Abstract: A power supply device for a vehicle that is chargeable from an external power supply provided external to the vehicle, including a main battery and a battery pack that is attachable to and detachable from the vehicle. The battery pack includes a sub battery for driving electric loads common to the main battery and the sub battery, and a connector provided with a first storage unit storing information related to the sub battery. The power supply device for the vehicle further includes a control device performing control related to the main battery, and reading the information from the first storage unit and performing control related to the sub battery.

Abstract: A power supply device for a vehicle that is chargeable from an external power supply provided external to the vehicle, including a main battery and a battery pack that is attachable to and detachable from the vehicle. The battery pack includes a sub battery for driving electric loads common to the main battery and the sub battery, and a connector provided with a first storage unit storing information related to the sub battery. The power supply device for the vehicle further includes a control device performing control related to the main battery, and reading the information from the first storage unit and performing control related to the sub battery.

Abstract: A power supply device for a vehicle that is chargeable from an external power supply (90) provided external to the vehicle, including a main battery (BA) and a battery pack (39) that is attachable to and detachable from the vehicle. The battery pack (39) includes a sub battery (BB1) for driving electric loads (inverters 14 and 22) common to the main battery (BA) and the sub battery (BB1), and a connector (52) provided with a first storage unit storing information related to the sub battery (BB1). The power supply device for the vehicle further includes a control device (30) performing control related to the main battery (BA), and reading the information from the first storage unit and performing control related to the sub battery (BB1).

Abstract: A lens position detecting device 200 has a position detecting magnet 202, a magnetic force detecting sensor 204, a positional information generating means 206, etc. The position detecting magnet 202 is mounted on a rear surface of a lens holder frame 1460. The magnetic force detecting sensor 204 serves to generate a detected signal having a magnitude depending on the intensity of a magnetic force generated from the magnetic poles of the position detecting magnet 202. The magnetic force detecting sensor 204 is disposed on a straight line that passes through the position detecting magnet 202 parallel to the optical axis. The magnetic force detecting sensor 204 outputs a detected signal having a voltage corresponding (proportional) to the intensity of the magnetic force. An amplifying circuit 208 of a positional information generating means 206 amplifies the detected signal Ss from the magnetic force detecting sensor 204.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup optical system having an optical axis and configured to form a subject image, an image pickup element configured to pick up the subject image and output the picked-up subject image as an image, an optical axis controller configured to displace an optical axis position relative to the image pickup element every time image capturing is performed, an image addition processor configured to correct positional displacement between a plurality of images output from the image pickup element and add the resulting images together, and an operation unit.

Abstract: An image-blur compensating device includes an optical component configured to compensate blur in an image, an actuator driving the optical component, a displacement detector detecting a position of the optical component changed by the actuator, an angular velocity detector detecting an angular velocity applied from outside, and a target displacement calculator calculating a driving amount when the actuator has driven the optical axis changing unit based on the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity detector and the position detected by the displacement detector. The target displacement calculator then obtains, as a result of compensating an amount of influence on the position of the optical component, a driving amount when driving the actuator based on the calculated driving amount. The image-blur compensating device further includes a driver driving the actuator based on the driving amount calculated by the target displacement calculator.

Abstract: A vibration detecting device includes: a vibration amount detecting unit including at least a vibration amount sensor which is a portion for detecting a vibration amount, and outputting a vibration detection signal which is a signal indicating the detected vibration amount, and a high-pass filter configured to remove DC components to be superimposed on the vibration detection signal; a status detecting unit configured to detect a particular status which causes a result for providing particular change to the vibration amount detected by said vibration amount sensor; and an input control unit configured to prevent said vibration amount detection signal from being input to said high-pass filter in response to said particular status being detected by said status detecting unit.

Abstract: A power supply device for a vehicle that is chargeable from an external power supply (90) provided external to the vehicle, including a main battery (BA) and a battery pack (39) that is attachable to and detachable from the vehicle. The battery pack (39) includes a sub battery (BB1) for driving electric loads (inverters 14 and 22) common to the main battery (BA) and the sub battery (BB1), and a connector (52) provided with a first storage unit storing information related to the sub battery (BB1). The power supply device for the vehicle further includes a control device (30) performing control related to the main battery (BA), and reading the information from the first storage unit and performing control related to the sub battery (BB1).

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup optical system having an optical axis and configured to form a subject image, an image pickup element configured to pick up the subject image and output the picked-up subject image as an image, an optical axis controller configured to displace an optical axis position relative to the image pickup element every time image capturing is performed, an image addition processor configured to correct positional displacement between a plurality of images output from the image pickup element and add the resulting images together, and an operation unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image-blur compensating device including an optical axis changing unit changing an optical axis, an actuator driving the optical axis changing unit, a displacement detector detecting a position of the optical axis changed by the optical axis changing unit, an angular velocity detector detecting an angular velocity applied from outside, and a target displacement calculator calculating a driving amount when the actuator has driven the optical axis changing unit based on the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity detector and the position detected by the displacement detector. The target displacement calculator then obtains, as a result of compensating an amount of influence on the position of the optical axis, a driving amount when driving the actuator based on the calculated driving amount. The image-blur compensating device further includes a driver driving the actuator based on the driving amount calculated by the target displacement calculator.

