Abstract: A switch apparatus for use in a vehicle in which the DC signal path electrically connecting between the horn switch disposed on the steering wheel in the steering apparatus and the horn disposed on the vehicle body is utilized to transmit, for example, a constant-speed running control signal from a signal transmitting unit disposed in the steering apparatus to a signal receiving unit disposed in the vehicle body. The signal transmitting unit includes a plurality of switches provided for the purpose of constant-speed running control, and a signal frequency generated in response to manipulation of a selected one of these switches is superposed on the DC signal which is supplied by way of the DC signal path to energize the horn. The DC signal path is also utilized to supply required power to the signal transmitting unit in the steering apparatus.

Abstract: A direction finding system of the type finding a present direction on 4N direction divisions defined by 2N boundary levels for automotive vehicles, said system comprising a magnetic sensor circuit for generating a pair of electric signals indicating two perpendicular components of the earth's magnetic field, a logic circuit for signal-converting the electric signals, discriminating and latching to generate direction indicating 2N binary signals with reference to predetermined 2N boundary indicating levels, a sorting circuit for sorting the binary signals to generate one of 4N direction signals and a display device for displaying a corresponding direction.

Abstract: A demagnetizing apparatus for removing residual magnetism in the body of an automobile which is equipped with a magnetic bearing indicator. A first and a second coil are wound around a substantially flat frame of a non-magnetic material to produce respectively a fixed d.c. magnetic field and a controllable a.c. magnetic field in orthogonal directions with each other and along flat surfaces of the substantially flat frame. The substantially flat frame with coils is positioned adjacent to but spaced from a body portion such as a roof, door or floor of the automobile, so that the d.c. magnetic field produced by the first coil cancel the external magnetic field caused by the terrestrial magnetism. The a.c. magnetic field is controlled to be intensified and weakened alternately thereby to remove the residual magnetism of the body portion without being influenced by the external magnetic field.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying the driving direction and distance coverage of a motor vehicle, wherein a unit distance coverage signal is generated each time the motor vehicle covers a unit distance, a direction signal indicating the present driving direction of the motor vehicle is generated, and the distance and the direction from a starting point to a destination point can be set and the resulting setting signals are generated. The distance coverage for each driving direction of the motor vehicle is accumulated on the basis of the unit distance coverage signals and the direction signals, and from the accumulated values the vector from the starting point to the present position is calculated. The calculated vector and the vector from the starting point to the destination point which is obtained from the setting signals are used to calculate the vector from the present position to the destination.

Abstract: In a speed control system for vehicles, a speed difference calculation circuit calculates an absolute value of a time difference between a predetermined period of time corresponding with a desired speed and an instant period of time corresponding with the actual speed, an acceleration calculation circuit calculates an absolute value of a time difference between the respective instant periods of time, and a correction signal generator calculates a sum of the absolute values in consideration with the actual speed when each sign of the calculated time differences is positive or negative and calculates a difference between the absolute values in consideration with the actual speed when respective signs of the calculated time differences are opposite to each other. The signal generator selectively produces correction signals related to the calculated sum and the calculated difference.

Abstract: A method for demagnetizing an automobile is disclosed in which the terrestrial magnetism is detected by a direction-detecting sensor and the running direction of the automobile is indicated in response to a signal produced from the direction-detecting sensor. The distortion of the magnetic field caused by the permanent magnetism of the magnetic materials of the whole body of the automobile is erased by placing the automobile in an AC magnetic field which gradually increases from zero to a predetermined intensity and then gradually decreases to zero, and thereafter the direction-detecting sensor is mounted at the magnetic center of the automobile.

Abstract: An apparatus measures and indicates the speeds of a vehicle at the beginning and end of braking of the vehicle by counting as many vehicle speed representative pulse signals as indicative of the speed per hour of the vehicle which are gated during the time that the desired number of clock pulses are counted in response to the beginning and end of braking of the vehicle, respectively.

Abstract: A vehicle speed control system includes a first generator for producing an operation signal upon closure of a set switch at a desired vehicle speed and receipt of a timing signal from a second generator responsive to the actual vehicle speed, the operation signal disappearing in response to one of the subsequent timing signals. A first calculator calculates a first time difference between predetermined and instant time periods respectively defined by the desired and actual vehicle speeds, and a second calculator calculates a second time difference between the respective instant time periods. A third generator produces a correction signal defined by the second time difference during generation of the operation signal and produces another correction signal defined by the sum or a difference of the time differences in relation to identical or opposite signs of the time differences after disappearance of the operation signal.

Abstract: In a speed control system for vehicles, a speed-difference calculation circuit calculates an absolute value of a time difference between a predetermined period of time corresponding with a desired speed and the actual period of time corresponding with the actual speed, an acceleration calculation circuit calculates an absolute value of a time difference between the preceding and following actual periods of time within a limited range, and correction signal generator calculates a sum of the absolute values when each sign of the calculated time differences is positive or negative and calculates a difference between the absolute values when respective signs of the calculated time differences are opposite to each other. The signal generator selectively produces correction signals related to the calculated sum and the calculated difference.

