Showing papers by "Toyota published in 2000"

Electronic and optical properties of anatase TiO 2

Abstract: First-principles calculations using the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave method have been performed to investigate detailed electronic and optical properties of ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}$ in the anatase structure. The fully optimized structure, obtained by minimizing the total energy and atomic forces, are in good agreement with experiment. Stabilization of the structure by the trade off between a favorable coordination in the ${\mathrm{sp}}^{2}$ hybridization and the Coulomb repulsion among oxygen atoms is also demonstrated. We calculate band structure, densities of states and charge densities, and interpret their features in terms of the bonding structure in the molecular orbital picture. The optical properties, calculated within the dipole approximation, are found to agree with recent experiments on single crystals of anatase ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}.$ Near the absorption edge, the results show a significant optical anisotropy in the components parallel and perpendicular to the c axis. We demonstrate that this large dichroism results from the existence of nonbonding ${d}_{\mathrm{xy}}$ orbitals located at the bottom of the conduction bands, which allows direct dipole transitions dominantly for the perpendicular component.

Catalytic Activity in Organic Solvents and Stability of Immobilized Enzymes Depend on the Pore Size and Surface Characteristics of Mesoporous Silica

Abstract: An enzyme, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), was adsorbed in the manner of the single immersion method on the silica mesoporous materials FSM-16, MCM-41, and SBA-15 with various pore diameters from 27 to 92 A, and their enzymatic activities in an organic solvent and the thermal stabilities were studied. FSM-16 and MCM-41 showed a larger amount of adsorption of HRP than SBA-15 or silica gel when the pore sizes were larger than the 50 A. The increased enzyme adsorption capacity may be due to the surface characteristics of FSM-16 and MCM-41, which would be consistent with the observed larger adsorption capacity of cationic pigment compared with anionic pigment for these materials. The immobilized HRP on FSM-16 and MCM-41 with pore diameter 50 A showed the highest enzymatic activity in an organic toluene and thermal stability in aqueous solution at the temperature of 70 °C. The immobilized enzymes on the other mesoporous materials including large or small pore sized FSM-16 showed lower enzymatic activity in an or...

Preparation and mechanical properties of polypropylene–clay hybrids based on modified polypropylene and organophilic clay

Abstract: Polypropylene–clay hybrids (PPCHs) were prepared by melt blending maleic anhydride modified PP and organophilic clay. In these PPCHs the silicate layers of the clay were exfoliated and dispersed to the monolayers. The hybridization of the clay in PP was achieved with modified PP with a small amount of maleic anhydride groups. The tensile modulus of the PPCH with 5 wt % clay was 1.9 times higher than that of the matrix resin at 25°C. The dynamic storage moduli (E′) of the PPCHs were also higher than those of the modified PP. The E′ was 2.5 times higher than that of the matrix resin at 60°C. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1918–1922, 2000

NOx storage-reduction catalyst for automotive exhaust with improved tolerance against sulfur poisoning

Abstract: The main cause of deterioration for the NO x storage-reduction catalyst (NSR catalyst) is sulfur poisoning. On the basis of the thermogravimetric (TG) and FT-IR analyses of aged catalysts, we assumed sulfur poisoning of NSR catalyst to consist of two main factors. One is that sulfur dioxide in the exhaust gas is oxidized on precious metals and reacts with the support, forming aluminum sulfate. Another is that SO x reacts with the NO x storage components such as barium to form barium sulfate. These consequences lead to the concept that sulfur poisoning should be suppressed by the enhancement of sulfur desorption from the support and barium sulfate. Using a mixture of TiO 2 and γ-Al 2 O 3 as the support minimized the amount of SO x deposit on a catalyst after the sulfur poisoning test. As to γ-Al 2 O 3 , sulfur desorbed at a lower temperature from the catalyst with lithium doped γ-Al 2 O 3 than the other alkaline or alkali-earth doped γ-Al 2 O 3 after the sulfur poisoning test. It was effective for enhancing the desorption of sulfur from the aged catalyst. To make a uniform catalytic wash-coat thickness on the substrate, a hexagonal cell monolithic substrate was developed. Hydrogen was the most effective gas for enhancing the reduction of barium sulfate in the aged catalyst, and hydrogen generation on catalyst was enhanced by adding Rh/ZrO 2 with high steam reforming reactivity. The catalyst developed by combining these technologies was subjected to on-vehicle durability testing simulating 50,000 km of driving with 30 ppm sulfur fuel to verify the improvement in the NO x purification performance of NSR catalyst.

