Abstract: In a driving force control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, it is configured that an engine ECU (22) can set a target engine rotational number by using a fuel consumption optimal operation-line based on an operating state of the hybrid vehicle, a main ECU (28) can set target output torque of an engine (11) and an electric motor (12) based on the operating state of the hybrid vehicle and the target engine rotational number, and the engine ECU (22) and a motor ECU (27) can control the engine (11) and the electric motor (12) based on the target engine rotational number and the target output torque, and when there is a torque down command in the main ECU (28), the engine ECU (22) sets the target engine rotational number to be higher than the target engine rotational number set by using the fuel consumption optimal operation-line, thereby improving followability of torque up control after torque down control to improve controllability.

Abstract: Foreign substance information about at last including a position of a foreign substance adhered to an optical element disposed in front of an image sensor is detected, and whether the position of the foreign substance overlaps a predetermined area of an object is determined by analyzing an image signal of the object generated by the image sensor. When it is determined that the position of the foreign substance overlaps the predetermined area of the object, a relative position of the image of the object formed on the image sensor and the image sensor is changed.

Abstract: An optical filter that is disposed in front of an image sensor. The optical filter includes a first optical member, and a second optical member that is disposed closer to the image sensor than the first optical member. An anti-reflection multilayer film is formed on an incident surface of the first optical member. A film which is made of a material containing fluorine is formed on an outermost layer of the anti-reflection multilayer film. A dichroic multilayer film is formed between a light-emitting surface of the first optical member and an incident surface of the second optical member.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, a first optical member disposed ahead of a front of the image sensor, a second optical member disposed between the first optical member and the image sensor, and a holder. The holder elastically retains the first optical member and retains the second optical member so that the second optical member is opposed to the elastically retained first optical member. The imaging apparatus further includes a film-like resin filter disposed between the first optical member and the second optical member that is bonded to at least one of the first optical member and the second optical member.

Abstract: A brake controller is provided, having a braking force application mechanism that presses a friction member against a braked member so as to apply a braking force to a wheel of a vehicle; and a control unit that calculates an index indicating the difference between an estimated braking effectiveness and an actual braking effectiveness, and calculates a correction amount using the index, determines that the index is inaccurate. The control unit further limits the change in the correction amount calculated using the index, if it is determined that the index is inaccurate, and corrects a target value, which is set to control a pressing force of the friction member, based on the correction amount to reduce a variation in a braking effectiveness of the vehicle.

Abstract: A brake controller is provided that includes a braking force application mechanism that presses a friction member against a braked member so as to apply a braking force to a wheel of a vehicle; and a control unit. The control unit calculates an index, which indicates a difference between an expected braking effectiveness and an actual braking effectiveness, corrects a target value, which is set to control a pressing force of the friction member, in accordance with the index to reduce a variation in a braking effectiveness of the vehicle. The control unit further sets a variation range in accordance with a factor that causes the difference. The variation range limits a variation in a correction amount to correct the target value.

Abstract: In order to achieve a good brake feeling, a brake control system includes a master cylinder which discharges pressurized operating fluid according to an operating amount of a brake operating member by a driver, a stroke simulator which is connected to the master cylinder and creates a reaction force with respect to that operation according to the operating amount of the brake operating member, and a control portion which calculates a target deceleration using hydraulic pressure in the stroke simulator. The brake control system is also provided with a master cylinder pressure sensor that measures the hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder. The control portion may also calculate the target deceleration using an estimated value of the hydraulic pressure in the stroke simulator calculated based on the measured value from the master cylinder pressure sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a visual axis detecting apparatus having: a visual axis detection circuit for detecting a visual axis of an observer; an arithmetic circuit for performing an arithmetic operation of calculating a distributed state of variations of visual axis positions obtained in a plurality of visual axis detections executed by the visual axis detection circuit in a state in which the observer is observing a predetermined point, with respect to the predetermined point; a determination circuit for determining a condition of the visual axis according to the result of detection by the visual axis detection circuit; and a change circuit for changing a determination process of determining the condition of the visual axis by the determination circuit, according to the distributed state of variations.

Abstract: In a camera including a light measuring device having a plurality of light measuring areas into which a light measuring field is divided, and a focus detecting device having a plurality of focus detecting areas which are set at a plurality of places including a place on a boundary between the plurality of light measuring areas, the focus detecting device is arranged to select a particular focus detecting area from among the plurality of focus detecting areas, and a deciding circuit decides a light measuring area which is to be subjected to a specific weighting, from among the plurality off light measuring areas by using a focus detecting state of each of the particular focus detecting area and focus detecting areas adjacent thereto if the particular focus detecting area lies on the boundary between the plurality of light measuring areas.

Abstract: In a camera including a light measuring device having a plurality of light measuring areas into which a light measuring field is divided, and a focus detecting device having a plurality of focus detecting areas which are set at a plurality of places including a place on a boundary between the plurality of light measuring areas, the focus detecting device is arranged to select a particular focus detecting area from among the plurality of focus detecting areas, and a deciding circuit decides a light measuring area which is to be subjected to a specific weighting, from among the plurality of light measuring areas by using a focus detecting state of each of the particular focus detecting area and focus detecting areas adjacent thereto if the particular focus detecting area lies on the boundary between the plurality of light measuring areas.

