Abstract: In a distance measuring device, reflected pulsed light beams with respect to one transmitted light beam are amplified by plural amplifiers (22a, 22b) of different gains. The retroreflection times of the reflected pulsed light beams are detected by retroreflection time detectors (30a, 30b) respectively connected to the amplifiers. Based on outputs of the retroreflection time detectors, distance calculator (40) judges the overlapping state of the reflected pulses and the power of reflection from first pulse widths of the reflected pulsed light beams, selects a distance calculating method in accordance with the state, and outputs distance measurement data of high reliability.

Abstract: A VoIP network system includes a module controlling a transmission of a priority control indication corresponding to a call control signal for every call and to priority control information preset for providing a VoIP-based voice communication service in a way that specifies a priority control target call related to a specified voice session, and a module giving a priority control indication about a voice packet of the priority control target call to each of network elements, configuring an IP network, for forwarding the voice packet.

Abstract: A laser radar irradiates electromagnetic waves around a subject vehicle, detects the electromagnetic waves reflected from objects lying around the subject vehicle, and outputs a plurality of directions of scanning irradiation and detected distances from the subject vehicle to the objects in the respective directions. A recognition unit detects a relative position and relative speed of each objects lying around the subject vehicle. The recognition unit stores whether or not detection points data exists in each of M×N small regions into which X, Y coordinates are divided into a two dimensional array including a plurality of elements corresponding to the small regions. The recognition unit performs arithmetic operations of multiplication and summation of the respective elements of the two dimensional array while sequentially scanning a mask of a two dimensional array comprising J×K (J<N, K<M) elements, and determines attributes such as positions, sizes, etc. of the objects.

Abstract: A vehicle surrounding monitoring apparatus includes an object position detecting device for periodically detecting a distance of from the self vehicle to the object that exists in the periphery of the self vehicle and an orientation directed from the self vehicle toward the object; an object position converting device for calculating the estimated values of a distance and an orientation which are estimated when said object is detected at the present time; an stop object judging means for judging whether said object is a stop object, or not; and a relative speed calculating device for judging whether the previous object and the present object which are detected by said object position detecting device are identical with each other, or not, to calculate the relative speed on the basis of the relative position of the same object.

Abstract: To provide a sales supporting system capable of providing information on stores suitable for purchasers without troubling the purchasers.

Abstract: A vehicle surrounding monitoring apparatus includes an object position detecting means for periodically detecting a distance of from the self vehicle to the object that exists in the periphery of the self vehicle and an orientation directed from the self vehicle toward the object; an object position converting means for calculating the estimated values of a distance and an orientation which are estimated when said object is detected at the present time; an stop object judging means for judging whether said object is a stop object, or not; and a relative speed calculating means for judging whether the previous object and the present object which are detected by said object position detecting means are identical with each other, or not, to calculate the relative speed on the basis of the relative position of the same object.

Abstract: In a distance measuring device, reflected pulsed light beams with respect to one transmitted light beam are amplified by plural amplifiers (22a, 22b) of different gains. The retroreflection times of the reflected pulsed light beams are detected by retroreflection time detectors (30a, 30b) respectively connected to the amplifies. Based on outputs of the retroreflection time detectors, distance calculator (40) judges the overlapping state of the reflected pulses and the power of reflection from first pulse widths of the reflected pulsed light beams, selects a distance calculating method in accordance with the state, and outputs distance measurement data of high reliability.

Abstract: A practical object recognition method and a vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus using this method are provided which are efficient in data processing even when quite a lot of detection points data are obtained by using a scanning type laser radar. A laser radar scanningly irradiates electromagnetic waves around a subject vehicle on which the vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus is mounted, detects the electromagnetic waves reflected from objects lying around the subject vehicle, and outputs a plurality of directions of scanning irradiation and detected distances from the subject vehicle to the objects in the respective directions of scanning irradiation. A recognition unit detects, based on the detection results of the laser radar, a relative position and a relative speed of each of the objects lying around the subject vehicle with respect to the subject vehicle. The recognition unit stores whether or not detection points data (i.e.

Abstract: An image sensor for detecting a positional relationship between a subject automotive vehicle and an automotive vehicle lane, a target steering quantity calculating process for obtaining a target steering quantity A required for the automotive vehicle to run along the automotive vehicle lane based on the positional relationship, a torque sensor for detecting a manual steering force with which a driver operates a steering handle, a target steering quantity changing process for outputting a target steering quantity B by changing the target steering quantity A based on the manual steering force thus detected, a steering angle sensor for detecting an actual steering quantity, and an automatic steering force calculating process for obtaining an automatic steering force required to make the target steering quantity B and the actual steering quantity coincident with each other are provided. Even during the automatic steering, steering can be carried out based on the driver's intention.

