Abstract: A receiver of an ultrasonic sensor includes reception elements, each of which has a shape of a flat rectangular plate. The reception elements are arranged one-dimensionally on a plane so that the reception surfaces face the same direction and that the reception elements are aligned with small intervals in the width direction thereof while longitudinal ends of the reception elements at a certain side are aligned in a straight line. The widths and the thicknesses of the reception elements are even, while the longitudes of the reception elements are uneven. The both longitudinal ends of the reception elements are fixed to prohibit the vibration of the ends. The longitudes are designed so that the primary resonance frequencies of the reception elements are uneven.

Abstract: A sensor attachment structure includes a sound receiving member for receiving an ultrasound, an ultrasonic sensor attached to the sound receiving member. The ultrasonic sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having first and second surfaces opposite to each other and a substrate recess portion recessed from the first surface of the semiconductor substrate so as to form a membrane in the semiconductor substrate. Furthermore, a cap member is located between the sound receiving member and the semiconductor substrate to cover the second surface of the semiconductor substrate. In addition, the cap member has a first surface bonded to the sound receiving member, and a second surface that is bonded to the second surface of the semiconductor substrate at an outer periphery section of the membrane while having a gap between the cap member and the membrane.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a plurality of converters and a protection component. The plurality of converters convert one of a received ultrasonic wave into an electric signal and an electric signal into an ultrasonic wave for transmission. The plurality of converters are juxtaposed. The protection component protects each of the converters.

Abstract: A motor-assisted turbocharger is composed of a turbine driven by energy of exhaust gas, a compressor rotated by the turbine and a rotary electric machine for assisting rotation of the compressor. The turbine, the compressor and the rotary electric machine are connected to each other by a common rotating shaft. A polygon nut having magnetic member facing fixed magnetic sensor is connected to an axial end of the rotating shaft. A magnetic field formed between the magnetic member and the magnetic sensor changes according to rotation of the rotating shaft. A rotational speed and a rotational position (or angle) of the compressor are detected based on the changes in the magnetic field. Operation of the turbocharger is electronically controlled based on the detected rotational speed and the rotational position.

Abstract: A physical quantity sensor detects a physical quantity. The sensor includes a movable portion having a bottom and a protrusion disposed on the bottom of the movable portion. The protrusion is provided without adding a manufacturing process, so that a manufacturing cost is reduced. Preferably, the protrusion is provided by a remaining portion, which remains without being etched when the movable portion is prepared by etching.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor for detecting an object includes: a substrate; a transmission device for transmitting an ultrasonic wave; a plurality of reception devices for receiving the ultrasonic wave; and a circuit for processing received ultrasonic waves, which are received by the reception devices after the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission device is reflected by the object. The transmission device and the reception devices are integrated into the substrate. The dimensions of the sensor are minimized, and detection accuracy of the sensor is improved.

Abstract: A more reliable gas sensor includes a support film formed on a surface of a substrate and a heater electrode. Surrounding the heater electrode is a heater electrical insulation layer 4. Detection electrodes are formed above the electrical insulation layer. A flat insulating layer is formed over the heater insulation layer, and surfaces of the detection electrodes are exposed and flush with the upper surface of the flat insulating layer. A sensitive film is formed above the flat insulating layer in contact with the surfaces of the detection electrodes. A hollow cavity is formed in the substrate.

Abstract: An ultrasonic element has a membrane formed as a thin walled portion of a substrate, on which a piezoelectric vibrator is formed. The piezoelectric vibrator comprises a piezoelectric thin film and metal electrode films, which are formed into a sandwiched structure. The piezoelectric vibrator resonates with the membrane at a predetermined ultrasonic wave-band frequency. A hollow-out pattern is formed in the piezoelectric thin film to divide the piezoelectric vibrator into multiple portions, wherein the hollow-out pattern is formed in such an area corresponding to stress concentrated area which appears in vibrations of the membrane in diametrical directions thereof. The membrane is made to be easily deformed in response to vibration of the piezoelectric vibrator, so that an ultrasound of a higher sound pressure can be emitted.

Abstract: A receiver of an ultrasonic sensor includes reception elements, each of which has a shape of a flat rectangular plate. The reception elements are arranged one-dimensionally on a plane so that the reception surfaces face the same direction and that the reception elements are aligned with small intervals in the width direction thereof while longitudinal ends of the reception elements at a certain side are aligned in a straight line. The widths and the thicknesses of the reception elements are even, while the longitudes of the reception elements are uneven. The both longitudinal ends of the reception elements are fixed to prohibit the vibration of the ends. The longitudes are designed so that the primary resonance frequencies of the reception elements are uneven.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a plurality of converters and a protection component. The plurality of converters convert one of a received ultrasonic wave into an electric signal and an electric signal into an ultrasonic wave for transmission. The plurality of converters are juxtaposed. The protection component protects each of the converters.

Abstract: An optical scanner is provided with a laser diode for emitting a laser beam, a cylinder lens arranged in a laser route of the laser beam, and a static electricity force driving device (or electromagnetic force driving device) for moving the cylinder lens in a direction perpendicular to the laser route. Thus, the incidence position of the laser beam with respect to the cylinder lens is changeable. Accordingly, the laser beam having entered the cylinder lens is refracted at different refraction angles to be dispersed, thus being capable of scanning an object.

