Abstract: The control unit, especially a motor vehicle control unit, includes a microcomputer (13), a programmable nonvolatile memory (14) connected with or integrated in the microcomputer (13), a serial interface (15) for the microcomputer (13) to which a serial data transmission line (12) can be connected over which data for programming the programmable nonvolatile memory (14) is received in the microcomputer from an external programming unit (11), and a low pass filter connected to a terminal (16) for the serial data transmission line. The low pass filter includes components that produce a signal for enabling the programming of the programmable nonvolatile memory (14) of the external programming unit is connected to the control unit via the serial data transmission line (12).

Abstract: An azimuth change quantity .theta. of a road during traveling of a vehicle for a time .delta.t is calculated based on road data provided by a navigation system and a vehicle speed provided by a vehicle speed sensor (at step S3 in FIG. 2). On the other hand, an azimuth change quantity .THETA. of the vehicle is calculated by integrating a yaw rate .gamma. obtained from a yaw rate sensor over the time .delta.t (at step S5). A deviation D between the azimuth change quantity .theta. of the road and the azimuth change quantity .THETA. of the vehicle is calculated (at step S6). When the deviation D becomes equal to or larger than a reference value .beta., it is determined that there is a possibility that the vehicle will depart from the road (at step S9), and a predetermined steering torque is applied to a steering device, so that the deviation is converged into zero (at steps S10 and S11).

Abstract: An adjusting element for maintaining the specified velocity is actuated in such a way that the acceleration of the vehicle is adjusted to predefined values dependent on the velocity.

Abstract: An apparatus for compensating for spatial phase angle phase errors in the flapping angle oscillations of a rotor blade is disclosed. The apparatus receives a measured aircraft roll and a measured aircraft pitch. Gyroscopic moments resulting from these measured rolls and pitches are determined, and compensating gyroscopic moments are then generated and summed with commanded pitch and roll accelerations. Flapping angle phase lags of the rotor blade swashplate are added to the summed signals to cancel any flapping angle phase leads, caused by changes in aircraft or rotor blade speed caused by installation configurations of the rotor blade swashplate.

Abstract: A system and method for multiple processors operating independently from one another to share memory as a boot device. The system includes a plurality of computing systems each including a processor and a local memory element. In response to a boot condition for a selected computing system, its processor begins a boot sequence in which it uses operational code contained within a non-volatile memory element that is shared by each of the computing systems. Arbitration for ownership of a memory bus interconnecting the non-volatile memory element to the processors and organization of a direct memory access transfer between the non-volatile memory element and local memory associated with the processor of the selected computing system is controlled by a memory access coordination circuit coupled between the computing systems and the memory bus.

Abstract: A set of three geometric anagles is initiated to track the trajectories of moving objects. The objects to be tracked include but not limit to: satellites, space shuttles, airplanes, missiles moving in aerospace; submarines, ships, fish groups and other moving objects in hydrospace; cars, trucks, trains, human-beings and anmals moving on lands; planet motions in the solar system; particle motions in a controlled experiment in our national labories; contaminants, and hazardous materials in a variety of environmental conditions. All these objects can be detected and monitored by means of various sensing technologies which include seismic, acoustic, electro-magnetic, thermal, chemical, electro-optical and infrared. Mapping and monitoring systems could be deployed in unattended arrays or aboard ground, air, or maritime vehicles.

Abstract: A load driving control system for an automotive vehicle having a load such as an electric motor for a radiator fan. The load driving control system comprises a microcomputer storing a load driving necessariness decision program by which a decision is made as to whether driving of the load is necessary or not in accordance with the detected vehicle operating condition so as to output one of load driving necessariness and unnecessariness commands. A load driving circuit is provided to provide a driving current in response to the load driving necessariness command, thereby driving the load. Additionally, a load compulsorily driving requirement circuit is provided to compulsorily drive the load when the microcomputer stops outputting each command even though an ignition key switch is turned ON.

Abstract: A diagnostic method and system in a truck monitors voltages reported by electrical control units in a truck via a shared communication path called the data link. When a data logging unit on the data link detects an event, it persistently stores monitored data measured during a period that may span before and after the event occurred. The voltages measured and reported by electrical control units during this period are used to diagnose electrical wiring problems or other electrical problems in the electrical control units.

Abstract: Electronic information such as pieces of map information, pieces of index information, pieces of route searching information, pieces of local facility information, pieces of audio information, pieces of dynamic image information and pieces of static image information are recorded in a CD-ROM. A part of electronic information are compressed, and any pieces of information in the remaining part of electronic information is not compressed. When an operator input a current position, a pieces of particular electronic information corresponding to a peripheral area of the current position is read from the CD-ROM to a navigation apparatus, it is judged by a compression mode judging unit whether or not the particular electronic information is compressed. In cases where the particular electronic information is compressed, the particular electronic information is expanded in an expanding unit, and a map image of the peripheral area is prepared in an navigation control unit and is displayed on a display.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling a moving speed of each bucket and a moving speed ratio between each bucket, to be proportional to a degree of operation of each operation indicator and an operation ratio between each operation indicator, regardless of changes in various working conditions or load pressures.

