Abstract: In-vehicle communication apparatuses, methods, and programs store a database including a plurality of points set within the vicinity of an intersection and a plurality of frequencies associated with a each of the points. The apparatuses, methods, and programs receive a signal and detect a frequency of the received signal. The apparatuses, methods, and programs generate content of a warning about the intersection based on the stored database and the detected frequency and communicate the generated content of the warning.

Abstract: In-vehicle communication apparatuses, methods, and programs store a database including a plurality of data groups. Each data group includes a plurality of frequencies and each frequency in each data group is associated with a predicted arrival time from a set point in the vicinity of an intersection to the intersection. The apparatuses, methods, and programs detect a state of the vehicle and predict an arrival time within which the vehicle will arrive at an approaching intersection based on the detected state of the vehicle. The apparatuses, methods, and programs determine a transmission frequency using the database and the predicted arrival time and cause a transmitter to transmit a signal having the determined transmission frequency.

Abstract: A parking assist apparatus includes a CPU for generating recorded image data based on image data obtained from a camera which is mounted on a vehicle, the image data being related to at least an imaging position, and an image memory for retaining the recorded image data even after the parking operation is terminated. The parking assist apparatus also includes an image processor for outputting a parking assist image using the recorded image data and current image data on a display and an RAM for storing ending history data which is obtained when the parking operation is terminated. When the parking operation is terminated once and then repeated, the CPU and the image processor determine whether the recorded image data stored before the termination of the prior parking operation is still useful, on the basis of the ending history data.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods provide an image pick-up device for picking up an image outside a vehicle, an apparatus body including an installation portion installed to an interior-side surface of a pillar of the vehicle, and a display device provided integrally with the apparatus body and including a display screen disposed on an interior side with respect to the installation portion. An image pick-up element of the image pick-up device is provided such that a roll angle of the image pick-up element is substantially equal to a roll angle of the display screen of the display device.

Abstract: A driving support unit includes an image signal input section which receives image signals for an area around a vehicle from a camera, a sensor I/F section that detects the head position of a driver sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle, and a control section. The control section judges whether the driver's head has entered into a projection range of light which is projected from a projector onto a pillar, and an image processor which outputs to the projector data designating the detected driver's head position and surrounding area as a non-projection region.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and programs of producing and using traffic signal information take, when a vehicle is closely approaching a traffic signal, an image of traffic signal lamps disposed on the traffic signal. The systems, methods, and programs produce image data of the traffic signal lamps, based on the taken image and analyze the image data. The systems, methods, and programs produce traffic signal state information, the traffic signal state information including a state of the traffic signal as of the time of taking the image of the traffic signal lamps. The systems, methods, and programs store traffic signal information, the traffic signal information including the produced traffic signal state information, traffic signal location information, and time information in a memory.

Abstract: A headlight beam control system includes an image taking apparatus for capturing an image to the rear of the user's vehicle and for generating image data from the captured image, a following vehicle information acquisition unit for acquiring following vehicle information from the image data, a passing action prediction unit for predicting a passing action based on the following vehicle information, a mode switching condition judgment unit for judging whether a mode switching condition is satisfied, based on the predicted passing action, and an automatic mode setting unit for switching the headlights between a high beam mode and a low beam mode when the mode switching condition is satisfied. When passing of the user's vehicle is predicted based on the following vehicle information, the headlights are switched from the high beam mode to the low beam mode.

Abstract: A driving support device uses a camera mounted on a vehicle for imaging a blind spot area created by a pillar of the vehicle and displays an image taken by the camera on the interior surface of the pillar. A virtual plane passing through boundaries of the blind spot area is set, and an image plane of the camera is set at a predetermined position where a non-displayed area or an excess area, created by deviation between the virtual plane and the image plane of the camera, is reduced. Image data input from the camera is subjected to coordinate transformation on the virtual plane, and an image corresponding to the blind spot area created by the pillar is displayed on the interior surface of the pillar, based on the image data subjected to coordinate transformation on the virtual plane.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and programs of producing and using traffic signal information take, when a vehicle is closely approaching a traffic signal, an image of traffic signal lamps disposed on the traffic signal. The systems, methods, and programs produce image data of the traffic signal lamps, based on the taken image and analyze the image data. The systems, methods, and programs produce traffic signal state information, the traffic signal state information including a state of the traffic signal as of the time of taking the image of the traffic signal lamps. The systems, methods, and programs store traffic signal information, the traffic signal information including the produced traffic signal state information, traffic signal location information, and time information in a memory.

Abstract: A driving support method and a driving support apparatus clearly project an image of a specific target object onto a pillar within a vehicle. The apparatus includes a camera installed on the vehicle that captures a dead-angle area created by the pillar and a projector projecting the image captured by the camera onto the interior surface of the pillar. The driving support unit also includes an image processor that sets a reference point Pc on an indicator on a road surface, sets a virtual plane VP passing through the reference point Pc, performs coordinate conversion for image data input from the camera onto the virtual plane VP, and outputs to a projector the image data for which the coordinate conversion has been performed.

