Abstract: With a method of manufacturing a thermoelectric conversion device, first via holes of a first insulator are filled with a first conductive paste. Third via holes of a second insulator are filled with a second conductive paste. Next, parts of the first conductive paste protruding from the first via holes of the first insulator are inserted into fourth via holes of the second insulator. Parts of the second conductive paste protruding from the third via holes of the second insulator are inserted into second via holes. Next, a rear surface protection member having rear surface wiring patterns, the second insulator, the first insulator, and a front surface protection member having front surface wiring patterns are arranged in this order to form a stacked body. Next, the stacked body is heated while being pressed in the stacking direction.

Abstract: A monitoring device monitors a forming machine (target device). The forming machine includes a housing, a bearing attached to the housing, and a shaft placed radially inside the bearing. The monitoring device includes a plurality of heat flux sensors and a detector. The heat flux sensors are provided on the radially outer side of the bearing and spaced from each other in the circumferential direction of the bearing. The heat flux sensors output a signal corresponding to heat fluxes through faces thereof on the bearing side and faces thereof on the other side. The detector detects a load applied radially to the shaft or bearing, based on the output from the heat flux sensors.

Abstract: A failure diagnostic apparatus for use in a ball screw conveyer includes a bearing stopper placed in contact with a bearing supporting a ball screw, a sensor unit equipped with an elastic member and a heat flux sensor, and a malfunction detector. The heat flux sensor works to produce an output as a function of deformation or displacement of the bearing stopper. The malfunction detector works to analyze the output from the heat flux sensor to detect a failure in operation of the ball screw conveyer. This enables a malfunction of the ball screw conveyer to be detected quickly and accurately.

Abstract: With a method of manufacturing a thermoelectric conversion device, first via holes of a first insulator are filled with a first conductive paste. Third via holes of a second insulator are filled with a second conductive paste. Next, parts of the first conductive paste protruding from the first via holes of the first insulator are inserted into fourth via holes of the second insulator. Parts of the second conductive paste protruding from the third via holes of the second insulator are inserted into second via holes. Next, a rear surface protection member having rear surface wiring patterns, the second insulator, the first insulator, and a front surface protection member having front surface wiring patterns are arranged in this order to form a stacked body. Next, the stacked body is heated while being pressed in the stacking direction.

Abstract: Power supply of ECUs connected to a communication network is optimally controlled so that power consumption is reduced. A transceiver/receiver converts a message of a differential signal received via a CAN bus into a digital signal. A select circuit determines whether the converted message is in a CAN format or a UART format. If it is in the UART format, the select circuit outputs a message to the UART circuit. A UART circuit determines whether the message matches a UART format. If matched, an ID determination circuit determines whether the input message is specifying a CAN ID of its own ECU. If it is the CAN ID of the ECU, the ID determination circuit outputs an enable signal to turn on a regulator and supply power to an MCU and an actuator.

Abstract: A strain detecting device includes a sensor portion and an elastic deformation member covering the sensor portion. The elastic deformation member generates heat when it is compressed and absorbs heat when it is expanded. The sensor portion includes a first and a second heat flux sensors, each of which has a first sensor surface and a second sensor surface formed on sides opposite to each other. Each of the sensors outputs a sensor signal having a positive polarity when the heat flux passes through the sensor in a direction from the first sensor surface to the second sensor surface or outputs a sensor signal having a negative polarity when the heat flux passes through the sensor in the reversed direction. A heat absorbing member is interposed between the first and the second heat flux sensors. The first sensor surfaces of the respective heat flux sensors are opposed to each other across the heat absorbing member.

Abstract: An external power feed system includes a vehicle and an external power feed device disposed outside the vehicle. The external power feed device includes an external electric leak detector configured to detect an electric leak. The vehicle includes a power supply device configured to supply electric power to the external power feed device. The vehicle includes an external power feed relay. The external power feed relay is disposed between the external power feed device and the power supply device when the external power feed device is connected to the vehicle. The vehicle includes a controller configured to control the external power feed relay such that the external power feed relay is turned off when the external electric leak detector detects an electric leak.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, auxiliary devices, an auxiliary device controller, a secondary battery, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a diagnosis controller. In an output stop state where the fuel cell does not output electric power, the auxiliary device controller performs a residual water scavenging process of scavenging water remaining in the fuel cell to outside of the fuel cell system by driving the auxiliary devices using electric power supplied from the secondary battery and supplying the gas to the fuel cell. The diagnosis controller diagnoses the secondary battery using a current integrated value that is obtained by integrating amounts of current supplied from the secondary battery in a predetermined voltage range of a discharge voltage of the secondary battery that changes in response to discharge when electric power is supplied to the auxiliary devices by performing the residual water scavenging process.

Abstract: A position change measuring device which measures a change in position of a target object and includes a base member, a press member which is movable following a change in position of the target object, an elastic member which produces heat when contracting or absorbs heat when expanding, a heat flux sensor which outputs a signal as a function of a rate of heat flux transferred inside or outside the elastic member, and a diaphragm unit which is made of elastically deformable material. The diaphragm unit is retained by the base member in contact with the press member and works to produce force of resilience to recover the elastic member to its initial state when the elastic member contracts or expands in response to movement of the press member. This structure improves a response rate for sensing a change in position of the target object with high accuracy.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, auxiliary devices, an auxiliary device controller, a secondary battery, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a diagnosis controller. In an output stop state where the fuel cell does not output electric power, the auxiliary device controller performs a residual water scavenging process of scavenging water remaining in the fuel cell to outside of the fuel cell system by driving the auxiliary devices using electric power supplied from the secondary battery and supplying the gas to the fuel cell. The diagnosis controller diagnoses the secondary battery using a current integrated value that is obtained by integrating amounts of current supplied from the secondary battery in a predetermined voltage range of a discharge voltage of the secondary battery that changes in response to discharge when electric power is supplied to the auxiliary devices by performing the residual water scavenging process.

