Abstract: An electromotive drive system including a small motor and a small-capacity battery more effectively improves the fuel economy of an engine-driven vehicle. An electromotive drive system includes: a motor for driving a vehicle; a battery storing electrical energy to rotate the motor; an inverter; a converting mechanism transmitting rotation of the motor to a drive shaft at a predetermined conversion ratio independently of a conversion ratio at which an engine is driven; and a control unit controlling an operation of the inverter. The control unit is configured so that upper vehicle speed limits, to which the motor is allowed to operate, can be set separately during powering and during regeneration, respectively.

Abstract: An electromotive drive system including a small motor and a small-capacity battery more effectively improves the fuel economy of an engine-driven vehicle. An electromotive drive system includes: a motor for driving a vehicle; a battery storing electrical energy to rotate the motor; an inverter; a converting mechanism transmitting rotation of the motor to a drive shaft at a predetermined conversion ratio independently of a conversion ratio at which an engine is driven; and a control unit controlling an operation of the inverter. The control unit is configured so that upper vehicle speed limits, to which the motor is allowed to operate, can be set separately during powering and during regeneration, respectively.

Abstract: An electromotive drive device including a small motor and a small-capacity battery more effectively improves the fuel economy of an engine-driven vehicle. An electromotive drive device includes: a motor for driving a vehicle; a battery storing electrical energy to rotate the motor; an inverter; a converting mechanism transmitting rotation of the motor to a drive shaft at a predetermined conversion ratio independently of a conversion ratio at which an engine is driven; and a control unit controlling an operation of the inverter. The control unit is configured so that upper vehicle speed limits, to which the motor is allowed to operate, can be set separately during powering and during regeneration, respectively.

Abstract: An electromotive drive device including a small motor and a small-capacity battery more effectively improves the fuel economy of an engine-driven vehicle. An electromotive drive device includes: a motor for driving a vehicle; a battery storing electrical energy to rotate the motor; an inverter; a converting mechanism transmitting rotation of the motor to a drive shaft at a predetermined conversion ratio independently of a conversion ratio at which an engine is driven; and a control unit controlling an operation of the inverter. The control unit is configured so that upper vehicle speed limits, to which the motor is allowed to operate, can be set separately during powering and during regeneration, respectively.

Abstract: A metal-based mounting board according to the present invention includes: a metal-based circuit board including a metal substrate through which a through-hole is provided along a thickness direction thereof, an insulating film provided on the metal substrate and a metal film provided on the insulating film, wherein the through-hole opens on a surface of the metal film on the opposite side of the metal substrate via the insulating film and the metal film; an electronic component connected to the metal film, the electronic component including an electronic component main body and a conductive leg portion electrically connected to the electronic component main body and inserted into the through-hole; and an insulating portion provided at least between the leg portion locating inside the through-hole and the metal substrate, and having a function of preventing them from making contact with each other.

Abstract: A metal-based mounting board according to the present invention includes: a metal-based circuit board including a metal substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, an insulating film provided on the first surface of the metal substrate and a metal film provided on the insulating film; and an electronic component provided on the metal film of the metal-based circuit board, wherein in the case where within the metal substrate, a region which overlaps with a collection of a plurality of lines each having an angle of 45° or less with respect to a normal line of the metal-based mounting board, the lines each passing through a surface of the electronic component facing the metal film, is defined as a first region, and a region other than the first region is defined as a second region, a groove is provided within the second region, but is not provided within the first region.

Abstract: The metal-based mounting board includes: a metal-based circuit board including a metal substrate having a first surface and a second surface, an insulating film provided on the first surface and a metal film provided on the insulating film; and an electronic component provided on the metal film of the metal-based circuit board. Within the metal substrate, a region which overlaps with a collection of a plurality of lines each having an angle of 45° or less with respect to a normal line of the metal-based mounting board, the lines each passing through a surface of the electronic component facing the metal film, is defined as a first region. A region other than the first region is defined as a second region. At least one groove is provided within the first region so as to surround the electronic component in a planar view of the metal-based mounting board.

Abstract: A heat transfer sheet of the present invention includes a heat transfer layer having a first portion and a second portion provided in a position different from the first portion in a planar view of the heat transfer layer, the second portion being capable of expanding and contracting in a thickness direction of the heat transfer layer at an expansion ratio larger than that of the first portion depending on temperature changes in an object from which heat is to be dissipated.

Abstract: A heat transfer sheet of the present invention includes a heat transfer layer having a first portion and a second portion provided in a position different from the first portion in a planar view of the heat transfer layer, the second portion being capable of expanding and contracting in a thickness direction of the heat transfer layer at an expansion ratio larger than that of the first portion depending on temperature changes in an object from which heat is to be dissipated.

Abstract: In a switching circuit, at least two bus bars are fixed with an insulator interposed therebetween and secured to a substrate of the switching circuit. Being combined with the bus bars, the insulator serves not only to insulate those bus bars but also to enhance the bending rigidity and bending strength of the switching circuit. As current flows in one of the bus bars in a direction opposite to a direction in which current flows in the other bus bar, the inductance of the bus bars is reduced, resulting in the decreased fly-back voltage generated upon switching operation.

Abstract: A power output apparatus includes a planetary gear having a planetary carrier, a sun gear, and a ring gear. A crankshaft of an engine is mechanically linked with the planetary carrier, a first motor with the sun gear, and a second motor with the ring gear. A controller drives the second motor with electric power regenerated by the first motor or drives the first motor with electric power regenerated by the second motor, based on a gear ratio of the sun gear to the ring gear of the planetary gear, thereby enabling the power output from the engine to be converted to a desired power and output to a power transmission gear mechanically connected with the ring gear. The engine may be driven at any driving point that can output energy identical with the energy output to the ring gear. This structure allows the engine to be driven at a desired driving point of highest possible efficiency, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the whole apparatus.

