Abstract: In an electrochemical lateral flow immunological test method, flow of a sample solution is controlled. As a result, the reaction time is short and quantitative measurements and electrical measurements can be performed with excellent sensitivity and high accuracy, and the invention provides a sensor employed in the method. Electrode portions, electrically conductive portions for transferring electric current from the electrode portions, and connecting portions connected to an electrical measuring instrument for measuring the electric current values are arranged on a supporting body including a resin sheet, pads and the like disposed by partial lamination on the supporting body. A sample solution flows over the plurality of pads, and electrochemical detection is performed by controlling the flow at the position of the electrode portions. Furthermore, the flow is controlled by a flow rate control pad, a flow passage portion fiber pad, and flow rate control protruding portions.

Abstract: A positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve mounting structure has a blow-by gas passage with an upstream-side passage portion and a down-stream-side passage portion positioned in a cylinder head and an intake manifold, respectively. The blow-by gas passage may receive the PCV valve therein such that an upstream side portion of a valve case of the PCV valve is positioned within the upstream-side passage portion and that a downstream side portion of the valve case is positioned within the down-stream-side passage portion when the cylinder head and the intake manifold are joined together. A gasket may seal the cylinder head to the intake manifold and may include a seal portion positioned between the valve case of the PCV valve and at least one of the cylinder head and the intake manifold.

Abstract: An embodiment of a flow control valve includes a housing and a valve member. The valve member is movable in an axial direction within the housing, so that a flow rate of a fluid flowing within the housing changes in response to a position of the valve member within a control range in the axial direction. A spring device biases the valve member in the axial direction, so that the valve member moves in the axial direction against a biasing force of the spring device according to a difference in pressure on an upstream side and a downstream side of the valve member. The spring device includes a spring constant that changes according to the position of the valve member in the axial direction within the control range.

Abstract: A positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve mounting structure has a blow-by gas passage with an upstream-side passage portion and a down-stream-side passage portion positioned in a cylinder head and an intake manifold, respectively. The blow-by gas passage may receive the PCV valve therein such that an upstream side portion of a valve case of the PCV valve is positioned within the upstream-side passage portion and that a downstream side portion of the valve case is positioned within the down-stream-side passage portion when the cylinder head and the intake manifold are joined together. A gasket may seal the cylinder head to the intake manifold and may include a seal portion positioned between the valve case of the PCV valve and at lest one of the cylinder head and the intake manifold.

Abstract: A flow control valve has a case defining an inlet and an outlet and a valve body capable of reciprocating in the case. The case has a measuring hole portion therein. The measuring hole portion has a plurality of projections inwardly protruding in the redial direction and a plurality of recesses outwardly depressing in the radial direction such that the projections and the recesses are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. The valve body has a measurement shaft that has a basal end portion having larger diameter than its tip end portion. The measurement shaft of the valve body is inserted into the measuring hole portion. The measurement shaft is configured to move in the in the reciprocating direction in order to measure the flow rate of fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet through a space between the measuring hole portion of the case and the measurement shaft.

Abstract: An embodiment of a flow control valve includes a housing and a valve member. The valve member is movable in an axial direction within the housing, so that a flow rate of a fluid flowing within the housing changes in response to a position of the valve member within a control range in the axial direction. A spring device biases the valve member in the axial direction, so that the valve member moves in the axial direction against a biasing force of the spring device according to a difference in pressure on an upstream side and a downstream side of the valve member. The spring device includes a spring constant that changes according to the position of the valve member in the axial direction within the control range.

Abstract: An injector drive circuit including: a step-up circuit generating a high voltage from a power supply; a first switching device connected to a path between the step-up circuit and an injector; a second switching device connected to the power supply; a third switching device connected between the injector and the ground; and a control unit operating the first, second and third switching device according to a value of current flowing through the injector; wherein the control unit has a unit turning on and off the second switching device in a period during which it turns on and off the first switching device a plurality of times; wherein the control unit has, as set values to control the current flowing through the injector, a first threshold defining a lower current limit, a second threshold defining an upper current limit and a third threshold, larger than the second threshold.

Abstract: A shaped heat storage material has a shaped body composed of a binder and heat storage capsules containing a heat storage material therein. And, the shaped body has at least one of a projection, a depressed portion and a hollow structure defining a hollow space therein.

Abstract: A fuel tank system includes a fuel tank that has a tank wall defining a fuel storage space. A heat control chamber is formed within the tank wall. A pressure control device can control a pressure within the heat control chamber in response to a difference between a temperature within the fuel storage space and a temperature externally of the tank wall.

