Abstract: The present invention provides in one embodiment a method for controlling vehicle creep control. Measurements are received from a brake pedal sensor, where the measurements are indicative of a brake pedal travel. A target creep speed value is derived based on the measurements of creep speed and the brake pedal travel. A request for wheel torque is derived based on the target creep speed. There is a determination of the difference between a measurement of vehicle creep speed and the target creep speed value. The request for wheel torque is adjusted, if the target creep speed is not equivalent to the vehicle creep speed.

Abstract: A personal traffic congestion avoidance system for drivers of motor vehicles traveling on roadways in motor vehicles with GPS-based navigational systems. The system includes a GPS-based navigational system that includes a GPS receiver connected to a visual display, a map database and a wireless communication device for communicating with a remote computer over a wireless communication network. The GPS-based navigation system continuously determines the motor vehicle exact physical location in a region that is intermittently or continuously uploaded to a remote computer via the wireless communication network. The remote computer is connected to a traffic monitoring database or service that provides current traffic affecting events in the region thereto.

Abstract: A navigation device simultaneously displays two screens of maps on a common display unit and includes a map data storage unit for storing map data and a resolution conversion unit for converting the resolution of the map data acquired from the map data storage unit. The display unit has a predetermined display area for displaying a map based on the map data with its resolution having been converted.

Abstract: A method of guiding an aircraft in the final approach phase including imaging the ground using an imaging system onboard the aircraft to obtain an image, analyzing the image to detect an airport area, detecting an airport area and selecting a runway for landing, tracking the selected runway during the approach of the aircraft by visually tracking the selected runway in the image supplied by the imaging system, and tracking the runway when the aircraft is very close to the ground by analyzing the image supplied by the imaging system to determine the position of the aircraft relative to the runway.

Abstract: A system and method that continuously extracts traffic load and speed on roads within the coverage area of a cellular network. The data is extracted directly from the higher level of communications in a cellular network without using any external sensors. The cellular data used by the system includes cell handover sequences as the major input. The method consists of a learn phase in which a vehicle with a location device (say GPS system) travels across the covered routes and collects the cellular data and location data in parallel. In the continuous data collection stage the cellular data is processed and correlated to the data collected in the learn phase to yield the route and exact location of the vehicle on it. Each such two locations yield the travel distance and time, and thus the driving speed in this route section. This procedure is performed continuously across the covered area to yield the traffic load and speed.

Abstract: In a system for the destination routing of a vehicle, a route is determined which is optimal based on input vehicle position and destination information and on stored information, and taking into account additional information; and destination routing information is issued with respect to the optimal route. The additional information is received by an external transmitting unit and/or is stored in a memory on board the vehicle. A check takes place during the drive as to whether the route recommendation remains optimal, and a further optimal route determination is triggered if it does not.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a tip over detection device that uses a vertically oriented sensor to improve the accuracy of detecting when the vehicle has tipped over. An ECU communicates with the accelerometer and controls engine operation. The ECU stops the engine, preferably gradually, when the vehicle has tipped over. The sensor can also detect lean in additional directions that are orthogonal to the vertical direction.

Abstract: System for monitoring vehicle operating conditions and parameters and issuing warnings to the operator when a predetermined vehicle status is present. The predetermined vehicle status includes a variety of unsafe driving conditions and is responsive to a changing center of gravity. The warnings include visual, audible and tactile feedback. By way of the tactile feedback, the system can affect the operator's operation of the vehicle to prevent vehicle instability, rollover, loss of vehicle control or other unsafe driving conditions from occurring.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle for generating an appropriate amount of regeneration energy during deceleration. A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle including an engine and electric motor for driving the hybrid vehicle wherein the engine comprises cylinders capable of deactivated operations and the motor executes regenerative braking when the vehicle is decelerating. The control apparatus of the present invention includes a cylinder deactivation determination device for determining whether or not the vehicle speed is appropriate for executing the cylinder deactivated operation, a regeneration amount calculating device for detecting whether the vehicle state is appropriate for regeneration and calculates the amount of regeneration; and further includes a compensation amount calculating device that compensates the amount of regeneration based on an all cylinder deactivated operation and the engine rotation speed.

Abstract: Spacecraft network and communication method thereof. A spacecraft network includes a first server spacecraft disposed in a first server orbit, a first client spacecraft disposed in a first client orbit, and a wireless local area network formed between at least the first server spacecraft and the first client spacecraft. The wireless local area network includes at least one communication channel to transmit and receive spatial information, at least one receiver to receive a first communication signal including at least routing information, at least one routing system to determine a desired route, and one transmitter to transmit the first communication signal. The first client spacecraft is free from the at least one routing system, and the first server spacecraft includes one of the at least one routing system.

