Abstract: A processor in a vehicle front environment detection apparatus processes an image from an imaging unit for detecting another vehicle based on the brightness of an environment of a traveling vehicle derived from the image. The detection result of the another vehicle is reflected to a control of at least one of headlamp selection and headlamp light distribution for the ease of headlamp control.

Abstract: The present invention has a target apparatus that provides a predetermined service by certifying a certification device when said certification device enters a predetermined certification area. The target apparatus includes a controller configured to control the changing of contents of a service to be provided in accordance with a certification status of a plurality of certification devices located inside said certification area.

Abstract: A communication control apparatus selects an optimum terminal for an authentication device among a plurality of terminals that have completed authentication of the authentication device via wireless communication. The communication control apparatus has an information acquiring unit and a selecting unit. The information acquiring unit acquires address information and capability information of each of the plurality of terminals and identification information of the authentication device from each of the plurality of terminals. The selecting unit selects the optimum terminal having a capability of handling data addressed to the authentication device among the plurality of terminals on the basis of the capability information of the plurality of terminals and the identification information of the authentication device acquired by the information acquiring unit, when the address information and capability information of the plurality of terminals are acquired by the information acquiring unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an occupant in a vehicle includes a pair of image sensors for taking images of an area on a seat in the vehicle. Transverse-direction shifts between corresponding portions of the images are calculated. Longitudinal-direction positions of objects whose images are in the portions of the images taken by the image sensors are measured in response to the calculated transverse-direction shifts. A longitudinal-direction position of an occupant on the seat is decided in response to the measured longitudinal-direction positions of the objects. Occupant protecting operation at a time of occurrence of a collision of the vehicle is changed in response to the decided longitudinal-direction position of the occupant. From the measured longitudinal-direction positions of the objects, one corresponding to a highest position with respect to the vehicle and being in front of the seat is selected as a longitudinal-direction position of a head of the occupant.

Abstract: A vehicular occupant restraint system includes a distance sensor, an electromagnetic wave radiation-type occupant sensor, a controller, and an airbag drive circuit. When the controller predicts a collision and determines it is unavoidable based on the output of the distance sensor, the controller sends an instruction signal to the occupant sensor to determine the seating condition of an occupant. Then, the airbag drive circuit performs an airbag deployment control in accordance with the determined seating condition. This system thus reduces power consumption and electromagnetic wave radiation of the occupant sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring an area adjacent to a subject vehicle includes an image taking device for taking an image of an area at and around a place to which the subject vehicle is directed. A predicting device operates for predicting a region to which the subject vehicle will travel. The predicted region has a left-hand boundary and a right-hand boundary. A setting device operates for setting a detection area near at least one of the left-hand boundary and the right-hand boundary of the predicted region. The detection area extends along a direction of travel of the subject vehicle. A deciding device operates for deciding whether or not a three-dimensional object exists in the detection area in response to the image taken by the image taking device. The three-dimensional object is, for example, a cut-in vehicle with respect to the subject vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle vicinity image-processing apparatus and a recording medium capable of deducing a scene having left the field of vision of a camera mounted on the rear of a vehicle and drawing an image of the area behind the vehicle which includes this deduced part. An image-processing unit 5 first coordinate-converts a picked-up image to create a bird's-eye view image. Two chronologically consecutive bird's-eye view images are created as the bird's-eye view image, and a matching area of the two images is extracted. On the basis of this matching area, a moved area which has left the present field of vision of the camera 1 is extracted. An image of the matching area and the moved area is then drawn on a monitor 3. By this means, it is possible to draw an image including a scene which has left the present field of vision of the camera 1.

Abstract: An image filter 1 produces an emphasized output in response to a brightness change between a dark portion and a bright portion of a picked-up image, with a sign of the emphasized output reversing according to a transitional direction of the brightness change between the dark portion and the bright portion. An image filter 2 produces an output representing an angular momentum of respective pixels about a central pixel in a predetermined processing zone set on the picked-up image. The angular momentum is defined by vectorial quantities of pixel values. An image filter 3 produces an output representing an accumulative absolute value of the respective pixels in the predetermined processing zone. An output difference between the image filters 2 and 3 is obtained as an index representing a lane mark.

