Author: claimsbot

1. A vehicle light distribution control device comprising:
an illumination device configured to irradiate illumination light toward a front of a vehicle, the illumination device being controlled such that a light distribution pattern is changed among a high beam pattern, a low beam pattern formed by a low beam shade and a split beam pattern formed by a high beam shade, and the illumination device being controlled such that an optical axis direction varies in a substantially horizontal direction; and
a control unit configured to control the illumination device,
the split beam pattern being arranged such that part of an area in the high beam pattern is shielded by the high beam shade with a boundary set at a cut-off line,
the control unit being configured, when a vehicle ahead has been detected, to change the light distribution pattern formed by the illumination device to the split beam pattern, and to control a position of the cut-off line of the split beam pattern so as not to irradiate the illumination light to the vehicle ahead, and
the control unit being configured, when the vehicle ahead becomes undetectable, to maintain the split beam pattern while controlling the position of the cut-off line of the split beam pattern in such a manner that a shielded area of the split beam pattern gradually reduces, and, after the shielded area becomes smaller than or equal to a predetermined reference, the control unit being configured to changes the light distribution pattern from the split beam pattern to the high beam pattern.
2. The vehicle light distribution control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured, when the vehicle ahead becomes undetectable, to change an optical axis direction of the illumination device in such a manner that a horizontal width of the shielded area of the split beam pattern gradually reduces.
3. The vehicle light distribution control device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured, when the vehicle ahead becomes undetectable, to change the optical axis direction of the illumination device toward a target direction that is set in association with a vehicle travelling direction.
4. The vehicle light distribution control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured, when the vehicle ahead becomes undetectable, to control the position of the cut-off line of the split beam pattern in such a manner that the shielded area gradually reduces vertically.
5. The vehicle light distribution control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured, when the vehicle ahead becomes undetectable, to shift light distribution of the shielded area from a shielded state to an unshielded state in a stepwise manner.
6. A vehicle light distribution control method of controlling a vehicle that includes an illumination device that irradiates illumination light toward a front of the vehicle, that is controlled such that a light distribution pattern is changed among a high beam pattern, a low beam pattern formed by a low beam shade and a split beam pattern formed by a high beam shade, in which part of an area in the high beam pattern is shielded by the high beam shade with a boundary set at a cut-off line, and that is controlled such that an optical axis direction varies in a substantially horizontal direction, the vehicle light distribution control method comprising:
when a vehicle ahead has been detected, changing the light distribution pattern formed by the illumination device to the split beam pattern, and controlling a position of the cut-off line of the split beam pattern so as not to irradiate the illumination light to the vehicle ahead; and
when the vehicle ahead becomes undetectable, maintaining the split beam pattern while controlling the position of the cut-off line of the split beam pattern in such a manner that a shielded area of the split beam pattern gradually reduces, and, after the shielded area becomes smaller than or equal to a predetermined reference, changing the light distribution pattern from the split beam pattern to the high beam pattern.
7. The vehicle light distribution control method according to claim 6, wherein, when the vehicle ahead becomes undetectable, an optical axis direction of the illumination device is changed in such a manner that a horizontal width of the shielded area of the split beam pattern gradually reduces.
8. The vehicle light distribution control method according to claim 7, wherein, when the vehicle ahead becomes undetectable, the optical axis direction of the illumination device is changed toward a target direction that is set in association with a vehicle travelling direction.
9. The vehicle light distribution control method according to claim 6, wherein, when the vehicle ahead becomes undetectable, the position of the cut-off line of the split beam pattern is controlled in such a manner that the shielded area gradually reduces vertically.
