Abstract: A navigation apparatus for displaying a map that includes building symbols representing buildings. The navigation apparatus includes a map-drawing unit that draws the map of an area from map data on shapes and positions of the building symbols at a selected map scale and a displaying unit that displays the drawn map. In the navigation apparatus in a nighttime-map displaying mode, the map-drawing unit draws the entirety of each building symbol in a bright color to generate the map when the map scale exceeds a predetermined threshold and draws part of the building symbol in a bright color to generate the map when the map scale does not exceed the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a vehicle roll stability indicator that estimates the propensity for vehicle rollover. The system determines vehicle kinematics from vehicle sensors, such as roll rate, yaw rate, lateral acceleration, vehicle speed, etc. From these kinematic values, the system estimates a roll angle of the vehicle and a bank angle of the vehicle. From the estimated bank angle, the system provides a corrected roll angle. From the corrected roll angle, the system determines a roll energy of the vehicle and a roll energy rate of the vehicle. From the roll energy and the roll energy rate, the system calculates a roll stability indicator that defines the potential that the vehicle will tip-up or roll over. From the roll stability indicator, vehicle stability control systems can take suitable action.

Abstract: An airbag deployment system including at least one module housing, at least one deployable airbag associated with each housing, an inflator associated with each housing for inflating the airbag(s) to deploy into the passenger compartment, an airbag inflation determination unit for determining that deployment of the airbag(s) is/are desired, and respective electronic control units arranged within or proximate each housing and coupled to a respective inflator and the airbag inflation determination unit for initiating the inflator to inflate the airbag(s) in the respective housing upon receiving a signal from the airbag inflation determination unit. The control units include a power supply for enabling initiation of the inflator.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling one or more customers to search for a pharmacy store location. The method and system includes registering a customer with the network website; prompting the customer to enter a username and password; and displaying to the customer on the website at least one of a prescription order selection or a pharmacy data access selection.

Abstract: A method and system for acquiring aircraft parameters that includes sampling an aircraft parameter during a first sampling period, recording the full value of the aircraft parameter sampled during the first sampling period, then sampling the aircraft parameter during a fixed number of subsequent consecutive sampling periods, and recording the change between the value of the aircraft parameter sampled in the subsequent sampling periods and the value of the aircraft parameter sampled in the prior sampling period. A method and system for constructing a data stream that includes merging a voluntary data stream and the mandatory parameters and storing the merged data stream in a flight data recorder while maintaining the certification of the flight data recorder.

Abstract: A method of controlling tractive force of a vehicle comprising determining a tractive force request of a driver of the vehicle, determining an actual tractive force of the vehicle, and modifying the actual tractive force of the vehicle to be equal to the tractive force request.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and to a device (D) enabling a health check to be performed on at least a first turbine engine (M1) of a rotorcraft, the rotorcraft being provided with first and second turbine engines (M1 and M2) controlled respectively by first and second control means (MC1 and MC2). The device is remarkable in that it comprises check means (C) provided with main means (C1), the main means (C1) controlling the first and second control means (MC1 and MC2) so that the surveillance parameters of the first and second turbine engines (M1 and M2) respectively reach the real first and second final values (V1f and V2f) as determined in accordance with the method of the invention.

Abstract: A system for detecting and locating a disturbance event within a power grid includes a series of frequency disturbance recorders (FDRs) taking measurements in the power grid at dispersed points of the power grid, an information management system, configured to receive data from the series of FDRs and analyze the received data and a communications network interconnecting the series of FDRs and the information management system. The information management system is configured to examine orders and patterns of receipt of frequency changes at the FDRs in the data caused by the disturbance event and to triangulate a location of the disturbance event based on the orders and patterns of receipt of the frequency changes. Example methods of detection and location of disturbance events are also described.

Abstract: A portable electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device can be used inside a motor vehicle to collect and store information regarding operation of the motor vehicle. The electronic device can include a processor and a digital memory. The processor can determine miles traveled by the motor vehicle during a trip and store data representing the miles in the digital memory with a trip identifier identifying the trip. The miles traveled can be determined using data from a location sensor, such as a global positioning satellite device, that determines locations of the motor vehicle during the trip. The electronic device can also include an audio mechanism into which a user can speak information about the trip. Such audio data can be stored in the digital memory and associated with the trip identifier. Other data representing information about the trip can also be stored in the digital memory.

Abstract: A “Proxi-Mapper” combines location based services (LBS), local searching capabilities, and relative mapping in a way that minimizes bandwidth requirements and maximizes user experience. The Proxi-Mapper automatically determines approximate locations of one or more local user devices (cell phones, PDA's, media players, portable computing devices, etc.) and returns a lightweight model of local entities (“key-points”) representing businesses, services or people to those devices. Key-points are maintained in one or more remote databases in which key-points are assigned to predetermined grid sections based on the locations of the corresponding entities. Metadata associated with the key-points provides the user with additional information relating to the corresponding entities. In various embodiments, user query options allow the Proxi-Mapper to pull or push relevant local key-point based information to user devices via one or more wired or wireless networks.

