Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle is disclosed. In one embodiment an energy conversion device compensates for transmission shifting. The system can improve transmission shifting during at least some conditions.

Abstract: A software algorithm (FIG. 3) determines the strategy by which a controller (34) will manage state of charge (SOC) of a battery pack (32) in a hybrid electric vehicle but always gives the driver the opportunity to make his/her own selection instead. The algorithm causes one of two strategies to be selected each time that the ignition switch is operated from “off” position to “on” position. The manner in which the algorithm executes depends on the value of a calibratable parameter electronically programmed into the controller of the particular vehicle when the vehicle is being built at the factory.

Abstract: Techniques for providing singularity escape and avoidance are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for providing control moment gyroscope (CMG) attitude control singularity escape includes calculating a Jacobian A of a set of control equations, calculating a measure of closeness to a singularity, and comparing the calculated closeness to a threshold value, when the calculated closeness is less than or equal to the threshold value, recalculating the Jacobian A. Recalculating may include determining a new direction of virtual misalignment of ? and ?, recalculating the Jacobian inputting the new direction of the virtual misalignment, recalculating the measure of closeness to a singularity, and comparing the measure of closeness to the threshold value. Further, the method may include calculating a gimbal rate command if the of closeness is greater than the threshold value and generating a torque from the gimbal rate command to control the attitude of a satellite.

Abstract: An in-vehicle drive assist system adjusts a viewing angle of a camera mounted in a vehicle using environmental information obtained from outside the vehicle. An early risk determination is thus allowed to be made in the vehicle, while maintaining reliability.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for determining route alternatives from a starting point to an ending destination for a vehicle, based at least in part on radio signal strength and availability. An input defining a starting point and an ending destination is received. A user input of a radio station preference is received. One or more route alternatives between the starting point and the ending destination are determined based on global positioning system data, the received radio station preference, and information on radio signal strength and availability.

Abstract: A facility searching technique easier to operate and having high degree of freedom. A facility searching device is constructed from a database on map information, a database relating to various kinds of facilities and including positional information of the facilities, a display unit for displaying, based on the map information, a map of a predetermined area, a pointing device for inputting a position located on the displayed map, a voice input unit for inputting by voice an instruction relating to search for facilities, and unit (25, 29, 30, 31) for performing the search for facilities upon receiving the input of a position or the input of an instruction (steps 21-22, 24, 26, 27, 28), the search being based on the inputted position and the instruction.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to providing access between external systems and embedded vehicle electronic systems. That is, an interface module may receive information from a system external to the vehicle, determine an embedded system of the vehicle to which to provide the information, and provide the information to the embedded system. Similarly, the interface module may receive information a embedded electronic systems of a vehicle, determine a system external the vehicle to which to provide the information, and provide the information to the external system.

Abstract: In a method for actuating a vehicle occupant protection system, a sensor senses driving state data, and a reversible vehicle occupant protection device can be triggered to move into an effective position, prior to an imminent collision. A setpoint braking deceleration, which triggers the vehicle occupant protection device when a threshold value is exceeded, is determined by a predictive surroundings sensing unit in advance of an imminent collision. A check is made to determine whether the setpoint braking deceleration exceeds a threshold value, by referring to a deceleration characteristic curve that is dependent on the vehicle speed.

Abstract: A mechanical flight control system for a rotary-wing aircraft is disclosed. The flight control system comprises an upstream portion, a downstream portion, and an assembly for connecting the upstream portion to the downstream portion. The assembly may comprise dual concentric valve actuators and/or a variety of system load limiting features.

Abstract: A map information providing system has a map information providing apparatus 1 and an onboard information terminal 3. The map information providing apparatus 1 selects a road represented by the coordinate point string data indicating a newly established road in accordance with distribution request information obtained from the onboard information terminal, and distributes the distribution road information containing the coordinate point string data about the road selected to the onboard information terminal.

Abstract: A system for improving the operation of a GPS based navigator. Statistical and/or time of day information is used to select the best route between a current location and a desired location. The statistical information may take into account anomalies, and a user can select the amount of risk they which take. The system can be updated with more updated information. In addition, the selection of the desired location can be carried out by downloading information from a PDA.

Abstract: A method of displaying information on a display of a handheld electronic device includes steps of determining a target area onscreen to be visually magnified and causing a shape-changing zone of the display to change shape in the target area to visually magnify information displayed in the target area. The array of shape-changing zones on the touch-sensitive display can be independently actuated to form a magnifying lens over any onscreen object of interest. For example, this lens can be used to magnify a selected portion of a map, a portion of text or a specific point of interest. The lens can be used to magnify a route displayed on a map, or simply to zoom in on the current location of the device as displayed onscreen.