Abstract: A vibration detecting device includes: a vibration amount detecting unit including at least a vibration amount sensor which is a portion for detecting a vibration amount, and outputting a vibration detection signal which is a signal indicating the detected vibration amount, and a high-pass filter configured to remove DC components to be superimposed on the vibration detection signal; a status detecting unit configured to detect a particular status which causes a result for providing particular change to the vibration amount detected by said vibration amount sensor; and an input control unit configured to prevent said vibration amount detection signal from being input to said high-pass filter in response to said particular status being detected by said status detecting unit.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal light-amount adjusting device in which the effective power of driving pulses for acceleration is optimized to improve response characteristics of optical transmittance, a method of driving the apparatus, and a camera including the apparatus. The liquid-crystal light-amount adjusting device according to the present invention includes a driving-pulse generating circuit (16) for generating driving pulses having pulsed voltages, a liquid-crystal light-amount adjusting unit (12) for changing the optical transmittance of a liquid crystal according to pulse shapes of the driving pulses, and a microcomputer (19) for controlling frequencies and duty ratios of the driving pulses.

Abstract: A control device for cylinder reducing operation of a multi-cylinder engine for a vehicle controls the number of working cylinders in the engine more appropriately for fuel economy while ensuring the operational stability of the engine and comfortable drivability of the vehicle. The control device comprises a detector detecting engine output torque and judges if cylinder reducing operation is to be executed while referring to the engine output torque. Because of the detection of engine output torque, cylinder reducing operation will be executed as long as torque requested of the engine is available from the reduced number of working cylinders, thereby ensuring the generation of torque required in operating the engine while saving fuel as much as possible. Through a learning process, criteria for the judgment of execution of cylinder reducing operation are modified to be adapted for any variation of engine output performances.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal light-amount adjusting device in which the effective power of driving pulses for acceleration is optimized to improve response characteristics of optical transmittance, a method of driving the apparatus, and a camera including the apparatus. The liquid-crystal light-amount adjusting device according to the present invention includes a driving-pulse generating circuit (16) for generating driving pulses having pulsed voltages, a liquid-crystal light-amount adjusting unit (12) for changing the optical transmittance of a liquid crystal according to pulse shapes of the driving pulses, and a microcomputer (19) for controlling frequencies and duty ratios of the driving pulses.

Abstract: A lens position detecting device 200 has a position detecting magnet 202, a magnetic force detecting sensor 204, a positional information generating means 206, etc. The position detecting magnet 202 is mounted on a rear surface of a lens holder frame 1460. The magnetic force detecting sensor 204 serves to generate a detected signal having a magnitude depending on the intensity of a magnetic force generated from the magnetic poles of the position detecting magnet 202. The magnetic force detecting sensor 204 is disposed on a straight line that passes through the position detecting magnet 202 parallel to the optical axis. The magnetic force detecting sensor 204 outputs a detected signal having a voltage corresponding (proportional) to the intensity of the magnetic force. An amplifying circuit 208 of a positional information generating means 206 amplifies the detected signal Ss from the magnetic force detecting sensor 204.

Abstract: An electrical dimmer device and its driving method applicable to, for example, an image pickup unit and a display unit operate so that when a control signal for stop adjustment is changed from its current value of stop adjustment to a larger value, which occurs when the light transmissivity of a positive type liquid crystal is raised, or when the light transmissivity of a negative type liquid crystal is lowered, the control signal is temporarily varied to an intermediate value that is larger than the larger value. The energy of the varied larger value and a time during which that varied value is applied are determined in accordance with predetermined values. By doing so, it is possible to make a response speed when changing the light transmissivity extremely faster and thus attain a response time, of for example, one field period of time or less required for a stop mechanism of a video camera.

Abstract: A hybrid-vehicle drive method and system includes an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft, a first electric motor/generator connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via a power distribution mechanism, a wheel drive shaft connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via the power distribution mechanism, a second electric motor/generator connected to the wheel drive shaft, and a transmission located on at least one of the wheel drive shaft and a connecting portion of the second electric motor/generator with the wheel drive shaft.

Abstract: A control device for cylinder reducing operation of a multi-cylinder engine for a vehicle controls the number of working cylinders in the engine more appropriately for fuel economy while ensuring the operational stability of the engine and comfortable drivability of the vehicle. The control device comprises a detector detecting engine output torque and judges if cylinder reducing operation is to be executed while referring to the engine output torque. Because of the detection of engine output torque, cylinder reducing operation will be executed as long as torque requested of the engine is available from the reduced number of working cylinders, thereby ensuring the generation of torque required in operating the engine while saving fuel as much as possible. Through a learning process, criteria for the judgment of execution of cylinder reducing operation are modified to be adapted for any variation of engine output performances.

Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle drive system, an output shaft of an internal combustion engine is connected to a first motor generator and a wheel drive shaft through a power distribution mechanism, and the wheel drive shaft is connected to a second motor generator. The hybrid vehicle drive system is provided with a device that increases the torque of the wheel drive shaft separately from the second motor generator when the internal combustion engine is cranked by the first motor generator.

Abstract: The priority sequence in a control of adjusting the drive power with respect to a vehicle drive power request is set in the sequence of: (1) an engine output increase, (2) a motor output increase, and (3) a gear speed change in a gear ratio increasing direction. More specifically, a gear speed of a least gear ratio is selected within such a range that an engine revolution speed higher than or equal to a predetermined lower limit revolution speed is attainable. A requested drive power is achieved singly by an engine output with the gear speed selected. When the requested drive power is not achievable singly by the engine output, the requested drive power is achieved by the engine output and a motor output. When the requested drive power is not achievable by the engine output and the motor output, the gear speed is changed in a gear ratio increasing direction.