Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling an outboard motor having an internal combustion engine to power a propeller and a torque converter interposed between the engine and a drive shaft and equipped with a lockup clutch, it is configured to, based on input rotation speed and output rotation speed of the torque converter, calculate a speed ratio of the torque converter and a change amount of the input rotation speed, and make the lockup clutch ON/OFF based on the calculated speed ratio and change amount. With this, it becomes possible to appropriately make the lockup clutch ON/OFF, thereby improving speed performance.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the provision of a wavelength conversion-type ultraviolet light source apparatus that can obtain a stable output. A light source apparatus according to one mode of the invention includes: a laser light source 1 which produces fundamental light L1; at least one nonlinear optical crystal 3 which takes the fundamental light L1 or a harmonic thereof as incident light and outputs wavelength-converted light L2; and polarization adjusting means 2 which is placed in an optical path of the incident light and causes an output of the wavelength-converted light L2 to change by changing its refractive index for a polarized component of the incident light. The polarization adjusting means 2 changes the amount of change of the refractive index in accordance with an electrical signal output from a photodetector 7.

Abstract: An object type determination apparatus, an object type determination method, a vehicle, and a program for determining an object type, capable of accurately determining the type of the object by appropriately determining periodicity in movement of the object from images, are provided.

Abstract: The lane mark recognition device is equipped with a lane mark detecting unit which executes a lane mark detection process in each predetermined control cycle, and adds a detection presence/absence data to a ring buffer, a detection presence/absence data addition inhibiting unit which inhibits addition of the detection presence/absence data to the ring buffer when the vehicle is traveling in the intersection, and a lane mark position recognizing unit which recognizes a relative position of the vehicle and the lane mark, when the lane mark is detected in the situation where a lane mark detection rate calculated from the data of the ring buffer is higher than a reliability threshold value.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber which includes a piston which is slidably fitted into a cylinder and partitions the cylinder into first and second fluid chambers; and a piston rod which is connected to the piston and slidably penetrates through an end wall of the cylinder, wherein the piston rod penetrates through the piston and includes on the outer circumferential surface of the piston rod at least one groove which communicates between the first and second fluid chambers, and the first and second fluid chambers are communicated with each other through the at least one groove.

Abstract: In a vibration proofing apparatus, two second pressure receiving liquid chambers are arranged between an outer tube and a mounting attachment, and are configured to communicate with an auxiliary liquid chamber through two second orifices when an auxiliary vibration along an auxiliary amplitude direction orthogonal to an axial direction is input to the mounting attachment, a rubber elastic body is elastically deformed along an auxiliary amplitude direction, and expands and contracts an internal volume of the second pressure receiving liquid chambers. At this time, since a resonance phenomenon is generated in the liquid circulating between the second pressure receiving liquid chambers and the auxiliary liquid chamber through the second orifices in synchronization with the input auxiliary vibration, a low-frequency vibration input along the auxiliary amplitude direction due to a pressure change, and a viscous resistance generated together with the resonance phenomenon of the liquid is effectively absorbed.

Abstract: A vehicle travel support device determines presence of a recognition inhibiting factor of a lane mark on a road on which a vehicle is traveling with high accuracy irrespective of an imaging history by a vehicular camera from the same position. The vehicle travel support system generates an edge image by extracting an edge or actualizing an edge in an image obtained through the vehicular camera. When Hough transform of the edge image is performed, votes for a specified vote value of a linear component is evaluated in a ?-? space (Hough space). Presence of a recognition inhibiting factor of a lane mark on a road is determined by determining whether or not the votes of a specified vote value in a specified region denoting a standard travel lane of a vehicle in the real space is ?a threshold in the ?-? space.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a shift control device including a rolling angular velocity sensor for detecting a rolling angular velocity of a component of the vehicle, and a steering-angle angular velocity sensor for detecting a steering-angle angular velocity of a handlebar of the vehicle. The shift control device is operable to inhibit shifting of a gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission during rolling operation of the vehicle when detection signals from the rolling angular velocity sensor and the steering-angle angular velocity sensor respectively are equal to or greater than predetermined reference values.

Abstract: In a keyless entry system, a CPU in an ECU and a CPU in a remote control key each have an associated memory for storing respective function formulas, which are specified by primary function formula data. With this structure, function formulas used in the remote control key and the ECU can be changed to respective new function formulas. This technique makes it difficult to predict the function formulas used in the remote control key and the ECU, thereby further reducing any regularity of rolling codes generated by the function formulas.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing includes an auxiliary bearing portion, a first radial bearing portion and a second radial bearing portion arranged along an axial direction of the fluid dynamic bearing, wherein the auxiliary groove formed in the auxiliary bearing portion is shallower in depth than the radial dynamic pressure groove formed in the first radial bearing portion, and wherein a gap size in the auxiliary bearing portion is set to be equal to or larger than a gap size in the radial bearing portions.

