Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha

Kabushiki Kaisha Shinsangyokaihatsu

Takeshi Ikeyama

Yoshihiro Naruse

Tomomitsu Terakawa

Peter Hugh Birch

Mark G Norton

Anthony David Wearing

An infrared-spectrum image processor mounted in a vehicle assists a driver in seeing under difficult conditions, such as rain, smog or fog. The device operates, in part, on the principle that infrared rays are 'visible' at longer distances than are light rays falling within the visible spectrum, especially when adverse visual conditions exist. Also, different objects have different images when 'viewed' in the infrared spectrum. Thus, even if an image is difficult to see in the visible spectrum, if the infrared spectrum is not disturbed, it may be possible to 'see' the objects anyway. In operation, the processor analyzes a histogram derived from a taken image. If the histogram shows a distribution containing two peaks, the processor determines that there is an obscure image. For mounting on a vehicle an infrared camera is mounted on the vehicle roof. A dash-mounted display is provided for transmitting the processed images to the driver to facilitate decision-making while driving.

Image processor

A gas turbine engine driven auxiliary electric power unit which includes a turbine (9), an air compressor (7) for supplying compressed air to the turbine and driven by the turbine, fuel supplying means (2) for supplying gaseous fuel to the turbine, a generator (10) driven by the turbine for generating electrical output power which is fed to a main electric user supply (14), first detecting means (15) for monitoring turbine shaft speed, second detecting means (19) for monitoring the output power of the generator, first modulating means (16,18,13) for modulating the turbine shaft speed to cause it to coincide with a predetermined shaft speed (17) by means of controlling current flow from the generator to the main electric user supply, and second modulating means (20,22,23) for modulating the flow of gaseous fuel which is supplied from the fuel supplying means to the turbine so as to cause the monitored output power to coincide with a predetermined output power (21).

Gas turbine engine driven auxiliary electric power unit with turbine

Growing community of inventors

Brighton, United Kingdom

Takeshi Ikeyama