Abstract: Vehicular manual transmission control apparatus is of the type in which two or more selectable shift positions of a shift lever (13) can be varied on the basis of a travel control state (e.g., position of the shift lever) of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a guide section (various shift patterns), which allows shift operation of the shift lever along a given shift path, assigned a high selection priority, to be performed with ease when the lever is to be shifted to a desired one of the shift positions. The guide section is implemented by a reactive force generation mechanism (41) which is in turn implemented by a control device (26).

Abstract: An image displaying device includes a display unit which displays a cursor and at least one button; an input unit for moving the cursor and for selecting the button; and a controller for controlling the display unit and the input unit. The input unit is provided with an operating part operated by an operator, at least one position sensor which detects an operation state of the operating part, and at least one actuator which applies a specific external force to the operating part. When a display screen of the display unit is switched, the controller drives the actuator to move the cursor to a default position set in the switched display screen. In that case, the moving rate of the cursor is set lower than a moving rate of the cursor for pulling the cursor towards the center of the button.

Abstract: A touch operation input device, such as used in an automobile, controls selective manipulation of a functional item from among a plurality of installation devices when an operator cannot see a manipulation surface or a display screen of the input device. The touch operation input device operates by selective detection of the presence of a finger in areas of the manipulation surface corresponding to the plurality of installation devices.

Abstract: A force-feedback input device comprising an operating section, actuators to supply force-feedback by way of a transmission mechanism to the operating section, a movement quantity detector to detect a quantity of movement of the actuators and a controller to control the actuators by an output from the movement quantity detector. An initializing process is performed by the controller at startup utilizing an output from the movement quantity detector, and an output to the actuators is compensated after startup so that a fixed quantity of force-feedback is supplied to a quantity of movement of the operating section.

Abstract: Vehicular manual transmission control apparatus is of the type in which two or more selectable shift positions of a shift lever (13) can be varied on the basis of a travel control state (e.g., position of the shift lever) of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a guide section (various shift patterns), which allows shift operation of the shift lever along a given shift paht, assigned a high selection priority, to be performed with ease when the lever is to be shifted to a desired one of the shift positions. The guide section is implemented by a reactive force generation mechanism (41) which is in turn implemented by a control device (26).

Abstract: When a knob is turned by a predetermined turning angle ? and this angle is detected by a rotary encoder, an electromagnetic brake is activated by a controller and the rotation of the knob is locked. Then, while the knob is locked by the electromagnetic brake, the controller determines whether an operating force was applied to the knob in direction A in which the turning angle of the knob is increased. If the controller determines that the operating force was not applied to the knob in direction A (if the operating force was applied in direction B), the locking of the knob is released.

Abstract: A force feedback input device includes an operation member having a shaft and operated by an operator, detection means, such as a rotary encoder, for detecting an operating status of the operation member, an actuator for providing force feedback to the operation member, control means for controlling the actuator based on a detection signal output from the detection means, and stopper means for restricting displacement of the operation member in a predetermined operational direction. The stopper means includes a ratchet mechanism to disengage ratchets from corresponding gear teeth in response to the detection signal from the detection means.

Abstract: A force sense imparting type input apparatus includes an operation portion, an actuator for imparting a force sense to the operation portion, a position sensor for detecting an operating direction and an operating quantity of the operation portion, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the actuator, and a controller for acquiring a position signal and a temperature signal and outputting driving signal of the actuator. A correction control portion provided to the controller determines a calorific value of the actuator from the temperature signal, then a correction value of driving power supplied to the actuator from the calorific value so calculated, adds a correction value of driving power of the actuator at the time of a normal operation and decides driving power of the actuator at the time of over-heat.

Abstract: A force feedback input device includes an operation member having a shaft and operated by an operator, detection means, such as a rotary encoder, for detecting an operating status of the operation member, an actuator for providing force feedback to the operation member, control means for controlling the actuator based on a detection signal output from the detection means, and stopper means for restricting displacement of the operation member in a predetermined operational direction. The stopper means includes a ratchet mechanism to disengage ratchets from corresponding gear teeth in response to the detection signal from the detection means.

Abstract: When a knob is turned by a predetermined turning angle &agr; and this angle is detected by a rotary encoder, an electromagnetic brake is activated by a controller and the rotation of the knob is locked. Then, while the knob is locked by the electromagnetic brake, the controller determines whether an operating force was applied to the knob in direction A in which the turning angle of the knob is increased. If the controller determines that the operating force was not applied to the knob in direction A (if the operating force was applied in direction B), the locking of the knob is released.

Abstract: An image displaying device includes a display unit which displays a cursor and at least one button; an input unit for moving the cursor and for selecting the button; and a controller for controlling the display unit and the input unit. The input unit is provided with an operating part operated by an operator, at least one position sensor which detects an operation state of the operating part, and at least one actuator which applies a specific external force to the operating part. When a display screen of the display unit is switched, the controller drives the actuator to move the cursor to a default position set in the switched display screen. In that case, the moving rate of the cursor is set lower than a moving rate of the cursor for pulling the cursor towards the center of the button.