10. The vehicle light distribution control method according to claim 6, wherein, when the vehicle ahead becomes undetectable, light distribution of the shielded area is shifted from a shielded state to an unshielded state in a stepwise manner.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A tubular member inspection apparatus comprising:
(a) a frame;
(b) a magnetic coil and a detector assembly supported by the frame;
(c) the frame, magnetic coil, and detector assembly each having inlet and outlet openings for passing a tubular member there through, the detector assembly having one or more magnetic detectors adapted to be spaced a first distance from the tubular member using one or more substantially frictionless members during an inspection; and
(d) an actuator assembly comprising sensors adapted to sense wide portions of the tubular member and direct one or more actuators in the detector assembly to retract the detectors away from the tubular member a second distance greater than the first distance.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more substantially frictionless members comprises one or more members selected from precision metal rollers, metal ball bearings, plastic rollers, ceramic balls, and non-rotating spacers in ball or roller shape.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first distance is at least 0.030 inch.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first distance ranges from about 0.050 inch up to about 0.5 inch.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detector assembly comprises a plurality of detector support sub-assemblies.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each detector support sub-assembly comprises a primary and a secondary support member and one of the actuators, the primary support member adapted to support the one or more magnetic detectors, the primary support member moveably connected to the secondary support member through a dual linkage, the dual linkage allowing the detectors to be positioned substantially parallel to the tubular member when retracting away from and toward the tubular member.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the one or more substantially frictionless members comprises a pair of precision rollers in each primary support.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each actuator is selected from pneumatic, hydraulic, and electronic actuators.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the dual linkage comprises first and second links, each link having first and second ends, the first ends individually connected to the primary support member at first and second connections, and the second ends individually connected to the second support member at third and fourth connections.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the connections allow pivot movement between the links and the support members.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second distance is at least sufficient to avoid damage to the detectors.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensors comprise a first rotating member riding on the tubular member upstream of the detector assembly and a second rotating member riding on the tubular member downstream of the detector assembly.
13. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the plurality of detector support sub-assemblies comprises alternating outer detector support sub-assemblies and inner detector support sub-assemblies.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the outer detector support sub-assemblies each support a transverse magnetic detector and a wall thickness detector.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the detectors are selected from Hall elements, magneto diodes, and magneto resistors.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the inner detector support sub-assemblies each support a transverse magnetic detector, the detectors being selected from the group consisting of Hall elements, magneto diodes, and magneto resistors.
17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the actuator assembly comprises first and second valves, the first valve positioned upstream of the detector assembly and the second valve positioned downstream of the detector assembly.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first and second valves are each spring-loaded, and each valve comprises a pressurized air inlet, a bleed air exhaust outlet, and the sensors are mounted on slide mechanisms adapted to slide into a position allowing a lever to bleed the air through the bleed air exhaust outlet when a wide portion of tubular member is sensed by one of the sensors, and wherein the valves are adapted to allow pressurized air into the actuators when the sensors do not sense a wide portion of tubular member.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 including an electronic circuit to synchronize the resetting of the air pressure in the actuators after the wide portion of tubular member has passed by the detectors and when the second sensor is reached.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 including pneumatic means to synchronize the resetting of the air pressure in the actuators after the wide portion of tubular member has passed by the detectors and when the second sensor is reached.
21. A tubular member inspection apparatus comprising:
(a) a frame;
(b) a magnetic coil, a detector assembly, and an actuator assembly supported by the frame;
(c) the frame, magnetic coil, and detector assembly each having inlet and outlet openings for passing a tubular member there through, the detector assembly having one or more magnetic detectors adapted to be spaced a first distance from the tubular member using one or more substantially frictionless members during an inspection; and
(d) the actuator assembly comprising sensors adapted to sense wide portions of the tubular member and direct one or more actuators in the detector assembly to retract the detectors away from the tubular member a second distance greater than the first distance.
22. A method of inspecting a tubular member comprising:
(a) passing a tubular member through an apparatus, or driving the apparatus past the tubular member, the apparatus comprising
i. a frame,
ii. a magnetic coil; and
iii. a detector assembly;

(b) detecting variations in the magnetic field produced by defects in the tubular member, the detector assembly having one or more magnetic detectors spaced a first distance from the tubular member by one or more substantially frictionless members during; and
(c) sensing a wide portion of the tubular member and directing one or more actuators in the detector assembly to retract the detectors away from the tubular member a second distance greater than the first distance.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the variations in the magnetic field are detected by said magnetic detectors spaced so that their respective magnetic fields abut and provide a minimum of 100 percent inspection of the tubular member.

1. An adaptive steering control system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a sensor adapted to detect a current value of an operation quantity of a steering wheel;
an actor adapted to turn steered wheels; and
a controller adapted to select, according to a speed of the motor vehicle, a map assigning to a detected current value of the operation quantity, a setpoint value of the operation quantity for the actor, and for issuing a setpoint signal to the actor,
wherein the controller further is adapted to decide whether the motor vehicle is in a state of motion requiring a high level of attention from a driver and to inhibit a switchover of the map (g1, g2) while the motor vehicle is in a high attention-requiring state.
2. The adaptive steering control system of claim 1, wherein the operation quantity is a turning angle of the steering wheel and of a steered wheel.
3. The adaptive steering control system of claim 1, wherein the operation quantity is a torque applied to the steering wheel and to a steered wheel.
4. The adaptive steering control system of claim 1, wherein a linear term of a map (g1) is selected at a low vehicle speed is greater than the linear term of a map s elected at a high vehicle speed.
