Abstract: A control apparatus of an automatic transmission capable of achieving a smooth change of output shaft torque to torque which can be generated by a friction clutch, thus enabling a smooth gear change even if the output shaft torque is high at the gear change. If the output shaft torque exceeds limit transmission output shaft torque obtained by multiplying a torque capacity of the friction clutch by a gear ratio provided for the friction clutch when a gear change command is issued in the automatic transmission, engine torque is controlled so as to make the output shaft torque decreased to the limit transmission output shaft torque, and then the engine torque control is switched when the output shaft torque decreased to the limit transmission output shaft torque to start the gear change operation.

Abstract: A mesh type automatic transmission is equipped with a plurality of shift gears arranged to rotate freely to an output shaft for providing driving force to the wheels. Cogged clutches 12, 15 engage with the output shaft. Counter shift gears corresponding to each speed are fixed to a counter shaft rotated by the rotation of an input shaft and mesh with the shift gears for performing automatic shifting by controlling engagement of one of the cogged clutches with the voluntary shift gears determined from the accelerator command value and the vehicle speed. An assist mechanism transmits rotational force of the input shaft to the output shaft via the assist shaft which rotates from the rotation of the counter shaft when no cogged clutch of the plurality of cogged clutches is engaged with any of the plurality of shift gears occurring during switching when an engaged cogged clutch of the plurality of cogged clutches is disengaged and one of the cogged clutch of the plurality of cogged clutches is to be engaged.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling an automotive vehicle are disclosed, in which a control amount for securing safety of the vehicle and the control amount for achieving a state intended for by the driver of the vehicle are switched in such a manner as to reduce the shock due to the change in the torque generated from the power train, thereby accomplishing both safety and maneuverability at the same time. A first target value is set for controlling at least selected one of the driving torque, the driving force and the acceleration/deceleration rate. A second target value is calculated in accordance with the drive mode intended for by the driver or the driving environment ahead of the vehicle. In the case where a deviation exceeding a predetermined value develops between the first target value and the second target value, the fluctuations of at least one of the driving torque, the driving force and the acceleration/deceleration rate are suppressed.

Abstract: A vehicle which includes a plurality of peripheral systems has a plurality of control units which transmit data to each other via a local area network, and which control the peripheral systems in response to sensor signals received from vehicle operating parameter sensors. A first control unit has a memory which stores a first interface software program which receives input signals from sensors and processes such signals for controlling at least one peripheral system of the vehicle, by means of an application software program and first and second interface software programs. A second control unit has a memory which stores an application software program for processing input signals for controlling at least one other peripheral system of the vehicle via a third interface software program. The second control unit receives input data from the first control unit via the local area network.

Abstract: Described herein is a run environment recognizing apparatus. The run environment recognizing apparatus comprises an imaging device for sensing the direction of traveling of a host vehicle as imaging vision, a radar for detecting the direction of traveling of the host vehicle as a detection range, an image processing device for recognizing traveling lanes, leading vehicles and stationary objects located ahead of the host vehicle, based on the image information sensed by the imaging device and the result of detection by the radar, and a display for displaying the results of recognition by the image processing device. The image processing device includes means for setting vehicle regions indicative of the leading vehicles within the image information, based on the result of detection by the radar. Thus, the influence of the leading vehicles in the process for recognizing the traveling lanes within the image information is eliminated by the vehicle regions.

Abstract: A vehicle control unit comprises an interface software memory for storing an interface software program for connecting an application software program with an operating system in an internal ROM, a central processing unit for performing computation of the application software program and the interface software program, an erasable memory for storing data such as the result of computation, an I/O unit for extending the control unit, and extending means for communicating memory data through a bus or a LAN. A single-chip micro-computer is used in vehicle control.

Abstract: A control processor has an output pattern generating circuit operating in cooperation with a free running timer, and a virtual OCR program for virtually realizing a large number of timer outputs by use of the output pattern generating circuit. Because more timer outputs than the actually incorporated timers are handled, the function of timer outputs is implemented with a higher degree of freedom and in a wider range of applications. For its enhanced function and availability, the control processor costs less.