Abstract: A power output apparatus 20 includes a clutch motor, an assist motor, and a controller. The clutch motor and the assist motor are controlled by the controller to enable the power output from an engine to a crankshaft 56, and expressed as the product of its revolving speed and torque, to be converted to the power expressed as the product of a revolving speed and a torque of a drive shaft and to be output to the drive shaft. The engine can be driven at an arbitrary driving point defined by a revolving speed and a torque, as long as the energy or power output to the crankshaft is identical. A desired driving point that attains the highest possible efficiency with respect to each amount of output energy is determined in advance. In order to allow the engine to be driven at the desired driving point, the controller controls the clutch motor and the assist motor as well as the fuel injection and the throttle valve position.

Abstract: A generator controller used in hybrid electric vehicle. The battery current is sampled and accumulated for T seconds. The obtained accumulated value is used to determine the control target of the generated power. Since the generated power is controlled according to the accumulated current of the battery which fits the battery's characteristic compared to the charged-and-discharged power, the battery's state of charge (SOC) can be more accurately controlled within the target zone. When the SOC of the battery is initially outside the target zone, the SOC is adjusted within the target zone by forcibly discharging or charging the battery. The precision of SOC control can be improved compared to when the SOC of the battery is controlled using the charged-and-discharged power.

Abstract: A method of controlling a generated power in a series hybrid vehicle. From the tendency of an inverter input power or a motor dissipation power in a certain period is first estimated the tendency of the inverter input power or the motor dissipation power in the next period. The target power to be generated is then set on the basis of the results of the estimation. Alternatively the target power to be generated is corrected in accordance with the quantities such as an accelerator angle indicating the load of the motor or a battery current indicating the state of charge/discharge of the battery. Alternatively that period is compulsorily interrupted to start the next period. This will eliminate a delay arising from averaging the inverter input powers or the motor dissipation powers for use as the target power in the next period, thus resulting in improved vehicle power efficiency and drive feeling.

Abstract: An output memory unit 26a stores data for the necessary average output of a generator 20 for a pattern obtained from the past in-travel-pattern power consumption. Therefore, in the case of a travel pattern, the output of the generator 20 is set in accordance with the stored data. Moreover, the power consumption in the travel pattern is examined to update the necessary average output of the generator 20.

Abstract: A generator controller and controlling method of a hybrid vehicle. A battery voltage is compared with a predetermined value and when the battery voltage is lower than the predetermined value as a result of the comparison, an state of charge of the battery is discriminated. In the case of an state of charge of at least 70%, a generator output is controlled on the basis of a motor output, and in the case of an state of charge of less than 70%, while the generator output is controlled to a relatively high value, the motor output is limited. When the state of charge is restored to more than 75%, the voltage is controlled depending on the motor output. In the case of at least the predetermined value of the battery voltage, an idle control of an engine is carried out. As a result, the state of charge of the battery can be ensured and overcharging of the battery can be prevented.

Abstract: A control method for an electrical appliance in a hybrid vehicle. When the electric appliance is connected, the output of the engine is maintained by reducing the output of the generator by the equivalent of the power consumed by the electric appliance while maintaining the revolution speed of the engine. The revolution speed of the engine is then gradually increased by adjusting the field current of the generator while monitoring the output of the generator. When the output of the engine is increased by the power consumed by the electric appliance, the engine is operated at a constant revolution speed and a constant output at the operation point on the output line of the engine with WOT. Thus, the engine is prevented from stopping due to a rapid increase in the load. Owing to a gentle change in the output, the emission is favorable. Since the output of the engine does not deviate from the output line of the engine with WOT (wide open throttle), the fuel consumption is also good.

Abstract: A drive control apparatus for a series hybrid vehicle. The series hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a generator, a battery and a motor. The generator is activated by electricity from the engine so as to drive the motor. The battery is charged by the electricity from the generator, being discharged so as to provide a voltage to the motor. In other words, the motor is also activated by discharging electricity from the battery. There are three modes for activating the motor, i.e. a mode for activating the motor only by the battery, a mode for activating it only by the generator, and a mode for activating it both by the battery and the generator. The motor activating modes will be selected depending upon a required motor output. An output voltage of the generator is determined so as to derive the required output according to the selected mode. The generator is of a type which can output a voltage according to a field current.

Abstract: Controller 40 receives accelerator opening and brake depressing amounts, and the output of an ammeter 30 and voltmeter 32 as inputs. In response to the state of these input signals, the controller 40 determines the timing to detect the state of charge (SOC) of the battery 10 and detects the SOC of the battery 10. That is, it is first judged that the SOC is not more than a predetermined value if the voltage of the battery 10 is not more than a predetermined value when the accelerator opening is not more than a predetermined value. It is next judged that the SOC is not more than a predetermined value if the voltage of the battery 10 is not more than a predetermined value when the brake is depressed beyond a certain degree. In these cases, the engine 24 is driven to cause a generator 22 to perform generation of electricity to charge the battery 10.

Abstract: A power output apparatus 20 includes a clutch motor, an assist motor, and a controller. The clutch motor and the assist motor are controlled by the controller to enable the power output from an engine to a crankshaft 56, and expressed as the product of its revolving speed and torque, to be converted to the power expressed as the product of a revolving speed and a torque of a drive shaft and to be output to the drive shaft. The engine can be driven at an arbitrary driving point defined by a revolving speed and a torque, as long as the energy or power output to the crankshaft is identical. A desired driving point that attains the highest possible efficiency with respect to each amount of output energy is determined in advance. In order to allow the engine to be driven at the desired driving point, the controller controls the clutch motor and the assist motor as well as the fuel injection and the throttle valve position.