Abstract: In a constant speed drive (in an auto cruise), the procedure of the invention executes proportional control to set an accelerator opening Acc corresponding to an observed vehicle speed and a target vehicle speed. When the accelerator opening Acc is less than a preset opening A2 included in a dead zone where a torque demand Tr* is kept equal to 0, the procedure corrects the accelerator opening Acc to have a corresponding torque demand Tr* included in a negative zone where the torque demand Tr* takes negative values and linearly increases. This arrangement heightens the linearity of the graph of the torque demand Tr* against the accelerator opening Acc in the constant speed drive, compared with the linearity in a standard drive.

Abstract: Sliced specimens can be automatically and continuously prepared and burdens of an operator can be reduced while accuracy required for the sliced specimen is maintained. The sliced specimen is prepared by relatively moving a specimen block transfer section and a cutter, and when a slicing operation to adjust the height position of the specimen block is continuously performed so that the cutting surface of the specimen block is located at a sliceable position, the cutter is moved so that a contacting area of a blade edge of the cutter that firstly contacts the specimen block after the height position adjustment is sequentially changed, every time previously set number of times of slicing operation is completed. Thereafter, the height position of the blade edge of the cutter after the change is measured by a detector, and based on the measurement information of the detector, the sliceable position is corrected and the slicing operation is resumed.

Abstract: A cruise control device executes a program including the steps of: when shift information transmitted from an ECT-ECU changes from fifth gear to fourth gear, and the time T (1) from a change in the shift information has elapsed, determining that down shifting to fourth gear has been conducted, effecting upshift inhibit control, and effecting throttle return control at elapse of the time T (2) from a change in the shift information transmitted from the ECT-ECU.

Abstract: In a constant speed drive (in an auto cruise), the procedure of the invention executes proportional control to set an accelerator opening Acc corresponding to an observed vehicle speed and a target vehicle speed. When the accelerator opening Acc is less than a preset opening A2 included in a dead zone where a torque demand Tr* is kept equal to 0, the procedure corrects the accelerator opening Acc to have a corresponding torque demand Tr* included in a negative zone where the torque demand Tr* takes negative values and linearly increases. This arrangement heightens the linearity of the graph of the torque demand Tr* against the accelerator opening Acc in the constant speed drive, compared with the linearity in a standard drive.