Abstract: An occupant detection system may detect a state of an occupant in a vehicle compartment. The occupant detection system may photograph the vehicle compartment and generate an image. The occupant detection system may change an attitude in order to change a position of an imaging region within the vehicle compartment. The occupant detection system may estimate the attitude based on information included in the image and control an operation based on the estimated attitude. The sensor may be provided by an infrared temperature sensor. The image may be provided by a thermal image showing a temperature distribution of the vehicle compartment. The occupant detection system may store a correspondence relationship between a position of a specific temperature boundary included in the thermal image and the attitude. The occupant detection system may estimate the attitude based on the correspondence relationship.

Abstract: An occupant detection system includes a state detection unit that detects a state of an object, a detection position changing unit that changes a position of a detection region, the detection region being a region in which state is detected by the state detection unit, and a controller that controls an operation of the detection position changing unit. In this occupant detection system, a position of the detection region is set to a predetermined initial position during a period of time from when a start switch provided in the vehicle is turned off until when the start switch is turned on.

Abstract: A vehicular air conditioner includes a temperature detection unit that detects a surface temperature of an object based on radiation from the object, a swing mechanism unit that causes the temperature detection unit to swing, thereby changing a location of a detection region, the detection region being a region in which surface temperature is detected by the temperature detection unit, and a controller that controls an operation of the swing mechanism unit. The controller changes the operation of the swing mechanism unit based on a magnitude of a thermal load in a passenger compartment.

Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioner includes: a wind changing unit that changes at least one of a wind volume and a wind direction of air-conditioned wind, a temperature detection unit that detects a surface temperature of an object based on radiation from the object, a detection position changing unit that changes a position of a detection target region that is a region in which the surface temperature is to be detected by the temperature detection unit, and a control unit that controls each operation of the wind changing unit and the detection position changing unit. The control unit controls at least one of the operation of the wind changing unit and the operation of the detection position changing unit to suppress changes in the wind volume of the air-conditioned wind in the detection target region when a portion of the surface of an occupant is in the detection target region.

Abstract: A radiant heater device includes: a heater main body having a heating portion that generates heat by being supplied with electric power to radiate radiation heat due to the heat supplied from the heating portion; an output control unit that controls an output of the heating portion; and a maximum output determination unit that determines an upper limit of the output of the heating portion depending on a heat load around the heater main body. The output control unit controls the output of the heating portion depending on the heat load not to exceed the upper limit of the output determined by the maximum output determination unit.

Abstract: A control system for a radiant heater device includes a radiant heater device, a heater ECU that controls an energization and a deenergization of a heat generation unit, and an integrated ECU that transmits an operation prohibition command for prohibiting the energization of the heat generation unit and an operation permission command for permitting the energization of the heat generation unit to the heater ECU. The integrated ECU transmits the operation prohibition command when receiving a collision signal indicative of a vehicle collision or a prediction of the vehicle collision, and transmits the operation permission command when not receiving the collision signal. The heater ECU performs the deenergization control when a non-reception state in which the operation permission command is not received from the integrated ECU is continued for a predetermined time or more. As a result, the energization can be interrupted before an occupant is adversely affected.

Abstract: An occupant detection system may detect a state of an occupant in a vehicle compartment. The occupant detection system may photograph the vehicle compartment and generate an image. The occupant detection system may change an attitude in order to change a position of an imaging region within the vehicle compartment. The occupant detection system may estimate the attitude based on information included in the image and control an operation based on the estimated attitude. The sensor may be provided by an infrared temperature sensor. The image may be provided by a thermal image showing a temperature distribution of the vehicle compartment. The occupant detection system may store a correspondence relationship between a position of a specific temperature boundary included in the thermal image and the attitude. The occupant detection system may estimate the attitude based on the correspondence relationship.

Abstract: An air-circulation promotion apparatus for a vehicle includes a driver's seat and a front passenger seat provided in the vehicle, and a face outlet port of a vehicle air conditioner disposed in front of those seats. A seat outlet port that blows a sucked air from a side surface of a seat back of the seat toward a rear area of the vehicle is disposed in the seat. An air present between the face outlet port and the seat flows rearward of the seat by aid of wind blown out of the seat outlet port. This makes it possible to circulate a comfortable air rearward of the seat to create a vehicle interior environment having no air retention. A circulation fan is provided in the seat and can be integrated with a seat ventilation system or a seat air conditioner.

Abstract: A vehicular air conditioner includes a temperature detection unit that detects a surface temperature of an object based on radiation from the object, a swing mechanism unit that causes the temperature detection unit to swing, thereby changing a location of a detection region, the detection region being a region in which surface temperature is detected by the temperature detection unit, and a controller that controls an operation of the swing mechanism unit. The controller changes the operation of the swing mechanism unit based on a magnitude of a thermal load in a passenger compartment.

Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioner includes: a wind changing unit that changes at least one of a wind volume and a wind direction of air-conditioned wind, a temperature detection unit that detects a surface temperature of an object based on radiation from the object, a detection position changing unit that changes a position of a detection target region that is a region in which the surface temperature is to be detected by the temperature detection unit, and a control unit that controls each operation of the wind changing unit and the detection position changing unit. The control unit controls at least one of the operation of the wind changing unit and the operation of the detection position changing unit to suppress changes in the wind volume of the air-conditioned wind in the detection target region when a portion of the surface of an occupant is in the detection target region.

