Abstract: An electrical control unit for an automobile of which standby current is smaller. In an electrical control unit for an automobile having a microcomputer, an input circuit, a driver circuit, and a power supply circuit, which is started by a wake-up signal from the circuit other than the ignition switch even when the ignition switch of the automobile is cut off, the microcomputer is started by shifting the power supply circuit from an inert state to an active state to generate the voltage for operating the microcomputer, and the predetermined processing is executed.

Abstract: To provide a convenient selection of origin and/or destination of a route, in an on-line map service, the user is permitted to select and view a map and select any point from the displayed map as one of the points necessary for computation of a route. In an example, the user selects a start point, and the client device provides pixel coordinates of the first selected point. The user then selects the other point from the map, and the client device provides coordinates of the other selected point. A GIS program at the client converts the coordinates to map units and communicates with the server in order to access map information, compute a route, and send back route information for presentation to the user. The resulting route information, for example, may take the form of a map display highlighting the route or textual instructions for traveling the route.

Abstract: A vehicle is equipped with a transmitter/receiver user recognition device and a control system for allowing a user to act remotely on one or more sub-systems of a vehicle, e.g., opening a panel such as a boot. In use, the system operates in association with a user identification device so as to activate an illumination block when the identification device has been recognized by the user recognition device and the identified user's hand is approaching, and to control the operation of one of the sub-systems when the identified user s hand is touching the illumination legend.

Abstract: A method providing fault isolation, in an air data system which uses artificial intelligence to generate an air data parameter, includes generating the air data parameter as a function of a plurality of measured values such as static pressures. Then, estimates of each of the plurality of measured values is generated as a function of the generated air data parameter. Each measured value can then be compared to its corresponding estimate to determine if a difference between the measured value and its corresponding estimate exceeds a threshold and therefore indicates a fault in a device which provides the measured value.

Abstract: A method of making a driving path log file library for searching a car navigation path includes operating a car navigation system and deciding whether or not to store a driving path of a driver. When the driver decides to store the driving path, making a driving path log file with the driving path of the driver, storing the driving path log file, and making a driving path log file library out of the stored driving path log files. The driving path log file includes the driving path that the driver has driven through and then selected, and the driving path log file library includes a plurality of the stored driving path log files.

Abstract: A system and a machine-implemented method for rendering, on a display device, a first data graph concerning data received from a first data source. A second data graph concerning data received from a second data source is rendered on the display device, and superimposed onto the first data graph to generate a superimposed data graph.

Abstract: A method for determining traffic conditions includes: collecting real-time traffic information of a road; calculating a representative speed value for the road by a fuzzy inference, from the collected real-time traffic information and traffic condition factors having an effect on the road; and transmitting the representative speed value to a terminal of a vehicle traveling on the road corresponding to the representative speed value. The representative speed is sensibly determined and reliable information is supplied because the fuzzy inference's performance is based on the information collected from the signal transmitter and based on the factors which can affect the traffic conditions.

Abstract: An integrated circuit vehicle diagnostics interface adapter includes a semiconductor substrate with two integral gateway conductors. A set of paired switches on the substrate link any two of a first set of contacts to the gateway conductors, and another set of paired switches on the substrate link the two gateway conductors to any pair of a second set of contacts corresponding to a particular vehicle network communications protocol circuit in a vehicle diagnostics device. Both sets of switches are controlled by an integrated switch control module.

Abstract: A method of planning a path of a vehicle by defining a first plurality of constraints representing dynamics of the vehicle; defining a second plurality of constraints representing collisions with obstacles; defining a third plurality of constraints representing visibility to threats; and using the first, second and third plurality of constraints with mixed integer linear programming to generate a trajectory for a vehicle from a starting point to a destination point in an environment containing the obstacles and the threats.

Abstract: A technique to provide an information-sharing system and the like is disclosed. According to this technique, there are provided an on-board information terminal to transmit one or more types of information among a vehicle information relating to user's own vehicle and on-board program information to acquire shared information, an area information acquiring system for acquiring area information, and an information-sharing server for calculating time function existing quantity based on time function according to one or more types of information among vehicle information and area information, calculates time function transmission quantity based on time function including the calculated time function existing quantity, arranges the calculated time function existing quantity and the time function transmission quantity to a corresponding position on a map, attaches the map information to the on-board program information, and transmits it to the on-board information terminal.

