Abstract: In a vehicle speed control system, each node existing ahead of a vehicle is detected, and a stable running speed at which the vehicle runs stably when the vehicle passes over each node, and a deceleration needed to accelerate/decelerate the vehicle so that the vehicle speed becomes the stable running speed at each node by the time when the vehicle arrives at the node are successively calculated. On the basis of the deceleration at each node, a point at which the maximum deceleration value is achieved is selected, and the vehicle is subjected to deceleration control so that the vehicle speed becomes the stable running speed at the point. When a point at which the curve degree is maximum is different from a point at which the deceleration value is maximum and also the point is located ahead of the vehicle, further necessary deceleration control is carried out.

Abstract: A cruise control apparatus can control a host vehicle to run with a fixed separation from a preceding vehicle when such a preceding vehicle is detected based on received radar signals and to run at a preset fixed speed when no preceding vehicle is detected. The cruise control apparatus is configured to respond to one of a set of predetermined actions by the vehicle driver, which indicate an intention to change the vehicle speed, by making it easier or more difficult for a preceding vehicle to be detected, in accordance with whether the indicated intention may signify that an actual preceding vehicle is not being detected or may signify that a non-existent preceding vehicle is being detected and that the host vehicle speed has been reduced accordingly. Improved performance is thereby achieved by utilizing the cognitive abilities of the driver to augment the detection operation of the cruise control apparatus.

Abstract: When a drive control operation is set, a vehicle driving system sets a travel speed of a vehicle as a target travel speed, stores it as a set travel speed and starts drive control of the vehicle. When the drive control operation is resumed, the vehicle driving system compares the set travel speed stored in a memory and a recommended speed of a road on which the vehicle is traveling. When the recommended speed is smaller than the set travel speed and a speed limit change flag is kept reset, the vehicle driving system sets the recommended speed as the target travel speed, and restarts the drive control of the vehicle. When the recommended speed is larger than the set travel speed and at the same time the speed limit change flag is kept reset, the vehicle driving system sets the set travel speed as the target travel speed, and restarts the drive control of the vehicle.

Abstract: Recognition result of an objective recognized as a preceding vehicle is analyzed to judge whether this objective is correctly detected as a vehicle or not. A relative acceleration is calculated based on a relative speed corresponding to the objective when analysis result shows properness of this objective as a vehicle. The relative acceleration is set to 0 when analysis result shows improperness of the objective. An inter-vehicle control amount is corrected based on the obtained relative acceleration. The distance between the preceding vehicle and the controlled vehicle is controlled based on the corrected inter-vehicle control amount.

Abstract: A collision avoidance control system for a vehicle is provided which is designed to determine a target collision avoidance deceleration required for a system vehicle equipped with this system to bring a relative speed between the system vehicle and a target object into agreement with substantially zero without a physical collision with the target object and to determine a possibility of collision with the target object as a function of the target collision avoidance deceleration. When the possibility of collision is higher than a given threshold level, the system starts to decelerate the system vehicle. This enables the avoidance of collision with the target object at a decreased operation load on the system.

Abstract: A collision avoidance control system for a vehicle is provided which is designed to determine a target collision avoidance deceleration required for a system vehicle equipped with this system to bring a relative speed between the system vehicle and a target object into agreement with substantially zero without a physical collision with the target object and to determine a possibility of collision with the target object as a function of the target collision avoidance deceleration. When the possibility of collision is higher than a given threshold level, the system starts to decelerate the system vehicle. This enables the avoidance of collision with the target object at a decreased operation load on the system.

Abstract: The present invention provides inspection of a transmission with higher precision and in a shorter period of time. Before a finished A/T is inspected, a V/B ASSY and an ECU are inspected together by a V/B tester in a subsidiary line. A solenoid current command value (a characteristic value inherent in the A/T) for a linear solenoid of the V/B ASSY is corrected and written into the ECU through CAN communication. Spring load of a return spring SP and stroke of the piston of a hydraulic servo for a frictional engagement element are measured. Actually measured values or corrected values of the spring load and the stroke are stored. In the final inspection of the A/T a finished-product tester reads the stored characteristic values and transmits them to the ECU integrated with the A/T through CAN communication. The characteristic values are then written into the ECU. The finished-product tester inspects the finished A/T product, using the characteristic values thus written into the ECU.

