Abstract: An information provision device includes a left vibrator disposed at left portion of a vehicle steering wheel and a right vibrator disposed at right portion of the vehicle steering wheel, a control unit vibrating the vibrators under a predetermined pattern with varying intensity, and a pattern setting unit. The pattern setting unit sets a right-turn related pattern when right-turn related information is provided and sets a left-turn related pattern when left-turn related information is provided. The right-turn related pattern includes at least a pattern in which a left vibration state, a right-and-left vibration state, and a right vibration state shift in described order. The left-turn related pattern includes at least a pattern in which the right vibration state, the right-and-left vibration state, and the left vibration state shift in described order.

Abstract: An information provision device includes a left vibrator disposed at left portion of a vehicle steering wheel and a right vibrator disposed at right portion of the vehicle steering wheel, a control unit vibrating the vibrators under a predetermined pattern with varying intensity, and a pattern setting unit. The pattern setting unit sets a right-turn related pattern when right-turn related information is provided and sets a left-turn related pattern when left-turn related information is provided. The right-turn related pattern includes at least a pattern in which a left vibration state, a right-and-left vibration state, and a right vibration state shift in described order. The left-turn related pattern includes at least a pattern in which the right vibration state, the right-and-left vibration state, and the left vibration state shift in described order.

Abstract: An operation position detection apparatus includes: an operation body including front and back side operation surfaces; a casing; three strain generating bodies on at least one operation surface, wherein each strain generating body includes a connection section connected to the operation body, a fixed section fixed to the casing, and a displacement transmission surface displaceable by a pushing pressure to each operation surface; a distortion detection section arranged on each displacement transmission surface and detecting a distortion of the displacement transmission surface; and an operation position calculation section detecting which of the front side operation surface and the back side operation surface is pushed, the magnitude of the operation force generated by the pushing pressure, and an operation position of the pushing pressure, according to a detected distortion.

Abstract: An autonomous driving control apparatus that achieves autonomous driving by controlling a driving operation of a subject vehicle, based on a situation around the subject vehicle is provided. The autonomous driving control apparatus includes: a driving operation determination part that determines a detail of the driving operation of the subject vehicle, based on the situation; a driving operation control part that controls the driving operation in accordance with the detail; and a driving information output part that shifts a footrest portion of a footrest at a seat on a driver seat side of the subject vehicle by driving a driving part provided on the footrest, to output the detail as driving information. The driving information output part varies a frontward inclination angle in accordance with a level of acceleration or deceleration of the subject vehicle, to output the driving information.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a first input unit, a second input unit, and an operation command output unit. The first input unit receives a first manipulation signal indicative of a first manipulation including a first manipulation point and a first manipulation pressure from a first touchpad. The second input unit receives a second manipulation signal indicative of a second manipulation including a second manipulation point and a second manipulation pressure from a second touchpad. The operation command output unit receives the first manipulation signal and the second manipulation signal, and outputs an operation command to a display device based on a combination of the first manipulation and the second manipulation. The first touchpad is arranged to be approachable by a first manipulation finger of a left hand. The second touchpad is arranged to be approachable by a second manipulation finger of a right hand.

Abstract: A speech recognition apparatus includes: a recognition device that recognizes a speech of a user and generates a speech character string; a display device that displays the speech character string; a reception device that receives an input of a correction character string, which is used for correction of the speech character string, through an operation portion; and a correction device that corrects the speech character string with using the correction character string.

Abstract: An operation input device has an improved position detection accuracy for detecting a position of an operation force by forming a wide portion on one end of an operation unit at a periphery thereof and by fixedly disposing, on a stay, a narrow portion on an opposite end of the operation unit, among which the wide portion protrudes in an in-parallel direction of an operation surface of the operation unit.

Abstract: An operation input device includes a connection body that has two slopes respectively having an angle against an operation panel to form a gable roof shape, and each of the two slopes has a strain body disposed thereon, and an vertex of the roof-shaped slopes is positioned within a preset distance from an outer face of the operation panel, and the strain body, the connection body and a strain gauge are disposed in an inside of a box-shaped operation unit.

Abstract: An in-vehicle apparatus includes a plurality of operations sections, a detection section, and a cancellation section. The operation sections are configured to receive an operation by a user while driving of a vehicle and respectively include distortion detection elements that respectively transmit detection signals in accordance with loads generated due to the operation. The detection section detects the operation to the operation sections based on the detection signals. The cancellation section determines whether loads are generated in the operation sections in a same period based on the detection signals transmitted from the distortion detection elements and cancels the detection signals transmitted from the distortion detection elements in the same period when the loads are generated in the same period.

Abstract: An information notification system includes a transmitting device, a receiving device, a driver related information acquirement section, and a parameter setting section. The transmitting device includes an assist information acquirement section acquiring assist information that assists a driver during driving of a vehicle. The receiving device includes a notification section notifying the driver of the assist information in a tactile manner. The driver related information acquirement section acquires driver related information, which is associated with a perceivability of the driver to the assist information. The parameter setting section sets notification parameter based on the driver related information. The notification section notifies of the assist information to the driver corresponding to the notification parameter.