An Asian variant of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma: clinical, pathological and cytogenetic approaches to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma associated with haemophagocytic syndrome

Abstract: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with haemophagocytic syndrome (BCL-HS) has been reported mainly in Asia and is regarded as a distinct variant of intravascular lymphoma (IVL). However, it is unclear whether all cases of BCL-HS fall within the framework of IVL and available clinical information is limited. We analysed 25 cases with BCL-HS, including 11 autopsied cases (median, 66 years; male-female ratio, 1.1:1). The patients presented with fever, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, haemophagocytosis, bone marrow invasion, respiratory disturbance and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, but usually lacked lymphadenopathy, mass formation, neurological abnormalities and skin lesions. The clinical course was aggressive with a median survival of 7 months. The morphological findings were uniform: large lymphoid cells infiltrated vessels and/or sinusoids of the liver, marrow, lung, kidney and other organs. They were positive for CD19, CD20, CD79a and HLA-DR, but negative for CD10, CD23 and CD30. CD5 was positive in five out of 17 cases. Our critical review indicates that BCL-HS is the equivalent of the Asian variant of IVL.

Robust license-plate recognition method for passing vehicles under outside environment

Abstract: Novel methods to recognize license plates robustly are presented. A sensing system with a wide dynamic range has been developed to acquire fine images of vehicles under varied illumination conditions. The developed sensing system can expand the dynamic range of the image by combining a pair of images taken under different exposure conditions. In order to avert blurring of images against fast passing vehicles, a prism beam splitter installed a multilayered filter, and two charge-coupled devices are utilized to capture those images simultaneously. Furthermore, to extend the flexibility of camera placement, a recognition algorithm that can be applied to inclined plates has been developed. The performance of recognizing registration numbers on license plates has been investigated on real images of about 1000 vehicles captured under various illumination conditions. Recognition rates of over 99% (conventional plates) and over 97% (highly inclined plates) showed that the developed system is quite effective for license-plate recognition.

Moving object with fuel cells incorporated therein and method of controlling the same

Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle with fuel cells and an engine mounted thereon as energy output sources, a technique is employed that adequately changes a working energy output source according to a driving state of the hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle has the engine and a motor, both enabling power to be output to an axle. The hybrid vehicle also has fuel cells as a main electric power supply for driving the motor. The technique changes the working energy output source between the fuel cells and the engine, in order to reduce the output of the fuel cells with consumption of a fuel for the fuel cells. With a decrease in remaining quantity of the fuel, the technique narrows a specific driving range, in which the motor is used as the power source. The technique also causes the engine to drive the motor as a generator and charges a battery not with electric power of the fuel cells but with electric power generated by the motor. This arrangement effectively prevents the fuel for the fuel cells from being excessively consumed in one driving mode. The fuel cells can thus be used preferentially in a specific driving state of the hybrid vehicle where the fuel cells have a high efficiency.

Portable terminal and on-vehicle information processing device

Abstract: A portable terminal and an on-vehicle device are combined such that effective navigation can be provided. The portable terminal provided with communication function is connected with the on-vehicle information processing device when placed on a cradle. The portable terminal transmits a destination to an information center, and shows obtained route data on a display while transmitting the route data to the on-vehicle device which outputs guidance speech from a speaker. On arriving near the destination, the on-vehicle information processing device provides the portable terminal with map data for the vicinity of the destination. A user can remove the portable terminal from the cradle and reach the destination while viewing a map shown on the display of the portable terminal.

Polyolefin-clay hybrids based on modified polyolefins and organophilic clay

Abstract: A novel and general approach to prepare polyolefin-clay hybrids by using the maleic anhydride modified polyolefins and organophilic clay during melt-blending was reported. The silicate layers of the clay were exfoliated and homogeneously dispersed at the monolayers in the hybrids. The hybrids exhibited remarkable reinforcement compared to conventional composites filled with talc which were dispersed at micrometer level.

Unidirectionally Textured CaBi4Ti4O15 Ceramics by the Reactive Templated Grain Growth with an Extrusion.