Abstract: A rear body structure for a vehicle includes a body cover for covering a vehicle body, a rear grip member attached to a vehicle body frame and configured to be gripped by an occupant of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, and a rear grip cover attached to and covering the rear grip member. A portion of the body cover overlaps a top surface of the rear grip member. The rear grip member is provided with a body cover positioning section for positioning the body cover thereon. The rear grip cover is arranged above the body cover positioning section of the rear grip member for providing covering thereto. Such vehicle rear body structure provides an improvement in the outward appearance of a rear body structure of a vehicle.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system distinguishes a mounted tire from a non-mounted tire, and which automatically changes over IDs and tire-pressure thresholds without any exclusive apparatuses. A tire pressure monitoring unit stores an identification code of a tire pressure sensor unit and a tire-pressure set value as a pair. While a vehicle is traveling at a speed equal to or faster than a predetermined vehicle speed, if an identification code received within a predetermined time coincides with any one of identification codes of registered tires and the number of coinciding identification codes is equal to the number of tires, and, at least one of the coinciding identification codes is an identification code other than specified identification codes, the specified identification codes are replaced with those coinciding identification codes which are newly specified as respective identification codes of tire pressure sensor units mounted in tires mounted on the vehicle.

Abstract: An object detection apparatus and method for accurately detecting a movable object in a region around a vehicle from a time series of images obtained through a camera mounted on the vehicle by eliminating the influence of the movement of the camera through simple processing, and a program for making a computer execute processing in the apparatus.

Abstract: A walk-behind lawnmower is provided with a height-adjusting mechanism for adjusting the height of a housing above the ground. The walk-behind lawnmower further comprises an operating button for switching an adjustment operation of the height-adjusting mechanism from a restricted state to a permissive state; and a height-adjusting grip capable of being grasped by a hand so as to raise or lower the housing when the operating button is operated, and the adjustment operation of the height-adjusting mechanism is thereby permitted. The height-adjusting grip is provided to the housing in the vicinity of a left or right lateral part. The operating button is positioned in an area allowing operation by a finger of the hand grasping the height-adjusting grip.

Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling an outboard motor mounted on a stern of a boat and having an internal combustion engine to power a propeller, a drive shaft that connects the engine and the propeller, a torque converter that is interposed between the engine and the drive shaft and is equipped with a lockup clutch, a water pump connected to the drive shaft to be driven by the drive shaft, and a shift mechanism interposed between the drive shaft and the propeller, comprising a neutral position detector that detects the shift mechanism being set in a neutral position; and a clutch ON unit that makes the lockup clutch ON to increase operation speed of the water pump when it is detected that the shift mechanism is set in the neutral position. With this, it becomes possible to improve cooling performance, thereby preventing a defect such as overheat of the engine.

Abstract: In a brake system for a motorcycle in which a pressure-regulating unit is interposed between a wheel brake and fluid pressure generating unit capable of generating a fluid pressure independently of an operation of a brake operating element is controlled by a control unit based on a value detected by an operating amount detector which detects an operating amount of the brake operating element. To prevent adverse influences of not only vibrations from an engine, but also heat from the engine, from being exerted on the pressure-regulating unit, such is floatingly supported by a support supported on a body frame of the motorcycle through an elastic case covering the pressure-regulating unit.

Abstract: A motorcycle includes a muffler assembly including a muffler and a muffler cover arranged on one side of a rear wheel in a lateral direction. The motorcycle also includes a housing box resembling the muffler assembly and arranged substantially parallel to the muffler assembly on the other side of the rear wheel in the lateral direction. The housing box has a shape substantially similar to a shape of the muffler assembly, thereby forming a pseudo muffler assembly or replica muffler assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel which includes an additional air chamber member forming an additional air chamber in a tire air chamber. The additional air chamber member is fixed on an outer circumferential surface of a well portion of a rim. The additional air chamber member is provided with a communication hole communicating between the additional air chamber and the tire air chamber. The communication hole is disposed at a position shifted from a discharge port of an air valve for supplying air in the tire air chamber in a wheel circumferential direction and opened to the tire air chamber.

Abstract: In a brake system for a motorcycle in which the operation of a pressure-regulating unit interposed between fluid pressure generator and a wheel brake is controlled by a control unit on the basis of a value detected by operating amount detector for detecting an operating amount of a brake operating element, to prevent the influence of vibrations transmitted from an engine from being exerted on the pressure-regulating unit. A support member for supporting the pressure-regulating unit is flexibly supported, though elastic members, by a pair of frame sections which are arranged on both the left and right sides of an engine body and by a crossmember which connects both the frame sections to each other on the rear side of the engine body so as to constitute a part of a body frame F together with the frame sections.

Abstract: A front storage compartment for a scooter-type vehicle includes a plate member mounted on a cover member covering a vehicle body of the vehicle. The plate member and the cover member jointly define an upwardly open storage unit therebetween. The cover member has a water drain hole formed therein for draining water from the storage unit. The water drain hole is located at a position below a floor panel which closes the bottom of the storage unit. The plate member has a lower extension for covering the water drain hole and the cover member, below the floor panel. A water channel for guiding water to the water drain hole is provided between the lower extension of the plate member and the cover member. Such front storage compartment structure reduces an amount of water seeping out to the surface of the cover member.