Abstract: An inter-vehicle distance control device is provided. A typical embodiment of the device comprises, i) an inter-vehicle distance detecting means for detecting an inter-vehicle distance between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle traveling in front of the own vehicle, ii) a laterally adjacent vehicle detecting means for detecting another vehicle present beside the own vehicle, iii) a cut-in detecting means for judging whether or not a cut-in by the other vehicle detected by the laterally adjacent vehicle detecting means is likely to occur, before the other vehicle cuts in between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle, iv) an inter-vehicle distance adjusting means for performing inter-vehicle distance extension adjustment to increase the inter-vehicle distance when the cut-in detecting means judges that a cut-in is likely to occur, and v) an inter-vehicle distance control means for controlling the inter-vehicle distance based on information from the inter-vehicle distance adjusting means.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus capable of automatic steering control while reducing discomfort or stress on vehicle occupants. In the apparatus, a lane detection unit detects a lane in which the vehicle is traveling. An offset setting unit sets an offset within the lane suitable for making a driver feel less stressed. An occupant detection unit detects the presence of a designated occupant of a seat opposite a driver's seat. An offset adjustment unit, when the designated occupant is detected, adjusts the offset set by the offset setting unit to be decreased. A vehicle-path estimation unit estimates a vehicle path in the lane such that the vehicle can travel along the vehicle path from a current lateral position to a target lateral position of the vehicle. An automatic steering control unit automatically controls steering so that the vehicle travels along the estimated vehicle.

Abstract: A solenoid device includes: a first electromagnetic coil; first and second plungers movable according to energization to the first electromagnetic coil; first and second fixed cores facing the first and second plungers, respectively; and a yoke. When the first electromagnetic coil is not energized, first and second gaps are formed between the first and second plungers and the first and second fixed cores, respectively. When the first electromagnetic coil is energized, the magnetic flux flows in a first magnetic circuit, provided by the first plunger, the first fixed core and the yoke, via the first gap, and a second magnetic circuit, provided by the first and second plungers, the first and second fixed cores and the yoke, via the first and second gaps, so that the first and second plungers are attracted toward the first and second fixed cores.

Abstract: A solenoid device includes: at least one electromagnetic coil that generates a magnetic flux when the electromagnetic coil is energized; a yoke made of soft magnetic material, in which the magnetic flux flows; and a plurality of plungers, each of which includes at least a part made of soft magnetic material, and reciprocates when the electromagnetic coil is switched between energization and interruption of energization. The number of the plurality of plungers is larger than the number of the electromagnetic coil. The plurality of plungers reciprocate independently from each other.

Abstract: In a laser ignition apparatus, a focusing optical element is configured to focus a pulsed laser light to a predetermined focal point in a combustion chamber of an engine. An optical window member is arranged on the combustion chamber side of the focusing optical element so as to separate the focusing optical element from the combustion chamber. A catoptric-light focal point, at which a catoptric light is to be focused, is positioned on the anti-combustion chamber side of a combustion chamber-side end surface of the optical window member. The catoptric light results from the reflection of the pulsed laser light by a pseudo mirror that is formed by the optical window member when the combustion chamber-side end surface thereof is fouled with contaminants. Further, the catoptric-light focal point falls in a region where no solid material forming either the focusing optical element or the optical window member exists.

Abstract: A valve timing controller includes a lock mechanism that locks a rotation phase at a main lock phase when an internal combustion engine is started with an ambient temperature more than or equal to a preset temperature. The main lock phase represents a rotation phase set for closing an intake valve at a later timing later than a timing when a piston reaches a bottom dead center of a cylinder in the internal combustion engine. The lock mechanism locks the rotation phase at a sub lock phase representing a rotation phase advanced rather than the main lock phase in the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is started with an ambient temperature lower than the present temperature.

Abstract: A first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus are capable of wireless communication with each other. The first communication apparatus has a normal operation mode and a tuning mode that differs from the normal operation mode and allows a variable matching portion to adjust a matching state. When the tuning mode is selected, the first transmission portion transmits an operation mode transition request signal to the second communication apparatus. A first reception portion receives a tuning reference signal transmitted from the second communication apparatus in response to the operation mode transition request signal. A reception signal intensity measurement portion measures a reception signal intensity of the received tuning reference signal. The variable matching portion adjusts a matching state based on the measured reception signal intensity of the tuning reference signal.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus that for automatic steering control that reduces occupant discomfort and stress is provided. A lane width of a subject lane and a current in-lane ratio are detected. If an off-lane obstacle which may place stress on the occupant is present within a prescribed area, a relative position between each off-lane obstacle and the vehicle is determined. A target in-lane ratio is determined based on the relative position. Specifically, when the off-lane obstacles are present on both the left and right sides of the subject lane, the target in-lane ratio is such that lateral distances to both off-lane obstacles are equal. When the off-lane obstacle is present on only one of either the left or right of the subject lane, the target in-lane ratio is set such that a lateral position away from the off-lane obstacle by a lateral distance set in advance is the target lateral position.