Abstract: Dense CaBi4Ti4O15 (CBT) ceramics with a unique texture were prepared by the reactive templated grain growth (RTGG) method using an extrusion technique. Plate-like Bi4Ti3O12 (BIT) particles, a reactive template for CBT, were mixed with other oxide and carbonate powders and unidirectionally aligned by extrusion. During sintering, oriented CBT grains were formed in situ topotaxially on the oriented BIT particles, and the templated grain growth and their densification eventually fabricated textured CBT ceramics. X-ray diffraction measurements and scanning electron microscopic observations revealed that the plate-like CBT grains were unidirectionally oriented parallel to the extruding direction without uniaxial alignment. Textured CBT ceramics poled in the extruding direction exhibited electromechanical coupling coefficients (k33) and piezoelectric coefficients (d33 and g33) more than two times as large as one of nontextured ceramics with the same composition.

Vehicle control apparatus for front and rear drive ratio on the basis of operator's desired vehicle drive force and static and dynamic vehicle states

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus for controlling a four-wheel-drive automotive vehicle of a type which comprises a first drive power source for driving one of a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels, and a second drive power source for driving the other of the pairs of front and rear wheels, wherein an operator's desired value of a vehicle drive force for driving the automotive vehicle is obtained on the basis of an amount of operation of a manually operated vehicle accelerating member and a running speed of the vehicle, and a front drive force for driving the pair of front wheels and a rear drive force for driving the pair of rear wheels are controlled on the basis of a static and a dynamic state of the vehicle such that a sum of the front drive force and the rear drive force is equal to the obtained operator's desired value of the vehicle drive force.

Catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides : In automotive exhaust containing excess oxygen by NOx storage-reduction catalyst

Abstract: Automotive catalyst technology is now faced with very difficult problems. As a result of automakers' efforts to produce more efficient and lower-emission vehicles, lean-burn gasoline engines have been introduced into the market. While these are much more efficient than the conventional engines, the NOx removal has become significantly more difficult. After enormous efforts, we succeeded to solve the problem by inventing a new class of catalyst. Here, our challenge to develop the new catalyst that stores and then reduces NOx is described. The catalyst made it possible for emissions of lean-burn engines to meet the strict NOx regulations.

Titanium alloy and method for producing the same

Abstract: A titanium alloy which contains 30 to 60 wt. % of an element of Va Group (Vanadium Group) and the balance consisting substantially of titanium, and has an average Yang's modulus of 75 GPa or less and a tensile strength at elastic limit of 700 MPa or more. The titanium alloy can be used for various products requiring a low Yang's modulus, a large elastic deformation and also a high strength.

Power output device, hybrid vehicle, and method of controlling them

Abstract: A power output device, wherein an engine (150), a motor (130), and a motor (140) and an axle (116) are connected to a planetary carrier (123) of a planetary gear (120), a sun gear (121), and a ring gear (122), respectively, a clutch (160) is provided between the planetary gear (120) and the motor (140) so that both of them can be disengaged and engaged, a brake (162) is provided to fix the ring gear (122) when the clutch (160) is disengaged, whereby, when the clutch (160) is engaged, the formation of a parallel hybrid vehicle is realized and, when the clutch (160) is disengaged and the ring gear (122) is fixed by the brake (162), the formation of a series hybrid vehicle is realized, and the mode is switched according to the traveling conditions of the vehicle so that a traveling can be performed making use of the advantages of each mode.

Method and apparatus for environment recognition

Abstract: Images are captured using a single camera in motion. A recognition process section detects a possible object in a photographed image, tracks the possible object within the moving image, and generates object shape information from the trajectory information. A motion and pose determination section determines camera motion and pose using the photographed images for recognition processing. The determined data are used for object recognition along with the tracking information. The motion and pose determination section converts the optical flow parameters obtained from the photographed images into physical parameters in three-dimensional space. An Extended Kalman Filter is used for both the determination of motion and pose and for object recognition.

