Abstract: To provide a photo detection device and a manufacturing method thereof, the photo detection device comprising a SPAD in which a substrate-manufacturing cost is kept sufficiently low compared to InGaAs, afterpulsing is less and DCR is also reduced. A photo detection device detecting an incident light from an object, comprising: (i) a P-type silicon (Si) substrate; (ii) a P-type germanium (Ge) layer formed by epitaxial growth on a first surface serving as a front surface of the P-type silicon (Si) substrate; and (iii) a P-type thin film silicon (Si) layer formed on the P-type germanium (Ge) layer, (iv) wherein the P-type thin film silicon (Si) layer is divided into a first region and a second region by a Shallow Trench Isolation (STI), multiple single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) arranged in an array are formed in the first region, and a CMOS transistor circuit driving the SPADs is formed in the second region.

Abstract: An in-vehicle communication device on a transmitting side of a message includes: a delay time measuring unit measuring a delay time from when transmission of a message is first attempted to when the transmission of the message is started; and an assigning unit assigning the delay time measured by the delay time measuring unit to the message. An in-vehicle communication device on a receiving side of a message includes: a reception point acquisition unit acquiring a point in time when a message from the in-vehicle communication device on the transmitting side is received; a delay time acquisition unit acquiring a delay time assigned to the received message; and a calculation unit calculating a transmission cycle of each message based on a point in time acquired by the reception point acquisition unit and a delay time acquired by the delay time acquisition unit for each of two received messages.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a honeycomb structure that can improve a manufacturing efficiency and a raw material yield is provided. There is provided a manufacturing method of a honeycomb structure comprising: subjecting a raw material to extrusion forming to form a honeycomb formed body 100 having a partition wall that partitions a plurality of cells that serve as flow paths for a fluid and are extended from one end surface to the other end surface; forming a plurality of notches extended in a direction along which the cells are extended in the honeycomb formed body 100 to form a partial segment aggregate 120 in such a manner that a plurality of partial segments 3 are partitioned; and forming a buffer portion 5 between respective partial segments 3 adjacent to each other in the partial segment aggregate 120 to fill an entire space between the respective partial segments adjacent to each other, thereby obtaining a honeycomb structure 130.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a first space for a measurement gas from a gas-introducing hole via a first diffusion rate-determining section, a main pumping means for controlling a partial pressure of oxygen in the measurement gas introduced into the first space to have a predetermined value, a second space for the measurement gas from the first space via a second diffusion rate-determining section, and a measuring pumping means for reducing or decomposing a NOx component in the measurement gas introduced from the second space via a third diffusion rate-determining section so that oxygen produced thereby is pumped out to detect a current generated by pumping out the oxygen. A ratio (Wc/We) between a width (We) of an end of a sensor element and a width (Wc) of the gas-introducing hole is not less than 0.3 and less than 0.7.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a honeycomb structure that can improve a manufacturing efficiency and a raw material yield is provided. There is provided a manufacturing method of a honeycomb structure comprising: subjecting a raw material to extrusion forming to form a honeycomb formed body 100 having a partition wall that partitions a plurality of cells that serve as flow paths for a fluid and are extended from one end surface to the other end surface; forming a plurality of notches extended in a direction along which the cells are extended in the honeycomb formed body 100 to form a partial segment aggregate 120 in such a manner that a plurality of partial segments 3 are partitioned; and forming a buffer portion 5 between respective partial segments 3 adjacent to each other in the partial segment aggregate 120 to fill an entire space between the respective partial segments adjacent to each other, thereby obtaining a honeycomb structure 130.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gas sensor which allows separation to hardly occur. A gas sensor 1 includes a gas detecting section 2 and a heater section 8 secured in the gas sensor, the heater section 8 including a heating element 3 and a support 9 which supports at least the heating element 3. An opening section 4 is provided to reduce pressure generated between the heating element 3 and the support 9.

