Abstract: A silicon nitride-based sintered body containing silicon nitride-based grains, which are formed of sialon grains. In the silicon nitride-based sintered body, when the size of each silicon nitride-based grain is represented by its maximum grain size, the ratio of the number of silicon nitride-based grains having a maximum grain size of 1 ?m or less to the number of the entire silicon nitride-based grains is 70% or higher. Furthermore, in the distribution profile of no. % of silicon nitride-based grains with respect to maximum grain size, the maximum value of no. % (i.e., maximum no. %) of silicon nitride-based grains is 15 no. % or higher. Also disclosed is a cutting insert, which is formed of the silicon nitride-based sintered body.

Abstract: A gas sensor element including: a first ceramic layer (300) including a solid electrolyte (320); a pair of electrode portions (330) and (333) at least partially disposed on opposing surfaces of the solid electrolyte; a support member (341) surrounding a part of an outer peripheral edge of at least one electrode portion (330) of the pair of electrode portions and having a notch (341N), a part of the electrode portion extending in the notch; and a second ceramic layer (242) disposed on a side where the at least one electrode portion (330) is present, so as to be in contact with a surface of the support member, the gas sensor element being obtained by stacking the first ceramic layer (300), the support member (341) and the second ceramic layer (242), wherein the second ceramic layer covers at least a part of the notch.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes: a housing having a tubular shape, and including a front end including an opening; a diaphragm that is disposed to close the opening, and is structured to deform depending on a pressure exerted on a front side of the diaphragm, and includes a hole extending rearwardly from a front end face of the diaphragm; a sensor element structured to output a signal varying depending on an amount of the deformation of the diaphragm; and a heat receiver including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is disposed in the hole of the diaphragm, and is joined with an inner periphery of the diaphragm defining the hole. The second portion is formed integrally with the first portion, and is disposed adjacent to a front end of the first portion, and is structured to cover the front end face of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A fine bubble generation device in one aspect of the present disclosure is a device that generates fine bubbles in a liquid by causing the liquid to pass through a porous element having many pores. In the fine bubble generation device, a differential pressure is applied between first and second sides of the element, and, by the applied differential pressure, the liquid disposed on the first side of the element is passed through the element and is jetted toward the second side to thereby generate fine bubbles. In this fine bubble generation device, the flow speed of the liquid during passage through the element is 0.009769 [m/s] or higher. The fine bubbles can thereby be generated efficiently.

Abstract: [OBJECTS] An object of the present invention is to provide a lithium-ion-conductive ceramic material having a target ion conductivity, while suppressing production cost. Another object is to provide a high-performance lithium battery, while suppressing production cost, by virtue of having the lithium-ion-conductive ceramic material. The lithium-ion-conductive ceramic material contains Li, La, and Zr, as well as at least one of Mg and A (wherein A represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba) and which has a garnet-type crystal structure, wherein the elements contained in the ceramic material satisfy the following mole ratio conditions (1) to (3): (1) 1.33?Li/(La+A)?3; (2) 0<Mg/(La+A)?0.5; and (3) 0<A/(La+A)?0.67, and a lithium battery employing the ceramic material.

Abstract: A multilayer heating body (1) includes a ceramic substrate (3), an electrode (4), heaters (5, 7), terminals (11, 13, 15, 17), and an electricity supply path (19). Through vias which constitute the electricity supply path include at least one combination of through vias ?, ?, ?, and ? which meets the following conditions (1) and (2). Condition (1): when the ceramic substrate is viewed from the front surface (3a) side toward the back surface (3b) side, the through via ? is located at a position where the through via ? overlaps the through via ?, or in the vicinity of the through via ?. Condition (2): when the ceramic substrate is viewed from the front surface side toward the back surface side, the through via ? is located at a position between the through via ? and the through via ?, or located at a position where the through via ? overlaps the through via ?, or in the vicinity of the through via ?.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant member has a portion to be exposed to a corrosive gas. The portion to be exposed to the corrosive gas is formed of a ceramic sintered body. The mean width (Rsm) of profile elements of a surface of the ceramic sintered body is 25 ?m or less, and the ratio (Rsm/Ra) of the mean width (Rsm) of the profile elements to the arithmetic mean roughness (Ra) of the surface of the ceramic sintered body is 4,000 or less.

