Abstract: A speech recognition system for an automotive vehicle enables desired reference spoken instruction phrases to be easily re-recorded by repeatedly depressing a manual switch arrangement that commands skipping. Each activation of the switch shifts the system from a ready state for recording the current spoken instruction to a ready state for recording a succeeding spoken instruction. By repeatedly activating the skip switch ready state for re-recording any given spoken instruction is reached. In one embodiment, a separate skip switch is provided. In a second embodiment, logic circuitry responds to simultaneous activation of record and recognition switches to command skipping.

Abstract: In a multiple computer system in which a plurality of computer stations are connected for mutual data transfer via a common data bus, at least one computer station is provided with a fail safe facility which prevents disruption of the entire system due to malfunction of the computer station. The computer is preprogrammed to perform an input/output circuit diagnosis routine after power-up and before control program execution which causes the input/output circuit to output a coded pulse train signal. An abnormality detection circuit receives the coded pulse signal, converts it to a parallel-bit word, and compares the derived word to a stored, predetermined word. If the words match, the detection circuit causes a switching circuit to connect the computer to the common data bus; otherwise, the computer remains disconnected from the rest of the multiple computer system.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle speech recognition system sets a recording-mode reference threshold level to be lower than a recognition-mode reference threshold level. Therefore, a spoken instruction supplied to the system in a low voice while the vehicle is parked in a quiet place during a record mode can be correlated with an instruction uttered in a loud voice during a recognition mode while the vehicle is running in a noisy environment. During the record and recognition modes reference threshold signals derived by smoothing a spoken instruction are multiplied by two different factors such that the reference threshold in the recognition mode has a greater multiplication factor than the reference threshold in the record mode. While the driver is uttering a command a first smoothed version of the utterance power spectrum is compared with a fixed reference threshold level, set to the value of a second smoothed version of the utterance power spectrum at the time the utterance began.

Abstract: A data transmitting/receiving network system connects a plurality of stations via a data transmission bus line in a time sharing mode. A specially encoded clocking signal cycles through a plurality of unique states and each station is allowed to transmit/receive in one of the unique cycles. Each station is equipped with serial-to-parallel reception and parallel-to-serial transmission so that a plurality of bits can be transmitted/received in each cycle. Parity error checking is performed on the transmitted/received bit parcels.

Abstract: A speech recognition system for an automotive vehicle derive a spoken instruction start signal and a spoken instruction end signal when a smoothed spoken instruction signal exceeds or drops below a predetermined threshold level representing the intensity of the background noise for more than first and second predetermined time periods, respectively. Noise is determined by converting the output of a microphone transducing the spoken instruction into a single polarity signal that is smoothed with a long time constant. The single polarity variation is also smoothed with a shorter time constant. The signals with the long and short constants are applied to a comparator that derives a bi-level output signal. In response to transitions in first and second directions of the bi-level signal lasting for first and second durations, the start and end signals are respectively derived.

Abstract: A loop-type data transmission/reception network system has a plurality of data processing stations and a single data transmission/reception route which interconnects said stations in a loop for transmitting necessary data between the stations, each of the stations comprising: (a) means for detecting a break-down in the data transmission/reception route between the station itself and the preceding station; (b) means responsive to the detection of a break-down in the data transmission/reception route between the station itself and the preceding station by the detection means for transmitting break-down information to the subsequent station; and means for reversing the transmission direction in the data transmission reception route in accordance with the break-down information transmitted by the break-down information transmitting means.

Abstract: A speech recognition system for an automotive vehicle sequentially activates at least one device having plural different operating modes in accordance with a plurality of spoken instructions without repeating the same phrase. To adjust fender mirrors, for instance, first the driver says "Mirror" while depressing a recognition switch to stop the moving mirror; secondly the driver says "Right, horizontally", thirdly the driver says "Right, vertically" after having depressed a reset switch; lastly the driver says "Stop". The speech recognition system comprises a reset switch, at least one device instruction phrase memory, plural operation-mode instruction phrase memories, and a reference pattern memory selector for selecting the device memory or an appropriate operation-mode memory, in addition to or in place of a section of a conventional speech recognizer.

Abstract: A receiver is applied to optical communication using an optical pulse signal carrying data which is cyclically updated. The optical signal is converted to a corresponding electrical pulse signal. The data is extracted from the electrical signal. The extracted data from successive cycles are compared. In response to the result of comparison between the data, a determination is made as to the number of cycles in which the extracted data is at a given value. When the determined number of cycles reaches a variable preset number, a previously used data value is replaced by the given value. The amplitudes of the electrical signal pulses are compared with a reference level. The preset number is varied in accordance with the result of comparison between the pulse amplitudes and the reference level.

Abstract: In a speech recognition and control system for an automobile, the microphone preamplifier gain is made inversely proportional to the background sound noise level. Noise level is determined by averaging the microphone output for 100 milliseconds after the recognition switch is closed, before speech.

Abstract: A moving obstacle detection system for an automotive vehicle utilizing a doppler effect of the transmitted wave against an obstacle which runs in front of the vehicle such as another vehicle.

