Abstract: An angle detecting device has a processor configured to detect a first point and a second point indicating parts of rear of the towing vehicle within a first plane, a third point and a fourth point indicating parts of front of the towed vehicle within a second plane from within an image that includes the rear of the towing vehicle and the front of the towed vehicle, project the first to fourth points onto a projection plane parallel to ground and calculate fifth to eighth points, and calculate an angle formed between a first straight line connecting the fifth point and sixth point and a second straight line connecting the seventh point and eighth point in the projection plane as the relative angle of the towed vehicle with respect to the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus is capable of executing steering control that includes steering assistance or automatic steering of a vehicle. The driving assistance apparatus includes: an influence information acquisition unit configured to acquire influence information including information on a road affected by irregularities on the road; a proposal information presentation unit configured to present proposal information related to suspension of the steering control to an occupant of the vehicle when the influence information on road affected by irregularities present along a path of the vehicle is acquired during execution of the steering control; and a steering control unit configured to suspend a part or all of the steering control based on a suspending operation of the steering control from the occupant.

Abstract: A heating system includes: an alkaline secondary battery and a controller. The alkaline secondary battery includes: a power generating element configured to be charged or discharged; and a battery case that accommodates the power generating element in a hermetically sealed state. The controller is configured to control charging and discharging of the alkaline secondary battery, and, when an internal pressure of the alkaline secondary battery is higher than or equal to a first threshold, execute a heating process for heating the alkaline secondary battery by decreasing the internal pressure through discharging of the alkaline secondary battery. The heating process is a process of raising a temperature of the alkaline secondary battery.

Abstract: A vehicle receiver system includes: a receiver provided in a vehicle cabin, wherein an operating mode of the receiver includes a first mode for receiving a first wireless signal transmitted from a portable key, and a second mode for receiving a second wireless signal relating to a tire air pressure, transmitted from a transmitter provided on a tire; and a key verification device that performs key verification on the portable key in the vehicle cabin on the basis of the first wireless signal. In a predetermined situation, the receiver is configured such that the operating mode of the receiver is switched between the first mode and the second mode, and proportion of a second mode operation time in which the receiver operates in the second mode is set to be greater when a vehicle speed is relatively high than when the vehicle speed is relatively low.

Abstract: An electronic control device for a vehicle configured to be able to rewrite a program related to vehicle control by connecting an external device with the vehicle and by accessing an in-vehicle LAN includes a portable authentication terminal separated from the external device; an in-vehicle authentication system connected with the in-vehicle LAN, configured to authenticate the portable authentication terminal and to be able to transmit a authentication result to the in-vehicle LAN; a repeater configured to relay communications between the external device and the in-vehicle LAN; and a communication authorization unit connected to the in-vehicle LAN and configured to authorize the communications between the external device and the in-vehicle LAN through the repeater if receiving the authentication result of a successful authentication of the portable authentication terminal by the in-vehicle authentication system.

Abstract: An ECU executes a program including: a step of bringing a “READY” mark into a flashing state when there is a request to restart a system of a vehicle during traveling and when start of an engine is necessary; a step of starting the engine when an engine rotational speed Ne is equal to or lower than a prescribed rotational speed Ne and when start of the engine is possible; a step of shifting the “READY” mark from the flashing state to a constantly lighting state when start of the engine is completed; and a step of bringing the “READY” mark into the constantly lighting state when start of the engine is unnecessary.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydrogen supply apparatus which can mix an odorant with hydrogen gas even at a low temperature and can detect the leakage of the hydrogen gas. The apparatus comprises a gas storage portion which stores hydrogen gas therein, an odorant-addition portion which adds an odorant to the hydrogen gas fed from the gas storage portion, and a temperature control portion which controls the temperature of at least one of the hydrogen gas stored in the gas storage portion, the hydrogen gas fed from the gas storage portion and the odorant.

Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus includes an airbag provided at a seat portion of a vehicle seat. The airbag is inflatable in such manner as to push up at least a part of a cushion body of the seat portion. At the time of collision of the vehicle, an ECU permits inflation of the airbag if a sensor senses that an occupant is seated on the seat, and inhibits inflation of the airbag if the sensor senses that no occupant is seated on the seat. Therefore, when no occupant is seated on the seat, inflation of the airbag is inhibited at a vehicle collision.

Abstract: A basic injection timing (InjO) is set, and an intermediate time (.DELTA.Inj) is set based on rotational speed of an engine and fuel injection pulse time in a fuel injector. A fuel injection starting timing (.theta.) is set according to the sum or difference of the basic injection timing and the intermediate time. As a result, mixture is introduced into a vortex controlled combustion chamber so that a rich mixture is distributed to the upper portion of the combustion chamber near the ignition plug to provide satisfactory stratified combustion.

Abstract: An abnormality detection apparatus for a power supply circuit associated with an internal combustion engine detects an abnormality that may occur in a power supply circuit, and controls the automatic stop and the automatic start of the engine based on the state of the power supply circuit. The state of charge/discharge of a battery determined based on the electric potential of a terminal located between the battery and a generator-motor or a load is compared with the current through the battery detected by an ammeter. If there is a contradiction therebetween, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred somewhere in the power supply circuit including the battery. When it is determined that the power supply circuit has an abnormality, the apparatus performs such a control as to prevent the automatic stop/start control in which the engine is automatically stopped if a predetermined condition is met, and in which the engine is automatically restarted when the condition is unmet after being met.