Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes: a first vibrator for transmitting an ultrasonic wave; multiple second vibrators for outputting a reception signal of a reflection wave; a casing having a bottom for accommodating the vibrators, an outer surface of the bottom providing a vibrating surface; and multiple tubes for guiding the ultrasonic wave. Each tube has a first opening coupled with an outside of a mobile body. An area of the first opening is smaller than an area of the vibrating surface. A distance between two adjacent first openings is smaller than a distance between two adjacent vibrating surfaces. The length of the tubes is determined to equalize a phase difference of the reflection waves at the first openings is equal to that at the vibrating surfaces.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus executes distortion compensation based on distortion compensation information associated with desired distortion compensation and an angle of view of an image currently being displayed on a display device. Distortion compensation can be performed stepwise without use of any other distortion compensation information until a distortion compensated state is realized based on distortion compensation information stored in a memory unit. Distortion compensation based on a level received by an operating unit is provided. An image having undergone distortion compensation can be displayed. The number of distortion compensation information items need not be increased proportionally to the number of levels for a magnitude of distortion compensation to be implemented since distortion compensation can be stepwise implemented from the current distortion compensation until a magnitude of distortion compensation is realized based on specific distortion compensation information.

Abstract: An image processor outputs an image containing relatively much information of a central area in the horizontal direction. A mask composed of an upper mask and a lower mask is superimposed on the image. The upper mask is concave on the lower side thereof and disposed along the upper side of the image. The lower mask is concave on the upper side thereof and disposed along the lower side of the image. When the image is masked with this mask, the peripheral portion of the image that is prone to be distorted becomes invisible. Therefore, discomfort a user feels because of distortion can be reduced. In addition, the user can view the image with the much information of the central area of the image in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus permits a user to readily recognize a current state of an angle of view. When an angle of view is switched from a wide-angle to a narrow-angle, range display is performed for a predetermined time prior to the switching. Range display includes a narrow-angle image frame formed with lines indicating a border of an image displayed for a predetermined time prior to the switching. After the predetermined time, a narrow-angle image is displayed and the range display is no longer displayed. The range display allows a user to readily recognize that the wide-angle image has been switched to the narrow-angle image by recognizing to what area in a pre-switching wide angle of view image the post-switching narrow-angle image corresponds.

Abstract: In an apparatus for detecting a distance and improving the SN ratio of received signals, an angular frequency (?1) of sinusoidal wave signals generated by a sinusoidal wave generator is brought into synchronism with an angular frequency (?) of burst pulse signals, and signals received by a transmitter/receiver microphone are orthogonally demodulated by using sinusoidal wave signals of the synchronized angular frequency. A microcomputer adds up the vectors of the demodulated signals for only a period of time equal to a section of transmitting the transmission waves from the transmitter/receiver microphone. A distance to a body is detected by using the received signals of which the vectors are added up.

Abstract: A vehicle information notification device for notifying vehicle information to a driver of a vehicle with a notification element, the device includes: a first-ride determination element for determining whether it is a first ride of the vehicle for the driver; and a controller for notifying the vehicle information via the notification element when the first-ride determination element determines that it is the first ride. By using the above device, the vehicle information is notified to the driver when the driver rides on the vehicle for the first time. Thus, anxiety of the driver is reduced.

Abstract: An antenna is mounted in a vehicle for receiving a radio wave of a specified wavelength, and an electronic device such as a meter device is mounted in the vehicle. The electronic device tends to generate radiation noise when being operated. To reduce reception of the radiation noise by the antenna, a passive conductor element is located between the antenna and the electronic device to reflect a part of the radiation noise. The passive element is away from the electronic device by a distance that is about multiple times of one-quarter of the specified wavelength and is about multiple times of one-half of the specified wavelength in length.

Abstract: If a display mode is set to a narrow angle enlargement image mode, an enlargement image area is inputted via a touch panel. A transformation is made to compress an image of a not-enlargement image area other than the enlargement image area, and a narrow angle enlargement image is generated to enable simultaneously displaying, as a narrow angle enlargement image, (i) the enlarged image in the enlargement image area and (ii) the compressed image in the not-enlargement image area. When a warning target is detected, a corresponding image area is enlarged. An audio alarm is outputted via a speaker. Further, a new narrow angle enlargement image is generated so as to merge the initial narrow angle enlargement image with an image of enlarging the image area of the warning target. A display window including the new narrow angle enlargement image is then displayed in a display device.

Abstract: A detector detects at least one of environmental information on the environment and physical information on the user's physical condition, when the user gets into a vehicle. Each of the environment and the physical condition is divided into a plurality of zones. A memory stores statistical data each representing the probability of the user selecting one of the driving positions in the vehicle in one of the zones. One of the driving positions can, from the probabilities allotted to them, be estimated to be optimum for the user in the zone into which the detected information falls. As a result, even if the user's preference in driving position changes with the environment or the user's physical condition in which the user gets into the vehicle, it is possible to adjust the driving position automatically according to the current preference.

Abstract: A process for preparing a toner including the step of pulverizing a resin composition with a jet type pulverizer comprising a venturi nozzle and an impact member arranged so as to face the venturi nozzle, wherein r2/r1 is 0.3 or less, wherein r1 is a radius of the largest circle R1 among the circles formed with 3 points including any given 2 points located on the outer circumference of the impact side of the above impact member, and one point located on a line connecting the 2 points in the shortest distance on the impact side; and r2 is a radius of the largest circle R2 among the circles formed with 3 points including 2 points located on an outer circumference of the impact side, intersecting with a line perpendicularly at a given point with the line connecting the 3 points forming the circle R1, and one point located on a line connecting the 2 points in the shortest distance on the impact side; and a pulverization member and a jet type pulverizer, each being used in the process.