Abstract: An altitude difference measuring apparatus for measuring the difference between the altitudes at a first and second points on the basis of the barometric difference between the points, having an air pressure holding section with an electromagnetic valve for hermetrically containing an amount of air. At the first place an amount of the ambient air is held hermetrically in the air pressure holding section, and at the second place the barometric difference between the air pressure in the air pressure holding section and the ambient air pressure is converted into an electric signal, and in accordance with the electric signal the difference between the altitudes at the first and second points is indicated.

Abstract: In a speed control system for an automotive vehicle, a speed-differential calculation circuit calculates an absolute value of a time difference between a predetermined period of time corresponding with a desired speed and an instant period of time corresponding with an actual vehicle speed, an acceleration calculation circuit calculates an absolute value of a time difference between the respective instant periods of time, a correction signal generator calculates a sum of the absolute values when each sign of the calculated time differences is positive or negative and calculates a difference between the absolute values when respective signs of the calculated time differences are opposite to each other, the correction signal generator selectively producing correction signals respectively representing the calculated sum and the calculated difference and ceasing the correction signals when each of the calculated values is zero, and a distribution circuit produces a control signal therefrom in response to the resp

Abstract: First and second sample-hold circuits sample and hold the atmospheric pressure alternately every time when a vehicle travels a predetermined distance. A signal representing a difference between the holding values of the first and second sample-hold circuits, that is, a signal representing a slope of the road on which the vehicle is travelling is displayed through a latch circuit.

Abstract: A digital display system with a control unit and a plurality of display units each adapted to be driven by a signal from the control unit. The control unit includes an A.C. power supply for generating a fixed A.C. voltage, and the control unit produces a multi-parallel-bit digital signal indicative of time or the like, extracts a pulse signal at the fixed frequency from the A.C. voltage, modulates the pulse signal with respective bits of the digital signal to produce a time-division multiplex signal, supplies the A.C. voltage to the respective display units and feed the time-division multiplex signal. Each of the display units rectifies the supplied A.C. voltage to produce a power supply voltage for the display unit, produces from the supplied A.C. voltage to be used for display, further produces a display signal from the produced A.C. voltage and the time-division multiplex signal and feed the display signal to a display device to display time or the like.

Abstract: A system for warning the driver of an acceleration or deceleration of a vehicle. A wheel sensor detects wheel rotational speeds N.sub.i and N.sub.i + 1 during two predetermined time intervals T.sub.i and T.sub.i + 1. The absolute value of the difference .vertline.N.sub.i - N.sub.i + 1 .vertline. between the rotational speeds is computed by a computing circuit. Indicating means gives an indication of acceleration when the difference is greater than a predetermined value and when the speed difference is negative, whereas an indication of deceleration is given when the speed difference is positive.

Abstract: A fuel consumption rate meter incorporating a fuel meter. The momentary amount of fuel consumed by a running vehicle is measured and the momentary fuel consumption rate is computed from the momentary amount of fuel consumed. The momentary amount of fuel consumed is integrated to give the total amount of the fuel consumed. The computed fuel consumption rate and the integrated fuel amount are indicated on the same panel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying the brake stopping distance of a running vehicle by computing and displaying in a very short period of time the brake stopping distance of the running vehicle in response to its running speed and the surface conditions of the road. The displayed brake stopping distance varies by quickly responding to changes in the running speed of the vehicle and the surface conditions of the road. The brake stopping distance displaying apparatus comprises a vehicle speed detecting circuit for generating a signal corresponding to the running speed of the vehicle, a setting circuit for generating a signal corresponding to the friction coefficient of the road on which the vehicle runs, a computing circuit responsive to the two signals to generate a signal proportional to the square of the running speed and inversely proportional to the friction coefficient, and a display circuit for displaying the result of the computation in the computing circuit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for instantaneously measuring fuel consumption rate and indicating the instantaneously measuring distance traveled per unit fuel amount consumed, i.e., the instantaneous fuel consumption rate of a running vehicle. A signal representing the operating parameter of the internal combustion engine of the running vehicle measured in terms of the amount of fuel being consumed by the vehicle and another signal representing the running speed of the vehicle are separately integrated by first and second integrating circuits, whereby when the integrated value of the first integrating circuit reaches a predetermined value, the integrated value of the second integrating circuit is indicated.

Abstract: A distance meter for vehicles wherein the distance to be travelled from the place of departure to a destination is preset and on the way to the destination the distance travelled since the departure of the vehicle is subtracted from the preset travelling distance whereby to always display the remaining distance to the destination. The number of operations of the switch are counted to determine each preset digit. Its presetting circuit for presetting the travelling distance to a destination, computing circuit and display circuit each consists of an electronic circuit.

Abstract: Indication of possible vehicle running distance with remnant fuel is accomplished by measuring the fuel amount, the fuel consumption and the running distance and calculating the possible remaining running distance with remnant fuel. The indication is directly based on the current driving condition so that the driver can know the possible running distance with remnant fuel in continued driving under similar conditions. The indication can prevent fuel shortage and also teach a driver economic driving.

Abstract: A fuel consumption measuring device for measuring the amount of fuel consumed by the internal combustion engine of an automobile in which the amount of air drawn into the engine is measured from a signal corresponding to the revolution speed of the engine and another signal corresponding to the amount of gas drawn into the engine whereby to accurately measure the amount of fuel drawn into the engine by virtue of the fact that the ratio between the intake air amount and the intake fuel amount is practically constant at all times.