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This paper introduces the cruise control system with distance control function, that is called Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), that uses a scanning laser radar as a sensor to detect preceding vehicles. With the goal of increasing the driving convenience and comfort when compared to the conventional cruise control, lots of ACC systems have been proposed and developed. This paper presents ACC system using the scanning laser radar which was developed by Toyota, and describes the adaptation of the system specifications. This ACC system was able to greatly reduce the driver's work load, and increased the driver's convenience and comfort when operating the cruise controls system. In addition, we were able to design this system to be highly dependable and inexpensive and supply it to the market as a result of incorporating various ideas for improvements.

Recently many automotive components have become electrified and an ultra high speed drive (over 150,000 rpm) is now expected in applications such as a turbocharger. In these applications, a robust induction motor (IM) with a rectangular wave drive is generally adopted. A speed sensor is required to control the IM, but it can cause problems concerning cost, space and reliability. Thus, a sensorless speed detection method is required. Because general sensorless methods based on a sinusoidal wave drive are not applicable to a rectangular wave drive, we propose a method utilizing slot harmonics that are generated by the mechanical structure of the IM. Signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of slot harmonics is very small, and hence we suggest three techniques: a detection circuit, a digital filter with a variable passband, and a detection method to restart the motor while rotating.

We have developed a high-precision linear Hall sensor, which can detect absolute angles from 0 to 360°. In this sensor, novel vertical Hall elements have been used that can be fabricated using CMOS process technology, and the signal processing circuit is incorporated on the same chip. Using two vertical Hall elements placed precisely at an angle of 90° in the center of the chip, two-dimensional magnetic signals are detected. These signals are converted to an absolute angle by calculating the arc tangent of two Hall voltages. Moreover, this process compensates for the temperature dependence of these signals. Such a novel integrated vertical Hall sensor is promising for a wide range of applications.

To enhance drivers' convenience and safety, headlamps and headlamp control systems have been remarkably improved. For example, in daytime driving condition, auto-lighting systems support drivers especially when they repeat entering and exiting tunnels in mountain areas. On the other hand, in nighttime driving conditions, the higher luminance headlamp HID gives drivers the enhanced visibility and Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) offers them the increased forward visibility on curves. Nevertheless, their performances are not yet enough developed to meet the market demands. In case of entering tunnels, the lighting-up timing is sometimes later than desired. In case of HID and AFS, their potentials are sometimes unnecessarily restrained to prevent glare to oncoming vehicles even they don't exist. These problems should be solved by adding the scene sensor to those systems.

In order to reduce traffic accident casualties, sophisticated safety systems have been developed and are continuously being upgraded in today's passenger vehicles. One system showing growth in the global automotive industry is a feature currently available on high-end passenger cars, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). VSC can control side slipping, an unstable phenomenon which can lead to critical accidents. VSC systems are multi-functional systems that include an acceleration sensor to detect forces applied to the vehicle. Acceleration sensors sometimes referred to as G sensors are indispensable and are one of the key sensors for vehicle safety systems. New safety systems require acceleration sensors with high sensitivity and accuracy. We have achieved these increased requirements by adopting a unique stacked IC structure.

In recent years, new technologies have been developed and are being marketed with the aim of reducing the number of injuries and fatalities due to traffic accidents. They range from systems designed to reduce the driving burden to systems for controlling vehicles in the hope of mitigating the harm done by accidents when they do occur. One of the most important components in creating these systems has been a front obstacle detection sensor that detects obstacles in the paths of vehicles. DENSO is developing laser sensors, millimeter-wave radar, and vision sensors for front obstacle detection. Of these three, it is the laser sensors that have had the important role of supplying adaptive cruise control (ACC) to the market at a low price. This paper focuses on the laser sensor, the expansion of its applications, and the development of new technology to that end.

We have been developing the mixed-potential type NOx sensor which can detect the total-NOX concentration directly in exhausts for automobiles. It has been confirmed that the sensor is capable of detecting wide concentrations of total-NOx from 20 to 1000 ppm under the condition from rich-burn (A/F=12) to lean-burn without any interference from reducing gases, such as HC and CO. In addition, it has been confirmed that the sensor output is correlated fairly well to NOx concentrations from the analyzer in the engine test at any rotations. The results obtained here indicate that the present sensor has great possibility of being utilized as an on-board NOx sensor for practical use.