Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a VSA-ECU and an ESB-ECU that perform braking control to apply a braking torque in response to a brake operation by a driver of a host vehicle, and also perform brake holding control to hold the braking torque even when the brake operation is cancelled; and an engine control unit that performs idling stop control to stop driving of an engine that is a drive source of the host vehicle when a stop condition is satisfied, including that a vehicle speed of the host vehicle enters a predetermined low vehicle speed region, and also performs restart control to restart the engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied. The engine control unit prohibits execution of the idling stop control during execution of the brake holding control.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a VSA-ECU and an ESB-ECU that perform braking control to apply a braking torque in response to a brake operation by a driver of a host vehicle, and also perform brake holding control to hold the braking torque even when the brake operation is cancelled; and an engine control unit that performs idling stop control to stop driving of an engine that is a drive source of the host vehicle when a stop condition is satisfied, including that a vehicle speed of the host vehicle enters a predetermined low vehicle speed region, and also performs restart control to restart the engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied. The engine control unit prohibits execution of the idling stop control during execution of the brake holding control.

Abstract: A spiral spring for reducing maximum stress value and variations in stress distribution. The spiral spring is elastically deformable from a minimally to maximally deformed state. In maximally deformed state, the spiral spring includes a non-contact section, wherein at least some spring material portions are adjacent in radial direction not contacting each other, and a contact section, wherein all spring material portions are adjacent in radial direction contacting each other. An inner reference portion is corresponding to a central angle of 80° or more and 160° or less about a spiral center along a direction of spiral portion extension with a reference line connecting the spiral center and outer contact portion, wherein the outer end portion and outer fixing member contact in maximally deformed state, the inner reference portion being on a radially spiral portion inner side. The contact section is on a radially inner reference portion outer side.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hill start assist for a vehicle capable of suppressing vehicle movement contrary to driver's expectations and capable of improving driving feel even if the magnitude of detected values regarding the driving direction of driving wheels or that of driving force of the driving wheels are abnormal. Specifically disclosed is a hill start assist (1) for a vehicle comprising an ECU (20) that includes a detection state determining unit (25) that determines the detection state of a shift lever position switch (14) and a retention control unit (26) that performs retention control in which a reduction in braking force of a braking device (5) is suppressed when the operation of a brake pedal (2) is stopped.

Abstract: An image sensor using three-color, e.g., R, G, and B light-emitting elements assures a period in which all the three colors are turned on and periods in each of which one light-emitting element is turned off during a scan period per pixel, and integrates and measures amounts of light of the respective periods. An amount of light based on the OFF light-emitting element is calculated based on a difference between the amounts of light during the full light-ON period and each light-OFF period to define an amount of light of the light-emitting element, and light intensity information corresponding to each light-emitting element is obtained based on a total amount of light during the entire scan period per pixel, and the amount of light of each light-emitting element.

Abstract: A heat-resistant alloy spring is made of a Ni-based alloy material comprising in weight %: not more than 0.1% C; not more than 1.0% Si; not more than 1.50% Mn; 13.0 to 25.0% Cr; 1.5 to 7.0% Mo; 0.5 to 4.0% Ti; 0.1 to 3.0% Al; {at least one optional element selected from the group consisting of 0.15 to 2.50% W, 0.001 to 0.020% B, 0.01 to 0.3% Zr, 0.30 to 6.00% Nb, 5.0 to 18.0% Co, and 0.03 to 2.00% Cu}; the balance being essentially Ni; and incidental impurities. The Ni-based alloy material is provided in its crystal structure with gamma prime phase [Ni3(Al, Ti)] or gamma prime phase [Ni3(Al, Ti, Nb)].

Abstract: Disclosed is a hill start assist for a vehicle capable of suppressing vehicle movement contrary to driver's expectations and capable of improving driving feel even if the magnitude of detected values regarding the driving direction of driving wheels or that of driving force of the driving wheels are abnormal. Specifically disclosed is a hill start assist (1) for a vehicle comprising an ECU (20) that includes a detection state determining unit (25) that determines the detection state of a shift lever position switch (14) and a retention control unit (26) that performs retention control in which a reduction in braking force of a braking device (5) is suppressed when the operation of a brake pedal (2) is stopped.

