Abstract: A real-time maintenance alert system for use in a heavy duty truck having an engine including an engine controller having a communications data link is provided. The system includes an engine item sensor and a non-engine item sensor. Control logic at the engine controller produces an output signal at the data link in response to the presence of an engine item real-time fault condition. A display device transmits and receives information over the data link, and processes the control logic output signal. The display device generates an output signal indicative of the engine item status. Further, the display device directly receives and processes the non-engine item sensor output signal, and generates an output signal indicative of the non-engine item status.

Abstract: To provide a route guiding explanation device capable of adding or changing route information data or the like by general users without requiring any CPU of high-level function and any large number of memories. A destination absolute position storing portion stores latitude and longitude information of a destination converted by a destination absolute position converting portion. A present location neighboring landmark storing portion selects and stores a landmark name which is a most nearest to the latitude and longitude information of the present location absolute position storing portion. A destination neighboring landmark storing portion selects and stores the landmark name which is a most nearest to the latitude and longitude information of the destination absolute position storing portion.

Abstract: An electrically controlled, decentralized control system in a vehicle includes at least two energy sources which are independent of one another and at least two control units. In addition, at least one high-current load is allocated to each control unit. The high-current load is permanently allocated to one of the energy sources, while the control units are selectively switchable to the one or the other energy source.

Abstract: A navigation system is provided with: a present position detecting device (16, 17, 18) for detecting a present position; and a navigation device (11, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24) for performing a navigation in correspondence with the detected present position on the basis of map data. The navigation system is also provided with a menu controlling device (11, 25, 26) for controlling a menu display of the navigation by using menu information capable of being updated.

Abstract: Unless the steering operation quantity detected by a steering quantity detection unit indicates that the vehicle is advancing almost rectilinearly, an approach disallowed area present toward the outer side of the turning vehicle relative to the front of the vehicle along the advancing direction, such as a road boundary, a blocking wall or a white line, is detected by an approach disallowed area detection unit. A mode judging unit judges that a steering angle limit mode is set if an approach disallowed area has been detected. An &agr; calculating unit calculates an angle &agr; formed by the orientation of the approach disallowed area boundary and the orientation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A reference steering angle achieved when the steering operation quantity is sustained at a constant value is calculated in correspondence to the steering operation quantity. A decision is made as to whether the vehicle is in a turn-contracting state, in which the direction of a steering operation matches the direction of a change made in the steering operation or a turn-expanding state in which the direction of the steering operation is opposite from the direction of the change made in the steering operation. If the vehicle is determined to be in a turn-contracting state, the target steering angles for the front wheels and the rear wheels are calculated by correcting the reference steering angle so as to achieve a smaller steering center elevation angle.

Abstract: A communication navigation system, wherein a navigation apparatus requests a recommended route guidance data to a information center and guides a user of the navigation apparatus to a destination by using the recommended route guidance data received from the information center. In this present invention, the navigation apparatus transmits version data of road data held in the navigation apparatus at the request to the information center. The information center prepares a guidance data of recommended route using latest road data held in the information center, and transmits the data to the navigation apparatus. When the information center transmits the guidance data, the information center selects the type of data of the road links along the recommended route, in the guidance data, by comparing the version data received from the navigation apparatus and the version data of each road link along the recommended route.

Abstract: In a method and an arrangement for data transmission or for supplying automotive vehicles with data which are used for the operation of regulating and control systems, for the exchange of data and/or for polling, modifying and updating of data of this type, the data transmission is performed at fixed intervals by means of a wireless data transmission device comprising a transceiver (1), a relay station (100) and a central unit (200). Data which may contain one or more pieces of information about the technical analysis of the brake system and other systems, the thickness of brake linings, the oil level, the air pressure, etc., is transmitted via this channel.

Abstract: Arrangement and method for mapping a road during travel of a vehicle having two data acquisition modules arranged on sides of the vehicle, each including a GPS receiver and antenna for enabling the vehicle's position to be determined and a linear camera which provides one-dimensional images of an area on the respective side in a vertical plane perpendicular to the road such that information about the road is obtained from a view in a direction perpendicular to the road. A processor unit forms a map database of the road by correlating the vehicle's position and the information about the road. Instead of or in addition to the linear cameras, scanning laser radars are provided and transmit waves downward in a plane perpendicular to the road and receive reflected waves to provide information about distance between the laser radars and the ground for use in forming the database.

Abstract: An apparatus includes means for holding data which pertain to specifications and data of a vehicle, means for obtaining information of a path the vehicle is to travel, which consists of position, orientation, and velocity data, and is given by point information, a path computing section for computing a path equation including equations of continuous straight lines and arcs and a velocity pattern, which pertain to automatic travel, on the basis of the held data and the path information, an absolute position orientation angle detection section for detecting the absolute position and absolute orientation angle of the vehicle, and means for controlling the steering unit to track the path equation on the basis of the path equation, and the absolute position and orientation angle, and controlling the drive unit to track the velocity pattern on the basis of the velocity pattern, and the vehicle velocity.

