A visual display device is provided for delivering a generated image, preferably combinable with environment light, to the eye of a user. The device is lightweight and compact but yields a high quality image. In one embodiment, a shroud protects from stray light and holds optical elements in desired alignment. In one embodiment an image generator is masked by at least two masks to provide for a high quality image without waste. In one embodiment, a removably mounted shield or activatable device and convert the apparatus from a see-through device to an immersion device and back again. In one embodiment, the device can be comfortably mounted to the user's head while still allowing for use of conventional eyeglasses. A tracker for outputting an indication of the orientation, attitude and/or position of a head-mounted display (HMD) may be provided. The tracker can be configured so that it is incorporated in the HMD housing and/or can be easily decoupled from the HMD, so that the HMD can be used without the tracker (e.g. for watching movies). Preferably, decoupling involves unplugging a single electrical connector (such as a cable) and unfastening a mechanical connection (such as a strap). Preferably the tracker provides pass-through of signal to the HMD and, when the tracker is coupled to the HMD, only a single cable or other data link connects the HMD-tracker combination to the host computer. In one embodiment, the tracker uses magnetic sensors. In another embodiment, one or more inertial sensors, such as a rate gyro and/or accelerometers are used.

Head-mounted personal visual display apparatus with image generator and holder

A vehicle drive assist system comprises a camera for picking up an image of an area existing in an advancing direction of a vehicle; display means for displaying the image picked up by the camera; steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle for steering the vehicle; traveling path predicting means for predicting a traveling path of the vehicle on the basis of the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means; and drive assist means for overlaying on the display means drive assist information containing the vehicle predictive traveling path predicted by the traveling path predicting means and guide lines prolonged from the lines defining the width of the vehicle body on the image of the area existing in the vehicle advancing direction.

Vehicle drive assist system

The present invention provides systems and methods for measuring the likelihood that detected stationary objects are not normally present at a sensed location. Such systems and methods may be used by other systems to which information from the present invention are communicated, for minimizing nuisance alerts in onboard object detection systems such as collision warning, collision avoidance, and/or adaptive cruise control systems. The system includes at least one vehicle mounted sensor capable of sensing at least a target object and providing data related to the target object. The system also comprises a locating device which is capable of determining and providing data related to the location of the machine or vehicle and a processing unit which receives the data from the sensor and the data from the locating device. The processing unit is configured to determine a probability estimate or measure of likelihood that the target object is not a normally present object based upon a comparison to previously recorded data from a reference storage device. The reference storage device stores the previously recorded data acquired from at least one similar sensor and a vehicle locating device while operating in the same geographic area, or stores data derived from such previously recorded data. The invention may enhance vehicle collision warning, collision avoidance and/or adaptive cruise control systems as examples.

Methods and apparatus for stationary object detection

A computer control device which provides spacial information to a computer or electronic game by sensing the linear acceleration or tilt angle of the control device. The computer control device includes an accelerometer having an enclosure containing a fluid and temperature sensing elements positioned within the enclosure. The fluid moves across the temperature sensing elements in free convection during acceleration or inclination of the enclosure causing a temperature differential between the temperature sensing elements which is measurable. The control device incorporating one or more of these accelerometers senses acceleration or tilt in one to three dimensions and may be used to control a cursor on a computer screen, a display of a virtual reality device, or other computer and electronic game displays.

Computer control device

The route planning method for agricultural work vehicles having a definite working width for generation of at least one work path or track over a field includes inputting at least one field-specific datum and at least one work vehicle-specific datum into an electronic data processing unit; providing a computational algorithm in the electronic data processing unit for generation of the at least one work path or track, which includes at least one optimization criterion for the at least one work path or track and generating the at least one work path or track by executing the computational algorithm to obtain the at least one work path or track in the form of at least one digitized work route for one or more work vehicles using the at least one field-specific datum and/or the at least one work vehicle-specific datum. A guidance apparatus for performing the method is also described.

