Abstract: In an apparatus and method for controlling damping force characteristics of respective vehicular shock absorbers, a control signal V is generated according to a state in which a steering system is operated, the control signal being converted to a drive signal to be input to damping force characteristic changing member (stepping motor and adjuster) so that the damping force characteristic of the corresponding one of the shock absorbers is changed to a desired damping force characteristic. The control signal is a signal synthesized with a bounce rate signal based on a vertical sprung mass velocity signal, a roll rate signal determined on the basis of a difference between both right and left vertical sprung mass velocity signals, a roll rate (displacement) signal determined on the basis of the difference described above, a steering angular displacement signal, and a steering angular velocity signal at a predetermined rate of distribution .eta..

Abstract: Lithium based electrical cells having a new anode electrode construction are described. The cells have a sandwich construction of lithium sheet, conductive foil and lithium sheet, wherein the anode tab is welded directly onto the conductive foil not onto the lithium. Alternatively, the tab is connected onto the lithium in an area where the lithium does not dissolve during discharge, so that the tab will not become disconnected from the anode sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrolyte for use on a secondary lithium battery comprising amorphous V.sub.2 O.sub.5 base cathode active material, a metallic lithium base active material, and an electrolytic solution lithium salt dissolved in a mixed organic solvent. The organic solvent is ethylene carbonate mixed with one organic solvent of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran, 1,3-dioxalan, 4-methyl-1,3-dioxalan, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, etc. The mixed ratio of ethylene carbonate ranges within 10 to 50%, and water content of the electrolytic solution ranges within 400 to 5 ppm, and the content of impurities other than water ranges within 1000 to 10 ppm. The resultant secondary lithium battery is excellent in charge-discharge cycle life.

Abstract: A lithium battery essentially consisting of an amorphous cathode active material mainly composed of V.sub.2 O.sub.5 and prepared by adding with at least one first additive selected from the group consisting of P.sub.2 O.sub.5, TeO.sub.2, GeO.sub.2, Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3, Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 and B.sub.2 O.sub.3 and/or at least one second additive selected from the group consisting of MoO.sub.3 and WO.sub.3, heating to melt the admixture and then quenching the molten admixture; an anode active material made of metallic lithium or a lithium alloy; and an electrolyte made of a mixture of a aprotic solvent and a lithium salt. The battery is a small-sized and light-weight secondary battery having a high energy density and being improved in charge-discharge cycle lifetime.