Abstract: Relays are inserted and connected between a battery and a boosting converter, and other relays are inserted and connected between another battery and another boosting converter. A controller outputs control signals that control opening/closing of the relays. When short-circuit of a switching element occurs in the boosting converters, the controller controls turning-off of the relays such that at least one of order and timing of turning off the relays is changed depending on which of the switching elements is short-circuited.

Abstract: A control for a hybrid vehicle includes; obtaining information that an EV switch that is operated when a travel of the vehicle in an EV mode in which priority is given to an EV travel in which the vehicle travels by a motive power only from a rotary electric machine is to be selected has been operated; starting a permission preparation control for causing a transition from a state in which a situation of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined reservation condition for reserving the EV mode to a state in which the situation of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined permission condition for permitting the EV mode if the situation of the vehicle does not satisfy the permission condition but satisfies the reservation condition when the EV switch has been operated; and enabling to control the travel of the vehicle in the EV mode if the predetermined permission condition is satisfied.

Abstract: An ECU determines whether or not there is an abnormality (shift pattern abnormality) in a combination of shift signals provided from a shift position sensor. After occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU determines whether or not a first condition that a shift pattern changes into a normal pattern of a drive range is satisfied, and whether or not a second condition that a vehicle is running (a driver has an intention to cause the vehicle to run) is satisfied. When occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU stops generation of driving force of the vehicle and prohibits switching to the drive range. When the above-mentioned first condition and second condition are satisfied after occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU switches the shift range to the drive range indicated by the shift pattern and recovers the driving force.

Abstract: During the deactivation of a driving system of a vehicle, an ECU determines whether or not a P range abnormality occurs which exhibits that a shift signal transmitted from a shift position sensor includes a P signal and an MJ signal corresponding to the P range as well as a different-type signal other than the P signal and the MJ signal. When the P range abnormality occurs, the ECU determines whether or not the vehicle-stopped state can be assured based on whether or not a brake-ON state (a hydraulic braking force or a parking braking force are beyond the range capable of maintaining vehicle-stopped state) is present. In a case where a P range abnormality occurs, when ECU determines that the vehicle-stopped state can be assured, the ECU allows the activation of the driving system.

Abstract: A crystalline-based silicon photoelectric conversion device comprises: an intrinsic silicon-based layer and a silicon-based layer of a first conductivity type, on one surface of a single-crystal silicon substrate of the first conductivity type; and an intrinsic silicon-based and a silicon-based layer of an opposite conductivity type, in this order on the other surface of the silicon substrate. At least one of forming the intrinsic silicon-based layer of the first conductivity type layer-side forming the intrinsic silicon-based layer of the opposite conductivity type layer-side includes: forming a first intrinsic silicon-based thin-film layer having a thickness of 1-10 nm on the silicon substrate; plasma-treating the silicon substrate in a gas containing mainly hydrogen; and forming a second intrinsic silicon-based thin-film layer on the first intrinsic silicon-based thin-film.

Abstract: The present invention improves a photoelectric conversion efficiency of a crystalline silicon-based solar cell. The crystalline silicon based solar cell includes a silicon-based thin-film of a first conductivity type and a first transparent electrode layer, in this order, on one surface of a conductive single-crystal silicon substrate, and a silicon-based thin-film of the opposite conductivity type and a second transparent electrode layer, in this order, on the other surface of the conductive single-crystal silicon substrate. The first and second transparent electrode layers are each formed of a transparent conductive metal oxide, and the first transparent electrode layer preferably has at least two layers, and a total thickness of 50 to 120 nm, wherein the carrier density of the substrate-side electroconductive layer is higher than that of the surface-side electroconductive layer, and the carrier density of the surface-side electroconductive layer is 1 to 4×1020 cm?3.

Abstract: Relays are inserted and connected between a battery and a boosting converter, and other relays are inserted and connected between another battery and another boosting converter. A controller outputs control signals that control opening/closing of the relays. When short-circuit of a switching element occurs in the boosting converters, the controller controls turning-off of the relays such that at least one of order and timing of turning off the relays is changed depending on which of the switching elements is short-circuited.

