Abstract: A monitoring device includes an emitting part that emits an ultrasonic wave, a reception part that receives a reflected wave, and a detection part. When the emitting part emits the ultrasonic wave to a bottom of bladder of a subject, the reception part receives a reflected wave from the bottom of bladder, the reflected wave being based on the ultrasonic wave from the emitting part. The detection part detects, based on a result of reception by the reception part, a predetermined movement of the bottom of bladder or an index indicating a moving state of the bottom of bladder.

Abstract: Provided is a plasma reactor capable of reliably generating plasma even in the event of inflow of water. The plasma reactor of the present invention includes a plasma panel stack 20, electrically conductive members 51 and 54, a case, and a mat 71. The plasma panel stack 20 has a structure in which electrode panels 30 are stacked, and generates plasma upon application of voltage between the adjacent electrode panels 30. The electrically conductive members 51 and 54 are electrically connected to discharge electrodes of the electrode panels 30. The case houses the plasma panel stack 20. The mat 71 intervenes between the case and the plasma panel stack 20 and fixes the plasma panel stack 20 to the case. The mat 71 is disposed apart from the electrically conductive members 51 and 54 so that gaps S1 and S2 are formed between the mat 71 and the electrically conductive members 51 and 54, respectively.

Abstract: Provided is a plasma reactor capable of reliably generating plasma even in the event of inflow of water. The plasma reactor of the present invention includes a plasma panel stack 20, electrically conductive members 51 and 54, a case, and a mat 71. The plasma panel stack 20 has a structure in which electrode panels 30 are stacked, and generates plasma upon application of voltage between the adjacent electrode panels 30. The electrically conductive members 51 and 54 are electrically connected to discharge electrodes of the electrode panels 30. The case houses the plasma panel stack 20. The mat 71 intervenes between the case and the plasma panel stack 20 and fixes the plasma panel stack 20 to the case. The mat 71 is disposed apart from the electrically conductive members 51 and 54 so that gaps S1 and S2 are formed between the mat 71 and the electrically conductive members 51 and 54, respectively.

Abstract: A relay includes: a pair of fixed terminals, each being arranged to have a fixed contact on a one-end face; a movable contact member arranged to have a pair of movable contacts that are correspondingly opposed to the respective fixed contacts; and a driving structure operated to move the movable contact member. In a moving direction of the movable contact member, a side where the fixed contacts are located is called a first side, and a side where the movable contacts are located is called a second side. The movable contact member includes: a center section located between the pair of movable contacts and located on the second side relative to the movable contacts; and a pair of extended sections located between the center section and the pair of movable contacts and extended in a direction including a component of the moving direction.

Abstract: A relay includes: a plurality of fixed terminals arranged to have fixed contacts; and a movable contact member arranged to have a plurality of movable contacts that are correspondingly opposed to the respective fixed contacts. The relay further includes: a driving structure operated to move the movable contact member such that the respective movable contacts come into contact with the corresponding fixed contacts; a plurality of first vessels provided corresponding to the respective fixed terminals and arranged to have insulating property; a second vessel joined with the plurality of first vessels; and an air-tight space formed by the plurality of fixed terminals, the plurality of first vessels and the second vessel to allow the movable contact member and the respective fixed contacts to be placed therein.

Abstract: A relay includes: a pair of fixed terminals, each being arranged to have a fixed contact on a one-end face; a movable contact member arranged to have a pair of movable contacts that are correspondingly opposed to the respective fixed contacts; and a driving structure operated to move the movable contact member. In a moving direction of the movable contact member, a side where the fixed contacts are located is called a first side, and a side where the movable contacts are located is called a second side. The movable contact member includes: a center section located between the pair of movable contacts and located on the second side relative to the movable contacts; and a pair of extended sections located between the center section and the pair of movable contacts and extended in a direction including a component of the moving direction.

