Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vehicle control device reducing a driving force generated by an engine of a vehicle to prevent the vehicle from colliding with a forward obstacle. The vehicle control device includes an ECU configured to control the driving force, an ultrasonic sensor configured to detect the forward obstacle in front of the vehicle, and a monocular camera configured to take an image of an area in front of the vehicle. The ECU determines the presence or absence of the forward obstacle in front of the vehicle based on the image taken with the monocular camera while the vehicle is travelling, and changes an upper limit of the driving force in accordance with a combination of whether or not the ultrasonic sensor has detected an object and the presence or absence of the forward obstacle determined based on the image taken with the monocular camera.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vehicle control device reducing a driving force generated by an engine of a vehicle to prevent the vehicle from colliding with a forward obstacle. The vehicle control device includes an ECU configured to control the driving force, an ultrasonic sensor configured to detect the forward obstacle in front of the vehicle, and a monocular camera configured to take an image of an area in front of the vehicle. The ECU determines the presence or absence of the forward obstacle in front of the vehicle based on the image taken with the monocular camera while the vehicle is travelling, and changes an upper limit of the driving force in accordance with a combination of whether or not the ultrasonic sensor has detected an object and the presence or absence of the forward obstacle determined based on the image taken with the monocular camera.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device having improved reliability. After formation of an n+ type semiconductor region for source/drain, a first insulating film is formed on a semiconductor substrate so as to cover a gate electrode and a sidewall spacer. After heat treatment, a second insulating film is formed on the first insulating film and a resist pattern is formed on the second insulating film. Then, these insulating films are etched with the resist pattern as an etching mask. The resist pattern is removed, followed by wet washing treatment. A metal silicide layer is then formed by the salicide process.

Abstract: The seat heater control device is provided for a vehicle including a vehicle body, a vehicle seat and a seat heater. The seat heater control device includes: an electrostatic sensor provided in the vehicle seat and configured to measure capacitance between the electrostatic sensor and the vehicle body; and a controller configured to control an operation and/or an operational temperature of the seat heater, based on a measured value of the electrostatic sensor. The controller is configured to cause the seat heater to operate at a relative higher temperature when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than a first threshold and lower than a second threshold. The controller is configured to cause the seat heater to operate at a relative lower temperature when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than the second threshold.

Abstract: The object is to provide an occupant detection device that can accurately detect whether there is a passenger, even when a personal computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone or the like is placed on a vehicle seat. The occupant detection device is provided for a vehicle including a vehicle body, a vehicle seat and an in-vehicle battery. The occupant detection device includes: an electrostatic sensor provided in the seat and configured to measure capacitance between the sensor and the vehicle body; an interrupting unit configured to interrupt a function of the in-vehicle battery; a controller configured to temporarily activate the interrupting unit when a measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than a predetermined threshold; and a judgement unit configured to judge that there is a passenger when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than the predetermined threshold even while the interrupting unit is activated.

Abstract: The seat heater control device is provided for a vehicle including a vehicle body, a vehicle seat and a seat heater. The seat heater control device includes: an electrostatic sensor provided in the vehicle seat and configured to measure capacitance between the electrostatic sensor and the vehicle body; and a controller configured to control an operation and/or an operational temperature of the seat heater, based on a measured value of the electrostatic sensor. The controller is configured to cause the seat heater to operate at a relative higher temperature when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than a first threshold and lower than a second threshold. The controller is configured to cause the seat heater to operate at a relative lower temperature when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than the second threshold.

Abstract: The object is to provide an occupant detection device that can accurately detect whether there is a passenger, even when a personal computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone or the like is placed on a vehicle seat. The occupant detection device is provided for a vehicle including a vehicle body, a vehicle seat and an in-vehicle battery. The occupant detection device includes: an electrostatic sensor provided in the seat and configured to measure capacitance between the sensor and the vehicle body; an interrupting unit configured to interrupt a function of the in-vehicle battery; a controller configured to temporarily activate the interrupting unit when a measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than a predetermined threshold; and a judgement unit configured to judge that there is a passenger when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than the predetermined threshold even while the interrupting unit is activated.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device having improved reliability. After formation of an n+ type semiconductor region for source/drain, a first insulating film is formed on a semiconductor substrate so as to cover a gate electrode and a sidewall spacer. After heat treatment, a second insulating film is formed on the first insulating film and a resist pattern is formed on the second insulating film. Then, these insulating films are etched with the resist pattern as an etching mask. The resist pattern is removed, followed by wet washing treatment. A metal silicide layer is then formed by the salicide process.

Abstract: A braking device for a vehicle comprises an accelerator-opening detector, a distance detector, an obstacle detector, and an ECU which is configured to perform the process of executing automatic braking when the distance detected by the distance detector is a specified distance or less during traveling of the vehicle, cancelling the automatic braking when the accelerator opening detected by the accelerator-opening detector is a specified opening or greater, and prohibiting the cancelling of the automatic braking when the front obstacle is detected by the obstacle detector while the vehicle stops or travels at a low speed which is a specified speed or less. Thereby, the braking device for a vehicle which can surely reduce the damage caused by the vehicle's collision with the front obstacle can be provided.

Abstract: A braking device for a vehicle comprises an accelerator-opening detector, a distance detector, an obstacle detector, and an ECU which is configured to perform the process of executing automatic braking when the distance detected by the distance detector is a specified distance or less during traveling of the vehicle, cancelling the automatic braking when the accelerator opening detected by the accelerator-opening detector is a specified opening or greater, and prohibiting the cancelling of the automatic braking when the front obstacle is detected by the obstacle detector while the vehicle stops or travels at a low speed which is a specified speed or less. Thereby, the braking device for a vehicle which can surely reduce the damage caused by the vehicle's collision with the front obstacle can be provided.

Abstract: The automobile pedal supporting structure includes a first bracket 5, the front end of the first bracket 5 being fixed on a dash panel 1, and the rear end of the first bracket 5 being fixed on a vehicle-side member 8 which is more rigid than the dash panel 1 so that the first bracket 5 can be removed from the vehicle-side member 8, and a second bracket 6, the front-end lower part of the second bracket 6 being pivotally attached to the first bracket 5 so that the second bracket 6 can swing, the rear-end upper part of the second bracket 6 being fixed on the vehicle-side member 8 so that the second bracket 6 can be removed from the vehicle-side member 8, and an operation pedal 4 being pivotally attached to the second bracket 6 so that the operation pedal 4 can swing, in which the first bracket 5 and the second bracket 6 are placed to substantially overlap each other, the rear-end upper part of the second bracket 6 are fixed together with the first bracket 5 on the vehicle-side member 8, and a turn promoting memb

Abstract: The automobile pedal supporting structure includes a first bracket 5, the front end of the first bracket 5 being fixed on a dash panel 1, and the rear end of the first bracket 5 being fixed on a vehicle-side member 8 which is more rigid than the dash panel 1 so that the first bracket 5 can be removed from the vehicle-side member 8, and a second bracket 6, the front-end lower part of the second bracket 6 being pivotally attached to the first bracket 5 so that the second bracket 6 can swing, the rear-end upper part of the second bracket 6 being fixed on the vehicle-side member 8 so that the second bracket 6 can be removed from the vehicle-side member 8, and an operation pedal 4 being pivotally attached to the second bracket 6 so that the operation pedal 4 can swing, in which the first bracket 5 and the second bracket 6 are placed to substantially overlap each other, the rear-end upper part of the second bracket 6 are fixed together with the first bracket 5 on the vehicle-side member 8, and a turn promoting memb