Abstract: A lower structure of a vehicle may include a transmission disposed in a floor tunnel, a rear propeller shaft that transmits power from the transmission to rear wheels, and left and right battery units disposed on the left and right sides of the floor tunnel, in which a rear portion (transfer 4a) of the transmission is disposed in proximity to the portions on the front side and the upper side of the battery units, and inner protectors that cover inner side surface portions in the vehicle width direction of the battery units from the inner side in the vehicle width direction may be mounted to the front end portions of the inner side surface portions.

Abstract: An electromotive compressor fixed to a front side of an engine includes a live part. A harness connection portion where a hinge-voltage harness is connected is provided in an outer peripheral area of a left side, in a vehicle width direction, of the electromotive compressor. A protecting member comprises a first cover portion which covers an area corresponding to the live part from the front side and a second cover portion which is provided continuously to the first cover portion and covers the harness connection portion from the front side with a specified distance from the harness connection portion. A low rigidity portion which has lower rigidity than the first covet portion and the second cover portion is provided at a continuous portion of the first cover portion and the second cover portion.

Abstract: A front side frame has a first deformation promotion portion to bend and deform a front side frame inwardly in a case where a collision load is applied to a vehicle from a vehicle front side, a front vehicle-body structure further comprises a load transmission portion positioned in front of a suspension housing between the front side frame and an apron reinforcement so as to transmit the collision load to the suspension housing, the load transmission portion being provided to connect the front side frame and the apron reinforcement so as to transmit a tensional load applied in a vehicle width direction between the front side frame and the apron reinforcement, and the load transmission portion has a second deformation promotion portion positioned in the vicinity of the first deformation promotion portion and promoting the bending/deforming of the front side frame.

Abstract: A vehicle may include a propeller shaft that extends from a transmission toward a vehicle rear side and left and right battery units disposed below floor panels disposed on the left and right sides of a floor tunnel. The propeller shaft may include a first shaft portion connected to the transmission and a second shaft portion connected to the first shaft portion via a universal joint. The left and right battery units may have inner side surface portions that face the inner side in the vehicle width direction, respectively. Planar protectors that cover the portions of the inner side surface portions on the vehicle rear side of the universal joint may be mounted to the battery units, respectively.

Abstract: Methods for forming a vertical growth mask for use in etching applications are described herein. Disclosed embodiments include introducing a tungsten-containing deposition precursor and one or more carrier gases while igniting a plasma to deposit tungsten selectively on field regions of positive features of a patterned etch mask without substantial deposition on sidewalls of the positive features or on an exposed surface of a target layer underlying the patterned etch mask.

Abstract: A vehicle front body structure is provided for reliably transferring a collision load to a crash can and a front frame by preventing a bumper beam from buckling during a small overlap collision. Bending rigidity of the bumper beam in a vehicle width direction is such that 1) a bending moment generated on the bumper beam when a collision load in a direction toward a vehicle rear side is applied to an extending section, which extends outward in the vehicle width direction from a crash can fixed section, is the highest in a vehicle width direction inner end portion of the crash can fixed section on a side where the collision load is applied, and 2) the bending moment is continuously reduced as a distance from the vehicle width direction inner end portion in the vehicle width direction increases.

Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure controls inward breakage of an apron reinforcement in the event of a small overlap collision, without increasing weight. Embodiments include a pair of right and left apron reinforcements extending in a vehicle front-rear direction; and a pair of right and left hinge pillars respectively connected to rear ends of the pair of apron reinforcements. A reinforcement outer member of the apron reinforcement includes a linear portion extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from a rear end of the apron reinforcement connected to the hinge pillar to an intermediate portion of the apron reinforcement. A horizontal bead, provided as a deformation facilitating portion to facilitate deformation toward an inside of a vehicle body, is disposed on an outer surface portion positioned on a vehicle-width-direction outer side of the linear portion, the horizontal bead having a reduced longitudinal rigidity toward a front side in the vehicle front-rear direction.

