Abstract: A vehicle control system provided with a plurality of sensors for detecting the condition of the vehicle, a vehicle control unit including a multiplexer, a programmable input signal matching module and a processor, and actuators for operating each part of the vehicle. The multiplexer and matching module are selected and switched in accordance with a sensor signal to be inputted. A plurality of sensor signals can be inputted through the switched multiplexer and matching module to the processor. Furthermore, the processor determines controls of vehicle operation on the basis of the inputted sensor signals and controls actuators in accordance with the determined controls.

Abstract: A control device and a control method capable of eliminating a torque variation in changing an air/fuel ratio and establishing a compatibility of promotion in fuel economy with promotion in drivability is provided. The device includes an outer environment detector for detecting an outer environment in running a vehicle, a running environment determining device for predicting a current running environment in accordance with the outer environment, a data storage device for storing data for changing a driving characteristic, a selecting device for selecting the data, a control quantity calculator for calculating a control quantity based on the data, and a control actuator for controlling a control object.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a receiver of the type receiving both a signal subjected to FM (Frequency Modulation) and a signal subjected to orthogonal modulation is capable dealing with the two different kinds of signal by use of a single demodulator. This successfully scales down the circuitry of the receiver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to estimate slopes accurately, as well as to eliminate slope estimation errors, taking error generating conditions into account. The slope on which the vehicle is running is estimated from the vehicle speed and the engine rpm value. The result is entered to the slope estimation unit through a low pass filter, then to the navigation unit. A noise eliminator is provided to the output of the slope estimation unit so that noises can be eliminated, for example, during gear-shifting or for a certain time after the gear shifting is completed by obtaining the "gear shifting" information from the automatic transmission control. The preceding estimated slope value is held during the noise elimination period.

Abstract: A power train controller and control method are provided for a passenger car driven by a combustion engine and an automatic gear changing transmission. Control sensors detect a current operating state of the passenger car. Three different modes of operation, including sports mode, economy mode, and comfortable mode are selected by the driver. Depending on the selected mode, the automobile transmission is controlled in different shifting patterns as a function of the sensed vehicle operating conditions.

Abstract: In an impedance matching circuit used in a transmitter circuit, an occurrence of a reflection wave in an antenna is suppressed.

Abstract: A mobile radio unit having all improved signal processing technique is disclosed. The unit is used in a dual-mode cellular communications system wherein analog and digital channels are used in combination. The mobile radio unit is provided with a front end whereat an incoming radio frequency signal is converted to a corresponding IF. An orthogonal detector is coupled to receive the IF signal and generates in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals. These I and Q signals are respectively digitized by two analog-to-digital (A/D) converters which in turn produce I and Q digital data respectively. A digital signal processor is supplied with the I and Q digital data and demodulates the analog signal using one of the I and Q digital data when the mobile radio unit is using the analog channel while demodulating the digital channel using both the I and Q data when the unit is using the digital channel.

Abstract: A vehicle control unit comprises an interface software memory for storing an interface software program for connecting an application software program with an operating system in an internal ROM, a central processing unit for performing computation of the application software program and the interface result of computation, an I/O unit for extending the control unit, and extending means for communicating memory data through a bus of a LAN. A single-chip micro-computer is used in vehicle control.

Abstract: A power train controller and control method are provided for a passenger car driven by a combustion engine and an automatic gear changing transmission. Control sensors detect a current operating state of the passenger car. Three different modes of operation, including sports mode, economy mode, and comfortable mode are selected by the driver. Depending on the selected mode, the automobile transmission is controlled in different shifting patterns as a function of the sensed vehicle operating conditions.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing method and apparatus with increased recording density of an information recording medium using the sample servo method driven with a fixed angular velocity from the innermost circumference to the outmost circumference. A disk-shaped recording medium is concentrically divided into a plurality of areas. Recording is performed with a recording density suited for the radial position of each of the areas. The width of the areas is set so that the recording capacity of a user data section sandwiched between servo sections forming a segment may increase with every transition to an outer adjacent area while taking one byte as a unit. The recording and reproducing apparatus has a clock generating circuit for servo data extraction and a clock generating circuit for user data extraction. The latter clock generating circuit is synchronized by a synchronizing pulse generated by the former clock generating circuit.

Abstract: A control device and a control method capable of eliminating a torque variation in changing an air/fuel ratio and establishing a compatibility of promotion in fuel economy with promotion in drivability is provided. The device includes an outer environment detector for detecting an outer environment in running a vehicle, a running environment determining device for predicting a current running environment in accordance with the outer environment, a data storage device for storing data for changing a driving characteristic, a selecting device for selecting the data, a control quantity calculator for calculating a control quantity based on the data, and a control actuator for controlling a control object.

