Abstract: This invention provides a piezoelectric laminate body that limits, to a minimum, the difference of the quantity of displacement occurring in the boundary between an electrode center portion of a unit laminate body and its alternate electrode portions upon the application of an electric field, by improving a laminate structure of alternate electrode structure type unit laminate bodies. Each piezoelectric device sheet 11a of the unit laminate bodies 10a constituting this piezoelectric laminate body integrally includes a device sheet portion 11c and each lug portion 11d, 11f, and is made of a piezoelectric ceramic material. An electrode layer 11b is so formed as to extend to the surface of the device sheet portion 11c and the surface of the lug portion 11e. Among the laminate sheets 11, the electrode layer 11b of a lower laminate sheet 11 overlaps with the back of an upper laminate sheet 11.

Abstract: A sunlight sensor for use in control of vehicle air conditioners, and provides which detects the sunlight thermal load. A light-cutoff film is formed on the upper surface of the transparent substrate (intermediate element) of the light-sensing element, and at the center of this light-cutoff film is formed a light-guiding hole. Left and right light-detection sections and are formed on the lower surface of the transparent substrate.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for producing a mixture including an injected engine fuel from an injector, a combustion engine intake-air and an evaporative gas from the engine fuel. The method includes the steps of measuring a characteristic of the evaporative gas and changing step for changing a mixing ratio of the evaporative gas to at least one of the injected engine fuel and the combustion engine intake-air, according to the measured characteristic of the evaporative gas, by changing a flow rate of the combustion engine intake-air.

Abstract: A gas component detecting element using particles of metal oxide. The particles are prepared and calcined, and then subjected to a treatment which enlarges a specific surface area thereof. Catalyst particles are supported on the surface of these particles, and then the particles are sintered. The gas component detecting element is formed from these particles. A detector formed in this way can be used for a long period of time without any change in characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a gas component detecting element for detectors which comprises a sintered body of particles of a metal oxide wich changes in electrical resistance depending on relative atmosphere of combustible components in an exhaust gas, catalyst particles being supported on the surface of particles of the metal oxide, the method comprising the following steps:preparing particles of the metal oxide,calcining the particles of the metal oxide,subjecting the calcined particles to a treatment for enlarging specific surface area of the calcined particles,supporting catalyst particles on the surface of the particles subjected to the enlargement treatment, andsintering the particles which support the catalyst particles.The detector which has the above-mentioned gas component detecting element is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrically conductive ceramic material containing at least 20 wt % of Mo.sub.5 Si.sub.3 C and having a resistance-temperature coefficient no greater than 5.times.10.sup.-4 deg.sup.-1 is used to make the heating element of a self-controlling type glow plug having a resistor with a larger temperature-resistance coefficient, such as iron or nickel, connected in series to the heating element for controlling the supply of electric current to the heating element. The ceramic material is made by firing a ceramic powder mixture of Mo and Si mixed with carbon black.

Abstract: Silicon nitride-alumina composite ceramics composed of silicon nitride crystals, .alpha.-alumina crystals and .beta.'-sialon crystals, wherein the silicon nitride crystals and the .beta.'-sialon surrounded the .alpha.-alumina crystals so as to prevent the connection of the .alpha.-alumina crystals. And a method for producing the silicon nitride-alumina composite ceramics which has the steps of preparing a mixture powder composed of 20 to 70 wt % of alumina powder and silicon nitride powder as a remainder, the average particle diameter of the alumina powder being two or more times as large as that of the silicon nitride powder, and firing the mixture powder in an atmosphere of inactive gas.

Abstract: An electrically insulating ceramic sintered body suitably used in a ceramic glow plug, for example, is formed by firing a mixed powder of 75 to 95 vol % of a basic material, 25 to 5 vol % of an additive and a sintering aid. The basic material is composed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, and .beta.-sialon. The additive is composed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of silicide, carbide, nitride, and boride of metal, the additive having a thermal expansion coefficient larger than that of the basic material. And the sintering aid is composed of one of alumina in an amount of 3 to 50 wt % of the total amount of the basic material and the additive, and spinel in an amount of 2 to 15 wt % of the total amount of the basic material and the additive.

Abstract: A ceramic heater has a heater element made of a mixture including MoSi.sub.2 and Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 powder as a main ingredient and silica (SiO.sub.2) powder as an additive, a heater support member made of an electrically insulating ceramic sintered body for supporting the heater element and an electric current supply means for supplying an electric current to the heater element. The composition of the mixture for the heater element is defined so as to satisfy the following formula: 0.035.ltoreq.B/A<0.35 where A is the amount of Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 expressed by mol percent of the total amount of the main ingredient of MoSi.sub.2 and Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 and B is the amount of SiO.sub.2 expressed by mol percent of the total amount of the main ingredient of MoSi.sub.2 and Si.sub.3 N.sub.4.