Abstract: A liquid crystal display unit has a transmissive liquid crystal plate having a number of pixels arranged on a two-dimensional basis, on which an image is formed, and a light source unit emitting beams of light of a plurality of luminescent colors for irradiating said liquid crystal plate from back. An interface circuit receives an image signal representative of a color image to sequentially form on said liquid crystal plate a plurality of separation images in which the color image is separated in association with the plurality of luminescent colors of said light source unit. The interface circuit causes said light source unit to flash with a luminescent color associated with a separation image formed on said liquid crystal plate in synchronism with a sequential formation of the separation images onto said liquid crystal plate. Beams of light emanated from the light source unit and transmitted through the liquid crystal plate reproduce an image.

Abstract: There are provided a radar device that transmits a frequency modulation-continuous wave (FM-CW) and outputs an up-beat frequency and a down-beat frequency, a pairing processing section that conducts pairing of the up-beat frequency and the down-beat frequency at specified sampling intervals, a target-object detecting section that detects target objects around the vehicle, obtaining a distance from the vehicle to the target object and a relative speed between the vehicle and the target object based on the up-beat frequency and down-beat frequency that are paired, and a prediction processing section that obtains a prediction data for each target object for a next sampling timing. The pairing processing section conducts the pairing with priority to a specified target object that has a high certainty of the prediction data. Thereby, the pairing of the up-beat and down-beat frequencies can be conducted precisely and quickly.

Abstract: A radar device is configured to transmit an electric wave and receives a reflected wave that is generated by a reflection of the electric wave on an object, and to recognize the object is a potential obstacle that is to be hit by the vehicle when a received intensity of the reflected wave thereby is a specified threshold or more. And, the specified threshold has a plurality of preset values. Accordingly, a determination as to whether or not the obstacle detected by the radar device is the potential obstacle to be hit by the vehicle can be accurately made.

Abstract: An offset distance of an obstacle from a traveling-path center line of a vehicle at the time the obstacle is detected is calculated, and then this offset distance of the obstacle from the traveling-path center line of the vehicle is corrected based on a turning radius of the traveling vehicle detected at the time a specified period of time has lapsed. Thereby, even in a case where the vehicle travels on a road with a curve that changes a radius of curvature of the traveling-path center line (turning radius of the traveling vehicle) quickly during the specified period of traveling time, the above-described offset distance can be properly corrected based on an updated turning radius of the traveling vehicle. Thus, a relative position of the obstacle with respect to the vehicle can be predicted accurately.

Abstract: A cellular phone is connected to a portable printer which uses an instant print film through connectors, and the printer prints an image according to image data stored in the cellular phone. The cellular phone can display the image to be printed on its LCD. The user can input information for the printing with push buttons of the cellular phone, and display the information on the LCD. Thus, the portable printer does not need an LCD and push buttons, and therefore the printer is small, light and inexpensive.

Abstract: In an obstacle detecting control device installed in a vehicle body and includes a millimeter-wave radar detecting an obstacle in front of the vehicle and an operation control portion controlling a bake device and seatbelt pre-tensioner according to detection results of the obstacle by the radar, there are provided a detection frequency determining portion determining that a detection frequency of obstacle by the radar within a specified period of time exceeds a first frequency, an excessive frequency determining portion determining that a frequency of the above determination by the detection frequency determining portion exceeds a second frequency, and an indication portion and a warning buzzer to warn a passenger of a change of radar axis of the radar when the above determination by the excessive frequency determining portion is made.

Abstract: A millimeter-wave radar (obstacle detecting device) detects an obstacle in front of a traveling vehicle. A driving-state detecting device detects a specified driving state of the vehicle. An operation-timing changing device changes an operation timing of operational devices according to detection results of the driving-state detecting device. A control unit (operation control device) operates the operational devices (warning device, brake device, seatbelt pre-tensioner) at the above operation timing. Thus, the safe and smooth vehicle driving can be attained without an improper detection of the obstacle.

Abstract: To reduce a calculation load upon banding reproduction, a printer driver transfers draw information sent from a GDI to a draw discriminating unit. The draw discriminating unit confirms that a filtering process which needs various background colors such as ROM process or ? blending process is not included for the drawing images constructing an intermediate language. The printer driver transfers the draw information included in an area of one page to a drawing unit. The drawing unit issues a physical color converting request of color information included in the drawing image to a color converting unit. In response to the physical color converting request of the color information included in the drawing image issued from the drawing unit, the color converting unit transfers information of only a physical color component which is at present being processed from the color information included in the drawing image to the drawing unit.

Abstract: An audio apparatus (audio system) made up of the car-mounted audio apparatus 100 and portable audio apparatuses 200a and 200b transmits/receives contents data such as music via radio communication. As the communication system in this in-car radio communication, a short-distance data communication system is used, which allows respective apparatuses to recognize and authenticate with one another and perform data communication between those apparatuses.

Abstract: A vehicle on-board article theft warning system includes detection means for detecting on-board article-specific ID information transmitted from IC chips attached to on-board articles, ID information storing means for storing as initial ID information the article-specific ID information detected by the detection means when a theft detection mode is activated, discrimination means responsive to activation of the theft detection mode for comparing detected ID information consisting of on-board article-specific ID information detected by the detection means with the initial ID information and discriminating whether or not there exists missing ID information defined as ID information contained in the initial ID information but not contained in the detected ID information, and warning means responsive to a discrimination that missing ID information exists for determining that theft of an article corresponding to the missing ID information occurred and issuing a prescribed warning.

