Abstract: A control system controls a hardware switch which receives a usage command for utilizing an auxiliary function of a vehicle and a software switch displayed with an information portion indicating the auxiliary function and a command portion for input of the usage command through a screen. When either of the hardware switch or the software switch is operated, information is provided for identifying the other switch that corresponds to the auxiliary function commanded by the operated switch.

Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a side support portion moved in first and second directions, a driving device moving the side support portion in the first direction and in the second direction, a vehicle location obtaining means for obtaining vehicle location information including a present location of the vehicle, a curve information preliminarily obtaining means for preliminarily obtaining curve information on a map data including a curve starting point located in an area existing a first predetermined distance ahead from the present location of the vehicle, a control starting point determining means for determining a point existing a second predetermined distance closer to the vehicle than the curve starting point as a control starting point, a control starting point memorizing means for memorizing the control starting point, and a drive control means for starting control on the driving device when the vehicle reaches the control starting point.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes an attribute information collection unit for collecting attribute information relevant to a plurality of units in a vehicle, an environmental information collection unit for collecting environmental information, a required performance detection unit for detecting a required performance necessary for the vehicle based on the collected environmental information, a controlled target determination unit for determining a unit to be controlled based on the collected attribute information and required performance, and a control unit for controlling the unit by calculating a control variable for the unit.

Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided that improves the riding comfort by decelerating before a level change, even when the speed of the vehicle is high, through deceleration control when a characteristic value, that represents the relationship between the speed and the vertical acceleration of a vehicle, exceeds a comfort demarcation line that indicates a critical value of comfort in passing over the level change. The vehicle control system includes a memory that stores level change information for level changes in a road; a vehicle speed detector; and a vehicle speed controller that calculates the characteristic value based on the detected vehicle speed and the level change information, and executes acceleration control when the calculated characteristic value exceeds the critical value of comfort.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes an attribute information collection unit for collecting attribute information relevant to a plurality of units in a vehicle, an environmental information collection unit for collecting environmental information, a required performance detection unit for detecting a required performance necessary for the vehicle based on the collected environmental information, a controlled target determination unit for determining a unit to be controlled based on the collected attribute information and required performance, and a control unit for controlling the unit by calculating a control variable for the unit.

Abstract: A driving force control apparatus for a vehicle includes an accelerator opening sensor that detects an accelerator opening for a vehicle, and an automatic transmission control device that controls an automatic transmission based on road information and the accelerator opening. The automatic transmission control device, in an interval prior to a deceleration required interval, controls an automatic transmission so as to ease a shifting operation that corresponds to a decrease in the accelerator opening.

Abstract: When a vehicle approaches a corner, a microprocessor, responsive to a determination that a detected degree of roughness of the road surface corresponds to the most moderate roughness, sets the damping force for the vehicle suspension units, on the basis of the detected degree of roughness, vehicle speed and a radius of curvature and corner information from a navigation system. In the case of a determination that the detected degree of roughness does not correspond to the most moderate roughness, a damping level is set on the basis of the detected degree of roughness, vehicle speed and radius of curvature.

Abstract: A suspension control system and a suspension control method for a vehicle control the suspension based on the condition of the road surface traveled by the vehicle in addition to information pertaining to a corner obtained from a navigation device when the vehicle approaches the corner. A microprocessor controls damping forces of suspension devices on the basis of a degree of irregularity of the road surface detected immediately preceding entry of the automobile into a turn around the corner, and corner information from the navigation device.

Abstract: Arrival of a vehicle at a particular location is estimated, a suspension control value for the particular location is determined, the wheel suspensions are controlled based on the determined suspension control value, and suspension control is suitably executed before the vehicle arrives at the particular location. The suspension control apparatus includes a position detector for detecting present position of the vehicle, a navigation unit for producing particular location data, suspension units, having suspension characteristics capable of control, disposed with each of the wheels, and a control unit which estimates the arrival of the vehicle at the particular location, and controls the suspension units in a manner suitable for the particular point in advance of arrival of the vehicle at that particular point.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus including an automatic transmission which changes a speed of rotation of an input shaft drivingly connected to a driving source and outputs the rotation of the input shaft to an output shaft, and a shift execution device that executes shifting of the automatic transmission, including a shift control device that calculates a predetermined target input shaft rotation number based on road information and vehicle state information, and controls an input shaft rotation number such that the input shaft rotation number becomes equal to the predetermined target input shaft rotation number, by executing shifting of the shift execution device; and a shifting speed setting device that sets a shifting speed, when control based on the road information begins after switching from control based on the vehicle state information by the shift control device, to a predetermined shifting speed such that shifting is executed rapidly, and sets the shifting speed, when shifting needs to be executed durin

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus including an automatic transmission which changes a speed of rotation of an input shaft drivingly connected to a driving source and outputs the rotation of the input shaft to an output shaft, and a shift execution device that executes shifting of the automatic transmission, including a shift control device that calculates a predetermined target input shaft rotation number based on road information and vehicle state information, and controls an input shaft rotation number such that the input shaft rotation number becomes equal to the predetermined target input shaft rotation number, by executing shifting of the shift execution device; and a shifting speed setting device that sets a shifting speed, when control based on the road information begins after switching from control based on the vehicle state information by the shift control device, to a predetermined shifting speed such that shifting is executed rapidly, and sets the shifting speed, when shifting needs to be executed durin

Abstract: A driving force control apparatus for a vehicle includes an accelerator opening sensor that detects an accelerator opening for a vehicle, and an automatic transmission control device that controls an automatic transmission based on road information and the accelerator opening. The automatic transmission control device, in an interval prior to a deceleration required interval, controls an automatic transmission so as to ease a shifting operation that corresponds to a decrease in the accelerator opening.