Abstract: A spark plug inspection method and a spark plug manufacturing method that enable evaluation for the position of a ground electrode of a tapered-seat-type spark plug. The spark plug inspection method includes: a contact step of screwing an external thread of a metal shell to an internal thread of a gauge so as to bring a part of a tapered portion of the metal shell into line-contact or point-contact with an inner edge of the gauge; and a determination step of determining whether or not a ground electrode is present within a predetermined range in a circumferential direction of the gauge when the tapered portion comes into line-contact or point-contact with the inner edge of the gauge in the contact step.

Abstract: A particulate detection apparatus for controlling a particulate sensor which detects the amount of particulates discharged from a filter for collecting particulates contained in exhaust gas. The particulate sensor includes a detection section configured to electrify particulates contained in exhaust gas so as to produce electrified particulates. The particulate detection apparatus includes a period judgment section, an output obtainment section and an anomaly judgment section. The period judgment section judges whether or not the present point in time is within a previously set anomaly determination period just after completing a filter regeneration process. The output obtainment section obtains a sensor output representing the result of detection by the particulate sensor in the case where the present point in time is judged to be within the anomaly determination period.

Abstract: A cutting tool includes a holder having an upper jaw and a lower jaw, and an insert clamped between the jaws. A large-diameter hole in a lower-jaw side of the holder communicates with a lower-jaw channel, and a threaded hole in an upper-jaw side of the holder communicates with an upper-jaw channel. A threaded member has a head, a closed-bottom hollow open to the head, branch holes through which the hollow communicates with an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a screw-driving portion in a front end thereof. The threaded member is inserted from the large-diameter hole and screwed into the threaded hole until a front surface of the head seats on a bearing surface of the large-diameter hole and clamps the insert. Then, the large diameter hole, the lower-jaw channel, the hollow, the branch holes, and the upper-jaw channel are in communication for supplying coolant to the insert.

Abstract: A spark plug includes: a central electrode extending from a front end side to a rear end side along an axis; an insulator including a front end section formed to be a bottomed tube surrounding a tip of the central electrode; a metal shell shaped to be tubular and structured to support the insulator such that the front end section of the insulator projects to the front end side from a front end section of the metal shell; and a plurality of ground electrodes each of which includes a first end forming a discharge gap with the front end section of the insulator and includes a second end connected to the front end section of the metal shell. The plurality of ground electrodes include a pair of ground electrodes different from each other in size of their discharge gaps.

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 waveguide slot antenna is configured by a waveguide, formed by a dielectric substrate, a first conductive layer formed at a lower surface of the dielectric substrate, a second conductive layer formed at an upper surface of the dielectric substrate and provided with one or a plurality of slots, and a pair of side wall parts electrically connecting the first and second conductive layers and extending in a first direction, being provided with a power feeding part . The one or a plurality of slots include a first slot having a predetermined slot length along the first direction. The waveguide slot antenna has a structure in which, on a plan view from a second direction, the power feeding part overlaps the first slot, and the power feeding part does not deviate from a range of the slot length along the first direction.

Abstract: A substrate holding member includes a base, and a plurality of convex parts formed at an upper surface of the base and configured to hold a substrate at top surfaces thereof. Each convex part has a root portion extending from the upper surface of the base, and a top portion formed on the root portion and including the top surface. In each convex part, a cross-sectional area of the root portion is larger than a cross-sectional area of the top portion. At least a portion including the top surface of the top portion is formed of a holding member made of a material having a greater Young's modulus than a material forming the base. The respective holding members are spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: An insulator for a spark plug including a first portion; a second portion located on the rear side of the first portion, an outer diameter F at a front end of the second portion being smaller than an outer diameter of the first portion; a third portion located on the front side of the first portion, an outer diameter D at a rear end of the third portion being smaller than the outer diameter of the first portion and the outer diameter F at the front end of the second portion; a first slope portion connecting the first portion and the second portion; and a second slope portion connecting the first portion and the third portion. A length A of the second slope portion and a length B of the first slope portion satisfy 2.0?A/B?3.9, and 0.50?D/F?0.88 is satisfied.

Abstract: A discharge control apparatus for controlling a flyback power supply circuit which includes a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil and performing voltage conversion, and a driver for controlling energization of the primary coil. The power supply circuit supplies electric energy to a plasma reactor. The discharge control apparatus calculates, based on primary current flowing through the primary coil and primary voltage generated in the primary coil, supply energy supplied to the primary coil and regeneration energy which is a portion of the supply energy not used for the discharge in the plasma reactor. The discharge control apparatus controls the power supply circuit based on the calculated supply energy and the calculated regeneration energy. Also disclosed is a method for controlling the flyback power supply circuit.

Abstract: A ceramic heater according to one aspect of the present invention has a cylindrical ceramic heater and an annular metal flange fitted around the ceramic heater. In the ceramic heater, one side of the flange with respect to an axial direction of the heater body is concave in the axial direction to define a concave part. The concave part includes a glass accumulation region filled with a glass material. The glass material in the glass accumulation is fused to the flange and to the heater body.

