Abstract: The disclosure provides a steering system for a vehicle. The steering system may include a steering rack and an electronic power steering (EPS) system. The EPS system may include an actuator that assists movement of the steering rack, a torque sensor; an angle sensor; and an EPS system controller. The EPS controller may be configured to determine a steering rack center point indicating a center of the steering rack between opposite maximum steering angles. The EPS controller may be configured to determine a vehicle center zero point. The EPS controller may be configured to store the vehicle center zero point in response to determining that the vehicle center zero point is within a threshold of the steering rack center point.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a steering system for a vehicle. The steering system may include a steering rack and an electronic power steering (EPS) system. The EPS system may include an actuator that assists movement of the steering rack, a torque sensor; an angle sensor; and an EPS system controller. The EPS controller may be configured to determine a steering rack center point indicating a center of the steering rack between opposite maximum steering angles. The EPS controller may be configured to determine a vehicle center zero point. The EPS controller may be configured to store the vehicle center zero point in response to determining that the vehicle center zero point is within a threshold of the steering rack center point.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for updating a maintenance minder for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The motor vehicle includes an engine and an electronic ignition system. The maintenance minder counter is in electronic communication with the ECU, and a meter identifies to a user when the vehicle has reached a predetermined number of hours of operation of the engine. The ON/OFF status of an ignition switch that is part of the electronic ignition system is detected, the engine rotations per minute (RPM) are measured with a sensor, and the ON/OFF status and engine RPM are reported to the ECU. The maintenance minder counter is activated if the ON/OFF status is ON and the engine RPM exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an input device for controlling a speed of the engine, a seat for an occupant of the vehicle, a seat belt for securing the occupant in the seat, and a seat belt sensor for detecting when the seat belt is buckled. A controller may be operatively connected to the seat belt sensor and the engine for controlling the vehicle in a first mode when the seat belt is buckled and a second mode when the seat belt is unbuckled. The controller may perform various different functions, such as cutting fuel to the engine when the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold while operating in the second mode, or receiving input indicating that the input device is released before switching the vehicle to the first mode when the seat belt is buckled while the vehicle is operating in the second mode.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing energy consumption by an active suspension system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system and method includes determining whether the vehicle is in park or neutral and determining the speed of the vehicle. The active suspension system is set to a normal operating mode if the speed is greater than a predetermined speed. A throttle angle is determined if the speed is less than a predetermined speed. The active suspension system is set to a normal operating mode if the throttle angle is greater than a predetermined angle and to a power saving mode if the throttle angle is less than a predetermined angle for more than a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: System and method for operating an active suspension system of a vehicle includes actuating a switch on the vehicle, setting the active suspension system for the vehicle to a demonstration mode, setting a timer when the active suspension system is set to the demonstration mode, and setting the active suspension system for the vehicle to a normal operating mode after the timer reaches a predetermined time. Prior to expiration of the timer, the system and method determines a gear in which the vehicle is placed, determines whether an engine of the vehicle is running if the transmission gear of the vehicle is drive, reverse, or neutral, and determines a throttle angle of the vehicle if the engine is running. The active suspension system is set to a normal operating mode if the throttle angle is greater than a predetermined angle. An iterative process determines the status of the timer.

Abstract: System and method for operating an active suspension system of a vehicle includes actuating a switch on the vehicle, setting the active suspension system for the vehicle to a demonstration mode, setting a timer when the active suspension system is set to the demonstration mode, and setting the active suspension system for the vehicle to a normal operating mode after the timer reaches a predetermined time. Prior to expiration of the timer, the system and method determines a gear in which the vehicle is placed, determines whether an engine of the vehicle is running if the transmission gear of the vehicle is drive, reverse, or neutral, and determines a throttle angle of the vehicle if the engine is running. The active suspension system is set to a normal operating mode if the throttle angle is greater than a predetermined angle. An iterative process determines the status of the timer.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing energy consumption by an active suspension system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system and method includes determining whether the vehicle is in park or neutral and determining the speed of the vehicle. The active suspension system is set to a normal operating mode if the speed is greater than a predetermined speed. A throttle angle is determined if the speed is less than a predetermined speed. The active suspension system is set to a normal operating mode if the throttle angle is greater than a predetermined angle and to a power saving mode if the throttle angle is less than a predetermined angle for more than a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an input device for controlling a speed of the engine, a seat for an occupant of the vehicle, a seat belt for securing the occupant in the seat, and a seat belt sensor for detecting when the seat belt is buckled. A controller may be operatively connected to the seat belt sensor and the engine for controlling the vehicle in a first mode when the seat belt is buckled and a second mode when the seat belt is unbuckled. The controller may perform various different functions, such as cutting fuel to the engine when the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold while operating in the second mode, or receiving input indicating that the input device is released before switching the vehicle to the first mode when the seat belt is buckled while the vehicle is operating in the second mode.

Abstract: A transmission system for optimally re-engaging a shift clutch irrespectively of running conditions of the vehicle. In the transmission system for a vehicle in which a shift clutch is actuated interlockedly with a shift spindle rotationally driven by a shift motor, a target clutch torque for the shift clutch is calculated based on an estimated engine torque derived from an estimated engine torque map which prescribes the relation between engine rotational speed, throttle angle, and estimated engine torque, and a target shift spindle angle is calculated based on a value derived from a target shift spindle angle map which prescribes the relation between the target clutch torque and the target shift spindle angle. A control unit controls the shift motor based on the target shift spindle angle calculated by a target shift spindle angle calculator, at the time of effecting a gear shift of a transmission.

