Showing papers by "Toyota published in 1996"

Homogeneous catalysis in supercritical fluids : hydrogenation of supercritical carbon dioxide to formic acid, alkyl formates, and formamides

Abstract: Rapid, selective, and high-yield hydrogenation of CO2 can be achieved if the CO2 is in the supercritical state (scCO2). Dissolving H2, a tertiary amine, a catalyst precursor such as RuH2[P(CH3)3]4 or RuCl2[P(CH3)3]4, and a promoting additive such as water, CH3OH, or DMSO in scCO2 at 50 °C leads to the generation of formic acid with turnover frequencies up to or exceeding 4000 h-1. In general, experiments in which a second phase was formed by one or more reagents or additives had lower rates of reaction. The high rate of reaction is attributed to rapid diffusion, weak catalyst solvation, and the high miscibility of H2 in scCO2. The formic acid synthesis can be coupled with subsequent reactions of formic acid, for example, with alcohols or primary or secondary amines, to give highly efficient routes to formate esters or formamides. With NH(CH3)2, for example 420 000 mol of dimethylformamide/mol of Ru catalyst was obtained at 100 °C. The demonstrated solubility and catalytic activity of complexes of tertiary...

Metal oxides as a hole-injecting layer for an organic electroluminescent device

Abstract: We demonstrate that by using thin films of metal oxides, such as vanadium oxide (VOx), molybdenum oxide (MoOx) and ruthenium oxide (RuOx), as a hole-injecting layer for an organic electroluminescent (EL) device consisting of N,N'-diphenyl-N,N-bis(3-methylphenyl1)1,1'-biphenyl-4,4' diamine (TPD) and tris-(8-quinolinolato) aluminium (Alq), the EL device performance can be significantly improved. The `operating voltage' of the device is reduced with respect to a device with a well known indium - tin-oxide (ITO) electrode for hole injection. We consider that the improvement of the operating voltage is attributable to the lower energy barrier for hole injection at the metal oxide/TPD interface.

Syntheses of Highly Ordered Mesoporous Materials, FSM-16, Derived from Kanemite

Abstract: The synthetic conditions of highly ordered and thermally stable mesoporous molecular sieves from a layered silicate kanemite are established. We divided the formation process of the mesoporous materials from kanemite into two elemental processes: i) exchange of Na+ in the interlayer of kanemite for alkyltrimethylammonium cations and ii) condensation of silicates and formation of a three dimensional silicate framework. Higher pH (over 11.5) at the cation-exchange process and the subsequent pH adjustment at 8.5 at the condensation process were best suited for the formation of mesoporous products with high regularity and thermal stability. Removal of partially dissolved kanemite during the cation-exchange process avoided the formation of amorphous materials as a by-product. Structures of some intermediate silicate/surfactant complexes supported the proposed folded sheets mechanism for the formation of the mesoporous molecular sieves. Syntheses by using alkyltrimethylammonium with different alkyl-chain length...

Information display apparatus for vehicles

Abstract: An information display apparatus for vehicles for securely providing the driver with only information corresponding to the running condition, the information display apparatus comprising an information processor for receiving information detected by various sensors and monitors and for detecting the running condition of the vehicle, memory containing information on respective running conditions for display and degree of information importance being, and a display unit for displaying information in a display area or in an amount according to the degree of importance. The memory of the information display apparatus is used to read information corresponding to the detected running condition and the degree of information importance. The display area of speed information is increased when the vehicle is running straight and the display area of information about conditions behind the vehicle is increased when the vehicle is traveling in reverse.

Exhaust gas purification device of an engine

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device of an engine comprising a particulate filter arranged in an exhaust passage. An electric motor able to impart a vehicle drive power separate from the engine and able to generate electric power from the engine is provided. After the particulate filter finishes being warmed up, when the temperature of the particulate filter is low, the output torque of the engine is increased and the amount of increase of the output torque is consumed by the power generating action of the electric motor.

