Abstract: A motor vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine having a system for variable actuation of the intake valves has a phase of activation of an operating mode with the engine off and the vehicle moving, in which the fuel supply to the engine is cut-off. After the cut-off of the fuel supply to the engine, the system for variable actuation of the intake valves is controlled to vary the opening time and/or closing time and/or the lift of the intake valves so as to control the losses due to the pumping effect which occur within the engine in cut-off condition.

Abstract: In a vehicle provided with a power propulsion system of the mild-hybrid type, a BAS unit—including an electric machine connected through a belt transmission to the shaft of an internal combustion engine—is exploited as the only propulsion engine of the vehicle in given operating conditions. The internal combustion engine is provided with a system for variable actuation of the intake valves which is controlled to reduce the pumping losses of the internal combustion engine in the phase in which such engine is in cut-off condition and it is driven by the aforementioned BAS unit. It is also provided for that the system for variable actuation of the intake valves be controlled to temporarily increase the pumping losses of the internal combustion engine in a phase in which it is required to accelerate the switching off of the engine.

Abstract: An automotive electronic control system configured to control the powertrain to stop the internal combustion engine and disengage the drive line, which results in the motor vehicle entering a freewheel running condition with the internal combustion engine off. The control system is further configured to control the drive line during an internal combustion engine run-down after the motor vehicle enters the freewheel running condition, to cause a gear to engage for inertial cranking of the internal combustion engine before the internal combustion engine leaves a self-sustaining operating condition.

Abstract: A motor vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine having a system for variable actuation of the intake valves has a phase of activation of an operating mode with the engine off and the vehicle moving, in which the fuel supply to the engine is cut-off. After the cut-off of the fuel supply to the engine, the system for variable actuation of the intake valves is controlled to vary the opening time and/or closing time and/or the lift of the intake valves so as to control the losses due to the pumping effect which occur within the engine in cut-off condition.

Abstract: In a vehicle provided with a power propulsion system of the mild-hybrid type, a BAS unit —including an electric machine connected through a belt transmission to the shaft of an internal combustion engine—is exploited as the only propulsion engine of the vehicle in given operating conditions. The internal combustion engine is provided with a system for variable actuation of the intake valves which is controlled to reduce the pumping losses of the internal combustion engine in the phase in which such engine is in cut-off condition and it is driven by the aforementioned BAS unit. It is also provided for that the system for variable actuation of the intake valves be controlled to temporarily increase the pumping losses of the internal combustion engine in a phase in which it is required to accelerate the switching off of the engine.

Abstract: An automotive electronic control system for a motor vehicle is provided. The automotive electronic control system is designed to cause the motor vehicle to enter a freewheel running condition with internal combustion engine off if the automotive electronic control system determines, based on received quantities indicative of operative conditions of the motor vehicle, occurrence of a driver-performable action indicative of the will of the driver to enter a freewheel running condition with internal combustion engine off and occurrence at or within a given time from the occurrence of the driver-performable action and the maintaining for a given time of specific predetermined entry conditions. The automotive electronic control system is further designed to cause the motor vehicle to leave a freewheel running condition with internal combustion engine off if the automotive electronic control system determines, based on the received quantities, occurrence of at least one of specific predetermined exit conditions.

Abstract: An automotive electronic control system for a motor vehicle powertrain comprising an internal combustion engine and a servo-actuated driveline. The electronic control system is configured to control the powertrain to cause stopping of the engine and disengagement of the driveline, whereby resulting in the motor vehicle entering a freewheel running condition with engine off, and cranking of the engine and engagement of the driveline, whereby resulting in the motor vehicle leaving the freewheel running condition with engine off. The electronic control system is further configured to control the driveline during an engine run-down consequent upon the motor vehicle entering the freewheel running condition with the the engine off, to cause engagement of a gear appropriate for inertial cranking of the engine before the latter leaves a self-sustaining operating condition, while a clutch of the driveline is kept engaged.

Abstract: The system allows the generation and distribution of energy on board a motor vehicle provided with a propulsion unit, a tank for fuel at least one distribution network or line for electric energy, electrical energy generation devices connected to the at least one distribution network or line, and a plurality of selectively activatable electrical utilizer devices or apparatus connected or connectable to the at least one distribution network or line. The electrical energy generator devices includes (at least) a microcombustor electricity generator matrix or battery connected to the fuel tank, and a supervision and control unit associated with this generator matrix or battery and coupled to the distribution network or line and arranged to control the operation of the generator matrix or battery in a predetermined manner as a function of the electrical power required or consumed by the network or line.

Abstract: A luminous display for automotive satellite navigation systems includes a panel equipped with light sources, for example made up of LEDs, arranged in a pre-ordered configuration of discrete segments, which can be combined with one another according to paths corresponding to the representation of a plurality of encoded generally arrow-shaped pictograms, each of which indicates a respective direction to follow indicated by the navigation system. The path to follow is highlighted with respect to possible alternative paths represented by the pictograms.

Abstract: Multifunctional optical sensor, comprising a matrix of photodetectors of the CCD or CMOS type, having a sensitive area divided into sub-areas, each of which, individually or combined with others, is dedicated to a specific function of monitoring the scene or measuring environmental parameters. The optical sensor comprises a matrix of microlenses, each of which is set to focus the radiation coming from a portion of solid angle on the associated photodetector or cluster of mutually contiguous photodetectors. Each function is associated to a single microlens or to a single subgroup of mutually contiguous microlenses or to multiple, not mutually contiguous microlenses or to multiple, not mutually contiguous subgroups of microlenses. The angular separation between the central directions of the portions of solid angle subtended by adjacent photodetectors or adjacent clusters of photodetectors is not constant within the matrix.