Abstract: A relay includes: a plurality of fixed terminals arranged to have fixed contacts; and a movable contact member arranged to have a plurality of movable contacts that are correspondingly opposed to the respective fixed contacts. The relay further includes: a driving structure operated to move the movable contact member such that the respective movable contacts come into contact with the corresponding fixed contacts; a plurality of first vessels provided corresponding to the respective fixed terminals and arranged to have insulating property; a second vessel joined with the plurality of first vessels; and an air-tight space formed by the plurality of fixed terminals, the plurality of first vessels and the second vessel to allow the movable contact member and the respective fixed contacts to be placed therein.

Abstract: A relay includes a pair of fixed terminals arranged to respectively have fixed contacts, a movable contact member arranged to have a pair of movable contacts, a driving structure operated to move the movable contact member and a magnet arranged to extinguish an arc. The movable contact member has a center section located between the pair of movable contacts. The magnet is placed on at least one of a first side and a second side that face each other across a predetermined face including the movable contact member and the pair of fixed terminals electrically connected by the movable contact member. The magnet is arranged to have a magnitude relation that a center area where the center section is located has a lower magnetic flux density than movable contact portions where the pair of movable contacts are located.

Abstract: A soot detecting apparatus includes: a high voltage generating unit for generating a high voltage; a discharge sensor which includes a pair of electrodes to be, disposed in an atmosphere to be detected, for causing a spark discharge at a discharge voltage dependent upon soot concentration in the atmosphere when the high voltage is applied across the pair of electrodes; a first detection unit for detecting a first discharge voltage value when the spark discharge occurs in the discharge sensor upon application of the high voltage of a predetermined voltage polarity; a first output unit for determining a first soot concentration value based on the first discharge voltage value; and a changeover unit for converting the predetermined voltage polarity to an opposite voltage polarity for causing reverse spark discharge at the pair of electrodes of the discharge sensor.

Abstract: A soot sensor includes a center electrode extending in an axial direction and a cylindrical insulator from which a leading end of the center electrode protrudes. The insulator is provided around a periphery of the center electrode and includes a heating element. The soot sensor also includes a sealing member sealing a gap between the insulator and the center electrode.

Abstract: This invention provides a gas sensor including a proton-conductive polymer electrolyte layer and a method for measuring gas concentration, that are capable of measuring gas concentration at high accuracy notwithstanding the presence of water vapor.

Abstract: A soot sensor includes an insulator having a through-hole and a center electrode provided in the through-hole of the insulator so that a leading end of the center electrode protrudes from a leading end of the insulator and faces a discharge gap. A heating member is embedded in the insulator, and the distance between the heating member and the leading end of the center electrode is at least 10 mm.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor capable of accurately measuring hydrogen concentration of a measurement gas atmosphere in the presence of a variety of interfering gasses such as H2O and CO. In the hydrogen gas sensor, the flow sectional area of a diffusion-rate limiting portion 6 is rendered small; the electrode surfaces of first and second electrodes 3 and 4 are rendered large; and/or a solution containing a polymer electrolyte which may be identical to that of a proton-conductive layer 2 is applied onto the surfaces of the first and second electrodes 3 and 4 to thereby form a layer containing the polymer electrolyte. Thus, the rate of conduction of protons from the first electrode 3 to the second electrode 4 becomes greater than the rate at which protons are derived from hydrogen which is introduced onto the first electrode 3 via the diffusion-rate limiting portion 6.

Abstract: A hydrogen sensor includes a first electrode 3 and a second electrode 4 provided in contact with a proton conduction layer 2; a gas diffusion controlling portion 6 provided between a measurement gas atmosphere and the first electrode 3; and a support element (1a, 1b) for supporting the proton conduction layer 6, the first electrode 3, the second electrode 4, and the gas diffusion controlling portion 6. Hydrogen contained in a measurement gas introduced via the gas diffusion controlling portion 6 is dissociated, decomposed, or reacted by applying a voltage between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 4 to thereby generate protons. Hydrogen concentration is obtained on the basis of a limiting current generated as a result of the generated protons being pumped out via the proton conduction layer 2 from the first electrode 3 side of the proton conduction layer to the second electrode 4 side of the proton conduction layer.

