Abstract: A carbon-based combustion catalyst is obtained by performing a burning step of burning sodalite at a temperature of 600° C. or more. Alternatively, a carbon-based combustion catalyst is obtained by performing the following mixing step, drying step, and burning step. In the mixing step, aluminosilicate (sodalite), and an alkali metal source, and/or an alkaline earth metal source are mixed in water to obtain a liquid mixture. In the drying step, the liquid mixture is heated to evaporate the water thereby obtaining a solid. In the burning step, the solid is burned at a temperature of 600° C. or more. The thus-obtained catalyst can cause carbon-based material to be stably burned and removed at a low temperature for a long time.

Abstract: A base engine torque generated with an estimated intake air amount is estimated. An engine torque is corrected by correcting an ignition timing based on a difference between a required engine torque and the base engine torque. A torque correction amount is calculated based on a correction amount of the ignition timing. An actual engine torque is estimated based on the calculated torque correction amount and the base engine torque. A permitted component driving torque is a difference between the actual engine torque and the required vehicle driving torque. A component is controlled based on the permitted component driving torque.

Abstract: In a drive control system for a hybrid vehicle, the electric power generated by an alternator driven by an engine and the electric power regenerated by a motor-generator are stored in a battery. The battery discharges electric energy to drive the motor-generator. An ECU calculates fuel consumption of the engine and fuel consumption of the motor-generator, and determines a distribution of motive power between the engine and the motor-generator from the fuel consumptions. The ECU calculates fuel consumption contributing to the electric energy stored in the battery, and then calculates the fuel consumption of the motor-generator by reflecting the contributing fuel consumption in it.

Abstract: A carbon-based material combustion catalyst is manufactured by performing a mixing step, a drying step, and a burning step. In the mixing step, zeolite except for sodalite, an alkali metal source, and/or an alkaline earth metal source are mixed in water at a predetermined ratio. In the drying step, a liquid mixture after the mixing step is heated to evaporate the water, thereby obtaining a solid. In the burning step, the solid is burned at a temperature of 600° C. or more. The obtained carbon-based material combustion catalyst causes carbon-based material to be stably burned and removed at a low temperature for a long time.

Abstract: An engine controller controls an engine, which drives a generator, an auxiliary device, and a vehicle. The generator generates electricity, and supplying the electricity to a battery and a plurality of current consumers. A generator controller controls the generator. An auxiliary device controller controls the auxiliary device. An electric power generation calculation unit calculates one of a requested power generation of the generator and a present power generation of the generator. An engine speed changing unit evaluates tendency of power generation on the basis of the one of the requested power generation and the present power generation. The engine speed changing unit requests increase or decreases in the engine speed when the engine speed changing unit determines the power generation to be inclined toward shortage or excess.

Abstract: A control unit uses upper and lower limit guard values to limit a power generation quantity of a power generator and thereby to maintain the current combustion mode during power generation of the power generator. The control unit computes a remaining electric charge of a battery. When the remaining electric charge drops to a predetermined value or below, the control unit cancels a combustion mode maintaining operation, which maintains the current combustion mode, is cancelled, so that priority is given to the power generation of the power generator to recover the remaining electric charge of the battery. Also, when an electric power consumption in a vehicle is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the combustion mode maintaining operation is cancelled, and the power generation quantity of the power generator is controlled in a manner that does not cause overdischarge of the battery.

Abstract: An electric generator control apparatus of a vehicle sets respective target values of output voltage and output current for the electric generator of the vehicle, and selectively establishes a voltage control mode for holding the generator output voltage at the target voltage or a current control mode for holding the generator output current at the target current, with the mode selection and the setting of target values being performed based on criteria such as the level of charge of the vehicle battery, the electrical load of the vehicle equipment, etc.

Abstract: A power supply control apparatus for controlling an electric generator of a vehicle limits the rate of change of a power supply voltage to a predetermined variation rate range, when the change is caused by operations to control the charge condition of the vehicle battery, and controls the generated power to match the drive torque applied by the engine to the generator. When the electrical load demand changes, the generated power is controlled to limit a resultant momentary change in the power supply voltage caused by an engine response delay, while minimizing a resultant momentary amount of engine speed variation.

Abstract: A base engine torque generated with an estimated intake air amount is estimated. An engine torque is corrected by correcting an ignition timing based on a difference between a required engine torque and the base engine torque. A torque correction amount is calculated based on a correction amount of the ignition timing. An actual engine torque is estimated based on the calculated torque correction amount and the base engine torque. A permitted component driving torque is a difference between the actual engine torque and the required vehicle driving torque. A component is controlled based on the permitted component driving torque.

Abstract: An increment of a fuel consumption rate caused by power generation is determined from a difference in fuel consumption rate between a case of performing power generation of an alternator and a case of stopping the power generation. The increment of the fuel consumption rate is divided by a power generation amount of the alternator to determine an increment of a fuel consumption per unit power generation amount. A use-frequency of the electric consumption is determined and also a possible power generation amount and average consumption power are calculated. A target electric consumption is set based upon the use-frequency, the possible power generation amount and the average consumption power so that the charge and discharge balance of the battery becomes zero. The present electric consumption is compared with the target electric consumption to determine whether or not to perform the power generation of the alternator.