Abstract: A gas sensor element having a laminar structure including first and second solid electrolyte layers and a solid electrolyte spacer layer which are laminated on each other, with the spacer layer being interposed between the first and second solid electrolyte layers, the laminar structure having a buffer space, a first space and a second space which are formed between the first and second solid electrolyte layers, the laminar structure further having a gas inlet through which an external measurement gas is introduced into the buffer space, a first diffusion controlling passage through which the external measurement gas is introduced into the buffer space from the gas inlet, a second diffusion controlling passage through which an atmosphere in the buffer space is introduced into the first space, and a third diffusion controlling passage through which an atmosphere in the first space is introduced into the second space.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensor element having a specific function, and a housing containing the sensor element therein and including a thread section, and a sealing surface which forms a sealing section together with an installation section at a position deeper than the thread section in a direction in which the sensor element is inserted. When the housing is screwed into the installation section, the release torque of the housing at 850° C. (1123 K) is 9 N·m or more, and an estimated value of a gap formed between the sealing surface and the installation section at 850° C. (1123 K) that is calculated according to a specific equation is 31 ?m or less.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensor element having a specific function, and a housing containing the sensor element therein and including a thread section, and a sealing surface which forms a sealing section together with an installation section at a position deeper than the thread section in a direction in which the sensor element is inserted. When the housing is screwed into the installation section, the release torque of the housing at 850° C. (1123 K) is 9 N·m or more, and an estimated value of a gap formed between the sealing surface and the installation section at 850° C. (1123 K) that is calculated according to a specific equation is 31 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a first space for a measurement gas from a gas-introducing hole via a first diffusion rate-determining section, a main pumping means for controlling a partial pressure of oxygen in the measurement gas introduced into the first space to have a predetermined value, a second space for the measurement gas from the first space via a second diffusion rate-determining section, and a measuring pumping means for reducing or decomposing a NOx component in the measurement gas introduced from the second space via a third diffusion rate-determining section so that oxygen produced thereby is pumped out to detect a current generated by pumping out the oxygen. A ratio (Wc/We) between a width (We) of an end of a sensor element and a width (Wc) of the gas-introducing hole is not less than 30% and less than 70%.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensor element having a specific function, and a housing containing the sensor element therein and including a thread section, and a sealing surface which forms a sealing section together with an installation section at a position deeper than the thread section in a direction in which the sensor element is inserted. When the housing is screwed into the installation section, the release torque of the housing at 850° C. (1123 K) is 9 N·m or more, and an estimated value of a gap formed between the sealing surface and the installation section at 850° C. (1123 K) that is calculated according to a specific equation is 31 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gas sensor which allows separation to hardly occur. A gas sensor 1 includes a gas detecting section 2 and a heater section 8 secured in the gas sensor, the heater section 8 including a heating element 3 and a support 9 which supports at least the heating element 3. An opening section 4 is provided to reduce pressure generated between the heating element 3 and the support 9.

Abstract: A gas sensor 10 includes a sensor element 1 having a specific function, and a housing 5 containing the sensor element 1 therein and including a specific thread section 2 and a sealing surface 4 which forms a sealing section 3 together with an installation section at a position deeper than the thread section 2 in a direction in which the sensor element 1 is inserted. Release torque at 850° C. (1123 K) in the case where the housing is screwed into the installation section is 9 N·m or more, and an estimated value X1 of a gap formed between the sealing surface 4 and the installation section at 850° C. (1123 K) calculated according to a specific equation is 31 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: An NOx removal system has a combustion apparatus for applying energy to a load based on a predetermined combustion control process, an NOx remover for reacting NOx emitted from the combustion apparatus with NH3 to produce N2 and H2O, an NH3 and/or urea introducing apparatus connected upstream of the NOx remover, for introducing NH3 and/or urea into a gas passage extending from the combustion apparatus to the NOx remover, and sensor, which is also sensitive connected downstream of the NOx remover, for generating a detected signal based on NH3 and NOx contained in a gas discharged from the NOx remover. A controller controls a rate at which NH3 and/or urea is introduced into the gas passage by the NH3 and/or urea introducing apparatus while repeatedly increasing and reducing the rate, in response to the detected signal generated by the NOx sensor.