Abstract: An operation position detection apparatus includes: an operation body including front and back side operation surfaces; a casing; three strain generating bodies on each operation surface, wherein each strain generating body includes a connection section connected to the operation body, a fixed section fixed to the casing, and a displacement transmission surface displaceable by a pushing pressure to each operation surface; a distortion detection section arranged on each displacement transmission surface and detecting a distortion of the displacement transmission surface; and an operation position calculation section detecting which of the front side operation surface and the back side operation surface is pushed, the magnitude of the operation force generated by the pushing pressure, and an operation position of the pushing pressure, according to a detected distortion.

Abstract: A touch operation unit has a manipulated surface accepting a touch operation. An operation detection unit detects a touch operation on the manipulated surface. A moving unit moves the touch operation unit. A movement control unit drives the moving unit to control a movement of the touch operation unit, when the operation detection unit detects a touch operation, to satisfy a predetermined stimulable condition enabling stimulation of a skin sensory receptor. The stimulable condition is a condition of a movement quantity of the touch operation unit and a moving speed of the touch operation unit or a condition of the movement quantity of the touch operation unit and an acceleration of the touch operation unit.

Abstract: A display control apparatus for a vehicle includes a steering angle detector, an operation detector, a display section, and a setting section. The steering angle detector detects a steering angle of the vehicle. The operation detector detects an operation to an operation unit mounted on a steering wheel of the vehicle. The display section displays an operation image on a display unit located behind the steering wheel in such a manner that the operation image changes according to the operation detected by the operation detector. The setting section sets a display position of the operation image on the display unit according to the steering angle detected by the steering angle detector so that a driver of the vehicle views the operation image at a position adjacent to the operation unit.

Abstract: A driving support apparatus includes an output unit installed in a steering wheel that outputs steer information about a rotation operation of the steering wheel to the driver through the output unit. By providing the driver with steer information from the output unit in the steering wheel, the driver may recognize the contents of the output of the steer information. Further, since the steer information has a high priority for the driver due to its direct relevance to movement and a travel direction of the vehicle, providing such high priority steer information in an easily-recognizable manner improves driver awareness or readiness to recognize lower-priority information. Thus, information overload by the driver caused by information from various driving support techniques is prevented.

Abstract: An information providing apparatus includes a tactile information provider and a controller. The tactile information provider is arranged within a rim portion of a steering wheel of a vehicle and provides a tactile sense to a driver. The controller controls the tactile information provider to provide support information to the driver. The support information is defined as information that supports a driving of the vehicle. The tactile information provider includes a trench arranged in a circumferential direction of the rim portion, a ring-shaped ring portion, and a driving portion. The ring portion is rotatably arranged in the trench and has an exposed surface such that the exposed surface contacts with at least one hand of the driver. The driving portion is controlled by the controller to drive the ring potion rotate in the circumferential direction to provide the support information to the driver.

Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus mounted to a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus determines whether an amount of change in tire wheel speed of each tire wheel of the vehicle exceeds a threshold. The apparatus specifies a tire wheel crossing order, which is an order in which the tire wheels of the vehicle cross over a level difference between a road and a parking lot when the vehicle crosses over the level difference. The apparatus determines whether or not the vehicle has crossed over the level difference between the road and the parking lot, based on whether a threshold-exceeding order is identical to the specified tire wheel crossing order. The threshold-exceeding order is an order in which the amounts of change in the tire wheel speed of the respective tire wheels exceed the threshold.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a first input unit, a second input unit, and an operation command output unit. The first input unit receives a first manipulation signal indicative of a first manipulation including a first manipulation point and a first manipulation pressure from a first touchpad. The second input unit receives a second manipulation signal indicative of a second manipulation including a second manipulation point and a second manipulation pressure from a second touchpad. The operation command output unit receives the first manipulation signal and the second manipulation signal, and outputs an operation command to a display device based on a combination of the first manipulation and the second manipulation. The first touchpad is arranged to be approachable by a first manipulation finger of a left hand. The second touchpad is arranged to be approachable by a second manipulation finger of a right hand.

Abstract: A display control apparatus for a vehicle includes a steering angle detector, an operation detector, a display section, and a setting section. The steering angle detector detects a steering angle of the vehicle. The operation detector detects an operation to an operation unit mounted on a steering wheel of the vehicle. The display section displays an operation image on a display unit located behind the steering wheel in such a manner that the operation image changes according to the operation detected by the operation detector. The setting section sets a display position of the operation image on the display unit according to the steering angle detected by the steering angle detector so that a driver of the vehicle views the operation image at a position adjacent to the operation unit.

Abstract: A speech recognition apparatus includes: a recognition device that recognizes a speech of a user and generates a speech character string; a display device that displays the speech character string; a reception device that receives an input of a correction character string, which is used for correction of the speech character string, through an operation portion; and a correction device that corrects the speech character string with using the correction character string.

Abstract: An information presentation apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a stimulator device located on a steering wheel of the vehicle and configured to generate stimulation at multiple sites on the steering wheel to provide skin sensation to a driver gripping the steering wheel; a direction information acquisition device configured to acquire direction information; and a controller configured to cause, in accordance with the acquired direction information, the stimulator device to successively generate the stimulation through the plurality of sites on the steering wheel to invoke an apparent movement that appears to the driver as if the skin sensation moves in a way indicative of a direction according to the direction information.