Abstract: A positive-electrode material for a lithium ion battery includes two or more types of positive-electrode active materials which are expressed by a chemical formula LiMPO4 (where M includes one or more types of metal elements selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) and which have an olivine structure. The M in at least one of the positive-electrode active materials includes two or more types of metal elements. An open circuit voltage curve in charging includes an initial rising region, one or more flat regions, one or more detectable voltage varying regions, and a terminal rising region in a state-of-charge region of 0% to 100%.

Abstract: There is provided a battery system having a plurality of storage batteries capable of charging and discharging, and at least two or more of the storage batteries are connected in series. The battery system includes a connecting terminal capable of connecting a storage battery in parallel with any one of the other storage batteries. The battery system is capable of replacing the storage battery without restricting the configuration to be serial connection or parallel connection, while avoiding decline of the output power.

Abstract: A lithium-ion rechargeable battery module having a plurality of lithium-ion battery cells, arranged that battery cells located at an high temperature portion of the module are electrically connected in parallel with battery cells located at a low temperature portion of the module. The battery cells at the high temperature portion have a higher electric resistance at 20° C. and a better high-temperature storage characteristic at 50° C. than those of the battery cells located at the low temperature portion.

Abstract: When detecting a fault of a master control device, a slave control device refers to master-device-line information, and obtains line information to establish a connection with the other master control device. The slave control device transmits connection request information to the master control device extracted from the other master control devices. The other master control device determines whether or not it is connectable with the slave control device that has transmitted the connection request information, and transmits a determination result as connectability information. The slave control device switches a communication line to the other master control device when the received connectability information indicates the connectable status.

Abstract: Even if requirements for any scale of system constructions occur, a battery system of flexibly responding to the requirements is provided. The battery system comprising a battery module having a plurality of battery cells being connected, a battery pack having a plurality of battery modules being connected either in series or in parallel or both in series and in parallel, and a battery block having a plurality of battery packs being connected either in series or in parallel or both in series and in parallel. They are mutually layered. In the battery system, the battery module, the battery pack, and the battery block are previously prepared as variations of layered basic units. In response to requirements for any scale of system constructions, the basic units are combined accordingly.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery system capable of suppressing the increase in the internal resistance of a lithium ion rechargeable battery and having long life is provided. A rechargeable battery system comprising rechargeable battery modules each having a plurality of lithium ion rechargeable batteries, and a charge/discharge control means for controlling assembled batteries having the rechargeable battery modules connected in parallel, in which the charge/discharge control means controls discharge, upon discharge of the lithium ion rechargeable batteries, on every lithium ion rechargeable battery modules connected in parallel is adopted.

Abstract: Any anomaly in energy transfer is appropriately diagnosed in a vehicle. The energy transfer system of a vehicle is provided with: an input energy computation means (e.g., the chemical energy of fuel computation means) for determining the input energy of the energy transfer system; an output energy computation means (e.g., the vehicle kinetic energy computation means) for determining the energy output of the energy transfer system; and a comparing means (e.g., the comparing means) for comparing the input energy with the output energy. Any anomaly in the energy transfer system (e.g., any anomaly in fuel efficiency) is determined based on the result of comparison by the comparing means.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine has an oxygen storage volume computing unit for computing an oxygen storage volume of a catalyst by using a real air/fuel ratio detected by an air/fuel ratio sensor installed on the upstream side of a catalyst, a center air/fuel ratio representing a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and an estimated air flow volume or detecting a flow rate of air flowing into the catalyst. A center air/fuel ratio correcting unit for correcting a center air/fuel ratio based on output of a rear air/fuel ratio sensor provided on the downstream side of the catalyst, and an oxygen storage volume computed by an oxygen storage volume computing unit, and the oxygen storage volume computing unit computes an oxygen storage volume by using a center air/fuel ratio corrected by the center air/fuel ratio correcting unit.

Abstract: In a diagnosis apparatus for an internal combustion engine which determines the abnormality of a linear A/F sensor which is disposed on the upstream side of a catalyst of the engine and detects the A/F of exhaust gas, the apparatus includes a response/gain deterioration detection unit that separately detects the response deterioration in which the response of the linear A/F sensor is delayed and the gain deterioration in which the detection sensitivity of the linear A/F sensor is abnormal.

Abstract: There is provided a control apparatus for a cylinder injection internal combustion engine which suppresses fuel pulsation caused by cam phase deviation and thereby prevents internal combustion engine exhaust deterioration, so that the reliability of a high-pressure fuel system using a high-pressure fuel pump is improved. The control apparatus for a cylinder injection internal combustion engine includes a high-pressure fuel pump that raises the pressure of fuel and discharges the fuel to a fuel rail, and a fuel pressure sensor that detects a pressure of fuel stored in the fuel rail. The control apparatus controls the high-pressure fuel pump based on the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure sensor.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine has an oxygen storage volume computing unit for computing an oxygen storage volume of a catalyst by using a real air/fuel ratio detected by an air/fuel ratio sensor installed on the upstream side of a catalyst, a center air/fuel ratio representing a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and an estimated air flow volume or detecting a flow rate of air flowing into the catalyst. A center air/fuel ratio correcting unit for correcting a center air/fuel ratio based on output of a rear air/fuel ratio sensor provided on the downstream side of the catalyst, and an oxygen storage volume computed by an oxygen storage volume computing unit, and the oxygen storage volume computing unit computes an oxygen storage volume by using a center air/fuel ratio corrected by the center air/fuel ratio correcting unit.

