Abstract: A drive assist apparatus includes a position acquisition unit that acquires a position of an own vehicle, a position of a tollgate present ahead of the position of the own vehicle, and a position of a target lane in a road present ahead of the tollgate, a scheduled traveling route creation unit that creates a scheduled traveling route from the position of the own vehicle to the position of the target lane through the position of the tollgate, and a travel control unit that controls the own vehicle so as to travel along the scheduled traveling route.

Abstract: A drive assist apparatus includes a position acquisition unit that acquires a position of an own vehicle, a position of a tollgate present ahead of the position of the own vehicle, and a position of a target lane in a road present ahead of the tollgate, a scheduled traveling route creation unit that creates a scheduled traveling route from the position of the own vehicle to the position of the target lane through the position of the tollgate, and a travel control unit that controls the own vehicle so as to travel along the scheduled traveling route.

Abstract: A recognition support system includes: an object detection device detecting an object that is located in a periphery of a host vehicle; a direction sensing device sensing a direction to which a driver intends to turn the host vehicle; a range setting device setting a notification range based on the direction sensed by the direction sensing device; a selecting device defining the object, which is detected by the object detecting device, as a specified object when the object moves independently from the host vehicle, and selecting the specified object, which is located within the notification range, to be presented to the driver based on a state of the specified object; and an information presenting device presenting an information enabling the driver to recognize the specified object selected by the selecting device.

Abstract: A collision mitigation apparatus is mounted to an own vehicle and mitigates a collision between the own vehicle and an obstacle. The collision mitigation apparatus acquires information indicating that the own vehicle will make a right turn or a left turn at an intersection. When the information indicating that the own vehicle will make the right turn or the left turn at the intersection is acquired, the collision mitigation apparatus sets a target area on a predicted route of the own vehicle at the intersection. The collision mitigation apparatus determines whether or not an obstacle that becomes an obstacle for travelling of the own vehicle is present in or is entering the target area. When the obstacle is present in or is entering the target area, the collision mitigation apparatus performs output to mitigate a collision between the own vehicle and the obstacle.

Abstract: A recognition support system includes: an object detection device detecting an object that is located in a periphery of a host vehicle; a direction sensing device sensing a direction to which a driver intends to turn the host vehicle; a range setting device setting a notification range based on the direction sensed by the direction sensing device; a selecting device defining the object, which is detected by the object detecting device, as a specified object when the object moves independently from the host vehicle, and selecting the specified object, which is located within the notification range, to be presented to the driver based on a state of the specified object; and an information presenting device presenting an information enabling the driver to recognize the specified object selected by the selecting device.

Abstract: A collision mitigation apparatus is mounted to an own vehicle and mitigates a collision between the own vehicle and an obstacle. The collision mitigation apparatus acquires information indicating that the own vehicle will make a right turn or a left turn at an intersection. When the information indicating that the own vehicle will make the right turn or the left turn at the intersection is acquired, the collision mitigation apparatus sets a target area on a predicted route of the own vehicle at the intersection. The collision mitigation apparatus determines whether or not an obstacle that becomes an obstacle for travelling of the own vehicle is present in or is entering the target area. When the obstacle is present in or is entering the target area, the collision mitigation apparatus performs output to mitigate a collision between the own vehicle and the obstacle.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell having laminated cells; a measuring unit that measures an impedance of the cell and a purging unit that performs purging to discharge residual water from a gas passage. The cell includes a wet region and a dry region which are set depending on a distribution of water in the cell when the purging is executed so as to set a total amount of water in the fuel cell to be a necessary amount of water to start up the fuel cell; the measuring unit measures the impedance at a local portion located at a boundary portion between the wet region and the dry region in the cell; and the purging unit terminates the purging when the impedance measured by the measuring means is larger than a predetermined reference threshold value.

Abstract: In an apparatus, a first unit obtains a picked-up image in a travelling direction of a vehicle, and a second unit determines whether or not a driver of the vehicle is about to perform in parking of the vehicle or is performing parking of the vehicle. A third unit estimates, based on the obtained picked-up image, a target parking area of the vehicle when it is deter mined that the driver of the vehicle is about to perfoim parking of the vehicle or is perfoi ming parking of the vehicle. A fourth unit sets, based a position of the estimated target parking area relative to the vehicle, a display mode for the obtained picked-up image. A fifth unit generates, based on the picked-up image and the display mode for the picked-up image, an image to be displayed on the display device.