Abstract: A resource management system is provided for tracking the location and status of, and managing, trucks going to and from batch plants and jobsites. Vehicle-mounted sensors communicate delivery status information via a wireless network. Status and performance data can be reviewed in real time to allow a dispatcher to efficiently manage the truck fleet. Electronic tickets and exception reports are provided.

Abstract: A side impact object sensing system for a vehicle includes a single radar sensor mounted on each side of the vehicle, each sensor generating a range and range-rate value for a detected target object, and a controller coupled to each radar sensor. The controller calculates an estimated target object speed, an angle of the target object line of travel with respect to the respective sensor line of sight, and a shortest distance value from the respective sensor to the target object line of travel, and compares the shortest distance value and a change in the angle value to respective threshold values for potential collision threat assessment.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically adjusting a direction of a headlight of a vehicle includes a steered angle sensor detecting a steered angle of a steering wheel of a vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor detecting a speed of the vehicle, a control unit performing a swivel control by which the direction of the light axis of the headlight is adjusted to a target direction depending on the steered angle and the vehicle speed, and a variance calculating device calculating a variance of the steered angle detected by the steered angle sensor. The control unit halts the swivel control unit when the variance calculated by the variance calculating device exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system that detects a lateral acceleration and roll rate of the vehicle and estimates a mass distribution parameter. The system then generates a tuned mass distribution parameter that is based on the the lateral acceleration, the roll rate, and the mass distribution parameter and introduces the tuned mass distribution parameter to a rollover stability control system.

Abstract: A personal communications device includes a processor, a plurality of subsystems connected to the processor for exchanging signals therewith, at least one of the subsystems being configurable between a flight mode and a non-flight mode, an input device connected to the processor for inputting a flight mode selection thereto, and a flight mode module operable on the processor for causing the processor to monitor for input of a predetermined flight mode selection through the input device and configure the at least one subsystem into flight mode upon the input of the flight mode selection.

Abstract: From a collision load, a one-time integration value and a two-time integration value are computed. The one-time integration value and two-time integration value are then used for obtaining a mass and rigidity of a collision object as two primary parameters. The obtained two primary parameters are used for determining whether or not the collision object is a pedestrian. This achieves accuracy in determining the collision object that is remarkably superior to a conventional method that uses a collision load waveform.

Abstract: A method for controlling the speed in a vehicle includes adjusting at least one gain parameter based on a vehicle speed error and the displacement on demand mode of the engine. A new cruise throttle area is calculated from the adjusted gain parameter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to planning of a trajectory for minimum threat exposure in a given geographical region. A trajectory is planned from a start node to a final node in a digital representation of the geographical region. The threat exposure for a vehicle moving along the trajectory is determined. Navigation performance of the vehicle along the trajectory is evaluated. A rate of survival based on threat exposure and navigation performance along the trajectory is estimated. A new trajectory is planned from the start node to the final node until a best rate of survival is established for the planned trajectory.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for acquiring elevation data for an area. The method includes using a GPS receiver to map ground elevations while driving back and forth over an area and periodically recording position, elevation, and time. Then, at least one track is made across the parallel tracks so that the cross track intersects the parallel tracks. The data obtained is processed and elevation data from the cross track is used to adjust elevation data for the parallel tracks, compensating for elevation drift in measurements recorded by the GPS receiver. The adjusted data for the entire area is processed using the method of the present invention to obtain an elevation map for the area.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides an in-vehicle telematics system featuring: 1) a controller; 2) a diagnostics system configured to receive diagnostic information from a host vehicle; 3) a position-locating system configured to determine the host vehicle's location information; 4) a communication interface configured to send additional information to a peripheral system other than the diagnostic position-locating systems; and, 5) a wireless transmitter configured to transmit information through a wireless network to an Internet-accessible website.