Abstract: A system 10 for determining high accuracy gradient information includes linearization means 20, a sum unit 45, and state space model and observer means 50 for calculating a road gradient ?Road. The linearization means 20 includes an air resistance calculation unit 30 and a rolling resistance calculation unit 40. The means 50 includes a state space model 60 and a state space observer 70. The sum unit 45 determines a total sum wheel force ?FLij of wheel forces FLij. The linearization means 20 calculates an air resistance force FW and a rolling resistance force FR based on a vehicle velocity vCoG using approximation equations, calculates a linearized total sum force FSum by subtracting the air resistance force FW and the rolling resistance force FR from the wheel forces FLij, and inputs the linealized total sum force FSum to the state space model and observer means 50.

Abstract: A driving situation detection system capable of detecting driving situations swiftly with high reliability is obtained. The driving situation detection system includes real curve arithmetic means reference vehicle model and observer means, a differentiator unit, a model curve radius arithmetic means, and an assessment unit. The arithmetic means generates real curve radius signals based on wheel speeds. The reference vehicle model and observer means processes input signals utilizing a linear reference model to generate a yaw rate signal and a vehicle body side slip angle signal. The unit differentiates the vehicle body side slip angle signal to generate a vehicle body side slip rate signal. The model curve radius arithmetic means generates a model curve radius signal based on the yaw rate signal and the vehicle body side slip rate signal. The assessment unit detects undesirable driving situations by comparing the real curve radius and the model curve radius.

Abstract: A vehicular alternator failure determination apparatus is capable of making a failure determination accurately. The apparatus includes a maximum voltage detection part (1) for detecting a maximum voltage of an alternator commutating device which commutates an AC output of the alternator driven by an engine, a minimum voltage detection part (2) for detecting a minimum voltage of the alternator commutating device, a voltage difference calculation part (3) for detecting a difference voltage from outputs of the maximum and minimum voltage detection parts, and a failure determination part (4) which determines that the alternator is in a failure state, when an output of the voltage difference calculation part is equal to or greater than a prescribed voltage.

Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.

Abstract: A vehicle dynamics behavior reproduction system capable of describing accurately behavior of a motor vehicle in a lateral direction even for nonlinear driving situation includes a vertical wheel force arithmetic means (105), a lateral wheel force arithmetic means (110), a cornering stiffness adaptation means (115), a state space model/observer unit (120), a selector (130), a delay means (135), and a tire side slip angle arithmetic means (125). Vertical wheel forces (FZij) and tire side slip angles (?ij) are determined by using sensor information and estimated values while lateral wheel forces (FYij) are determined in accordance with a relatively simple nonlinear approximation equation. The lateral wheel force (FYij) and the tire side slip angle (?ij) provide bases for adaptation of cornering stiffnesses at individual wheels. Vehicle motion is accurately described to a marginal stability by using adapted cornering stiffnesses (Cij) and other information.

Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.

Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.

Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.

Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.

Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.

Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.

Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.

Abstract: A system for analyzing vehicle and driver behavior includes: a data preprocessing unit that converts operation information of an in-vehicle electrical system, data available via an in-vehicle data network, and additional information available from an electrical device constituting a vehicle into a format capable of calculation therein; a vehicle model and estimation unit that estimates variables which can not be measured by means of in-vehicle sensors based on the preprocessed data; a model-based reconstruction unit that reconstructs an accident scenario by unifying the preprocessed data and the estimated variables from the vehicle model and estimation unit to a common time stamp; and an assessment unit that assesses vehicle and driver behavior based on the accident scenario reconstructed by the model-based reconstruction unit.

Abstract: A drive recorder system includes vehicle control devices that conduct arithmetic operation on the basis of input information from sensors and outputs the arithmetic operation result to an actuator to control a vehicle, in-vehicle LANs which are connected with the vehicle control devices, a gateway that mutually connects the in-vehicle LANs to enable communication, and a recording device which is mounted on the gateway and records the data outputted from the vehicle control device.

Abstract: A vehicular alternator failure determination apparatus is capable of making a failure determination accurately. The apparatus includes a maximum voltage detection part (1) for detecting a maximum voltage of an alternator commutating device which commutates an AC output of the alternator driven by an engine, a minimum voltage detection part (2) for detecting a minimum voltage of the alternator commutating device, a voltage difference calculation part (3) for detecting a difference voltage from outputs of the maximum and minimum voltage detection parts, and a failure determination part (4) which determines that the alternator is in a failure state, when an output of the voltage difference calculation part is equal to or greater than a prescribed voltage.

Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (&bgr;). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.

Abstract: A failure diagnosis apparatus for a vehicle enables communications between a gateway, which automatically and effectively collects information on a condition of a vehicle having a plurality of network buses, and an information center outside the vehicle in an automatic and efficient manner. A failure diagnosis section is mounted on the gateway installed on the vehicle. The vehicle-installed gateway has a connecting section for connection to information communications terminals such as portable telephones through wireless communications. In addition, the vehicle-installed gateway has a protection processing section for performing security processing on possession information possessed by the gateway.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an operation processing unit, a main storage unit, a program storing ROM for storing a plurality of divided program codes and for storing loading program codes for loading the program codes to the main storage unit, an information table storing ROM for storing an information table having a description of information about the program codes to be loaded from the program storing ROM to the main storage unit, and a map management element having a description of virtual addresses in the main storage unit at which the program codes stored in the program storage element are mapped. As a result of this construction, only those program codes requiring quick response are loaded without loading all the program codes to the main storage unit and executed promptly, and thus the system activation time can be reduced.

Abstract: A drive recorder for a motor vehicle capable of ensuring high security against a third party without need for using a password system. The drive recorder includes a volatile memory (102) for constantly recording various vehicle operation data concerning operation of a motor vehicle, a collision detecting means (120) for detecting a collision event of the motor vehicle, a transfer means for transferring the vehicle operation data stored in the volatile memory (102) before, upon or after occurrence of the collision event, and a nonvolatile memory (104) for recording and holding the vehicle operation data transferred thereto, wherein the transfer means includes an encryption means (103) which is designed for encrypting the vehicle operation data. The nonvolatile memory (104) is designed for recording and holding the encrypted vehicle operation data.

Abstract: A drive recorder system includes vehicle control devices that conduct arithmetic operation on the basis of input information from sensors and outputs the arithmetic operation result to an actuator to control a vehicle, in-vehicle LANs which are connected with the vehicle control devices, a gateway that mutually connects the in-vehicle LANs to enable communication, and a recording device which is mounted on the gateway and records the data outputted from the vehicle control device.