Abstract: Power supply of ECUs connected to a communication network is optimally controlled so that power consumption is reduced. A transceiver/receiver converts a message of a differential signal received via a CAN bus into a digital signal. A select circuit determines whether the converted message is in a CAN format or a UART format. If it is in the UART format, the select circuit outputs a message to the UART circuit. A UART circuit determines whether the message matches a UART format. If matched, an ID determination circuit determines whether the input message is specifying a CAN ID of its own ECU. If it is the CAN ID of the ECU, the ID determination circuit outputs an enable signal to turn on a regulator and supply power to an MCU and an actuator.

Abstract: In a runout detection device for detecting runout of a rotating member, a displacement unit abuts on the rotating member, and is displaced in accordance with displacement of the rotating member while the rotor abuts on the displacement unit. An elastic member elastically deforms in accordance with displacement of the displacement unit. A heat flux sensor detects a heat flux generated by elastic deformation of the elastic member. The runout detection device is configured to detect runout of the rotating member based on the heat flux detected by the heat flux sensor.

Abstract: Power supply of ECUs connected to a communication network is optimally controlled so that power consumption is reduced. A transceiver/receiver converts a message of a differential signal received via a CAN bus into a digital signal. A select circuit determines whether the converted message is in a CAN format or a UART format. If it is in the UART format, the select circuit outputs a message to the UART circuit. A UART circuit determines whether the message matches a UART format. If matched, an ID determination circuit determines whether the input message is specifying a CAN ID of its own ECU. If it is the CAN ID of the ECU, the ID determination circuit outputs an enable signal to turn on a regulator and supply power to an MCU and an actuator.

Abstract: A tension measuring apparatus includes a displacement part that is displaced in accordance with tension or a change of the tension of a wire rod to be measured when the displacement part is caused to abut against the wire rod to receive the tension of the wire rod, an elastic body that is elastically deformed in accordance with displacement of the displacement part, and a heat flow sensor that detects a heat flow caused by elastic deformation of the elastic body.

Abstract: An abnormality estimation apparatus for estimating an abnormality in a belt of a belt conveyor includes a displacement part that is displaced in accordance with tension or a change of the tension of the belt when the displacement part is caused to abut against the belt to receive the tension of the belt, an elastic body that is elastically deformed in accordance with displacement of the displacement part, a heat flow sensor that detects a heat flow occurring due to elastic deformation of the elastic body, and an abnormality estimation part that estimates whether there is an abnormality in the belt based on a detection result by the heat flow sensor.

Abstract: A load change detection apparatus is provided with a base member, an elastic member, a first plate, a fixing member and heat flow sensors. The elastic member deforms according to a changed load applied to the elastic member, received by the receiving member. The first plate supports a surface of the elastic member on a side of the base member. The fixing member fixes the lower plate and the elastic member to the base member. The heat flow sensors, provided between the base member and the lower plate, output signals according to heat flowing between the lower plate and the base member. The heat flows due to heat generated or heat absorbed when the elastic member changes the elasticity shape thereof. Stress occurring when the elastic member deforms, is shut off by the first plate, thus direct transmission of the stress to the heat flow sensors is avoided.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, auxiliary devices, an auxiliary device controller, a secondary battery, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a diagnosis controller. In an output stop state where the fuel cell does not output electric power, the auxiliary device controller performs a residual water scavenging process of scavenging water remaining in the fuel cell to outside of the fuel cell system by driving the auxiliary devices using electric power supplied from the secondary battery and supplying the gas to the fuel cell. The diagnosis controller diagnoses the secondary battery using a current integrated value that is obtained by integrating amounts of current supplied from the secondary battery in a predetermined voltage range of a discharge voltage of the secondary battery that changes in response to discharge when electric power is supplied to the auxiliary devices by performing the residual water scavenging process.

Abstract: A strain detector is interposed between a base and an attachment member in a structure body having the base, the attachment member, and the stainless bolts fixed the base to the attachment member. The strain detector includes an elastic member and a heat flux sensor. The elastic member is provided to compress or extend in accordance with a deformation of the stainless bolts, and the elastic member generates heat based on the compression and absorbs heat based on the extension. The heat flux sensor is deformed in accordance with the compression or the extension of the elastic member and the heat in the elastic member is transferred to the heat flux sensor. The heat flux sensor can detect a magnitude of the heat flux Fh1 as a heat stream between the inside of the elastic member and the outside, generated by the compression or the extension of the elastic member.

Abstract: In a runout detection device for detecting runout of a rotating member, a displacement unit abuts on the rotating member, and is displaced in accordance with displacement of the rotating member while the rotor abuts on the displacement unit. An elastic member elastically deforms in accordance with displacement of the displacement unit. A heat flux sensor detects a heat flux generated by elastic deformation of the elastic member. The runout detection device is configured to detect runout of the rotating member based on the heat flux detected by the heat flux sensor.

Abstract: Power supply of ECUs connected to a communication network is optimally controlled so that power consumption is reduced. A transceiver/receiver converts a message of a differential signal received via a CAN bus into a digital signal. A select circuit determines whether the converted message is in a CAN format or a UART format. If it is in the UART format, the select circuit outputs a message to the UART circuit. A UART circuit determines whether the message matches a UART format. If matched, an ID determination circuit determines whether the input message is specifying a CAN ID of its own ECU. If it is the CAN ID of the ECU, the ID determination circuit outputs an enable signal to turn on a regulator and supply power to an MCU and an actuator.