Abstract: The distance to a target object is measured by capturing the image in front of the driving vehicle using an image sensor, identifying a target object such as a vehicle ahead to which the distance is to be measured, and projecting a laser beam onto the target object. The distance to the target object is measured by angular surveying, using an image sensor for capturing an image as a laser light detection unit.

Abstract: A control device and a control method capable of eliminating a torque variation in changing an air/fuel ratio and establishing a compatibility of promotion in fuel economy with promotion in drivability is provided. The device includes an outer environment detector for detecting an outer environment in running a vehicle, a running environment determining device for predicting a current running environment in accordance with the outer environment, a data storage device for storing data for changing a driving characteristic, a selecting device for selecting the data, a control quantity calculator for calculating a control quantity based on the data, and a control actuator for controlling a control object.

Abstract: A vehicle control unit comprises an interface software memory for storing an interface software program for connecting an application software program with an operating system in an internal ROM, a central processing unit for performing computation of the application software program and the interface software program, an erasable memory for storing data such as the result of computation, an I/O unit for extending the control unit, and extending means for communicating memory data through a bus or a LAN. A single-chip micro-computer is used in vehicle control.

Abstract: A power train controller and control method are provided for a passenger car driven by a combustion engine and an automatic gear changing transmission. Control sensors detect a current operating state of the passenger car. Three different modes of operation, including sports mode, economy mode, and comfortable mode are selected by the driver. Depending on the selected mode, the automobile transmission is controlled in different shifting patterns as a function of the sensed vehicle operating conditions.

Abstract: An automatic transmission control system for a transmission which is installed in a vehicle and whose torque converter is provided with a lockup mechanism; comprising a vehicle weight estimation device for estimating the weight of the vehicle; a gradient estimation device for estimating a gradient on which the vehicle is running; a standard lockup line selector for storing therein standard lockup lines which correspond respectively to the specified gear shift ratios of a speed change gear included in the transmission, and for selecting that one of the stored standard lockup lines which corresponds to the gear shift ratio in the present state of the vehicle; a lockup line corrector for correcting the selected standard lockup line in accordance with the estimated vehicle weight and the estimated gradient; and a lockup signal output device for deciding a timing of lockup "ON" or lockup "OFF" by the use of the corrected lockup line, and for delivering a lockup signal to the lockup mechanism (a lockup solenoid) at

Abstract: An automatic control system comprises a plurality of control processors which are connected by such transmission devices as LAN, BUS and so on. Control processing load to be executed by each of the control processors are detected and each control processor executes necessary and minimum control tasks corresponding to running state information on an automobile and carries on another control tasks in the remaining time based on the detected load of each control processor so as to smooth loads of the control processors.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing method and apparatus with increased recording density of an information recording medium using the sample servo method driven with a fixed angular velocity from the innermost circumference to the outmost circumference. A disk-shaped recording medium is concentrically divided into a plurality of areas. Recording is performed with a recording density suited for the radial position of each of the areas. The width of the areas is set so that the recording capacity of a user data section sandwiched between servo sections forming a segment may increase with every transition to an outer adjacent area while taking one byte as a unit. The recording and reproducing apparatus has a clock generating circuit for servo data extraction and a clock generating circuit for user data extraction. The latter clock generating circuit is synchronized by a synchronizing pulse generated by the former clock generating circuit.

Abstract: Torque control method and apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. A value of a desired drive shaft torque for the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of at least an accelerator pedal stroke for thereby controlling a drive shaft torque of the motor vehicle so as to assume the desired drive shaft torque value by controlling a gear ratio of a transmission gear coupling an output shaft of the engine to at least a drive shaft of the motor vehicle on the basis of the value of the desired drive shaft torque as determined. A gear ratio of the transmission gear and a flow rate of intake air fed to the engine are determined through different procedures in dependence on whether or not a torque transfer mechanism coupling the output shaft of the engine to an input shaft of the transmission gear is in a lock-up state in which the output shaft and the input shaft are coupled directly without slip.

Abstract: A control unit for vehicle is provided where an increase in a number of input/output and upgrading functions can easily be performed and, in addition to this, changing of a program in a control unit can easily be performed even when a single-chip micro-computer is used. A control unit is constructed such as to comprise an interface software memory storing an interface software program for connecting an application software program with an operating system in an internal ROM, a CPU for performing computation of the application software program and the interface software program, a RAM storing data such as the result of the computation, an I/O unit for extending the control unit, and an extending device for communicating memory data through a bus or a LAN. A single-chip micro-computer used in vehicle control can easily cope with an increase in the input/output ports or additional functions, and an application software program can continuously be used only by rewriting an interface software program.