Vehicle braked by motor torque and method of controlling the vehicle

Abstract: A vehicle characterized by a deceleration that is readily adjustable in the course of braking control with a torque of a motor mounted on a vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle has a power system including an engine, a motor, a torque converter, a transmission, and an axle that are linked with one another in series. The transmission is a mechanism that changes over a gear ratio under control of a control unit to vary the transmitted torque. The driver manipulates a gearshift lever in the vehicle to specify a desired deceleration by power source braking. The control unit refers to a predetermined map and specifies a combination of motor torque and gear ratio to attain the specified deceleration. In the course of braking control, the deceleration is corrected according to a step-on amount of an accelerator pedal in a range of play of the accelerator pedal. This arrangement facilitates minute adjustment of the deceleration by the power source braking.

Internal combustion engine having solenoid-operated valves and control method

Abstract: An internal combustion engine including solenoid-operated intake and exhaust valves is operable in a partial operating mode with at least one cylinder being deactivated, without suffering from vibration of the engine. Where particular cylinders are deactivated under cylinder deactivation control, the exhaust valve of each deactivated or inactive cylinder is opened for a certain period of time which starts ahead of the bottom dead center. The timing of opening the exhaust valve is determined so that the pressure within the inactive cylinder is lower than the atmospheric pressure when the exhaust valve is opened. The timing of closing the exhaust valve is determined so that the peak value of the pressure within the inactive cylinder becomes almost equal to the peak value of the pressure within active cylinders. Where the cylinders are successively deactivated with the engine operating on a six-stroke cycle, opening and closing actions of the exhaust valve are controlled so that an increase in the cylinder pressure due to compression of gas in the currently deactivated cylinder and an increase in the cylinder pressure due to combustion in an active cylinder do not occur at the same time.

Topology optimization design of flextensional actuators

Abstract: Flextensional actuators can be defined as a piezoceramic (or a stack of piezoceramics) connected to a flexible mechanical structure that converts and amplifies the output displacement of the piezoceramic. Essentially, the actuator performance depends on the distribution of stiffness and flexibility in the coupling structure and, therefore, on the coupling structure topology. In this work, we propose a general method for designing flextensional actuators with large output displacement (or generative force) by applying the topology optimization method. The goal is to design a flexible structure coupled to the piezoceramic that maximizes the output displacement (or force) in some specified direction. Static and low frequency applications are considered. To illustrate the implementation of the method, 2-D topologies of flextensional actuators are presented because of the lower computational cost; however, the method can be extended to 3-D topologies. By designing other types of coupling structures connected to the piezoceramic, new designs of flextensional actuators that produce output displacements or forces in different directions can be obtained, as shown. This method can be extended for designing flextensional hydrophones and sonars.

Low nonconvexity-rank bilinear matrix inequalities: algorithms and applications in robust controller and structure designs

Abstract: A branch and bound (BB) algorithm for solving a general class of bilinear matrix inequality (BMI) problems is proposed. First, linear matrix inequality (LMI) constraints are incorporated into BMI constraints in a special way to take advantage of useful information on nonconvex terms. Then, the nonconvexity of the BMI is centralized in coupling constraints so that when the latter are omitted, we get a relaxed LMI problem for computing lower bounds. As in our previous developments, the branching is performed in a reduced dimensional space of complicating variables. This makes the approach practical even with a large dimension of overall variables. Applications of the algorithm to several test problems of robust control are discussed.

Apparatus for assisting steering of vehicle when backing

Abstract: A steering assist apparatus (10) that assists a driver when backing a vehicle (1) in an S-shaped path or parallel parking The apparatus displays guidance marking (17) on a monitor screen (19) and the driver refers to the guidance marking, which permits the driver to easily back the vehicle to a desired position The apparatus includes a camera (2), a monitor (4), an angle sensor (9), obstacle sensors (6), an image processing unit (11), a controller (12) and a monitor controller (13) The image processing unit computes the predicted path of the vehicle at the current wheel angle The monitor shows an image captured by the camera The image processing unit generates data representing a guidance marking based on the predicted path and superimposes the marking on the monitor screen The location of the marking on the screen is determined based on the current wheel angle The marking represents part of the predicted path Specifically, the marking matches the width of the vehicle In the monitor screen, a marking is separated from the rear bumper of the vehicle by a distance corresponding to the wheelbase of the vehicle

Route guiding apparatus and medium

Abstract: A route guiding apparatus provides information for a route using public transportation as an alternative to a vehicular route. In addition to searching for a vehicular route from a current location to a destination, it is determined whether the current location and the destination are within a zone in which public transportation can be used. When the current location and the destination are determined to be within a public transportation zone, a route using public transportation is searched for. Subsequently, the cost of the route using public transportation and the cost of the vehicular route are compared. When the cost of the public transportation route falls within a predetermined limit, the apparatus indicates the public transportation route. The route costs are calculated considering factors such as required travel time and ticket fees. The apparatus may also recommend public transportation when no parking is available near the destination, or based on traffic information concerning the vehicular route.

