Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for estimating joint forces and moments in human beings. A forward dynamics module determines simulated kinematic data. An error correction controller forces tracking error between the simulated kinematic data and measured (or desired) kinematic data to approach zero. The error correction controller generates a modified acceleration for input into an inverse dynamics module. The estimated joint forces and moments track the measured (or desired) kinematics without the errors associated with computing higher order derivatives of noisy kinematic data.

Abstract: While steel sheets are positioned and held by a holding mechanism, a first laser beam is applied to a heating region of the steel sheet to space the steel sheet from the other steel sheet by a predetermined distance. A second laser beam is applied to a welding region to weld the steel sheets. An amount of heat applied by the first laser beam, a moving speed of the first laser beam, and a focused spot diameter of the first laser beam are set to keep the sheet irradiated with the first laser beam in an unmelted state and plastically deform the sheet.

Abstract: Extending sections are positioned along X and Y directions by engagement sections, and positioned along Y direction of a vehicle by positioning sections using mounts of a rear bumper. This makes it possible to accurately indicate a forming position of a vehicular-part mounting hole, which is needed to mount a rear under spoiler, with respect to the rear bumper based on a scribed mark if the extending sections are positioned by using the engagement sections and the positioning sections. Therefore, a worker can form a vehicular-part mounting hole in an appropriate position by merely making a hole in the position of the scribed mark, without requiring a work of removing the rear bumper.

Abstract: A welding condition monitoring device for monitoring the welding state of a welding work portion by taking an image thereof by an image sensor having a wide dynamic range and capable of taking an image covering a very bright welding portion and relatively dark portion. The monitoring device selectively emphasizes the outputs of the image sensor for any of luminance areas of the image taken by the image sensor using a sensor output characteristic table and can provide an image clearly showing both the very bright welding portion and the dark bead portion with a sufficient contrast allowing an observer to reliably recognize the objects in the image.

Abstract: A landing shock absorbing device 18 disposed in a foot mechanism 6 of a leg of a robot, wherein an inflatable bag-like member 19 (variable capacity element) is provided at a bottom face side of the foot mechanism 6. The bag-like member 19 is constructed of an elastic material such as rubber. The air in atmosphere may flow into and out of the bag-like member 19 by inflow/outflow means 20 equipped with a solenoid valve 27, and the like. In a lifting state of the foot mechanism 6, inflow of the air into the bag-like member 19 is controlled, thereby controlling the final height of the bag-like member 19 in an inflated state to the height in response to a gait type of the robot. While properly reducing an impact load during a landing motion of the leg of a legged mobile robot depending on the gait type of the robot, stability of a posture of the robot may easily be secured, resulting in allowing a configuration to be lighter in weight.

Abstract: An idle control system applicable to a fuel cell vehicle 1 is provided for improving the fuel efficiency. When the fuel cell vehicle is determined to be in a predetermined idle mode, the idle control system stops a compressor to thereby stop power generation of a fuel cell. In contrast, when the state of charge of the capacitor 4 falls below a predetermined value while the fuel cell vehicle is in the idle mode, the idle control system drives the compressor 8 by means of the capacitor to drive the fuel cell in order to charge the capacitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cell voltage measuring device for a fuel cell comprising: a contact region provided on or in a separator forming the fuel cell; and a terminal contacting the separator at the contact region to measure cell voltage of the fuel cell, wherein the contact region is defined by a groove formed in the outer periphery of the separator, and wherein, in a state in which the terminal is inserted into the groove and contacts the separator, the entire area of the cross-section of the terminal perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof at a contact point is disposed in the groove. Accordingly, contact between the terminal and the separator can be preferably retained.

Abstract: A method for representing images for pattern classification extends the conventional Isomap method with Fisher Linear Discriminant (FLD) or Kernel Fisher Linear Discriminant (KFLD) for classification. The extended Isomap method estimates the geodesic distance of data points corresponding to images for pattern classification, and uses pairwise geodesic distances as feature vectors. The method applies FLD to the feature vectors to find an optimal projection direction to maximize the distances between cluster centers of the feature vectors. The method may apply KFLD to the feature vectors instead of FLD.