Abstract: Multifunctional optical sensor, comprising a matrix of photodetectors of the CCD or CMOS type, having a sensitive area divided into sub-areas, each of which, individually or combined with others, is dedicated to a specific function of monitoring the scene or measuring environmental parameters. The optical sensor comprises a matrix of microlenses, each of which is set to focus the radiation coming from a portion of solid angle on the associated photodetector or cluster of mutually contiguous photodetectors. Each function is associated to a single microlens or to a single subgroup of mutually contiguous microlenses or to multiple, not mutually contiguous microlenses or to multiple, not mutually contiguous subgroups of microlenses. The angular separation between the central directions of the portions of solid angle subtended by adjacent photodetectors or adjacent clusters of photodetectors is not constant within the matrix.

Abstract: An optical system for image projection, particularly for projection devices of the “head-mounted”type, includes a display, an optical system for focusing an image formed by the display, and a light guide having an extended body, with two opposite, longitudinal, plane and parallel faces, and opposite ends which define first reflecting surface for coupling into the light guide and second reflecting surface for extracting the image from the light guide. Each light ray which propagates through the light guide undergoes at least three internal total reflections on the parallel plane faces of the light guide. At least a surface of the focusing optical system is a portion of a surface free of rotational symmetry axes. Moreover, the two reflecting surfaces of the light guide are portions of surfaces free of rotational symmetry axes. Finally, the inlet pupil of the light guide coincides with the outlet pupil of the focusing system.

Abstract: The system allows the generation and distribution of energy on board a motor vehicle provided with a propulsion unit, a tank for fuel at least one distribution network or line for electric energy, electrical energy generation devices connected to the at least one distribution network or line, and a plurality of selectively activatable electrical utiliser devices or apparatus connected or connectable to the at least one distribution network or line. The electrical energy generator devices includes (at least) a microcombustor electricity generator matrix or battery connected to the fuel tank, and a supervision and control unit associated with this generator matrix or battery and coupled to the distribution network or line and arranged to control the operation of the generator matrix or battery in a predetermined manner as a function of the electrical power required or consumed by the network or line.

Abstract: The system allows the generation and distribution of energy on board a motor vehicle provided with a propulsion unit, a tank for fuel at least one distribution network or line for electric energy, electrical energy generation devices connected to the at least one distribution network or line, and a plurality of selectively activatable electrical utiliser devices or apparatus connected or connectable to the at least one distribution network or line. The electrical energy generator devices includes (at least) a microcombustor electricity generator matrix or battery connected to the fuel tank, and a supervision and control unit associated with this generator matrix or battery and coupled to the distribution network or line and arranged to control the operation of the said generator matrix or battery in a predetermined manner as a function of the electrical power required or consumed by the said network or line.

Abstract: Interface system for assisting an operator during a work stage comprising a support structure wearable by the operator, with a transparent screen placed in front of the operator's eyes to permit him to see a portion of a background; a virtual image generator for producing an optical signal directed towards the operator's retina so as to form a virtual image at a predetermined distance from the operator's eyes and superimposed on the background; a recording device integral with the operator's head, to record part of the operator's visual field and make available a signal representative of the visual field; a processing device for processing the signal from the recording device and generating a visual information signal of use to the operator for carrying out the work stage; and a device of reception/transmission for sending the signal from the recording device to the processing device, and rendering the information signal to the virtual image generator.

Abstract: A light-emitting device comprises a structure defining an orderly and periodic series of cavities of nanometric dimensions, in which a process of catalytic combustion is confined. The dimensions and/or the distance between the micro-cavities are selected to obtain a light emission in the visible and prevent and/or attenuate at the same time emission of infrared radiation.

Abstract: A luminous display for automotive satellite navigation systems includes a panel equipped with light sources, for example made up of LEDs, arranged in a pre-ordered configuration of discrete segments, which can be combined with one another according to paths corresponding to the representation of a plurality of encoded generally arrow-shaped pictograms, each of which indicates a respective direction to follow indicated by the navigation system. The path to follow is highlighted with respect to possible alternative paths represented by the pictograms.

Abstract: An aircraft which is attachable to, for example, a cellular phone. The aircraft is provided with at least four rotors actuated with compressed fluid or by ring-shaped electric motors.

Abstract: An optical system for image projection, particularly for projection devices of the “head-mounted” type, includes a display, an optical system for focusing an image formed by the display, and a light guide having an extended body, with two opposite, longitudinal, plane and parallel faces, and opposite ends which define first reflecting surface for coupling into the light guide and second reflecting surface for extracting the image from the light guide. Each light ray which propagates through the light guide undergoes at least three internal total reflections on the parallel plane faces of the light guide. At least a surface of the focusing optical system is a portion of a surface free of rotational symmetry axes. Moreover, the two reflecting surfaces of the light guide are portions of surfaces free of rotational symmetry axes. Finally, the inlet pupil of the light guide coincides with the outlet pupil of the focusing system.

Abstract: Multifunctional optical sensor, comprising a matrix of photodetectors of the CCD or CMOS type, having a sensitive area divided into sub-areas, each of which, individually or combined with others, is dedicated to a specific function of monitoring the scene or measuring environmental parameters. The optical sensor comprises a matrix of microlenses, each of which is set to focus the radiation coming from a portion of solid angle on the associated photodetector or cluster of mutually contiguous photodetectors. Each function is associated to a single microlens or to a single subgroup of mutually contiguous microlenses or to multiple, not mutually contiguous microlenses or to multiple, not mutually contiguous subgroups of microlenses. The angular separation between the central directions of the portions of solid angle subtended by adjacent photodetectors or adjacent clusters of photodetectors is not constant within the matrix.