Abstract: An injector drive circuit including: a step-up circuit generating a high voltage from a power supply; a first switching device connected to a path between the step-up circuit and an injector; a second switching device connected to the power supply; a third switching device connected between the injector and the ground; and a control unit operating the first, second and third switching device according to a value of current flowing through the injector; wherein the control unit has a unit turning on and off the second switching device in a period during which it turns on and off the first switching device a plurality of times; wherein the control unit has, as set values to control the current flowing through the injector, a first threshold defining a lower current limit, a second threshold defining an upper current limit and a third threshold, larger than the second threshold.

Abstract: A shaped heat storage material has a shaped body composed of a binder and heat storage capsules containing a heat storage material therein. And, the shaped body has at least one of a projection, a depressed portion and a hollow structure defining a hollow space therein.

Abstract: An engine valve according to the present teaching has a hot-forged head portion having an oxidized surface layer at a radially outer peripheral surface. The oxidized surface layer is formed during hot-forging of the head portion.

Abstract: To make it possible to process or retrieve a recorded image in accordance with the location where the image is recorded and record digital image data together with GPS information when capturing a digital image by a video camera. Moreover, when GPS information cannot be captured, GPS information a certain time before is captured. Furthermore, a system is disclosed which accesses the internet in accordance with the captured GPS information.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide an image reading apparatus which can reselect a film type after prescanning, and after confirming the result on the monitor, perform actual scanning. To achieve this object, a film scanner selects from a color table storage a color table corresponding to the type of film, sets the color table in an image data converter, and performs prescanning. If the user reselects a film type after prescanning, the color table set before prescanning and a color table selected after prescanning are transferred to a confirmation image changing unit where the difference between the two tables is calculated. Pres-canned image data is transferred from a memory to the confirmation image changing unit, added to the difference, and returned to the memory. The color table selected after prescanning is set in the image data converter, and scanning for obtaining a high-resolution image is executed.

Abstract: The present invention includes an engine valve including a stem portion and a head portion disposed at one end of the stem portion. A heat insulation layer is formed on a surface of the head portion. A heat conductive layer is formed on a surface of the stem portion.

Abstract: A fuel tank system includes a fuel tank that has a tank wall defining a fuel storage space. A heat control chamber is formed within the tank wall. A pressure control device can control a pressure within the heat control chamber in response to a difference between a temperature within the fuel storage space and a temperature externally of the tank wall.

Abstract: A controller for switching the driving status of a car comprising a motor for driving a shift rail of a transfer case, a gear mechanism for transferring the rotation of the motor to the shift rail, a magnet rotating together with the shift rail, and a magnetic sensor element for proving output according to the rotational angle of the magnet, wherein the distance between the magnet and the magnetic sensor element is longer than the position variance of the magnetic sensor.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide an image reading apparatus which can reselect a film type after prescanning, and after confirming the result on the monitor, perform actual scanning. To achieve this object, a film scanner selects from a color table storage a color table corresponding to the type of film, sets the color table in an image data converter, and performs prescanning. If the user reselects a film type after prescanning, the color table set before prescanning and a color table selected after prescanning are transferred to a confirmation image changing unit where the difference between the two tables is calculated. Prescanned image data is transferred from a memory to the confirmation image changing unit, added to the difference, and returned to the memory. The color table selected after prescanning is set in the image data converter, and scanning for obtaining a high-resolution image is executed.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide an image reading apparatus which can reselect a film type after prescanning, and after confirming the result on the monitor, perform actual scanning. To achieve this object, a film scanner selects from a color table storage a color table corresponding to the type of film, sets the color table in an image data converter, and performs prescanning. If the user reselects a film type after prescanning, the color table set before prescanning and a color table selected after prescanning are transferred to a confirmation image changing unit where the difference between the two tables is calculated. Prescanned image data is transferred from a memory to the confirmation image changing unit, added to the difference, and returned to the memory. The color table selected after prescanning is set in the image data converter, and scanning for obtaining a high-resolution image is executed.

Abstract: An electronically controlled actuator for controlling a turbocharger has a motor, a speed change mechanism and a position sensor contained in a case consisting of a body and a cover. The driving force of the motor is transmitted through the speed change mechanism to an output shaft to drive the movable vanes of a turbocharger for turning. A first bearing supporting the output shaft for rotation is held on the cover, and a second bearing supporting the output shaft for rotation is held on the body. The position sensor is mounted on the output shaft of the motor. The reliability of the actuator is improved.