Abstract: A system (e.g., a monitoring device) for monitoring a first battery (e.g., a vehicle battery) provided in a vehicle is provided with a monitoring unit for monitoring the electric state of the first battery (e.g., the vehicle battery) capable of starting a motor of the vehicle; and a power supply unit that is a second battery for supplying electric power to the monitoring unit. The monitoring unit may determine whether or not the motor is stopped, and when the motor is stopped, the monitoring unit may monitor, as the electric state of the first battery, e.g., the voltage of the first battery.

Abstract: Provided is a speech recognition device that executes a speech recognition method capable of improving speech recognition accuracy. The speech recognition device includes a trigger generation unit for generating a trigger signal on the basis of at least mouth movement and a speech recognition unit which extracts a sound signal on the basis of the trigger signal and starts speech recognition for speech in the extracted sound signal. When the trigger generation unit is generating a trigger signal solely on the basis of opening of the mouth, the trigger generation unit generates the trigger signal so as to precede the opening of the mouth by a predetermined period. Alternatively, when the trigger generation unit is generating a trigger signal on the basis of opening of the mouth and changes in eye orientation, the trigger generation unit generates the trigger signal from the moment any of the above occurs.

Abstract: A driver dangerous driving reporting device (100) is provided with a danger prediction unit (30) and a danger reporting unit (40). The danger predicting unit (30) associates a driver inside a vehicle with a subject outside the vehicle, and on the basis of a single image simultaneously representing the driver (subject outside vehicle), is capable of predicting dangerous driving of the vehicle by the driver. When dangerous driving by the driver is predicted by the danger prediction unit (30), the danger reporting unit (40) is capable of reporting the dangerous driving by the driver to the driver.

Abstract: Provided is a system capable of reducing production costs. The system (on-board device) comprises an acquisition unit provided in a vehicle and comprising a camera unit that captures images and/or a microphone unit that captures sound; and an error detection unit that detects vehicle errors. The system sends the acquisition results from the acquisition unit, such as images and sound, to outside the vehicle in conjunction with a mobile information terminal provided in the vehicle, when the error detection unit has detected an error. Ideally, the mobile information terminal has a rechargeable battery unit and the acquisition unit and/or the error detection unit have power supplied thereto from the battery unit in the mobile information terminal, and can operate thereby. Also, the error detection unit ideally changes the error detection mode in accordance with the state of the battery unit in the mobile information terminal.

Abstract: A microphone array arrangement structure in a vehicle cabin is provided with multiple microphones arranged in a convex line. The microphones include a first microphone, and the direction of the axis of the first microphone faces the mouth of the driver. The microphone array arrangement structure is provided with covers housing the microphones and having multiple holes. The front surface of the covers form a convexly curved line, and each of the microphones is fixed inside of a cover to correspond to one of the holes.

Abstract: A system (e.g., a monitoring device) for monitoring a first battery (e.g., a vehicle battery) provided in a vehicle is provided with a monitoring unit for monitoring the electric state of the first battery (e.g., the vehicle battery) capable of starting a motor of the vehicle; and a power supply unit that is a second battery for supplying electric power to the monitoring unit. The monitoring unit may determine whether or not the motor is stopped, and when the motor is stopped, the monitoring unit may monitor, as the electric state of the first battery, e.g., the voltage of the first battery.

Abstract: A driver dangerous driving reporting device (100) is provided with a danger prediction unit (30) and a danger reporting unit (40). The danger predicting unit (30) associates a driver inside a vehicle with a subject outside the vehicle, and on the basis of a single image simultaneously representing the driver (subject outside vehicle), is capable of predicting dangerous driving of the vehicle by the driver. When dangerous driving by the driver is predicted by the danger prediction unit (30), the danger reporting unit (40) is capable of reporting the dangerous driving by the driver to the driver.

