Abstract: An information request portion receives an information request signal transmitted to an information response portion at its own receiving port. The information request portion comprises at least either of a power supply system anomaly determination portion or a ground anomaly determination portion. The power supply system anomaly determination portion determines a short-circuit between a signal line and a power supply system in a case where the information request signal received at the receiving port is always fixed to a H (high) level. The ground anomaly determination portion determines a short-circuit between a signal line and a ground in a case where the information request signal received at the receiving port is always fixed to a L (Low) level. Consequently, the anomaly region of the signal line connecting the information request portion and the information response portion in such a manner that bidirectional digital communications are possible or the cause of the anomaly is specified.

Abstract: An occupant determining device includes a load detecting sensor provided on a seat body and a controller. The controller calculates a detected load value based on an output value of the load detecting sensor and performs occupant determination based on the detected load value. The occupant determination state is switched to an adult determination state when a certain delaying time elapses after the detected load value exceeds a determination threshold. The controller sets plural determination thresholds, and the larger each determination threshold being exceeded by the detected load value is, the shorter the delaying time is set.

Abstract: In a seat (10), a seat back (14) tilts forward to be superposed on a seat cushion (20) and thereby the seat (10) is stowed. In this stowage operation, an arm (26) and a cushion main frame (22) are moved forward by a back frame (16), rotating a front link (28) forward. The operation reduces the distance in the vertical direction between a position at which the front link (28) is connected to the cushion main frame (22) and a restriction shaft (30), so that the distance in the vertical direction between the cushion main frame (22) and a lower wall of an under cover (32) can be reduced. As a result, the under cover (32) contacts with a vehicle compartment floor surface (12) and a seat cushion body (24) is inserted inside the under cover (32). This allows the thickness of the seat cushion (20) to be reduced at the back side of the cushion main frame (22).

Abstract: In a seat (10), rotating a seat cushion rearward causes the seat cushion to be superposed on the front side of a seat back for stowage. In the stowage of the seat (10), the seat cushion is rotated rearward, moving an interlocking link downward. The connection link (18) is then rotated downward in the seat back, so that a distance in a back-and-forth direction between a back main frame (14) and a receiving member (20) is reduced. This allows the thickness of the seat back (12) to be reduced in a part on the back of the back main frame (14).

Abstract: A headrest control apparatus for a vehicle includes: a headrest rear portion; a headrest front portion movable relative to the headrest rear portion between a first position and a second position; driving means for moving the headrest front portion relative to the headrest rear portion and controlling means controlling the driving means to move the headrest front portion towards the second position when a proximity of an object from a rear of the vehicle is detected and stop a movement of the headrest front portion towards the second position when the head detecting circuit detects the one of a proximity of the head towards, and a contact of the head with, the headrest front portion. The controlling means operates the head detecting circuit when the headrest front portion moves towards the second position.

Abstract: An attitude detection sensor includes three magnetic sensing parts that detect magnetic field strength in respective directions along three axes perpendicular to each other, and two tilt sensing parts that detect tilt angles around two axes perpendicular to each other. The tilt sensing parts each include a cantilever having a magnet body that moves in accordance with the tilt angle, and a magnetic detection head that detects a displacement of the magnet body. The three magnetic sensing parts and the two magnetic detection heads are each formed using a magnetic detection element of the same type. At least one electronic circuit for controlling the five magnetic detection elements, the three magnetic sensing parts, and the two tilt sensing parts is disposed in a single package in the form of a module.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor circuit supplying an excitation current to an MI device, and having a detection signal supplied thereto corresponding to a magnetic field intensity from the MI device based on the excitation current. The magnetic sensor circuit includes a pulse current supplying circuit supplying a pulse current to the MI device; a sample-and-hold circuit maintaining an approximately peak value of the detection signal and outputting a hold signal; and a temperature compensation part compensating temperature characteristics of the magnetic sensor circuit with respect to the hold signal. The sample-and-hold circuit may include a switching circuit and a holding capacitor. The switching circuit may have an opening/closing control signal supplied thereto based on timing of the pulse current.

