Abstract: When the vehicle speed is within a range equal to or greater than a threshold value in which the vehicle is often cruised, a cruising accelerator opening is set as an accelerator opening needed to cruise the vehicle at the vehicle speed, and a cruise-purposed convergence opening corresponding to the amount of depression of an accelerator pedal requested of a driver is set at the time of cruise. An offset opening is calculated as a deviation between the set cruising accelerator opening and the set cruise-purposed convergence opening. Then, the accelerator opening for calculating a power needed to run the vehicle is set at the sum of the offset opening and an pedal opening corresponding to the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal.

Abstract: A method and system for processing pulse signals within an inertial device is provided. The inertial device may have inertial sensors, such as accelerometers and gyroscopes. The inertial sensors may output signals representative of a moving body's motion. The signals may require correction due to imperfections and other errors of the inertial sensors. The inertial device may receive signals from the inertial sensors and process the signals on a signal-by-signal basis so that when processing the signals, the inertial device at least recognizes which sensor output a signal and when the signal was output. The inertial device may then correlate signals that were output from the inertial sensors at selected times in order to transform the signals into a desired navigational frame of reference.

Abstract: A control system of a continuously variable transmission for a vehicle compensates for delays in an estimated input torque TINE based on a gradient value (variation) of the estimated input torque TINE,. For example, a friction force being applied to a driving belt of a continuously variable transmission is regulated according to the compensated estimated input torque TINE. Accordingly, an appropriate torque transmitting capacity is maintained in the transmission even at a rapid accelerating operation of the vehicle, while realizing good fuel efficiency.

Abstract: Specific shift positions of an electrically actuated vehicle transmission, such as first to fifth, neutral and reverse gears, are detected by monitoring one or more characteristic electrical variables, e.g., actuator currents, during a shift movement of the transmission and by correlating increased or decreased levels of current with the arrival at or passage through the specific shift positions.

Abstract: A traction distribution control system for a 4WD vehicle is constructed to calculate a difference gain in accordance with a difference in spinning state between main driving wheels, and determine a control signal for controlling traction distribution to driven wheels by multiplying a control amount by the difference gain.

Abstract: A laser radar scanningly irradiates electromagnetic waves around a subject vehicle detects the electromagnetic waves reflected from objects around the subject vehicle, and outputs detected distances from the subject vehicle to the objects in the respective directions of scanning irradiation. A recognition unit detects, based on the detection results of the laser radar, a relative position and a relative speed of each of the objects around the subject vehicle with respect to the subject vehicle. The recognition unit stores whether or not detection points data (i.e., a direction of scanning irradiation and a detected distance in that direction) exists and determines attributes such as positions, sizes, etc., of the objects lying around the subject vehicle. In coordination with the recognition unit, an object tracker calculates relative speeds as between the vehicle and detected objects, with particular reference to objects exhibiting a greater difference in relative speed over time.

Abstract: Methods for generating information for displaying terrain on an aircraft display system that significantly reduces the computation and data load for producing the terrain display. This is accomplished through the use of intelligent level of detail control that computes and displays terrain and dynamic on-terrain perspective projection lines and distance rings aligned with the aircraft heading for depth perception and relative altitude awareness. The terrain details are processed and displayed in a manner that shows all significant terrain features, e.g., peaks, towers, and the like, but through the use of nonlinear error bound geometric morphing, coupled with triangle binary tree based terrain mesh generation, the polygon count, and thus the computational load, are significantly reduced, while visual fidelity is maintained.

Abstract: A torque-biasing system (10) includes a torque-biasing device (12) and a control unit (14) for use in a motor vehicle. The torque-biasing system is preferably installed in a vehicle having a first front wheel (18) with a first rotational speed and second wheel (20) with a rear rotational speed and an engine (22) with a torque output. The control unit (14) functions to determined when and how to bias the torque output of the front and rear wheels, and to control the torque-biasing device (12) based on this determination.

Abstract: In a multimedia information and control system for use in an automobile, at least one interface is employed which enables a user to access information concerning the automobile and control vehicle functions in an efficient manner. The user may select one of a plurality of displayed options on a screen of such an interface. Through audio, video and/or text media, the user is provided with information concerning the selected option and the vehicle function corresponding thereto. Having been so informed, the user may activate the selected option to control the corresponding vehicle function.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for maintaining a delivery list having a plurality of packages, for monitoring travel data associated with a vehicle in relation to the delivery list, and for sending, before, during, or after a delivery has been made, a communication to a party associated with a subsequent delivery to notify the party of impending arrival.