Abstract: The present invention is to enhance safety of a vehicle by avoiding excessive approaches and collisions with preceding vehicles without spoiling a drive feeling of a driver by controlling the vehicle by, for example, initializing CPU and RAM in Step 201, operating a velocity and an acceleration of an own vehicle, following-on ranges from the preceding vehicles, relative velocities, a variable amount of steering angle, the amount of stepping brake from various sensor outputs in Step 202, judging an unconsciousness such as dozing from the variable amount of the steering angle in Step 203, obtaining an approach index expressing degrees of approaching to the preceding vehicles in Step 205, operating a target braking force by the amount of stepping brake pedal and controlled variables corresponding to the approach index based on the following-on ranges or the like when the driver is judged to be dozing in a case of excessively approaching in Step 205, and controlling the own vehicle by outputting these results of

Abstract: No automatic steering system is currently available, which has a drive device commonly used with a power steering device and which does not hinder the emergency escaping operation conducted by a driver.

Abstract: To maintain a predetermined distance to each of obstacles ahead of own vehicle, a follow-up cruise control apparatus calculates traveling direction target acceleration and deceleration of own vehicle, and treats, as s safe acceleration and deceleration, the product of the traveling direction target acceleration and deceleration and a weight coefficient determined by a distance between the front obstacle and the center line of the course of own vehicle. The follow-up cruise control apparatus selects a front obstacle having a safe acceleration and deceleration with the highest degree of risk of collision, from among all front obstacles ahead of own vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular front monitoring apparatus which can reliably recognize a road configuration ahead of an own-vehicle through simpler computation. The apparatus comprises a distance measuring unit for radiating electromagnetic waves or the likes in plural directions, and detecting distances from an own-vehicle to a plurality of objects around the own-vehicle and lateral positions of the objects relative to a running direction of the own-vehicle, thereby measuring object positional data on coordinates defined by the running direction and a transverse direction of the own-vehicle; a road curvature estimating unit for estimating a curvature of a road ahead of the own-vehicle through Hough transform of the object positional data measured by the distance measuring unit; and a vehicle's own lane determining unit for determining whether other vehicles running ahead are in the same lane as the own-vehicle or not based on the curvature of the road estimated by the road curvature estimating unit.

Abstract: A vehicle brake device includes: a braking-operation detecting circuit for detecting an amount of the braking operation given by a driver; a driver condition detecting circuit 4 for detecting driving conditions of the driver; a braking-condition determining circuit for determining whether the vehicle is in emergency or not on the basis of the driving conditions detected by the driver condition detecting circuit; and a braking-force control circuit for control a braking force of the vehicle in accordance with the determination by the braking-condition determining circuit and the braking-operation amount detected by the braking-operation detecting circuit 2.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraining system includes: a occupant restraining unit for restraining an occupant in a vehicle for his protection; a collision-recognition detecting unit for detecting whether or not the occupant recognizes an impending vehicle collision in advance; and a control unit for controlling the restraining operation of the occupant retraining unit depending on the result of the detection by the collision-recognition detecting unit.

Abstract: A driver dozing preventing apparatus includes a device for issuing a doze prevention alarm signal, and a device for outputting an alarm sound having a moving acoustic image of a fundamental sound when the alarm signal is issued.

Abstract: A bodily state detection apparatus comprising a CCD camera, an infrared LED device, a pickup image memory, a pupil extraction circuit and a bodily state judgment circuit. The CCD camera inputs images of a predetermined area including the subject person's face. The infrared LED device illuminates the subject person in such a way that the optical axis of the camera and the direction of the illumination coincide with each other. The pickup image memory stores temporarily the output data of the CCD camera. The pupil extraction circuit extracts the subject person's pupil position from the pickup images. The bodily state judgment circuit judges the subject person's bodily state by use of the result of pupil extraction performed by the pupil extraction circuit.

Abstract: A low-cost torque detection apparatus is obtained using wheel revolution sensors which are generally provided in a conventional ABS and an engine revolution sensor which is generally provided in a conventional engine fuel jet controller. The apparatus can be used, for example, in a vehicle having a drive source, such as an engine or a motor, for driving wheels which is coupled to the right and left wheels by respective shafts having torsional stiffness for transmitting a drive torque through a differential gear. The apparatus includes a drive source revolution angle detection device for the drive source and wheel revolution angle detection means for the right and left wheels, and calculates torques of shafts such as drive shafts for coupling the differential gear to the wheels using a torque calculator.

Abstract: A driver photographing apparatus that photographs images from reflections on the retinas of a driver in a vehicle having disturbance light using signal processing techniques. The apparatus comprises a light source for illuminating the driver with a first light beam along a first optical path, and a sensor that inputs a second light beam, along a second optical path, that includes reflections from the driver and disturbance light, to form an image of the driver. The light source and the sensor are disposed such that the first and second optical paths are along substantially the same axis. The apparatus further includes a processing circuit that eliminates the effect of the disturbance light on the image of the driver, and a detecting circuit that determines the action of the driver based on the driver's image.

Abstract: A bodily state detection apparatus comprising a CCD camera, an infrared LED device, a pickup image memory, a pupil extraction circuit and a bodily state judgment circuit. The CCD camera inputs images of a predetermined area including the subject person's face. The infrared LED device illuminates the subject person in such a way that the optical axis of the camera and the direction of the illumination coincide with each other. The pickup image memory stores temporarily the output data of the CCD camera. The pupil extraction circuit extracts the subject person's pupil position from the pickup images. The bodily state judgment circuit judges the subject person's bodily state by use of the result of pupil extraction performed by the pupil extraction circuit.