Abstract: An e-mail sending and receiving system in which positional data about a plurality of places can be included in an e-mail message to be sent, and further detailed data can be obtained based on the included positional data, thereby improving the convenience and effectiveness of the positional data. The system includes a mail generating section for generating an e-mail message to be sent to an addressee; a positional data storage section for storing a plurality of positional data; and a positional data attaching section for attaching one or more of the positional data stored in the positional data storage section to the e-mail message generated by the mail generating section. The system may further include a section for generating detailed data relating to each positional data attached to the e-mail message, and attaching a URL for accessing the detailed data to the e-mail message.

Abstract: A development department stores physical characteristic data concerning a product to be manufactured, such as shape and CAD data, in a database. Cost factor data are provided from a plurality of potential makers of the product. The cost factor data is stored in a database. Manufacturing costs are calculated for the respective makers based on the cost factor data, and then displayed. The provided information, the cost factor data stored in the databases, and the estimated manufacturing costs can be browsed through a network. Further, the cost factor data stored in the databases can be updated by the makers through the network.

Abstract: In an electronic key system for a motorcycle including the control unit mounted on a specific vehicle and a mobile transmitter-receiver carried by a user, the specific vehicle includeing an openable and closable seat on which the user sits, and is provided with a start switch used for starting the control unit in the seat. More specifically, the start switch is installed on, for example, the left side surface inside the user's seat at the position corresponding to the portion which the user may touch when opening the seat. An operating element of the start switch opposes the back surface of the superficial skin on the left side of the seat.

Abstract: In a low floor type vehicle 10, a banking angle ?1 of a longitudinal V-type engine 100 mounted below a low floor is set to an angle equal to or exceeding approximately 90°. The V-type engine is arranged with a bisector L1 of the banking angle directed toward a head pipe 21 of a body frame 20. The body frame is composed of a pair of right and left upper frames 22 extended backward and downward from the head pipe and a pair of right and left down frames 23 extended downward from the head pipe and coupled to the front of a crankcase 104 of the V-type engine and is a diamond type frame from which the V-type engine can be suspended.

Abstract: A nonstaining coating composition which comprises as essential components (A) a specific aliphatic sulfonic acid compound or amine salt thereof, (B) a compound having per molecule at least one functional group selected among carboxyl, a carboxylic acid anhydride group, and a carboxyl group blocked with an alkyl vinyl ether, (C) a specific organosilicate and/or a condensate thereof, and (D) a resin having epoxy groups and/or alkoxysilyl groups in the molecule; and a method of finish coating. Also, a stain resistant coating composition which comprises (F?) a specific modified resin and optionally (B) a compound having in the molecule at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group, carboxylic acid anhydride group and carboxyl group blocked with an alkylvinyl ether compound.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the passenger occupancy of a vehicle includes, at least two image pickup sections provided at a specified distance, a measuring section measuring a distance to an object on the basis of the at least two images acquired by the at least two image pickup sections, a reference data providing section providing reference data relating to the distance from the image pickup sections to a seat in accordance with the position of the seat, and a detection section detecting the passenger occupancy of the seat on the basis of the distance measured by the measuring section and the reference data.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided with an outlet side oxygen-containing gas communication hole. First and second oxygen-containing gas flow passage grooves are provided in the direction of the gravity while meandering in the horizontal direction on a surface of a first separator. The second oxygen-containing gas flow passage grooves communicate with the outlet side oxygen-containing gas communication hole via second oxygen-containing gas connecting flow passages. A porous water-absorbing tube, which is used to discharge water to the outside of the fuel cell stack in accordance with the capillary phenomenon and the difference in pressure of air, is provided for the outlet side oxygen-containing gas communication hole.

Abstract: An illuminated mud guard with improved durability. An illuminated mud guard includes: a mud guard body provided in a part of a vehicle body behind wheels of a vehicle; and an illuminating device provided in the mud guard body. The mud guard body comprises: a front member facing the wheels for receiving mud; and a rear member formed opposite to the front member with a clearance therebetween. The illuminating device is provided in the rear member.