Abstract: A ceramic member unit includes at least insertion members and a ceramic member having insertion sections into which the insertion members are inserted respectively. Each of the insertion sections has at least an insertion opening which opens on a deeper side of an introduction opening in the surface of the ceramic member while communicating with the introduction opening and into which the insertion member can be inserted. The insertion section further has taper hole portions becoming narrower toward the insertion opening in a communication region between the introduction opening and the insertion opening. The taper hole portions are connected to the insertion opening while increasing in a taper angle toward the insertion opening.

Abstract: A spark plug including a center electrode that has a large-diameter portion having an outside diameter that is largest in the center electrode. The large-diameter portion is retained at a rear facing surface in an axial hole of an insulator. A metal shell has a diameter increased portion on a rear end side with respect to the center electrode, the diameter increased portion having an inside diameter that is increased toward the rear end side. The insulator has a first portion which is a portion of the insulator in a region from a rear end of the rear facing surface to a front end of the diameter increased portion. The first portion has a thickness that is the largest in the region, and is disposed at least on an outer periphery of the large-diameter portion.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a wiring board having an opening, a sensor element disposed within the opening and having a detection section and a heater section, and a plurality of electricity conducting members each of which has a first end portion joined to the wiring board and a second end portion joined to the sensor element and which establish electrical connection between the wiring board and the sensor element. The plurality of electricity conducting members fixedly suspend the sensor element within the opening. At least one of the electricity conducting members is a particular electricity conducting member having a plate-like shape, and the particular electricity conducting member includes at least one bent portion between the second end portion joined to the sensor element and the first end portion joined to the wiring board, the bent portion being bent in a thickness direction of the particular electricity conducting member.

Abstract: A ceramic structure includes a ceramic base member having a main face; a hole extending from the main face into the ceramic base member; a metal electrode layer embedded in the ceramic base member; a conductive member embedded in the ceramic base member so as to be electrically connected to the metal electrode layer and form a bottom of the hole; a first metal member joined to the conductive member by a brazing material and having an average linear expansion coefficient not less than the average linear expansion coefficient of the conductive member; one or a plurality of second metal members having a greater average linear expansion coefficient than the first metal member; and a metal terminal joined to the one or the plurality of second metal members and having a greater average linear expansion coefficient than each second metal member.

Abstract: A holding device includes a ceramic member and a base member joined together via a joining portion. When a second direction is perpendicular to a first direction and a third direction is perpendicular to the first and second directions, the joining portion includes a first joining part which extends through the joining portion in the second direction, as viewed in the first direction, and whose thickness in the first direction is uniform in an arbitrary cross section perpendicular to the second direction and in an arbitrary cross section perpendicular to the third direction, and at least one second joining part which is located between the first joining part and one end of the joining portion in the third direction and whose thickness in the first direction increases from the first joining part side toward the end of the joining portion in an arbitrary cross section perpendicular to the second direction.

Abstract: A wavelength conversion member is provided which includes a phosphor layer having an increased pencil hardness and thereby has a reduced risk of breakage such as scattering of fragments of the phosphor layer or separation of the phosphor layer. A substrate 12 is made of sapphire, and a phosphor layer 14 is disposed on the substrate 12 and includes phosphor particles 16 and a light transmissive inorganic material 22. The phosphor layer 14 has a pencil hardness of 5B or above. The high hardness of the phosphor layer 14 reduces the risk of breakage such as the phosphor layer 14 being scattered as fragments or being separated from the substrate 12.

Abstract: A method for producing an optical wavelength conversion member (9) composed of a sintered body containing, as main components, Al2O3 and a component represented by formula A3B5O12:Ce; an optical wavelength conversion member; an optical wavelength conversion component including the optical wavelength conversion member; and a light-emitting device including the optical wavelength conversion member or the optical wavelength conversion component. The production method of the sintered body includes firing in a firing atmosphere having a pressure of 104 Pa or more and an oxygen concentration of 0.8 vol. % or more and less than 25 vol. %.

Abstract: The present invention is a sintering method of a ceramic for sintering characterized by forming a layer containing a carbon powder on a surface of an article consisting of a ceramic for sintering, and then irradiating with laser a surface of the carbon powder-containing layer of a lamination obtained.

Abstract: A sensor includes a pump cell and a reference cell generating voltage Vs or current. The pump cell includes a pump cell first electrode and a pump cell second electrode. The surface of the pump cell first electrode includes a noble metal region formed of a noble metal, a ceramic region, and a coexistence region in which the noble metal and the ceramic material coexist. The width of the coexistence region in an A region of the surface of the pump cell first electrode is greater than the width of the coexistence region in a B region of the surface. The A region is a region close to the reference cell first electrode, and the B region is a region located further away from the reference cell first electrode as compared with the A region.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a tubular metallic shell having an attachment screw portion having an external thread, an insulator disposed inside the metallic shell and having an axial hole, and a center electrode disposed in the axial hole. The attachment screw portion has a pitch diameter local maximum portion at which the external thread has a locally maximum pitch diameter. The pitch diameter local maximum portion is located on the forward end side of a rear end of the center electrode in a direction along an axial line of the metallic shell.