Abstract: A flow rate sensor has a problem that a resistance value of a heat generating resistor itself varies and sensor characteristics are changed during use of the sensor for a long term. Also, the temperature of the heat generating resistor must be adjusted on a circuit substrate with a resistance constituting one side of a fixed temperature difference control circuit, and this has been one of factors pushing up the production cost. All resistances used for fixed temperature difference control are formed on the same substrate as temperature sensitive resistors of the same material. This enables all the resistances for the fixed temperature difference control to be exposed to the same environmental conditions. Hence, even when the resistances change over time, the changes over time occur substantially at the same tendency. Since the resistances for the fixed temperature difference control change over time essentially at the same rate, a resulting output error is very small.

Abstract: The present invention provides an air flow measuring device comprising a housing with a sub-passage having a inlet and a outlet for air flow formed in the housing, the sub-passage further having a predefined curvature with a maximum downstream point and a flow measuring element located in the sub-passage at a position at least further downstream from the point.

Abstract: A thermal type air flow meter that makes it possible to precisely and easily determine whether a sensor element is a non-defective or a defective by screening is provided. First and second diaphragm sections composed of an electrical insulating film are formed in a semiconductor substrate. A heating resistor and a resistor for intake air temperature sensor are disposed on them to obtain a sensor element for thermal type air flow meters. The length of the short sides W1 of the rectangular first diaphragm section is made substantially equal to the length of the short sides of the second diaphragm section rectangular as well. Thus, the pressures applied to each of the diaphragm sections are substantially identical with each other in pressurization during screening.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermal type flow meter which has a high reliability and a low cost. In a thermal type flow meter provided with a flow rate detecting element in which at least a heat generating resistor and a lead electrode are formed on a surface of a tabular substrate, and a support body in which a concave portion accommodating the flow rate detecting element is formed on a surface, and in which the flow rate detecting element is firmly fixed and accommodated by an adhesive agent in a back surface of the tabular substrate and a part of a bottom surface of the concave portion, an approximately straight discharge groove which is deeper than a bottom surface of the concave portion and passes through both end surfaces in upward and downward sides of the concave portion is formed from the upstream side of the support body concave portion to the downstream side, between the cavity of the tabular substrate and the back surface region of the tabular substrate in which the lead electrode is formed.

Abstract: A low-cost thermal flow meter that has good temperature characteristics and little variations. The thermal flow meter includes a sensor element including a heat-generating resistor and at least two temperature-measuring resistors disposed downstream and upstream. The sensor element is positioned in the flow of a measured medium. It also includes an adjusting means for adjusting a excess temperature (?Th=Th?Ta) of the heat-generating resistor, which is the difference between the temperature (Ta) of the measured medium and the temperature (Th) of the heat-generating resistor. The adjusting means adjusts the excess temperature (?Th) of the heat-generating resistor depending on the temperature of the measured medium such that the excess temperature becomes smaller as the temperature of the measured medium increases.

Abstract: A thermal type flow sensor includes a base portion provided along the direction of a fluid flowing through a main passage, and a sensor element mounted on the base portion and having an exothermic resistor formed on a substrate for detecting the fluid flow rate. The base portion has a rectangular recessed portion in which the sensor element fixed so that the surface of the detecting portion of the sensor element is positioned lower than an upper edge of the recessed portion. A wall portion of the measuring passage facing the sensor element is constricted. The exothermic resistor is disposed along the fluid passage and spaced away from the upstream side upper edge of the recessed portion and cannot be substantially affected by a fluid flow disturbance due to a step portion formed between the upper edge of the recessed portion and the detecting portion surface.

Abstract: An X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray generating unit which generates X-rays, an X-ray detecting unit which detects X-rays transmitted through a subject, a C-arm on which the X-ray generating unit and the X-ray detecting unit are mounted, a support mechanism which movably supports the C-arm, a high voltage generating unit which generates a high voltage for generating X-rays from the X-ray generating unit, a first foot switch to input a first user instruction associated with generation of the X-rays, a second foot switch to input a second user instruction associated with movement of the C-arm, and a control unit which controls the high voltage generating unit in accordance with the input of the first user instruction and controls the support mechanism in accordance with the input of the second user instruction.

Abstract: A Thermal type fluid flow sensor comprises a heating resistor formed on a thin film of a substrate, and plural thermal sensitive resistors configuring a bridge circuit. The thermal sensitive resistors are disposed on the thin film of the substrate so as to be located on an adjacent upstream side and an adjacent downstream side of the heating resistor in a stream direction of fluid to be measured. Resistor traces for the thermal sensitive resistors are formed so that the respective thermal sensitive resistors exhibit substantially equal changes in resistance with each other to distortion caused in the thin film.

Abstract: A thermal airflow meter excellent in flow-rate measurement accuracy is provided. The airflow meter has a flow-rate measuring element comprising a heat resistor and a temperature-compensating resistor which are formed on the a first base member. A second base member of the airflow meter, provided with a drive circuit and a signal processor, is housed in a casing holding the flow-rate measuring element. The flow-rate measuring element is disposed in an air passage. Of two temperature sensors for measuring temperature at each of two points in the thermal airflow meter, respectively, a first temperature sensor is provided on the fist substrate of the flow-rate measuring element, and a second temperature sensor is provided inside the casing. The signal processor has a function of computing an airflow rate, an air temperature, and an air passage wall face temperature on the basis of an output signal of the flow-rate measuring element and respective output signals of the first and second sensors.

