Abstract: An audio rack for a vehicle has a rack case, a receiving connector, an operating panel, a linking mechanism, a controller, and a flexible flat cable. The rack case has an opening for the insertion of one of a plurality of types of electrical equipment. The receiving connector is mounted in a fixed manner to within the rack case. By the action of inserting a piece of electrical equipment into the rack case, an electrical connection is made between the electrical equipment and the receiving connector. The operating panel has a shape that is suitable for covering the opening of the rack case, and has switches that correspond to the various types of electrical equipment. The linking mechanism permits movement of the operating panel between a first and a second position. When at the first position, the operating panel covers the opening, and when at the second position, the operating panel is removed from the front of the opening, so as to permit access thereto.

Abstract: A center cluster module which checks connection failures of connectors and for problems in electronic components after electronic components have been inserted into connection slot portions and informs the worker of connection status of the individual electronic components, thus improving work efficiency. A center cluster module includes a connection slot portion which removably receives a plurality of electronic components to be mounted on a vehicle. Component detection sections provided so as to correspond to individual electric components detect whether or not electronic components are inserted into the connection slot portion. From a detection signal output from each of the plurality of component detection sections, an inserted component determination section determines the state of the electronic component inserted into the connection slot portion. A display section indicates the result of the determination made by the inserted component determination section.

Abstract: Multiple pieces of equipment installed in a vehicle are freely installed and removed to equipment connection slots. A bus line interconnects the multiple pieces of electrical equipment installed in the equipment connection slots. Multiple operating switches arranged in a single unit on an operating section are provided in correspondence to the multiple pieces of electrical equipment for producing control signals to control each of the multiple pieces of electrical equipment. When any one of the operating switches is manipulated, a head unit controls, via the bus line, the electrical equipment corresponding to the manipulated operating switch.

Abstract: A motor vehicle peripheral monitoring apparatus uses a monitor region extension member as optical image forming means. The monitor region extension member comprises an upper image passage part and an upper image compression part. The upper image passage part includes a prism structural element of substantially a semi-conical shape whose prism apical angles become the maximum angle at the center of the member and are decreased toward the extremity from the center of the member. The upper image compression part includes a cylindrical structural element having a curved surface whose angles are set to be smaller continuously from the prism apical angles of the upper image passage part.