Route planning system for agricultural working machines

In an automatic travel guiding device being a combination of a navigation control unit (A) and automatic travel control unit (B), means (3) for judging a position of a vehicle on a travelling road on the basis of sensed circumstances of the road extending ahead of the vehicle and correcting a current position of the vehicle to a corresponding position on the road map and means (3) for correcting road circumstances on the basis of road data read from map-information storage medium according to the current position of the vehicle are provided to correlatively increase both the current position accuracy and the travel control accuracy according to travel guiding instruction for following a target course preset on a road map by sensing actual road conditions and to realize automatic travel control at an increased accuracy.

Automatic travel guiding device for vehicle

A gas flow type angular velocity sensor comprising two semiconductor substrates with all components formed thereon by use of semiconductor technology and IC technology, which are coupled with each other to form therein a pair of heat wires, a gas path and a nozzle hole for injecting a gas flow toward the paired heat wires in the gas path. Two heat wires of the pair change their resistance-temperature characteristics in accordance with a deflection of the gas flow due to the action of angular velocity and a difference between two changed values is picked up and amplified by a resistance bridge circuit and an amplifier circuit formed on the semiconductor substrates to produce an output signal proportional to the angular velocity to be measured. A miniature pump formed on semiconductor substrates and drivable by a piezoelectric element provides a stabilized gas flow in the sensor. As thus constructed the sensor is compact, accurate and suitable for mass-production and free from disadvantages of conventional sensors.

Gas flow type angular velocity sensor

A method of zero-level adjustment of a rate sensor wherein the zero-level adjustment in the detection of yawing rate is obtained by subtracting a quantity of drift of an output from the rate sensor during the period of time that the vehicle is stopped or standing still from a subsequent output therefrom in the normal travelling operation of the vehicle. The current state of the vehicle, i.e., whether it is travelling or standing still, is detected by a travel distance sensing device which generates electric pulse signals for a given unit distance travelled by the vehicle; and the sampled outputs from the rate sensor are averaged for the period from immediately after the detection of a standing still state of the vehicle to the moment just before a starting of travel thereof. The thus-obtained averaged value is determined as a current drifting value of the sensor and is subtracted from a current angle of deviation value obtained during normal travel of the vehicle. A substantial improvement in accuracy of zero-level adjustment is thereby attained.

Method of adjusting the zero-point of rate type sensor

A current location indicating apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle wherein a current location of the vehicle is arithmetically obtained in terms of two-dimensional coordinates by a signal processing unit on the basis of the outputs from a travel distance detecting unit and a bearing detecting unit, and the current location of the vehicle is visually indicated on the screen of a display unit from the thus-obtained data in connection with the current location of the vehicle. The apparatus comprises a first bearing detecting unit comprising a rate type gyroscope as a main unit, and a second detecting unit comprising an earth magnetism sensor. The signal processing unit is adapted to monitor the outputs from the first and second bearing detecting means in comparison with each other to determine whether or not the first bearing detecting unit is under the influence of any disturbances, whereby the output of the first bearing detecting unit can be corrected so as to be free from any substantial disturbances during operation.

Apparatus for visually indicating the current location of an automotive vehicle

A vehicle travel route indicating apparatus comprising detectors for detecting current travel distance and bearing of a vehicle, respectively; a signal processor for obtaining a current location of the vehicle on two-dimensional coordinates; a memory for storing continuous locational information; a display for indicating a path of travel and a sense mark; and a manual selector for optionally changing the manner of visual indication settings. With such simplified construction, the driver of the vehicle can incessantly determine the status of travel of the vehicle in terms of both distance and bearing aspects during the travel by following the first-hand information displayed at his seat with greater ease and reliability.

Tsuneo Takahashi

Papers

Automatic travel guiding device for vehicle

Gas flow type angular velocity sensor

Method of adjusting the zero-point of rate type sensor

Apparatus for visually indicating the current location of an automotive vehicle

Apparatus for visually indicating continuous travel route of a vehicle