Abstract: In a mobile antenna, an electrically conductive antenna element has a first portion with one end and the other end extending therefrom. The one end of the first portion is arranged at least adjacent to any one of a first support portion, a second support portion, and a corner portion of a body of a vehicle. The one end of the first portion is electrically connected to a feeding point. The other end of the first portion is arranged along a surface of the window such that polarized surfaces formed by the antenna element are non-orthogonal to a polarized surface of each of a vertically polarized wave and a horizontally polarized wave in radio waves.

Abstract: One data processor is provided with an interface for realizing connection with the other data processor. This interface is provided with a function for connecting the other data processor as a bus master to an internal bus of the one data processor, and the relevant other data processor is capable of directly operating peripheral functions that are memory mapped to the internal bus from an external side via the interface. Accordingly, the data processor can utilize the peripheral functions of the other data processor without interruption of the program being executed. In short, one data processor can use in common the peripheral resources of the other data processor.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes: a first vibrator for transmitting an ultrasonic wave; multiple second vibrators for outputting a reception signal of a reflection wave; a casing having a bottom for accommodating the vibrators, an outer surface of the bottom providing a vibrating surface; and multiple tubes for guiding the ultrasonic wave. Each tube has a first opening coupled with an outside of a mobile body. An area of the first opening is smaller than an area of the vibrating surface. A distance between two adjacent first openings is smaller than a distance between two adjacent vibrating surfaces. The length of the tubes is determined to equalize a phase difference of the reflection waves at the first openings is equal to that at the vibrating surfaces.

Abstract: A driving-environment setup system has a plurality of portable devices, each of which transmits a feature identification information item used for identifying a physical feature of an associated user of the each of the plurality of portable devices and transmits an environment identification information item used for identifying a driving environment for the associated user. An in-vehicle device of the system detects a physical feature of a person sitting in a driver's seat and identifies one of the associated users as a driver when the physical feature identified based on the received feature identification information item of the one of the associated users corresponds to the detected physical feature. The in-vehicle device sets a driving environment for the driver based on the received environment identification information item.

Abstract: An information communication system includes a user-side apparatus that is associated with a user and a facility-side apparatus provided at a facility, which the user is capable of visiting. The user-side apparatus transmits to the facility-side apparatus a user identifying information item related to the user of the user-side apparatus. The user identifying information item is used for identifying an appearance characteristic of the user. The facility-side apparatus outputs the appearance characteristic of the user identified based on the user identifying information item received from the user-side apparatus.

Abstract: One data processor is provided with an interface for realizing connection with the other data processor. This interface is provided with a function for connecting the other data processor as a bus master to an internal bus of the one data processor, and the relevant other data processor is capable of directly operating peripheral functions that are memory mapped to the internal bus from an external side via the interface. Accordingly, the data processor can utilize the peripheral functions of the other data processor without interruption of the program being executed. In short, one data processor can use in common the peripheral resources of the other data processor.

Abstract: One data processor is provided with an interface for realizing connection with the other data processor. This interface is provided with a function for connecting the other data processor as a bus master to an internal bus of the one data processor, and the relevant other data processor is capable of directly operating peripheral functions that are memory mapped to the internal bus from an external side via the interface. Accordingly, the data processor can utilize the peripheral functions of the other data processor without interruption of the program being executed. In short, one data processor can use in common the peripheral resources of the other data processor.

Abstract: In order to provide a semiconductor IC unit such as a microprocessor, etc., which satisfies both fast operation and lower power consumption properties with its high quality kept, the semiconductor IC unit of the present invention is composed so as to include a main circuit (LOG) provided with transistors, which is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a substrate bias controlling circuit (VBC) used for controlling a voltage to be applied to the substrate, and the main circuit includes switching transistors (MN1 and MP1) used for controlling a voltage to be applied to the substrate and control signals output from the substrate bias controlling circuit is entered to the gate of each of the switching transistors and the control signal is returned to the substrate bias controlling circuit.

Abstract: A driving support apparatus has a display mounted in a vehicle, a driving information receiving unit receiving a steering angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle, and a control unit. The control unit produces a vehicle figure imitating a shape of the vehicle and a tire figure imitating a shape of a tire of the vehicle in a bird's-eye view, calculates a predicted running locus of the vehicle, detects positions of portions of an obstacle facing the vehicle one after another, and controls the display to display a driving support image including the vehicle figure, the tire figure, the running locus and obstacle detecting marks indicating the positions of the obstacle while changing a direction of the tire figure with respect to the vehicle figure according to the steering angle. A driver recognizes a turning rate of the vehicle from the direction of the tire figure.

Abstract: An obstacle detecting device includes a wall member and an ultrasonic sensor. The wall member has a base member having an inner surface, and the base member extends in parallel with an imaginary plane. The ultrasonic sensor is attached to the inner surface of the base member for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave via the base member. The ultrasonic sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer, and is in contact with the base member via a contact portion of the inner surface of the base member. The wall member includes a plurality of rigidity changing portions that are arranged on an other part of the inner surface other than the contact portion in an arrangement direction away from the contact portion.