Abstract: A method for measuring degradation of a thermal resistance between a power semiconductor and a heat sink of a power module assembly where the power semiconductor has an internal gate resistance, including measuring a first initial parameter related to the power semiconductor junction temperature, and heating the internal gate resistance and measuring a second initial parameter, related to the junction temperature after the heating, after discrete time intervals during the lifetime of the power module assembly measuring a first subsequent parameter related to the power semiconductor junction temperature heating the internal gate resistance and measuring a second subsequent parameter, related to the junction temperature after the heating, and calculating a thermal resistance degradation, ?RTh with the subsequent parameters related to junction temperature and the initial parameters and raising a fault flag in case ?RTh is above a limit value.

Abstract: A thermoelectric device includes active elements containing thermoelectric materials of silicon, an alloy of silicon, a metal-silicide or silicon composite and an interconnection zone consisting of a metal interconnect and a re-crystallized phase consisting of material from the active thermoelectric elements. The metal interconnect is from a metal that does not form metal silicides in a solid state, has a certain solubility for components of the thermoelectric elements in the liquid phase and a low solubility of these components in the solid phase. The active thermoelectric elements are shaped with a first and a second contact interface. The interconnection between the different thermoelectric elements consists of at least two phases of material, one of which is mainly the metallic interconnection material, the other is formed by the re-crystallized components of the thermoelectric materials.

Abstract: A thermoelectric device includes active elements containing thermoelectric materials of silicon, an alloy of silicon, a metal-silicide or silicon composite and an interconnection zone consisting of a metal interconnect and a re-crystallized phase consisting of material from the active thermoelectric elements. The metal interconnect is from a metal that does not form metal silicides in a solid state, has a certain solubility for components of the thermoelectric elements in the liquid phase and a low solubility of these components in the solid phase. The active thermoelectric elements are shaped with a first and a second contact interface. The interconnection between the different thermoelectric elements consists of at least two phases of material, one of which is mainly the metallic interconnection material, the other is formed by the re-crystallized components of the thermoelectric materials.

Abstract: An infinitely variable power bypass transmission with two operating modes for a motor vehicle with a thermal engine, including: at least two power lines parallel-connecting the thermal engine with the vehicle wheels and each including a coupling/decoupling device capable of locking or releasing a transmission shaft according to the operating mode; a line including a continuous speed controller; and a mode switch control device configured to control the coupling/decoupling devices. The transmission includes a single actuator for the two coupling/decoupling devices, which is configured to, when a mode switch occurs, trigger simultaneously the two modes while locking the two transmission shafts.

Abstract: A casting device for producing semiconductor material foil includes a casting frame and a substrate band. The casting frame is arranged for holding a molten semiconductor material and includes sidewalls of which an exit sidewall is located at an output position for the semiconductor material foil. The exit side wall is provided with an exit slit. The casting device further includes a local force exerting means to exert at the location of the exit slit a locally enlarged external force on the molten semiconductor material to enlarge an outer pressure on the molten material at the exit slit.

Abstract: A casting device for producing semiconductor material foil includes a casting frame and a substrate band. The casting frame is arranged for holding a molten semiconductor material and includes sidewalls of which an exit sidewall is located at an output position for the semiconductor material foil. The exit side wall is provided with an exit slit. The casting device further includes a local force exerting means to exert at the location of the exit slit a locally enlarged external force on the molten semi-conductor material to enlarge an outer pressure on the molten material at the exit slit.

Abstract: A method for controlling an infinitely variable transmission with an electric speed selector, including a heat engine and at least two electric machines based on calculating an instantaneous operating point of the transmission defined by a speed reference of the heat engine and a wheel torque reference. The wheel torque reference is corrected in case of saturation of the heat engine, so as to eliminate the saturation.

Abstract: An infinitely-variable power-branching transmission with two operating modes. The transmission components are distributed between two power paths connecting in parallel a heat engine to vehicle wheels, including at least first planetary trains, two electrical machines, and a reduction stage. A third planetary train co-operates with control members to establish the two transmission operating modes and to switch there between.

Abstract: An infinitely-variable power-branching transmission with two operating modes. The transmission components are distributed between two power paths connecting in parallel a heat engine to vehicle wheels, including at least first planetary trains, two electrical machines, and a reduction stage. A third planetary train co-operates with control members to establish the two transmission operating modes and to switch therebetween.

Abstract: A method for controlling an infinitely variable transmission with an electric speed selector, including a heat engine and at least two electric machines based on calculating an instantaneous operating point of the transmission defined by a speed reference of the heat engine and a wheel torque reference. The wheel torque reference is corrected in case of saturation of the heat engine, so as to eliminate the saturation.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission connected with a prime power source, including an input member for receiving power input from the prime power source, a two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism having a first axis and including at least four rotating members that are associated to rotate about the first axis, a first motor/generator having a second axis aligned with the first axis of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism, and a second motor/generator having a third axis offset from and parallel to the first axis. The first motor/generator is drivingly connected with the first rotating member of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism. The second motor/generator is drivingly connected with the second rotating member of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism.