Electric power steering apparatus

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide an electric power steering apparatus with good steering feeling. This electric power steering apparatus has a steering system for turning tires (18) in accordance with manipulation of steering wheel (10), a power assist motor (24) for assisting this turning of the tires (18) by the steering system, a non-stage transmission (22) with variable transmission ratios, interposed between the power assist motor (24) and the steering system, and an ECU (30) for controlling the transmission ratios of the non-stage transmission (22) and for controlling the output of motor (24) in accordance with the turning of the tires (18) by the steering system.

System for computer user interface

Abstract: A computer user interface for use in a transport vehicle ( 10 ), which defines a virtual control panel in the upper open area of the vehicle steering wheel ( 12 ). The user enters inputs by action in appropriate sections of the virtual control panel area. A computer controlled display ( 20 ) illustrates a map to the user of locations of sections in the virtual control panel area, and information that can be input by user action with particular sections. A sensor ( 22 ) monitors the virtual control panel area, and produces electronic information corresponding to user action in the virtual control panel area. Software logic in a computer ( 46 ) analyzes the electronic information to determine if there has been user action and the location thereof, for designating an action as a particular user input. Based upon the designation, the computer produces an appropriate output, such as operating or adjusting vehicle systems.

Apparatus for controlling vehicle drive units

Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine provided as one drive unit for driving the vehicle, a starter motor for starting the engine, a clutch device which is released to substantially disconnect a power transmitting path between the drive wheels and the engine, and another drive unit operatively connected to drive wheels, the control apparatus including a first engine-starting device for placing the clutch device in its released state and activating the starter motor to start the engine, when the vehicle is running in a running condition in which the engine cannot be started with a kinetic energy of the vehicle while the clutch device is placed in its engaged state, and a second engine-starting device for placing the clutch device in the engaged state, to start the engine with the vehicle kinetic energy, when the vehicle is running in a running condition in which the engine can be started with the kinetic energy with the clutch device held in the engaged state.

Fuel tank system

Abstract: A fuel tank body has a double-layer structure composed of an inner tank shell and an outer tank shell, so that an inter-tank-shell space is formed therebetween. Because heat of fuel in the fuel tank body is discharged into the inter-tank-shell space, the temperature of fuel in the fuel tank body is prevented from rising. If the pressure in a canister becomes negative due to a negative pressure in an intake system of an engine, more specifically, a negative pressure in a surge tank leading to an air cleaner, high-temperature air in the inter-tank-shell space between the inner tank shell and the outer tank shell flows into the canister. On the other hand, low-temperature air flows from the air cleaner into the inter-tank-shell space which has become negative in pressure.

Multiple power source system and apparatus, motor driving apparatus, and hybrid vehicle with multiple power source system mounted thereon

Abstract: In a multiple power source system of the present invention that has an inverter connected to a reactance, such as three-phase coils in a motor, a high voltage battery is connected with a low voltage battery via one transistor (Tr2) and one diode (D2) included in the inverter and one phase coil (U-phase coil) of the three-phase motor. The transistor Tr2 is turned on to make the electric current flow from the low voltage battery to the U-phase coil. The transistor Tr2 is subsequently turned off at a preset timing, so that the electric energy accumulated in the reactance, that is, the U-phase coil, flows through the diode D1 into the high voltage battery and thereby charges the high voltage battery. This arrangement enables the charging process from the low voltage battery to the high voltage battery without any complicated circuit structure for the voltage step-up. The three-phase motor may be unipolar driven with transistors connected to one side of the inverter. The arrangement of the present invention does not require any complicated structure, which undesirably increases the size of the multiple power source system, in order to ensure mutual supplement of the electric energy between electric systems having a large difference in voltage, for example, an electric system for driving a hybrid vehicle and an electric system for its control circuit.