Abstract: Clutch pressure is reduced when a vehicle is stopped with an engine (1) in an idling state. Once a turbine rotation speed increases to a predetermined rotation speed, the clutch pressure is increased to an initial pressure. After the initial pressure is reached, the clutch pressure is controlled to a target hydraulic pressure at which a slip amount reaches a target slip amount. Once the clutch pressure converges, a correction value for an initial pressure is set in order to make the slip amount approach the target slip amount. The set correction value is stored in a memory region corresponding to a transmission oil temperature at the point when the correction value is set. The initial pressure is corrected by the correction value stored in the memory region that corresponds to the transmission oil temperature when the turbine rotation speed has increased to the predetermined rotation speed.

Abstract: A device for indicating at least a first vibration level VIB1 derived from a first acceleration signal ?1 includes: first analysis element FT1 for resolving the first acceleration signal ?1 into a plurality of axial analysis signals ?1i each occupying an identified frequency band Bi; a first memory RM1 having recorded therein a plurality of axial weighting coefficients KAi, each corresponding to one of the identified frequency bands Bi; and a first control circuit CC for summing the pth powers of the axial analysis signals ?1i weighted by the axial weighting coefficients KAi, thereby producing the first vibration level VIB1.

Abstract: A vehicle image display apparatus includes a traveling condition judging unit for repeatedly judging the traveling condition of a vehicle, an operating unit for generating a parameter for abstractly representing the traveling condition of the vehicle based on the previous traveling condition and the current traveling condition currently judged by the traveling condition judging unit, and a display unit for displaying an image which biologically represents the traveling condition of the vehicle based on the parameter generated by the operating unit. The parameter for abstractly representing the traveling condition of the vehicle includes, for example, a hard/easy parameter representing a hard/easy condition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed specifically to methods for reducing the bandwidth requirements for broadcasting traffic information to a vehicle navigation system. The traffic information broadcast to the system using the bandwidth conserving methods of the present invention generally includes traffic flow information and traffic incident information. In one embodiment, the vehicle navigation system filters traffic information to a certain range to expedite traffic calculation, to save on processing hardware, and to reduce bandwidth needs. Alternately, bandwidth conservation may be achieved by providing weight factors and threshold prioritizing when a broadcast limit is close to being reached or exceeded. In another embodiment, bandwidth reduction is achieved by not broadcasting free-flow traffic information and/or displaying only traffic information that indicates a traffic problem.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus for registers a place of departure a destination, a route traveled, a time of day and/or a day of the week that the route was traveled; determines whether an input place of departure and input destination are respectively substantially the same as a place of departure and destination of a registered route; reads out a particular registered route from registered route information, the particular registered route having substantially the same place of departure and destination as the respective input place of departure and input destination and a registered day of the week that is the same as a day of the week and/or a registered time of day that is nearest to a time of day for which route guidance between the input place of departure and input destination is requested, performs route guidance based on a route returned.

Abstract: A multi-mode hybrid transmission has speed control provided via an open loop model derived as a function of preselected transmission accelerations and controlled and uncontrolled transmission torques. Motor torques are selected as the controlled torques and other preselected transmission torques are selected as the uncontrolled torques. The control also employs a closed loop control effort responsive to at least one preselected transmission speed error.

Abstract: An automated transmission system includes a transmission brake which is used to apply a braking torque to the transmission, while the engine torque is negative and a transmission clutch is disengaged to effect a gear downshift, in order to avoid acceleration of the vehicle when the clutch is released and abrupt deceleration of the vehicle upon completion of the gear downshift.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a traffic warning system (TWS) for light aircraft. The TWS comprises a processor coupled to a transceiver, adapted to measure signal strength and send/receive messages containing station ID and preferably altitude and position data. Memory, display and various flight data instruments, such as GPS, altimeter, etc., are also coupled to the processor. The transceiver-processor automatically identifies TWS equipped aircraft within range using an ad-hoc network and exchanges ID and position information. The processor determines range from signal strength and/or received position information and, given enough data, determines direction, altitude, speed, etc., of the other aircraft, which it presents to the pilot. These values and their rate of change are compared to stored alarm thresholds, and the pilot is warned when another aircraft triggers the threshold. Evasive action is recommended where possible.