Abstract: A nonvolatile magnetic memory device includes a magnetoresistance effect element that includes: a layered structure having a recording layer; a first wiring electrically connected to a lower part of the layered structure; a second wiring electrically connected to an upper part of the layered structure; and an interlayer insulation layer surrounding the layered structure. The magnetoresistance effect element further includes a low Young modulus region having a Young modulus lower than that of a material forming the interlayer insulation layer. The recording layer has an easy magnetization axis, and a hard magnetization axis orthogonal to the easy magnetization axis. When the magnetostriction constant ? of a material forming the recording layer is a positive value or a negative value, the low Young modulus region is disposed in an extension region of the easy magnetization axis or in an extension region of the hard magnetization axis of the recording layer, respectively.

Abstract: A nonvolatile magnetic memory device includes a magnetoresistance effect element that includes: a layered structure having a recording layer; a first wiring electrically connected to a lower part of the layered structure; a second wiring electrically connected to an upper part of the layered structure; and an interlayer insulation layer surrounding the layered structure. The magnetoresistance effect element further includes a low Young modulus region having a Young modulus lower than that of a material forming the interlayer insulation layer. The recording layer has an easy magnetization axis, and a hard magnetization axis orthogonal to the easy magnetization axis. When the magnetostriction constant ? of a material forming the recording layer is a positive value or a negative value, the low Young modulus region is disposed in an extension region of the easy magnetization axis or in an extension region of the hard magnetization axis of the recording layer, respectively.

Abstract: An image sensor using three-color, e.g., R, G, and B light-emitting elements assures a period in which all the three colors are turned on and periods in each of which one light-emitting element is turned off during a scan period per pixel, and integrates and measures amounts of light of the respective periods. An amount of light based on the OFF light-emitting element is calculated based on a difference between the amounts of light during the full light-ON period and each light-OFF period to define an amount of light of the light-emitting element, and light intensity information corresponding to each light-emitting element is obtained based on a total amount of light during the entire scan period per pixel, and the amount of light of each light-emitting element.

Abstract: A heat-resistant alloy spring is made of a Ni-based alloy material comprising in weight %: not more than 0.1% C; not more than 1.0% Si; not more than 1.50% Mn; 13.0 to 25.0% Cr; 1.5 to 7.0% Mo; 0.5 to 4.0% Ti; 0.1 to 3.0 % Al; {at least one optional element selected from the group consisting of 0.15 to 2.50% w, 0.001 to 0.020% B, 0.01 to 0.3% Zr, 0.30 to 6.00% Nb, 5.0 to 18.0% Co, and 0.03 to 2.00% Cu}; the balance being essentially Ni; and incidental impurities. The Ni-based alloy material is provided in its crystal structure with gamma prime phase [Ni3(Al, Ti)] or gamma prime phase [Ni3(Al, Ti, Nb)]. The gamma prime phase has an average grain diameter (d) of not less than 25 nanometers, and a hardness-diameter ratio (Hv/d) of a Vickers hardness Hv of a position at a depth of one-fourth of the entire thickness or the wire diameter from a surface of the Ni-based alloy material toward its center and the average grain diameter d(nanometer) is 5 to 25.

Abstract: A polishing compound containing cocoon-shaped silica particles and crystal silica particles, and water-soluble polymers including; at least one type selected from the groups including ammonium nitrate and ammonium acetate, and at least one type selected from methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, and the group including carboxymethylcellulose.

Abstract: When a turning state of a subject vehicle is detected, the action timing of the contact avoidance support device is slower than when the turning state is not detected. When an action timing determining part 22 estimates that there is the possibility of the subject vehicle coming into contact with the vehicle in front and a turning state of the subject vehicle is detected based on the output from a transversal acceleration sensor S4, a changing rate of the steering angle sensor S5, and a yaw rate sensor S3, a compensation interval calculating part 23 calculates a compensation interval depending on the size of the detected turning state (the amount of the steering angle, the changing rate of the steering angle, and the transversal acceleration). The action timing of the brake actuator 12 is slowed by this compensation interval.

