Abstract: A travel mode switching device for a vehicle is provided, which is switchable between a plurality of travel modes including a sport travel mode and a towing travel mode. The device includes a travel mode selection interface that allows a driver to select one of the travel modes, a towing detection sensor that detects a towing state, and a processor configured to execute a travel mode switching module to switch the travel mode to the travel mode selected by the travel mode selection interface, and a travel mode regulating module to regulate the selection of the sport travel mode by the travel mode selection interface when the towing state is detected by the towing detection sensor, and regulate the selection of the towing travel mode by the travel mode selection interface when the towing state is not detected.

Abstract: With the aim of improving the reliability of a power conversion device for driving a motor, this power conversion device is provided with a rectifying portion for rectifying an AC voltage and outputting a DC voltage, a smoothing capacitor for smoothing the DC voltage, an inverter portion into which the DC voltage is input and which outputs AC power, an inverter drive portion for outputting a gate signal to the inverter portion, a regenerative braking portion connected in parallel with the smoothing capacitor, a regenerative braking drive portion for outputting a gate signal to the regenerative braking portion, a control portion for outputting drive signals to the inverter drive portion and the regenerative braking drive portion, a regenerative braking overcurrent detecting portion for outputting an overcurrent detection signal if the current flowing through the regenerative braking portion exceeds a determination value, and a latch portion into which the overcurrent detection signal output from the regenerati

Abstract: A travel mode switching device for a vehicle is provided, which is switchable between a plurality of travel modes including a sport travel mode and a towing travel mode. The device includes a travel mode selection interface that allows a driver to select one of the travel modes, a towing detection sensor that detects a towing state, and a processor configured to execute a travel mode switching module to switch the travel mode to the travel mode selected by the travel mode selection interface, and a travel mode regulating module to regulate the selection of the sport travel mode by the travel mode selection interface when the towing state is detected by the towing detection sensor, and regulate the selection of the towing travel mode by the travel mode selection interface when the towing state is not detected.

Abstract: A pad-equipped thermocouple includes a sheathed thermocouple in which a pair of thermocouple elements and an inorganic insulating powder for holding the thermocouple elements are accommodated in a sheath. An opening of the sheath is sealed by a sealing member. A pad is welded to a pipe and configured to hold the sheathed thermocouple to a surface of the pipe. A temperature measuring junction formed by the pair of thermocouple elements is exposed to a side face of the sheath in a leading end portion. The pad includes an accommodation portion accommodating the leading end portion such that the leading end portion can be inserted into and pulled out from the accommodation portion along the surface of the pipe, and the accommodation portion accommodates the leading end portion in a state where the temperature measuring junction and the surface of the pipe are in contact with each other.

Abstract: A pad-equipped thermocouple includes a sheathed thermocouple in which a pair of thermocouple elements and an inorganic insulating powder for holding the thermocouple elements are accommodated in a sheath. An opening of the sheath is sealed by a sealing member. A pad is welded to a pipe and configured to hold the sheathed thermocouple to a surface of the pipe. A temperature measuring junction formed by the pair of thermocouple elements is exposed to a side face of the sheath in a leading end portion. The pad includes an accommodation portion accommodating the leading end portion such that the leading end portion can be inserted into and pulled out from the accommodation portion along the surface of the pipe, and the accommodation portion accommodates the leading end portion in a state where the temperature measuring junction and the surface of the pipe are in contact with each other.

Abstract: A pad-equipped thermocouple includes a sheathed thermocouple in which a pair of thermocouple elements and an inorganic insulating powder for holding the thermocouple elements are accommodated in a sheath. An opening of the sheath is sealed by a sealing member. A pad is welded to a pipe and configured to hold the sheathed thermocouple to a surface of the pipe. A temperature measuring junction formed by the pair of thermocouple elements is exposed to a side face of the sheath in a leading end portion. The pad includes an accommodation portion accommodating the leading end portion such that the leading end portion can be inserted into and pulled out from the accommodation portion along the surface of the pipe, and the accommodation portion accommodates the leading end portion in a state where the temperature measuring junction and the surface of the pipe are in contact with each other.

Abstract: A front-seat air conditioner and a rear-seat air conditioner, which are independent from each other, are provided. An engine is automatically stopped under preset stop conditions. When the engine is automatically stopped in a case in which the number of passengers is a specified preset number (five, for example) or larger during heating, the operation of the rear-seat air conditioner is stopped (reduction of power consumption) and the operation of the front-seat air conditioner is continued (prevention of windshield glass from being fogged). Thereby, the windshield glass can be prevented from being fogged during the engine's automatic stop, reducing the power consumption of air conditioning.

Abstract: A blower fan is driven, and conditioning air flows down through an evaporator and then is supplied into a vehicle compartment. An idling-stop condition in a roof-open state is set to make an idling stop to be relatively easily attained, compared to a roof-closed state, so that a fuel economy can be improved. When an outside-air temperature is a specified temperature or higher or a solar-radiation intensity is a specified degree or greater at an engine's automatic stop, the blower fan is driven, so that the conditioning air is supplied toward a passenger in a manner of an electric fan. The evaporator through which the conditioning air flows down is sufficiently cool at the timing right after the automatic stop of the engine. Accordingly, it is preferable to configure such that the sufficiently-cooled conditioning air is supplied for a properly-long period of time.

