Abstract: [Object] To provide a device assisting a user to easily generate, in relation to an issue of interest to the user, a question sentence guaranteed to have an answer of a certain accuracy or higher in a question-answering system. [Solution] A question sentence generating device is used with a question-answering system, and it includes: word receiving means for receiving a word 480 as a source for generating a question sentence; and question sentence generating database 502 comprised of a plurality of entries for generating a question sentence. Each of the plurality of entries has a word as a key and includes an answer sentence pattern co-occurring with the word, used in the question-answering system.

Abstract: An array antenna device, including: a waveguide (1) having a plurality of radiation units (2) arranged on one tube wall thereof, in which the waveguide (1) has a plurality of grooves (3) arranged on an inner side of a tube wall facing the tube wall, movable short-circuit surfaces (4) each electrically short-circuited to an inner wall of one of the grooves (3), and movable short-circuit surface controlling mechanisms (5) for changing positions of the movable short-circuit surfaces (4).

Abstract: A connector includes a terminal, and a housing having a housing chamber for housing the terminal. The terminal includes a wire connection portion and an electric contact portion. An axial direction of the electric contact portion is a front-back direction crossing a vertical direction along which the wire connection portion and the electric contact portion are arranged in a row. The electric contact portion is formed in a tubular shape with a first wall portion continuing to the wire connection portion, a second wall portion facing the first wall portion, a third wall portion interposed between the first and second wall portions, and a fourth wall portion in the wire connection side and facing the third wall portion. The housing includes a locking arm. A claw portion of the locking arm catches a border portion between the second the fourth wall portions.

Abstract: A school-travel assistance system includes automobiles. The automobiles include communication modules configured to communicate with each other, and are configured to perform auto-driving. At least one of the automobiles includes a camera configured to detect the group of children. The automobiles perform assistance control (first and second assistance controls) in which they cooperatively assist movement of the group of children, while communicating with each other through the communication modules. The assistance control is control of assisting the movement of the group of children by the automobile traveling in front of the group of children and the automobile traveling behind the group of children.

Abstract: An air cleaner for a fuel cell vehicle includes: a case having an inlet and an outlet; and a filter element fixed to the case, the filter element being configured to section the case into an inlet side and an outlet side and filter air flowing from the inlet side to the outlet side. A locking projection projecting toward the inside of the case is provided on the inlet side in the case. A first prefilter, a second prefilter, and a chemical filter are sandwiched between the locking projection and the filter element in the order of the first prefilter, the chemical filter, and the second prefilter from the upstream side as the inlet side of the filter element inside the case toward the downstream side as the outlet side of the filter element inside the case.

Abstract: A vehicle dispatch system includes: a plurality of vehicles each configured to perform automated driving and each including a wireless LAN module; and a server configured to communicate with the plurality of vehicles. The wireless LAN module is configured to connect to a user's portable terminal and an access point of a wireless LAN communication network, and is configured to relay wireless communication between the portable terminal and the wireless LAN communication network. The server is configured to output, to a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, an instruction for dispatching the vehicle by automated driving, in accordance with a vehicle dispatch request from the portable terminal. The vehicle, in response to the instruction, is configured to relay wireless communication between the portable terminal and the wireless LAN communication network by using the wireless LAN module.

Abstract: A vehicle dispatch method is a method for dispatching vehicles by a server, each of the vehicles being configured to perform automated driving. The vehicle dispatch method includes first to fifth steps. The first step is a step of dispatching, the vehicle to a current location of a user. The second step is a step of dispatching, the vehicle with no driver on board to a destination of the user using positional information of the destination. The third step is a step of, when the vehicle arrives at the destination, parking the vehicle at a parking space. The fourth step is a step of, when it is detected that the vehicle with the user on board approaches the parking space, moving the vehicle from the parking space. The fifth step is a step of parking the vehicle at the parking space where the vehicle has been parked.

Abstract: A traveling assisting method for an ambulance vehicle includes the first to third steps. The first step is the step of causing a server to acquire an expected arrival time at which an ambulance vehicle arrives at a traffic intersection that is located on an expected traveling route of the ambulance vehicle. The second step is the step of causing the server to acquire an expected arrival time at which a vehicle arrives at the traffic intersection, when the vehicle is located in surroundings of the expected traveling route. The third step is the step of causing the server to transmit a restraint instruction to the vehicle to travel toward the traffic intersection and to restrain entry of a vehicle other than the ambulance vehicle into the traffic intersection.

Abstract: If a vehicle with a user on board becomes undrivable due to insufficient power, a server uses first information, second information, and third information to set a vehicle-switching location between a current location of the vehicle and a destination, and dispatches a vehicle to the vehicle-switching location. When the vehicle joins the vehicle at the vehicle-switching location, the vehicle travels toward the destination with the user on board. After the user gets off the vehicle, the vehicle travels by self-driving toward a charging station. The first information is positional information of the charging station. The second information is information on a self-driving route of the vehicle from the vehicle-switching location to the charging station. The third information is information indicating reliability about whether or not the vehicle can arrive at the charging station by self-driving.

Abstract: A school-travel assistance system includes automobiles. The automobiles include communication modules configured to communicate with each other, and are configured to perform auto-driving. At least one of the automobiles includes a camera configured to detect the group of children. The automobiles perform assistance control (first and second assistance controls) in which they cooperatively assist movement of the group of children, while communicating with each other through the communication modules. The assistance control is control of assisting the movement of the group of children by the automobile traveling in front of the group of children and the automobile traveling behind the group of children.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus selects one of a power-on control and a power-off control for execution of a shift-down action in a transmission of a vehicle, and implements the selected power-on or power-off control. When a running speed of the vehicle is not lower than a predetermined value, the control apparatus selects one of the power-on control and the power-off control, based on a target input torque that is to be inputted to the transmission. When the vehicle running speed is lower than the predetermined value, the control apparatus selects one of the power-on control and the power-off control, based on an actual input torque that is actually inputted to the transmission.

Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for a vehicle that includes (i) an engine serving as a drive power source, (ii) a motor/generator serving as the drive power source and (iii) a mechanically-operated transmission mechanism that constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the drive power source and drive wheels of the vehicle. The control apparatus includes a shift control portion is configured, when an input torque inputted to the mechanically-operated transmission mechanism is to be controlled in process of a coasting shift-down action executed in the mechanically-operated transmission mechanism, to determine an upper limit value of the input torque inputted to the mechanically-operated transmission mechanism in the process of the coasting shift-down action, such that the determined upper limit value is lower during operation of the engine than during stop of the engine.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a shift control portion is configured, when determining that a shift-down action to establish one of gear positions in a transmission mechanism by release of an engagement device and engagement of a one-way clutch, is to be executed during decelerating run of the vehicle, to initiate execution of the shift-down action to establish the one of the of gear positions after an input torque inputted to the transmission mechanism becomes not lower than a predetermined negative value. The predetermined negative value is a predetermined minimum value that becomes not lower than a certain value at a point of time at which the release of the engagement device is completed in process of the shift-down action. The certain value is a value of the input torque enabling the one-way clutch to be automatically engaged.

Abstract: A vehicle roof mounted system includes a stereo camera, a display, and a controller. The stereo camera is provided in a vehicle and captures an image including the face of a driver P1 seated in a driver's seat of the vehicle. The display is provided on a roof panel of the vehicle and is located on a front side of the vehicle in a front-rear direction between an auxiliary seat provided on the side of the driver's seat in a vehicle width direction and the driver's seat. Then, the display displays an image captured by the stereo camera such that the image is visually recognizable from a rear seat provided on a rear side of the vehicle in the front-rear direction and the driver's seat. The controller controls the display.

Abstract: A ground conductor (1) having slots (2a to 2g) for radiating electromagnetic waves, a ground conductor (3) in which cavities (4) recessed in a direction away from the ground conductor (1) is formed in positions opposite to the slots (2a to 2g) of the grounding conductor (1), and central conductors (5a, 5b, 6a to 6c, 7a, and 7b) arranged in positions overlapping with the slots (2a to 2g), respectively, between the ground conductor (1) and the ground conductor (3) are provided. The central conductors (5a, 5b, 6a to 6c, 7a, and 7b) are arranged such that the ground conductor (1) is closer to them than the ground conductor (3).

Abstract: A connector includes a terminal, and a housing having a housing chamber for housing the terminal. The terminal includes a wire connection portion and an electric contact portion. An axial direction of the electric contact portion is a front-back direction crossing a vertical direction along which the wire connection portion and the electric contact portion are arranged in a row. The electric contact portion is formed in a tubular shape with a first wall portion continuing to the wire connection portion, a second wall portion facing the first wall portion, a third wall portion interposed between the first and second wall portions, and a fourth wall portion in the wire connection side and facing the third wall portion. The housing includes a locking arm. A claw portion of the locking arm catches a border portion between the second the fourth wall portions.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes: a monitoring device that outputs a warning when detecting abnormality of a monitoring target person in an interior of a vehicle; a housing arranged on a surface on the interior side of a roof of the vehicle; and a release operation unit arranged being exposed to an outer face of the housing, the release operation unit being able to receive an input of a warning release operation. The monitoring device, in a state of outputting the warning, releases the warning when the warning release operation is input to the release operation unit. As a result, the monitoring system can appropriately monitor the monitoring target person in the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A liquid cooling device that is capable of efficiently cooling a liquid in the inside of a liquid holding container, and a beverage forming device including the liquid cooling device are provided. The liquid cooling device includes the liquid holding container that has an open portion; a container mounting part on which the liquid holding container is to be mounted; an air passage; and an airflow generating unit. The air passage is located directly above the open portion (4b), and at least a part of an outer periphery of the air passage extends along a peripheral edge of the open portion (4b). The airflow generating unit generates, within the air passage, an airflow flowing along the air passage. A hole portion (33) that communicates with the open portion (4b) is provided in a lower surface of the air passage.

Abstract: A control apparatus (80) for a vehicular drive system (12; 105) having a step-variable transmission portion (20; 110) which is shifted to a selected one of speed positions having respective speed ratio values, with engaging and releasing actions of coupling devices (B, C), and a drive power source portion (39; 103) operatively connected to an input shaft (30) of the step-variable transmission portion, the control apparatus being configured to implement a speed synchronizing control upon a shift-down action of the step-variable transmission portion in a coasting run of a vehicle (10; 100), wherein an input shaft speed of the step-variable transmission portion is raised with an input shaft torque transmitted from the drive power source portion to the input shaft, from a pre-shift-down synchronizing speed to a post-shift-down synchronizing speed.

Abstract: An in-vehicle equipment control system includes a ceiling side controller installed in a ceiling of a vehicle and configured to control equipment installed at least in the ceiling; and a vehicle internal communication device configured to enable the ceiling side controller and a lower side controller to transmit and receive information signals to and from each other, the lower side controller having been installed in a part lower than the ceiling. The ceiling side controller is capable of receiving ceiling side detection signals regarding pieces of ceiling side detection information detected by at least one ceiling side detection device in the ceiling, as ceiling side information signals regarding pieces of ceiling side information, from the at least one ceiling side detection device.