Abstract: An axial direction control device obtains information regarding a road gradient in front of a road on which a motor vehicle drives. The axial direction control device adjusts an optical axis of headlamps and an image acquiring axis of an in-vehicle camera to an optimum direction on the basis of the acquired information before the motor vehicle has reached a road gradient change point. The road gradient is changed at the road gradient change point. Because the axial direction control device quickly changes the axial direction of each of the headlamps and the camera to an optimum direction before the road gradient is changed, driver safety and comfort is enhanced.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured for setting an assistance region for assisting a driver's recognition of a circumstance around a vehicle. The assistance region is indicative of at least one of: an imaging region of a device for picking up an image of the imaging region, and a particular image-processing region in the picked-up image. In the apparatus, a first unit estimates, based on a travelling condition of the vehicle, a turning parameter indicative of how the vehicle is turning or is about to turn. The turning parameter includes a turning course of the vehicle. A second unit sets the assistance region to an outside of the turning course of the vehicle.

Abstract: A fuel cell system, control method and current measuring device for a power unit are disclosed. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having local areas, a current measuring device associated with at least one of the local areas to measure localized current related to a specified operating characteristic, and a control section for diagnosing an operating condition of the fuel cell in response to localized current to enable optimum control of the fuel cell depending upon a specified operating characteristic determined by localized current. The control method controls the operating condition of the fuel cell in response to localized current indicative of the specified operating characteristic of the fuel cell. The current measuring device includes an electrical conductor formed with a recessed portion, a localized current conductor received in the recessed portion, and a current sensor for detecting current flowing across the localized current conductor.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system utilizing fuel cells which generate electric power by a reaction between oxygen and hydrogen, the moisture content within a fuel cell is adjusted to be brought within an appropriate range by adjusting the operating current of the fuel cell. The total amount of electric power generated by the system is maintained at a required value by supplying/obtaining electric power to/from a secondary battery as required, or by utilizing a plurality of separately controlled fuel cells (or fuel cell stacks) and increasing or decreasing the electric power generated by another fuel cell or stack that is currently operating with an appropriate moisture content.

Abstract: A plurality of individual fuel cells are connected in series with each other to construct the fuel cell. The fuel cell is diagnosed on the basis of an average output voltage Va of the individual cells, their standard deviation ?, individual output voltages, their variances ?2 of vibration components and their voltage drop speed of their non-vibration components. For example, if Va is within a normal range and moreover at least one of the individual output voltages is not within a normal range, it is diagnosed that water blocks the fuel electrode. If Va is not within a normal range and moreover ? is within a normal range, it is diagnosed that the electrolyte film is dried. Further, if Va is not within a normal range and moreover ? is not within a normal range, it is diagnosed that the fuel (hydrogen) supply is insufficient.

Abstract: A fuel cell system equipped with a fuel cell that generates electrical power in electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. The system has the improved cold starting capability that increases heat energy generated in the fuel cell in order to rise the temperature of the fuel cell rapidly in a cold temperature environment. The system has an inverter having plural switching elements connected in series and a control section for controlling ON/OFF operation of the plural switching elements. The control section controls the amount of current output from the fuel cell by performing the ON/OFF control of the switching elements. On commencing the cold starting process of the fuel cell, the control means changes the current path in a drive motor by performing the ON/OFF control of the switching elements, in which both the inverter and the drive motor are used as a variable resistance to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell system, control method and current measuring device for a power unit are disclosed. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having local areas, a current measuring device associated with at least one of the local areas to measure localized current related to a specified operating characteristic, and a control section for diagnosing an operating condition of the fuel cell in response to localized current to enable optimum control of the fuel cell depending upon a specified operating characteristic determined by localized current. The control method controls the operating condition of the fuel cell in response to localized current indicative of the specified operating characteristic of the fuel cell. The current measuring device includes an electrical conductor formed with a recessed portion, a localized current conductor received in the recessed portion, and a current sensor for detecting current flowing across the localized current conductor.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system utilizing fuel cells which generate electric power by a reaction between oxygen and hydrogen, the moisture content within a fuel cell is adjusted to be brought within an appropriate range by adjusting the operating current of the fuel cell. The total amount of electric power generated by the system is maintained at a required value by supplying/obtaining electric power to/from a secondary battery as required, or by utilizing a plurality of separately controlled fuel cells (or fuel cell stacks) and increasing or decreasing the electric power generated by another fuel cell or stack that is currently operating with an appropriate moisture content.

Abstract: A plurality of individual fuel cells are connected in series with each other to construct the fuel cell. The fuel cell is diagnosed on the basis of an average output voltage Va of the individual cells, their standard deviation &sgr;, individual output voltages, their variances &sgr;2 of vibration components and their voltage drop speed of their non-vibration components. For example, if Va is within a normal range and moreover at least one of the individual output voltages is not within a normal range, it is diagnosed that water blocks the fuel electrode. If Va is not within a normal range and moreover a is within a normal range, it is diagnosed that the electrolyte film is dried. Further, if Va is not within a normal range and moreover &sgr; is not within a normal range, it is diagnosed that the fuel (hydrogen) supply is insufficient.