Abstract: An all-solid-state cell has a positive electrode layer containing a positive electrode active material, a solid electrolyte layer containing a lithium ion conducting material, and a negative electrode layer containing a negative electrode active material. The negative electrode active material in the negative electrode layer contains a plurality of cylindrical carbon nanotube molecules, and the axes of the carbon nanotube molecules are oriented in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: The heater includes a heater main body, a housing storing the heater main body therein, and a coating material arranged in at least a part between the heater main body and the housing and covering at least a part of the heater main body. The coating material is a material containing at least one of ceramic and glass, the heater main body has a cylindrical honeycomb structural portion having partition walls separating and forming a plurality of cells and a pair of electrode portions disposed on a side face of the honeycomb structural portion, the housing contains the heater main body so as to cover the side face side of the heater main body, and the partition walls of the honeycomb structural portion is of a material containing ceramic as the main component and produces heat by energization.

Abstract: A gas sensor for measuring NOx concentration in measurement gas based on sensor output depending on an amount of the detected oxygen includes an oxygen concentration control part for controlling oxygen concentration in the measurement gas. The oxygen concentration control part allows a control of oxygen concentration in the measurement gas to set at a designated value even after being mounted on an automobile, so that dependency of the sensor output with respect to oxygen concentration can be quantitatively detected. The sensor output for detecting NOx concentration is corrected by estimating an amount of a change accompanying the sensitivity degradation of the sensor output with respect to NOx concentration on the basis of a difference between oxygen output characteristics of the sensor output of an actually-used sensor and oxygen output characteristics of a sensor in the initial state, and correcting the sensor output in accordance with the amount of the change.

Abstract: To provide a gas sensor which can stably carry out a retention of a sensor element by a contact member and a reservation of an electric continuity between them. A contact member has an insertion port in which the sensor element is inserted and retained to obtain an electric connection with the sensor element. The contact member is provided with a plurality of sensor element retaining members which respectively have a plurality of abutting parts abutting on the sensor element, at least a part of a plurality of abutting parts is a first abutting part which has a leading end part formed as a linear shape or a point-like shape, and the leading end part of the first abutting part is a free end part which applies an elastic force to the sensor element while having point contact or line contact with the sensor element.

Abstract: A particulate matter sensor which may be used as an onboard particulate matter diagnostic sensor includes an insulating base that has at least a pair of opposing plane surfaces, an electrode nucleus that is formed on one of the pair of opposing plane surfaces of the base, and forms an electrode when a conductive substance adheres to the plane surface, and an electrode that is disposed parallel to the electrode nucleus and is provided on the other of the pair of opposing plane surfaces, or provided on a side surface of the base that is adjacent to the pair of opposing plane surfaces, or provided inside the base.

Abstract: There are disclosed an instrument for measuring the concentration of particulates in a fluid, which is capable of determining the concentration of the particulates in the fluid with high accuracy. The instrument for measuring the concentration of the particulates in the fluid includes particulate collecting means, temperature measuring means, flow rate measuring means, impedance measuring means, time measuring means, constant determining means for determining an impedance change per unit time-particulate concentration constant from temperature and flow rate, impedance change per unit time computing means for computing the change of an impedance per unit time, and particulate concentration determining means for determining the concentration of the particulates from the change of the impedance per unit time computed by the impedance change per unit time computing means.

Abstract: An impedance measuring instrument of a fine particle collector comprising a fine particle collection body for collecting fine particles in a fluid, a conductive can body for containing the fine particle collection body, and a buffering body disposed between the fine particle collection body and the conductive can body, wherein two or more electrodes are arranged on the fine particle collection body, at least one of the electrodes is connected with an AC power supply, at least the other electrode is connected with an ammeter, the AC power supply and the ammeter are interconnected and further connected with the conducive can body, and the conducive can body is grounded.

Abstract: A particulate matter sensor (1) which may be used as an onboard particulate matter diagnostic sensor includes an insulating base (2) that has at least a pair of opposing plane surfaces, an electrode nucleus (3) that is formed on one of the pair of opposing plane surfaces of the base (2), and forms an electrode when a conductive substance adheres to the plane surface, and an electrode (4) that is disposed parallel to the electrode nucleus (3) and is provided on the other of the pair of opposing plane surfaces, or provided on a side surface of the base (2) that is adjacent to the pair of opposing plane surfaces, or provided inside the base (2).

Abstract: There are disclosed an instrument for measuring the concentration of particulates in a fluid, which is capable of determining the concentration of the particulates in the fluid with high accuracy. The instrument for measuring the concentration of the particulates in the fluid includes particulate collecting means, temperature measuring means, flow rate measuring means, impedance measuring means, time measuring means, constant determining means for determining an impedance change per unit time-particulate concentration constant from temperature and flow rate, impedance change per unit time computing means for computing the change of an impedance per unit time, and particulate concentration determining means for determining the concentration of the particulates from the change of the impedance per unit time computed by the impedance change per unit time computing means.

Abstract: A gas sensor for measuring NOx concentration in measurement gas based on sensor output depending on an amount of detected oxygen includes an oxygen concentration control part for controlling oxygen concentration in the measurement gas. The oxygen concentration control part allows a control of oxygen concentration in the measurement gas to set at a designated value even after being mounted on an automobile, so that dependency of the sensor output with respect to oxygen concentration can be quantitatively detected. The sensor output for detecting NOx concentration is corrected by estimating an amount of a change accompanying the sensitivity degradation of the sensor output with respect to NOx concentration on the basis of a difference between oxygen output characteristics of the sensor output of an actually-used sensor and oxygen output characteristics of a sensor in the initial state, and correcting the sensor output in accordance with the amount of the change.

