Abstract: A misfire detecting device for an internal combustion engine having a double-ended or single-ended distributorless ignition system is provided. The device comprises a first capacitor connected to a secondary winding side of a spark plug and in parallel to the spark plug, the first capacitor being charged by a voltage produced at a secondary winding side of an ignition coil and thereafter applying a voltage to the spark plug when a voltage at the secondary winding side drops, a second capacitor connected in series with the first capacitor and having a capacitance larger than that of the first capacitor to divide a voltage across the first capacitor, and a misfire detecting unit connected to a junction between the first capacitor and the second capacitor to detect a misfire on the basis of a decay characteristic of a divided voltage produced at the second capacitor.

Abstract: A pressure sensor having a ceramic support, a first ceramic layer attached to a peripheral portion of one side of the ceramic support, and a second ceramic layer which is attached to a peripheral portion of another side of the ceramic support such that the pressure sensor is shaped as an integral assembly. The ratio of the thickness of the first ceramic layer to that of the second ceramic layer is in the range of 1:10 to 1:1. The ratio of the thicknesses of the first and second ceramic layers to thickness of the ceramic support is no more than 1:2. The pressure sensor further includes a hollow space formed between the ceramic support and at least one of the first and second ceramic layers so that, after shaping as an integral assembly, the ceramic layer or layers will work as a diaphragm that is capable of deformation under pressure.

Abstract: A pressure sensor including at least two ceramic layers formed as elongated sheets and bonded together with a gap therebetween at one end so as to form a diaphragm of a portion of one of the ceramic layers that faces the gap and that receives on an outer surface thereof the pressure to be measured, a pressure-sensitive electrode portion from which an electric output corresponding with the pressure to be measured is generated on the basis of the amount of strain of the diaphragm that develops under the pressure to be measured, the pressure-sensitive electrode portion being provided on or around the diaphragm, and a plurality of conductor paths that are connected to the pressure-sensitive electrode portion and that extend along the length of the ceramic layers, the conductor paths having terminals at the other end of the bonded ceramic layers for connection to an external electric circuit.

Abstract: A pressure sensor having a ceramic substrate formed from a first unsintered ceramic material, and a diaphragm capable of deformation under pressure, and formed of a second unsintered ceramic material having a factor of shrinkage upon sintering smaller than that of the first material. The diaphragm is fixed to the periphery of a surface of the ceramic substrate to form an integral assembly having a hollow space formed therebetween upon sintering due to the difference in the factor of shrinkage of the first and second materials.