Abstract: A tire inflation pressure sensing apparatus includes a transmitter on a wheel of a vehicle and a receiver on a body of the vehicle. The transmitter includes a pressure sensor working to generate a pressure signal and a charging unit configured to be charged with electrical power via a radio wave from the receiver. The receiver performs a “packet charge” for the charging unit of the transmitter, during which operation of the receiver is changed alternately between an ON-mode and an OFF-mode. When the receiver receives in the OFF-mode an informing signal from the transmitter, it stops the packet charge to receive the pressure signal sent out from the transmitter following the informing signal. The transmitter starts, when the electrical power charged in the charging unit has increased to a predetermined level, to repeatedly send out the informing signal a plurality of times, and then sends out the pressure signal.

Abstract: A deceleration warning device for providing a visual indication of severe vehicular deceleration to the driver of a following vehicle. The deceleration warning device independently detects severe deceleration through an onboard accelerometer and is installed by securing the device to an existing OEM brake light/taillight fitting of a vehicle. The deceleration warning device is installed in the vacancy of a taillight lamp, and includes an illumination element that serves as a taillight, a brake light, and a severe deceleration indicator.

Abstract: The invention concerns a vehicle comprising an access and starting system without manual intervention comprising first means (1) for determining the presence or the absence of an identifier in at least in watching zone outside the vehicle and second means (2) for determining whether the doors are opened or closed and third means (3) for determining whether the motor vehicle engine is running or cut off. The method consists in automatically locking the motor vehicle on successively detecting the following conditions: a door is opened, the engine is not running and all the doors are closed, there is no identifier in the monitoring zone at a time (t), there is an identifier in the monitoring zone at a time (t?1) preceding the time (t) at which the absence of the identifier has been detected.

Abstract: The invention relates to an equipment for preventing an audio apparatus being locked, when it becomes impossible to read in TOC information because of a fault or faults in a disk or an equipment for reproducing the disk. A security equipment for audio apparatus which releases a security operation based on a result of a comparison between a read in TOC information and a previously stored TOC information, the security equipment stopping a judgement on the TOC information when a failure is detected in the disk or the equipment for reproducing the disk (R1-4) at the time of reading in the TOC information. Thereby, the audio apparatus is not locked when the TOC information is read in, because the TOC information which was read in (R5) without a mechanical error, is correct.

Abstract: A new add-on vehicular system is capable of responding to large area or nation-wide commands over paging networks, to remotely foil the unauthorized use or theft of a vehicle or a fleet automobile or a group of fleet vehicles, as well as to help the recovery of stolen vehicles. The preferred embodiment of the system comprises a paging receiver and decoder, a microcontroller with embedded programmable software and memory and a vehicular systems control interface. The system does not require central monitoring systems, or portable controls or vehicular user set controls or portable key chain controls or keypads or cellular phones or separation of vehicular transceivers from owner carried transceivers to activate the system. In a second embodiment, a two-way radio paging approach is employed in the system to expand its capabilities and to additionally provide remotely controlled transmission of data from vehicles, including data pertaining to the position coordinates of the vehicle.

Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly is provided for a vehicle which incorporates a self-contained magnetic field sensor in the mirror housing. When mounted to a fixed pivot point in a single ball mounting bracket, the mirror housing pivots around the magnetic field sensor. When the magnetic field sensor is mounted within the mirror housing either to the housing or to the mirror, compensation for the rotation position of the mirror about a vertical axis is provided by an empirically predetermined compensation value whereby direct reading of the angle is adjusted by a processor or by mechanically mounting the field sensor at an angle representative of the compensation value. Other ways of rotation compensation are also disclosed. Compensation for tilt about a horizontal axis is provided by an elliptical compensation algorithm in a microprocessor.

Abstract: An interface circuit for interfacing a relegendable liquid crystal display (LCD) keyswitch to a controlling processor. The interface circuit is adaptable for use with data input devices and point-of-sale devices.