Abstract: A force sense imparting type input apparatus includes an operation portion, an actuator for imparting a force sense to the operation portion, a position sensor for detecting an operating direction and an operating quantity of the operation portion, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the actuator, and a controller for acquiring a position signal and a temperature signal and outputting driving signal of the actuator. A correction control portion provided to the controller determines a calorific value of the actuator from the temperature signal, then a correction value of driving power supplied to the actuator from the calorific value so calculated, adds a correction value of driving power of the actuator at the time of a normal operation and decides driving power of the actuator at the time of over-heat.

Abstract: The switch input processing module has: a control unit; a first external connection terminal to which either an analog signal of an analog signal system or a serial signal of a serial signal system is supplied; an analog signal transmission and serial signal transmission line which is disposed between the first external connection terminal and the control unit; and a second external connection terminal to which a determination signal indicating that either the analog signal system or the serial signal system is connected to the first external connection terminal is supplied. When the control unit determines that the determination signal indicates connection of the serial signal system, the control unit makes the serial signal transmission line conductive. When the control unit determines that the determination signal indicates connection of the analog signal system, the control unit makes the serial signal transmission line nonconductive.

Abstract: A force-feedback input device comprising an operating section, actuators to supply force-feedback by way of a transmission mechanism to the operating section, a movement quantity detector to detect a quantity of movement of the actuators and a controller to control the actuators by an output from the movement quantity detector. An initializing process is performed by the controller at startup utilizing an output from the movement quantity detector, and an output to the actuators is compensated after startup so that a fixed quantity of force-feedback is supplied to a quantity of movement of the operating section.

Abstract: The motor driving apparatus comprises a plurality of motors for displacing the position of the control object member, semiconductor switch pairs, a plurality of motor driving units for connecting the motors to the power supply and a control unit for ON/OFF controlling the semiconductor switch pairs. The motors form two sets of motors with each set being formed of two motors. One end of the motors and forming each set is connected to the common motor driving unit having the semiconductor switch pair and the other end of the motors and forming each set is connected to the motor driving units having the semiconductor switch pairs in each set. When the motors of each set are driven simultaneously, the control unit turns ON and OFF two semiconductor switch pairs and drives the motors of each set on the time division basis to provide inverse output polarities of the two semiconductor switch pairs connected to the motors of each set.

Abstract: The motor driving apparatus comprises a plurality of motors 11 to 14 for displacing the position of the control object member, semiconductor switch pairs 4 to 8, a plurality of motor driving units 21 to 23 for connecting the motors 11 to 14 to the power supply and a control unit 3 for ON/OFF controlling the semiconductor switch pairs 4 to 8. The motors 11 to 14 form two sets of motors with each set being formed of two motors. One end of the motors 11 to 12 and 13 to 14 forming each set is connected to the common motor driving unit 23 having the semiconductor switch pair 8 and the other end of the motors 11 to 12 and 13 to 14 forming each set is connected to the motor driving units 22, 23 having the semiconductor switch pairs 4 to 5, 6 to 7 in each set.

Abstract: A multiplex communication system in which operational data is transmitted to a bus line at different frequencies according to the necessity of transmission. Further, transmitting and receiving nodes are identified without having to include address data with the transmitted message data, thereby avoiding a time lag in control processing of vehicle-mounted equipment. In accordance with a first embodiment, a plurality of data signals which are transmitted via a bus line from a plurality of node devices, to at least one of a plurality of end node devices to be controlled, are divided into a plurality of degrees according to the necessity of transmission. Operational date signals falling into the greatest degree of transmission necessity are transmitted once in every cycle, while data signals falling into the lesser degrees of transmission necessity are transmitted once in every few cycles according to the degree of necessity.

Abstract: An on-car motor driving apparatus is equipped with a motor for moving a moving unit such as a window of a motor car, a motor driving controller which controls the revolution, stop, and rotational direction of the motor, and a current measuring and comparing device which measures the variation in current per unit time of the motor and compares the measured variation in current with a preset value. The on-car motor driving apparatus stops the revolution of the motor and/or reverses the rotational direction of the motor through the motor driving controller. The apparatus is further equipped with a voltage measuring device for measuring motor driving voltage and a voltage-based time setting device which changes the length of the unit time in accordance with the driving voltage value measured by the voltage measuring device. Line voltage is supplied to a differential amplifier only when the line voltage is supplied to the motor.

Abstract: An on-car motor driving apparatus is equipped with a motor for moving a moving unit such as a window of a motor car, a motor driving controller which controls the revolution, stop, and rotational direction of the motor, and a current measuring and comparing device which measures the variation in current per unit time of the motor and compares the measured variation in current with a preset value. The on-car motor driving apparatus stops the revolution of the motor and/or reverses the rotational direction of the motor through the motor driving controller. The apparatus is further equipped with a voltage measuring device for measuring motor driving voltage and a voltage-based time setting device which changes the length of the unit time in accordance with the driving voltage value measured by the voltage measuring device. Line voltage is supplied to a differential amplifier only when the line voltage is supplied to the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and controlling the rotational position of a motor without using a high-priced component and without requiring special software processing. The apparatus includes a motor rotation control section for selectively connecting a power source to the motor to rotate the motor into a predetermined position, a potentiometer mechanically linked to a shaft of the motor to read the absolute rotational position of the motor, an astable multivibrator for generating output pulses having a duty ratio corresponding to the position read by the potentiometer, and a control signal generation section for supplying a control signal corresponding to the duty ratio of the output pulses to the motor rotation control section to control the rotational position of the motor.