Abstract: A vehicle controller includes a processor configured to detect a vehicle ahead of a host vehicle from time-series sensor signals obtained by a sensor provided on the host vehicle for sensing objects around the host vehicle, track the vehicle ahead detected from the time-series sensor signals, determine whether the vehicle ahead has performed an avoidance action, based on the result of tracking, detect, when the vehicle ahead has performed an avoidance action, a trajectory of an edge of the vehicle ahead opposite a direction of avoidance in the avoidance action, and control travel of the host vehicle so that an edge of the host vehicle opposite the direction of avoidance moves along the detected trajectory.

Abstract: An apparatus for object detection detects a number of lanes included in a road on which a vehicle is traveling, detects one or more surrounding vehicles positioned in surroundings of the vehicle from a surrounding image showing the surroundings of the vehicle generated by a camera mounted in the vehicle, and determines, when more surrounding vehicles than the number of lanes detected in a predetermined range at the back of the vehicle are detected alongside in a width direction of the vehicle, that a possibility that any one of the surrounding vehicles being an emergency vehicle which is allowed to travel without obeying the traveling rule of the road is higher than when more surrounding vehicles than the number of lanes are not detected alongside in a width direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: A porous membrane includes a modacrylic copolymer. The modacrylic copolymer includes, with respect to 100 parts by mass of all structural units constituting the modacrylic copolymer, 15 to 85 parts by mass of a structural unit derived from acrylonitrile, 15 to 85 parts by mass of a structural unit derived from at least one halogen-containing monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl halide and vinylidene halide, and 0 to 10 parts by mass of a structural unit derived from a vinyl monomer having an ionic substituent. The porous membrane can be produced by preparing a modacrylic copolymer solution by dissolving the modacrylic copolymer in a solvent, and bringing the modacrylic copolymer solution into contact with a non-solvent for the modacrylic copolymer such that the modacrylic copolymer solution is solidified.

Abstract: A target pedestrian who is present within a range of a predetermined distance from a roadway is detected. Whether or not the target pedestrian has gazed at a crossing destination and whether or not the target pedestrian has performed a safety confirmation regarding vehicles traveling on the roadway are determined based on a gaze direction of the target pedestrian. As a result, when the target pedestrian has performed one action of either of gazing at the crossing destination and the safety confirmation, and then performed the other action within a predetermined amount of time, the target pedestrian is detected as a pre-crossing pedestrian who has an intention to cross the roadway. Consequently, a pedestrian who is attempting to cross the roadway can be accurately detected at a stage before the pedestrian actually starts crossing.

Abstract: A porous membrane includes a modacrylic copolymer. The modacrylic copolymer includes, with respect to 100 parts by mass of all structural units constituting the modacrylic copolymer, 15 to 85 parts by mass of a structural unit derived from acrylonitrile, 15 to 85 parts by mass of a structural unit derived from at least one halogen-containing monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl halide and vinylidene halide, and 0 to 10 parts by mass of a structural unit derived from a vinyl monomer having an ionic substituent. The porous membrane can be produced by preparing a modacrylic copolymer solution by dissolving the modacrylic copolymer in a solvent, and bringing the modacrylic copolymer solution into contact with a non-solvent for the modacrylic copolymer such that the modacrylic copolymer solution is solidified.

Abstract: A target pedestrian who is present within a range of a predetermined distance from a roadway is detected. Whether or not the target pedestrian has gazed at a crossing destination and whether or not the target pedestrian has performed a safety confirmation regarding vehicles traveling on the roadway are determined based on a gaze direction of the target pedestrian. As a result, when the target pedestrian has performed one action of either of gazing at the crossing destination and the safety confirmation, and then performed the other action within a predetermined amount of time, the target pedestrian is detected as a pre-crossing pedestrian who has an intention to cross the roadway. Consequently, a pedestrian who is attempting to cross the roadway can be accurately detected at a stage before the pedestrian actually starts crossing.

Abstract: A motion estimation system includes a head motion detection unit, a mobile body motion detection unit, and a movement estimation unit. The head motion detection unit is worn on an occupant in a mobile body, and detects a motion of a head of the occupant. The mobile body motion detection unit detects a motion of the mobile body. The movement estimation unit obtains the motion of the head of the occupant and the motion of the mobile body, and estimates a movement of the head of the occupant made by the occupant according to a difference between the motion of the head of the occupant and the motion of the mobile body.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes: a processing device receiving video signals of a video image by an image capturing device and processes an image of a frame in a viewable state based on the video signals to generate display signals; a display device receiving the display signals from the processing device and continuously displays, on a screen, images of a plurality of frames included in the display signals to display the video image; a setting device setting, for each frame, identification information to identify successive frames among the plurality of frames included in the display signals; and a detection device comparing the identification information of one frame of the image displayed on the display device with the identification information of a next one frame of the image displayed on the display device, and detecting that the screen of the display device freezes when both of the identification information are identical.

Abstract: An information terminal, which is mounted on a vehicle and executes multiple applications, includes a categorizer, a selector, and an executer. The categorizer categorizes the applications into categories. The selector selects a priority application to be executed with high priority from each category according to a driving situation of the vehicle. The executer executes the priority application selected by the selector.

