Abstract: In response to the driver's brake OFF operation after a gearshift operation of a gearshift lever to a parking position, a motor MG2 is controlled to sequentially output a torque in a backward direction of a vehicle and a torque in a forward direction of the vehicle. Gears are accordingly engaged in a parking lock mechanism during rotation of a parking gear by an angle corresponding to half a tooth in the backward direction of the vehicle or during subsequent rotation of the parking gear by an angle corresponding to one tooth in the forward direction of the vehicle. This arrangement effectively ensures gear engagement in the parking lock mechanism, while desirably reducing a moving distance from a vehicle stop position before gear engagement in the parking lock mechanism.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a worm gear mechanism for transmitting the torque generated by an electric motor to a steered road wheel of the vehicle. The worm gear mechanism has a worm gear made of metal and a worm wheel formed of plastic material and meshing with the worm gear. The worm gear has a tooth profile including a dedendum part formed in an involute shape and an addendum part formed in a circular arc shape with a center located on a line of action.

Abstract: A magnetostriction type torque sensor is provided which includes magnetic property change material which is provided on a shaft and whose magnetic property changes in accordance with torque applied to the shaft, an excitation signal generator which generates an excitation signal whose voltage is converted into a predetermined voltage through a switching element, a plurality of detection coils to which the excitation signal generator applies the excitation signal, and which plurality of detection coils outputs voltage, which changes in accordance with change in the magnetic property of the magnetic property change material, between connection points between the detection coils, and an operational state monitor which monitors an operational state of the switching element.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor comprising: a magnetostrictive film provided on a ferromagnetic shaft; a bias magnetization device which applies a bias magnetic field to the shaft to magnetize the shaft; and a detection device which detects a change in magnetism of the magnetostrictive film, wherein: a torque acting on the shaft calculated based on the detection results of the detection device; and the bias magnetization device applies a bias magnetic field to the shaft at a predetermined timing.

Abstract: The torque sensor includes a plurality of coil units having a substantially cylindrical shape, the coil units including a plurality of detection coils arranged to face a magnetic characteristic change portion formed on a rotary shaft. The coil units include a first coil unit and a second coil unit, and the first coil unit and the second coil unit are disposed in the axial direction of the shaft. The first coil unit and the second coil unit are fixed in an integrally molded resin. Thereby, there is provided a torque sensor having a high productivity and an easy configuration and a method of manufacturing the torque sensor.

Abstract: The torque sensor includes a plurality of coil units having a substantially cylindrical shape, the coil units including a plurality of detection coils arranged to face a magnetic characteristic change portion formed on a rotary shaft. The coil units include a first coil unit and a second coil unit, and the first coil unit and the second coil unit are disposed in the axial direction of the shaft. The first coil unit and the second coil unit are fixed in an integrally molded resin. Thereby, there is provided a torque sensor having a high productivity and an easy configuration and a method of manufacturing the torque sensor.

Abstract: For forming an annular magnetostrictive coat on an outer peripheral surface of a rotational shaft associated with a magnetostrictive torque sensor, a magnetostrictive-coat forming method comprises a step of fitting a cylindrical masking jig over the outer peripheral surface of the rotational shaft and securing the masking jig to the outer peripheral surface, a step of placing the rotational shaft in a plating tank to thereby form the magnetostrictive coat by plating on the outer peripheral surface, and a step of detaching the masking jig from the rotational shaft.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor includes first and second magnetostrictive films mounted on a pinion shaft and having different magnetic anisotropic properties, a first detecting coil disposed in facing relation to the first magnetostrictive film, a second detecting coil disposed in facing relation to the second magnetostrictive film, a transistor, and a detector for detecting a torque applied to the pinion shaft based on a first detected signal representative of a potential at the junction between the first detecting coil and the second detecting coil.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus 10 has an electric motor 46 for supplying an auxiliary force to a steering force inputted from a steering wheel 16, and transmits the steering force including the auxiliary force to a steered road-wheel 14 at least partially via a rack-and-pinion mechanism 30, thereby performing steering of a vehicle 12. The rack-and-pinion mechanism 30 includes: a pinion 38 provided at a pinion shaft 28 connected to the steering wheel 16; a rack 40 that is provided over a predetermined width at a rack shaft 32 connected to the steered road-wheel 14, and that is engaged with the pinion 38; and a rack guide 70 for urging the rack shaft 32 toward the pinion 38. A pressure angle ?1 of a tooth root of the rack 40 is set to be greater than a pressure angle ?0 of a tooth tip of the rack 40.