Abstract: In an end mill body made of ceramic, a corner R rake face is formed in such a manner as to contain a point B and at least a region B, not a region A located on a side toward an end cutting edge. In other words, a first end portion of a cutting edge on a peripheral edge portion of the corner R rake face is formed on a peripheral edge of the region B of a corner R cutting edge, and a second end portion of the cutting edge reaches at least the point B. As a result, partial breakage of the corner R cutting edge is unlikely to occur in the course of cutting. That is, since the corner R rake face is formed in such a manner as to start from the first end portion located apart from a point A, which is the intersection of the end cutting edge and the corner R cutting edge, and such that the second end portion reaches the point B, a large cutting load is unlikely to be imposed on the starting point of the corner R rake face. Therefore, the corner R cutting edge is unlikely to be chipped.

Abstract: A substrate supporting device having a feeder structure that enables a large number of electrodes to be successfully supplied with power. A ceramic heater 100 includes a base 10 having an upper surface as a support surface on which a substrate is supported, electrodes 20 embedded in the base 10, a base-supporting member 30 that is mounted on a lower surface of the base 10 and that is formed of a heat insulating material, and feeder rods 40 that extend through respective through-holes 35 formed in a circumferential wall 34 of the base-supporting member 30 and extending in the vertical direction and that are electrically connected to the electrodes 20.

Abstract: An ignition plug comprising: an insulator having a through hole extending from a rear-end side toward a forward-end side; a center electrode inserted at least partially into a portion of the through hole on the forward-end side; a metal terminal member inserted at least partially into a portion of the through hole on the rear-end side; and a seal disposed within the through hole and in contact with the center electrode and an inner circumferential surface of the insulator. The seal contains a glass and an electrically conductive substance, and the glass contained in the seal contains Si in an amount of 50 mass % or more as reduced to SiO2 and Na in an amount of 0.1 mass % or more and less than 1 mass % as reduced to Na2O.

Abstract: A spark plug wherein the occurrence of cracks at a joint portion between a cover portion and a metal shell in the spark plug is prevented. The spark plug includes a cylindrical metal shell that accommodates an insulator therein, and a cover portion that covers, from a front end side of the spark plug, a front end portion of a center electrode and a facing portion of a ground electrode to form a pre-chamber space. The cover portion is joined to a front end side of the metal shell and has injection holes that are through-holes. A first coefficient of thermal expansion A (10?5/K) of the material forming the cover portion at normal temperature and a second coefficient of thermal expansion B (10?5/K) of the metal shell at normal temperature satisfy a formula (1): A<B.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a gas sensor element for detecting the concentration of a specific gas in a gas under measurement, a tubular housing having an opening, a sealing member closing the opening, and a heat dissipating member having a rear end located at the same position or forward of the rear end of the housing. The heat dissipating member reduces heat transferred from the forward end side of the gas sensor to the sealing member and includes a connection portion connected to the housing, and a main portion extending rearward from the connection portion such that a gap is formed between the main portion and the housing. The main portion has heat dissipating openings for establishing communication between the gap and a space on the outer circumferential side of the heat dissipating member. The heat dissipating openings are formed on the rear end side of the main portion.

Abstract: A gas sensor element includes: an element main body including an oxygen concentration detection cell and an oxygen pump cell; and a protective layer that covers the element main body. The element main body includes a heater section. The heater section is a heating element that heats the oxygen concentration detection cell and the oxygen pump cell. The protective layer includes: a first protective layer including a carrier composed mainly of a white ceramic and a noble metal catalyst supported on the carrier; and a second protective layer that is a layer composed mainly of a white ceramic and supporting no noble metal catalyst. The second protective layer externally covers the first protective layer, and a surface of the second protective layer serves as the outermost surface of the protective layer. The thickness of the second protective layer is smaller than the thickness of the first protective layer.