Abstract: In apparatus and method for automatically controlling a vehicular velocity of an automotive vehicle maintaining an inter-vehicle distance to a preceding vehicle, a follow-up run controller determines whether such a follow-up run control as to control the vehicular velocity should be released or not according to a vehicular motion when a shift lever of an automatic transmission shift mechanism (or of a continuously variable transmission) is operated to shift a drive (D) range to a gear maintaining range (such as a second-speed range or third- speed range). If the shift operation occurs from the drive range to the 2nd-speed range during the follow-up run control, the engine speed N2nd in the second-speed range is estimated. If the engine speed N2nd is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value NTH, the follow-up run control is continued. If the engine speed N2nd is in excess of the predetermined threshold value NTH, the follow-up run control is released.

Abstract: A safety system for automotive vehicles to automatically detect and monitor various movements of a driven vehicle and automatically communicate such movements to others and to the police. Among others, the system detects violations of the traffic laws, including speeding, running stop signs, aggressive driving, tail gating and others. It also detects turns, lane changes, U turns, accelerations, decelerations, proximity to other vehicles, slow driving, weaving from lane to lane and and others. Where a pattern of vehicle movements demonstrates aggressive driving of the vehicle a warning is given to other vehicles. The detected movements may be recorded and/or transmitted by wireless to the Police to enforce penalties against traffic violations. Warnings and other communications may be provided inside of the monitored vehicle to remind the driver and discourage fixture improper conduct and to assist impaired drivers that may lose concentration or hand-eye coordination in control of the vehicle.

Abstract: A steering angle sensor providing an output signal indicating relative position within a full rotation, such as a relative dual track steering sensor, provides a signal to a digital processor coupled to a non-volatile memory for storing retained values of a centered vehicle steer angle, a rotation count and a mounting bias angle. The processor derives three test steer angle values utilizing, respectively, (1) the retained rotation count, (2) one greater than the retained rotation count and (3) one less than the retained rotation count and chooses as an initialized steer angle one of the three test steer angles that differs from the retained value of a centered vehicle steer angle by less than a first calibration value.

Abstract: A vehicle operation control apparatus for controlling a running state of a vehicle based on a relative positional relationship between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle running in a predetermined area ahead of the vehicle. The vehicle operation control apparatus comprises a controller that determines a target deceleration of the vehicle based on the relative positional relationship between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle. The controller controls a deceleration of the vehicle so that the deceleration of the vehicle approaches the target deceleration and maintains the target deceleration until a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Abstract: In lane keeping assistance system and method for an automotive vehicle, a control current (Iout) to be outputted to a motor during an automatic steering mode is detected, a filter is provided for the detected control current to pass only signal components of the detected control current whose frequencies are lower than a predetermined cut-off frequency value (fstr, fstr_low, fstr_mid, fstr_hi) to derive a filtered control current (Iout_lpf), a determination of whether a manual steering intervention to the automatic steering occurs is made according to a magnitude of the filtered control current, and the control current outputted to the motor is reduced toward zero when the manual steering intervention is determined to occur according to a result of determination that the magnitude of the filtered control current (Iout_lpf) is in excess of a predetermined threshold current value (Iout_lpf_th).

Abstract: An engine output for bringing the drive power of a motor vehicle to a requested value is determined as a target output. One of the lean burn and the stoichiometric burn is selected as a combustion form that achieves a best fuel consumption performance in terms of the control of the actual engine output to the target output. That is, an output value that serves as a criterion for determining whether to switch the combustion force is determined based on the minimum fuel consumption rate during the stoichiometric-burn operation and the minimum fuel consumption rate during the lean-burn operation in which the fuel consumption involved in the rich spike control is taken into account. If the target output is less than the output value, the lean-burn operation is performed. If the target output is greater than the output value, the stoichiometric-burn operation is performed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining a maximum performance gear for an automobile when performing acceleration/deceleration maneuvers and a system for enhancing a motor vehicle's gear indicator capabilities. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for determining the optimal gear for operation of a manual transmission by obtaining vehicle speed and engine speed data and filtering such data through a mathematical filter implemented by a microprocessor. The application of the filter that may be adjusted throughout vehicle usage to optimize gear and transmission operability.

Abstract: An on-board monitor for a railroad locomotive is disclosed. The on-board monitor interfaces with the controller subsystems of the locomotive to collect parametric performance data. The specific data to be collected and the collection intervals are defined at a remote service center and transmitted to the on-board monitor. The on-board monitor also includes the capability to collect additional data or collect data more frequently in response to the results of certain triggering events.

Abstract: The radius of the curvature of the lane on which a subject vehicle is traveling, is calculated in accordance with the turning condition of the subject vehicle and the velocity of the subject vehicle is obtained on the basis of the steering angle, and the yaw rate. An instantaneous probability of the same lane that the recognized object target exists on the same lane is calculated. In this operation, the instantaneous probability is compensated. That is, the road shape is recognized with delineator or the like. The instantaneous probability of the same lane is compensated on the basis of the recognized road shape. The probability of the same lane is calculated after a predetermined filtering process with the compensated instantaneous probability of the same lane. The preceding vehicle is selected on the basis of the probability of the same lane.

Abstract: A method of controlling controlled elements of a rail vehicle, in which method descriptive geometrical characteristics of the rail track are calculated by measuring inertial values on board the vehicle and control set points for said controlled elements are generated from said characteristics, characterized in that it includes the steps of: determining the location of the vehicle on the rail track on which it is travelling by comparing calculated geometrical characteristics with geometrical characteristics stored in a database (16) and obtained by a learning process; extracting geometrical characteristics corresponding to the next curve from the database (16); and generating control set points for the controlled elements in advance from the extracted characteristics.