Patent classifications
B60K31/0008
Image projection apparatus configured to project an image on a road surface
Information related to a vehicle can be displayed by projecting an image based on the information on a road surface or the like. An image projection apparatus that projects an image includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information to be displayed; and an image projection unit that projects the image based on the information to be displayed acquired by the acquisition unit.
Vehicular vision system using side-viewing camera
A vehicular vision system includes a side-viewing camera mounted within an exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system. The side-viewing camera has a field of view at least sideward of the side of the equipped vehicle at which the exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached. The side-viewing camera captures an image of a scene occurring exterior of the equipped vehicle. The captured image includes an image data set representative of the exterior scene. A control includes an image processor, and the image data set is provided to the control. The control processes a reduced image data set of the image data set provided to the control to detect edges present exterior of the equipped vehicle within an area of interest of the scene occurring exterior of the equipped vehicle that is within the field of view of the side-viewing camera.
Method and subsystem for controlling an autonomous braking system for a vehicle
A control system for a subject vehicle includes an autonomous braking system, a forward monitoring sensor and a rearward monitoring sensor. The controller monitors a first speed of a first vehicle travelling in front of the subject vehicle and a second speed of a second vehicle travelling to the rear of the subject vehicle. A first gap-closing time is determined based upon the speed of the subject vehicle and the first speed of the first vehicle. A second gap-closing time is determined based upon the speed of the subject vehicle and the second speed of the second vehicle. The controller controls the speed of the subject vehicle based upon the first gap-closing time and the second gap-closing time when one of the first gap-closing time or the second gap-closing time is less than a first threshold time.
Motorized mobile ‘smart’ cart with voice activation
A motorized, voice-activated ‘smart’ mobile workstation incorporating casters, a base support member, a work surface with height-adjustment feature, a power source for recharging electronic devices held on the mobile workstation, a power cord which plugs into an electrical wall outlet for recharging of mobile workstation, and a battery which extends the operation of the mobile workstation while the mobile workstation is not plugged into an electrical wall outlet. The mobile workstation further includes a motor which gives the mobile workstation rotational energy, smart technology which comprises a computerized ‘brain’ which helps humans communicate with the mobile workstation by giving simple voice commands, which control the directional and elevational movement of the mobile workstation. A remote control apparatus powers on and off the mobile workstation and is also an alternative means for controlling the directional and elevational movement of the mobile workstation. Further included are sensors which include collision avoidance capabilities.
PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH NAVIGATION AND GUIDANCE SYSTEMS
Patient support apparatuses, such as beds, cots, stretchers, recliners, or the like, include control systems with one or more image, radar, and/or laser sensors to detect objects and determine if a likelihood of collision exists. If so, the control system controls the speed and steering of the patient support apparatus in order to reduce the likelihood of collision. The control system may be adapted to autonomously drive the patient support apparatus, to transmit a message to a remote device indicating whether it is occupied by a patient or not, and/or to transmit its route to the remote device. The remote device may determine an estimate of a time of arrival of the patient support apparatus at a particular destination and/or determine a distance of the patient support apparatus from the particular destination.
ELECTRIC POWERED VEHICLE
An electric powered vehicle may include a maximum speed limiting device. In the first mode, in a case where the distance is shorter than a first reference value, the maximum speed is limited to a value lower than the maximum speed applied when the distance is longer than the first reference value. In the second mode, in a case where the distance is shorter than a second reference value, the maximum speed is limited to a value lower than the maximum speed applied when the distance is longer than the second reference value. In a case where the distance changes from a value shorter than the first and second reference values to a value longer the first and second reference values, the maximum speed limiting device increases the maximum speed at an earlier timing in the second mode than in the first mode.
Vehicle control device
A vehicle control device comprises an operation amount sensor for measuring an operation amount of an accelerator element, an object sensor for detecting an object ahead of a vehicle, and a controller for applying a normal operation drive force which is determined depending on the operation amount to the vehicle. The controller executes an adaptive cruise control for applying a drive force required for an acceleration of the vehicle to become equal to an adaptive cruise control acceleration to the vehicle. The adaptive cruise control acceleration is an acceleration which increases as a difference between an inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle to an objective-forward-vehicle and a target inter-vehicle distance increases. When an erroneous operation start condition becomes satisfied, the controller ends the adaptive cruise control, and executes an erroneous operation related control for applying a drive force which is smaller than the normal operation drive force to the vehicle.
Automatic following distance in cruise control
A cruise control method to control a driven vehicle includes: determining projected speeds of the driven vehicle at each of the predetermined-upcoming locations; determining a plurality of following times at each of the predetermined-upcoming locations of the driven vehicle and the projected speeds of the followed vehicle; determining whether at least one of the plurality of following times is less than the predetermined-minimum time threshold; and in response to determining that at least one plurality of following times is less than the predetermined-minimum time threshold, commanding, by the controller, the propulsion system of the driven vehicle to decrease the commanded axle torque by a torque adjustment in order to prevent each of the plurality of following times at each of the predetermined-upcoming locations from being less than the predetermined-minimum time threshold.
Vehicle activity information system
Techniques are described for vehicle activity information collection and analysis. A vehicle activity information unit in a vehicle generates vehicle activity information including video data that is captured by interior and/or exterior camera(s) on the vehicle. The vehicle activity information can also include sensor data generated by an accelerometer, a compass, a temperature sensor, a Global Positioning System module, and/or other sensor(s). The vehicle activity information can also include audio data generated by at least one microphone. In some implementations, at least a portion of the vehicle activity information is collected during a period of time that includes an event (e.g., an accident). The information is stored in data storage with an association between the information and the event, and is processed to generate performance data associated with a driver of the vehicle. The performance data can be presented through a user interface to the driver or other(s).
VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS
A vehicle control apparatus configured to control a driving motor coupled to at least one wheel includes a motor controller, a vehicle speed calculator, and a vehicle speed setter. The motor controller controls the driving motor in a constant speed driving mode. The vehicle speed calculator calculates a first vehicle speed based on a rotation angle of the driving motor. The vehicle speed setter sets, as a driving speed in the constant speed driving mode, a second vehicle speed based on the first vehicle speed and a brake operation amount. The vehicle speed setter sets zero as the second vehicle speed when the brake operation amount exceeds its threshold and the first vehicle speed falls below its threshold, and sets the first vehicle speed as the second vehicle speed when the brake operation amount does not exceed its threshold r the first vehicle speed does not fall below its.