Apparatus for controlling light distributions of head lamps

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the light distribution of the head lamp has a first calculating means for estimating a driver's view position, a second calculating means for estimating a deviation angle formed by a running direction of the vehicle and a direction of the driver's view position, control means for controlling the light distribution composed of beam orientation, beam spread and upper bright-dark limit, said control means further comprising control-lamp selecting means which selects a high-beam head lamp or a low-beam head lamp corresponding to the result of the first calculating means. The first calculating means estimates a driver's view position which is determined by the distance of said vehicle reaching after an estimated time along a forward roadway, said estimated time for estimating moreover in respect of the driver's abilities which is determined by the level of the driving skillness. The second calculating means for estimating the deviation angle formed by the running direction of said vehicle and the direction of said driver's view position, and moreover modified within the driver's field of vision corresponding to the configuration of the forward roadway. Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved driver visibility in automobiles for controlling light distribution of the head lamp, selecting a high-beam head lamp or a low-beam head lamp corresponding to the driver's operating features, and especially provides an improved driver visibility turning on a high-beam head lamp.

Travel plan preparing device

Abstract: A travel plan preparing device used for preparing a travel plan by accessing a data base from terminal and acquiring information about service facilities existing on the route from the starting place to the destination. An area or desired kind of service is inputted through an input device (110) and transmitted to the data base (100) through a transmitter-receiver (116). When an area is inputted, the data base (100) retrieves the information about the service facilities in the designated area and transmits the information to the terminal. When a desired kind of service is inputted, the data base (100) transmits the information about hte positions of the pertinent service facilities and the electronic controller (ECU) (114) of the terminal calculates the distribution of the service facilities on a map, selects the area which meets most the inputted condition, and displays the area on a display device (12). A GPS navigation system (112) searches the route to the selected area and prepares a travel plan.

Hybrid vehicle drive system having clutch between engine and synthesizing/distributing mechanism which is operatively connected to motor/generator

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, having an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, an electric energy storage device for storing an electric energy, a motor/generator connected to the electric energy storage device, and a synthesizing/distributing mechanism which includes a first rotary element, a second rotary element connected to the motor/generator, and a third rotary element, and an output member connected to the third rotary element, wherein a first clutch is provided for connecting the first rotary element and the engine, and a second clutch is provided for connecting two elements of the first, second and third rotary elements of the synthesizing/distributing mechanism, for rotation of the two elements as a unit.

Auto-drive control unit for vehicles

Abstract: An auto-drive control unit which can switch a vehicle provided with an auto-drive mode from the auto-drive mode to a manual drive mode at a desired point. Based on detection signals from various types of sensors, an auto-drive controller controls an actuator to perform auto-drive. A changeover switch is provided to switch between the auto-drive and manual drive. The current position of the vehicle is detected by a GPS, and the controller calculates the time to reach the desired point. According to a shifting time to complete the shift to the manual drive, timing for operating the changeover switch is determined, and a message is shown on a warning display to urge a driver to operate the switch. When it is judged that the changeover cannot be completed in time, the controller forcedly decelerate the vehicle.

Valve timing control apparatus for engine

Abstract: A varying mechanism (VVT) for continuously varying the valve timing of an intake valve in a predetermined range is provided on a cam shaft in an engine. By controlling the VVT, the valve overlap period of the intake valve and an exhaust valve is continuously varied in a predetermined range, thus adjusting the amount of the internal EGR in combustion chambers. When determining that the operational load of the engine is small and intermediate based on the value of a manifold pressure, an electronic control unit (ECU) computes a target value for advancing the valve timing with respect to the rotational phase of a crankshaft based on a throttle angle, an engine speed, etc. The ECU also computes a limit value to restrict the target value in accordance with the value of the manifold pressure. When the target value is smaller than the limit value, the ECU controls the VVT based on the target value. When the target value is greater than the limit value, the ECU replaces the limit value with target value and controls the VVT based on this target value.

Seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus

Abstract: A seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus, constructed such that the air bag apparatus, which is integrated into a side portion of a seat back which side portion opposes a vehicle door, is activated at the time of a side impact such that a sewn portion of a seat surface layer, which is formed by sewing a front seat surface layer for covering the front of the seat back to a side seat surface layer for covering the side of the seat back, breaks and an air bag body inflates between a side portion of a vehicle body and the side of a vehicle occupant, comprising a sheet member provided inside the side seat surface layer integrally with the side seat surface layer, the sheet member being harder to stretch than the side seat surface layer, and one end of the sheet member being sewn to the sewn portion; and a fixing member provided inside the seat back, the fixing member being engaged with another end of the sheet member which is provided on the opposite side of the one end of the sheet member.

Method for purifying exhaust gas of a diesel engine

Abstract: According to the method of the present invention, NO (nitrogen monoxide) in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine is first oxidized to NO 2 (nitrogen dioxide) by an oxidizing catalyst. Further, carbon particles in the exhaust gas are trapped by a DPF (diesel particulate filter). The exhaust gas containing NO 2 formed by oxidation of nitrogen monoxide is, then, fed to the DPF, and NO 2 in the exhaust gas reacts with the carbon particles trapped in the DPF. When the NO 2 reacts with carbon particles, carbon particles are oxidized (burned) by NO 2 and removed from DPF, and, at the same time, NO 2 is reduced to NO by the carbon particles. The exhaust gas containing NO formed by the reaction between the carbon particles and NO 2 is fed to an NO X absorbent. In the NO X absorbent, NO is absorbed by the NO X absorbent and, thereby, removed from the exhaust gas. Therefore, according this method, the carbon particles collected by the DPF can be easily burned by NO 2 , thereby being removed from the DPF without increasing the amount of NO released to the atmosphere.

Hybrid vehicle drive system having two motor generator units and engine starting means

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, including an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, a first motor/generator, a distributing mechanism for mechanically distributing an output of the engine to the first motor/generator and an output member, a second motor/generator whose rotary force is transferred to a power transmitting path between the output member and a drive wheel of the motor vehicle, and wherein an engine starting device is provided for operating the first motor/generator to crank the engine through the distributing mechanism, for thereby starting the engine.

Hybrid vehicle and its control method

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle having as a control mode at least a continuous-type parallel series hybrid vehicle (PHV) mode and a series hybrid vehicle (SHV) mode, and a control method thereof. A torque distributing mechanism is provided to distribute the output torque of an internal combustion engine (ICE) to a generator and a motor. A braking mechanism and a clutch are provided in this order between the torque distributing mechanism and the motor. The torque distributing mechanism and the motor are connected by the clutch to keep a power transmission efficiency from the ICE to driving wheels at a high value without depending on the vehicle speed in the continuous-type PHV mode. A battery can be recharged even when the vehicle is not running, by releasing the connection between the torque distributing mechanism and the motor by the clutch. When switching to the SHV mode, the motor side output shaft of the torque distributing mechanism is stopped by the braking mechanism to prevent the ICE from overrunning. An SOC sensor is used to detect the state of charge (SOC), of the battery, and when the SOC is lowered, the control mode is forcedly or automatically switched to the SHV mode. The generated power of the generator is controlled to a very small level to substantiate creeping.

Device for purifying the exhaust gas of a diesel engine

Abstract: A device for purifying the exhaust gas of a diesel engine comprises a filter for collecting particulates which is arranged in the exhaust system of the engine, an oxidation catalyst arranged in the exhaust system upstream of the filter, diesel fuel supply unit for supplying diesel fuel to the oxidation catalyst when the filter must be regenerated, and a heater. The heater heats the diesel fuel supplied from the diesel fuel supply unit to the oxidation catalyst only in the initial step of supplying the diesel fuel when the temperature of the oxidation catalyst is lower than a predetermined temperature and the filter must be regenerated.

Vehicle seat with side air bag assembly

Abstract: A vehicle seat is equipped with a side air bag assembly, the air bag of which is assembled within a side cavity formed in one side of a back rest of the vehicle seat in a folded condition. A rear attachment board is mounted on a support frame of the back rest, and has a back portion formed to cover the rear face of the back rest and a side portion formed to cover the air bag in the side cavity. The side portion of the rear attachment board is formed as a door portion to be opened outwardly when applied with a thrusting force caused by inflation of the air bag.