Abstract: A switch operating unit 10 has operating switches for operating loads. A load control unit controls the corresponding loads in accordance with the operation of the operating switches according to information, which is stored in first storage device, as to the correlation between the operating switches and the loads. A total rated capacity computation device computes the total rated capacity of the loads to be driven under the control of the load control unit according to information, which is stored in second storage device, as to the rated capacity of each load. When the total rated capacity exceeds a predetermined allowable capacity, the load control unit operates to restrict the driving of the low-priority loads in the order of analog-controlled loads and on-off controlled loads according to the information stored in the second storage device.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a map to be carried by a pedestrian for guidance to a personally selected destination within a region of pedestrian traffic includes a memory storage unit interactive with a display unit, user-operable infeed unit, and data processor unit. The data processor unit determines an appropriate walking path to be taken to arrive at the selected destination. A printing unit prints and dispenses to the user an individualized map indicating the appropriate path determined by the data processor unit in accordance with selections entered by the user into the infeed unit.

Abstract: A default mode control system for controlling a split torque transmission is disclosed. The default mode control system monitors various inputs to the control to detect an on board electrical, electronic fault or mechanical, hydraulic fault. When a fault is detected, the default mode control will recover from the default and then will limit operation of the split torque transmission based on the fault input.

Abstract: A circuit configuration for evaluating signals from a yaw rate sensor is used in particular for movement stabilization in a motor vehicle. There is provided a controller which receives the signals from the yaw rate sensor and from further sensors. The further sensors detect motion state dependent variables, such as for example wheel speed, steering wheel angle, lateral acceleration and longitudinal acceleration. The controller calculates from one or more of these further sensors a reference yaw rate. The reference yaw rate is compared with the yaw rate measured by the yaw rate sensor. The plausibility of the yaw rate sensor signal is also checked, taking account of the motion state. If the difference between the measured yaw rate and the reference yaw rate determined in the plausibility check is above a predetermined threshold value, then the yaw rate sensor is identified as being faulty.

Abstract: A goal direction mark and a distance to a goal are indicated when the car has approached the end point of route. When the car has deviated from the guide route to the goal or is running backwards on the guide route in a direction that is opposite to the direction of the goal, there is indicated a mark to inform the direction of progress to the goal on the guide route. When the car has deviated from the guide route and the guide route is not indicated on the map picture, there is indicated the direction to the goal or the direction to the guide route itself. When the start point of route is remote from the present position at the start of the guidance, a mark is indicated to inform the direction to the start point of route. The driver is enabled to easily determine relying upon the indicated mark in which direction he should proceed. When the map picture is scrolled, there is informed the goal direction, route direction or the direction of progress to the goal on the route.

Abstract: An anti-theft apparatus which comprises a blocking element for blocking the flow of exhaust gases, a device for moving the blocking element and a control device for controlling one of the apparatus and the moving device. The apparatus also comprises an activation device, for activating an operation of one of the apparatus and the control device, and a housing for housing at least one of the blocking element, the moving device and the control device. The moving device one of moves and displaces the blocking element between a first position, whereat the blocking element is removed from the flow path of exhaust gases, and a second position, whereat the blocking element is in the flow path of exhaust gases.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for defining grid and proprietary addresses of selected locations within a geographical area is described, characterized in that the grid addresses are defined in relation to a grid and can be easily converted to global coordinates defined in relation to a known global referencing system, and the proprietary addresses are unique to the geographical area.

Abstract: A system for providing and displaying recommended navigation information in a vehicle includes a simple on-board display, a destination selection input keyboard, a beacon receiver, a beacon transmitter and a computer control device on-board the vehicle, in connection with a roadside beacon that is further in communication with a centralized traffic information center. When a destination intersection is selected and set with the input keyboard, the beacon transmitter transmits the destination intersection information together with an ID number of the vehicle to the traffic information center via the beacon. Recommended route information leading to the destination intersection, road junction information, and available lane direction information are transmitted from the traffic information center via the beacon to the beacon receiver. The simple display shows the recommended route as a simplified graph of connected line segments from the received recommended route information and various other information.

Abstract: A feedback calculator and a controller are disclosed which energize a throttle valve driver so that a vehicle speed Vs may be brought into coincidence with a target vehicle speed Vo which is instructed by a driver. The feedback calculator calculates a target acceleration AT on the basis of a vehicle speed Vs and a target speed Vo, and also detects a running acceleration Aa of the vehicle and calculates a deviation of the running acceleration Aa with respect to the target acceleration AT, Ad=AT-Aa. It chooses a high gain G when the deviation Ad is positive and its change dAd is also positive, and chooses a low gain G when the deviation Ad is negative and its change dAd is also negative, thus deriving a controlled variable D having a magnitude which depends on the deviation Ad and the gain G. The controller energizes the throttle valve driver in accordance with the controlled variable D, thus driving the throttle valve for opening or closing at a rate which depends on the controlled variable D.

Abstract: A system for controlling vehicles to provide transportation services without need for human intervention. A database stores records each documenting needed transportation services. Processing circuitry (which may be one or several networked computers) reviews these records, locates records indicating a need for immediate transportation service, and instructs vehicles to provide the service. The processing circuitry also monitors vehicle activities by reviewing the records, and automatically obtained vehicle activity information, to identify transportation services which are not being adequately provided, and refer these to human dispatchers for special attention. A variety of methods for obtaining and updating vehicle activity information are disclosed, as are various applications for the system.