Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus for magnetically recording information to and/or reproducing information from a recording medium, the magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus having an electrically grounded tape cassette loading/ejecting mechanism, the tape cassette loading/ejecting mechanism including a chassis adapted to be electrically grounded, a cassette holder for loading a tape cassette into and/or ejecting a tape cassette from the apparatus, a slider cam assembly mounted on the chassis and mechanically coupled to the cassette holder for moving the cassette holder to and from a predetermined loading position inside the apparatus, and a static electric charge removal mechanism electrically connected to the cassette holder for removing a static electric charge from the cassette holder.

Abstract: A magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus has a tape loading mechanism which performs a tape loading operation by moving a post from an original position to a loading position so as to extract a magnetic tape from a loaded cassette and a tape unloading operation to return the magnetic tape to within the cassette, the tape loading mechanism comprising a spring member, the spring member being disposed so as to deform during the tape unloading operation, the tape unloading operation terminating after the spring member deforms, the deformed spring member urging the post to return to the original position. The tape unloading operation terminates after the cam plate returns to an original position and the drive cam plate moves relative to the cam plate while the spring member deforms. Hence, the post is urged by the spring and securely returns to its original position.

Abstract: An agent apparatus increases security, and can make responses suited to individuals, thereby increasing convenience. The agent apparatus comprises an individual recognition unit which recognizes individuals who use a vehicle; a memory unit which stores agent data corresponding to each individual recognized by the individual recognition unit; a selection unit which selects agent data corresponding to a specific individuals recognized by the individual recognition unit from the agent data stored in the memory unit; and a response unit which responds to the individual based on the agent data selected by the selection unit.

Abstract: In an automatic drive control system in a road environment in which an infrastructure has been constructed so as to automatically steer a vehicle, the automatic steering of the vehicle is performed irrespective of lane markers attached on the road surface. A running command and a running course are determined on the basis of an obstacle detection signal, a vehicle position signal, road data, and traffic information signal for automatic driving. A target running locus is obtained on the basis of the set running course. The vehicle is automatically steered so as to trace and run along the obtained running target locus.

Abstract: The invention includes an annular exciting coil 10, a main yoke 12 surrounding a periphery of the exciting coil and having polar teeth 12a and 12b disposed to face each other on opposite end sides of a central hole 11 of the exciting coil, and a cylindrical permanent magnet 13 disposed in the central hole of the exciting coil to be movable in an axial direction of the hole and polarized in a radial direction.

Abstract: A thrust producer of a moving-magnet type includes a rod supported for upward and downward movements by an apparatus main body through an air hydrostatic bearing and a thrust producer for moving the rod up and down, the thrust producer has a magnet mounted to the rod to be displaced with the rod and a coil provided to the apparatus main body to generate magnetic force when the coil is energized, and the thrust producer produces thrust by an interaction of the magnet and the magnetic force generated by the coil.

Abstract: In an automatic drive control system in a road environment in which an infrastructure has been constructed so as to automatically steer a vehicle, the automatic steering of the vehicle is performed irrespective of lane markers attached on the road surface. A running command and a running course are determined on the basis of an obstacle detection signal, a vehicle position signal, road data, and traffic information signal for automatic driving. A target running locus is obtained on the basis of the set running course. The vehicle is automatically steered so as to trace and run along the obtained running target locus.

Abstract: Selling prices of commodities in a virtual shop on the Internet are automatically managed in accordance with price variation factors such as the number of goods in stock to perform a proper price setting. When an order of a commodity is accepted, a Web server computer (16) renews an inventory DB (32), refers to a table (34) in which the number of pieces of the commodity and the price variation are associated with each other, calculates the selling price corresponding to the number of pieces of the commodity, and renews a selling price DB (31). The new selling price is reflected to the selling price information displayed in the virtual shop.

Abstract: A stock number situation based on the stock number of articles owned by a retail shop 20 and the stock number of articles owned by a wholesale house is set, and information corresponding to the order content and the stock number situation is displayed on a terminal 11 of an order source 10. The article allocation processing to the order accepted is carried out by investigating the stock number of articles owned by the retail shop and allocating the articles in stock if it is possible to allocate the articles in stock, or requesting the allocation to the wholesale house if it is impossible to allocate the articles in stock. Accordingly, the stock risk of the retail shop can be reduced, and the loss of sale opportunities due to out of stock can be reduced.

Abstract: The automatic following travel system of the present invention allows processional travel with a leading vehicle and a plurality of succeeding vehicles automatically following the leading vehicle, wherein Each of the vehicles comprises: a vehicle-to-vehicle communicator for communicating with the other vehicles; and a self position detector for detecting the position of the vehicle in which it is mounted, in the self coordinate system which is stored in the vehicle.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting the position of a moving body in which the position of a moving body such as a vehicle can be detected with a high degree of precision. It is possible to perform at least data communication using radio waves between radio base stations and a vehicle capable of movement. Precise positions are stored in advance in the radio base stations and radio wave clocks that keep a common time are provided in the radio base stations. The radio base stations transmit radio waves containing this time information. The vehicle receives these radio waves and determines the difference between the received time information and a clock provided in the vehicle in order to detect the current position of the vehicle by calculating the distances between the vehicle and each of the radio base stations.