Abstract: A diagnosis apparatus for an internal combustion engine equipped with a cold start emission reduction strategy unit, includes: a temperature measuring unit for detecting a temperature of coolant of the internal combustion engine; a temperature estimating unit for calculating an estimated temperature of the coolant in accordance with a running state of the internal combustion engine; and a cold start emission reduction strategy abnormality judging unit for judging abnormality of the cold start emission reduction strategy unit in accordance with the temperature detected with the coolant temperature measuring means and the estimated temperature.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine has an oxygen storage volume computing unit for computing an oxygen storage volume of a catalyst by using a real air/fuel ratio detected by an air/fuel ratio sensor installed on the upstream side of a catalyst, a center air/fuel ratio representing a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and an estimated air flow volume or detecting a flow rate of air flowing into the catalyst. A center air/fuel ratio correcting unit for correcting a center air/fuel ratio based on output of a rear air/fuel ratio sensor provided on the downstream side of the catalyst, and an oxygen storage volume computed by an oxygen storage volume computing unit, and the oxygen storage volume computing unit computes an oxygen storage volume by using a center air/fuel ratio corrected by the center air/fuel ratio correcting unit.

Abstract: It is possible to provide a technique capable of grasping the necessity of the maintenance for a plurality of maintenance-oriented components in managing a maintenance work in an image forming apparatus containing the plurality of maintenance-oriented components. A maintenance method of an image forming apparatus includes: obtaining information for a use state of each of a plurality of maintenance-oriented components; obtaining maintenance information for a state of needing maintenance, the state being preset for each of the plurality of maintenance-oriented components; determining whether or not the plurality of maintenance-oriented components lie in a state of needing maintenance, based on the obtained information for a use state and the obtained maintenance information; and reporting in order to take a look at a maintenance-oriented component which is determined to need maintenance.

Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus is combined with a high-pressure fuel supply system including a high-pressure fuel pump, a fuel rail, injectors, and a fuel pressure measuring unit for measuring fuel pressure in the fuel rail. The diagnostic apparatus is capable of detecting troubles in the high-pressure fuel pump and injectors and of discriminating between a trouble in the high-pressure fuel pump and a trouble in the injectors includes.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine has an oxygen storage volume computing unit for computing an oxygen storage volume of a catalyst by using a real air/fuel ratio detected by an air/fuel ratio sensor installed on the upstream side of a catalyst, a center air/fuel ratio representing a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and an estimated air flow volume or detecting a flow rate of air flowing into the catalyst. A center air/fuel ratio correcting unit for correcting a center air/fuel ratio based on output of a rear air/fuel ratio sensor provided on the downstream side of the catalyst, and an oxygen storage volume computed by an oxygen storage volume computing unit, and the oxygen storage volume computing unit computes an oxygen storage volume by using a center air/fuel ratio corrected by the center air/fuel ratio correcting unit.

Abstract: The present invention reduces exhaust emissions at startup, provides improved fuel pressure control performance in a low-load region, and detects high-pressure fuel system abnormalities. Disclosed is a high-pressure fuel system control device which includes a high-pressure pump for pressurizing fuel and discharging the pressurized fuel to a fuel rail, an injector for injecting the fuel stored in the fuel rail, and a fuel pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the fuel stored in the fuel rail, and controls the high-pressure pump and the injector in accordance with an output generated from the fuel pressure sensor.

Abstract: There is provided a control apparatus for a cylinder injection internal combustion engine which suppresses fuel pulsation caused by cam phase deviation and thereby prevents internal combustion engine exhaust deterioration, so that the reliability of a high-pressure fuel system using a high-pressure fuel pump is improved. The control apparatus for a cylinder injection internal combustion engine includes a high-pressure fuel pump that raises the pressure of fuel and discharges the fuel to a fuel rail, and a fuel pressure sensor that detects a pressure of fuel stored in the fuel rail. The control apparatus controls the high-pressure fuel pump based on the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure sensor.

Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising an adjusting device for adjusting a burning condition, a correction device for estimating or detecting an input or an output to and from the internal combustion engine so as to correct at least one of a throttle opening degree, a fuel injection pulse width, a fuel injection timing, an ignition timing and an exhaust gas recirculation quantity, a recording device for recoding a controlled correction value from the correction device at every predetermined time, and a fuel consumption evaluation means for evaluating a fuel consumption of the engine, being based upon the recorded data or log data as to the recorded data, wherein a deterioration of fuel consumption caused by an abnormality of the engine can been soon detected with no affection by an operating condition of the engine and unevenness of component parts.

Abstract: Any anomaly in energy transfer is appropriately diagnosed in a vehicle. The energy transfer system of a vehicle is provided with: an input energy computation means (e.g., the chemical energy of fuel computation means) for determining the input energy of the energy transfer system; an output energy computation means (e.g., the vehicle kinetic energy computation means) for determining the energy output of the energy transfer system; and a comparing means (e.g., the comparing means) for comparing the input energy with the output energy. Any anomaly in the energy transfer system (e.g., any anomaly in fuel efficiency) is determined based on the result of comparison by the comparing means.