Abstract: A vehicle power supply apparatus includes first and second power supply systems, an electrical conduction path, a switch, and a switch controller. The first power supply system includes a first electrical energy accumulator and an electric load. The second power supply system includes a generator and a second electrical energy accumulator. The switch is configured to be controlled to a turn-on state and a turn-off state. The turn-on state includes coupling the electric load and the second electrical energy accumulator to each other, and the turn-off state includes isolating them from each other. The switch controller controls the switch to the turn-on state on the condition that the generator has an abnormality, and afterwards controls the switch to the turn-off state.

Abstract: A vehicle electric power supply apparatus includes a first electric power supply system, a second electric power supply system, an electric power fuse, a switch, a starter relay, an occupant operated unit, a starter control unit, and a switch control unit. The switch is controlled to be in one of an electrically-conductive state and a cutoff state. The starter relay is controlled to be in one of an electrically-conductive state or a cutoff state. The occupant operated unit is operated by an occupant. The starter control unit outputs an ON signal and the switch control unit outputs an OFF signal when the occupant operated unit is operated. The ON signal allows the starter relay to be controlled in the electrically-conductive state. The OFF signal allows the switch to be controlled in the cutoff state.

Abstract: A vehicle power supply apparatus includes first and second power supply systems, first and second switches, and a fail-safe controller. The second power supply system includes a generator motor coupled to an engine, and a second electrical energy accumulator able to be coupled to the generator motor. The fail-safe controller inhibits a powering state of the motor generator on the condition that the second switch is in a malfunctioning state in which the second switch is rendered inoperative in a second turn-off state. The second turn-off state includes isolating the generator motor and the second electrical energy accumulator from each other.

Abstract: A vehicle power supply apparatus includes first and second power supply systems, first and second switches, first and second switch controllers, a generator motor controller, an engine controller, and an idling stop determination unit. The idling stop determination unit determines whether or not to inhibit an idling stop control on the basis of a current of an first electrical energy accumulator of the first power supply system, a current of a second electrical energy accumulator of the second power supply system, or a voltage of a generator motor of the second power supply system, or any combination thereof, while recognizing a third control signal to be transmitted to the generator motor, a first control signal to be transmitted to the first switch, and a second control signal to be transmitted to the second switch.

Abstract: A vehicle power supply apparatus includes first and second power supply systems, an accumulator sensor, and an abnormality determination unit. The first power supply system includes a generator and a first electrical energy accumulator. The second power supply system includes a second electrical energy accumulator and a group of electric devices. The accumulator sensor detects at least a discharge current of the second electrical energy accumulator. The abnormality determination unit determines that the second electrical energy accumulator is abnormal on the condition that the accumulator sensor is normal and the discharge current of the second electrical energy accumulator is equal to or smaller than a current threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle power supply apparatus includes a generator, a first electricity storage, a second electricity storage, a switch, a generator controller, and a switch controller. The generator controller controls the generator into a first electric power generation state and a second electric power generation state higher in electric power generation voltage than the first electric power generation state. The switch controller controls the switch into an electrically-conductive state and a cutoff state. The switch controller controls the switch into the electrically-conductive state and the generator controller controls the generator into the first electric power generation state when a high-load apparatus is stopped. The high-load apparatus is one of a plurality of electrical loads coupled to the first electricity storage.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes input-side and output-side rotating elements, a fuel injection controller, and an ignition timing controller. The ignition timing controller controls ignition timing of an engine to first timing on the condition that the engine is controlled from a fuel cut state to a fuel injection state, and afterwards, changes the ignition timing to second timing on advance side of the first timing. The ignition timing controller changes the ignition timing toward the second timing at a first change rate until a rotational acceleration rate of the output-side rotating element reaches a threshold. After the rotational acceleration rate of the output-side rotating element reaches the threshold, the ignition timing controller changes the ignition timing toward the second timing at a second change rate greater than the first change rate.

Abstract: A vehicle power supply apparatus includes first and second power supply systems, an electrical conduction path, first and second switches, and an abnormality determination unit. The first power supply system includes a first electrical energy accumulator and an electric load. The second power supply system includes a generator and a second electrical energy accumulator. The first switch is provided on the electrical conduction path between the first and second power supply systems. The second switch is provided in the second power supply system. The abnormality determination unit determines whether or not the generator is in an abnormal state, on the basis of a current of the first or second electrical energy accumulator, with the first switch or the second switch, or both turned on, and with a power generation command outputted to the generator.

Abstract: A vehicle electric power generation apparatus includes an electric power generator, a first electric power storage, a second electric power storage, a first voltage detector, a second voltage detector, and an electric power generation controller. The controller sets, as a first allowable voltage, an upper limit value of a terminal voltage of the first storage and sets, as a second allowable voltage, an upper limit value of a terminal voltage of the second storage, and raises, when the generator is to be controlled in a regenerative electric power generation state, a generated voltage derived from the generator higher than both of the first allowable voltage and the second allowable voltage. When the terminal voltage of the first storage reaches the first allowable voltage or the terminal voltage of the second storage reaches the second allowable voltage, the controller prevents the generated voltage of the generator from rising.

Abstract: A vehicle power supply apparatus includes a generator, an electrical energy accumulator, a throttle valve, a power generation controller, a throttle plate position upper limit setting unit, and a throttle valve controller. The generator is coupled to an engine of a vehicle. The electrical energy accumulator is able to be coupled to the generator. The throttle valve is provided in an intake system of the engine. The power generation controller allows the generator to perform regenerative power generation on decelerated travel of the vehicle. The throttle plate position upper limit setting unit sets an upper limit of a throttle plate position of the throttle valve on the basis of a state of the electrical energy accumulator. The throttle valve controller controls the throttle plate position within a range downward from the upper limit, during the regenerative power generation by the generator.

