Abstract: A fixing unit or device that can be used in an image forming apparatus includes a first heater element that is formed of a material that increases in electrical resistance with increases in temperature. A controller of the fixing unit is configured to vary a duty ratio of electric power applied to the first heater element during a start-up operation in which the temperature of the first heater element is raised to a target operating temperature. By varying the duty ratio during the start-up operation, changes in the resistance of the first heater element with the heating can be compensated. For example, the duty ratio can be increased during the course of the start-up to achieve the target operating temperature faster.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a steering device, a steering controller, a steering input member, a front-rear driving force distribution unit, and a behavior controller. The steering device steers front wheels of a vehicle. The steering controller controls and causes the steering device to perform steering automatically. The steering input member receives a steering operation inputted by a driver. The front-rear driving force distribution unit changes a front-rear driving force distribution ratio. The behavior controller predicts, if a steering operation is performed via the steering input member during the automatic steering, a behavior of the vehicle to be exhibited after steering corresponding to the steering operation, and causes, if an oversteer behavior is predicted to occur, the front-rear driving force distribution unit to change the driving force distribution ratio to a front-wheel biased distribution ratio as compared with a case where the oversteer behavior is not predicted to occur.

Abstract: A driving support apparatus includes a drive source, a brake detector, a vehicle velocity detector, a wheel velocity detector, and a driving force controller. The drive source is configured to give driving force to each of drive wheels capable of being independently driven. The brake detector is configured to detect depression of a brake pedal. The vehicle velocity detector is configured to detect vehicle velocity of a vehicle. The wheel velocity detector is configured to detect wheel velocity of each of the drive wheels. The driving force controller is configured to control the driving force for each of the drive wheels.

Abstract: A braking control device includes a target vehicle speed setting unit, a braking power control unit, and a low friction coefficient region recognition unit. The low friction coefficient region recognition unit recognizes a low friction coefficient region of a road surface between a current position of an own vehicle and a target position. The braking power control unit estimates a maximum deceleration rate assuming braking to be started after passage through the low friction coefficient region to cause deceleration to a target vehicle speed at the target position. On the condition that the maximum deceleration rate is smaller than a predetermined upper limit on a deceleration rate, the braking power control unit causes a start of generation of braking power after the passage through the low friction coefficient region.

Abstract: A braking control device includes a target vehicle speed setting unit, a braking power control unit, and a low friction coefficient region recognition unit. The low friction coefficient region recognition unit recognizes a low friction coefficient region of a road surface between a current position of an own vehicle and a target position. The braking power control unit estimates a maximum deceleration rate assuming braking to be started after passage through the low friction coefficient region to cause deceleration to a target vehicle speed at the target position. On the condition that the maximum deceleration rate is smaller than a predetermined upper limit on a deceleration rate, the braking power control unit causes a start of generation of braking power after the passage through the low friction coefficient region.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a steering device, a steering controller, a steering input member, a front-rear driving force distribution unit, and a behavior controller. The steering device steers front wheels of a vehicle. The steering controller controls and causes the steering device to perform steering automatically. The steering input member receives a steering operation inputted by a driver. The front-rear driving force distribution unit changes a front-rear driving force distribution ratio. The behavior controller predicts, if a steering operation is performed via the steering input member during the automatic steering, a behavior of the vehicle to be exhibited after steering corresponding to the steering operation, and causes, if an oversteer behavior is predicted to occur, the front-rear driving force distribution unit to change the driving force distribution ratio to a front-wheel biased distribution ratio as compared with a case where the oversteer behavior is not predicted to occur.