Abstract: Provided is a system capable of reducing production costs. The system (on-board device) comprises an acquisition unit provided in a vehicle and comprising a camera unit that captures images and/or a microphone unit that captures sound; and an error detection unit that detects vehicle errors. The system sends the acquisition results from the acquisition unit, such as images and sound, to outside the vehicle in conjunction with a mobile information terminal provided in the vehicle, when the error detection unit has detected an error. Ideally, the mobile information terminal has a rechargeable battery unit and the acquisition unit and/or the error detection unit have power supplied thereto from the battery unit in the mobile information terminal, and can operate thereby. Also, the error detection unit ideally changes the error detection mode in accordance with the state of the battery unit in the mobile information terminal.

Abstract: Provided is a speech recognition device that executes a speech recognition method capable of improving speech recognition accuracy. The speech recognition device includes a trigger generation unit for generating a trigger signal on the basis of at least mouth movement and a speech recognition unit which extracts a sound signal on the basis of the trigger signal and starts speech recognition for speech in the extracted sound signal. When the trigger generation unit is generating a trigger signal solely on the basis of opening of the mouth, the trigger generation unit generates the trigger signal so as to precede the opening of the mouth by a predetermined period. Alternatively, when the trigger generation unit is generating a trigger signal on the basis of opening of the mouth and changes in eye orientation, the trigger generation unit generates the trigger signal from the moment any of the above occurs.

Abstract: A microphone array arrangement structure in a vehicle cabin is provided with multiple microphones arranged in a convex line. The microphones include a first microphone, and the direction of the axis of the first microphone faces the mouth of the driver. The microphone array arrangement structure is provided with covers housing the microphones and having multiple holes. The front surface of the covers form a convexly curved line, and each of the microphones is fixed inside of a cover to correspond to one of the holes.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides an illumination structure that can illuminate both a neighborhood of an opening and a storage portion with a simple configuration. An illumination structure 1 includes an illumination device 4 provided in an opening 3 of a vehicle 2, and a person can get on and off the vehicle 2 through the opening 3. The illumination device 4 is fixed to a step garnish 5 provided in a lower end portion 3a of the opening 3. A translucent member 18 is provided in a bottom surface of a storage portion 9 formed in a door lining 10. When a door 6 is closed against the opening 3, the storage portion 9 is disposed on the step garnish 5, whereby the illumination structure 1 is retained while the illumination device 4, a first translucent member 18a, and a second translucent member 18b line up in the order from the bottom.

Abstract: An in-vehicle illuminating device 1 capable of efficiently guiding luminous flux emitted from a luminous source to a light guiding body. The in-vehicle illuminating device 1 is provided with a rod-shaped light guiding body 13 which reflects, on its inner surface, light rays incident from an optical incidence plane 16 provided at an end 13a to guide the light rays to the other end longitudinally provided, a lamp 19 which emits light to a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped light guiding body 13 and is arranged in the vicinity of the optical incidence plane 16, and an light introducing body 20 for introducing the luminous flux emitted from the lamp 19 to the optical incidence plane 16. The light introducing body 20 allows the optical incidence plane 16 to be set within a range of the luminous flux emitted from the lamp 19.

Abstract: There is provided an illuminating device for vehicle which can be protected from penetration of, for example water. An illuminating device 1 for vehicle comprises a light source 7 and a lighting main body 2 that transmits light irradiated from the light source 7 and then emits the light outward. The lighting main body 2 includes a light guide body 5 and a casing 6 formed integrally with the light guide body 5. The casing 6 has a light source installation portion 11 for installing the light source 7 and a cover 4 which covers only the light source installation portion 11. A gap is sealed between the light source installation portion 11 and the cover 4.

