Abstract: A copper-coated steel wire includes a core wire made of a steel and a coating layer made of copper or a copper alloy which covers an outer peripheral surface of the core wire. The coating layer includes an intermediate layer which is disposed in a region including the interface with the core wire and has a higher zinc concentration than a remaining region of the coating layer.

Abstract: A copper-coated steel wire includes a core wire made of a steel and a coating layer made of copper or a copper alloy which covers an outer peripheral surface of the core wire. The coating layer includes an intermediate layer which is disposed in a region including the interface with the core wire and has a higher zinc concentration than a remaining region of the coating layer.

Abstract: A data-to-be-recorded generating section generates a piece of data-to-be-recorded by associating an emotion level of a user estimated through an emotion level estimating section with a piece of lifelog data obtained through a lifelog data obtaining section. A log managing section manages whether the piece of data-to-be-recorded should be stored in a memory device based on a selectivity based on the emotion level.

Abstract: A vehicle alertness control system that executes alertness control to increase an alertness level of a driver of a vehicle includes an alertness level determination unit, an alertness controller, and a conversation controller. The alertness level determination unit is configured to determine an alertness level of the driver. The alertness controller is configured to select a level of a stimulus applied to the driver based on the determined alertness level. The conversation controller is configured to select a conversation category corresponding to the selected stimulus level from conversation categories categorizing a content of utterance in correspondence with each stimulus level and control conversation with the driver through a speaker and a microphone.

Abstract: A data-to-be-recorded generating section generates a piece of data-to-be-recorded by associating an emotion level of a user estimated through an emotion level estimating section with a piece of lifelog data obtained through a lifelog data obtaining section. A log managing section manages whether the piece of data-to-be-recorded should be stored in a memory device based on a selectivity based on the emotion level.

Abstract: A vehicle alertness control system that executes alertness control to increase an alertness level of a driver of a vehicle includes an alertness level determination unit, an alertness controller, and a conversation controller. The alertness level determination unit is configured to determine an alertness level of the driver. The alertness controller is configured to select a level of a stimulus applied to the driver based on the determined alertness level. The conversation controller is configured to select a conversation category corresponding to the selected stimulus level from conversation categories categorizing a content of utterance in correspondence with each stimulus level and control conversation with the driver through a speaker and a microphone.

Abstract: A TV transmitter, a TV transmitting method, a TV receiver and a TV receiving method allowing users to find and choose desired programs through the use of a program guide displayed by graphical user interface (GUI). The TV transmitter comprises a signal generation unit for generating text data signals associated with TV broadcast programs and hyper text data signals corresponding to the text data signals, a multiplexer for multiplexing the text data signals and the hyper text data signals onto video signals of the TV broadcast programs to provide a multiplexed TV broadcast signal, and an output unit for outputting the multiplexed TV broadcast signal provided by the multiplexer.

Abstract: A TV transmitter, a TV transmitting method, a TV receiver and a TV receiving method allowing users to find and choose desired programs through the use of a program guide displayed by graphical user interface (GUI). The TV transmitter comprises a signal generation unit for generating text data signals associated with TV broadcast programs and hyper text data signals corresponding to the text data signals, a multiplexer for multiplexing the text data signals and the hyper text data signals onto video signals of the TV broadcast programs to provide a multiplexed TV broadcast signal, and an output unit for outputting the multiplexed TV broadcast signal provided by the multiplexer.

Abstract: A dialogue system that provides a driver with driving advice includes driving performance evaluation means for evaluating a driving performance of the driver estimated based on driving performance information using a normative driving performance as a reference; response evaluation means for evaluating a driver's response to the provided driving advice based on a change in the driving performance of the driver after provision of the driving advice; and output control means for adjusting contents of the driving advice provided to the driver based on the result of evaluation of the driving performance of the driver and setting a mode of expressing the driving advice based on the result of evaluation of the driver's response to the provided driving advice.

Abstract: In the seat belt apparatus of the invention, a belt retracting motor is operated so as to retract the seat belt by a predetermined amount when it is determined that the vehicle will roll over based on a lateral acceleration, a roll rate and a roll angle which are detected and calculated by a lateral acceleration sensor and a roll rate sensor, according to a predetermined first determination condition. Also, a pretensioner is operated so as to retract the seat belt by a predetermined amount when it is determined that the vehicle will roll over according to a second determination condition indicating that there is a higher possibility of rollover. When it is determined that the vehicle will not roll over, operation of the belt retracting motor is cancelled, and the seat belt is permitted to be pulled out.

Abstract: A dialogue system that provides a driver with driving advice includes driving performance evaluation means for evaluating a driving performance of the driver estimated based on driving performance information using a normative driving performance as a reference; response evaluation means for evaluating a driver's response to the provided driving advice based on a change in the driving performance of the driver after provision of the driving advice; and output control means for adjusting contents of the driving advice provided to the driver based on the result of evaluation of the driving performance of the driver and setting a mode of expressing the driving advice based on the result of evaluation of the driver's response to the provided driving advice.

