Abstract: A vehicle display device including an information display unit for displaying prescribed information for a vehicle, an alarm need state detection unit for detecting a prescribed state where an alarm for the vehicle is needed, an alarm display unit for performing an alarm display on the basis of the detection of the alarm need state detection unit, an eye-fixed target detection unit for detecting an object on which a driver fixes his eyes as an eye-fixed target, a display cancel unit for canceling the eye-fixed target or its neighboring information display, and a delay unit for controlling the alarm display unit to perform the alarm display after a predetermined time lapse from the display cancellation of the display cancel unit.

Abstract: A seat comprises a plurality of air mats arranged inside a seat cushion and a seat back. The contour of each of the air mats is automatically varied by a pump and a valve. The fatigue level of a seat occupant is calculated based on a fatigue-indicative parameter weighted in accordance with the running state of a vehicle and the working state of accessories and control gear. The pump and the valves are operated to vary the contour of the air mats when the fatigue level becomes greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A seat having a fatigue lessening device functions to repeatedly expand and contract a given part of a seat occupant holding portion of the seat. A fatigue sensor is employed which issues an information signal representative of the fatigue of the occupant. A computer controls the operation of the device at intervals which are derived from the information signal. The fatigue sensor counts the number of movement of the seat occupant and uses the counted number as the factor for representing the degree of the occupant's fatigue.

Abstract: In order to provide a seat control which can automatically move a drivers seat and ancillary equipment (e.g. steering wheel) from a set of preselected driving positions to a retracted status in the least disconcerting manner, one of operations (e.g. the steering column tilting operation) is used as a standard for terminating the movement of all of the other movements toward given retracted positions upon the selected operation finishing. Even though the movement of the seat toward its most rearward position may not have been fully completed, the upward tilting of the steering column (viz., the movement incurred with the selected operation) in combination with what rearward movement of the seat has been possible during the tilting, opens up a space sufficient for the driver to easily ingress and egress and positively ensures that all of the various movements terminate simultaneously.

Abstract: A system which automatically moves a drivers seat between one of a plurality of preselected driving positions and a position wherein ingress and egress is facilitated is inhibited when a passenger is seated on the seat behind the drivers one.

Abstract: An automotive audio speaker system includes a set of main speakers and a set of sub-speakers. The main speakers are distributed about the vehicle cabin so as to focus audio sound near the center thereof. The main speakers reproduce separate right and left audio channels, either singly or in groups, and the sub-speakers reproduce monaural sound resulting from combination of the right and left channels. The sub-speakers are arranged and operated in such a manner that the audio focus is divided and displaced to form a number of acoustic images, each coinciding with a passenger seat. Seat sensors capable of detecting the presence of a passenger in a corresponding seat may be used to control the operation of the sub-speakers, either by adjusting their relative volumes or by distributing the right and/or left audio channels thereamong.

Abstract: A woofer system for an automotive audio system is provided with a protective cover extending over a section of a vehicle panel which both forms part of a vehicle body and serves as a speaker diaphragm producing acoustic vibrations at audio frequencies. The cover is in a spaced-apart relationship with said section so as not to interfere with oscillation of the section of the vehicle panel while it is oscillating at audio frequencies. The cover has a support extending toward the vehicle panel and surrounding the section. The support is formed with at least one opening for transmitting acoustic vibrations produced by oscillation of the section of the vehicle panel.

Abstract: A drowsiness alarm system and method for use in automotive vehicles is set to a stand-by state in response to a specific sequence of steering wheel maneuvers which may reflect driver drowsiness, for example, a relatively long period during which the steering wheel is not turned followed by an abrupt steering adjustment. From the standby state, an alarm or display alerting the driver will be generated in response to another sequence of steering maneuver confirming driver drowsiness. The second sequence of maneuvers may be selected from among a number of conventional steering behavior criteria. If driver drowsiness is not confirmed within a predetermined period of time after initiation of the stand-by state, the system is reset to its initial state.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting driver drowsiness in an automotive vehicle employs means for detecting changes in steering direction of a steering wheel on the basis of steering pulses, each steering pulse being produced whenever the steering wheel is rotated through a predetermined angle, and determines that the vehicle driver is drowsy when the number of steering pulses within a fixed interval of time exceeds a first reference value and the number of steering reversals within the fixed interval of time is below a second preset reference value.

Abstract: A fatigue alarm system and method for an automotive vehicle driver is adapted to measure periods of time during which the vehicle is driven and to subtract therefrom periods of time during which the driver rests. The driver rest periods are distinguished from brief stops of the vehicle in order to accurately measure the adjusted period of driving time. In order to distinguish rest periods from brief traffic stops, the duration of vehicle stops are measured and compared with a given value. When the vehicle stop periods are shorter than the given value, the vehicle is judged to be stopped briefly, i.e. that the driver is not resting, and the measured driving period is incremented by the measured vehicle stop period. On the other hand, when the stop periods are longer than the given value, the driver is judged to be resting. In this case, the measured stop time is subtracted from the measured driving time after being adjusted by a suitable proportionality factor.