Abstract: A side body structure of a vehicle can include: a hinge pillar; a front pillar that is coupled to an upper end portion of this hinge pillar via a bent section, extends upward to the rear, and is coupled to a front end portion of a roof side rail via a connected section; and an apron rein that extends forward from a position below the bent section in the hinge pillar, where the bent section can include an energy absorption section that is subjected to out-of-plane deformation in a longitudinal orthogonal direction of the front pillar and thereby can absorb collision energy when the collision energy, which can be directed rearward, is applied to the apron rein. The energy absorption section can be configured to include an outer bead section and an inner bead section respectively provided in an outer member and a lower inner member.

Abstract: A vehicle lower body structure can include: a side sill that forms a first closed cross section extending in a body front-rear direction; and a reinforcing member provided in the first closed cross section to reinforce a front end portion of the side sill. The reinforcing member can have: a front-end reinforcing section that supports a collision load applied to the front end portion of the side sill and directed rearward in a vehicle body; a deformation permission section that permits deformation of the side sill directed inward in a vehicle width direction and rearward at the time when the collision load directed inward in the vehicle width direction and rearward is applied to the front end portion of the side sill; and a deformation suppression section suppressing deformation of the side sill after the deformation of the side sill directed inward in the vehicle width direction and rearward.

Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure comprises a crash can fixed to a front end of a front frame. The crash can comprises an upper face portion, a lower face portion, a pair of side face portions, corner portions respectively positioned between the side face portion and the upper face portion and between the side face portion and the lower face portion, a first fragile portion provided at each of the corner portions, and a second fragile portion provided at each of the side face portions. The first fragile portion is configured to be deformed before the second fragile portion when a collision load applied toward a vehicle rearward side is inputted to an extension portion of a bumper beam. The second fragile portion is configured to be deformed before the front frame when the collision load applied toward the vehicle rearward side is inputted to the extension portion.

Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure is provided that is lightweight and reduces an impact load transmitted to lower limbs of an occupant. Embodiments include a transmission disposed in a vehicle front portion, a dash lower panel dividing an inside from an outside of a vehicle cabin in a vehicle rear of the transmission, and an organ type accelerator pedal disposed on a vehicle-width-direction inner side of the dash lower panel opposed to the transmission. The dash lower panel includes a panel rear portion in which the accelerator pedal is arranged, a panel front portion extending from the panel rear portion to a vehicle front upper side, and a fragile portion extending in a vehicle width direction along a boundary between the panel rear portion and the panel front portion, which is fragile compared to the panel rear portion and the panel front portion.

Abstract: A method for patterning a stack having a mask with a plurality of mask features is provided. A targeted deposition is provided, wherein the targeted deposition comprises a plurality of cycles, wherein each cycle comprises flowing a precursor to deposit a layer of precursor and targeted curing the layer of precursor, comprising flowing a curing gas, flowing a modification gas, forming a plasma from the curing gas and modification gas, and exposing the layer of precursor to the plasma providing a targeted curing, wherein plasma from the curing gas cures first portions of the layer of precursor and plasma from the modification gas modifies second portions of the layer of precursor, wherein the modification of the second portion reduces curing of the layer of precursor of the second portions of the layer of precursor. The stack is etched through the targeted deposition.

Abstract: A lower structure of a vehicle may include a transmission disposed in a floor tunnel, a rear propeller shaft that transmits power from the transmission to rear wheels, and left and right battery units disposed on the left and right sides of the floor tunnel, in which a rear portion (transfer 4a) of the transmission is disposed in proximity to the portions on the front side and the upper side of the battery units, and inner protectors that cover inner side surface portions in the vehicle width direction of the battery units from the inner side in the vehicle width direction may be mounted to the front end portions of the inner side surface portions.

