Abstract: A line pressure variable control method for an automatic transmission uses a solenoid valve to control a line pressure according to a duty ratio thereof. The method includes determining whether a current shift range is one of forward driving shift ranges, calculating a minimum line pressure based on at least one automatic transmission operating condition if the current shift range is one of the forward driving shift ranges, and calculating a solenoid duty ratio corresponding to the calculated minimum line pressure. Determining whether there is clutch slip, calculating a solenoid correction duty ratio based on an amount of the clutch slip. If it is determined that there is clutch slip, modifying the solenoid duty ratio with the solenoid correction duty ratio and controlling the solenoid valve using the modified solenoid duty ratio.

Abstract: A method and device for determining a vectorial vehicle velocity by estimating a mean value for the vehicle velocity by using a position-finding device to obtain a first value, and to then compare this first value with a second value estimated using inertial sensors.

Abstract: In a passenger detection apparatus for a vehicle, a microcomputer conducts a timer counting operation using a sub-clock signal fed from an CR oscillation circuit in a stand-by state and carries out a zero-point correction on a load sensor in an activated state. In addition, the microcomputer calibrates the accuracy of the timer count through the use of a main clock signal fed from a crystal oscillator. This enables the timer count to be conducted in a low current dissipation state by the CR oscillation circuit, and enables the accuracy of the timer count to be surely maintained through the calibration based on the main clock signal.

Abstract: A radar activated brake light device to be integrated into a vehicle to alert drivers of potentially hazardous changes in traffic speed consisting of a radar device to measure the speed of a forward vehicle; a sensor input from the speedometer of the radar-equipped vehicle; a computer processor to evaluate the data for potentially hazardous speed changes; a luminous display mounted on the radar-equipped vehicle to warn the driver of a trailing vehicle; and, optionally, a warning light and warning buzzer mounted internally to the radar-equipped vehicle to alert the driver of the radar-equipped vehicle of potentially hazardous speed changes.

Abstract: A method and a device (10) for consistent bidirectional analysis of engine characteristics map data in an engine characteristics map are described. The engine characteristics map data represents interlinked technical variables. In this method, first a characteristic curve representing the interdependence of two of the technical variables is determined. This characteristic curve forms the basis for additional conversions in bidirectional analysis of the particular engine characteristics map.

Abstract: A control for a transmission and a clutch monitors conditions to determine when a vehicle associated with the clutch and transmission is likely in a stationary state. If the vehicle appears to be stationary, with the transmission engaged and the clutch open, then the control determines that the transmission should be moved to a neutral position. Upon movement to the neutral position, the control then closes the clutch. It is preferable for a vehicle remaining stationary to have its clutch closed and its transmission in neutral than to have its transmission engaged and its clutch open. In a further aspect of this invention, the neutral state is verified by testing the ability to move one of the transmission shift components. If the transmission shift component can move beyond a predetermined amount, this is indicative that the transmission is in neutral.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for collecting images of objects at geographic locations for publication in an online directory, such as online Yellow Pages. A camera and a GPS receiver, both receiving time information from a synchronized clock, are mounted on a vehicle. Time-stamped images captured by the camera and time-stamped geographic locations (e.g., longitude and latitude coordinates) determined by the GPS receiver are recorded. Each image is then associated with a geographic location based on corresponding respective time-stamps. Thereafter, each image is correlated with a street addresses based on each image's associated geographic location, for example by referring to a lookup table that correlates addresses with geographic coordinates. The address-correlated images may then be used in an online directory, where each listing (e.g., business) can be displayed with an image of an object (e.g., store front) taken at the address in the listing.

Abstract: A vehicle deceleration display system includes a serial data bus operable for communicating a plurality of sequentially-measured vehicle speed datums in a respective sequential manner. A control unit is operatively connected to the serial data bus and is operable for receiving and processing the vehicle speed data therefrom. The control unit is programmed to sequentially calculate vehicle deceleration values respectively corresponding with the sequential speed data to provide a variable output signal. The variable output signal corresponds with and varies in accordance with the sequential vehicle deceleration values. A variable display is connected to the control unit and varies in response to the deceleration values. A method of calculating and displaying vehicle deceleration values is also provided.

Abstract: A method for transferring at least one navigation element from a vehicle navigation unit to a master station. The vehicle navigation unit does not include a database sufficient for a route calculation, including an input device via which a user is able to input navigation element data concerning at least one navigation element, the vehicle navigation unit including communications devices, or cooperating with separate communications devices, to exchange data with a master station in which routes are calculated. The vehicle navigation unit includes an arrangement to select at least one navigation element database entry, of a plurality of navigation element database entries, which are transmitted by the master station as response to the navigation element data transmitted to the master station, when the master station is not able uniquely to assign a plurality of navigation element database entries to at least one navigation element.

Abstract: An auxiliary circuit continuously executes a timer counting operation under a condition that electric power is directly supplied from a vehicle battery to the auxiliary circuit. A main circuit receives no electric power during a waiting condition and hence minimizes current consumption. Only when a predetermined timer activation time is counted by the auxiliary circuit or an ignition key switch is turned on, electric power is supplied to the main circuit for allowing the main circuit to execute a zero point correction for load sensors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for shifting an initial gear upwards into a target gear in a twin-clutch gearbox of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the engine torque (MMotor) of the vehicle is altered when a target gear is selected incorrectly and detected thus. The output torque (MOutput) is then reduced if the correct target gear is introduced. The invention also relates to a twin-clutch gearbox, especially for carrying out said method.