Abstract: A front-seat air conditioner and a rear-seat air conditioner, which are independent from each other, are provided. An engine is automatically stopped under preset stop conditions. When the engine is automatically stopped in a case in which the number of passengers is a specified preset number (five, for example) or larger during heating, the operation of the rear-seat air conditioner is stopped (reduction of power consumption) and the operation of the front-seat air conditioner is continued (prevention of windshield glass from being fogged). Thereby, the windshield glass can be prevented from being fogged during the engine's automatic stop, reducing the power consumption of air conditioning.

Abstract: A blower fan is driven, and conditioning air flows down through an evaporator and then is supplied into a vehicle compartment. An idling-stop condition in a roof-open state is set to make an idling stop to be relatively easily attained, compared to a roof-closed state, so that a fuel economy can be improved. When an outside-air temperature is a specified temperature or higher or a solar-radiation intensity is a specified degree or greater at an engine's automatic stop, the blower fan is driven, so that the conditioning air is supplied toward a passenger in a manner of an electric fan. The evaporator through which the conditioning air flows down is sufficiently cool at the timing right after the automatic stop of the engine. Accordingly, it is preferable to configure such that the sufficiently-cooled conditioning air is supplied for a properly-long period of time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a genetically modified plant with improved growth properties as compared to a corresponding non-genetically modified wild type plant, said method comprising reducing or deleting the amount or activity of an EBI1 or EBI2 polypeptide in a plant cell, a plant or a part thereof.

Abstract: A temperature detection method for a semiconductor device and a power conversion apparatus are disclosed. A temperature detection device is used to detect the temperature for thermal protection of a power semiconductor device. The temperature detection device is placed in the proximity of a component having the power semiconductor device packaged therein, and either an emitter terminal or a collector terminal of the power semiconductor device. Since the temperature detection device is mounted on a circuit board, it does not require insulation from a cooling fin on which the power semiconductor device is mounted and lead wires can be eliminated.

Abstract: The invention provides a technique and a product in which for a frequency converter supplying electric power to, for example, a motor, a downsizing, lightening or the like of the frequency converter is realized while providing a filter apparatus reducing electromagnetic noises and the like. The filter apparatus reducing electromagnetic noises and the like is provided near a main circuit terminal board of the frequency converter, and the filter apparatus is connected directly to a main circuit terminal as a wiring drawing portion of the frequency converter. Part of a housing of the frequency converter and part of a filter housing are fitted to each other to fix the filter housing to the frequency converter.

Abstract: A power conversion apparatus is disclosed. In the case where a coil is arranged in a power module, the circuit system between the ends of the coil in the power module, regardless of where the coil is located, is structurally isolated and insulated from each other. This isolation and insulation prevents the capacitance from being created across the coil, and the coil can exhibits the effect as a filter, thereby improving the characteristics of a noise filter.

Abstract: A power converter in which a filter apparatus is connected to a wiring drawing portion, said filter apparatus including: a condenser element having an electronic part having an insulator as a dielectric material held between conductor plates; a sealing agent sealing said condenser element; a filter circuit comprising said condenser element; a connection conductor establishing wiring connections of said filter circuit; and a filter housing supporting said sealing agent.

Abstract: A power converter in which a filter apparatus reducing noises is connected to a wiring drawing portion, wherein a conductor plate is arranged along an inner wall of a filter housing of said filter apparatus, and part of a housing of said frequency converter and part of a filter housing of said filter apparatus are fitted to each other to fix said filter housing to the housing of said frequency converter.

Abstract: A filter apparatus connected to a wiring drawing portion of a frequency converter, said filter apparatus including: a condenser element having an electronic part having an insulator as a dielectric material held between conductor plates; a sealing agent sealing said condenser element; a filter circuit comprising said condenser element; a connection conductor establishing wiring connections of said filter circuit; and a filter housing supporting said sealing agent wherein said filter apparatus is fixed to said frequency converter based on a positioning portion provided in part of the housing of said frequency converter.

Abstract: A power converter connected to a wiring drawing portion of a frequency converter, said filter apparatus including: a condenser element having an electronic part having an insulator as a dielectric material held between conductor plates; a sealing agent sealing said condenser element; a filter circuit comprising said condenser element; a connection conductor establishing wiring connections of said filter circuit; and a filter housing supporting said sealing agent.

Abstract: A power conversion apparatus is disclosed. In the case where a coil is arranged in a power module, the circuit system between the ends of the coil in the power module, regardless of where the coil is located, is structurally isolated and insulated from each other. This isolation and insulation prevents the capacitance from being created across the coil, and the coil can exhibits the effect as a filter, thereby improving the characteristics of a noise filter.

Abstract: An electric circuit module comprising: an electric device comprising an electric circuit to serve for passage and interruption of electric current, a packing material packing the electric circuit and a plurality of wiring members to electrically connect the electric circuit with an external circuit; and a heat sink to radiate heat from the electric device. The electric circuit module includes a fixture to fix the heat sink and the electric device together so that a heat radiating surface of the electric device comes into contact with the heat sink. The fixture is formed with a recess to accommodate therein a part of the electric device so that the heat radiating surface of the electric device is exposed from the fixture. When the electric device is fixed to the heat sink by the fixture, the heat radiating surface comes into contact with the heat sink.