Abstract: A TV transmitter, a TV transmitting—method, a TV receiver and a TV receiving method allowing users to find and choose desired programs through the use of a program guide displayed by graphical user interface (GUI). The TV transmitter comprises a signal generation unit for generating text data signals associated with TV broadcast programs and hyper text data signals corresponding to the text data signals, a multiplexer for multiplexing the text data signals and the hyper text data signals onto video signals of the TV broadcast programs to provide a multiplexed TV broadcast signal, and an output unit for outputting the multiplexed TV broadcast signal provided by the multiplexer.

Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus appropriately protects occupants of a vehicle, when a vehicle crush occurs, without requiring a troublesome task to the occupants. The occupant protection apparatus is provided with a steering angle sensor, a distance sensor and a brake depressing amount sensor. An electronic control unit predicts a vehicle crash based on the detection signals of each sensor so as to set a tension applied to a driver seat seatbelt to be smaller than a tension applied to passenger seat seatbelts. Additionally, the electronic control unit increases the tension applied to the seatbelts when a temperature detected by an outside-temperature detection sensor and/or an inside-temperature detection sensor is low.

Abstract: In the seat belt apparatus of the invention, a belt retracting motor is operated so as to retract the seat belt by a predetermined amount when it is determined that the vehicle will roll over based on a lateral acceleration, a roll rate and a roll angle which are detected and calculated by a lateral acceleration sensor and a roll rate sensor, according to a predetermined first determination condition. Also, a pretensioner is operated so as to retract the seat belt by a predetermined amount when it is determined that the vehicle will roll over according to a second determination condition indicating that there is a higher possibility of rollover. When it is determined that the vehicle will not roll over, operation of the belt retracting motor is cancelled, and the seat belt is permitted to be pulled out.

Abstract: In the seat belt apparatus of the invention, a belt retracting motor is operated so as to retract the seat belt by a predetermined amount when it is determined that the vehicle will roll over based on a lateral acceleration, a roll rate and a roll angle which are detected and calculated by a lateral acceleration sensor and a roll rate sensor, according to a predetermined first determination condition. Also, a pretensioner is operated so as to retract the seat belt by a predetermined amount when it is determined that the vehicle will roll over according to a second determination condition indicating that there is a higher possibility of rollover. When it is determined that the vehicle will not roll over, operation of the belt retracting motor is cancelled, and the seat belt is permitted to be pulled out.

Abstract: A TV transmitter, a TV transmitting—method, a TV receiver and a TV receiving method allowing users to find and choose desired programs through the use of a program guide displayed by graphical user interface (GUI). The TV transmitter comprises a signal generation unit for generating text data signals associated with TV broadcast programs and hyper text data signals corresponding to the text data signals, a multiplexer for multiplexing the text data signals and the hyper text data signals onto video signals of the TV broadcast programs to provide a multiplexed TV broadcast signal, and an output unit for outputting the multiplexed TV broadcast signal provided by the multiplexer.

Abstract: An occupant protection system activates at least one reversible occupant protection device installed in a vehicle and allowed for a repetitive operation. The occupant protection system includes an obstacle detector that detects a presence of an obstacle around the vehicle and a controller connected to the at least one reversible occupant protection device. The controller makes a prediction of a collision of the vehicle with the obstacle on the basis of a detection signal of the obstacle detector, makes a confirmation of the collision of the vehicle with the obstacle subsequent to the prediction of the collision, and activates the at least one reversible occupant protection device subsequent to the prediction, and cancels activation of the at least one reversible occupant protection device when no confirmation of the collision of the vehicle with the obstacle is made.

Abstract: An occupant weight detecting apparatus for detecting an occupant weight on a seat includes a load sensor mounted on the seat to detect a load on the seat and output a load signal. A detected load value is calculated periodically based on the load signal and an average is calculated based on the detected load values calculated during a period in which the detected load value is less than a first predetermined. The average of the detected load values is set to a zero point, and the occupant weight is detected based on the detected load value and the zero point when the detected load value exceeds a second predetermined value.

Abstract: A TV transmitter, a TV transmitting method, a TV receiver and a TV receiving method allowing users to find and choose desired programs through the use of a program guide displayed by graphical user interface (GUI). The TV transmitter comprises a signal generation unit for generating text data signals associated with TV broadcast programs and hyper text data signals corresponding to the text data signals, a multiplexer for multiplexing the text data signals and the hyper text data signals onto video signals of the TV broadcast programs to provide a multiplexed TV broadcast signal, and an output unit for outputting the multiplexed TV broadcast signal provided by the multiplexer.

Abstract: A television method and receiver are configured to receive a television broadcast signal that includes multimedia data files including hypertext data. The multimedia data files relate to a television program guide and the hypertext data includes address information that designates a linked multimedia data file. Once extracted and stored, a processor interprets the multimedia data files and generates a display signal including the television program guide and link portions based on the hypertext data. The processor is able to recognize and address information of each link portion that is pointed to by way of a user interface. The processor then retrieves the linked multimedia data file corresponding to the recognized address information and interprets the retrieved linked multimedia data file so as to generate the display signal.