Abstract: A system is provided for controlling the inertia of a vehicle's powertrain during sudden braking events. Torque generated by rapid deceleration of the vehicle's drive wheels during braking is prevented from being transmitted through the vehicle's driveline by a clutch which disengages the drive wheels from high effective inertia components in the driveline. The clutch is actuated by a signal produced by any of several sensors on the vehicle which sense a sudden braking event. Driveline speed is adjusted to match drive wheel speed before the clutch is deactivated to reengage driveline with the drive wheels.

Abstract: The system carries out continuous in-vehicle data measurement and storage for subsequent processing. A given driving manoeuvre is sub-divided into facets and the measured vehicle data is processed to provide a local rating for each of the facets using empirically derived transfer functions. The local ratings are weighted and combined to provide an overall rating which is converted to a rating out of ten based on a further transfer function based on correlations between derived and subjectively observed ratings. As a result, driveability rating and engine calibration/development can be accelerated and targeted.

Abstract: An imaging system of the invention includes an image array sensor including a plurality of pixels. Each of the pixels generates a signal indicative of the amount of light received on the pixel. The imaging system further includes an analog to digital converter for quantizing the signals from the pixels into a digital value. The system further includes a memory including a plurality of allocated storage locations for storing the digital values from the analog to digital converter. The number of allocated storage locations in the memory is less than the number of pixels in the image array sensor. According to another embodiment, an imaging device includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels arranged in an array; and a multi-layer interference filter disposed over said pixel array, said multi-layer interference filter being patterned so as to provide filters of different colors to neighboring pixels or groups of pixels.

Abstract: An electronic compass system includes a magnetic sensor circuit having at least two sensing elements for sensing perpendicular components of the Earth's magnetic field vector. A processing circuit is coupled to the sensor circuit to filter, process, and compute a heading. The processing circuit may determine whether too much noise is present in the output signals received from said magnetic sensor circuit as a function of the relative strength of the Earth's magnetic field vector. The magnetic sensor circuit may include three magnetic field sensing elements contained in a common integrated package having a plurality of leads extending therefrom for mounting to a circuit board. The sensing elements need not be perpendicular to each other or parallel or perpendicular with the circuit board. The electronic compass system is particularly well suited for implementation in a vehicle rearview mirror assembly.

Abstract: The Navigation Apparatus transmits to a server apparatus a current position, a destination, and an area of a geographical information stored in a geographic information memory part. The server apparatus receives them to calculate one or more potential routes from the current position to the destination; sets a potential passing-by point for each potential route in the area of the geographic information stored in the Navigation Apparatus; and transmits those potential passing-by points to the Navigation Apparatus. The Navigation Apparatus receives them to calculate traveling routes from the current position to the potential passing-by points and selects one of the potential passing-by points, thereby deciding the passing-by point as a temporary destination within the area of the geographic information stored in the Navigation Apparatus. In this way, the route navigation can be realized without increasing the memory capacity of the geographic information memory part of the Navigation Apparatus.

Abstract: A vehicle allocation processing apparatus with a rationalized vehicle allocation processing is provided. A server communication section (53) acquires driving status information concerning driving states of vehicles from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles. A vehicle information storage (552) stores the acquired driving status information and vehicle information concerning the vehicles, linked to each other. The server communication section (53) acquires customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position requested by a customer, and vehicle allocation request information concerning a vehicle requested by the customer and including customer destination information concerning a destination of the customer. An allocable vehicle searching section (543) searches for allocable vehicles, based on the acquired vehicle allocation request information and the stored vehicle information and driving status information.

Abstract: A movable personal computer using system is located inside an instrument panel of a motor vehicle, and has a PC holder on which a movable personal computer is set. The movable personal computer is connectable to a CAN of the motor vehicle, and has a screen showing different information on four partial areas of the screen at the same time. The screen is reflected by a mirror member toward a driver such that the driver sees a virtual image of the screen. The mirror member is moved to show a virtual image on a partial area of the screen, which displays information different from another partial area of the screen, and selectively shifts from the one partial area to the another partial area of the screen.

Abstract: Embodiments of the system provide for processing non-continuous atom interferometer inertial instrument measurements and continuous wide bandwidth instrument measurements with a gravity database. An embodiment may have: a gravity disturbance vector database having gradients; a comparator that compares real-time gravity gradiometer gradient measurements with gradients from the database to provide an observation; and a Kalman filter that receives the observation on an input thereof, the Kalman filter outputting a modeled error state vector; wherein the gravity disturbance vector from the gravity database is used to remove a known portion of an actual gravity disturbance vector from specific force measurements of high bandwidth conventional inertial accelerometers to thereby form navigation data.

Abstract: A closed-loop LRF pointing technology to measure the range of a target satellite from a chaser satellite for rendezvous is provided that includes: LOS angle measurements of the target, a relative navigation Kalman filter, attitude determination of the visible sensor with gyros, star trackers and a Kalman filter, pointing and rate commands for tracking the target, and an attitude controller. An analytical, steady-state, three-axis, six-state Kalman filter is provided for attitude determination. The system provides improved functionality and precision for relative navigation, attitude determination, pointing, and tracking for rendezvous. Kalman filters are designed for the closed-loop system to allow for pointing the laser rangefinder to a target even if a visible sensor, a laser rangefinder, gyros and a star tracker are misaligned and the LOS angle measurements from the visible sensor are interrupted.