Abstract: A fuel gas inlet, a fuel gas outlet, an oxygen-containing gas inlet, an oxygen-containing gas outlet, and other components, which are disposed at upper and lower portions at both ends in the lateral direction, are provided in a first fuel cell stack. A plurality of cooling medium inlets, a plurality of cooling medium outlets, and other components are provided at lower portions on the long side and at upper portions on the long side respectively. A cooling medium flows from the lower portions to the upper portions through cooling medium flow passages to cool the power generation surface smoothly and reliably.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radio communication system in which not only a communication unit operating in a slave mode but also a communication unit operating in a master mode can be changed into a power saving mode. Among a plurality of communication units, one of them is operating in the master mode while the others are operating in the slave mode. Only the communication units operating in the slave mode are allowed to be changed into a suspend state. The communication unit operating in the master mode stops transmission/reception in synchronization with transition into the stop state of the communication units operating in the slave mode.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine variable compression ratio system is provided that includes a piston inner (5a), a piston outer (5b) that is fitted around the outer periphery of the piston inner (5a) so that it can slide only in the axial direction and is capable of moving between a low compression ratio position (L) and a high compression ratio position (H), a raising member (14) that can pivot around axes of the piston inner and outer (5a, 5b) between a non-raised position (A) and a raised position (B), and an actuator (20) connected to the member (14) and pivoting it to the non-raised position (A) or the raised position (B), in which piston outer high compression ratio position latching means (30b) is disposed between the piston inner (5a) and the piston outer (5b) and operates, when the piston outer (5b) has reached the high compression ratio position (H), so as to prevent relative axial movement of the piston inner (5a) and the piston outer (5b).

Abstract: A fuel cell includes cell assemblies connected to each other by a fuel gas connection passage, an oxygen-containing gas connection passage, and a coolant connection passage. A fuel gas adjusting mechanism, an oxygen-containing gas adjusting mechanism, and a coolant adjusting mechanism are connected respectively to the fuel gas connection passage, the oxygen-containing gas connection passage, and the coolant connection passage. These adjusting mechanisms adjust the temperatures in the cell assemblies, the relative humidity in the fuel gas, and the relative humidity in the oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: A nitrogen trapping agent is added by a metering hopper to raw materials, which are melted and poured into a mold cavity of a metal mold device (18). The molten metal is then cooled and solidified into a casting (B). Before the molten metal is fully cooled and solidified, free nitrogen present in the molten metal is quickly trapped by the nitrogen trapping agent, producing a nitride. Then, a chilled structure generated in the surface layer of the casting (B) is decomposed by heating the casting (B). Finally, the heated casting (B) is machined into a camshaft (A) which is a cast iron member as a final product.

Abstract: A horn antenna part of a radar apparatus is made of a heat emitting material and includes: an antenna body part having a plurality of horn parts arranged in an array form, wherein each horn part is open toward a front surface of the apparatus, and has a diameter which gradually increases toward the front surface; and a feeder part including a waveguide which communicates with the horn parts, wherein the feeder part is connected to the antenna body part. The radar apparatus also includes: a wireless part for generating a high-frequency signal supplied to the feeder part, and converting a reflected high-frequency signal to a medium-frequency signal; and a circuit part for controlling the high-frequency signal and processing the medium-frequency signal. At least one of the wireless part and the circuit part is arranged in a manner such that it contacts the feeder part.

Abstract: In an abnormality detection system of a mobile robot, it is configured such that it is self-diagnosed whether the quantity of state is an abnormal value, or whether at least one of the internal sensor, etc., is abnormal and when an abnormality is self-diagnosed, abnormality information affixed with a time on which the abnormality occurred is outputted to be stored in an internal memory and in an external memory. With this, it becomes possible to improve the reliability of abnormality detection of the mobile robot and by storing the information affixed with a time on which the abnormality occurred, it becomes possible to ascertain accurately the course of events leading up to the abnormality. It is further configured such that in addition to a time on which the abnormality occurred, the information is stored in an external memory together with a parameter indicative of the quantity of state.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cell units stacked via separator plates, which further comprises (a) voltage-measuring projection terminals on peripheries of the separator plates, (b) a plurality of terminal members connected to voltage-inputting terminals of a voltage-measuring apparatus, and (c) an insulating casing comprising a plurality of partitions for supporting each terminal member in an insulated state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for transporting automotive instrument panels, comprising a frame, a pair of carry arms pivoted to the frame to carry opposite sides of an instrument panel, each carry arm having an outer end section which is provided with a carry formation for engaging a complementary carry formation on a corresponding side of the instrument panel; the instrument panel having a central column region with a lower column end portion, both of said carry arms having an inner end section which is positioned to lie in the path of the lower column end portion as it is lowered onto the frame, said carry arms being further arranged to be displaced downwardly as the instrument panel is lowered to a carry elevation relative to the frame, the downward displacement of the carry arms by the instrument panel causing the carry formations on the arms positively to engage the complementary carry formations on the instrument panel.