Abstract: An in-vehicle illuminating device capable of preventing light emitted from a light source from coming directly into a passenger's sight. An in-vehicle illuminating device 1 includes a housing 2, a reflective member 18 provided within the housing 2, a light source or LEDs 10 orienting a light axis of light emitted therefrom to the reflective member 18. Reflected light obtained by allowing the reflective member 18 to reflect the light emitted from the LEDs 40 is irradiated to the outside of the housing 2, thus preventing light emitted from the LEDs 40 from coming directly into a passenger's sight.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides an illumination structure that can illuminate both a neighborhood of an opening and a storage portion with a simple configuration. An illumination structure 1 includes an illumination device 4 provided in an opening 3 of a vehicle 2, and a person can get on and off the vehicle 2 through the opening 3. The illumination device 4 is fixed to a step garnish 5 provided in a lower end portion 3a of the opening 3. A translucent member 18 is provided in a bottom surface of a storage portion 9 formed in a door lining 10. When a door 6 is closed against the opening 3, the storage portion 9 is disposed on the step garnish 5, whereby the illumination structure 1 is retained while the illumination device 4, a first translucent member 18a, and a second translucent member 18b line up in the order from the bottom.

Abstract: An in-vehicle illuminating device capable of preventing light emitted from a light source from coming directly into a passenger's sight. An in-vehicle illuminating device 1 includes a housing 2, a reflective member 18 provided within the housing 2, a light source or LEDs 10 orienting a light axis of light emitted therefrom to the reflective member 18. Reflected light obtained by allowing the reflective member 18 to reflect the light emitted from the LEDs 40 is irradiated to the outside of the housing 2, thus preventing light emitted from the LEDs 40 from coming directly into a passenger's sight.

Abstract: An in-vehicle illuminating device 1 capable of efficiently guiding luminous flux emitted from a luminous source to a light guiding body. The in-vehicle illuminating device 1 is provided with a rod-shaped light guiding body 13 which reflects, on its inner surface, light rays incident from an optical incidence plane 16 provided at an end 13a to guide the light rays to the other end longitudinally provided, a lamp 19 which emits light to a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped light guiding body 13 and is arranged in the vicinity of the optical incidence plane 16, and an light introducing body 20 for introducing the luminous flux emitted from the lamp 19 to the optical incidence plane 16. The light introducing body 20 allows the optical incidence plane 16 to be set within a range of the luminous flux emitted from the lamp 19.

Abstract: To provide an interior illuminator for an automobile that prevents light leakage to the driver's seat and light reflection in a window glass, can illuminate a backseat more evenly with an adequate quantity of light, consumes less electric power, generates less heat, has a small size and can be produced at a reduced cost. An interior illuminator has: cold cathode tubes 5, 6; a cold cathode tube driving circuit for driving the cold cathode tubes 5, 6; manipulation switches 12, 13, 14 and 15 for turning on and off the cold cathode tubes; and a housing 2 that houses the cold cathode tube driving circuit and holds the cold cathode tubes and the manipulation switches. The housing 2 is attached in a position on a longitudinal center line of the automobile and behind the driver's seat, and the cold cathode tubes 5, 6 each have an illumination range set to be lower than the lower edge of a window glass behind the driver's seat.

Abstract: To provide an interior illuminator for an automobile that can produce a decorative effect by illumination in addition to illuminating the interior of the automobile and has a simple structure and a small size. A secondary light emitting unit is provided around primary light emitting units 5 and 6 for illuminating the interior of the automobile. A housing 2 that holds the primary light emitting units 5, 6 and the secondary light emitting unit is provided. The secondary light emitting unit has a U-shaped light guide body 21, light emitting elements 8 and 9 for launching light into the light guide body at the ends thereof, and a light emitting element control unit 11 for controlling the light emitting elements 8 and 9.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus for lighting up an entrance of a vehicle, capable of decreasing the sound of wind roaring caused during driving. The lighting apparatus includes: at least one lighting element; a clear molded plastic cover member; and an attaching member for attaching the lighting element with the clear molded plastic cover member onto a bottom surface of a side mirror. The side surface of the lighting apparatus adjacent to a vehicle body is formed so as to broaden from the front of the side mirror toward the rear thereof along a direction departing from the vehicle body.