Abstract: In a toroidal continuously variable transmission (TCVT) control apparatus with a variator unit and a ratio control hydraulic system, an electronic TCVT control unit electronically feedback-controls a transmission ratio based on a deviation from a desired transmission ratio, and generates a normal-period command signal to be input to a step motor for compensating for the deviation. The control unit determines whether the deviation can be compensated for by electronically feedback-controlling the transmission ratio based on the deviation and generates an abnormal-period command signal to be input to the step motor to realize a step-motor displacement capable of shifting or diverging the transmission ratio to a speed-reduction side, while keeping a trunnion out of contact with a stopper in the direction of the trunnion axis, when the deviation cannot be compensated for by electronically feedback-controlling the transmission ratio based on the deviation.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for a shopping system, the system including a shopping cart including a plurality of wheels; a portable electronic device (e.g., a CST or POS terminal), coupled to the shopping cart, for displaying shopping data; and a position mapping system, coupled to the electronic device, for developing a shopper location relative to a start location, the mapping system including a distance measuring system, coupled to one of the plurality of wheels; for providing a distance signal indicating a distance of movement of the shopping cart; and a direction measuring system for providing a direction signal concurrent with the distance signal. Another embodiment is a shopper tracking system including a shopping cart having a plurality of wheels; a portable electronic device, coupled to the shopping cart, for displaying shopping data; and an energy generator, coupled to one of the plurality of wheels, for adding energy to a power source of the portable electronic device.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a vehicle monitoring and maintenance device capable of being connected to a diagnostic port of a vehicle is provided. The monitoring and maintenance device comprises a hand holdable, data acquisition and transfer device. The data acquisition and transfer device includes a first data link connectable to a diagnostic port of a vehicle for retrieving diagnostic data from the vehicle; and a second data link connectable to a global computer network communicable device. The data acquisition and transfer device also includes a processor and memory unit capable of retrieving unprocessed diagnostic data containing error codes from the vehicle via the first data link, storing unprocessed diagnostic data for a limited time, and transferring the unprocessed data to the global computer network communicable device, to the second data link.

Abstract: A method and system for acquiring and recording on-board data relative to the movement of a vehicle, whereby a sequence of images of a control panel of the vehicle is acquired by a video camera installed in a cockpit of the vehicle, and is then recorded in a storage device; at the same time, a position of the vehicle is determined by means of a satellite locating device, and the position assumed by the vehicle at the time the image is acquired is related to each image stored in the storage device.

Abstract: Precision alignment of auxiliary equipment on an aircraft is accomplished by a locating tool for the aircraft inertial reference unit (IRU) attached to the auxiliary equipment mount. Aircraft attitude and heading are obtained using the IRU. The IRU is removed from its avionics tray in the aircraft and installed on the locating tool. The locating tool is connected for remote operation of the IRU and the IRU is operated to obtain attitude and heading. This attitude and heading is then compared to the IRU reading for the attitude and heading of the aircraft.

Abstract: A vessel monitoring and control system. Data indicative of operational conditions for vessel systems is transmitted from the vessel to one or more remote sites and commands are received from the one or more remote sites for controlling the vessel systems. Multiple transmitting and receiving components are available on the vessel for communicating with a variety of different communications systems at the remote sites.

Abstract: An electronic guide system is described that includes a fixed-location beacon located adjacent to a location which is associated with a plurality of landmarks to transmit electronic signals containing descriptive information of each of the landmarks. The guide system also includes a client device physically separated from the beacon to receive the electronic signals containing the descriptive information of each of the landmarks when placed by a user within a transmission range of the beacon. A viewing direction sensor is provided to determine viewing direction of the user to cause the client device to provide the user with the descriptive information of one of the landmarks at which the user is looking. An electronic guide system that includes a movable beacon is also described.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a technique for processing data is provided. The invention provides a flexible way to process data such that a user may conveniently enter and transfer data. Also, the user may have ready access to powerful data processing. In an embodiment of the present invention, a novel system (110) for mobile data processing is provided. The system includes an interface unit (116) that includes a processor (122). A positioning system (120) couples to a first antenna (126) and to the processor. A remote data terminal (118) electrically couples to the interface unit during at least a first time period. The remote data terminal is capable of data transfers with the interface unit during the first time period and with a user.

Abstract: A seat occupant in a vehicle is classified into one of first and second categories by using a support vector machine (SVM). Sensor signals are obtained from seat sensors to form a sensor signal vector. By using the sensor signal vector, a value of a two-value decision function known as SVM is calculated. The seat occupant is decided to be of one of the first and second categories associated with the value. The two-value decision function can be generated through support vector learning by using a set of training vectors obtained from the seat sensors. An airbag system using an inventive seat occupant classifying apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An objective method is provided for selecting gear ratios for use in a motor vehicle transmission having multiple selectable gears. The method includes selecting gear ratios for a specific application includes calculating a low gear ratio, and a high gear ratio based upon vehicle parameters and performance requirements. The total ratio spread is determined by dividing the low gear ratio by the high gear ratio. Using the total ratio spread, a geometric sequence is created with a plurality of terms, such that each of the terms respectively represent the ratio steps between the gears. Lastly, each gear ratio is divided by its respective ratio step plus one to find the gear ratio for the next gear. This method provides an objective method for selecting gear ratios, such that the steps between each of the ratios are uniformly progressive.