Abstract: The temperature of an exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust passage 3 is estimated or detected, and the temperature of an active element of an exhaust gas sensor 8. (O2 sensor) is controlled at a predetermined target temperature by a heater using the estimated or detected temperature of the exhaust gas. For estimating the temperature of the exhaust gas in the vicinity of the exhaust gas sensor 8, the exhaust passage 3 extending up to the exhaust gas sensor 8 is divided into a plurality of partial exhaust passageways 3a through 3d, the temperatures of the exhaust gas in the partial exhaust passageways 3a through 3d are estimated successively from an exhaust port 2 of an engine 1. The temperature of the exhaust gas is estimated according to an algorithm which takes into account a heat transfer between the exhaust gas and passage-defining members 6a, 6b, 7 which define the exhaust passage 3 and a heat radiation from the passage-defining members into the atmosphere.

Abstract: An active noise control system is provided which cancels a noise using a sound radiated from a speaker driven by an output from an adaptive notch filter. The system employs output signals from an adder or simulation cosine-wave and sine-wave signals, an error signal or an output signal from a microphone, and a compensated signal from the adder or a signal available for acoustically transferring an output from the adaptive notch filter to the microphone in accordance with initial transfer characteristics to update the filter coefficient of the adaptive notch filter. This configuration allows the system to operate with stability even when the acoustic transfer characteristics vary with time or under circumstances where there exists a significant amount of incoming external noises. The system also prevents overcompensation for a noise at the ears of a passenger in a vehicle, thereby proving an ideal noise reduction effect.

Abstract: A posture recognition apparatus recognizes instructions signified by postures of persons present in the surroundings, from images obtained with an image capture device. The posture recognition apparatus includes an outline extraction device that extracts an outline of a body which is a candidate for a person from the images; a distance calculation device that calculates a distance to the body being the candidate, from distance information of each pixel within the outline in the image; a search device that searches for a candidate for a hand of a person based on the outline and the distance to the body represented by the outline; and a posture determination device that determines an instruction corresponding to the relative position of the candidate for a hand and the outline, and outputs this determination result as a posture determination result.

Abstract: An active noise control system is provided which cancels a noise using a secondary noise from a speaker that is operated in accordance with an output from an adaptive controller. The system is configured such that microphone monitor interrupts a switch to thereby stop the secondary noise from being produced, when an error signal delivered by a microphone used for an adaptive computation in an LMS processing portion has the same sign for a predetermined duration. This allows the system to prevent the user from hearing an abnormal acoustic noise resulting from an abnormal operation or divergence of an adaptive filter even when the output signal from the microphone used for the adaptive computation is indicative of an abnormal level.

Abstract: The invention relates to noble metal-free nickel catalysts that exhibit both high activity and selectivity to hydrogen generation and carbon monoxide oxidation. The noble metal-free water gas shift catalyst of the invention comprises Ni in either a supported or a bulk state and at least one of Ge, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Pb, their oxides and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Based on a detected or estimated value of an actual posture of a predetermined part, such as a body 3, of a robot 1 and a deviation the actual posture from a posture of a desired gait, a posture rotational deviation's variation is determined as the temporal variation of the deviation, and the position of the robot 1 (for example, the position where the robot comes into contact with a floor) is estimated on the assumption that the robot 1 rotates about a rotation center by the rotational deviation's variation. In addition, in accordance with the difference between the estimated position and the estimated position of the robot 1 determined by an inertial navigation method using an accelerometer or the like, the estimated position of the robot 1 determined by the inertial navigation method is corrected, thereby improving the precision of the estimated position.

