Abstract: A tungsten compound is appropriately disposed on a surface of carbon. The negative electrode material is a negative electrode material for a battery that includes amorphous carbon and sodium tungstate is attached on a surface on the amorphous carbon and provided on the surface of the amorphous carbon. The sodium tungstate may have at least one of a cubic crystal and a tetragonal crystal.

Abstract: A vehicle control device controls a vehicle including a drive motor connected to a rotation shaft of wheels, a battery that supplies electricity to the drive motor, and an internal combustion engine connected to the drive motor. The vehicle is equipped with, as traveling modes, a normal mode, and an eco-mode having a larger regenerative braking force than the normal mode obtained such that rotational energy of the wheels is converted into electrical energy. A controller stops the internal combustion engine and switches from the normal mode to the eco-mode when detecting at least an abnormality in the internal combustion engine during traveling of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle control device controls a vehicle including a drive motor connected to a rotation shaft of wheels, a battery that supplies electricity to the drive motor, and an internal combustion engine connected to the drive motor. The vehicle is equipped with, as traveling modes, a normal mode, and an eco-mode having a larger regenerative braking force than the normal mode obtained such that rotational energy of the wheels is converted into electrical energy. A controller stops the internal combustion engine and switches from the normal mode to the eco-mode when detecting at least an abnormality in the internal combustion engine during traveling of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle configured to cancel restriction of at least one function, which includes restriction of a function enabling an actuation of a power unit of the vehicle, by unlock of a first key, the vehicle performing: receiving a registration request of a second key that is an electronic key from a communication terminal by short distance wireless communication, determining, on condition that the vehicle is unlocked by the first key, whether to accept the received registration request, and authenticating the second key concerning the registration request in a case where it is determined to accept the registration request and registering the authenticated second key.

Abstract: A handlebar switch for a motorcycle that achieves reduction in size of a switch case, while enhancing a degree of freedom in layout of a plurality operating and other types of switches. A handlebar switch includes: a switch case that includes case half bodies, joined together across a handlebar and a plurality of operating switches, such as a horn switch, protruding from the switch case; and a substrate disposed inside the switch case in a position substantially orthogonal to a direction of an axis of the handlebar, the substrate having a plurality of contacts for generating electric signals in a manner operatively associated with an operation of the operating switch. In the handlebar switch, each of the contacts is electrically connected by pressure applied in a direction substantially identical to the direction of the axis of the handlebar.

Abstract: A handlebar switch for a motorcycle that achieves reduction in size of a switch case, while enhancing a degree of freedom in layout of a plurality operating and other types of switches. A handlebar switch includes: a switch case that includes case half bodies, joined together across a handlebar and a plurality of operating switches, such as a horn switch, protruding from the switch case; and a substrate disposed inside the switch case in a position substantially orthogonal to a direction of an axis of the handlebar, the substrate having a plurality of contacts for generating electric signals in a manner operatively associated with an operation of the operating switch. In the handlebar switch, each of the contacts is electrically connected by pressure applied in a direction substantially identical to the direction of the axis of the handlebar.

Abstract: A handle switch wherein chattering after mounting of the handle switch to a handlebar can be restrained while maintaining assembleability of switch cases of bisection structure. The handle switch includes a first case and a second case of bisection structure formed with clamp surfaces making contact with the outer circumference of the handlebar of a motorcycle, the first case and the second case being coupled together, with the handlebar clamped between the clamp surfaces, to thereby fix the handle switch to the handlebar. At least one of the clamp surface formed in the first case and the clamp surface formed in the second case is formed with a rib serving as a fastening allowance in coupling the first case and the second case together. The width B of the rib is set to be smaller than the width A of the clamp surfaces.

Abstract: A serial axial fan unit includes first and second motors with their base portions, i.e., first and second base portions axially facing each other. A motor gap is arranged axially between the first and second base portions. An axial length of the motor gap is preferably in a range from approximately 0.3 mm to approximately 2.0 mm. This configuration reduces transmissions of vibration of each of the first and second motors to the other, thereby reducing vibration interference between the first and second motors.