Abstract: In a vehicle control system performing collision avoiding control when a collision with a preceding vehicle cannot be avoided by normal running condition control, driving safety is improved by prompting a driver to intervene in the vehicle's control in a reliable manner. When a set switch is turned on in the “cancel” state, the transition to the “in-control, inter-vehicle distance control” sub-state occurs and an inter-vehicle distance control is performed. If a collision with a preceding vehicle cannot be avoided by the inter-vehicle distance control (if the collision alarm flag XA=1), transition to the “in-control, collision alarm” sub-state occurs and a collision alarm is generated. If the acceleration required for avoiding collision is further increased (if the collision avoiding control flag XC=1), the state transits to the “in-control, collision avoiding control” sub-state, and a collision avoiding control is performed.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted radar apparatus which periodically derives and registers successive momentary position values for a target object such as a preceding vehicle based on received reflected radio waves and derives final lateral position data by smoothing the momentary position data, judges when a degree of scattering of the registered momentary position values exceeds a first predetermined level and in that case derives corrected position data based on differences between envelope curve line values which are generated based on local extreme values of the momentary position data, and performs smoothing of the corrected position data instead of the momentary position data, to obtain the final lateral position data. If the target object is not estimated to be located directly ahead of the host vehicle along a straight route, the corrected position data are adjusted in accordance with relative positions and orientations of the target object and host vehicle.

Abstract: A system for control of the discharge pressure of an input clutch hydraulic servo at the time of a D→N shift, in which the peak value (DN_Omega_max) rate of change of the rotational speed of an input shaft increases if the initial value (DN sol Sweep Start SLT signal) of the pressure adjusting control becomes high or low. A convergence region (DN_Omega_limit_max) is provided. On the basis of comparison between the previous peak value (DN_Omega_max_ave1) and the present peak value (DN_Omega_max_ave2), and the direction of correction, the learning is performed in accordance with various maps in a direction toward the convergence region.

Abstract: In a vehicle speed control system, each node existing ahead of a vehicle is detected, and a stable running speed at which the vehicle runs stably when the vehicle passes over each node, and a deceleration needed to accelerate/decelerate the vehicle so that the vehicle speed becomes the stable running speed at each node by the time when the vehicle arrives at the node are successively calculated. On the basis of the deceleration at each node, a point at which the maximum deceleration value is achieved is selected, and the vehicle is subjected to deceleration control so that the vehicle speed becomes the stable running speed at the point. When a point at which the curve degree is maximum is different from a point at which the deceleration value is maximum and also the point is located ahead of the vehicle, further necessary deceleration control is carried out.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted radar apparatus which periodically derives and registers successive momentary position values for a target object such as a preceding vehicle based on received reflected radio waves and derives final lateral position data by smoothing the momentary position data, judges when a degree of scattering of the registered momentary position values exceeds a first predetermined level and in that case derives corrected position data based on differences between envelope curve line values which are generated based on local extreme values of the momentary position data, and performs smoothing of the corrected position data instead of the momentary position data, to obtain the final lateral position data. If the target object is not estimated to be located directly ahead of the host vehicle along a straight route, the corrected position data are adjusted in accordance with relative positions and orientations of the target object and host vehicle.

Abstract: A cruise control apparatus can control a host vehicle to run with a fixed separation from a preceding vehicle when such a preceding vehicle is detected based on received radar signals and to run at a preset fixed speed when no preceding vehicle is detected. The cruise control apparatus is configured to respond to one of a set of predetermined actions by the vehicle driver, which indicate an intention to change the vehicle speed, by making it easier or more difficult for a preceding vehicle to be detected, in accordance with whether the indicated intention may signify that an actual preceding vehicle is not being detected or may signify that a non-existent preceding vehicle is being detected and that the host vehicle speed has been reduced accordingly. Improved performance is thereby achieved by utilizing the cognitive abilities of the driver to augment the detection operation of the cruise control apparatus.

