Abstract: This vehicle control device 10 is provided with: a current gear stage selection unit 13 which selects a current gear stage, which is the gear stage of the vehicle in the present travel state; a travel segment determination unit 15 which determines the next travel segment forwards in the direction of travel of the vehicle V; and a shift control unit 17 which, in the case that the current gear stage selection unit 13 has newly selected a target gear stage lower than the current gear stage during travel of the vehicle V in the current gear stage in the current travel segment, if the next travel segment can be traveled in the current gear stage and the amount the vehicle V will lose speed after traveling the current travel segment is less than or equal to a prescribed threshold value, controls shifting of the gear stage such that downshifting from the current gear stage to the target gear stage is suppressed and the current gear stage is maintained.

Abstract: This vehicle control device 10 is provided with: a current gear stage selection unit 13 which, on the basis of the travel resistance of the vehicle, selects a current gear stage, which is the gear stage of the vehicle in the current travel segment where the vehicle is traveling; a next gear stage selection unit 16 which selects a next gear stage, which will be the gear stage of the vehicle in the next travel segment, forwards in the travel direction of the vehicle, having a road slope different from that of the current travel segment; and a shift control unit 17 which, if during travel of the vehicle in the current travel segment in the current gear stage, the current gear stage selection unit 13 has newly selected a target gear stage higher than the next gear stage, controls shifting such that upshifting from the current gear stage to the target gear stage is suppressed and the current gear stage is maintained.

Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: a travel section determination unit configured to determine a forward travel section that is a travel section having a different road gradient from a current travel section in which a vehicle is currently traveling and that is ahead in a travel direction of the vehicle; a forward gear stage selection unit configured to select a forward gear stage which is a gear stage of the vehicle in the forward travel section; and a shift control unit configured to, in a case where the selected forward gear stage is lower by two or more stages than the current gear stage which is a gear stage of the vehicle in the current travel section and when the vehicle is positioned within a predetermined range from a start position of the forward travel section, perform downshift from the current gear stage to the forward gear stage.

Abstract: In the present invention: a road information acquisition unit (12a) acquires road information about a prescribed section of road ahead of a vehicle traveling at a first shift position; a vehicle information acquisition unit (12b) acquires vehicle information; a speed prediction unit (12c) predicts, on the basis of the road information and the vehicle information, the speed transition in the prescribed section for when the vehicle will have traveled through the prescribed section at the first shift position; and a gearshift control unit (12d) causes a transmission (5) to downshift to a second shift position when the minimum value of the predicted vehicle speed is less than a prescribed speed.

Abstract: Reinforcing ribs (33a and 33b) are provided between mounting plate parts (30a and 31b) and support plate parts (31a and 31b) forming a support bracket (18a). Side plate parts (40a and 40b) forming a distance bracket (17a) are disposed between the support plate parts (31a and 31b), and an outer column (13a). When an adjustment lever (26a) is operated to hold a steering wheel at a position after adjustment, a steering column (6a) is pushed toward an upper side by column pressing parts (42a and 42b) provided at the side plate parts (40a and 40b), and, therefore, a pair of widened parts (43a and 43b) provided at upper parts of the side plate parts (40a and 40b) are pushed and expanded to the outside in a width direction. The widened parts (43a and 43b) are sandwiched between the support plate parts (31a and 31b) and the outer column (13a).

Abstract: A road information acquisition unit (12a) acquires information about the road in a prescribed segment in front, a vehicle information acquisition unit (12b) acquires information about the vehicle (1), a velocity prediction unit (12c) predicts, on the basis of the road information and the information about the vehicle (1), the changes in the vehicle velocity that would be brought about in the prescribed segment in the case of travelling the prescribed segment in a first gear, and a shift control unit (12d) which maintains the first gear if the condition is satisfied that the predicted vehicle velocity exhibits a minimum value other than at the ends of the prescribed segment and the minimum value is greater than the delay speed, which is set to a value less than a predetermined velocity set as the velocity that would result from downshifting.

Abstract: A driving-side concave-convex portion of a driving-side transmission member is engaged with an elastic member. The driving-side concave-convex portion is engaged with an intermediate concave-convex portion of an intermediate transmission member with a circumferential gap being interposed therebetween. A driven-side concave-convex portion of a driven-side transmission member is engaged with the elastic member. The driven-side concave-convex portion is engaged with the intermediate concave-convex portion with a circumferential gap being interposed therebetween. Both axial side surfaces and a periphery of the intermediate transmission member are covered by a side surface covering portion and a periphery covering portion of the elastic member.

Abstract: A tailgate for opening/closing an opening of a vehicle includes an outer panel configured to form an outer surface of the tailgate, a garnish mounted on the outer panel and configured to form the outer surface of the tailgate, and a switch unit including at least a switch configured to instruct an opening operation of the tailgate. The switch unit is arranged in a space between the outer panel and the garnish, and mounted on the outer panel and the garnish.

Abstract: A road information acquisition unit (12a) acquires information about the road in a prescribed segment forwards of a vehicle (1) that is traveling with the acceleration pedal actuated a first actuation amount, a vehicle information acquisition unit (12b) acquires information about the vehicle (1), a velocity prediction unit (12c) predicts, on the basis of the road information and the vehicle information, the changes in the vehicle velocity that would be brought about in the prescribed segment if the acceleration pedal actuation amount were a second actuation amount greater than the first actuation amount, and an acceleration control unit (12d) controls the acceleration pedal actuation amount such that the acceleration pedal actuation amount of the vehicle (1) becomes the second actuation amount if the predicted vehicle velocity minimal value is less than a target velocity.

