristic is altered so that the assist force relative to the steering torque further decline in accordance with declines in the actual amount of charge of the subsidiary electric power source declines. Therefore, the steering handle operation gradually becomes heavier, thereby causing the driver to anticipate that the abnormality is further progressing.

Abstract: When a change in an output voltage of a main power supply is a decrease, and a degree of the decrease is larger than a reference value, a power supply control portion decreases a boosted voltage of a voltage-boosting circuit according to the degree of the decrease. When the change in the output voltage of the main power supply is an increase, and a degree of the increase is larger than the reference value, the power supply control portion increases the boosted voltage of the voltage-boosting circuit according to the degree of the increase.

Abstract: An electric power steering device for a vehicle includes an estimation mechanism estimating if there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows in a booster circuit toward a vehicle battery device, and a boosting controller stopping the boosting operation of the booster circuit to prevent a backward electric current from flowing in the booster circuit when it is estimated that there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows by the estimation mechanism. The estimation mechanism estimates that there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows in the booster circuit when the steering condition of a steering wheel is a returning condition or a steering-held condition. Otherwise, the estimation mechanism estimates if a backward electric current flows on the basis of input and output voltages of the booster circuit and information on the switching of a first boosting switching element. Thereby, overheat of the booster circuit can be prevented.

Abstract: An electric power steering device for a vehicle includes an estimation mechanism estimating if there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows in a booster circuit toward a vehicle battery device, and a boosting controller stopping the boosting operation of the booster circuit to prevent a backward electric current from flowing in the booster circuit when it is estimated that there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows by the estimation mechanism. The estimation mechanism estimates that there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows in the booster circuit when the steering condition of a steering wheel is a returning condition or a steering-held condition. Otherwise, the estimation mechanism estimates if a backward electric current flows on the basis of input and output voltages of the booster circuit and information on the switching of a first boosting switching element. Thereby, overheat of the booster circuit can be prevented.

Abstract: A steering assist apparatus for a vehicle includes an electric motor for steering assist. Rotation output of the electric motor is reduced in speed by a ball-screw mechanism and converted to rectilinear motion, which is transmitted to a rack bar. An electronic control unit determines a target current value in accordance with a steering torque detected by a steering torque sensor and a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed sensor. While using an actual current value of the electric motor detected by a current sensor as a feedback, the electronic control unit controls the current flowing through the electric motor to be equal to the target current value. The electronic control unit changes the feedback gain of the feedback control in accordance with a steering angle detected by a steering angle sensor, to thereby suppress abnormal noise generated at a steering mechanism, without deteriorating steering feel.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor layer, and a first electrode (Schottky electrode or MIS electrode) and a second electrode (ohmic electrode) which are formed on the semiconductor layer apart from each other. The first electrode has a cross section in the shape of a polygon. A second electrode-side corner of the polygon has an interior angle of which an outward extension line of a bisector crosses the semiconductor layer or the second electrode. The interior angle of such a second electrode-side corner is larger than 90°.