Abstract: An end of train unit includes a positioning system such as a GPS receiver and is configured to transmit a message including the EOT unit's location when the EOT unit detects a loss of air pipe pressure and/or it is tipped over and/or a low battery condition is detected. In highly preferred embodiments, the EOT unit periodically re-transmits the message until an acknowledgment message is received. In some embodiments, information from the positioning system is used to create a signal as a substitute for a motion sensor. In other embodiments, information from the positioning system is used to determine the speed of the end of the train. End of train unit tracking is also performed.

Abstract: In an active matrix type light emitting device, an upper surface injection type light emitting device in which an anode formed on the upper portion of the organic compound layer becomes an electrode for taking out the light is provided. In a light emitting element consisting of an cathode, an organic compound layer and an anode, it is characterized in that a protector is formed on the interface between the anode being an electrode for taking out the light and the organic compound layer. Noted that the protector formed on the organic compound layer has a transmittance of 70-100%, and the damage given to the organic compound layer when the anode is formed by a sputtering method can be prevented.

Abstract: In a control system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and mounted on a vehicle, in which the engine operation is switched based on the throttle opening between a full-cylinder operation in which all of the cylinders are operative and a cut-off cylinder operation in which some of the cylinders are inoperative, and a running control including a cruise control in which the vehicle runs at a desired vehicle velocity and a preceding vehicle follow-up control in which the vehicle runs at a desired vehicle velocity to maintain a desired inter-vehicle distance from a preceding vehicle are conducted. In the system, an acceleration suppression control is conducted if the engine operation is switched from the cut-off cylinder operation to the full-cylinder operation when the running control is in progress. With this, sharp or drastic acceleration accompanying torque fluctuation is effectively avoided, when the engine operation is switched to the full-cylinder operation.

Abstract: A process to interchange the “stop and go” driving behaviour of the traffic with a “stop and wait, then go later without stopping” driving behaviour, consisting on a partitioning of the congested route in segments through pre-installed stop and go signals marking the limit of segments to give a stop to the vehicles of the first part and later another stop to the vehicles of the second part of the divided congestion and so on, to permit the liberation of the front conflict part of the way, turning the first signal to go at the appropriate moment and then turning the second signal to go and so forth until the vehicles of every segment after waiting in standstill go without stopping re-stabilizing the normal traffic flow. The waiting time will be announced simultaneously to avoid the uncertainty of waiting time.

Abstract: A security mechanism identifies users, so as to restrict access and operation to authorized users, such as to persons authorized to access and fly a particular aircraft. The security mechanism comprises one or more security devices to identify the user attempting to gain access or operate the controller; and one or more monitoring devices to determine whether or not the user identified is authorized to have access or operate the controller. Methods of safely operating aircraft are also described. The methods include protocols for limiting access to the aircraft and assuming remote control of the aircraft if a possibly hostile situation is detected.

Abstract: MOSFET gate structures are provided comprising a niobium monoxide gate, overlying a gate dielectric. The niobium monoxide gate may have a low work function suitable for use as an NMOS gate.

Abstract: A system and method for processing applications for loans secured by real estate, wherein an applicant is prompted for one or more parameters of a requested loan and for data regarding the applicant, data regarding the applicant's credit is accessed based on data provided by the applicant, predetermined rules are applied to the received data, it is automatically determined whether to approve the loan based on the results of the application of the predetermined rules to the received data, if the loan is approved, one or more terms of the loan are automatically determined based on the results of the application of the predetermined rules to the received data, and the applicant is informed whether the loan was approved and one or more terms of the loan, if approved.

Abstract: In a vehicle dynamics control apparatus capable of balancing a vehicle dynamics stability control system and a lane deviation prevention control system, a cooperative control section is provided to make a cooperative control between lane deviation prevention control (LDP) and vehicle dynamics stability control (VDC). When a direction of yawing motion created by LDP control is opposite to a direction of yawing motion created by VDC control, the cooperative control section puts a higher priority on VDC control rather than LDP control. Conversely when the direction of yawing motion created by LDP control is identical to the direction of yawing motion created by VDC control, a higher one of the LDP desired yaw moment and the VDC desired yaw moment is selected as a final desired yaw moment, to prevent over-control, while keeping the effects obtained by both of VDC control and LDP control.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for supplying a program-aided information system with specific location information, in which the information system provides at least one selection of certain location-dependent information on the basis of a person-specific or object-specific location which is detectable by a sensor.

Abstract: A sensing system (10) for a vehicle (12) includes a single vision sensor (14) that has a position on the vehicle (12). The single vision sensor (14) detects an object (40) and generates an object detection signal. A controller (16) is coupled to the vision sensor (14) and generates a safety system signal in response to the position of the vision sensor (14) and the object detection signal.