Abstract: An electric damper which does not transmit unbalance wheel vibration to a vehicle body is provided. A low-pass cutoff frequency setting unit and a high-pass cutoff frequency setting unit respectively set the cutoff frequencies for band-stop filters to a frequency band corresponding to unbalance wheel vibration based on a signal indicating a vehicle speed from a vehicle speed sensor, and a function as a band-stop filter comprising a low-pass filter computation unit, a high-pass filter computation unit and an adder is computed for a displacement rate of the vertical motion of a wheel calculated by a differentiating unit in a damper control unit. A damper control amount computation unit calculates a control amount of controlling an electric motor for a motor-driven damper based on the calculated filtered displacement rate, and outputs a control signal to a motor driving unit through a driving circuit output unit.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor includes a magnetostrictive portion provided on a shaft. At least one torque detection coil is disposed opposite the shaft. The at least one torque detection coil detects a torque applied to the shaft. A demagnetization circuit (C) demagnetizes the shaft via the detecting coil.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor device which detects a torque applied to a rotary shaft is provided. The magnetostrictive torque sensor device includes a magnetostrictive portion provided on a surface of the rotary shaft, a coil and a cylindrical back-yoke disposed in outer periphery of the coil. The coil includes a bobbin arranged in outer periphery of the magnetostrictive portion, and a wire wound around the bobbin. A slit is provided on the back-yoke.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor includes a rotating shaft rotatably supported; magnetostrictive materials provided on a surface of the rotating shaft, magnetic permeability of which changes according to the magnitude of rotary torque acting on the rotating shaft; and at least two detection coils provided to the rotating shaft, which detect change in the magnetic permeability of the magnetostrictive materials to output in the form of electrical change. Section secondary moments of the rotating shaft at its parts on which the detection coils are respectively placed are different from each other.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetostrictive torque sensor device includes the steps of: providing a steering shaft or another such rotating shaft with two magnetostrictive parts endowed with magnetic anisotropy; disposing detection coils around the magnetostrictive parts to detect changes in magnetostrictive characteristics of the magnetostrictive parts; providing a detection circuit for bringing out detection signals from signals outputted from the detection coils; and adjusting a gain of a gain adjuster included in the detection circuit.

Abstract: A shift control ECU includes the steps of storing a position of a shift lever; starting a count-up timer when the shift lever comes to a neutral position; and recognizing a driver's request for the neutral position when a count-up timer value attains TN(1) if the stored shift lever position is a home position and when a count-up timer value attains TN(2) if the stored shift lever position is not the home position. Here, TN(1) is set to be smaller than TN(2).

Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine and a motor that are connected to a driveshaft linked to an axle via a gear mechanism, on condition that a torque demand Tr* required for the driveshaft is lower than a preset reference torque level Tref (step S220) and that a vehicle speed V is lower than a preset reference speed level Vref (step S230), the drive control of the invention idles the engine (step S240) regardless of a stop request of the engine (steps S120 and S210). This arrangement effectively reduces the potential for backlash or gear rattle in the gear mechanism. On condition that the vehicle speed V is not lower than the preset reference speed level Vref (step S220), on the other hand, the drive control of the invention stops the operation of the engine (step S250) in response to the stop request of the engine (steps S120 and S210) even under the torque demand Tr* of lower than the preset reference torque level Tref (step S230).

Abstract: When a hybrid ECU determines that a malfunction in which a moment-adding flywheel cannot be connected to an engine occurs, an engine ECU controls a rotational speed of the engine to a value higher than that in a normal operation. Further, when the hybrid ECU determines that a malfunction in which the moment-adding flywheel cannot be disconnected from the engine occurs, a control is executed so that a ratio of a torque of a first motor to a torque of the engine is higher than that in the normal operation.

Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine and a motor that are connected to a driveshaft linked to an axle via a gear mechanism, on condition that an output torque of the motor (previous Tm2*) is not lower than a preset reference output torque Tm2ref (step S190) at a moment of a start requirement of the engine (steps S130 and S180), the drive control of the invention starts the engine (step S220). On conditions that the output torque of the motor (previous Tm2*) is lower than the preset reference output torque Tm2ref (step S190), that a torque demand Tr* is lower than a preset reference torque level Tref (step S200), and that a state of charge SOC of a battery is not lower than a preset reference charge level Sref (step S210), the drive control keeps the engine at a stop (step S140), regardless of the start requirement. This arrangement effectively reduces the potential for backlash or gear rattle in the gear mechanism due to a torque pulsation applied to the driveshaft at a start of the engine.

Abstract: A shift control system rotates an actuator to cause a wall of a detent plate to contact a roller of a detent spring, and detects the position of contact so as to detect the position of the wall of the detent plate. This wall position is set as a reference position of the actuator. Accordingly, the rotation of the actuator can appropriately be controlled even if an encoder which can only detect relative positional information is employed, and thus the shift range can appropriately be switched.

Abstract: A shift control system rotates an actuator to cause a wall of a detent plate to contact a roller of a detent spring, and detects the position of contact so as to detect the position of the wall of the detent plate. This wall position is set as a reference position of the actuator. Accordingly, the rotation of the actuator can appropriately be controlled even if an encoder which can only detect relative positional information is employed, and thus the shift range can appropriately be switched.