Abstract: A retractable seat may include a seat cushion and a seat back rotatably supported on the seat cushion in which one of the seat cushion and the seat back is arranged and constructed to be folded onto the other of the seat cushion and the seat back. At least one of the seat cushion and the seat back includes a frame, a cushion pad, and a linking mechanism. The frame includes a framework and a support member that supports the cushion pad from a backside of the cushion pad. The linking mechanism movably interconnects the framework and the support member and is arranged and constructed to move the support member toward a backside of the at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back when the seat cushion or the seat back is tilted toward a retracted position.

Abstract: An information request portion receives an information request signal transmitted to an information response portion at its own receiving port. The information request portion comprises at least either of a power supply system anomaly determination portion or a ground anomaly determination portion. The power supply system anomaly determination portion determines a short-circuit between a signal line and a power supply system in a case where the information request signal received at the receiving port is always fixed to a H (high) level. The ground anomaly determination portion determines a short-circuit between a signal line and a ground in a case where the information request signal received at the receiving port is always fixed to a L (Low) level. Consequently, the anomaly region of the signal line connecting the information request portion and the information response portion in such a manner that bidirectional digital communications are possible or the cause of the anomaly is specified.

Abstract: A method for producing a stress impedance effect element, the method including: connecting opposite ends of a magnetostrictive amorphous thin wire and respective electrodes by ultrasonic bonding; forming a groove in an elastic thin substrate having a thermal expansion coefficient equal to that of the magnetostrictive amorphous thin wire; installing the magnetostrictive amorphous thin wire in the groove; and bonding together the magnetostrictive amorphous thin wire and the elastic thin substrate by applying an insulating adhesive across the magnetoresistive amorphous thin wire.

Abstract: A restricted area (60) is created based on positional information of a manned vehicle (20) traveling one of outward/return lanes (51, 52), and a detour course (72) is created based on information of the restricted area (60). Information on the detour course (72) is provided to the unmanned vehicles (10, 11) and the manned vehicle (20). Based on the positional information of the unmanned vehicles (10, 11) which proceed towards each other from the opposite directions with the restricted area (60) therebetween, the unmanned vehicle (11) on the lane (52) which is the opposite side of the restricted area (60) is blocked at a block position (61B) and at the same time a travel permission command for permitting traveling the detour course (72) is issued to the unmanned vehicle (10) traveling the lane (51) on the restricted area side so that the unmanned vehicle (10) travels the detour course (72).

Abstract: Power is supplied to an ECU (20) from an on-vehicle battery (41). When an ignition switch (42) is switched from the OFF state to the ON state upon vehicle engine start, the ECU (20) is switched from the power saving mode to the normal mode and a CPU (31) executes initial processing. Moreover, when a user puts on a seat belt and a seat belt switch (44) is switched from the ON state to the OFF state, the ECU (20) is switched from the power saving mode to the normal mode and the CPU (31) executes the initial processing. Thus, the initial processing is executed at a comparatively short interval and it is possible to improve the reliability of the CPU (31).

Abstract: A vehicle occupant discrimination apparatus is provided, which is capable of precisely discriminating a vehicle occupant using load data detected by a small number of load sensors for detecting a load applied to a vehicle seat. In a vehicle occupant discrimination apparatus for discriminating the kind of an occupant on a vehicle seat on the basis of the load applied to the vehicle seat, the apparatus includes state detecting means for detecting the occupant state on the vehicle seat, load measuring means for measuring the load applied to the vehicle seat, and discriminating means for discriminating the kind of the occupant on the basis of a discrimination condition differing in accordance with the result detected by the state detecting means and the result measured by the load measuring means.

Abstract: A noise free transceiver circuit includes a communication line, a power source line, a ground line, an output transistor having output terminals connected between the communication line and the ground line for outputting a communication signal to the communication line, a first circuit for applying a trapezoidal signal to the input terminal of the output transistor to turn on in synchronism with a transmission signal and a second circuit for turning off the output transistor when the level of the transmission signal is high. The output transistor is turned off when the communication signal is outputted. Therefore, noises of the power line are shut out of the output transistor.