Abstract: Upon providing information from an information center (1) to the user of a navigation apparatus (2) connected via a wireless/wired communication line, the user sets a category used to specify contents that he or she wants to receive, and a service timing of the contents to the user of the navigation apparatus (2) in advance. The information center (1) provides contents, which are extracted from many unspecified contents provided from a contents service center (6) and satisfy the category, to the navigation apparatus (2). The navigation apparatus (2) provides the acquired contents to the user in accordance with the service timing.

Abstract: A cellular phone has a black-and-white LCD that displays characters and communication information and a color LCD that displays an image. The image and the characters are displayed on the separate LCDs. Thus, the characters are not superimposed on the image, and they are easy to see. When the image is not needed (the user is not using the phone or the user is talking on the phone), only the black-and-white LCD displays the characters and the color LCD is turned off to save energy.

Abstract: An audio apparatus for a vehicle made up of a car-mounted audio apparatus 100 and portable audio apparatuses 200a and 200b transmits/receives contents data such as music via radio communication. As a communication system for this in-car radio communication, a short-distance data communication system is used, which allows the apparatuses to recognize and authenticate one another and perform data communication with one another in the vehicle. Received music data is reproduced/output in real time.

Abstract: A server for changing control gains of a vehicle is disclosed. The server includes a first receiver for receiving environment data obtained by vehicles of a plurality of users running in specific areas, and a second receiver for receiving learned data obtained by a plurality of users operating vehicles, and a storage device for accumulating the environment data and the learned data. The server further includes a transmitter for fetching environment data and learned data necessary to produce control gains from among the accumulated environment data and the learned data and transmitting the fetched environment data and learned data to a user requesting the environment data and the learned data. In a vehicle of the user, the control gains are newly produced and previously produced control gains are changed to the newly produced ones.

Abstract: A route guidance apparatus for guiding a vehicle to a set destination is provided. The apparatus includes a guide vehicle display device that displays a virtual guide vehicle running ahead of the vehicle to guide the vehicle to the destination superimposed on an actual landscape being viewed by a driver of the vehicle and a display modification device that modifies a display position and/or a display mode of the virtual guide vehicle based on a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A cellular phone has a black-and-white LCD that displays characters and communication information and a color LCD that displays an image. The image and the characters are displayed on the separate LCDs. Thus, the characters are not superimposed on the image, and they are easy to see. When the image is not needed (the user is not using the phone or the user is talking on the phone), only the black-and-white LCD displays the characters and the color LCD is turned off to save energy.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display unit has a transmissive liquid crystal plate having a number of pixels arranged on a two-dimensional basis, on which an image is formed, and a light source unit emitting beams of light of a plurality of luminescent colors for irradiating said liquid crystal plate from back. An interface circuit receives an image signal representative of a color image to sequentially form on said liquid crystal plate a plurality of separation images in which the color image is separated in association with the plurality of luminescent colors of said light source unit. The interface circuit causes said light source unit to flash with a luminescent color associated with a separation image formed on said liquid crystal plate in synchronism with a sequential formation of the separation images onto said liquid crystal plate. Beams of light emanated from the light source unit and transmitted through the liquid crystal plate reproduce an image.

Abstract: A map and other information distribution system for distributing map information and information other than map information is disclosed. The map and other information distribution system comprises an information center including a database storing map information and information other than map information, and a transmitter for transmitting at least said map information under a fee-based navigation contract concluded beforehand, and a mobile navigation system including a location detector for detecting the present location of a mobile unit, a receiver for receiving at least the map information from the information center under the fee-based navigation contract concluded beforehand, and a controller for displaying the map information around the present location of the mobile unit on a display device.

Abstract: Printed boards 31 and 38 are disposed in two layers inside a casing 1, and a selector cursor key and fixer keypad 21 is provided on the cover 2. Selector cursor key switches 34 are provided on the first printed board 31 on the keypad 21 side while a fixer key switch 39 is provided on the second printed board 38. A protrusion portion 21a of the keypad 21 is made to penetrate a through hole 33 of the first printed board 31 so as to face the fixer key switch 39. The selector cursor key switches 34 and the fixer key switch 39 are arranged adjacently to each other in planar view so as to be able to be pushed and operated through one selector cursor key and fixer keypad 21.

Abstract: A server for remote vehicle troubleshooting from a remote location includes a troubleshooting program transmitter for transmitting to a vehicle a troubleshooting program for performing vehicle troubleshooting at the vehicle side upon receiving a request from an owner of the vehicle or at a predetermined time, a vehicle inspection result receiver for receiving from the vehicle inspection results regarding the vehicle obtained by executing the vehicle inspection program, and a trouble determining device for determining troubles particulars by analyzing the inspection results, and a trouble particular transmitter for transmitting the trouble particulars to the vehicle. The server enables vehicle troubleshooting and inspection to be performed simply without the need for the vehicle owner to visit a dealer and/or auto service shop.