Abstract: A vehicle control device for controlling an engine and an electric pump includes a relay having a contact part for connecting and disconnecting a power source to the electric pump, an engine stop instruction switch provided between the power source and a coil part of the relay for connecting and disconnecting the power source to and from the coil part. A control unit for controlling the engine and the relay and determining whether or not operation of the engine stop instruction switch is made. The control unit includes a port to which the coil part and a drive part are connected for switching current application of the coil part, a detection part for detecting a current flowing to the port, and a determiner for determining whether or not the operation of the engine stop instruction switch is made based on a detection result of the detection part.

Abstract: A vehicle fault determination device includes a relay, a vehicle configuration circuit, and a control section. The relay is connected to a power source. The vehicle configuration circuit is supplied with power from the power source via the relay. The control section determines whether the relay is faulty while controlling the relay and the vehicle configuration circuit. The control section includes first and second ports. The first port outputs a control signal to a coil portion of the relay. The second port is connected to a contact portion of the relay via the vehicle configuration circuit. The second port serves as an input port when the fault determination is made and as an operation port when the vehicle configuration circuit is controlled. Thus, the number of parts is keep to a minimum to increase the number of dedicated ports for determining whether the relay is faulty.

Abstract: A transmission system for optimally re-engaging a shift clutch irrespectively of running conditions of the vehicle. In the transmission system for a vehicle in which a shift clutch is actuated interlockedly with a shift spindle rotationally driven by a shift motor, a target clutch torque for the shift clutch is calculated based on an estimated engine torque derived from an estimated engine torque map which prescribes the relation between engine rotational speed, throttle angle, and estimated engine torque, and a target shift spindle angle is calculated based on a value derived from a target shift spindle angle map which prescribes the relation between the target clutch torque and the target shift spindle angle. A control unit controls the shift motor based on the target shift spindle angle calculated by a target shift spindle angle calculator, at the time of effecting a gear shift of a transmission.

Abstract: A vehicle fault determination device includes a relay, a vehicle configuration circuit, and a control section. The relay is connected to a power source. The vehicle configuration circuit is supplied with power from the power source via the relay. The control section determines whether the relay is faulty while controlling the relay and the vehicle configuration circuit. The control section includes first and second ports. The first port outputs a control signal to a coil portion of the relay. The second port is connected to a contact portion of the relay via the vehicle configuration circuit. The second port serves as an input port when the fault determination is made and as an operation port when the vehicle configuration circuit is controlled. Thus, the number of parts is keep to a minimum to increase the number of dedicated ports for determining whether the relay is faulty.

Abstract: A vehicle control device for controlling an engine and an electric pump includes a relay having a contact part for connecting and disconnecting a power source to the electric pump, an engine stop instruction switch provided between the power source and a coil part of the relay for connecting and disconnecting the power source to and from the coil part. A control unit for controlling the engine and the relay and determining whether or not operation of the engine stop instruction switch is made. The control unit includes a port to which the coil part and a drive part are connected for switching current application of the coil part, a detection part for detecting a current flowing to the port, and a determiner for determining whether or not the operation of the engine stop instruction switch is made based on a detection result of the detection part.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus is provided having an inflator in which the waterproofing property of the connection between an initiator and a harness for distributing power is ensured by potting, and leakage at the time of the filling of a potting material is prevented. An airbag apparatus includes a bag portion formed of a base cloth panel in a bag shape and deployed and inflated by being supplied with gas for deployment, and an inflator that generates the gas for deployment supplied to the bag portion.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus is provided having an inflator in which the waterproofing property of the connection between an initiator and a harness for distributing power is ensured by potting, and leakage at the time of the filling of a potting material is prevented. An airbag apparatus includes a bag portion formed of a base cloth panel in a bag shape and deployed and inflated by being supplied with gas for deployment, and an inflator that generates the gas for deployment supplied to the bag portion.

Abstract: An airbag device for a saddle-ride type vehicle can include an acceleration sensor for detecting impacts working on a body to actuate the airbag, a left-right pair of acceleration sensors in side frame members.

Abstract: To suppress temperature rises of an electric power steering device provided at a vehicle equipped with a diff lock device and to restrict the operation of the electric power steering device at times other than during diff locking. An electric power steering device that is coupled to a steering shaft fitted with handlebars at an upper end and that generates auxiliary force that supplements the steering force, and a diff lock unit that selects a differential state and a non-differential state (diff lock) of a differential device are provided. An ECU reduces the maximum value of the auxiliary force generated by the electric power steering device to a prescribed limit value when the diff lock is detected by the diff lock sensor is also provided. The ECU releases limiting of the maximum value of the auxiliary force when release of the diff lock is detected by the diff lock sensor.

Abstract: An airbag device for a saddle-ride type vehicle can include an acceleration sensor for detecting impacts working on a body to actuate the airbag, a left-right pair of acceleration sensors in side frame members.