Abstract: A control for a hybrid vehicle includes; obtaining information that an EV switch that is operated when a travel of the vehicle in an EV mode in which priority is given to an EV travel in which the vehicle travels by a motive power only from a rotary electric machine is to be selected has been operated; starting a permission preparation control for causing a transition from a state in which a situation of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined reservation condition for reserving the EV mode to a state in which the situation of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined permission condition for permitting the EV mode if the situation of the vehicle does not satisfy the permission condition but satisfies the reservation condition when the EV switch has been operated; and enabling to control the travel of the vehicle in the EV mode if the predetermined permission condition is satisfied.

Abstract: When there is no malfunction in either drive shaft rotational speed detection portion (36) or rotating shaft rotational speed detection portion (44), control of internal combustion engine (22), the power split device (30, MG1), the electric motor (MG2), and the shifting portion (60) is performed while speed ratio in shifting portion (60) is changed and an intermittent operation of internal combustion engine (22) is performed so that a drive power required for drive shaft (32a) is output to shaft (32a). When a malfunction occurs in drive shaft rotational speed detection portion (36) or/and rotating shaft rotational speed detection portion (44), the control is performed while at least one of change in speed ratio, intermittent operation, and output of drive power required for shaft (32a) to shaft (32a) is limited so that a drive power that approximates required drive power as closely as possible is output to drive shaft (32a).

Abstract: A vehicle equipped with a power source system including a master power source and a slave power source connected in parallel to a motor for running is provided. In a case where distribution of discharge power of the master power source and discharge power of the slave power source cannot be controlled, when a voltage difference between the respective power sources is greater than or equal to a certain value, an ECU sets a limit value on electric power supplied from the power source system to the motor at allowable discharge power of one of the power sources having a higher voltage, and limits a motor torque such that electric power discharged from the power source system to the motor does not exceed the set limit value.

Abstract: According to the present invention, sufficient light trapping effect can be exhibited and series resistance can be kept small, by sequentially forming a silicon based low refractive index layer and a thin silicon based interface layer on a backside of a photoelectric conversion layer observed from a light incident side, and as a result a silicon based thin film solar cell may be provided efficiently and at low cost.

Abstract: When there is no malfunction in either drive shaft rotational speed detection portion (36) or rotating shaft rotational speed detection portion (44), control of internal combustion engine (22), the power split device (30, MG1), the electric motor (MG2), and the shifting portion (60) is performed while speed ratio in shifting portion (60) is changed and an intermittent operation of internal combustion engine (22) is performed so that a drive power required for drive shaft (32a) is output to shaft (32a). When a malfunction occurs in drive shaft rotational speed detection portion (36) or/and rotating shaft rotational speed detection portion (44), the control is performed while at least one of change in speed ratio, intermittent operation, and output of drive power required for shaft (32a) to shaft (32a) is limited so that a drive power that approximates required drive power as closely as possible is output to drive shaft (32a).

Abstract: A thin film photoelectric converter, especially an integrated thin film photoelectric converter having improved photoelectric conversion efficiency is provided by controlling an open-circuit voltage and a fill factor so as not be small in a thin film photoelectric converter including a crystalline silicon photoelectric conversion unit. The thin film photoelectric converter by the present invention has at least a transparent electrode film, a crystalline silicon photoelectric conversion unit, and a back electrode film formed sequentially on one principal surface of a transparent substrate, and the converter has a whitish discoloring area on a part of a surface of the converter after formation of the crystalline silicon photoelectric conversion unit. A percentage of dimensions of the whitish discoloring area preferably is not more than 5% of a dimension of the photoelectric conversion area.

