Abstract: In a power supply device of the invention, when the state of charge SOC1 of a low-voltage battery is lower than a discharging reference value Shi1 below a full charge level and when the state of charge SOC2 of a high-voltage battery is not lower than a discharging reference value Slow2 at a system-off time, the low-voltage battery is charged close to its full charge level with the electric power supplied from the high-voltage battery. The lead acid battery used for the low-voltage battery has the high potential for deterioration in the continuously low state of charge SOC. The lithium secondary battery used for the high-voltage battery has the high potential for deterioration in the continuously high state of charge SOC. The charge of the low-voltage battery in combination with the discharge of the high-voltage battery enables both the low-voltage battery and the high-voltage battery to have respective favorable states of charge with little potentials for deterioration.

Abstract: An energy-saving driving promotion system includes: a vehicle state detecting device; a current value calculating device that calculates a current value associated with an accelerator operation amount or a vehicle drive power; a recommended value calculating device that calculates a recommended value associated with the accelerator operation amount or the vehicle drive power; an indicator device that indicates a relationship between the calculated recommended value and the calculated current value; and an acceleration intention determining device that determines whether a driver intends to accelerate. If the acceleration intention determining device determines that the driver intends to accelerate, the recommended value calculating device calculates a larger recommended value when the acceleration intention determining device determines that the driver intends to accelerate than when the acceleration intention determining device determines that the driver does not intend to accelerate.

Abstract: In the battery device of the invention, the voltage equalization process activates the voltage equalization circuits (B1) through (B3) to respectively equalize the voltages of the plural cells included in each of the three battery modules (C1) through (C3) in the state of serial connection of the battery modules (C1) through (C3). After completion of the voltage equalization in each of the three battery modules (C1) through (C3), the voltage equalization process connects the three battery modules (C1) through (C3) in parallel and equalizes the voltages of the respective battery modules (C1) through (C3). This arrangement effectively reduces the power loss by the voltage equalization and thus enhances the total energy efficiency of the whole battery device.

Abstract: A control apparatus of a vehicle includes a clutch provided between a driving force source and a drive wheel; a torque transfer power controller that controls a torque transfer power of the clutch based on a predetermined condition; a behavior control apparatus that is provided separately from the clutch, that adjusts a physical quantity related to a speed of the vehicle that changes with a control of the torque transfer power of the clutch by the torque transfer power controller; and a function determiner that determines a vehicle speed control function of the behavior control apparatus, wherein the torque transfer power controller controls the torque transfer power of the clutch based on the predetermined condition and a result of determination provided by the function determiner.

Abstract: A shift control system for hybrid vehicles which is constructed to transmit a motive energy of the prime mover to a wheel via a clutch and a transmission, comprises an electric power generating means for generating an electric power by the motive energy of the prime mover, and for supplying the generated electric power to an electric motor, when executing a gear shift of the transmission and transmitting the motive energy of the motor to the wheel.

Abstract: A shift control system for hybrid vehicles which is constructed to transmit a motive energy of the prime mover to a wheel via a clutch and a transmission, comprises an electric power generating means for generating an electric power by the motive energy of the prime mover, and for supplying the generated electric power to an electric motor, when executing a gear shift of the transmission and transmitting the motive energy of the motor to the wheel.

Abstract: A non-linear optical silica thin film (22) whose main material is SiO2—GeO2 is formed by irradiating positive or negative polar particles and polarization orientation is carried out in the silica thin film. For example, by repeating, while forming the silica thin film (22), forming the thin film in a state of irradiating positive particles, forming the thin film in a neutral state, such as irradiation of neutral particles or non-irradiation of particles, forming the thin film in a state of irradiating negative particles, and forming the thin film in a neutral state, a plurality of regions (22-1, 22-2, and 22-3) in different states of polarization orientation are formed in a direction of film thickness of the silica thin film (22). Distribution of charges arises in the silica thin film (22) being formed by irradiation of polar particles and polarization orientation is automatically carried out in the silica thin film (22).

Abstract: Disclosed is a control apparatus of a vehicle in which a torque transfer power of a clutch provided between a driving force source and a drive wheel is controlled based on a predetermined condition, and the vehicle speed that changes with a control of the torque transfer power of the clutch is adjusted by a behavior control apparatus that is provided separately from the clutch. The control apparatus has: a function determining means for determining a vehicle speed control function of the behavior control apparatus; and a torque transfer power control means for controlling the torque transfer power of the clutch based on the predetermined condition and a result of determination provided by the function determining means.

Abstract: A Ge-added SiO2 thin film (12) is formed on a glass substrate (10), and metal film (14) is formed thereon (S11 to S13). By etching the metal film (14), a pair of electrodes (14a, 14b) mutually opposed at a predetermined interval is formed(S14). An insulating thin film (16) is formed on the insulating film (12) and the electrodes (14a, 14b) (S15). While applying ultraviolet radiation, a high voltage is applied between the electrodes (14a, 14b) to perform ultraviolet excitement polling to impart an optical nonlinearity to a channel region (18)(S16). By controlling the voltage application to the channel region (18) having the optical nonlinearity, the light transmitted through the channel region (18) is controlled. Thus, an optical nonlinear waveguide for propagating single mode light is formed on a glass substrate.