Abstract: The accuracy of determination of a possibility of collision of a vehicle with an object is enhanced without the shortening of a period for detection of the object by an object detecting apparatus. A collision-possibility determining device determines the presence or absence of a possibility of collision of the vehicle with the obstacle by comparing a future locus of movement of the obstacle determined by an obstacle locus determining device based on an output from a radar device, with a future locus of movement of the vehicle determined by a vehicle locus determining apparatus based on outputs from wheel speed sensors and a yaw rate sensor.

Abstract: A polishing compound containing cocoon-shaped silica particles and crystal silica particles, and water-soluble polymers including; at least one type selected from the groups including ammonium nitrate and ammonium acetate, and at least one type selected from methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, and the group including carboxymethylcellulose.

Abstract: An exhaust passage control valve has a valve element of a spiral shape mounted on a valve seat portion of a housing through which exhaust gases from an engine pass. The valve element is urged by a valve spring in a direction of closing the valve. A spring constant of the valve spring is kept low without enlarging the valve spring, and there can be obtained opening and closing characteristics in that the valve opens at a stretch when an exhaust-gas pressure has reached a predetermined value. As the valve spring, a helical torsion spring having a coiled cylindrical body portion is used. Arm portions on both ends of a coiled cylindrical body portion are engaged with a pair of spring receiving members. The spring receiving members are disposed in the housing on circumferentially opposite sides of the valve seat portions. The arm portion are engaged with the spring receiving members so as to be slidable in a longitudinal direction of the arm portions.

Abstract: When a turning state of a subject vehicle is detected, the action timing of the contact avoidance support device is slower than when the turning state is not detected. When an action timing determining part 22 estimates that there is the possibility of the subject vehicle coming into contact with the vehicle in front and a turning state of the subject vehicle is detected based on the output from a transversal acceleration sensor S4, a changing rate of the steering angle sensor S5, and a yaw rate sensor S3, a compensation interval calculating part 23 calculates a compensation interval depending on the size of the detected turning state (the amount of the steering angle, the changing rate of the steering angle, and the transversal acceleration). And the action timing of the break actuator 12 is slowed by this compensation interval.

Abstract: A solid disk of a disk brake has a hat and a disk element which are joined to each other by a junction. The junction has a plurality of communication holes defined therein which provides communication between opposite sliding surfaces of the disk element. First cooling air flows along one of the sliding surface of the disk element, and second cooling air flows smoothly through the communication holes along the opposite sliding surface of the disk element for effectively cooling the disk element in its entirety.

Abstract: A system for controlling running safety of a vehicle having an alarm and an automatic braking system. A plurality of decelerations &agr;2n of an obstacle such as another vehicle present ahead on the road is predicted and corresponding manipulated variables &agr;1n (braking amount) to be supplied to the vehicle which indicate possible deceleration of the vehicle are determined. Then threshold values L&agr;2n for alarming and automatic braking are determined corresponding to the predicted deceleration and are successively compared with the distance to the obstacle. When the distance falls below any of the threshold values, alarming or automatic braking is effected to avoid contact with the obstacle, thereby making the system relatively simple and enabling operation to match the driver's expectations.

Abstract: When a radar device S1 detects an object existing ahead of a vehicle in the movement direction of the vehicle, a determining device M1 determines a possibility of contact of the vehicle with the object from the relative positional relationship between the vehicle and the object, based on the result of such detection. If it is determined there is the possibility of contact, an automatic braking device M2 operates a vacuum booster 2 to carry out an automatic braking operation to avoid the contact of the vehicle with the object. When a braking-will detecting device M3 detects a driver's braking will during the automatic braking operation by the automatic braking device M2, an emergency-degree presuming device M4 presumes a degree of emergency in the driver's braking will, and the automatic braking device M2 generates the braking force corresponding to the degree of emergency to assist in the braking operation of the driver.