Abstract: A driving support system has a capability of displaying information in such a manner that the information can be directly used by a driver in driving the vehicle, thereby further enhancing driving safety of the vehicle. The driving support system acquires judgment information and, based on such information, decides whether to issue a warning to the driver. Virtual image information, corresponding to the type of the warning, is generated responsive to a decision that a warning should be given, which virtual image information is displayed to the driver.

Abstract: A vehicle proximity warning apparatus includes a current location detector for detecting a current location of the user's vehicle, point information acquisition processor for acquiring map data, and a light emission processor for driving a light generator, in accordance with the map data and the current location of the user's vehicle, to emit a light beam toward a point to be illuminated in an intersection. The light generator is driven in accordance with the location of the user's vehicle and map data so as to direct the light beam toward the point to be illuminated in the intersection, thereby reliably informing other vehicles and pedestrians of the proximity of the user's vehicle.

Abstract: A driving support unit captures an image of a driver's blind spot due to presence of a pillar of a vehicle includes at least first and second cameras which are mounted on the vehicle, a display device for displaying the image on the interior surface of the pillar and a control section for detecting position of the head of the driver, calculating a blind spot angle due to the presence of the pillar in accordance with the position of the head of the driver, and for selecting, based on the calculated angle, one of the cameras to capture the image. The first camera captures an image the major portion of which is an area to the side of the vehicle, and the second camera captures an image the major portion of which is an area to the front of the vehicle.

Abstract: When it is determined that the subject vehicle stopped at the intersection is in the right turn waiting state, the navigation ECU forms a right turn waiting mark representing the right turn waiting state on the road surface of the opposite lane at the intersection where the subject vehicle is stopped with visually identifiable laser beam with a predetermined color. When it is determined that the subject vehicle is brought into the right turn start state from the right turn waiting state where the subject vehicle is stopped at the intersection, the navigation ECU forms the right turn start mark representing the right turn start state instead of the right turn waiting mark on the road surface of the opposite lane at the intersection where the subject vehicle enters with the visually identifiable laser beam with the color (for example, red) different from that of the right turn waiting mark at substantially the same position thereof in accordance with the traveling state of the subject vehicle.

Abstract: A parking assist unit includes an image processor for setting a reference position of a vehicle, and an image data input unit for inputting image data from a camera provided on the vehicle. The image processor performs rotation processing on the image data to generate recorded data, based on a relative position with respect to the reference position of the vehicle during imaging. In addition, the recorded image data generated is accumulated in a corresponding pixel area within a synthesis memory area. Furthermore, the recorded image data accumulated is used to generate synthesized data, and such synthesized data is shown on a display.

Abstract: Public-key cryptography is realized by means of PKI in which biometrics data, in which biological information of users is converted to numerical values, are used to authenticate users that transmit and receive data, and based on the biometrics data, identical secret keys (common secret keys) are generated in each of the user terminal devices that are used by the users without releasing the secret keys onto the network.

Abstract: A driving assist apparatus obtains image data from a camera mounted on a vehicle and stores the image data in an image memory. The driving assist apparatus further obtains a relative distance between the vehicle and an obstacle on the basis of input from a sonar device mounted on the vehicle, generates a projection plane on the basis of the relative distance between the vehicle and the detected obstacle, and projects the stored image data onto a plane to generate an overhead image.

Abstract: Systems for determining a movement amount detect a steering angle of a moving body on which a camera is mounted and extract matching inspection areas of a prescribed shape and size from frames captured by a camera. The systems rotate the inspection area of a second frame relative to the inspection area of a first frame, the rotation based on the detected steering angle. The systems execute pattern matching between the inspection areas and calculate positions of subject points that correspond to identical characteristic points in each frame. The systems, methods, and programs determine the movement amount based on a displacement amount between the calculated subject point positions.

Abstract: A parking assist apparatus includes a CPU for generating recorded image data based on image data obtained from a camera which is mounted on a vehicle, the image data being related to at least an imaging position, and an image memory for retaining the recorded image data even after the parking operation is terminated. The parking assist apparatus also includes an image processor for outputting a parking assist image using the recorded image data and current image data on a display and an RAM for storing ending history data which is obtained when the parking operation is terminated. When the parking operation is terminated once and then repeated, the CPU and the image processor determine whether the recorded image data stored before the termination of the prior parking operation is still useful, on the basis of the ending history data.

Abstract: A vehicle moving distance detecting method that includes the steps of obtaining a moving distance based upon pulse signals received from a vehicle speed sensor when a vehicle speed obtained based upon the pulse signals received from the vehicle speed sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference vehicle speed; and acquiring a plurality of image data sets, which have been captured at different points in time using an image capturing mechanism provided to the vehicle, and obtaining the moving distance by performing image processing for the plurality of image data sets when the vehicle speed is less than the reference vehicle speed.