Abstract: An accident sound detection circuit includes an accident sound detection block that detects an accident sound from a sound signal inputted from an environmental sound detection unit and outputs an accident sound detection signal, a power spectrum calculator for obtaining a power spectrum in regard to a sound signal when acquiring the accident sound detection signal, outputted from the accident sound detection block, as a trigger signal, a spectrum pattern calculator for forming a pattern of the power spectrum, and a pattern comparator circuit for comparing the formed spectrum pattern and a set pattern set in a pattern generating circuit beforehand and generating a final accident sound detection signal if the patterns coincide with each other.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for determining traffic conditions using stationary data collection devices that are installed in a road network. The data collection devices collect data about traffic conditions at the respective installation sites in keeping with an established measurement and then forward the collected information to a traffic center in keeping with an established reporting procedure where the data is analyzed to determine the traffic condition. At least a portion of the results of the analyses of the traffic center is transmitted to particular data collection devices. The measurement and reporting procedures of the particular data collection devices are modified or influenced based on the results of the analyses of the traffic center and as a result the data transmissions between the traffic center and data collections devices are substantially reduced.

Abstract: A motor vehicle operator alerting apparatus is disclosed having a portable housing having a front face and a plurality of fastening clips to attach the apparatus to a support structure within a vehicle. An alert indicator and an alarm indicator are mounted visibly to the front face of the housing, and are used to select an alert time duration and an alarm time duration, respectively. An alert time comparison timer and an alarm time counter compare selected time durations, and energize the alert and alarm indicators, respectively, based upon such comparison. A reset button in communication with both the alarm time counter and the alert time comparison timer is used for de-energizing either the alert indicator or the alarm indicator. An LCD or LED display in communication with the alert time comparison timer displays the time remaining on the alert time comparison timer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a first automatic phone light system (110) functioning to turn a light (14) ON, in response to a telephone call received by a telephone line (16A), for a preset period of time predetermined by a timer (24) when a photocell (20) detects darkness in a room. The first automatic phone light system (110) comprises a housing (12) having a converter module (22) electrically connected to the light (14) having the timer (24) with the photocell (20) electrically connected therebetween. The converter module (22) is electrically connected to power connector (18A) which is electrically connectable to power (18). A power switch (18B) is electrically connected between the power connector (18A) and the converter module (22). A first telephone line connector receptacle (116AAA) is electrically connected to the converter module (22).

Abstract: A solid state temperature compensated annunciator is disclosed. The solid state temperature compensated annunciator includes a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of the fillant within a vessel and a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the fillant within the vessel. The solid state temperature compensated annunciator determines a pressure that the vessel would have if the vessel were filled with a predetermined amount of fillant, and compares the measured pressure to the determined pressure. If the measured pressure is below the determined pressure, a warning signal is issued.

Abstract: An improved telephone interface box which interfaces an incoming telephone line to either a modem or a telephone handset is disclosed. The choice of connection is made by a controller that answers incoming calls and determines if the call is to be directed to the modem or the telephone line. The controller determines the destination of the incoming call by detecting tones on the telephone line or by examining the response of the caller to a voice prompt. If the controller determines that the incoming call is to be directed to the telephone handset, the controller generates a ring signal having substantially the same cadence as that detected on the incoming line and sends that ring signal to the telephone handset. If the handset goes off-hook during the time the controller is making its determination as to the correct destination for the incoming call, the controller suspends its operation until the handset is placed on-hook or a predetermined time interval elapses.

Abstract: A telecommunications system is configured using a personal computer (PC) and voice processing boards in its expansion slots. The boards have ports to interface with telephone lines. The PC is programmed to establish telephone connections between the system and a caller on a first telephone line and between the system and an operator on a second telephone line. The PC associates channels A and B with the ports connected to the first and second lines, respectively. Before transferring the call, the system plays different pre-recorded messages to the caller and the operator. The system transfers the call on the first line to the second line by conferencing them so that the caller and operator can converse. The system operates in listen-only mode to detect operator touch tones which provide the telephone number of a called party and commands to end or begin conferencing.

Abstract: A navigation system for vehicle is provided with a route determination process by which a route is determined intersection by intersection. When a starting point and driving direction are input, a road is selected, determined as the route to take, and indicated as the route on a display. A further road, of the same category as the road determined, is determined as a further route. Automatic route determination is thus consecutively effected from the starting point toward a destination. When cancellation of the determined route is instructed, the route is canceled intersection by intersection. When the cancellation is finished or if no road can be selected, the navigation system resumes its operation recognizing the end of the determined route newly as starting point.

Abstract: Information representing the state of switches carried on a pointing device handle is carried to an associated computer via a capacitive coupling technique.