Abstract: A vehicle control system provided with a plurality of sensors for detecting the condition of the vehicle, a vehicle control unit including a multiplexer, a programmable input signal matching module and a processor, and actuators for operating each part of the vehicle. The multiplexer and matching module are selected and switched in accordance with a sensor signal to be inputted. A plurality of sensor signals can be inputted through the switched multiplexer and matching module to the processor. Furthermore, the processor determines controls of vehicle operation on the basis of the inputted sensor signals and controls actuators in accordance with the determined controls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to estimate slopes accurately, as well as to eliminate slope estimation errors, taking error generating conditions into account. The slope on which the vehicle is running is estimated from the vehicle speed and the engine rpm value. The result is entered to the slope estimation unit through a low pass filter, then to the navigation unit. A noise eliminator is provided to the output of the slope estimation unit so that noises can be eliminated, for example, during gear-shifting or for a certain time after the gear shifting is completed by obtaining the "gear shifting" information from the automatic transmission control. The preceding estimated slope value is held during the noise elimination period.

Abstract: A vehicle control unit comprises an interface software memory for storing an interface software program for connecting an application software program with an operating system in an internal ROM, a central processing unit for performing computation of the application software program and the interface result of computation, an I/O unit for extending the control unit, and extending means for communicating memory data through a bus of a LAN. A single-chip micro-computer is used in vehicle control.

Abstract: A vehicle control unit comprises an interface software memory for storing an interface software program for connecting an application software program with an operating system in an internal ROM, a central processing unit for performing computation of the application software program and the interface software program, an erasable memory for storing data such as the result of computation, an I/O unit for extending the control unit, and extending means for communicating memory data through a bus or a LAN. A single-chip micro-computer is used in vehicle control.

Abstract: An automatic control system comprises a plurality of control processors which are connected by such transmission devices as LAN, BUS and so on. Control processing load to be executed by each of the control processors are detected and each control processor executes necessary and minimum control tasks corresponding to running state information on an automobile and carries on another control tasks in the remaining time based on the detected load of each control processor so as to smooth loads of the control processors.

Abstract: An automatic transmission control system for an automobile, comprising a vehicle weight estimation unit which estimates a vehicle weight of the automobile a torque estimation unit which estimates an output torque, an acceleration input unit which accepts an acceleration signal; a load estimation unit (110) which estimates a running load from the estimated vehicle weight, the estimated output torque and the accepted acceleration; a memory which stores a plurality of shift schedules therein; and a gear position determination unit (109) which includes the memory, and which selects one of the shift schedules in accordance with the vehicle weight and the estimated running load, so as to determine a gear position of an automatic transmission of the automobile in conformity with the selected shift schedule. An exact shift operation conformed to the vehicle weight and the running load can be performed, and an enhanced fuel consumption can be attained.

Abstract: A control unit for vehicle is provided where an increase in a number of input/output and upgrading functions can easily be performed and, in addition to this, changing of a program in a control unit can easily be performed even when a single-chip micro-computer is used. A control unit is constructed such as to comprise an interface software memory storing an interface software program for connecting an application software program with an operating system in an internal ROM, a CPU for performing computation of the application software program and the interface software program, a RAM storing data such as the result of the computation, an I/O unit for extending the control unit, and an extending device for communicating memory data through a bus or a LAN. A single-chip micro-computer used in vehicle control can easily cope with an increase in the input/output ports or additional functions, and an application software program can continuously be used only by rewriting an interface software program.

Abstract: Knocking detecting in an internal combustion engine uses, a vibration sensor detecting engine vibrations; and insert for taking-in output vibration signals from the vibration sensor in a plurality of intervals in a time sequential manner during every explosion stroke of the internal combustion engine; performing a digital frequency analysis on the taken-in output vibration signals in the respective sequential intervals; setting a main resonance frequency necessary for knocking occurrence judgement based upon the instant operating condition of the internal combustion engine; calculating knocking indexes for the digital frequency-analyzed output vibration signals in the respective sequential intervals based upon the set main resonance frequency component; comparing the largest knocking index calculated with a predetermined threshold value determined by a background vibration level and a slice level thereof to determine occurrence of knocking; and renewing the respective background vibration levels using the cal

Abstract: The present specification discloses a diagnosis system and an optimum control unit for an internal combustion engine. The basic concept of the present invention resides in that a random retrieved signal of which auto correlation function is an impulse shape is superposed on a signal of an internal combustion engine, said superposed signal is used to measure a change of an operation state of the internal combustion engine, and an optimum direction of a control value is detected by a correlation between said measured value and retrieved signal.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a diagnosis system and an optimum control unit for an internal combustion engine. The basic concept of the present invention resides in that a random retrieved signal of which auto correlation function is an impulse shape is superposed on a signal of an internal combustion engine, said superposed signal is used to measure a change of an operation state of the internal combustion engine, and an optimum direction of a control value is detected by a correlation between said measured value and retrieved signal.