Abstract: A method for controlling the drive unit of a vehicle considers several desired input quantities of different priority in the formation of a desired value. At least one output quantity of the drive unit is adjusted in dependence upon the desired value input quantities. For adjustment, a desired value is formed which considers the desired value input quantities in the sequence of their priority.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus for a vehicle registers a place of departure, a destination, and a route traveled by the vehicle; determines whether an input place of departure and input destination are respectively substantially the same as a place of departure and destination of a registered route, an input place of departure and an input destination being substantially the same as a respective place of departure and destination of a particular registered route when the input place of departure is within a predetermined distance of the place of departure of the particular registered route and the input destination is within the predetermined distance of the destination of the particular registered route; reads out the particular registered route from registered route information; and performs route guidance based on a route returned.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for estimating an impedance through a node at an intersection between roads in a roadway network. The impedance may be measured in time or distance, for example. Characteristic information describes at least one feature of the intersecting roads. One or more pieces of characteristic information may impact the impedance of traffic through an intersection and are used to estimate the impedance through the node. Examples of characteristic information are speed information, road-type, network routing level, intersection angle information, one-way, and cross traffic turn information. An impedance factor, or a cost, is assigned to each piece of characteristic information. The cost may be positive if the characteristic information adds impedance to the node, or negative if the characteristic information subtracts impedance from the node.

Abstract: An air bag system (12) provides a central controller (14), a multiple of satellite sensors (16) and a multiple of deployable air bags (18). The central controller (14) runs the impact event algorithms. The number of satellites which are allowed to activate algorithms at any one time is limited. The minimum number of satellites required for full protection is the maximum number of satellite sensors allowed to wake up an impact event algorithm at any one time. An order for algorithm wake is also specified since the number of algorithms allowed is less than the total number of satellite sensors.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently searching for geographic information for named geographic items is presented. Geographic information is organized in a hierarchical manner. The lowest level of the hierarchy is divided into sections, each section corresponding to an area of a geographic region, and includes the available geographic information, including named geographic items, corresponding to that area. Upper levels of the hierarchy are comprised of sections as well. Each section in an upper level corresponds to at least one lower level section, and includes a subset of the geographic information of its at least one lower level section. Geographic names of items previously determined important in a lower level section are included in the subset of geographic information at the corresponding upper level section. Searching for a geographic name begins are the most specific section identified by information from a user, and if not found there, searches upward in the hierarchy.

Abstract: Generally, a method and apparatus for the automated acquisition of information related to fishing is provided. In one embodiment, a data acquisition system is provided comprising a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, a communication port for coupling to a vessel navigation system and a switch, which when actuated, causes information retrieved from the vessel navigation system to be stored in memory. The information, which includes attributes associated with the event, may be recall for viewing and analysis. The information may also be exported from the data acquisition system to a remotely stored database.

Abstract: System for controlling the stability of a vehicle, the system comprising means for imparting a longitudinal force on the tire and means for calculating the slip parameter GOpt at each activation of the means for imparting a longitudinal force on the tire in the following manner: determining coefficients A[avg/p] by direct calculation or by an appropriate regression, from a sufficient number of pairs (?i, Gi), so as to model a first curve of variation ?i=f(Gi, A[avg/p]) including the origin, and the pair or pairs (?i, Gi), in which ?i is different from zero, determining an indicator of the average slope ?1 of the first variation curve, determining coefficients B[avg/p] by direct calculation or by an appropriate regression, from a sufficient number of pairs (?i, Gi), so as to model a second variation curve, free not to pass through the origin, ?i=f(Gi, B[avg/p]) including the pair or pairs (?i, Gi), in which ?i is different from zero, determining an indicator of the average slope ?2 of the second variation curv

Abstract: A circuit and methodology for higher radix multiplication with improved partial product generation. The invention relates to the design of a high precision multiplier for an arithmetic unit of a digital processor.

Abstract: A corridor search process is used to identify locations of interest along a travel route. The corridor search process identifies locations of interest along a travel route by using a grid search process that first identifies shape points that correspond to the travel route. Each shape point is associated with a portion of a grid system used to delineate a region of geography through which the route traverses. The portions of the grid system correspond to a corridor along the travel route. References to redundant portions of the grid system are removed, and locations of interest are identified based on an association between a location of interest with a particular portion of the grid system.

Abstract: A method for automatically guiding a mining machine (14) provided with a route determined as successive route determined as successive route points in the mine. In the method, data relating to the successive points are used for determining additional route between the successive route points for guiding the mining machine (14).

Abstract: A vehicle monitoring and notification system includes a mapping application and a data manager. The mapping application receives data identifying a particular location and automatically translates this data into a set of location values. The mapping application then stores the foregoing set of location values. The data manager retrieves the stored set of location values and monitors travel of a vehicle based on location values produced by a location sensor coupled to the vehicle. The data manager compares a set of location values produced by the sensor to the stored set of location values to determine when the vehicle is within a predefined proximity of the particular location. When the data manager determines that the vehicle is within the predefined proximity of the particular location, the data manager causes a notification message to be transmitted to a user communications device to notify a user of an impending arrival of the vehicle at the particular location.

Abstract: In one aspect, a customer service information system includes a technician server configured to communicate with at least one input device used by a service technician at a customer service location and with a global satellite positioning system. The technician server is capable of directing the global satellite positioning system to obtain a set of coordinates associated with the customer service location upon receiving a data transmission from the input device.