Device for detecting deterioration of NOx absorbent

Abstract: A device for detecting deterioration of a NOx absorbent arranged in the exhaust passage of an engine. An O2 sensor generating a current proportional to the air-fuel ratio is arranged in the exhaust passage downstream of the NOx absorbent. When the amount of NOx absorbed in the NOx absorbent is almost zero or after the amount of NOx absorbed in the NOx absorbent is made almost zero, the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture is changed from lean to rich, and the amount of oxygen stored in the NOx absorbent is detected from the output signal of the O2 sensor at this time. Further, the NOx absorbing capability is found by using this detected oxygen amount.

Regenerative brake controller for controlling value of regenerative braking torque simulating engine braking torque

Abstract: A regenerative brake controller for controlling a value of regenerative braking torque to simulate engine braking torque. When the shift lever is in the D range, from a first control map which correlates the vehicle speed and the like with target braking torque or target deceleration, the controller reads the target braking torque or target deceleration corresponding to the vehicle speed immediately before the release of the accelerator pedal, and controls the vehicle components on the basis of the read target braking torque or target deceleration such that the regenerative braking torque corresponding to the engine braking torque is produced. When the shift lever is in the engine braking range, the controller detects the shift lever position in this range, determines the target braking torque or target deceleration by referring to the map, and on the basis of the vehicle speed and the like immediately before the release of the accelerator pedal and the shift lever position in the engine braking range, and controls the vehicle components according to the determined target braking torque or target deceleration such that the regenerative braking torque corresponding to the engine braking torque is produced. In connection with the regenerative braking torque corresponding to the engine braking torque, the vehicle drivability can be improved.

Vehicle guiding system

Abstract: A vehicle guiding system enables a plurality of vehicles to run in a platoon with minimum assistance from drivers, and is intended to enhance effective use of from auto-drive lane. When the vehicle runs in the platoon, a front running vehicle detects its displacement from a magnetic nail, and calculates a steering amount to be corrected (i.e. control variables). The front running vehicle not only controls its own movements on the basis of the control variable data but also transmits them to a following vehicle. The following vehicle does not detect its displacement from the magnetic nail, but controls its steering amount on the basis of the received control variable data. The first following vehicle transfers the control variable data to a further following vehicle. The further following vehicle simply receives the control variable data from the following vehicle, and does not calculate its own control variables. This reduces a distance between the vehicles which is necessary for each vehicle to perform such calculation.

Air bag apparatus for passenger seat

Abstract: An air bag apparatus for a passenger seat has reduced deploying speed and reduces the impact of the air bag on an occupant moving forward at the time of a crash of a vehicle. A gas generator is disposed in a case of the air bag apparatus, extending in a fore-to-aft direction relative to the vehicle. The gas generator case contains a cylindrical inflator extending in the fore-to-aft direction. An air bag is disposed in the apparatus case, folded in a predetermined manner. An inner bag for controlling gas flow is disposed in the air bag, folded in a predetermined manner. An auxiliary inner bag is sewed to an outside surface of a bag of the inner bag. When the inner bag is inflated and deployed, the bag of the inner bag presses a portion of the air bag against the windshield, and the auxiliary inner bag presses another portion of the air bag against the instrument panel.

Baggage receiving and handling method in airport, baggage receiving and handling system in airport, and baggage automatic handling apparatus

Abstract: Baggage receiving and handling method in airport, its system and baggage automatic handling apparatus, wherein reservation information of a user is stored and retrieved when the user comes in the airport to issue a boarding pass if the reservation information made certain to be correct and a tag recording the baggage number therein for the baggage, the baggage number enabling retrieval based on the boarding pass number, the baggage attached with the tag is accepted. The baggage separated from the passenger is subject to a security check. If there is a rejection as a result of the baggage security check, the passenger in having a passenger security check dissolves the cause of rejection. Only the baggage of the passenger who finished the passenger security check is sorted via a sorting conveyer according to airplanes and loaded thereon.