Abstract: A lithium secondary cell includes an internal electrode body having a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate wound and laminated around an external peripheral wall of a hollow cylindrical winding core. The inside of the internal electrode body is impregnated with a nonaqueous electrolyte solution. A cylindrical cell case houses the internal electrode body and has open ends sealed with plate member electrode caps. An external terminal member protrudes onto the surface of the electrode caps to lead current to the outside of the cell case, and an internal terminal member connects with the internal electrode body to take current from the internal electrode body. An elastic body and at least two of the plate member, the external terminal member and the internal terminal member are joined together for construction. An assembly of lithium secondary cells is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a honeycomb structure capable of suitably be used for a filter for trapping particulate matter, such as a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and capable of detecting an accumulation amount of particulate matter easily with high accuracy when the honeycomb structure is used for a filter for trapping particulate matter. The honeycomb structure 1 has a plurality of cells functioning as gas passages and partitioned and formed by the porous partition walls and has two or more electrodes therein.

Abstract: The invention provides a lithium secondary cell including an inner electrode body impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte, made up of a positive electrode and a negative electrode each made of at least one metallic foil wound or laminated together and collectors to lead out a current from this inner electrode body. The edges of the metallic foil of the positive electrode and/or the negative electrode and predetermined parts of the positive electrode collector and/or negative electrode collector are joined together to lead out a current from the inner electrode body. The edges of the metallic foil, the edges (joint edges) arranged to be joined to the predetermined parts of the positive electrode collector and/or the negative electrode collector and the predetermined parts of the positive electrode collector and/or the negative electrode collector are joined together. The lithium secondary cell has excellent productivity and space-saving capability.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery 10 is provided with an inner electrode body 1 comprising a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate respectively made up of at least one metal foil 6 wound or laminated; said inner electrode body being impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte, current collector members 5A and 5B for leading a current out of this inner electrode body 1, a battery case 11 with both ends left open; said battery case housing the inner electrode body 1, and two caps 13 provided with internal terminals 14A and 14B thereon; said caps being used to seal the inner electrode body 1 at both open ends of the battery 11. By adopting such a configuration that positive and negative external terminals are placed on one end of a battery collectively, protrusions of the battery are so reduced that the collective coupling of batteries becomes easier.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprises an internal electrode body formed by winding a positive electrode and a negative electrode on an outer peripheral wall of a hollow winding core, nonaqueous electrolyte solution contained in the case, a cylindrical battery case containing this internal electrode body inside, at least one electrode cap sealing the internal electrode body, and at least one pressure release hole in a position corresponding with the center axis of the winding core.

Abstract: To provide a lithium secondary battery with a high critical discharge current even under a low temperature condition, with an excellent cycle characteristic and reduced manufacturing cost. The lithium secondary battery includes a wound type electrode body comprising a positive electrode plate, and a negative electrode plate both of which have been wound around a core via a separator, the electrode body being impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte, and a cylindrical case for housing the electrode body and the non-aqueous electrolyte; the case having at least one opening at either end thereof, which can be sealed. The separator is subjected to drying treatment after the electrode body is inserted into the cylindrical case.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery 1 including: an inner electrode member 6 having electrode plates (cathode plate 2, anode plate 3) of a metal foil as a constituting element, and being formed by winding or laminating electrode plates; and a battery case 10 for housing the inner electrode member 6. A gas release channel capable of releasing a gas to the outside of the battery case 10 is formed by deformation of the inner electrode member 6 by a function of a raised inner pressure when the inner pressure of the battery case 10 rises to a predetermined pressure or more due to the gas generated inside the inner electrode member 6. The lithium secondary battery can smoothly release the gas generated inside the inner electrode member without being retained therein before the gas reaches a pressure releasing mechanism; thus, it is superior in safety and has a high energy density.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery for use in electric vehicle, includes: a battery case, and an electricity-generating body including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, the positive and the negative electrode being wound or laminated via the separator so that the positive electrode and negative electrode are not brought into direct contact with each other. Each single battery has a ratio (X/E) of battery output X (W) and battery energy E (Wh), of 2 to 36 or a product (R×E) of battery internal resistance R (m?) and battery energy E (Wh), of 50 to 900 (m?·Wh). The lithium secondary battery is used in an electric vehicle as combined batteries formed by connecting a required number of the single batteries in series.

Abstract: The invention provides a lithium secondary cell including an inner electrode body impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte, made up of a positive electrode and a negative electrode each made of at least one metallic foil wound or laminated together and collectors to lead out a current from this inner electrode body. The edges of the metallic foil of the positive electrode and/or the negative electrode and predetermined parts of the positive electrode collector and/or negative electrode collector are joined together to lead out a current from the inner electrode body. The edges of the metallic foil, the edges (joint edges) arranged to be joined to the predetermined parts of the positive electrode collector and/or the negative electrode collector and the predetermined parts of the positive electrode collector and/or the negative electrode collector are joined together. The lithium secondary cell has excellent productivity and space-saving capability.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery has small internal resistance and has good charge-discharge cycle characteristics, with a lithium transition metal compound being used as a positive active material. A portion of transition element Me, which comprises Ni, Co or both Ni and Co, in a lithium transition metal compound LiMeO2 to be used as a positive active material is substituted for with at least two elements selected from among Ti, Li and Mn. The compound also corresponds to the formula LiMz(NiX1CoX2)1-ZO2, in which: 0?X1?1; 0?X2?1; X1+X2=1; M comprises at least two elements selected from among Ti, Li and Mn; and 0<Z<1.