Abstract: Circumferential rigidity of both axial end portions of each coupling-side convex portion is lower than circumferential rigidity of an axially intermediate portion of each coupling-side convex portion. The drive-side concave-convex portion is engaged with a half portion on the other axial side of the coupling-side concave-convex portion. The driven-side concave-convex portion is engaged with a half portion on one axial side of the coupling-side concave-convex portion.

Abstract: In the present invention: a road information acquisition unit (12a) acquires road information about a prescribed section of road ahead of a vehicle traveling at a first shift position; a vehicle information acquisition unit (12b) acquires vehicle information; a speed prediction unit (12c) predicts, on the basis of the road information and the vehicle information, the speed transition in the prescribed section for when the vehicle will have traveled through the prescribed section at the first shift position; and a gearshift control unit (12d) causes a transmission (5) to downshift to a second shift position when the minimum value of the predicted vehicle speed is less than a prescribed speed.

Abstract: A road information acquisition unit (12a) acquires information about the road in a prescribed segment in front, a vehicle information acquisition unit (12b) acquires information about the vehicle (1), a velocity prediction unit (12c) predicts, on the basis of the road information and the information about the vehicle (1), the changes in the vehicle velocity that would be brought about in the prescribed segment in the case of travelling the prescribed segment in a first gear, and a shift control unit (12d) which maintains the first gear if the condition is satisfied that the predicted vehicle velocity exhibits a minimum value other than at the ends of the prescribed segment and the minimum value is greater than the delay speed, which is set to a value less than a predetermined velocity set as the velocity that would result from downshifting.

Abstract: A tailgate for opening/closing an opening of a vehicle includes an outer panel configured to form an outer surface of the tailgate, a garnish mounted on the outer panel and configured to form the outer surface of the tailgate, and a switch unit including at least a switch configured to instruct an opening operation of the tailgate. The switch unit is arranged in a space between the outer panel and the garnish, and mounted on the outer panel and the garnish.

Abstract: A steering column support apparatus that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing forward displacement of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, keeping material costs, processing costs and assembly costs of an energy absorbing member low, and when necessary, preventing the steering wheel from dropping down excessively during a secondary collision. A locking capsule 47 that is fastened to a bracket 3 on the column side is held inside a locking hole 45 of a bracket 11b on the vehicle side that is fastened to the vehicle body by a plurality of connecting members that shear during a secondary collision. An energy absorbing member 53 is placed between the locking capsule 47 and the bracket 11b on the vehicle side. This energy absorbing member 53 is formed by bending a plastically deformable wire, and allows forward displacement of the locking capsule while absorbing impact energy that is applied to the locking capsule by plastically deforming during a secondary collision.

Abstract: Provided is construction of a steering column support apparatus that simplifies tuning for stabilizing the forward displacement of the steering wheel during a secondary collision, makes the apparatus more compact and low cost, and lowers and stabilizes the break away load. A bracket 12b on the column and a locking capsule 53 that are both made of metal plate are connected and fastened together by welding. A pair of left and right eave sections 56 are formed on both the left and right end sections of the locking capsule 53 by way of raised sections 55. The portion of the metal plate of a bracket 11 on the vehicle side on both sides of a locking hole 45 fits between the bottom surfaces of the eave sections 56 and the top surface of the bracket 12b on the column side so as to be able to break away during a secondary collision.

Abstract: A steering column support apparatus that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing forward displacement of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, keeping material costs, processing costs and assembly costs of an energy absorbing member low, and when necessary, preventing the steering wheel from dropping down excessively during a secondary collision. A locking capsule 47 that is fastened to a bracket 3 on the column side is held inside a locking hole 45 of a bracket 11b on the vehicle side that is fastened to the vehicle body by a plurality of connecting members that shear during a secondary collision. An energy absorbing member 53 is placed between the locking capsule 47 and the bracket 11b on the vehicle side. This energy absorbing member 53 is formed by bending a plastically deformable wire, and allows forward displacement of the locking capsule while absorbing impact energy that is applied to the locking capsule by plastically deforming during a secondary collision.

Abstract: Provided is construction of a steering column support apparatus that simplifies tuning for stabilizing the forward displacement of the steering wheel during a secondary collision, makes the apparatus more compact and low cost, and lowers and stabilizes the break away load. A bracket 12b on the column and a locking capsule 53 that are both made of metal plate are connected and fastened together by welding. A pair of left and right eave sections 56 are formed on both the left and right end sections of the locking capsule 53 by way of raised sections 55. The portion of the metal plate of a bracket 11 on the vehicle side on both sides of a locking hole 45 fits between the bottom surfaces of the eave sections 56 and the top surface of the bracket 12b on the column side so as to be able to break away during a secondary collision.

Abstract: The fast-axis and slow-axis direction components of light exited from any light emitting sections are respectively independently collimated to allow the light beams which are collimated in both the fast-axis and slow-axis directions to be shaped and/or image-converted to a predetermined cross-sectional configuration at least relative to the slow-axis direction components and allow the light beams which are given the predetermined cross-sectional configuration to be condensed to a predetermined position. By doing so it is possible to reduce any loss involved upon the optical coupling of a laser array to an optical fiber.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser module comprising a semiconductor laser device, a collimating section collimating a laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser device, a beam shaping section parallel-shifting at least part of a laser beam emitted from the collimating section to a position satisfying an effective numerical aperture of the optical fiber cable when the laser beam exceeds the effective numerical aperture of the optical fiber cable, and a collecting section collecting a laser beam emitted from the beam shaping section onto a light incident end face of the optical fiber cable.

Abstract: A vehicle clutch control system that can prevent an engine (222) from racing when a friction clutch (304) is disengaged and engaged. When a driver stamps an accelerator pedal (206) over a predetermined depth at the time of completion of transmission gear speed change, clutch engagement is prohibited if a clutch rotation speed is slower than a prescribed speed, or an accelerator is maintained to a 0% opening position.