Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a molded woody article. The method includes compression molding a base material containing wood fibers, polylactic acid fibers and an inorganic filler at a temperature not less than a melting point of said polylactic acid fibers, and maintaining said molded base material at a temperature close to a crystallization temperature of said polylactic acid fibers for a desired period of time, thereby crystallizing the polylactic acid fibers. In the molding step, the base material is entirely deformed and molded into a desired shape while the polylactic acid fibers are melted, and in the crystallizing step, the polylactic acid fibers are solidified, thereby producing the molded article. In the crystallizing step, polylactic acid crystallizes rapidly and reliably utilizing the inorganic filler as a crystal nucleating agent. Polylactic acid crystallizes from portions contacting the wood fibers.

Abstract: To provide a fiberboard capable of reducing a load on the environment at all states of producing, using, and abolishing and moreover having a high degree of bending strength and a high bending-strength retention rate at high temperature and high humidity so as to be usable for an automobile interior material or building material and a fiber-board producing method. The fiberboard is formed by mixing natural fiber with polylactic acid resin serving as a binder and has an apparent density of 0.2 g/cm3.

Abstract: A high-frequency generating circuit is connected to six electrode fabrics embedded in a seat back of an assistant driver's seat. Output current flowing at the time when a human body approaches the electrode fabrics is detected. It is determined whether an occupant is an adult or a child, by comparing patterns of the output current which correspond to the six electrode fabrics with a first threshold value and a second threshold value to detect the positions of the head, neck and shoulder of the occupant. When the occupant is a child having a short sitting height, the operation of an air bag device is prohibited upon collision of a vehicle, and a warning lamp is lit to move the occupant to a rear seat.