Abstract: An oil return passage for returning oil from a cylinder head to an oil pan is arranged along the downward first side surface of an engine that is mounted in a vehicle such that a center axis of a cylinder thereof is slanted with respect to a vertical direction of the vehicle. An oil return extension pipe is coupled to an outlet end of the oil return passage, and extends toward a second side surface of the engine that is opposite from the first side surface on which the oil return passage is provided. Thus, engine oil can be reliably returned to the oil pan from the cylinder head of the engine even when the vehicle is experiencing high acceleration in a direction that tends to cause backflow of the oil through the engine oil return system.

Abstract: A fuel injection control method and system in a multi-cylinder direct injection type internal combustion engine. A first sensor detects whether the engine is in a start-up condition and, upon detection, generates a start-up signal. A second sensor generates an engine operating condition indicative signal. A third sensor detects an operative condition of the fuel pump. A basic period of injection based on the second sensor signal is calculated. A decrease in injection amount based on the fuel pump operative conditions sensed by the third sensor is determined and the basic period of injection is modified to compensate for the decrease in the injection amount. The injection valves are controlled according to the modified injection period.

Abstract: A fuel injection control system for an in-cylinder direct injection, spark-ignition internal combustion engine employing a fuel injector through which fuel is injected directly into a combustion chamber of each of engine cylinders, comprises an engine-cylinder identification circuit for identifying an angular phase of each of the engine cylinders and for making a cylinder identification action, a first interrupt-injection circuit for executing a first interrupt injection operation for a first engine cylinder being on an intake stroke just after completion of the first cylinder identification action executed by the engine-cylinder identification circuit during an engine starting period, when exceeding a normal injection timing at the intake stroke for the first engine cylinder, and a second interrupt-injection circuit for executing a second interrupt injection operation for a second engine cylinder being on a compression stroke just after completion of the first cylinder identification action executed by the e

Abstract: A sleeve-type plain bearing of an axial-flow fan motor, made of sintered oilless metal, for bearing a rotation of a rotor has plural protrusions on a thrust bearing surface in a direction vertical to an axial direction of the rotor, and thereby lubricant impregnated in the sintered oilless metal is always supplied in spaces formed by the thrust bearing surface, the protrusions and a thrust plate provided on the rotation shaft.

Abstract: In an engine idle speed control system associated with an air conditioner provided with an evaporator for evaporating a refrigerant compressed by a compressor actuated or deactuated by an engine near an evaporator freeze limit temperature, the engine idle speed is increased under consideration of thermal load applied to the compressor whenever the compressor is being actuated. The compressor 21 is deactuated when the temperature of air having passed through the evaporator 22 drops below a predetermined value, and actuated when the same temperature rises beyond another higher predetermined value. Whenever the compressor 21 has been deactuated, the time interval between the deactuation and the actuation of the compressor is measured. If the measured time interval is relatively short, since this indicates a relatively high thermal load applied to the compressor, the engine idle speed is increased.

Abstract: A brushless dc axial-flow fan motor contained in a housing, composed of an outer frame forming its periphery, a center hub and several spokes radially extending from the center hub to the outer frame. One of the spokes is capable of accommodating at least a plug or receptacle for connecting the fan motor to a power source, and is actually holding either one of the connector halves.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an air/fuel mixture for an internal combustion engine are disclosed in which an integration constant used for a calculation of an integration portion included in a feedback correction coefficient (.alpha.) of the air/fuel mixture ratio after a relationship between an actual air/fuel mixture raito and target (stoichiometric) air/fuel mixture ratio has been inverted is set and varied according to an engine driving condition, so that the integration constant meets requirements of a stability during an engine steady driving condition and a favorable responsive characteristic during an engine transient condition. In a preferred embodiement, a fuzzy control is applicable to the calculation of the integration constant.

Abstract: A burn-out preventive circuit for a commutatorless motor comprises drive windings of two phases, driving power transistors connected in series with the drive windings respectively, a position detecting element detecting the angular position of rotation of a permanent magnet rotor for alternately turning on the driving power transistors, and a protective circuit detecting a counter-electromotive force induced in the drive windings during rotation of the permanent magnet rotor for interrupting energization of the drive windings when the detected counter-electromotive force is lower than a predetermined level or zero.