Abstract: A drowsiness alarm system for a vehicle detects and signals that the vehicle driver is drowsy on the basis of the duration during which no steering adjustments are made and the magnitude and speed of abrupt steering adjustments immediately following the non-steering period. Parameters compared to the magnitude and speed of the abrupt steering adjustments in order to recognize steering behavior reflecting drowsiness are adjusted in accordance with the duration of the non-steering period.

Abstract: A doze warning system has a circuit 20 for producing pulse signals representative of left- and right-hand steering angle variations, circuits 30 and 40 counting the pulse signal and producing a warning signal when the counter value reaches a threshold value, and a circuit 60 for producing a reset signal to clear the counter value when a difference between a number of pulse signals representative of the left-hand steering angle variations and a number of pulse signals representative of the right-hand steering angle variations exceeds a given value, or of a condition wherein the left-hand or right-hand pulse signals inputted exceeds a predetermined pulse number. The reset signal generating circuit detects a steering angle variation in excess of the threshold value in a normal driving condition such as passing through a curved road and produces the reset signal to inhibit production of the warning. By this reset signal generating circuit function, the warning system is prevented from malfunctioning.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting driver drowsiness on the basis of steering pulses, each steering pulse being produced whenever a steering wheel is rotated through a predetermined angle and indicating the direction of rotation of the steering wheel, comprising means for detecting the roughness of the road surface on which the vehicle is travelling and interrupting the detection of driver drowsiness for a fixed interval of time when the road surface roughness exceeds an acceptable level, i.e. a level conductive to accurate drowsiness detection.

Abstract: A warning device for a vehicle comprises a steering angle detector 10 producing steering angle pulses S.sub.2, S.sub.3 indicative of the steering angle and the steering direction whenever the variation of the steering angular position exceeds a predetermined angle, a dozing detecting circuit 16 which distinguishes that the driver is in normal condition when excessively frequent steering operations in one direction are performed and distinguishes that the driver is dozing to produce a warning signal when steering operations, each of which does not exceed the predetermined angle in one direction, are repeated at a rate greater than a predetermined frequency, and a warning means 26 for producing visible or audible warning in response to the warning signal, whereby, the warning device can accurately detect dozing of the driver and produce a warning to make the driver wake up.

Abstract: A warning device for a vehicle includes a steering angle detector (10) producing steering angle pulses (S.sub.2, S.sub.3) indicative of the steering angle and the steering direction whenever the variation of the steering angular position exceeds a predetermined angle. A dozing detecting circuit (16) distinguishes that the driver is in a normal condition when excessively frequent steering operations in one direction are performed or when the interval of the steering angle pulse is longer than a predetermined value, and produces a warning signal when steering operations, each of which does not exceed the predetermined angle in one direction, are repeated at a rate greater than a predetermined frequency. A warning device (26) produces a visible or audible warning in response to the warning signal, whereby the warning device can accurately detect dozing of the driver and produce a warning to make the driver wake up.

Abstract: A sensor responsive display device includes a common display section for displaying various messages and/or warnings for a given period of time, and plural individual display sections, each corresponding to one of the messages and/or warnings displayed in the common display section.

Abstract: A speaker for the automotive audio system utilizes at least a part of a vehicle panel which constitutes a vehicle body independently of the speaker and adapted for oscillation at an audio frequency. The vehicle panel serving as a sound-producing medium comprises an inner section to be directly driven by a driver unit of the speaker and an outer section connected to the first section via a relatively flexible intermediate section. The relatively flexible intermediate section is adapted to transmit the audio frequency oscillation. The relatively flexible intermediate section serves for amplifying the magnitude of the audio frequency vibration of the vehicle panel and/or for expanding the audio frequency range to be reproduced. Especially, the relatively flexible intermediate section is adapted to improve reproduction of relatively low frequency range of audio sound.

Abstract: A driver unit for an audio speaker has a stationary component and a vibrating component associated with an automotive audio system and fixed to the vehicle panel. The stationary component is suspended from the vehicle body so that an electromagnetic section of the vibrating component is subject to a permanent magnetic field generated by the stationary component. A guide member is interposed between the stationary component and the vibrating component for guiding movement of the vibrating component in the axial direction. The guide member is adapted to restrict movement of the vibrating component in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction in order to prevent the vibrating component from being displaced laterally in relation to the permanent magnetic field.

Abstract: A warning device detects abrupt steering when the driver is dozing at the wheel and recognizes dozing of the driver to give a warning. The warning device comprises a sensor 20 for detecting steering variation angle, circuit 120, 130 for detecting abrupt steering based on detected right- and left-hand steering angle variations, and circuits 142, 146 for operating a warning means 30 when abrupt steering to the left and abrupt steering to the right are consecutively detected within a given period.

Abstract: A speaker for use in an automotive vehicle audio system has a vehicle panel oscillating to produce audio frequency sounds. The vehicle panel is driven by a driver of the speaker at a frequency and amplitude corresponding to frequency and amplitude of an audio signal. Such a speaker is especially adapted to reproduce relatively low-frequency sounds.