Abstract: A vehicle power supply apparatus includes first and second power supply systems, first and second switches, and a fail-safe controller. The second power supply system includes a generator motor coupled to an engine, and a second electrical energy accumulator able to be coupled to the generator motor. The fail-safe controller inhibits a powering state of the generator motor on the condition that the second switch is in a malfunctioning state in which the second switch is rendered inoperative in a second turn-on state. The second turn-on state includes coupling the generator motor and the second electrical energy accumulator to each other.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a first power supply system, a second power supply system, a switch, and a switch controller. The first power supply system includes a driving controller that executes an automated driving control, and a first electricity storage device coupled to the driving controller. The second power supply system includes an electric motor coupled to an engine, and a second electricity storage device coupled to the electric motor. The switch is controlled to an electrically conductive state and a cutoff state. The electrically conductive state includes coupling the first and second power supply systems to each other. The cutoff state includes isolating the first and second power supply systems from each other. The switch controller controls the switch to the electrically conductive state, on the condition that the automated driving control is being executed.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle that includes an engine includes an electric generator, a throttle valve, an electric generator control unit, and a throttle control unit. The electric generator is configured to be coupled to the engine. The throttle valve is configured to control an amount of intake air of the engine. The electric generator control unit is configured to allow the electric generator to perform regenerative power-generation on decelerated travel of the vehicle. The throttle control unit is configured to control the throttle valve openwise on the decelerated travel. The electric generator control unit is configured to cause an increase in power-generation torque of the electric generator, upon a switchover of the engine from a fuel cut state to a fuel injection state on the decelerated travel.

Abstract: A vehicle power supply apparatus includes a motor generator, a first electricity storage, a second electricity storage, a first switch, a second switch, a switch controller, and an electricity storage determiner. The first and second electricity storages are able to be coupled to the motor generator that is coupled to an engine. The first switch and the second switch each switch from electric conduction between the motor generator and corresponding one of the first and second electricity storages to cutoff between the motor generator and corresponding one of the first and second electricity storages and vice versa. The switch controller controls the first switch and the second switch. The electricity storage determiner determines an abnormality of the first electricity storage. The switch controller controls each of the first switch and the second switch into an electrically-conductive state when the first electricity storage is determined as being in an abnormal state.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle that includes an engine including an intake valve and an exhaust valve includes an electric generator, a lock up clutch, and a valve timing controller. The valve timing controller is able to control valve timing of the intake valve or the exhaust valve, or both, to a low efficiency region and a high efficiency region. The valve timing controller controls the valve timing to the high efficiency region on the condition that the electric generator performs regenerative power-generation on decelerated travel of the vehicle. The valve timing controller controls the valve timing to the low efficiency region on the condition that the lock up clutch is switched from an engaged state to a disengaged state, with the valve timing having been controlled to the high efficiency region on the decelerated travel.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus causes a vehicle to selectively perform an engine mode and an assist mode that allow for transfer of, respectively, drive force of an engine and both drive forces of the engine and an electric motor to a wheel. The vehicle control apparatus includes: a consumption amount calculator that calculates first and second fuel consumption amounts, respectively, when performing the engine and assist modes; a reduction amount calculator that calculates a possible fuel reduction amount by subtracting the second fuel consumption amount from the first fuel consumption amount; a mode controller that causes the assist and engine modes to be performed, respectively, when the fuel reduction amount exceeds and is equal to or below a threshold; and a threshold setter that sets the threshold to first and second values, respectively, when a state of charge of an electricity storage device is in first and second charging levels.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes an engine, a refrigerant compressor, a lock up clutch, a throttle valve, and first, second, and third deceleration controllers. The second deceleration controller controls the lock up clutch to a slip state and controls the throttle valve openwise on the condition that the refrigerant compressor is in the stopped state on decelerated travel of a vehicle in a second speed region in which a vehicle speed is lower than a first vehicle speed and higher than a second vehicle speed lower than the first vehicle speed. The second deceleration controller controls the lock up clutch to a disengaged state and controls the throttle valve closewise on the condition that the refrigerant compressor is in the operative state on the decelerated travel of the vehicle in the second speed region.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus to be mounted on a vehicle including an engine includes a first power supply system, a second power supply system, a switch, and a switch controller. The first power supply system includes a first electricity storage device and an electric load. The second power supply system includes an electric motor and a second electricity storage device. The switch controller is configured to control the switch to a cutoff state on the condition that the electric motor is controlled to a powering state to bring the engine to starting rotation from a stopped state. The switch controller is configured to control the switch to an electrically conductive state on the condition that the electric motor is controlled to the powering state to bring the engine to an assisted drive from a rotating state.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes input-side and output-side rotating elements, a fuel injection controller, and an ignition timing controller. The ignition timing controller controls ignition timing of an engine to first timing on the condition that the engine is controlled from a fuel cut state to a fuel injection state, and afterwards, changes the ignition timing to second timing on advance side of the first timing. The ignition timing controller changes the ignition timing toward the second timing at a first change rate until a rotational acceleration rate of the output-side rotating element reaches a threshold. After the rotational acceleration rate of the output-side rotating element reaches the threshold, the ignition timing controller changes the ignition timing toward the second timing at a second change rate greater than the first change rate.

Abstract: A method for producing amorphous silica includes: a pretreatment process of pulverizing vegetable material to obtain a silica source; a burning process of burning the silica source and extracting silica; and a purification process of removing carbon from burning material obtained in the burning process. The burning process includes a heating process of supplying an inert gas into a chamber and heating the silica source in the chamber in a plasma atmosphere.