Abstract: A headrest control apparatus for a vehicle includes: a headrest rear portion; a headrest front portion movable relative to the headrest rear portion between a first position and a second position; driving means for moving the headrest front portion relative to the headrest rear portion and controlling means controlling the driving means to move the headrest front portion towards the second position when a proximity of an object from a rear of the vehicle is detected and stop a movement of the headrest front portion towards the second position when the head detecting circuit detects the one of a proximity of the head towards, and a contact of the head with, the headrest front portion. The controlling means operates the head detecting circuit when the headrest front portion moves towards the second position.

Abstract: Leveling operation can be effectively performed at a discharge site without increasing a cost of vehicles, and a running course can be easily generated in a short time and at a low-cost. Based on each of measured position data of a survey line 20 of a discharge site 21, a normal line Lc normal to the survey line 20 is obtained, a target discharge position 26? is positioned at a prescribed distance away from the survey line 20 in an inward direction of the discharge site 21 based on the normal line Lc, and then data of a running course 27 in which a reference approach direction 31 to approach the target discharge position 26? is a direction normal to the survey line 20 are generated.

Abstract: A magneto impedance sensor element with electromagnetic coil comprised of: a terminal board on which an extended groove which extends in one direction has been formed; an electromagnetic coil, made with one part of the coil formed in a spiral shape inside the extended groove in the terminal board, and joined to each tip of that coil the other part of the coil placed across the top of the groove; insulating material placed in the extended groove on the terminal board; and a magnetic sensitive body inserted within the insulating material, to which either high frequency or pulse electic current is applied. When either high frequency or pulse electrical current is applied to the magnetic sensitive body, voltage is output from the above electromagnetic coil in response to the intensity of the external magnetic field which is generated in the electromagnetic coil.

Abstract: An accelerometer for measuring the displacement of a magnet body using magnetic detecting elements is provided, the accelerometer having superior measurement accuracy by suppressing influence of a peripheral magnetic field. The accelerometer has detecting units each having a cantilever which is elastically deformed so as to rotate around a fixed end thereof, a magnet body provided at a free end of the cantilever, and a magnetic detecting head portion disposed outside the rotation region of the cantilever. In order to correct detection signals output from the magnetic detecting head portions, the accelerometer has peripheral magnetic field detecting portions for measuring a peripheral magnetic field acting on the magnetic detecting head portions and the magnet bodies.

Abstract: An attitude detection sensor includes three magnetic sensing parts that detect magnetic field strength in respective directions along three axes perpendicular to each other, and two tilt sensing parts that detect tilt angles around two axes perpendicular to each other. The tilt sensing parts each include a cantilever having a magnet body that moves in accordance with the tilt angle, and a magnetic detection head that detects a displacement of the magnet body. The three magnetic sensing parts and the two magnetic detection heads are each formed using a magnetic detection element of the same type. At least one electronic circuit for controlling the five magnetic detection elements, the three magnetic sensing parts, and the two tilt sensing parts is disposed in a single package in the form of a module.

Abstract: A motion sensor which can easily and accurately detect bearing, attitude and acceleration in any of three-dimensional directions and a portable telephone using the same. The motion sensor comprises three magnetic sensing parts for detecting magnetic field strength in 3-axis directions orthogonal to one another, and three acceleration sensing parts for detecting accelerations in the 3-axis directions. Each of the acceleration sensing parts has a magnet body constituted to be able to displace depending on acceleration, and a magnet displacement detection head for detecting a displacement of the magnet body. The three magnetic sensing parts and the three magnet displacement detection heads are all made of the same type of magnetic detection elements which operate based on common operation principles. The three magnetic sensing parts and the three acceleration sensing parts are integrated into one modular package together with one electronic circuit for controlling these six magnetic detection elements.