Abstract: Driving slip rates SLi of respective wheels are calculated, and if a driving slip is excessively large is judged based on the driving slip rates SLi. Further, if a vehicle is in a predetermined turning state is judged, and if the vehicle is in an accelerating state from taking off on a road surface where a difference between coefficients of friction of the road surface with respect to the left and right wheels is large is judged. In addition, if the vehicle is in a state in which a powertrain such as a differential should be protected is judged. Fuel supply to an engine is cut until a possibility of worsening of behavior has been eliminated when the driving slip is excessively large and there is a possibility of worsening of behavior due to turning and the like, and the driving slip is reduced by reduction of driving force. Then, execution of the cutting of fuel supply is prohibited for a predetermined time after execution of the cutting of fuel supply.

Abstract: Disclosed is a visual axis detecting apparatus having: a visual axis detection circuit for detecting a visual axis of an observer; an arithmetic circuit for performing an arithmetic operation of calculating a distributed state of variations of visual axis positions obtained in a plurality of visual axis detections executed by the visual axis detection circuit in a state in which the observer is observing a predetermined point, with respect to the predetermined point; a determination circuit for determining a condition of the visual axis according to the result of detection by the visual axis detection circuit; and a change circuit for changing a determination process of determining the condition of the visual axis by the determination circuit, according to the distributed state of variations.

Abstract: A traction control apparatus for a four-wheel drive vehicle simultaneously sets an equal control amount &Dgr;VWRL=&Dgr;VWRR for brake devices on the side of rear-left and rear-right wheels if at least one of the rear wheels is driven with a low grip degree. Thereby the slip tendency of the rear wheels is weakened, and the behavior of the vehicle is shifted in a stabilizing direction.

Abstract: In a behavior control device of a vehicle adapted to control the brake system according to a calculation based upon vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed sensor, steering angle detected by a steering angle sensor, and yaw rate detected by a yaw rate sensor such that, when a deviation of the yaw rate detected by the yaw rate sensor relative to a standard yaw rate estimated from the vehicle speed and the steering angle increases beyond a threshold value, at least one of the wheels is braked by the brake system so as to generate a yaw moment in the vehicle body for decreasing the deviation of the yaw rate, the threshold value is temporarily increased until the yaw rate sensor is warmed up.

Abstract: Driving slip rates SLi of respective wheels are calculated, and if a driving slip is excessively large is judged based on the driving slip rates SLi. Further, if a vehicle is in a predetermined turning state is judged, and if the vehicle is in an accelerating state from taking off on a road surface where a difference between coefficients of friction of the road surface with respect to the left and right wheels is large is judged. In addition, if the vehicle is in a state in which a powertrain such as a differential should be protected is judged. Fuel supply to an engine is cut until a possibility of worsening of behavior has been eliminated when the driving slip is excessively large and there is a possibility of worsening of behavior due to turning and the like, and the driving slip is reduced by reduction of driving force. Then, execution of the cutting of fuel supply is prohibited for a predetermined time after execution of the cutting of fuel supply.

Abstract: A traction control apparatus for a four-wheel drive vehicle simultaneously sets an equal control amount &Dgr;VWRL=&Dgr;VWRR for brake devices on the side of rear-left and rear-right wheels if at least one of the rear wheels is driven with a low grip degree. Thereby the slip tendency of the rear wheels is weakened, and the behavior of the vehicle is shifted in a stabilizing direction.

Abstract: A behavior control device of a vehicle adapted to detect a first yaw rate deviation of a yaw rate detected by a yaw rate sensor relative to a standard yaw rate estimated from a steering angle detected by a steering angle sensor and a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed sensor, and also detect at least one of a second yaw rate deviation of a yaw rate estimated from wheel rotation speed of a pair of left and right wheels from the standard yaw rate and a third yaw rate deviation of a yaw rate estimated from a lateral acceleration detected by a lateral acceleration sensor and a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed sensor from the standard yaw rate, and execute a yaw rate suppress control such as a spin or driftout suppress control, when the first yaw rate deviation exceeds a threshold value determined therefor and at least one of the second and third yaw rate deviations also exceeds a threshold value determined therefor.

Abstract: An optical apparatus including a detecting unit for detecting sight line direction of a human eye, a correcting data forming unit, electrically connected to the detecting unit, for forming correcting data as to personal difference of a human eye, a visual mark presenting unit electrically coupled to the correcting data forming unit for presenting a plurality of focus point detecting frames for sampling correcting data at different positions in a visual field and being capable of flickering and lighting without flickering, and a control unit for controlling the apparatus on the basis of the sight line direction and the correcting data.

Abstract: A line of sight detection device detects a user's line of sight by illuminating an eyeball of a user, receiving light from the eyeball of the user, detecting a wink of the user, detecting a line of sight of the user based on a light receiving state of a light receiving means, changing at least one of an illuminating condition of an illuminating means and a light receiving condition of the light receiving means, and repeating a line of sight detecting operation based on the light receiving state of the light receiving means during the line of sight detecting operation, the line of sight detecting operation being repeated without changing the illuminating condition of the illuminating means and the light receiving condition of the light receiving means when a wink detection means detects a wink of the user during the line of sight detecting operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for using correction data to correct for personal differences, to provide sight line information. The apparatus includes an image sensor for photographing an eyeball, a pupil diameter determination device for determining a pupil diameter of the eyeball in accordance with an output of the image sensor and a changing device for changing the correction data on the basis of the pupil diameter determined by the pupil diameter determination device.