Abstract: There are provided device for determining a desired trajectory of a translation floor reaction force's vertical component of a legged mobile robot 1, a vertical component of the total center-of-gravity acceleration or a body acceleration vertical component of the robot 1, device for determining a desired vertical position of the total center-of-gravity of the robot 1 or a body 24 thereof so as to satisfy the desired trajectory, and means for determining a desired vertical position of the total center-of-gravity of the robot 1 or the body 24 thereof based on a geometrical condition concerning a joint of a leg 2. Depending on the gait mode, such as walking or running, one of the desired vertical positions is selected, or the desired vertical positions are combined by taking the weighted average thereof or the like, thereby determining a final desired vertical position.

Abstract: A composition for use as a catalyst in, for example, a fuel cell, the composition comprising platinum, copper and titanium, or an oxide, carbide and/or salt of one or more of platinum, copper and titanium, wherein the sum of the concentrations of platinum, copper and titanium, including an oxide, carbide and/or salt thereof, is greater than about 90 atomic percent.

Abstract: A general joint component framework that is capable of exhibiting complex behaviors of joints in articulated figures is provided. A network of joint components is used to model the kinematics of a joint. A joint builder can specify parameters for each of the joint components and join the joint components to form a joint set function that captures the biomechanical dependencies between the components. The joint function has fewer inputs than the total number of possible articulations yielding both simple control and biomechanically accurate joint movement.

Abstract: After an alloy powder including W, Cr, at least one of Ti, Zr, and Hf, and at least one of V, Nb, and Ta is produced, the alloy powder, a powdery carbon material, and a catalyst are heat-treated in the presence of a nitrogen gas. The alloy powder is carbonitrided into a multicomponent ceramics powder, and sintered into a sintered body. Alternatively, a powder of a first substance including at least two of Ti, Al, V, Nb, Zr, Hf, Mo, Ta, Cr, and W is molded into a molded body. Then, the surface of the molded body is surrounded by a second substance including a metal element which is not contained in the powder of the first substance, and the molded body is heat-treated in an atmosphere in which N is present. A porous sintered body thus produced is crushed into a multicomponent ceramics powder.

Abstract: A bipedal robot of the present invention has a trunk consisting of an upper trunk and a lower trunk which are rotatable around a rotation axis relative to one another. The upper trunk has shoulders on the right and left sides. An arm is provided at each shoulder. A pair of right and left legs is attached to lower ends of the lower trunk. A storage battery is mounted to the back of the upper trunk, positioned within a shoulder width. The storage battery is positioned below the top of a head mounted on the upper trunk. When the robot walks a narrow passage or corridor having a width slightly larger than the width thereof, for example, this arrangement prevents the storage battery from interfering with the passage or the like.

Abstract: A metallic separator according to a first embodiment is formed by obtaining a blank by rolling a metallic material having conductive inclusions, and removing a surface of the blank by 2% or more of the thickness of the blank. A metallic separator according to a second embodiment is formed by pressing a metallic plate so as to have a cross section including ridges and grooves alternatively, and removing parts of the ridged portions so as to make flattened surfaces. A metallic separator having conductive inclusions in its metal texture according to a third embodiment is formed by blasting a liquid containing two or more kinds of abrasives having different particle diameters to a blank after it has been rolled. A metallic separator having conductive inclusion in its metal texture according to a fourth embodiment is formed by blasting a passivation treatment liquid mixed with abrasives to the separator.

Abstract: In the present invention, after a nitriding process is performed on a steel, a passivating process in which the steel is heated under an atmosphere containing oxygen is performed. The heating condition of the passivating process is within a range surrounded by (100° C., 120 min), (100° C., 10 min), (125° C., 5 min), (190° C., 5 min), (200° C., 10 min), (200° C., 20 min), (190° C., 30 min), (190° C., 40 min), (180° C., 60 min), and (180° C., 120 min) on coordinate axes of temperature and time. In the process for production of the nitrided steel, uniform passivated layer can be easily formed, and fatigue strength is improved as pitting corrosion resistance is improved.

Abstract: In a motorcycle, an increase in the wedge effect of the upper cowl occurs with respect to the wind buffeted thereto during travel for reducing wind drag while maintaining continuity of the upper surface of the screen with respect to the upper surface of the head of the rider in a fully bent posture while providing a meter with high visibility even for the rider in a fully bent posture. In a motorcycle wherein the upper surface of the upper cowl covers the upper end portion of the front fork and is formed into a convex surface with a backward rising gradient a screen is provided having an upper surface formed into a convex shape with a backward rising gradient mounted on the upper cowl around the periphery of an open-rear notch for mounting the screen. A meter is disposed inside the upper cowl and the screen.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and first and second separators for sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. A serpentine oxygen-containing gas flow field is formed on a surface of the first separator. A seal member is provided around the oxygen-containing gas flow field, i.e., around the anode. Filling seals are provided in a clearance between the seal member and the cathode at positions where the leakage of an oxygen-containing gas is likely to occur.

