Abstract: Limits are imposed on a fundamental voltage command value calculated at a fundamental current control circuit that controls a fundamental component of a 3-phase AC motor current in a dq-axis coordinate system rotating in synchronization with the rotation of the 3-phase AC motor by using predetermined limit values and limits are imposed on a higher harmonic voltage command value calculated in an orthogonal coordinate system (a higher harmonic coordinate system) rotating at a frequency set to an integral multiple of the frequency of the fundamental component in the 3-phase AC motor current by using a predetermined limit values. The voltage command values resulting from the limit processing are added together and a voltage corresponding to the sum is applied to the AC motor for drive control.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus comprises a fundamental current control device that controls a fundamental current in a 3-phase AC motor in an orthogonal coordinate system constituted of a d-axis and a q-axis rotating in synchronization with the rotation of the 3-phase AC motor, a higher harmonic current control device that controls a higher harmonic current in the motor in an orthogonal coordinate system constituted of a dh-axis and a qh-axis rotating at a frequency that is an integral multiple of the frequency of the fundamental component of the current flowing to the motor, an estimating device that estimates the level of the harmonic speed electromotive force in the motor in the dhqh-axis coordinate system and a compensating device that compensates the harmonic speed electromotive force estimated by the estimating device.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus comprises a fundamental wave current control system that controls a fundamental wave component of a motor current in an orthogonal coordinate system which rotates in synchronization with a rotation of a 3-phase AC motor, a higher harmonic current control system that controls a higher harmonic component contained in the motor current in an orthogonal coordinate system rotating with a frequency which is an integral multiple of the frequency of the fundamental wave component of the motor current, a voltage command value generating device that generates 3-phase AC voltage command values by adding an output from the fundamental wave current control system and an output from the higher harmonic current control system, a power conversion device that converts a DC source voltage to a 3-phase AC voltage corresponding to the 3-phase AC voltage command values and outputs the 3-phase AC voltage to the 3-phase AC motor, a voltage saturation detection device which detects that an output voltage fr

Abstract: A controller for motor/generators is proposed which allows reductions in ripple current generated by an inverter driving a power-generating motor/generator and a vehicle-driving motor/generator. The control device for motor/generators has a first inverter which supplies a control current to a first motor/generator used mainly as an electrical motor, a second inverter which supplies a control current to a second motor/generator used mainly as a generator, a first PWM signal generating circuit which drives the switching elements of the first inverter based on a first carrier signal, a second PWM signal generating circuit which drives the switching elements of the second inverter based on a second carrier signal which has the same period of the first carrier signal.

Abstract: A coil-embedded dust core and a method for manufacturing the coil-embedded dust core are provided. The coil-embedded dust core comprises a coil formed from a flat conductor wound in a coil configuration, and a green body consisting of insulating material-coated ferromagnetic metal particles. This results in a coil-embedded dust core more compact in size but with larger inductance. A rectangular wire can be used as the flat conductor. In addition, parts of the coil may function as terminal sections. In this case, the terminal sections of the coil may be formed wider than other part of the coil. The coil-embedded dust core is less prone to joint failures between a coil and terminal sections and to insulation failures of the coil and the terminal section with respect to the magnetic powder. The coil-embedded dust core is more compact while achieving larger inductance.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus comprises a fundamental current command value determining device that determines a fundamental current command value for a motor current based upon at least a torque command value for an AC motor, a higher harmonics current command value determining device that determines a higher harmonics current command value for the motor current and a current control device that controls the current flowing to the AC motor based upon the fundamental current command value and the higher harmonics current command value.

Abstract: A controller for motor/generators is proposed which allows reductions in ripple current generated by an inverter driving a power-generating motor/generator and a vehicle-driving motor/generator.

Abstract: This invention relates to a valve timing control device for a vehicle engine (2) which performs combustion stop in a predetermined vehicle running condition. The predetermined vehicle running condition comprises, for example, engine startup, and combustion stop is performed by stopping fuel supply to the engine (2) or stopping ignition of the supplied fuel. The device comprises an actuator (51A, 52, 55, 61) which varies the timing of an intake valve of the engine (2) according to an input signal, and a microprocessor (16, 31) which outputs the signal to the actuator (51A, 52, 55, 61). The microprocessor (16, 31) is programmed to determine whether or not combustion has stopped (S80), and when combustion has stopped, control the signal so that the open/close timing of the intake valve is retarded compared to the case when combustion has not stopped (S94).

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine (2), a first motor (1) for starting the engine (2), a generator (1) for driving the engine (2), drive wheels (8) connected to the engine (2) via a clutch (3), and a second motor (4) for driving the drive wheels (8). A battery (15) connected to the first motor (1), second motor (4) and generator (1) is further provided. A control device which controls the engine startup by the first motor (1) comprises a sensor (27) which detects a rotation speed of the engine (2), a sensor (26) which detects the charge amount of the battery (15), a power controller (11) which varies the current supplied to the first motor (1) from the battery (15) according to a signal, and a microprocessor (16) which outputs the signal. The microprocessor (16) calculates a target output torque of the first motor (1) according to the charge amount of the battery (15).