Abstract: The vehicle monitoring system comprises: an on-vehicle unit provided in a vehicle, the on-vehicle unit comprising: a vehicle condition monitor for monitoring a condition of the vehicle and outputting vehicle condition data; and an on-vehicle communicator for sending the vehicle condition data output from the vehicle condition monitor; a data server for communicating with the on-vehicle unit, the data server comprising a server communicator for receiving the vehicle condition data sent from the on-vehicle communicator; a storage section for storing the vehicle condition data; and an abnormality determining section for determining whether an abnormality has occurred in the vehicle, based on the vehicle condition data stored in the storage section, and for outputting an abnormality informing signal when the abnormality has occurred in the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dangerous area alarm system. This system comprises a detection device which is provided in a vehicle and detects conditions of the vehicle to output vehicle data; a communication device which is provided in the vehicle and transmits the vehicle data output by the detection device; a server which is provided outside the vehicle and stores accident data regarding the conditions of vehicles involved in past accidents; a comparison device which is provided in the server and compares the vehicle data transmitted by the communication device with the accident data stored in the server; and an alarm device which issues an alarm to a driver of the vehicle when the comparison device determines that the vehicle data corresponds to the accident data.

Abstract: An automatic following travel system initiates travel in file of a group of vehicles on an inclined path while maintaining a constant distance between the vehicles. During the initiation of travel in file, a travel ECU in a leading vehicle sends a directive indicating that travel in file is to be conducted to the following vehicles. Based on this directive from the leading vehicle, the travel ECUs of each of the following vehicles makes a determination as to the possibility of travel of their own vehicle, and control the movement of their own vehicle so that an approximately constant distance is maintained between their own vehicle and another vehicle positioned in front, thereof. The results of the determination of the possibility of movement are communicated to the leading vehicle. The travel ECU of the leading vehicle sends a directive indicating the release of the parking lock to the following vehicles when determinations that travel is possible have been sent from all following vehicles.

Abstract: A steering control device in which a level of a magnetic signal given by each magnetic nail buried in a road at intervals is detected by magnetism detecting means, an operation of a steering of a vehicle is controlled in accordance with the detected magnetic signal level, and an operation of the steering is controlled in accordance with a vehicle position and attitude angle of the vehicle detected by a vehicle position and attitude angle detecting means when any magnetic signal level is not detected by the magnetism detecting means.

Abstract: To provide an inter-vehicular communication method which enables a plurality of vehicles to efficiently exchange information. A plurality of vehicles are assigned identification numbers (IDs) and perform transmission of information in order, on the basis of their identification numbers. A time which is allocated so that each of the vehicles can perform a transmission, is constant (one cycle=4 ms), and a time at which the vehicle of ID=1 starts its first transmission is set as a reference time. The vehicles of ID=2, ID=3 and ID=1 . . . sequentially perform their transmissions 4 ms, 8 ms and 12 ms . . . after the reference time. Thus, it is possible to avoid a problem that the plurality of vehicles perform their transmissions at the same time, and it is also possible to minimize the waste of time and to exchange information in a short time.

Abstract: A lift amount of a valve plug is controlled with respect to a period of time from valve-closing operation instruction time for an electric opening/closing valve to arrival at a preset quick valve-closing operation position at which a flow line of a fluid discharged from a discharge port of a nozzle is in a constricted state, in accordance with a driving action of an electric actuator. The valve plug of the electric opening/closing valve is controlled to be at a closed position after the arrival at the quick valve-closing operation position. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the incontinent liquid drip from the nozzle during the valve-closing operation of the electric opening/closing valve.

Abstract: An automatic driving system which is provided for automatically driving vehicles to follow respective target running trajectories. A running instruction and a running course are set based on an obstacle detecting signal, a vehicle position signal, road data and automatic drive traffic information signals, and a vehicle-to-vehicle running information signal. A running course signal indicative of the running course and a running position setting position signal indicative of a running position of one vehicle at the time the running course is set are transmitted and received between the one vehicle and another vehicle, so that a target running trajectory suitable for each vehicle can be calculated on the basis of the received running course, thereby automatically navigating each vehicle such that the respective vehicles run following the resultant target running trajectories.

Abstract: A road system for an automatically traveling vehicle is provided, wherein the merging or diverging of the automatically traveling vehicle at a connection point of a road can be smoothly performed. An indicating means comprising a bar code is provided on each of a main lane and a branch lane at a location short of a merging point of a road by a predetermined distance (e.g., 500 m). Information relating to the distance from one vehicle to the merging point and information relating to the shape of the merging point are provided by viewing the indicating means with a CCD camera. The indicating means can be provided at a location short of a diverging point of the road, at the merging point of the road or at the diverging point of the road. The type of the indicating means is not limited to the bar code, and the indicating means may be a signpost, a line, magnetic nails or the like.

Abstract: A opening and closing valve comprises ROM in which a plurality of valve-closing program control patterns are stored in order to avoid liquid drip when the valve is closed. The valve further comprises a control unit for controlling a valve plug lift position in a direction to close the valve by controlling an amount of electric power application to a linear voice coil type driving unit in accordance with the valve-closing program control pattern.