Abstract: A first resilient member generates a resilient force to urge a valve portion in a valve-closing direction. A second resilient member generates a resilient force against the resilient force of the first resilient member. The resilient force of the first resilient member and the resilient force of the second resilient member are set to be balanced with each other when the valve portion is placed in a lift position that is between a full-closing position of the valve portion, in which the valve portion is seated against a valve seat to fully close a fluid passage, and a full-opening position of the valve portion, in which the valve portion is fully lifted away from the valve seat to fully open the fluid passage.

Abstract: A torsion bar has first and second end portions that are fixed to input and output shafts, respectively, to coaxially connect between the input and output shafts. A multipolar magnet is fixed to the input shaft. First and second magnetic yokes are fixed to the output shaft. Magnetic sensors are held between magnetic flux collecting portions of first and second magnetic flux collecting rings, which are magnetically coupled to the first and second magnetic yokes, respectively. In each of the magnetic flux collecting portion, a connecting section and a mounting section are configured such that a width of the connecting section is smaller than a width of the mounting section.

Abstract: An information providing apparatus includes a tactile information provider and a controller. The tactile information provider is arranged within a rim portion of a steering wheel of a vehicle and provides a tactile sense to a driver. The controller controls the tactile information provider to provide support information to the driver. The support information is defined as information that supports a driving of the vehicle. The tactile information provider includes a trench arranged in a circumferential direction of the rim portion, a ring-shaped ring portion, and a driving portion. The ring portion is rotatably arranged in the trench and has an exposed surface such that the exposed surface contacts with at least one hand of the driver. The driving portion is controlled by the controller to drive the ring potion rotate in the circumferential direction to provide the support information to the driver.

Abstract: A laser ignition apparatus includes a housing that has a male-threaded portion for fixing the housing and a hexagonal portion for tightening the male-threaded portion. Between a combustion chamber-side end of the male-threaded portion and an anti-combustion chamber-side end of the hexagonal portion, there is defined a non-optical element arrangement region in which none of an introducing optical element, an enlarging optical element and a focusing optical element of the apparatus is arranged. At one of a combustion chamber-side end and an anti-combustion chamber-side end of the non-optical element arrangement region, there is formed a reference surface that extends perpendicular to an axial direction of the housing. One of the introducing optical element, the enlarging optical element and the focusing optical element is received in the housing in such a manner as to be elastically pressed against the reference surface from outside of the non-optical element arrangement region.

Abstract: A vibration-suppressed transformer is fixed to a base plate and includes a magnetic lower core, two or more magnetic upper cores, primary and secondary coils. The lower core is on the base plate. The upper cores are arranged face to face over the lower core. The coils are arranged between the lower and upper cores. Each upper core contacts the lower core, on an outer side of the coils, with a first gap being provided between the upper and lower cores, on an inner side of the coils. The upper cores are extended towards each other from the outer to the inner side of the coils, with a second gap being provided therebetween. The second gap is provided therein with a non-magnetic pressing member to press the lower core against the base plate, on an inner side of the coils.

Abstract: A ringing suppression circuit for a communication circuit that performs communication through a transmission line includes a high side switch connected between a high potential reference point and a high side line of the transmission line, a low side switch connected between a low potential reference point and a low side line of the transmission line, and a ringing suppression section. The ringing suppression section turns on the high side switch based on a difference between a potential of the high side line and a potential applied to a control terminal of the high side switch. The ringing suppression section turns on the low side switch based on a difference between a potential of the low side line and a potential applied to a control terminal of the low side switch.

Abstract: A charge/discharge system is provided to shuttle electric energy in a battery pack made up of battery cells connected in series. The charge/discharge system includes an electric energy storage, a switch, and a charge/discharge controller. The charge/discharge controller selectively places the switch in a charging mode to charge electric energy from one or a selected number of ones of the battery cells to one or a selected number of other ones of the battery cells to minimize a variation in state of charge among the battery cells.

Abstract: An electric rotating machine includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor has a plurality of pairs of magnetic poles. The stator includes a stator core and a stator coil that is comprised of a plurality of phase windings wound on the stator core. The stator core has, for each of the phase windings of the stator coil, n circumferentially-consecutive single-phase slots, in which only the phase winding is received, per magnetic pole of the rotor, where n is a natural number not less than 2. Each of the phase windings of the stator coil has first to kth sections that are sequentially arranged from one end to the other end of the phase winding, where k is a natural number not less than 2. The first section is received in different ones of the single-phase slots for the phase winding from the kth section.

Abstract: A battery charger of a battery charging apparatus is disposed on an exterior case of an engine in such a manner that a generated heat is transferred therebetween. An ECU drives a cooling system when an engine temperature and temperature of the battery charger satisfy a predetermined cooling temperature condition. A cooling capacity for cooling the battery charger is improved by establishing a heat radiation passage to radiate a heat from the battery charger efficiently.

Abstract: A vibration-suppressed transformer is fixed to a base plate and includes a magnetic lower core, two or more magnetic upper cores, primary and secondary coils. The lower core is on the base plate. The upper cores are arranged face to face over the lower core. The coils are arranged between the lower and upper cores. Each upper core contacts the lower core, on an outer side of the coils, with a first gap being provided between the upper and lower cores, on an inner side of the coils. The upper cores are extended towards each other from the outer to the inner side of the coils, with a second gap being provided therebetween. The second gap is provided therein with a non-magnetic pressing member to press the lower core against the base plate, on an inner side of the coils.