Abstract: In an in-vehicle display apparatus, an obstacle recognition circuit recognizes an obstacle around a subject vehicle, and an image output circuit causes a display portion to display an obstacle image indicating the obstacle recognized by the obstacle recognition circuit in a predetermined displayable range at the lower portion on a windshield. This permits the obstacle to be viewed at a position to which a line of sight of the driver to the obstacle image is extended upward.

Abstract: An in-vehicle display apparatus in a vehicle includes a region recognition circuit and an image output circuit. The region recognition circuit recognizes a target plane region in scenery ahead of the vehicle; the target plane region corresponds to a continuous region having (i) a flatness equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value and (ii) an area size equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. The image output circuit displays a driving information picture as a virtual image using a liquid crystal panel such that a driver of the vehicle views the virtual image in the target plane region within a displayable region through a windshield of the vehicle.

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 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 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 in-vehicle display apparatus in a vehicle includes a region recognition circuit and an image output circuit. The region recognition circuit recognizes a target plane region in scenery ahead of the vehicle; the target plane region corresponds to a continuous region having (i) a flatness equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value and (ii) an area size equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. The image output circuit displays a driving information picture as a virtual image using a liquid crystal panel such that a driver of the vehicle views the virtual image in the target plane region within a displayable region through a windshield of the vehicle.

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 field watch apparatus for use in a subject vehicle acquires a road image from a roadside capture unit located around the subject vehicle on a road and, based on the acquired image, generates an overhead view of a field around the subject vehicle in an intuitively recognizable manner by including a distant surrounding vehicle in the view, thereby providing a precisely understandable view of the field around the subject vehicle for the ease of satisfactorily identifying the distant surrounding vehicle without being compromised by the position of the roadside capture unit.

Abstract: The driver side of a light source panel is curved in a concave configuration which conforms with the curvature (curve) of the cross-section of the area of a front windshield glass, in which a virtual image is displayed. Individual light sources are arranged in the light source panel in a curved configuration which conforms with the curvature (curve) of the cross-section of the area of the front windshield glass, in which the virtual image is displayed.

Abstract: An information providing device includes: a vehicle condition detector for detecting a vehicle condition; a support information generating element for generating support information for a driver; and a tactile sensibility notification element in a steering wheel for notifying the support information to the driver. The steering wheel includes a wheel element having a base, a movable portion and a driving unit. The movable portion is relatively movable with respect to the base. The driving unit drives the movable portion according to the support information. The movable portion and the driving unit provide the tactile sensibility notification element. Movement of the movable portion provides notification of the support information.

Abstract: An information presentation device includes: a directional information obtaining element for obtaining directional information based on a signal from an enhancement device for safety or comfort of a passenger of a vehicle; an information presentation controller for generating a driving signal based on the directional information; and a stimulation element including multiple vibrators for generating a traveling wave of vibration in an in-vehicle element. A directionality of the traveling wave corresponds to the directional information. The stimulation element transmits the traveling wave to the passenger so that the passenger perceives the directionality of the traveling wave.

Abstract: A stereophonic apparatus uses three speakers respectively installed toward a front of a vehicle on both shoulders of a seat back of a driver's seat and toward a back of the vehicle on an exact center in front of a driver. This configuration provides more effectively exerted positioning effects for a virtual sound source realized by using the three speakers, especially for the effects in a frontward field of sound.

Abstract: An information providing device includes: a vehicle condition detector for detecting a vehicle condition; a support information generating element for generating support information for a driver; and a tactile sensibility notification element in a steering wheel for notifying the support information to the driver. The steering wheel includes a wheel element having a base, a movable portion and a driving unit. The movable portion is relatively movable with respect to the base. The driving unit drives the movable portion according to the support information. The movable portion and the driving unit provide the tactile sensibility notification element. Movement of the movable portion provides notification of the support information.

Abstract: An information presentation device includes: a directional information obtaining element for obtaining directional information based on a signal from an enhancement device for safety or comfort of a passenger of a vehicle; an information presentation controller for generating a driving signal based on the directional information; and a stimulation element including multiple vibrators for generating a traveling wave of vibration in an in-vehicle element. A directionality of the traveling wave corresponds to the directional information. The stimulation element transmits the traveling wave to the passenger so that the passenger perceives the directionality of the traveling wave.

Abstract: A stereophonic apparatus uses three speakers respectively installed toward a front of a vehicle on both shoulders of a seat back of a driver's seat and toward a back of the vehicle on an exact center in front of a driver. This configuration provides more effectively exerted positioning effects for a virtual sound source realized by using the three speakers, especially for the effects in a frontward field of sound.

Abstract: A field watch apparatus for use in a subject vehicle acquires a road image from a roadside capture unit located around the subject vehicle on a road and, based on the acquired image, generates an overhead view of a field around the subject vehicle in an intuitively recognizable manner by including a distant surrounding vehicle in the view, thereby providing a precisely understandable view of the field around the subject vehicle for the ease of satisfactorily identifying the distant surrounding vehicle without being compromised by the position of the roadside capture unit.

Abstract: An azimuth determinating apparatus wherein the azimuth sensor is oriented to a specified direction, and the deviation of the two-component detection signals of the azimuth sensor from the pointing direction of the azimuth sensor are corrected by the adjustment of the two-component detection signals with the adjusting circuit in accordance with the indication on the amount of deviation indicated by the indicating circuit, whereby distortion of the output signals due to the residual magnetism of the azimuth sensor is corrected and the true azimuth can be determined.