Abstract: A drivetrain component assembly comprising a drivetrain structure, means for generating a reference signal indicative of a frequency with which the drivetrain structure vibrates during operation of the drivetrain structure, at least one actuator coupled to the drivetrain structure, at least one sensor operable for monitoring vibrations transmitted from the drivetrain structure and producing a sensor signal in response thereto and a controller coupled to the at least one actuator and the at least one sensor. The controller receives the sensor and reference signals and generates an actuator signal in response thereto. The at least one actuator receives the actuator signal and generates a canceling vibration in the drivetrain structure in response thereto. The canceling vibration has a predetermined frequency and amplitude to substantially cancel-out vibrations in a predetermined bandwidth that are generated during the operation of the drivetrain structure.

Abstract: There is proposed a method that may be universally used for controlling a man-machine interface unit. A learning sample is used in order at least to derive and/or initialize a target action (t) to be carried out and to lead the user from an optional current status (ec) to an optional desired target status (et) as the final status (ef). This learning sample (l) is formed by a data triple made up by an initial status (ei) before an optional action (a) carried out by the user, a final status (ef) after the action taken place (a).

Abstract: The present invention involves a distributed control system for controlling a steering movement of a vehicle. The system includes a driver interface assembly, a driver interface node having a first time-triggered protocol (TTP) processing system and a road wheel node having a second time-triggered protocol (TTP) processing system. The driver interface node having a first time-triggered protocol (TTP) processing system is coupled to the driver interface assembly, where the driver interface node receives steering wheel parameters from the driver interface assembly. The road wheel node having the second time triggered protocol (TTP) processing system is coupled to the driver interface node, where the road wheel node transmits sensor measurements from a vehicle to the driver interface node. The road wheel node generates an applied torque that adjusts a wheel of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention provides a suspension control system that executes control of actuators that apply a vertical force to the vehicle wheels depending on the travel state of the vehicle, and at the same time, carry out power generation by using the energy of the vertical motion of the wheels and use the obtained energy to drive the actuator motor. In the suspension control apparatus in which the vehicle wheels can receive a force in the vertical direction from a motor, power generation is carried out by the motor depending on the vertical motion of the vehicle wheels, and a storage cycle that stores energy in a storage apparatus and a discharge cycle that drives the motor by the energy stored in the storage apparatus are repeated.

Abstract: A table angle controlling method capable of effectively preventing an article placed on a table (20), from falling off by tilting the table so that the synthetic vector of horizontal acceleration and gravitational acceleration which act on the table acts on the table perpendicular thereto. The method has the steps of measuring the synthetic vector of horizontal acceleration and gravitational acting on the table (20) or a carriage (11) with the movement of the carriage (11), and tilting the table so that the synthetic vector obtained acts on the table perpendicular thereto. Alternatively the method has the steps of estimating acceleration acting on the table from a speed command value input to drive device for the carriage (11) for moving the carriage, calculating the synthetic vector of the estimated horizontal acceleration and gravitational acceleration, and tilting the table so that the synthetic vector obtained acts on the table perpendicular thereto.

Abstract: A method of controlling access to devices in a vehicle communications network and regulating access of an application to devices required for the application. Priorities are issued for this access. A driver manager makes the required drivers for operating and controlling the individual devices available to the application. A resource manager allocates or assigns the devices to a requesting application in accordance with their priority and availability.

Abstract: A system for enhanced ratio control in a continuously variable transmission (CVT) includes a ratio control element positionable by an actuator in response to an actuator command to establish various CVT ratios in the CVT. At least one sensor generates a train of pulses indicative of speed of rotation of a predetermined rotary member of the CVT. A measured CVT ratio generator derives information of an actual CVT ratio out of at least the train of pulses to give a measured value of CVT ratio. A filter processes the measured value of CVT ratio in a manner to refine the information of the actual CVT ratio to give an estimated value of CVT ratio. A command generator determines the actuator command such that the actuator command remains unaltered when a deviation of the estimated value of CVT ratio from a desired value of CVT ratio stays within a dead zone.

Abstract: The Fault Detection and Exclusion (FDE) system for use in navigational systems that rely upon multiple ranging signals, such as GPS satellites, uses an FDE algorithm to detect, as soon as possible, whether a fault exists in a signal associated with one or more of the GPS satellites. The system makes this determination by comparing a computed residual error with a first fault detection threshold. After determining that the computed residual error has exceeded the first, relatively low, fault detection threshold, the system transmits a signal to one or more external systems indicating that one or more signals associated with the various GPS satellites may be faulty. The system then monitors horizontal estimated position error (HUL) until this value has met or exceeded a relatively high fault isolation threshold value. The system then attempts to isolate and exclude the faulty satellite from the current navigational solution.

Abstract: A method of tracking vehicles comprising monitoring for registration request signal data and receiving the registration request signal data at a call center. The method further comprises determining a vehicle transmission location based on the registration request signal data and obtaining a registration request signal transmission time from the registration request signal data. Additionally, the method further comprises determining a vehicle indentification number based on the registration request signal data and updating a vehicle tracking database with the vehicle transmission location and the registration request signal transmission time.