Abstract: A base engine torque generated with an estimated intake air amount is estimated. An engine torque is corrected by correcting an ignition timing based on a difference between a required engine torque and the base engine torque. A torque correction amount is calculated based on a correction amount of the ignition timing. An actual engine torque is estimated based on the calculated torque correction amount and the base engine torque. A permitted component driving torque is a difference between the actual engine torque and the required vehicle driving torque. A component is controlled based on the permitted component driving torque.

Abstract: In an air-conditioning system for a vehicle, which has multiple heat sources (an evaporator and a heat accumulator), either one of the heat sources, for which the input energy amount for the unit cooling capacity is smaller than that for the other heat source, is preferentially used for performing the cooling operation, an energy amount for the air-conditioning operation can be reduced.

Abstract: An engine control method and related engine control method are disclosed for an engine with an auxiliary device of a vehicle wherein auxiliary device control means controls a drive torque of the auxiliary device, engine control means executes an engine torque control to vary the output torque of the engine, and failure detecting means detects a failure giving an adversely affect to engine torque control executed with the engine control means. The auxiliary device control means alters a drive control mode of the auxiliary device in response to the failure detected with the failure detecting means. In preferred embodiment, the auxiliary device is driven in a collaborative control mode in the presence of an extremely mild failure, a fixed voltage control mode in the presence of a mild failure and a gradual change control mode in the presence of a fatal failure.

Abstract: A generator control device controls a generator that is driven by an engine to charge a battery and supply electric power to electric loads. In the generator control device the following steps are carried out: calculating a required electric power; calculating a difference rate that is a difference in an amount of a hazardous gas component of engine exhaust gas between a first case in which the generator generates the required electric power and a second case in which the generator does not generate an electric power divided by the electric power and controlling the generator to generate the required electric power if the difference is equal to or smaller than a first reference value.

Abstract: In a drive control system for a hybrid vehicle, the electric power generated by an alternator driven by an engine and the electric power regenerated by a motor-generator are stored in a battery. The battery discharges electric energy to drive the motor-generator. An ECU calculates fuel consumption of the engine and fuel consumption of the motor-generator, and determines a distribution of motive power between the engine and the motor-generator from the fuel consumptions. The ECU calculates fuel consumption contributing to the electric energy stored in the battery, and then calculates the fuel consumption of the motor-generator by reflecting the contributing fuel consumption in it.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio sensor monitor is provided which is designed to monitor reactive characteristics or response rates of an air-fuel ratio sensor when an air-fuel ratio of a mixture to an internal combustion engine is changing to a rich side and to a lean side. The monitored response rates are used in determining whether the sensor is failing or not, in determining the air-fuel ratio of the mixture accurately, or in air-fuel ratio control of the engine.

Abstract: The protection element of the present invention is constructed of a MOS capacitor composed of a semiconductor substrate, an insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate and a word line formed on the insulating film. A well region having a conductivity type opposite to that of the semiconductor substrate is formed in a portion of the semiconductor substrate constituting the MOS capacitor. If charge exceeding the breakdown voltage of the insulating film constituting the MOS capacitor is induced in the word line, the induced charge is released into either the semiconductor substrate or the well region depending on whether the induced charge is positive or negative.

Abstract: A base engine torque generated with an estimated intake air amount is estimated. An engine torque is corrected by correcting an ignition timing based on a difference between a required engine torque and the base engine torque. A torque correction amount is calculated based on a correction amount of the ignition timing. An actual engine torque is estimated based on the calculated torque correction amount and the base engine torque. A permitted component driving torque is a difference between the actual engine torque and the required vehicle driving torque. A component is controlled based on the permitted component driving torque.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control system has an upstream catalyst, a downstream catalyst, a first sensor for detecting a first air-fuel ratio present upstream the upstream catalyst, a second sensor for detecting a second air-fuel ratio present between the catalysts and a third sensor for detecting a third air-fuel ratio present downstream the downstream catalyst. An ECU determines a target second air-fuel ratio based on the detected third air-fuel ratio, and a target first air-fuel ratio based on the target second air-fuel ratio and the detected second air-fuel ratio. The ECU feedback controls an air-fuel ratio of mixture based on the target first air-fuel ratio and the detected first air-fuel ratio. The target first air-fuel ratio is corrected based on the detected third air-fuel ratio so that a change in the target first air-fuel ratio becomes smaller in a predetermined range other than a normal range.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio sensor monitor is provided which is designed to monitor reactive characteristics or response rates of an air-fuel ratio sensor when an air-fuel ratio of a mixture to an internal combustion engine is changing to a rich side and to a lean side. The monitored response rates are used in determining whether the sensor is failing or not, in determining the air-fuel ratio of the mixture accurately, or in air-fuel ratio control of the engine.