Abstract: A particulate sensor (10) to be attached to a gas flow pipe EP through which a gas to be measured EG containing particulates S flows. The particulate sensor (10) includes a gas introduction discharge pipe (31); a discharge element (60) including a discharge electrode member (62) maintained at a discharge potential DV and which electrifies particulates contained in the gas under measurement, and a sealed portion (60C) located on a proximal end side GK of an element distal end portion and in which the discharge electrode member is disposed and insulated from the outer surface (60CS) thereof; a surrounding member (38, 39) maintained at a first potential SGND; and an electrically conductive glass seal (37) which establishes electrical communication between the surrounding member and the pipe (31), and is in close contact with the outer surface of the sealed portion of the discharge element to provide gastight sealing.

Abstract: A wiring substrate has a substrate body formed by a single or a plurality of insulating layers and having front and back surfaces located at opposite sides of the substrate body; a plurality of pads formed on at least one of the front surface, the back surface and an inner layer surface that is located between the front and back surfaces, and having a staggered arrangement in plan view; and a plurality of via conductors formed at each of the pads, extending in a thickness direction of the substrate body with the plurality of via conductors being parallel to each other and connecting the pads located on different surfaces. Arrangement, in plan view, of the plurality of via conductors connecting to the pad and arrangement, in plan view, of the plurality of via conductors connecting to an adjacent pad located on the same surface are different from each other.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensor element, metal terminals, a tubular separator holding the metal terminals, lead wires connected to rear ends of the metal terminals, and an elastic member that holds the lead wires extending rearward from the separator. Each metal terminal includes a forward end portion electrically connected to an electrode portion, a central portion, and a lead wire connection portion. The forward end portion or the central portion is held by the separator. The central portion and the lead wire connection portion are connected to each other through a neck portion. The rearward-facing rearmost surface of the central portion is engaged with a forward-facing surface of the separator, and the circumferential length of a first connection portion between the central portion and the neck portion is longer than the circumferential length of a second connection portion between the lead wire connection portion and the neck portion.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control system (1) including an air-fuel ratio control section (3) for controlling the air-fuel ratio ? of an air-fuel mixture, an exhaust gas purifier (4); an air-fuel ratio sensor (5) whose output changes sharply when ? in the exhaust gas changes between rich and lean sides about a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio; a heater (6); and a temperature control section (7). The air-fuel ratio control section (3) controls ? based on the output of the air-fuel ratio sensor (5) using, as a target air-fuel ratio, a predetermined air-fuel ratio such that 0.980??<1.000 is satisfied, and when a change amount ?? ? is 0.008, an output difference ?V is 150 mV or smaller. The temperature control section (7) controls the temperature of the air-fuel ratio sensor (5) to a predetermined target temperature of 650° C. or higher.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gas sensor for detecting a measurement target gas in a measurement gas atmosphere, including: a first sensor element; a first installation part defining a first inner space in which the first sensor element is installed; and a casing accommodating therein the first installation part. The casing has an opening formed to introduce the measurement target gas into an inside of the casing. The first installation part has: a first gas introduction hole formed to provide communication between the first inner space and the inside of the casing; and a membrane member arranged to cover the first gas introduction hole and having permeability to water vapor and substantially no permeability to the measurement target gas. At least a portion of the first installation part in contact with the membrane member is made of insulating ceramic material or resin material.

Abstract: A wiring board has a metal-made base having a front surface and a back surface, an insulating frame body bonded to the front surface of the base through a bonding layer made of bonding material, a mounting area where a component is supposed to be mounted on the front surface of the base, and a restriction portion formed by a groove or a protrusion that is provided on the front surface of the base or by a combination of the groove and the protrusion. The restriction portion is arranged in at least a part of an area between the mounting area and the frame body on the front surface in plan view.

Abstract: A spark plug including a cylindrical insulator having a step portion; a center electrode provided in an axial hole of the insulator; and a cylindrical metal shell having a ledge portion, the metal shell holding the insulator from an outer circumferential side in a state in which the step portion is engaged with the ledge portion via a packing, wherein a recess is formed on a part contacting with the packing, of one of the step portion and the ledge portion, and a projection which at least partially overlaps the recess in the axial-line direction is formed on a part contacting with the packing, of the other of the step portion and the ledge portion.