Abstract: A method for collecting data for a geographic database is disclosed. A plurality of vehicles moving on roads in a geographic region collects data indicating position of the vehicle. For a location on a selected road, the method obtains a cross sectional distribution of the position data. The method identifies a number of steps in the distribution indicating a number of lanes on the selected road and updates the geographic database with data indicating the number of lanes.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus for detecting the rotational angles of a steering shaft, which connects the steering wheel of a vehicle and the steering mechanism, at different positions in the axial direction of the steering shaft, calculating torque applied to the steering shaft based on the difference between the detected rotational angles, and driving and controlling a steering force assisting motor according to the direction and magnitude of the calculated torque. The angular velocities of the steering shaft at the respective detection positions are calculated based on the rotational angles. Based on the relation between the calculated angular velocities, a judgment is made as to whether the torque was caused by an input from the steering wheel side or an input from the steering mechanism side. Based on the result of the judgment, the motor is driven and controlled.

Abstract: Diagnostic codes from a vehicle or other system in transit are transmitted to an opportunity server, which forwards the codes to a supplemental diagnostic service provider. The diagnostic service provider determines if supplemental diagnostics software functions are available, and if so, downloads them to the vehicle. After executing the supplemental diagnostics, the vehicle reports updated codes to the opportunity server. Multiple cycles of selection, downloading and execution of supplemental diagnostics may be performed until fault isolation is achieved, following which the opportunity server issues requests for bids to potential repair service provides. Responding offers are received, coalesced and presented to the operator. The operator of the vehicle is presented with one or more coalesced offers, upon selection of which, a service is scheduled.

Abstract: An on-vehicle audio video control device is provided, which selects a plurality of audio video equipments with a front controller and a real controller, allowing it to select a same source or respective different sources at a front seat and a rear seat. Herein, if an AM/FM switch is selected with a CD changer by the front controller after the rear controller switches to FM1, it is determined whether the rear controller is in radio mode or not. If the rear controller is in radio mode, the front controller is switched to FM1, following FM1 mode on the rear side.

Abstract: Of the pieces of facility information of the map information stored in map information storage section 6, those that need to be altered are stored in editing information storage section 10. Each piece of positional information on a facility in the updating information relating to the facility and specifically describing alterations is linked to a piece of pre-edition information and stored in the editing information storage section 10 as post-edition information to generate a pair of pieces of editing information. As a destination is selected and input at operation section 7, the editing information is retrieved and a piece of pre-edition information or post-edition information containing positional information same as that of the destination is detected. The pre-edition information is replaced by the updating information of the detected post-edition information of the editing information to define the destination and the route of movement.

Abstract: A method is directed to controlling a traction control system including a controllable center coupling and a controlled brake system. The method provides for receiving axle speed information, receiving a vehicle speed, determining at least one difference value between the vehicle speed and the axle speed information, and activating the controllable center coupling and the controlled brake system responsive to the difference values. The step of activating the controllable center coupling responsive to at least one of the difference values may include comparing the at least one difference value to at least one associated threshold value, and activating the controllable center coupling based on the comparison. The step of activating the controllable center coupling based on the comparison may include determining an engine torque request value based on the comparison, and engaging an engine with the controllable center coupling based on the engine torque request value.

Abstract: A communication navigation system includes a server that transmits route guidance information to terminal units via a communication network, and a transmitter/receiver, provided in each terminal unit, for transmitting specification data that specifies a type of necessary route guidance information, to the server via the communication network. The server transmits only the route guidance information of the type specified by the specification data, to the terminal unit.

Abstract: A vehicle according to the present invention has an internal combustion engine that is controlled by an engine-control computer that is operable, when the vehicle is parked, to operate in an idle-management mode to automatically start and stop idling operation of the internal combustion engine in order to maintain desirable electrical system energy levels, maintain desirable fluid temperatures of the internal combustion engine, and/or enable maintenance of comfortable occupant cabin temperatures. Each vehicle according to the present invention has a unique configuration of safety-interlock provisions that affect when and if an idle-management mode of operation of the engine-control computer is initiated and/or maintained.

Abstract: A method for detecting decrease in tire air-pressure on the basis of rotational information obtained from tires attached to a vehicle. The method includes the steps of: detecting rotational information of the respective tires; storing the rotational information of the respective tires; obtaining an acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle; obtaining a slip rate when the acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle is within a specified range proximate to zero; comparing the slip rate with a slip rate which has been preliminarily obtained when the tire is under normal air pressure; and judging simultaneous decompression of both front wheel tires or simultaneous decompression of both rear wheel tires on the basis of a relationship between a value obtained through comparison of the two slip rates and a specified threshold. It is possible to judge simultaneous decompression of both front wheel tires or both rear wheel tires when employing the present invention.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a vehicle includes receiving vehicle position information from a positioning system and combining the position information with information from a map database and a driver behavior model to control the vehicle's speed and braking for not only the current roadway the vehicle is operating on but also on upcoming road sections.

Abstract: Abnormality detection is conducted with respect to data indicative of operating state of an apparatus, the abnormality type is then discriminated and a check is made as to whether the data are already recorded in association with the discriminated abnormality type in a memory region corresponding to the data, and if not, the data are recorded in association with the discriminated abnormality type there. Since, multiple recording of similar data related to transient abnormalities and other such events that are likely to occur repeatedly can be prevented, important data related to a diversity of abnormalities and failures can be efficiently recorded in the memory. Viewed from another angle, this means that the capacity of the memory can be reduced and that a cost-reducing effect can be anticipated. In addition, data important for troubleshooting abnormalities and failures, most notably transition period data, can therefore be efficiently recorded in the memory.