Abstract: A speech recognition system for an automotive vehicle can effectively eliminate noise generated by vehicle engines, and comprises a group of bandpass filters the pass bands of which are approximately from 500 to 600, from 900 to 1200, and from 900 to 2200 Hz, for effectively passing only the speech sound formant frequencies while eliminating the major frequency components of engine noise less than 500 Hz, in addition to the conventional speech recognizer. Further, it is desirable to provide the speech recognition system with a high-frequency compensator for enhancing the voltage level of the high frequency components of the electrical signal representing spoken instructions at a rate of 20 dB or more per decade increase in frequency and/or a plurality of notch filters fo sharply reducing the major engine noise frequency components at 200, 400, and 800 Hz.

Abstract: A speech recognition system for an automotive vehicle which can record or recognize spoken instruction phrases reliably even when engine noise increases high within the passenger compartment. When the engine begins to operate, the gain of an amplifier of a speech input section or the threshold level of a voice detector is so switched as to reduce the sensitivity to spoken instructions. As a result, the driver must necessarily utter a spoken instruction in a louder voice and thus the proportion of noise level to spoken instruction signal level is reduced. The system according to the present invention comprises engine operation detecting means, an analog switch, two amplifiers or two multipliers, etc. in addition to the conventional speech recognizer.

Abstract: A speech recognition system includes speech presence detection which uses a first level threshold of ambient noise/silence above which speech start is decided for a signal. Speech end is decided when the signal falls to a second threshold equal to the first, unless a predetermined time interval of speech is exceeded after start, causing a corrected second threshold to be calculated and used.

Abstract: A speech recognition and actuator system for auto device control includes a recognition switch which when operated a first time activates the system to accept a spoken command, and if operated a second time within a predetermined interval T1 (approximately 2 seconds) stops the actuation and awaits a new command. Additional timers provide interval T2 for a stop command, and T3 for enabling the speech recognizer. The system may also include a reset switch when operated returns the actuated device to its original state.

Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a torque converter with a direct drive clutch and at least one planetary gear unit, and is controlled electronically. The engagement of the direct drive clutch is controlled, independently of a first relation between the vehicle speed and the engine torque to perform shifting, on the basis of a second relation between the vehicle speed and the engine torque. The direct drive clutch can be engaged in each forward running shift postion, and is disengaged at the time of shifting for a predetermined time. Line pressure from a main regulator valve is modulated when the direct drive clutch is engaged.

Abstract: A spoken-instruction controlled system for an automotive vehicle by which a single actuator can be activated repeatedly or a plurality of actuators can be activated sequentially by repeatedly depressing a recognition switch within a predetermined time period after a spoken instruction corresponding to the single actuator or actuators has been recognized by a speech recognizer. Therefore, it is possible to activate an actuator repeatedly or actuators sequentially without uttering the same spoken instruction repeatedly. The spoken-instruction controlled system according to the present invention comprises a two-circuit analog switch, at least one analog switch, at least one retriggerable timer unit, an AND gate, an OR gate, a shift register, etc., in addition to a speech recognizer.

Abstract: To avoid pinched fingers, a verbal "Stop Window" command causes a stop and momentary reversal of window motion. A spoken-instruction controlled system for an automotive vehicle which can stop a moving device such as a door window closing device after having driven it reversely for a fixed period when a spoken instruction is inputted thereto through a microphone. In the system according to the present invention, even if there exists a time delay from when the driver utters the spoken instruction to when the device stops perfectly, it is possible to stop the device at or before a position at which the driver utters the spoken instruction. The system according to the present invention comprises at least one motor reversing controller and a timer unit, in addition to the conventional spoken-instruction controller including at least one switch, at least one motor stop controller and a speech recognizer.

Abstract: A shift shock in an automatic transmission during a change of gear positions is reduced by maintaining a hydraulic pressure (line pressure) equal to the magnitude of a desired hydraulic pressure for a predetermined holding time.

Abstract: A speech recognition system for an automotive vehicle which can selectively activate actuators according to vehicle-travelling conditions in such a way that a spoken instruction such as "Door open" or "Trunk lid open" can be recognized only when vehicle speed is zero, "Headlight high/low beam" can be recognized only when vehicle speed reaches a predetermined value, and "Air conditioner on/off" or "Radio on/off" can be recognized regardless of vehicle speed. The speech recognition system for an automotive vehicle according to the present invention comprises a speed sensor or the like and a speed-dependent speech selection unit including AND gates or analog switches, in addition to the conventional speech recognizer.

Abstract: An optical signal transmission system for an automotive vehicle by which a number of electric signals generated from switches arranged on the steering wheel are transferred to other controllers optically and digitally for control the necessary vehicle operating conditions with high reliability, without producing electrical noise even while steering wheel is being turned. The optical signal transmission system of the present invention comprises optical transmission devices including an electricity-to-light converting means, a light-transmitting ring, a light-to-electricity converting means, in addition to a digital circuit including an encoder, decoder, etc.