Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an occupant protecting apparatus capable of safely controlling the operation method with a simple structure. The occupant protecting apparatus comprises infrared beam emitting means (11) disposed on an upper portion of an occupant room of a vehicle at a position diagonally rearward of a position of a passenger seat for emitting infrared beam, infrared beam detecting means (16) disposed on a position offset from the infrared beam emitting means for detecting a position of a light spot generated in such a manner that flat infrared beam impinges an occupant on a seat and scatters, and control means for obtaining a size of the occupant or a three-dimensional shape of sitting position or the like from output of the infrared beam detecting means to control motion of a protecting apparatus such as an air bag (3).

Abstract: The thickness of a yoke and magnetic elements in a torque detection assembly is not more than twice a skin depth &dgr; calculated by a formula: &dgr;={square root over ( )}(2&rgr;/(2&pgr;.F.&mgr;s.&mgr;0))  (1) where &rgr; is the specific resistance of the magnetic elements, F is the frequency of the magnetic field, &mgr;s is the specific permeability of the magnetic elements, and &mgr;0 is the permeability of a vacuum.

Abstract: A dielectric constant sensing device of the present invention comprises a transmission line consisting of a first electrode formed of a conductor being wound like a longitudinal cylinder, a second electrode provided to be separated from the cylindrical surface of the first electrode at a predetermined distance, and a chamber for introducing a measured fluid between the first electrode and the second electrode, whereby a dielectric constant of the measured fluid can be sensed based on a rate of a pulse voltage wave propagated over the transmission line. Accordingly, the fluid dielectric constant sensing device which is able to attain high precision by a simple structure can be provided.

Abstract: A torque detector having a simple structure, high accuracy and high rigidity. The torque detector comprises movable bodies whose both ends are fixed to or supported by the first shaft and the second shaft, which are arched and whose center portions are displaced by a change in the curvature of the arch due to a change in the distance between the fixed both ends of the movable bodies according to a relative torsion angle between the first shaft and the second shaft.

Abstract: A torque detector is provided with movable magnetic elements each comprising: an element body, which deforms elastically in response to relative shear displacement between the surfaces of an upper shaft and a lower shaft; and soft ferromagnetic wings, which are supported by the element body and change their inclination relative to the axial direction due to the elastic deformation of the element body, the inclination of the wings being detected by coils.

Abstract: A cage 100 comprising rings 101a, 101b and a plurality of elastic rods 102 are secured to facing ends 20c, 30c of an upper shaft 20 and a lower shaft 30, and movable elements 200 are secured to and span two of the elastic rods 102. Wings 203, 213 on the movable elements 200 are displaced radially by a large amount in response to a slight twisting of the elastic rods 102. This radial displacement is detected by a detection means, such as coils 41a, 41b, which generates a magnetic flux in a magnetic circuit which includes the wings 203, 213 and detects the displacement as electromagnetic change. The tips of the wings 203, 213 extend axially along the elastic rods and the wings 203, 213 are displaced radially in accordance with changes in the attitude of body portions 201 in response to changes in torque. Two wings 203, 213 and two detection means 41a, 41b are disposed facing each other for each body portion 201.

Abstract: A sensor circuit has coils 3a, 3b whose inductances change in response to a change in a physical quantity. A drive circuit 4A applies an a.c. drive voltage to the coils. A voltage detector circuit 5 senses the voltage across each coil. A current integration circuit 10 integrates the current through each coil starting at the time of a polarity inversion of the drive voltage, and outputs a control signal C1, C2 until the time the integrated value of the coil current becomes zero. A phase detector circuit 6A detects the coil voltage to generate a detection voltage Vd during the time the current integration circuit outputs the control signal. A smoothing circuit 7 processes the detection voltage to output a mean voltage Vm. The sensor circuit eliminates any adverse effects of the internal resistances of the coils by inverting and offsetting the resistive component of the coil voltage during the detection period.

Abstract: A thermal flow sensor comprising a heat-sensitive electrical resistor having a substantially uniform temperature profile so that the heat radiation which causes a measurement error is decreased. The resistor element of the resistor comprises a main heat-sensitive section having a first resistance temperature coefficient and a thermal bullet section having a second resistance temperature coefficient greeter than the first temperature coefficient by at least 1,000 ppm, the thermal buffer section being positioned in the vicinity of the support means. The first temperature coefficient may be a negative value and the second temperature coefficient may be a positive value and the base member may be made of zirconia. Alternatively, the thermal flow sensor of the present invention may comprises the heat-sensitive resistor element which has a negative resistance temperature coefficient along its entire length.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to obtain a highly accurate thermosensitive flowmeter in which flow rate characteristic errors and temperature characteristic errors of a flow rate signal voltage are small. According to the present invention, flow rate characteristic errors and temperature characteristic errors of a thermosensitive resistor caused by trimming adjustment made on the thermosensitive resistor can be reduced by providing unvaried profile of heating area on the thermosensitive resistor. Bridge balance is adjusted so that the heat value of the thermosensitive resistor correspond with predetermined value, and gain of amplifier is adjusted so that the flow rate signal voltage correspond with predetermined value.

Abstract: The improved torque detector comprises a driven shaft 1 provided with a magnetostrictive magnetic member 2 and two sets of inductors 5a and 5b that are each composed of current paths which are formed in such a way that current will flow in directions that are at right angles to the two directions of main stress that develops on the surface of the driven shaft 1 when it receives an applied torque. The inductors are arranged in such a way that they are superposed in substantially the same axial position on a cylindrical plane that is spaced by a predetermined gap from the surface of the magnetic member 2. The detector detects the inductances of those inductors 5a and 5b to eventually determine the applied torque. Alternatively, a bias current is preliminarily supplied to the inductors and a current is impressed on a drive coil 17 that is wound around the driven shaft 1, whereupon a current or voltage is induced in those inductors and detected by the detector, thereby determining the applied torque.

Abstract: A thermal flow sensor according to the present invention is provided with a flow velocity probe equipped with a support member formed with an insulating wire material and a heat-sensitive resistor attached on a surface of the support member, in which the heat-sensitive resistor is formed as a film and made of a material whose resistance varies with temperature.

Abstract: A leakage detecting device for an evaporated fuel gas system of an automobile draws and maintains a partial vacuum in the air space above the fuel in a tank 1 by temporarily connecting the space to the negatively pressurized intake manifold 5. An oxygen sensor 21 thereafter monitors the oxygen level in the evacuated space for a predetermined period of time, and if the oxygen increase exceeds a predetermined normal increase, a leakage alarm is given.

Abstract: A Karman vortex generating member is made integral with a sensor portion and supported elastically by a wall of a fluid conduit through a pair of elastic holding members so that externally produced pressure is prevented from being transmitted to the sensor portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor pressure sensor comprising two pressure sensing diaphragms attached to a support frame embedded within a bonding agent joining two parts of a housing which defines therein fluid passages in communication with two pressure sensing diaphragms. The support frame includes a support plate portion and terminal portions having the inner ends embedded within the bonding agent and the outer ends projecting outwardly of the bonding agent for external connections. The support frame is formed by cutting a lead frame, which has a support frame portion, terminal portions and a surrounding frame integrally connected together, substantially along the outer contour of the housing except for the terminals. A method for manufacturing the pressure sensor is also disclosed.