Abstract: A vehicular occupant restraint system includes a distance sensor, an electromagnetic wave radiation-type occupant sensor, a controller, and an airbag drive circuit. When the controller predicts a collision and determines it is unavoidable based on the output of the distance sensor, the controller sends an instruction signal to the occupant sensor to determine the seating condition of an occupant. Then, the airbag drive circuit performs an airbag deployment control in accordance with the determined seating condition. This system thus reduces power consumption and electromagnetic wave radiation of the occupant sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an occupant in a vehicle includes a pair of image sensors for taking images of an area on a seat in the vehicle. Transverse-direction shifts between corresponding portions of the images are calculated. Longitudinal-direction positions of objects whose images are in the portions of the images taken by the image sensors are measured in response to the calculated transverse-direction shifts. A longitudinal-direction position of an occupant on the seat is decided in response to the measured longitudinal-direction positions of the objects. Occupant protecting operation at a time of occurrence of a collision of the vehicle is changed in response to the decided longitudinal-direction position of the occupant. From the measured longitudinal-direction positions of the objects, one corresponding to a highest position with respect to the vehicle and being in front of the seat is selected as a longitudinal-direction position of a head of the occupant.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the head of an occupant in a seat within a vehicle includes an area image sensor for periodically taking an image of an area including the occupant in the seat, and outputting a signal sequentially representing 1-frame images of the area. A head position calculating section operates for deciding a position of a head of the occupant on the basis of the 1-frame images sequentially represented by the signal outputted by the area image sensor. The head position calculating section includes a device for calculating motion quantities of portions of each of the 1-frame images, a device for detecting, in each of the 1-frame images, a maximum-motion image region in which portions having substantially largest one among the calculated motion quantities collect to a highest degree, and a device for recognizing the detected maximum-motion image region as corresponding to the head of the occupant.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring an area adjacent to a subject vehicle includes an image taking device for taking an image of an area at and around a place to which the subject vehicle is directed. A predicting device operates for predicting a region to which the subject vehicle will travel. The predicted region has a left-hand boundary and a right-hand boundary. A setting device operates for setting a detection area near at least one of the left-hand boundary and the right-hand boundary of the predicted region. The detection area extends along a direction of travel of the subject vehicle. A deciding device operates for deciding whether or not a three-dimensional object exists in the detection area in response to the image taken by the image taking device. The three-dimensional object is, for example, a cut-in vehicle with respect to the subject vehicle.

Abstract: A lane mark recognition apparatus for a vehicle is provided which recognizes a lane mark printed on a road using an image of a frontal view captured by a CCD camera. The apparatus identifies a location in the image on which a string model construct converges as a location of the lane mark. The string model utilizes a string construct that is made up of a plurality of node-type string components and lines connecting adjacent string components. The string components are movable within the image by an attractive force produced based on a measure of a picture property of the lane mark. Each of the connecting lines is modeled as an elastic member, which produces a reactive force against deformation of the string model so as to maintain geometry of the whole of the string model.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive correction tape is provided which comprises a foundation, a masking layer and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer stacked on the foundation in this order, the masking layer comprising a masking agent, a polymer having rubber elasticity and an ester compound which is liquid at ordinary temperature and has a boiling point of not less than 130° C. at ordinary pressure.

Abstract: In a data multiplexing/demultiplexing apparatus including a serial-to-parallel converter, a microprocessor and a memory, a data shift register inputs data from the memory by way of the microprocessor, a correction register stores a shift correction amount on a transmission path of the data shift register. A framing rule register stores a framing rule determined by the microprocessor, a counter, carries out a counting operation in accordance with the framing rule to an address information signal. A look-up table ROM outputs a selector selection signal in accordance with the address information signal, and a data selector distributes output data of the data shift register among a plurality of shift registers in accordance with the selector selection signal. The microprocessor analyzes data separated by the plurality of shift registers, performs a synchronism detecting operation and a protocol determining operation, and determines the framing rule.

Abstract: A liquid ink composition for an impact printer, comprising a dye and an oily substance as an essential component, the dye being insoluble in the oily substance and dispersed in the oily substance. An ink ribbon for an impact printer using the liquid ink composition is also disclosed. The use of the liquid ink composition reduces wear and corrosion of the printing wires used in a wire dot printer and gives print images with no blurring.

Abstract: Compounds of formula: ##STR1## wherein X.sup.1 is a halogen atom, X.sup.2 is a halogen atom or hydrogen atom, n is 1 or 2 are novel compounds and useful as anti-anxiety agents.

Abstract: A novel indan-1-carboxamide derivative of the formula ##STR1## wherein X represents hydrogen or a halogen; R.sub.1 represents hydrogen, a lower alkyl group which may be substituted with hydroxyl group or represents phenyl group; and R.sub.2 represents a lower alkyl group which may be substituted with hydroxyl, phenyl or an N,N-dilower-alkylamino group, or represents hydroxyl group, an amino group which may be substituted with a mono- or di-lower alkyl group, phenyl group or with a halophenyl group, or represents a phenyl group which may be substituted with a halogen or a mono- or di-lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxyl group or with sulfamoyl group; or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, together with the adjacent nitrogen atom, form a piperidino group, a morpholino group or a piperazino group which may be substituted with a lower alkyl group on the 4-positioned nitrogen atom, which compounds are useful as medicines, for example, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic or anti-rheumatic agents.