Abstract: A vehicle may include a propeller shaft that extends from a transmission toward a vehicle rear side and left and right battery units disposed below floor panels disposed on the left and right sides of a floor tunnel. The propeller shaft may include a first shaft portion connected to the transmission and a second shaft portion connected to the first shaft portion via a universal joint. The left and right battery units may have inner side surface portions that face the inner side in the vehicle width direction, respectively. Planar protectors that cover the portions of the inner side surface portions on the vehicle rear side of the universal joint may be mounted to the battery units, respectively.

Abstract: Methods for etching features into carbon material using a metal-doped carbon-containing hard mask to reduce and eliminate redeposition of silicon-containing residues are provided herein. Methods involve depositing a metal-doped carbon-containing hard mask over the carbon material prior to etching the carbon material, patterning the metal-doped carbon-containing hard mask, and using the patterned metal-doped carbon-containing hard mask to etch the carbon material such that the use of a silicon-containing mask during etch of the carbon material is eliminated.

Abstract: A vehicle lower body structure can include: a side sill that forms a first closed cross section extending in a body front-rear direction; and a reinforcing member provided in the first closed cross section to reinforce a front end portion of the side sill. The reinforcing member can have: a front-end reinforcing section that supports a collision load applied to the front end portion of the side sill and directed rearward in a vehicle body; a deformation permission section that permits deformation of the side sill directed inward in a vehicle width direction and rearward at the time when the collision load directed inward in the vehicle width direction and rearward is applied to the front end portion of the side sill; and a deformation suppression section suppressing deformation of the side sill after the deformation of the side sill directed inward in the vehicle width direction and rearward.

Abstract: A side body structure of a vehicle can include: a hinge pillar; a front pillar that is coupled to an upper end portion of this hinge pillar via a bent section, extends upward to the rear, and is coupled to a front end portion of a roof side rail via a connected section; and an apron rein that extends forward from a position below the bent section in the hinge pillar, where the bent section can include an energy absorption section that is subjected to out-of-plane deformation in a longitudinal orthogonal direction of the front pillar and thereby can absorb collision energy when the collision energy, which can be directed rearward, is applied to the apron rein. The energy absorption section can be configured to include an outer bead section and an inner bead section respectively provided in an outer member and a lower inner member.

Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure controls inward breakage of an apron reinforcement in the event of a small overlap collision, without increasing weight. Embodiments include a pair of right and left apron reinforcements extending in a vehicle front-rear direction; and a pair of right and left hinge pillars respectively connected to rear ends of the pair of apron reinforcements. A reinforcement outer member of the apron reinforcement includes a linear portion extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from a rear end of the apron reinforcement connected to the hinge pillar to an intermediate portion of the apron reinforcement. A horizontal bead, provided as a deformation facilitating portion to facilitate deformation toward an inside of a vehicle body, is disposed on an outer surface portion positioned on a vehicle-width-direction outer side of the linear portion, the horizontal bead having a reduced longitudinal rigidity toward a front side in the vehicle front-rear direction.

Abstract: Methods for forming a vertical growth mask for use in etching applications are described herein. Disclosed embodiments include introducing a tungsten-containing deposition precursor and one or more carrier gases while igniting a plasma to deposit tungsten selectively on field regions of positive features of a patterned etch mask without substantial deposition on sidewalls of the positive features or on an exposed surface of a target layer underlying the patterned etch mask.

Abstract: A front vehicle-body structure comprises a crash can fixed to a front end of a front frame. The crash can comprises an upper face portion, a lower face portion, a pair of side face portions, corner portions respectively positioned between the side face portion and the upper face portion and between the side face portion and the lower face portion, a first fragile portion provided at each of the corner portions, and a second fragile portion provided at each of the side face portions. The first fragile portion is configured to be deformed before the second fragile portion when a collision load applied toward a vehicle rearward side is inputted to an extension portion of a bumper beam. The second fragile portion is configured to be deformed before the front frame when the collision load applied toward the vehicle rearward side is inputted to the extension portion.