Abstract: An infinitely variable power bypass transmission with two operating modes for a motor vehicle with a thermal engine, including: at least two power lines parallel-connecting the thermal engine with the vehicle wheels and each including a coupling/decoupling device capable of locking or releasing a transmission shaft according to the operating mode; a line including a continuous speed controller; and a mode switch control device configured to control the coupling/decoupling devices. The transmission includes a single actuator for the two coupling/decoupling devices, which is configured to, when a mode switch occurs, trigger simultaneously the two modes while locking the two transmission shafts.

Abstract: In a hybrid transmission and its assembling method, a differential unit is constituted by a single pinion planetary gear set and a double pinion planetary gear set holding a carrier in common to the single planetary gear set and having five rotary members from among which, when revolution states of two rotary members are determined, those of the other rotary members are determined, an input end from a prime mover is coupled to a ring gear of the double pinion planetary gear set, an output end to a drive system that is coupled to the common carrier, a first motor/generator that is coupled to a sun gear of the double pinion planetary gear set, a second motor/generator that is coupled to a sun gear of the single pinion planetary gear set, and a brake enabled to brake a ring gear of the single pinion planetary gear set.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission connected with a prime power source, including an input member for receiving power input from the prime power source, a two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism having a first axis and including at least four rotating members that are associated to rotate about the first axis, a first motor/generator having a second axis aligned with the first axis of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism, and a second motor/generator having a third axis offset from and parallel to the first axis. The first motor/generator is drivingly connected with the first rotating member of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism. The second motor/generator is drivingly connected with the second rotating member of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism.

Abstract: In control apparatus and method for taking failure countermeasure for a hybrid vehicular drive system, on a lever diagram of a planetary gear mechanism, a revolution speed order is a first motor/generator, an engine, the output member, and a second motor/generator, high-brake and low-brake are arranged at one and the other ends of the lever diagram, respectively, with the output member as an intermediate position on the lever diagram, an output abnormality of each of the engine, the first motor/generator, and the second motor/generator which are drive sources is detected, and, with one of the first and second clutching sections clutched, a vehicular run using at least one of the drive sources whose output is detected to be normal is enabled when the drive source output abnormality detecting section detects that the output abnormalities in any one or two of the drive sources occur.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission connected with a prime power source, including an input member for receiving power input from the prime power source, a two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism having a first axis and including at least four rotating members that are associated to rotate about the first axis, a first motor/generator having a second axis aligned with the first axis of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism, and a second motor/generator having a third axis offset from and parallel to the first axis. The first motor/generator is drivingly connected with the first rotating member of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism. The second motor/generator is drivingly connected with the second rotating member of the two degree-of-freedom gear mechanism.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission for variably producing a transmission ratio is comprised of first and second motor/generators and a differential mechanism constructed by two double-pinion planetary gearsets. The two double-pinion planetary gearsets are coaxially arranged and commonly employ common pinions. The differential mechanism includes at least four rotating members which are interlinked so that rotating conditions of all of the rotating members are determined when rotating conditions of two of the rotating members are determined. Four of the rotating members are connected to an input from a prime mover, an output to a driveline, first and second mover/generators, respectively.

Abstract: In a hybrid transmission, a two-degree of freedom differential unit includes four or more rotary members and is structured in such a way that, when revolution states of two rotary members from among the four or more rotary members are determined, the revolution states of the other rotary members are determined, sequentially couples the respective rotary members, in a higher revolution speed order, to one motor/generator, to one of an output to a drive system and an input from a main power source, to the other of the output and input, and to another motor/generator, and a brake is installed to fix one of the rotary members related to the input.

Abstract: A transmission control system for a hybrid vehicle is comprised of a hybrid transmission including two motor/generators and a controller connected to the hybrid transmission. The controller is arranged to change the torque control of the motor/generator under the torque control to the revolution speed control and to change the revolution speed control of the other motor/generator under the revolution speed control to the torque control, when one of the torque of the motor/generator under the revolution speed control and the revolution speed of the motor/generator under the torque control becomes saturated.

Abstract: In a hybrid transmission and its assembling method, a differential unit is constituted by a single pinion planetary gear set and a double pinion planetary gear set holding a carrier in common to the single planetary gear set and having five rotary members from among which, when revolution states of two rotary members are determined, those of the other rotary members are determined, an input end from a prime mover is coupled to a ring gear of the double pinion planetary gear set, an output end to a drive system that is coupled to the common carrier, a first motor/generator that is coupled to a sun gear of the double pinion planetary gear set, a second motor/generator that is coupled to a sun gear of the single pinion planetary gear set, and a brake enabled to brake a ring gear of the single pinion planetary gear set.

Abstract: An impact-impeding structure includes a pane which extends along a plane and has a front and a rear side, and an impact-impeding frame for the pane. The frame may include an outer frame member and an inner frame member received in the outer frame member, the frame members being provided at least at one of the front and rear sides of the pane with impact-impeding elements, and defining with one another a labyrinthine gap situated at a region of the impact-impeding elements and including a plurality of steps extending at least substantially parallel to the plane. The parts of the gap which interconnect the steps extend at an angle deviating from the normal to the plane of the pane and may have different widths which may decrease from the exterior to the interior of the frame arrangement.