Abstract: A gas sensor capable of reversibly and continuously measuring the concentration of a catalyst poison gas such as CO without specially needing recovering means such as a heater, and measuring the catalyst poison gas concentration without being affected by H2O concentration. The electrical circuit (15) of the gas sensor has an AC power supply (19) for applying an AC voltage between both electrodes (3), (5), an AC voltmeter (21) for measuring an AC voltage (AC effective voltage V) between the both electrodes (3), (5), and an AC ammeter (23) for measuring a current (AC effective current I) running between the both electrodes (3), (5). An impedance is determined from the AC effective voltage V and the AC effective current I generated when the AC voltage is applied to the both electrodes (3), (5).

Abstract: A method for detecting the concentration of a specific component in gas discharged from an internal combustion engine, which includes detecting the concentration of the specific component under certain driving conditions to determine a zero point, which indicates a zero concentration of the specific component, of the detection output; calibrating the detection output of the gas sensor based on the determined zero point; and detecting the concentration of the specific component in exhaust gas based on the calibrated detection output.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor is configured such that an O-ring 21 is disposed within a measurement chamber 11a in order to seal against a first support element 9a and against a proton conduction layer 1. This O-ring 21 assumes the form of a rectangular frame that surrounds a first electrode 3, and a substantially circular cross section, and is elastic, heat resistant, and durable. A first metal plate 23a and a second metal plate 23b are disposed from the outside on opposite support elements 9a and 9b, respectively. The hydrogen gas sensor of the present embodiment has a pair of right-hand and left-hand through-holes 29 formed therein so as to extend along the thickness direction thereof. Bolts 31 are inserted into the corresponding through-holes 29. By fastening the metal plates 23a and 23b from the outside by means of the bolts 31 and nuts 33, the opposite support elements 9a and 9b are fastened, thereby clamping the entire hydrogen sensor in a unitary condition.

Abstract: A CO sensor and a CO-concentration measurement method which enables accurate measurement of CO concentration irrespective of the hydrogen concentration of a gas under measurement. By applying a first predetermined voltage between first and second electrodes 7 and 8, hydrogen contained in a gas under measurement which has been introduced into a first measurement space 2 via a first diffusion-controlling section 1 dissociates, decomposes, or reacts with another element to generate protons. The thus-generated protons are transported from the first electrode 7 to the second electrode 8 via a first proton-conductive layer 5 or protons are transported from the second electrode 8 to the first electrode 7 via the first proton-conductive layer 5 (when the hydrogen concentration of the measurement gas is extremely low), so that the hydrogen concentration within the first measurement space 2 is controlled to a constant level.

Abstract: A gas sensor suitable for measuring hydrogen concentration, including a proton conductive layer (1); a first electrode (3) and a second electrode (5) provided on the proton conductive layer (1); a gas diffusion-limiting inlet (19) provided between the first electrode (3) and a measurement gas atmosphere (6) containing hydrogen gas; and a gas diffusion-limiting outlet (21) provided between the second electrode (5) and the atmosphere (6); wherein the ratio (a/b) between the diffusion resistance (a) of the diffusion limiting portion (19) and the diffusion resistance (b) of the gas outlet portion (21) is not greater than 2.

Abstract: A method for detecting the concentration of a specific gas (NOx) in an engine exhaust gas using a gas sensor and a process of correcting the gas sensor. According to the correcting process, the amount of moisture in the exhaust gas is estimated, then a a gas concentration detection signal output by the gas sensor on the basis of an estimated amount of moisture is corrected. Finally, the effect of the amount of moisture in the exhaust gas is removed or reduced from the detected value of gas concentration.