Abstract: When a driving support apparatus is under automatic driving of a vehicle or an automatic driving button is pressed under manual driving, vicinity image data is acquired from an in-vehicle camera. When a predetermined target object is recognized in the vicinity image data, a visibility reduction process is applied to image data of the recognized target object. The visibility reduction process applies at least one of defocusing; decreasing color information; and decreasing edge intensity, to the image data of the recognized target object. In contrast, any visibility reduction process is not applied to any other image data other than the image data of the recognized target object. An image display apparatus displays the vicinity image by a combination of the image data of the recognized target object of which the visibility is reduced and the other image data of which the visibility is not reduced.

Abstract: When a driving support apparatus is under automatic driving of a vehicle or an automatic driving button is pressed under manual driving, vicinity image data is acquired from an in-vehicle camera. When a predetermined target object is recognized in the vicinity image data, a visibility reduction process is applied to image data of the recognized target object. The visibility reduction process applies at least one of defocusing; decreasing color information; and decreasing edge intensity, to the image data of the recognized target object. In contrast, any visibility reduction process is not applied to any other image data other than the image data of the recognized target object. An image display apparatus displays the vicinity image by a combination of the image data of the recognized target object of which the visibility is reduced and the other image data of which the visibility is not reduced.

Abstract: An information terminal, which is mounted on a vehicle and executes multiple applications, includes a categorizer, a selector, and an executer. The categorizer categorizes the applications into categories. The selector selects a priority application to be executed with high priority from each category according to a driving situation of the vehicle. The executer executes the priority application selected by the selector.

Abstract: An in-vehicle apparatus in a vehicle executes a vehicular application software-program and communicates with an information center that manages a general attribute of the application software-program. The in-vehicle apparatus includes an information acquisition section and an information transmission section. The information acquisition section acquires a general-attribute information data while the application software-program is executed, the general-attribute information data being an information data on the general attribute of the application software-program. The information transmission section transmits the general-attribute information data acquired by the information acquisition section to the information center (i) when a period of time for which the application software-program is executed reaches a predetermined threshold period of time or (ii) when an execution count that is a count of executions of the application software-program reaches a predetermined threshold execution count.

Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus that performs accurate driving assistance in accordance with actual road environment is provided. An electronic control unit (ECU) acquires shape information and vehicular swept path information about a subject vehicle and a nearby vehicle, representing vehicles and movement thereof as rectangular solids. A three-dimensional space is formed as a vehicular swept path for the rectangular solid and a road map generated based on the formed three-dimensional space. A notification is provided if the subject vehicle runs outside a space. Control support is provided to return the subject vehicle to an area indicated as safe.

Abstract: A dynamic contour extracting means detects, using a dynamic contour extraction method generally known as SNAKE, a contour of a recognition object included on an image by the following steps: a curve with control points is disposed in an image; an internal energy Eint indicating smoothness of the curve, an image energy Eimage, and an external energy Eext are summed up; and the curve is modified so that the summed total energy becomes the minimum. Here, a template is stored for including disposition information of primary control points that are bound to be moved only in a vertical or horizontal direction based on a road shape. The dynamic contour extracting means moves the primary control points based on the template. The primary control points can be rapidly moved owing to their limited movement direction.

Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus that performs accurate driving assistance in accordance with actual road environment is provided. An electronic control unit (ECU) acquires shape information and vehicular swept path information about a subject vehicle and a nearby vehicle, representing vehicles and movement thereof as rectangular solids. A three-dimensional space is formed as a vehicular swept path for the rectangular solid and a road map generated based on the formed three-dimensional space. A notification is provided if the subject vehicle runs outside a space. Control support is provided to return the subject vehicle to an area indicated as safe.

Abstract: A dynamic contour extracting means detects, using a dynamic contour extraction method generally known as SNAKE, a contour of a recognition object included on an image by the following steps: a curve with control points is disposed in an image; an internal energy Eint indicating smoothness of the curve, an image energy Eimage, and an external energy Eext are summed up; and the curve is modified so that the summed total energy becomes the minimum. Here, a template is stored for including disposition information of primary control points that are bound to be moved only in a vertical or horizontal direction based on a road shape. The dynamic contour extracting means moves the primary control points based on the template. The primary control points can be rapidly moved owing to their limited movement direction.

Abstract: An automobile navigating apparatus capable of setting a detour for a route to a desired destination. A memory device stores link information about links that constitute a map. Based on the link information, a route calculating section sets a route running from a start point to a desired destination by using evaluation values assigned to the links. The route thus set is shown on a display device in a highlighted manner. At the same time, directions to the desired destination along the route are instructed verbally. When a detour switch is operated, a detour for the route is calculated by a detour calculating section. In the detour calculation, the detour calculating section lowers the evaluation value for the link concerned along the previously set route to prevent the same from being set again.

Abstract: A scan test apparatus for operating a test unit according to a test pattern and outputs address information of the test pattern at which a fail takes place, which includes a memory unit for holding circuit information in which scan flip-flops are written at corresponding addresses and a control unit for outputting, in addition to the address information, a scan flip-flop name from the memory unit corresponding to the address information.

Abstract: A vacuum circuit breaker particularly suitable for use in an electric motor vehicle. The circuit breaker includes a vacuum interrupter to which a voltage is applied, the series combination of a capacitor and a switch which are connected in parallel with the vacuum interrupter, a provision for charging the capacitor with a voltage opposite the voltage applied to the vacuum interrupter, and a resistance connected in parallel with the vacuum interrupter. The vacuum interrupter, the resistance, and the series combination of the capacitor and switch form oscillation circuit having an oscillation frequency at least 2 KHz and an inductance of at least 1 .mu.H, with a commutating current of at least 5000 A for consuming energy stored in the circuit.