Abstract: In a stacked-layer type photoelectric conversion device, a plurality of photoelectric conversion units are stacked on a substrate, each of which includes a one conductivity-type layer, a photoelectric conversion layer of substantially intrinsic semiconductor and an opposite conductivity-type layer in this order from a light-incident side. At least one of the opposite conductivity-type layer in a front photoelectric conversion unit arranged relatively closer to the light-incident side and the one conductivity-type layer in a back photoelectric conversion unit arranged adjacent to the front photoelectric conversion unit includes a silicon composite layer at least in a part thereof. The silicon composite layer has a thickness of more than 20 nm and less than 130 nm and an oxygen concentration of more than 25 atomic % and less than 60 atomic %, and includes silicon-rich phase parts in an amorphous alloy phase of silicon and oxygen.

Abstract: A power output apparatus that suppresses wearing-out of the components of a transmission connected to a drive shaft and a rotating shaft of an electric motor as well as reducing the a shock imparted to the vehicle. The required drive power is output to the drive shaft by appropriately controlling and internal combustion engine, a power split device, the electric motor and a shifting portion. When the rotational speed of the drive shaft can be estimated, the speed ratio in the shifting portion is changed based on either the detected rotational speed of the drive shaft or the estimated rotational speed of the drive shaft and the rotational speed of the rotating shaft. However, when the rotational speed of the drive shaft cannot be estimated, the speed ratio is maintained in the shifting portion.

Abstract: A power output apparatus that suppresses wearing-out of the components of a transmission connected to a drive shaft and a rotating shaft of an electric motor as well as reducing the a shock imparted to the vehicle. The required drive power is output to the drive shaft by appropriately controlling and internal combustion engine, a power split device, the electric motor and a shifting portion. When the rotational speed of the drive shaft can be estimated, the speed ratio in the shifting portion is changed based on either the detected rotational speed of the drive shaft or the estimated rotational speed of the drive shaft and the rotational speed of the rotating shaft. However, when the rotational speed of the drive shaft cannot be estimated, the speed ratio is maintained in the shifting portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tandem-type thin film photoelectric conversion device includes the steps of forming at least one photoelectric conversion unit (3) on a substrate (1) in a deposition apparatus, taking out the substrate (1) having the photoelectric conversion unit (3) from the deposition apparatus to the air, introducing the substrate (1) into a deposition apparatus and carrying out plasma exposure processing on the substrate (1) in an atmosphere of a gas mixture containing an impurity for determining the conductivity type of the same conductivity type as that of the uppermost conductivity type layer (33) and hydrogen, forming a conductivity type intermediate layer (5) by additionally supplying semiconductor raw gas to the deposition apparatus, and then forming a subsequent photoelectric conversion unit (4).

Abstract: In the gate shutdown state of all switching elements included in an inverter for a motor MG1 (step S114) or in the gate shut downstate of all switching elements included in an inverter for a motor MG2 (step S122), the braking control of the invention uses disk brakes to output a supplementary braking force and compensate for an insufficiency of braking force. This arrangement effectively prevents an unintentional decrease of braking force applied to a hybrid vehicle even in the event of insufficiency in engine resistant braking force output from the motor MG1 to a driveshaft or in regenerative braking force output from the motor MG2 to the driveshaft.

Abstract: According to the present invention, sufficient light trapping effect can be exhibited and series resistance can be kept small, by sequentially forming a silicon based low refractive index layer and a thin silicon based interface layer on a backside of a photoelectric conversion layer observed from a light incident side, and as a result a silicon based thin film solar cell may be provided efficiently and at low cost.

Abstract: A thin film photoelectric converter, especially an integrated thin film photoelectric converter having improved photoelectric conversion efficiency is provided by controlling an open-circuit voltage and a fill factor so as not be small in a thin film photoelectric converter including a crystalline silicon photoelectric conversion unit. The thin film photoelectric converter by the present invention has at least a transparent electrode film, a crystalline silicon photoelectric conversion unit, and a back electrode film formed sequentially on one principal surface of a transparent substrate, and the converter has a whitish discoloring area on a part of a surface of the converter after formation of the crystalline silicon photoelectric conversion unit. A percentage of dimensions of the whitish discoloring area preferably is not more than 5% of a dimension of the photoelectric conversion area.