Abstract: A steering correction signal generator module (MC) for generating steering correction signals (SC) for an automatic pilot for automatically steering a sailboat comprises: an inlet (EM) for a signal (SM) indicating movement of the sailboat that is caused by waves; a processing unit (UE) for generating a steering correction signal (SC) on the basis of the signal (SM) indicating movement of the sailboat; and an outlet (SSC) for the steering correction signal (SC); in which module the steering correction signal (SC) is determined in a manner such as to cause the course of the sailboat to be corrected towards the direction from which the waves are coming in correspondence with their crests (CI, CII) and away from the direction in correspondence with their troughs (CR). The invention also relates to an automatic pilot system for automatically steering a sailboat, which system includes such a module (MC).

Abstract: The application discloses an automated control module, which is configured to receive an input signal from a sensor and generate a universal control signal that can be processed by different machine controllers having different control configurations. In one embodiment the universal control signal is transmitted to a machine controller on the power machine through a connection assembly including a connector plug and socket. In another embodiment, the universal control signal is transmitted through a wireless interface. The machine controller processes the universal control signal and outputs a device control signal to operate different devices “on board” the power machine.

Abstract: A mobile unit input control apparatus can include an operation member, output means, determining means, display control means, input control means, and driving control means. A mode determining unit of the mobile unit input control apparatus can determine whether a driving mode is to be set or not and whether a text input mode is to be set or not in accordance with an operation signal supplied from an operation input apparatus and notifies it to an operation detecting unit. The operation detecting unit detects and analyzes the operation signal supplied from the operation input apparatus and outputs operation information as the analysis result to a text input control unit, for example. On the basis of the operation information, the text input control unit outputs a text input screen, for example, to the multi-display apparatus.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for lane change detection and handling of lane keeping torque during an un-signaled lane change. Disclosed herein is an exemplary embodiment for a method including calculating a distance between a center of a vehicle and a center of a lane, determining a discontinuity in the calculation of the distance between the center of the vehicle and the center of a lane and disabling torque corrections to compensate for the discontinuity until the vehicle is near the center (position based) of the new lane and a certain time has elapsed (time based) from the detection of the discontinuity. Hysterisis or smoothly changing torque controls are offered to work with the Time and Position based lane change handling method.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a system for controlling start-up of a motor vehicle by dialogue of the engine controlling computer with the piloted mechanical gearbox, during a restart of the vehicle in stop and start mode. A “start-up authorization” is transmitted to the gearbox at a time t when the following three conditions are fulfilled: a) verifying the position of the accelerator pedal relative to a predetermined “threshold” position; b) the engine is in sequential injection phase; c) verifying a so-called “autonomous condition”, calculated on the basis of the engine speed and of an engine speed gradient compared to a predetermined threshold value. The invention is applicable to motor vehicles.

Abstract: A power train is provided having an engine operably coupled to a transmission. The power train also has at least one operator interface device, each operator interface device being configured to generate an operator request. In addition, the power train has a controller configured to, in response to a first operator request, override a second operator request for a desired target engine speed by lowering a current engine speed to a modified target engine speed below the desired target engine speed.

Abstract: Traffic information, including traffic flow information and traffic incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be presented to a user on a user display in the vehicle. The traffic information may be presented to the user in several circumstances, either as cued by the user, or automatically presented by the traffic management system. The user display may also automatically display traffic flow and traffic incident information for the direction that the user is traveling or along a route calculated by the navigation device. Further, a window displaying information about an upcoming traffic incident such as distance to the incident and incident details may automatically appear in the user display. Alternately, the user may select a roadway, freeway, or area for which traffic information is desired.

Abstract: A travel plan presenting apparatus includes: a travel history accumulation unit (109) which accumulates, in association with a date and time, pieces of travel history information regarding a travel of the mobile object from a departure place to an arrival place; a travel pattern extracting unit (112) which extracts at least one travel pattern from the pieces of travel history information and generates travel patterns in each of which an order of arrival places other than the final arrival place included in a corresponding one of the extracted travel patterns; a travel plan calculating unit (113) which calculates estimated arrival times at each of the arrival places in the travel patterns extracted and generated by the travel pattern extracting unit (112); and a display processing unit (114) which generates display information for displaying the estimated arrival time for each travel pattern.