Abstract: An engine balancer system is provided in which a balancer housing disposed so as to face an oil pan beneath a crankshaft is formed by joining an upper housing and a lower housing via mating faces, and the height of the mating faces is lower on a vehicle front side than on a vehicle rear side. Oil discharge holes or discharging oil that is within the balancer housing are formed in the mating faces on the higher side of the balancer housing and in the upper housing above the mating faces on the lower side of the balancer housing. This enables the position of the oil discharge hole on the lower side to be as high as possible, thereby suppressing penetration of oil into the interior of the balancer housing through the oil discharge hole.

Abstract: In a vibration welding structure for fixing an attachment to an instrument panel (12), a first projection (70) resiliently deformable in a predetermined vibrating direction is provided on the instruction panel (12) so as to project from the instrument panel (12) toward an air conditioner duct (15). First fitting groove portion (72) is formed in the air conditioner duct (15) for fitting engagement with a distal end portion (70a) of the first projection (70). Further, a first positioning mechanism (74) is provided between the instrument panel (12) and the air conditioner duct (15) for positioning the air conditioner duct 15 in a direction perpendicular to the vibrating direction.

Abstract: An engine balancer system is provided in which a balancer housing disposed so as to face an oil pan beneath a crankshaft is formed by joining an upper housing and a lower housing via mating faces, and the height of the mating faces is lower on a vehicle front side than on a vehicle rear side. Oil discharge holes or discharging oil that is within the balancer housing are formed in the mating faces on the higher side of the balancer housing and in the upper housing above the mating faces on the lower side of the balancer housing. This enables the position of the oil discharge hole on the lower side to be as high as possible, thereby suppressing penetration of oil into the interior of the balancer housing through the oil discharge hole.

Abstract: A gait generation device for generating a desired gait which includes floating periods in which all the legs 2, 2 of a legged mobile robot 1 float in the air and landing periods in which at least one leg 2 is in contact with a floor which appear alternately generates the desired gait in such a manner that, at least when shifting from the floating period to the landing period, the velocity of an end portion 22 of a landing leg with respect to the floor and the acceleration thereof with respect to the floor is substantially 0 at the instant of landing. After both the velocity of the end portion of the leg with respect to the floor and the acceleration thereof with respect to the floor are determined to be substantially 0, a movement of the body of the robot with the desired gait is determined in such a manner that the horizontal component of a moment produced about the desired ZMP by the resultant force of gravity and an inertial force applied to the robot 1 is substantially 0.

Abstract: A landing position/orientation of a foot (22) to be landed in a landing action of a robot (1) such as a biped mobile robot or the like is estimated, and a desired footstep path for the robot (1) is set up. Based on the estimated landing position/orientation and the desired footstep path, a future desired landing position/orientation is determined in order to cause actual footsteps of the robot (1) (a sequence of landing positions/orientations of the foot (22)) to approach desired footsteps. Using at least the determined desired landing position/orientation, a desired gait for the robot (1) is determined, and the robot (1) is controlled in operation depending on the desired gait. For determining the desired landing position/orientation, mechanism-dependent limitations of the robot (1) such as an interference between the legs thereof, etc., and limiting conditions of an allowable range in which a desired ZMP can exist are taken into consideration.

Abstract: This invention relates to a remote lock operation apparatus for a light vehicle having a bar handle and a switch case and having no cabin. One objective of the invention is to make it possible for the infrared receiver of the remote lock operation apparatus to cover a range of directivity without being influenced by the seat or the vehicle body rear portion. Another objective is to protect the infrared receiver from the weather and mischief. These objectives are achieved by having an infrared receiver provided on a switch case, with a switch operation element provided on a steering bar handle of a vehicle, thereby protecting the infrared receiver from potential damage while at the same time positioning it so that it can be easily operable by a passenger.