Abstract: A target drive torque is calculated based on a detected value for vehicle speed and a detected value for an accelerator pedal depression amount. A generator torque is calculated for a motor(1,4) based on a battery SOC. An engine(2) is controlled to a torque value which achieves a target drive torque and a generator torque as a target engine torque. The motor(1,4) is controlled to a value which is the difference of a target drive torque and an engine torque estimation value as a target motor torque. In this way, a required generator amount may be achieved under steady-state conditions and it is possible to satisfy charge conditions of the battery(15). In addition, required drive force by the driver can be achieved during transition running and responsive acceleration and deceleration can be performed.

Abstract: The present invention is proposed to avoid the generation of shocks when the output of an engine is switched with that of an electric motor connected by a clutch. The invention comprises a first electric motor connected mechanically to an engine and a second electrical motor connected mechanically through a clutch to an engine. The drive force is transmitted to the drive wheel through a transmission from the second electric motor. It is decided whether or not to connect the clutch on the basis of driving conditions. When it is decided to connect the clutch, the engine is controlled so that the output of the engine meets the required force. The first electric motor functions as an electric generator so that the rotation speed of the engine reaches a target rotation speed. When the engine is rotating at a target rotation speed, the clutch is connected. In this way, shocks are avoided when the clutch is connected and improved driving performance is realized.

Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle wherein an engine (2) and a motor/generator (1) are connected in a state wherein they can be driven mutually, and the engine (2) is connected to drive wheels (8) via a motor (4) via a clutch (3), the output torque of the engine is precisely controlled. A control device to perform this control comprises a mechanism (39, 40) which increases and decreases the output torque of the engine (2), a sensor (11) which detects the output of the motor/generator (1), and a microprocessor (16) programmed to control the output torque increase and decrease mechanism (39, 40) so that the output of the motor/generator (1) is zero when the engine is in the idle running state and the clutch (3) is released.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a vehicle comprises a first electric motor in driving relationship to at least one driven wheel, a heat engine, a second electric motor in driving connection to the engine, and a clutch to engage and disengage the engine to and from the driven wheel. Immediately after or upon a command to engage the clutch, a controller retrieves, based on a measure of speed of the driven wheel, data of maximum input torque, which the second motor is capable of absorbing from the engine and data of maximum output torque, which the first motor is capable of producing. The controller compares the torque request command with the retrieved data and selects one of a plurality of different protocols for operation of the first and second electric motors and the heat engine.

Abstract: A shock when switching between the motive force of a motor and an engine is avoided. A first electrical motor mechanically connected to an engine and a second electrical motor connected mechanically to an engine through a clutch is provided. In a hybrid vehicle in which motive force is transmitted to the drive wheels through a transmission from a second electric motor, it is decided whether or not to release the clutch based on the vehicle speed detected value and the required motive force detected value. The engine output at that time is estimated. Thus if it is decided to release the clutch, the output of the second electrical motor is controlled so that the generated torque corresponds to said estimated output. The output of the first electrical motor is controlled so that the torque generated by the second electrical motor is absorbed. Hence the sum of both outputs is approximately 0.

Abstract: A base current controlling circuit for a power bipolar transistor comprising a first controlling device giving the base current only two states which are a "conduction" state and a "cut-off" state, and a second controlling device adjusting the condition of the power bipolar transistor to a predetermined preferable condition by controlling the base current value in response to a result of detection of a condition of the power bipolar transistor.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an induction motor which basically achieve reductions in a steady state loss and in a transient loss of the induction motor such as a stepwise input of a torque instruction value T.sub.e *. Basically, a steady-state loss minimization magnetic flux calculating section calculates a secondary (rotor) magnetic flux .phi..sub.r * which minimizes the steady-state loss of the induction motor in response to a torque instruction value. A target magnetic flux .phi..sub.r and a differentiation of the target magnetic flux d.phi..sub.r /dt are thereafter calculated using a low pass filter transfer function such as .phi..sub.r =.phi..sub.r * 1/(1+.tau..sub..phi..S)(, wherein .tau..sub..phi. denotes a time constant, and S denotes a Laplace operator). A target torque T.sub.m is calculates using a predetermined transfer function in response to the torque instruction value such as T.sub.m =T.sub.e *.1/(1+.tau..sub.T.S)(, wherein .tau..sub.T is a time constant for the target torque).

Abstract: A method of optically checking the appearances of chips and sorting the chips comprises the steps of feeding chips onto chip-passage body to cause the chips to run on the chip-passage body in a predetermined direction; during the running of the chips on the chip-passage body, individually separating the chips to stop the chips one by one at each of two predetermined checking positions; irradiating light obliquely and straightly with respect to a chip at one of the predetermined checking positions to pick up an optical image of one of undersurface and top surface sides of the chip as a video signal by means of a first TV camera; irradiating light obliquely and straightly with respect to the chip at the other of the predetermined checking positions to pick up an optical image of the other of the undersurface and top surface sides of the chip as a video signal by means of a second TV camera; sending the video signals to image processing sections, each of which includes at least an analog-to-digital conversion un