Abstract: A gas sensor is disclosed in order to decrease the offset value to a degree in which no trouble occurs in the measurement without causing any reduction of NOx so that the measurement accuracy for NOx is improved. In the gas sensor, NOx contained in a measurement gas introduced into a second chamber is decomposed by means of catalytic action and/or electrolysis to pumping-process oxygen produced by the decomposition so that NOx is measured on the basis of a pumping current flowing through a measuring pumping cell thereby. The gas sensor has the following pattern of a heater. That is, a minute pitch is provided for a pattern at a portion corresponding to the forward end of a sensor element, a coarse pitch is provided for a pattern at a central portion, and a pattern is removed at a portion corresponding to the backward end of the sensor element. Thus, the measuring pumping cell is allowed to have a resistivity of electronic conduction of not less than 1 M&OHgr; after conversion into a resistance value.

Abstract: In a method of controlling an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine including a nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst capable of adsorbing nitrogen oxide under a lean atmosphere and a nitrogen oxide sensor disposed downstream of the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst, the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst and the nitrogen oxide sensor are disposed in the exhaust gas system operated mainly under a lean condition, respectively. An output value of the nitrogen oxide sensor is compared with a predetermined value, and an operation condition of the internal combustion engine is temporarily changed into a stoichiometric condition or a rich condition, or a fuel is injected upstream of the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst, so that the nitrogen oxide adsorbed to the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst is detached or decomposed, and again the internal combustion engine is operated under the lean condition.

Abstract: In a method of controlling an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine including a nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst capable of adsorbing nitrogen oxide under a lean atmosphere and a nitrogen oxide sensor disposed downstream of the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst, the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst and the nitrogen oxide sensor are disposed in the exhaust gas system operated mainly under a lean condition, respectively. An output value of the nitrogen oxide sensor is compared with a predetermined value, and an operation condition of the internal combustion engine is temporarily changed into a stoichiometric condition or a rich condition, or a fuel is injected upstream of the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst, so that the nitrogen oxide adsorbed to the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst is detached or decomposed, and again the internal combustion engine is operated under the lean condition.

Abstract: A method for removing nitrogen oxides out of the exhaust gas from a combustion apparatus is provided by reducing the nitrogen oxides with injected ammonia or urea to produce nitrogen and water. The method further includes the provision of at least one, sensor placed downstream from the nitrogen oxides removal step for measuring the concentration of the residual ammonia and nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas after the nitrogen oxides removal step. The method also further includes the provision of a controller for controlling the rate that the ammonia and/or urea is injected into the exhaust gas so that the rate of ammonia and/or urea injection is repeatedly increased and decreased in response to the signal generated by the sensor about a reference value plus the average of the increased and reduced rates of ammonia and urea injection.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine exhaust gas system includes the steps of detecting an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas discharged from an internal engine by an oxygen sensor, controlling the exhaust gas to near the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio by a closed-loop control referring to a resultant signal, and leading the exhaust gas to a three-way catalyst to treat nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide. A nitrogen oxide sensor is provided downstream of the three-way catalyst, and a control value of air-fuel ratio by a closed loop control by the oxygen sensor is corrected to set the nitrogen oxide concentration to a predetermined value in accordance with an output of the nitrogen oxide sensor. The deterioration of the three-way catalyst and/or oxygen sensor is detected by comparing a change in control corrected value for the air-fuel ratio of closed loop control referring to an output of the nitrogen oxide sensor with a predetermined value.

Abstract: In a method of controlling an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine including a nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst capable of adsorbing nitrogen oxide under a lean atmosphere and a nitrogen oxide sensor disposed downstream of the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst, the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst and the nitrogen oxide sensor are disposed in the exhaust gas system operated mainly under a lean condition, respectively. An output value of the nitrogen oxide sensor is compared with a predetermined value, and an operation condition of the internal combustion engine is temporarily changed into a stoichiometric condition or a rich condition, or a fuel is injected upstream of the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst, so that the nitrogen oxide adsorbed to the nitrogen oxide reducing catalyst is detached or decomposed, and again the internal combustion engine is operated under the lean condition.