Abstract: It judges whether a decelerator, such as fuel cut, over-drive cut, down shifting, braking, is in a temporarily unusable condition and further judges that it is necessary to drive the decelerator by the inter-vehicle control. It continues control by the inter-vehicle control means when it is necessary to drive the decelerator by the inter-vehicle control and it is judged that the decelerator is in the temporarily unusable condition. It informs the driver of data in the temporary unusable condition and further inform the driver of alarm data when the actual inter-vehicle distance is shorter than a reference. The data agrees with the alarm data. The same operation may be effected regarding accelerator. The temporarily unusable condition may be caused by continuous operation of brake pressure actuator longer than the rating.

Abstract: A concise method to promote growth of a plant useful for increase of food production. This invention provides a method to promote growth of a plant by administration of formic acid, an organic acid with a low molecular weight through avoidance of photo-oxidation damage. This invention also provides amino acid sequence of formate dehydrogenase and base sequence encoding the enzyme. The expression of the enzyme is induced by administration of formic acid and the enzyme is involved in metabolism, of formic acid and its salts. Furthermore, this invention provides a method to promote growth of a plant by administration of methanol through avoidance of photo-oxidation damage.

Abstract: A travel control system for a subject vehicle includes a radar device for detecting preceding vehicles with respect to the subject vehicle. A controlling device operates for detecting, among the detected preceding vehicles, an interested preceding vehicle which immediately precedes the subject vehicle, and for accelerating and decelerating the subject vehicle in response to a condition of the interested preceding vehicle. A relative speed calculating device operates for calculating a relative speed between the subject vehicle and a next-lane preceding vehicle among the detected preceding vehicles. The next-lane preceding vehicle is a preceding vehicle in a lane next to a lane where the subject vehicle exists. The controlling device also operates for executing one of (1) suppression of acceleration of the subject vehicle and (2) deceleration control of the subject vehicle when the relative speed calculated by the relative speed calculating device is smaller than a prescribed negative value.

Abstract: A system for control of the discharge pressure of an input clutch hydraulic servo at the time of a D→N shift, in which the peak value (DN_Omega_max) rate of change of the rotational speed of an input shaft increases if the initial value (DN sol Sweep Start SLT signal) of the pressure adjusting control becomes high or low. A convergence region (DN_Omega_limit_max) is provided. On the basis of comparison between the previous peak value (DN_Omega_max_ave1) and the present peak value (DN_Omega_max_ave2), and the direction of correction, the learning is performed in accordance with various maps in a direction toward the convergence region.

Abstract: A concise method to promote growth of a plant useful for increase of food production. This invention provides a method to promote growth of a plant by administration of formic acid, an organic acid with a low molecular weight through avoidance of photo-oxidation damage. This invention also provides amino acid sequence of formate dehydrogenase and base sequence encoding the enzyme. The expression of the enzyme is induced by administration of formic acid and the enzyme is involved in metabolism of formic acid and its salts. Furthermore, this invention provides a method to promote growth of a plant by administration of methanol through avoidance of photo-oxidation damage.

Abstract: A distance control is performed to maintain a target distance between two traveling vehicles by controlling an acceleration/deceleration actuator based on a physical quantity representing an actual distance between the two traveling vehicles. A temporary distance control is performed to suppress a deceleration degree of a succeeding vehicle to a smaller value compared with a deceleration degree attainable during an ordinary distance control, when the two traveling vehicles are departing from each other under a condition where the actual distance between the two traveling vehicles is already shorter or will soon become shorter than a standard target distance.

Abstract: A control ratio (&ggr;) of a distance deviation (&Dgr;d) to a target distance (dm) is obtained to control a space between two traveling vehicles. The distance deviation (&Dgr;d) is the difference between an actual distance (d) and the target distance (dm). A target control quantity, such as acceleration, engine torque or vehicle speed, is determined in accordance with the obtained control ratio (&ggr;) so as to equalize the actual distance (d) to the target distance (dm).