Abstract: A computer system which comprises a first processor, a second processor, a first module apart from the first and second processors, and corresponding to a first test, and a failure processor is disclosed. In that system, the failure processor is constructed and arranged to separate the first module from the computer system when the first test fails when performed by the first processor and when performed by the second processor.

Abstract: [PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED] To effectively clean up lead-contaminated soil through phytoremediation aiming at decontamination with the use of a plant. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A plant species which is rich in oxalic acid is grown in soil contaminated with lead and/or a compound thereof by sowing a seed or transplanting a seedling. After the plant species rich in oxalic acid is allowed to absorb and accumulate lead and/or the compound, the plant is harvested and removed. As the plant rich in oxalic acid, any of plants belonging to the family Polygonaceae, Oxalidaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Araceae, Begoniaceae and Musaceae or a combination thereof is used.

Abstract: A thermal type flow sensor measures a flow rate of a fluid by means of a heat resistive element having a temperature dependency. The sensor is comprised of: plural heat resistive elements used for a flow rate measurement; and a driver circuit for controlling a current applied to these heat resistive elements to cause their heating. The driver circuit is configured to sense a resistance change of a lower-temperature side heat resistive element among the plural heat resistive elements and to control the current to be applied to the plural heat resistive elements in accordance with a sensed value of the lower-resistance's variation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an air flow measuring device comprising a housing with a sub-passage having a inlet and a outlet for air flow formed in the housing, the sub-passage further having a predefined curvature with a maximum downstream point and a flow measuring element located in the sub-passage at a position at least further downstream from the point.

Abstract: A gas flowmeter capable of reducing a secular change comprises a silicon semiconductor substrate formed with a cavity and a heat element formed above the cavity of the semiconductor substrate by way of an insulating film. The heat element is a silicon (Si) semiconductor thin film impurity-doped at high concentration. Stoichiometrically stable silicon nitride (Si3N4) thin films as barrier layers which less permeate and less absorb hydrogen in the heat generating temperature range of the heat element are formed above and below the silicon (Si) semiconductor thin film.

Abstract: A thermal air flowmeter having excellent temperature characteristics and improved measurement accuracy. The thermal air flowmeter comprises a temperature sensor disposed in a casing of the air flowmeter, a computing unit for correcting a flow rate detection voltage from a measuring element by using the temperature sensor, and heating temperature control means disposed in a temperature control circuit for performing temperature control of a heating resistor to vary a temperature rise of the heating resistor relative to an air temperature depending on the air temperature. Flow rate detection errors of the thermal air flowmeter caused by an overall temperature change and a temperature change on an intake passage wall surface can be corrected simultaneously and a thermal air flowmeter having superior measurement accuracy can be realized.

Abstract: A heating resistance flow rate measuring apparatus which can use a power source of an ECU in an automobile without requiring an expensive protective circuit and regulator. Heating of temperature detecting resistors themselves causes temperature changes on the windward and leeward sides, and these temperature changes depend on the amounts of heat generated by the temperature detecting resistors. The amounts of heat generated by the temperature detecting resistors depend on a voltage value of the ECU power source applied to the temperature detecting resistors, and an error is caused in a sensor output depending on a variation in the voltage of the ECU power source. Based on the finding that suppressing the amount of heat generated by the temperature detecting resistors is effective in avoiding the sensor output error caused depending on a variation in the output voltage of the ECU power source, means for suppressing the amount of heat generated by the temperature detecting resistors is disposed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an air flow measuring device comprising a housing with a sub-passage having a inlet and a outlet for air flow formed in the housing, the sub-passage further having a predefined curvature with a maximum downstream point and a flow measuring element located in the sub-passage at a position at least further downstream from the point.

Abstract: A gas flow measuring apparatus includes a detecting element including a heating resistor and a thermo-sensitive resistor disposed on a diaphragm and external terminals connected to the heating resistor and the thermo-sensitive resistor, and a flow rate detecting unit which controls heating temperature of the heating resistor and which detects a flow rate of gas according to a change in a resistance value of the heating resistor or the thermo-sensitive resistor. The detecting element includes a resistor area in which the heating resistor and the thermo-sensitive resistor are formed and a fixed section area in which the external terminals are formed. A stress mitigating unit is formed between the resistor area and the fixed section area.

Abstract: A thermal airflow meter excellent in flow-rate measurement accuracy is provided. The airflow meter has a flow-rate measuring element comprising a heat resistor and a temperature-compensating resistor which are formed on the a first base member. A second base member of the airflow meter, provided with a drive circuit and a signal processor, is housed in a casing holding the flow-rate measuring element. The flow-rate measuring element is disposed in an air passage. Of two temperature sensors for measuring temperature at each of two points in the thermal airflow meter, respectively, a first temperature sensor is provided on the fist substrate of the flow-rate measuring element, and a second temperature sensor is provided inside the casing. The signal processor has a function of computing an airflow rate, an air temperature, and an air passage wall face temperature on the basis of an output signal of the flow-rate measuring element and respective output signals of the first and second sensors.

Abstract: The present invention provides an air flow measuring device comprising a housing with a sub-passage having a inlet and a outlet for air flow formed in the housing, the sub-passage further having a predefined curvature with a maximum downstream point and a flow measuring element located in the sub-passage at a position at least further downstream from the point.