Abstract: An acceleration gauge using solid-state accelerometers positioned along the major axes of a motor vehicle record and display values representing the acceleration forces on the vehicle. The acceleration gauges, of which there are at least two positioned along the major x-y axes, develop signals to a housing having a microprocessor-based system. The housing is connected to either an analog or digital read out system wherein the various accelerations are displayed. The system can be an analog or digital system using discrete wiring or fiber optics to convey light signals. In the preferred embodiment there are three accelerometers positioned a various locations on the motor vehicle and their signals generate relative forward and reverse speed signals and vehicle tilt angles with respect to the horizontal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically reactivating passenger-activated functions in an automobile, upon restart of the automobile engine, following an engine shutdown. The functional status of each passenger-activated function that is activated when the engine is shut off is stored. An activation time of each passenger-activated function, which corresponds to the time that the passenger-activated function was activated prior to the engine being shut off, is also stored. Upon engine restart, each passenger-activated function that was previously activated is reactivated to its stored functional status, if its stored activation time is less than a predetermined calibration time.

Abstract: A method for controlling the safety mode of a four-wheel drive to control the magnetic clutch at a safety mode duty to reduce overload for a predetermined period of time when the slip of the magnetic clutch is greater than an allowable slip, despite controlling the magnetic clutch at its maximum duty.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for determining the appropriate or desired geographical correction source for SBAS corrections. One aspect provided herein is a method. According to one method embodiment, a Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS) correction message is received from a selected SBAS satellite. It is determined whether at least one criterion is satisfied for using the selected SBAS satellite as a correction source and then processing the correction message received therefrom. A second SBAS satellite is selected from which to receive SBAS correction messages upon determining that at least one criterion is not satisfied for using the selected SBAS satellite as a correction source. One example of SBAS is the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) used in North America Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Abstract: A method for determining heave and heave rate for a vessel is described. The vessel includes an inertial navigation system (INS), and sensors for the INS being located at a point A of the vessel, the vessel having a zero heave reference point B, and the described method provides heave and heave rate at a point C of the vessel. The method includes determining reference coordinates for points A, B, and C of the vessel, generating a velocity signal representative of a velocity at a point on the vessel, generating a heave rate signal based upon the velocity signal, and generating a heave based upon the heave rate signal.

Abstract: A navigation system performing navigation based on a detected current position and map data is provided. The navigation system includes a storage device, a navigation control device, and a defragmenting processing device. The storage device is nonvolatile. Files of map data are able to be read from it, and to be written into it. The navigation control device controls a navigation operation using the map data. Then, the defragmenting processing device performs a defragmenting processing with the storage device at a predetermined time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for identifying a preceding vehicle as a target vehicle in transient and non-transient situations. The method generally includes, estimating a position of the target vehicle relative to a position of an ACC vehicle from the position of the ACC vehicle to create a target vehicle estimated position; creating a time-dependent position trace of the target vehicle; estimating a radius of the position trace of the target vehicle by applying circular curve fitting to the position trace of the target vehicle; and determining whether the target vehicle is in an ACC vehicle lane using the radius of the position trace, the target vehicle estimated position and the position of the ACC vehicle.

Abstract: A microprocessor system for safety-critical control operations includes at least three central units which are preferably located jointly on one chip and execute the same program. Further, there is provision of read-only memories and random-access memories with additional memory locations for test data, input and output units and comparators which check the output signals of the central units for correlation. The central units are interconnected by way of bus systems and bypasses which enable the central units to jointly read and process the existing data, including the test data and commands, according to the same program. The central units are extended by redundant periphery units into two complete control signal circuits and are interconnected in such a manner that, upon failure, the faulty central unit is identified by a majority decision and an emergency operation function is maintained.

Abstract: A system for controlling and/or regulating the driving response of a motor vehicle having at least two wheels includes at least one sensor device, which detects a wheel speed of at least two wheels, and further includes a data processing device, which determines at least one motion relationship of at least two wheels relative to one another according to the wheel speeds detected. As described, the data processing device establishes at least one cornering motion variable of the vehicle according to the at least one motion relationship determined. A corresponding method is also described.

Abstract: A method for substituting at least one high quality position measurement with a set of upgraded low quality position measurements comprising the steps of: selecting a high quality source of position measurements of an object; obtaining at least one high quality position measurement of the object by using the high quality source; wherein each high quality position measurement of the object satisfies the threshold of acceptability requirement for the object; saving at least one high quality position measurement of the object taken at at least one high quality epoch timing coordinate; selecting a low quality source of position measurements of the object; obtaining at least one low quality position measurement of the object using the low quality source; if at least one high quality position measurement of the object is available and substantially recent, using at least one high quality position measurement of the object for navigation purposes of the object; if each high quality position measurement of the object