Abstract: A motor-assisted turbocharger is composed of a turbine driven by energy of exhaust gas, a compressor rotated by the turbine and a rotary electric machine for assisting rotation of the compressor. The turbine, the compressor and the rotary electric machine are connected to each other by a common rotating shaft. A polygon nut having magnetic member facing fixed magnetic sensor is connected to an axial end of the rotating shaft. A magnetic field formed between the magnetic member and the magnetic sensor changes according to rotation of the rotating shaft. A rotational speed and a rotational position (or angle) of the compressor are detected based on the changes in the magnetic field. Operation of the turbocharger is electronically controlled based on the detected rotational speed and the rotational position.

Abstract: A pedestrian detection device, a related method, an air bag system and a vehicle are disclosed. The pedestrian detection device 20 includes an infrared ray sensor 30A, which detects a temperature of a detection object approaching to or in contact with the vehicle 10 to provide a temperature signal, an impact sensor 27a to 27c, which generate impact signals when the vehicle encounters a collision, and an impact collision generation unit 21 operative to generate a pedestrian collision signal upon discrimination that the detection object is a pedestrian, discrimination that the impact signal is being outputted, and discrimination that a direction in which the pedestrian is present and a direction in which the impact is applied to the vehicle falls in a substantially same direction.

Abstract: A fuel tank is allowed to hold any of types of liquid fuels and currently hold one type of liquid fuel. A light emitting element outputs a light beam of a predetermined emission spectrum to the liquid fuel of the fuel tank. The liquid fuel changes the light beam to a reflected light beam of a reflection spectrum according to spectral characteristics of the liquid fuel. The reflection spectrum is peculiar to the type of the liquid fuel of the fuel tank. A light receiving element detects the reflection spectrum, and a control circuit receives the detected reflection spectrum from the light receiving element. The control circuit collates the detected reflection spectrum with a referential reflection spectrum corresponding to each fuel type and identified the type of the liquid fuel of the fuel tank according to a collation result.

Abstract: A control circuit sends a drive signal to a transmitting section. The transmitting section generates ultrasonic waves based on the drive signal. The ultrasonic waves are transmitted toward a side surface portion Ta of a tire T. A receiving section receives reflection sounds as ultrasonic waves reflected from the side surface portion Ta of the tire T. The receiving section sends a detection signal to the control circuit. Based on both the drive signal and the detection signal, the control circuit detects a shape change (i.e. degree of deformation) of the side surface portion Ta of the tire T. Then, the control circuit 14 calculates the stress (particularly, the lateral stress) acting from the road surface P to the wheel W based on the detection result of the shape change. Then, the control circuit produces a data signal D representing the calculated stress.

Abstract: A motor-assisted turbocharger is composed of a turbine driven by energy of exhaust gas, a compressor rotated by the turbine and a rotary electric machine for assisting rotation of the compressor. The turbine, the compressor blade and the rotary electric machine are connected to each other by a common rotating shaft. The compressor blade made of a material including a magnetic material faces an inner surface of a housing in which a magnetic sensor is embedded. A magnetic field in an air gap between the compressor blade and the magnetic sensor changes according to rotation of the compressor blade. The magnetic sensor detects changes in the magnetic field to thereby detect the rotational speed of the compressor blade. In place of the magnetic field, other physical amounts in the air gap, such as pressure, sound frequencies, capacitance or the like may be used for detecting the rotational speed.

Abstract: A capacitance type semiconductor dynamic quantity sensor includes a beam-shaped movable electrode displaceable in a predetermined direction in response to application of a dynamic quantity to a support substrate, and beam-shaped fixed electrodes which are fixedly supported on the support substrate and disposed so that the side surface thereof faces a side surface of the movable electrode. The applied dynamic quantity is detected on the basis of variation of electric capacitance between the side surface of the movable electrode and the side surface of the fixed electrodes. Countermeasures are included to prevent sticking between the fixed electrodes and the movable electrode.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor comprising a spring portion joined to the base portion of a semiconductor substrate and elastically displaced in Y-direction in accordance with an applied acceleration, movable electrodes joined to the spring portion, fixed electrodes disposed to face the movable electrodes and adjusting electrodes for adjusting the spring constant of the spring portion. The spring portion has a pair of beams facing each other in the Y-direction, and is elastically deformed so that the interval between the pair of beams is varied. The adjusting electrodes are respectively equipped at the outside of one of the paired beams and at the outside of the other beam, and electrostatic force can be applied by the adjusting electrodes so that the paired beams are separated from each other.

Abstract: A physical quantity sensor detects a physical quantity. The sensor includes a movable portion having a bottom and a protrusion disposed on the bottom of the movable portion. The protrusion is provided without adding a manufacturing process, so that a manufacturing cost is reduced. Preferably, the protrusion is provided by a remaining portion, which remains without being etched when the movable portion is prepared by etching.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring a physical amount such as an amount of air includes a membrane structure composed of metal stripes sandwiched between first and second insulating layers. A metal layer made of platinum or the like is formed on the first insulating layer and then heat-treated to improve its properties. Then, the metal layer is etched into a form of the metal stripes. The second insulating layer made of a material such as silicon dioxide is formed on the etched metal stripes. Since the metal layer is heat-treated before it is etched into the form of metal stripes, the metal stripes are not deformed by the heat-treatment. The second insulating layer can be formed on the metal stripes without generating cracks in the second insulating layer.