Abstract: A method of monitoring the condition of a steering system comprises the steps of repeatedly measuring the angular position of a steering wheel, identifying from the measurements of steering wheel position a first moment in time at which the steering wheel comes to rest in an off center position following movement in a first direction away from a straight ahead position, measuring the torque applied to the steering system at that first moment in time, identifying from the measurements of steering wheel position a second moment in time at which the steering wheel first starts to moves away from the off center position in the opposite direction to the first direction, measuring the torque applied to the steering system at that second moment in time, calculating the difference between the measured torques at the first moment of time and second moment of time to provide a static friction value and comparing the calculated static friction value with a target static friction value to provide an indication of the con

Abstract: A method of processing signals in a rotary encoder of the kind which comprises at least one annular track of encoding regions arranged as an alternating pattern of first encoding regions and second encoding regions. The encoder including first and second detectors, each of which is arranged to produce a first alternating output signal as the track of encoding regions rotates about its axis past the detector. The detector identifying a usable pair of transitions and a rejectable pair of transitions and utilizing the pairs of transitions to produce a compensated position measurement for the rotary encoder.

Abstract: A collision warning apparatus for a host vehicle which has stopped along a lane of a highway, comprises at least one sensor associated with the host vehicle which generates a data stream in response to radiation received from a scene rearwards of the host vehicle, a memory in which the apparatus stores a reference target data set dependent upon movement of a first vehicle within the scene in a first period of time; and processing circuitry arranged to: identify a second target vehicle moving in the scene during a second period of time subsequent to the first period of time from the data stream and to output at least target data for the identified vehicle; and process the reference target data set with the target data or data derived therefrom, to determine whether there is a risk of collision between the second target vehicle and the host vehicle.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the condition of a steering system comprises the steps of repeatedly measuring the angular position of a steering wheel, identifying from the measurements of steering wheel position a first moment in time at which the steering wheel comes to rest in an off centre position following movement in a first direction away from a straight ahead position, measuring the torque applied to the steering system at that first moment in time, identifying from the measurements of steering wheel position a second moment in time at which the steering wheel first starts to moves away from the off centre position in the opposite direction to the first direction, measuring the torque applied to the steering system at that second moment in time, calculating the difference between the measured torques at the first moment of time and second moment of time to provide a static friction value and comparing the calculated static friction value with a target static friction value to provide an indication of the con

Abstract: A method of processing signals in a rotary encoder of the kind which comprises at least one annular track of encoding regions arranged as an alternating pattern of first encoding regions and second encoding regions, comprises providing a first detector at a first fixed position which is arranged to produce a first alternating output signal as the track of encoding regions rotates about its axis past the detector, the alternating signal comprising a series of transitions between a first state corresponding to the detector being aligned with a first encoding region and a second state corresponding to the detector being aligned with second encoding region; providing a second detector at a second fixed position which is arranged to produce a first alternating output signal as the track of encoding regions rotates about its axis past the detector, the alternating signal comprising a series of transitions between a first state corresponding to the detector being aligned with a first encoding region and a second st

Abstract: A method of monitoring traffic on a road comprising capturing a plurality of images of the road using a camera mounted on a viewing point and associating a time of capture with each image, determining, from the captured images, the positions of the portions of the road surface visible from the viewpoint at the front and rear extremities of the extent of a vehicle in the captured images at two different times; and determining from the positions and the times of the instants at least one characteristic of the vehicle or its motion, such as the vehicle length, speed or a vehicle classification (truck, car, motorcycle, etc).