Abstract: An occupant detection system includes a state detection unit that detects a state of an object, a detection position changing unit that changes a position of a detection region, the detection region being a region in which state is detected by the state detection unit, and a controller that controls an operation of the detection position changing unit. In this occupant detection system, a position of the detection region is set to a predetermined initial position during a period of time from when a start switch provided in the vehicle is turned off until when the start switch is turned on.

Abstract: An in-vehicle radiant heater control apparatus includes: a temperature detection device for a heater in a vehicle compartment; a first switch element connected in series to the radiant heater between a power supply and a ground; a temperature control device controlling the first switch element that the heater temperature approaches a target temperature; a resistive element having one electrode connected to one electrode of the heater; an inter-electrode voltage detection device for the resistive element; and a resistance calculation device repeatedly obtaining a heater resistance of the radiant heater based on a voltage between the other electrode of the resistive element and the other electrode of the heater, a detected resistance voltage, and a resistance of the resistive element. The temperature detection device obtains the heater temperature based on the heater resistance.

Abstract: A control system for a radiant heater device includes a radiant heater device, a heater ECU that controls an energization and a deenergization of a heat generation unit, and an integrated ECU that transmits an operation prohibition command for prohibiting the energization of the heat generation unit and an operation permission command for permitting the energization of the heat generation unit to the heater ECU. The integrated ECU transmits the operation prohibition command when receiving a collision signal indicative of a vehicle collision or a prediction of the vehicle collision, and transmits the operation permission command when not receiving the collision signal. The heater ECU performs the deenergization control when a non-reception state in which the operation permission command is not received from the integrated ECU is continued for a predetermined time or more. As a result, the energization can be interrupted before an occupant is adversely affected.

Abstract: An in-vehicle radiant heater control apparatus includes: a temperature detection device for a heater in a vehicle compartment; a first switch element connected in series to the radiant heater between a power supply and a ground; a temperature control device controlling the first switch element that the heater temperature approaches a target temperature; a resistive element having one electrode connected to one electrode of the heater; an inter-electrode voltage detection device for the resistive element; and a resistance calculation device repeatedly obtaining a heater resistance of the radiant heater based on a voltage between the other electrode of the resistive element and the other electrode of the heater, a detected resistance voltage, and a resistance of the resistive element. The temperature detection device obtains the heater temperature based on the heater resistance.

Abstract: A radiant heater device includes: a heater main body having a heating portion that generates heat by being supplied with electric power to radiate radiation heat due to the heat supplied from the heating portion; an output control unit that controls an output of the heating portion; and a maximum output determination unit that determines an upper limit of the output of the heating portion depending on a heat load around the heater main body. The output control unit controls the output of the heating portion depending on the heat load not to exceed the upper limit of the output determined by the maximum output determination unit.

Abstract: An air-circulation promotion apparatus for a vehicle includes a driver's seat and a front passenger seat provided in the vehicle, and a face outlet port of a vehicle air conditioner disposed in front of those seats. A seat outlet port that blows a sucked air from a side surface of a seat back of the seat toward a rear area of the vehicle is disposed in the seat. An air present between the face outlet port and the seat flows rearward of the seat by aid of wind blown out of the seat outlet port. This makes it possible to circulate a comfortable air rearward of the seat to create a vehicle interior environment having no air retention. A circulation fan is provided in the seat and can be integrated with a seat ventilation system or a seat air conditioner.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor chip 1, a second semiconductor chip 4, a first lead frame 3 including a first die pad 9 on which the first semiconductor chip 1 is mounted, and a second lead frame 5 including a second die pad 11 on which the second semiconductor chip 4 is mounted. A sealing structure 6 covers the first semiconductor chip 1 and the second semiconductor chip 4. A noise shield 7 is disposed between the first semiconductor chip 1 and the second semiconductor chip 4.

Abstract: A lead frame is provided which can prevent a short circuit between wires and the ends of adjacent leads, the short circuit being caused by wire sweep during the injection of molding resin, in a configuration where the electrodes of a semiconductor chip and the leads disposed around the semiconductor chip. The lead having sides substantially perpendicular to the direction of a resin flow has an end whose upstream side relative to the resin flow is constricted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device in which a plurality of wires are connected to the same electrode on a semiconductor chip, the method making it possible to inhibit an increase in electrode area. First, ball bonding is performed to compressively bond a first ball to an electrode on a semiconductor chip to form a first connection portion. Wedge bonding is then performed on an inner lead. Subsequently, ball bonding is performed to compress a second ball against the first connection portion from immediately above to bond the second ball to form a second connection portion. Wedge bonding is then performed on the inner lead.

Abstract: A method of controlling an initial external temperature display in a vehicle may include comparing an ignition-off time with a first threshold and displaying a current reading from an outside ambient temperature sensor when the ignition-off time equals or exceeds the first threshold. The method further includes comparing at least one secondary condition with at least one secondary parameter when the ignition-off time falls below the first threshold and selecting and displaying a reading based on the comparison of the at least one secondary condition with the at least one secondary parameter. This comparison can include comparing a previous ignition-on time with a second threshold and comparing a sum of the ignition-off time and a stored amount with a third threshold when the previous ignition-on time equals or falls below the second threshold. Alternatively, this comparison can include comparing an engine water temperature with a temperature threshold.