Abstract: A spark plug is disclosed in which, in a cross-section of the metallic shell of the spark plug, a crimped portion of the metallic shell is curved such that an end-side part of the crimped portion approaches the insulator, such that an exterior outline of the crimped portion has an outwardly convex crimped curve portion at the end-side part, and such that a tangent to the exterior outline at a base point of the crimped curve portion and a radial line perpendicular to the axis of the insulator form an angle of 50°-110°. Accordingly, most of a crimping force is imposed in the axial direction of the metallic shell during crimping, and stress generated in the metallic shell in a radial direction is very small. Thus, the metallic shell can be thin-walled and can maintain its shape with high accuracy after crimping.

Abstract: An embedding resin for embedding an electronic part in a wiring substrate, includes at least one of a soluble resin and a soluble organic filler as a soluble component to be dissolved with an oxidizing agent.

Abstract: A wiring board including a laminate comprising: a low-temperature fired layer comprising ceramic particles &agr; and a glass component; and a ceramic layer comprising ceramic particles &bgr; that do not sinter at the firing temperature of the low-temperature fired layer and a glass component, wherein the ceramic particles &bgr; have a mean particle size larger than that of the ceramic particles &agr; and a specific surface area smaller than that of the ceramic particles &agr;.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte layer or body capable of being co-fired with an insulating ceramic substrate or body to be used as a gas sensor laminate. The gas sensor laminate is preferably composed of an alumina substrate (1) and an oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte layer (6) bonded to the alumina substrate (1) by firing. The oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte layer or body is formed from partially or wholly stabilized zirconia, which layer contains alumina in an amount of 10% to 80% by weight, particularly 30% to 75% by weight. In this manner, another ceramic layer; particularly, a ceramic layer (7) of alumina can further be bonded to the oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte layer. The relative density of the ceramic layer can be 60% to 99.5%, preferably 80% to 99.5%.

Abstract: A ceramic heater includes a rod-shaped heater body provided with an insulating ceramic substrate, a heating resistor embedded in a front end portion of the ceramic substrate and a pair of first and second electric conductors embedded in the ceramic substrate with front end portions thereof electrically connected to the heating resistor and rear end portions thereof exposed at a rear end surface of the heater body. The ceramic heater further includes first and second lead-out members having front surfaces joined to parts of the rear end surface of the heater body via metallic layers so as to cover the exposed rear end portions of the first and second electric conductors, respectively, and to be kept from covering an outer circumferential surface of the heater body.

Abstract: A process for producing a ceramic member for bonding, which comprises: a first step of preparing a lower layer paste with the use of a first mixture comprising nickel, tungsten and molybdenum, applying the lower layer paste to a surface of a ceramic base which is a sintered ceramic, and drying the resultant coating layer to form a lower layer after the applying; a second step of preparing an upper layer paste with the use of a second mixture comprising one of nickel and nickel oxide and at least one of copper, copper oxide, manganese and manganese oxide, applying the upper layer paste to the lower layer, and drying the resultant coating layer to form an upper layer after the applying; and a third step of heating the lower layer and the upper layer to bake the lower layer and the upper layer.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensor element formed of a solid electrolyte having an oxygen ion conductivity; a cathode and an anode, each formed of a porous metal material and each formed on the sensor element, to produce a pumping current reflecting a concentration of a detection component in a measurement gas when a predetermined voltage is applied between the cathode and the anode. The detection component contains oxygen. The measurement gas contacts the cathode. The gas sensor also includes a gas diffusion control to vary the oxygen pumping current in accordance with a pressure of the measurement gas by controlling a diffusion of the measurement gas. The measurement gas moves from a measurement atmosphere toward the cathode by way of the gas diffusion control. Thereby, information on the pressure of the measurement gas is obtained based on the oxygen pumping current.

Abstract: A heater includes a metallic shell, a heating element disposed at an end of the metallic shell, and a terminal electrode electrically connected to the heating element. The terminal electrode has a protruded portion protruding from the metallic shell. The protruded portion has a locking engagement section lockingly engageable with a connector for electrically connecting the terminal electrode to an outside for conduction of the heating element. A method of producing such a heater is also provided.

Abstract: A gas sensor (1a) having a laminate including an alumina substrate (11) having a heating resister (115) embedded in the alumina substrate (11); a first oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte layer (131) containing zirconia and alumina and partly constituting an oxygen-detecting cell (13) and the first solid electrolyte layer (131) being laminated with said alumina substrate (11); a second oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte layer (121) containing zirconia and alumina and partly constituting an oxygen-pumping cell (12); an ion-leakage preventing ceramic spacer (143) for preventing oxygen-ions from leaking from the second oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte layer (121) to the first oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte layer (131), the spacer (143) being laminated between the first and second oxygen-ion conductive solid electrolyte layers (131, 121); and a gas-diffusion space (141) formed between an electrode (133) of the oxygen-detecting cell (13) and an electrodes (126) of the oxygen-pumping cell (

Abstract: In a spark plug for an internal combustion engine, a welded portion of a ground electrode has a polygonal cross section including six corners. A side surface of the ground electrode, positioned opposite to a side surface including a surface portion opposite to a front end face of a center electrode, is smaller in width than the opposite side surface so that the ground electrode can be larger in width and thickness than a spark plug of a related art without causing the corners of the cross section of the ground electrode at the joint between the ground electrode and a metallic shell to protrude from a front end face of a metallic shell.

Abstract: A spark plug for use in an internal combustion engine includes a tubular insulator having an axial hole extending therethrough; a center electrode fitted into the axial hole and having a distal end portion protruding from a distal end of the insulator; and a ground electrode arranged such that at least a portion of spark discharge generated between the ground electrode and the distal end portion of the center electrode includes creeping discharge along the surface of the distal end portion of the insulator. The distal end portion of the center electrode contains Ni as a primary component in an amount of 80 wt % or more and Fe and Cr as secondary components in a total amount of 2.5 wt % to 10.0 wt % and further contains Al as a secondary component in an amount of 0.2 wt % to 0.8 wt %.

Abstract: A battery section for a Li-ion and/or Li-ion polymer cell, comprised of:

Abstract: A gas sensor is provided which comprises a sensor element for detecting a component of a gas and a cup-shaped protector for covering a detecting section of the sensor element. The protector is dual-walled and have cup-shaped inner and outer protector members. The inner and outer protector members are constructed and arranged so that g1>g2 where g1 is the distance between an inner surface of a circumferential wall of the outer protector member and an outer surface of a circumferential wall of the inner protector member and g2 is the distance between an inner surface of a bottom wall of the outer protector member and an outer surface of a bottom wall of the inner protector member. The outer protector member has at the circumferential wall thereof a plurality of first gas holes. The inner protector member has at the circumferential wall thereof a plurality of second gas holes.

Abstract: A ceramic heater 2 is arranged in a metallic cylinder member 3 by forming a convergent taper portion 2t at the leading end 2a of the ceramic heater 2 and by positioning the leading end 3a of the metallic cylinder member 3 on the leading end side of a taper starting point P1 of the taper portion 2t. Solder is applied in the clearance between the inner circumference 3d of the metallic cylinder member 3 and the outer circumference 2b of the heater 2. An applied solder layer 10 is also formed on the leading end side of the taper starting point P1 of the taper portion 2t. The thick solder layer 10 present on the leading end side prevents a cut or broken off portion of the ceramic heater from separating or sliding out.