5. The adaptive steering control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to decide whether the motor vehicle is in the high attention-requiring state if the lateral acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold.
6. The adaptive steering control system of claim 5, wherein the controller is connected to a lateral acceleration sensor.
7. The adaptive steering control system of claim 5, wherein the controller is connected to a steering wheel angle sensor and is adapted to estimate a lateral acceleration from a steering wheel angle detected by said sensor and a vehicle longitudinal speed.
8. The adaptive steering control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is connected to a yaw rate sensor and is adapted to decide that the motor vehicle is in the high attention-requiring state if a yaw rate exceeds a predetermined threshold.
9. The adaptive steering control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to estimate a side-slip rate of the motor vehicle and to decide that the motor vehicle is in the high attention-requiring state if the side-slip rate exceeds a predetermined threshold.
10. The adaptive steering control system of claim 7, wherein the controller is adapted to estimate a side-slip rate from a yaw rate measured by a yaw rate sensor and the lateral acceleration measured by a lateral acceleration sensor.
11. The adaptive steering control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is connected to a longitudinal acceleration sensor and is adapted to decide that the motor vehicle is in the high attention-requiring state if the longitudinal acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold.
12. The adaptive steering control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is connected to a steering wheel angle sensor and is adapted to decide that the motor vehicle is in the high attention-requiring state if the steering wheel angular velocity exceeds a predetermined threshold.
13. The adaptive steering control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to determine a time derivative of a yaw rate and to determine that the motor vehicle is in the high attention-requiring state if a time derivative exceeds a predetermined threshold.
14. A steering control method for a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:
detecting a current value of an operation quantity of a steering wheel;
selecting a map assigning to a detected current value of the operation quantity a setpoint value of the operation quantity;
issuing a setpoint signal to an actor of steered wheels, comprising the steps of:
deciding whether the motor vehicle is in a state of motion requiring a high level of attention from a driver;
if it is decided that the motor vehicle is not in a high attention-requiring state, selecting the map based on a speed of the motor; and
if it is decided that the motor vehicle is in a high attention-requiring state, re-selecting the map selected in a previous iteration of selecting the map based on the speed of the motor vehicle.
15. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a program product, said program product comprising:
an adaptive steering control program for a motor vehicle, the adaptive steering control program for the motor vehicle configured to:
detecting a current value of an operation quantity of a steering wheel;
selecting a map assigning to a detected current value of the operation quantity a setpoint value of the operation quantity;
issuing a setpoint signal to an actor of steered wheels, comprising the steps of:
deciding whether the motor vehicle is in a state of motion requiring a high level of attention from a driver;
if it is decided that the motor vehicle is not in a high attention-requiring state, selecting the map based on a speed of the motor vehicle; and
if it is decided that the motor vehicle is in a high attention-requiring state, re-selecting the map selected in a previous iteration of selecting the map based on the speed of the motor vehicle.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image carrier;
a transfer device for charging a back surface of a recording material in contact with the image carrier, and transferring toner images carried on the image carrier onto the recording material; and
a pressing section for pressing the transfer material onto the image carrier by pushing the back surface of the transfer material;
wherein the pressing section includes an elastic plate whose top portion is formed to be a trapezoidal shape, including:
a straight edge portion positioned at the center of the pressing section, perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording material, and
sloped edge portions at both ends of the straight edge portion,
wherein the width of the straight edge portion is equal to or greater than 95% of the width of the recording material.
2. The image forming apparatus described in claim 1, wherein the pressing section further includes
an intermediate section, the top of which is curved at curvature radius of 5 mm or more, formed between the straight edge portion and the sloped edge portion.
3. The image forming apparatus described in claim 1, wherein the elastic plate is made of a polyethylene terephthalate film.
4. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image carrier;
a transfer device for charging a back surface of a recording material in contact with the image carrier, and transferring toner images carried on the image carrier onto the recording material; and
a pressing section for pressing the transfer material onto the image carrier by pushing the back surface of the transfer material;
wherein the pressing section includes an elastic plate whose top portion is formed to be a trapezoidal shape, including:
a straight edge portion positioned at the center of the pressing section, perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording material;
sloped edge portions at both ends of the straight edge portion; and
intermediate portions between the sloped edge portions and the straight edge;
wherein the intermediate portion is curved at curvature radius of 5 mm or more.
5. The image forming apparatus described in claim 1, further comprising a position changing means for changing the position of pressing means from a pressing position to a standby position.
6. The image forming apparatus described in claim 1, wherein the width of the straight edge portion is equal to or less than 96% of the width of the recording material.