Abstract: The semiconductor device includes a first conductor member to which a switching element is connected; a second conductor member to which a switching element is connected; a heat dissipation member arranged to face the first and second conductor members arranged in parallel; and an insulating member having an electrical insulation layer that contains a first intermediate conductor facing the first conductor member, a second intermediate conductor facing the second conductor member, and the first and second intermediate conductors, the insulating member being disposed between the first and second conductor members arranged in parallel and the heat dissipation member, wherein the electrical insulation layer has a first insulation layer where the first intermediate conductor is disposed, a second insulation layer where the second intermediate conductor is disposed, and a third insulation layer interposed between the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer.

Abstract: There is provided an inspection method of an oxygen sensor, which includes a sensing portion having a reference electrode, a sensing electrode and an oxygen ion conducting solid electrolyte layer arranged between the reference electrode and the sensing electrode. The inspection method contains the steps of reading a first output value of the oxygen sensor under a condition that the sensing portion of the oxygen sensor is subjected to a first inspection gas and then a second output value of the oxygen sensor under a condition that the sensing portion of the oxygen sensor is subjected to a second inspection gas different in oxygen concentration from the first inspection gas and judging the oxygen sensor to be defective or nondefective based on the first and second output values.

Abstract: A fluid control valve is provided. The fluid control valve is interposed in a fluid flow passage, and includes a temperature sensing part which is provided in a fluid of the fluid flow passage, and which is configured to operate based on a temperature of the fluid; a heating element which is configured to heat the temperature sensing part; and a shielding part which is capable of shielding the temperature sensing part from the fluid.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a ceramic structural member. The ceramic structural member includes a base body formed of an insulating material; and a porous ceramic layer formed integrally with the base body. The ceramic layer is formed of an admixture obtained by mixing a plurality of ceramic materials with each other. The plurality of ceramic materials have grain size distributions different from each other.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor includes a base body portion; and a plurality of function layers laminated on a surface of the base body portion. The function layers includes a solid electrolyte layer adapted to conduct oxygen ions; a reference electrode layer located on a base body portion side of the solid electrolyte layer; a sensing electrode layer located on the opposite side of the solid electrolyte layer to the reference electrode layer; a heater portion adapted to activate the solid electrolyte layer by heating; and a gas diffusion layer formed between the reference electrode layer and the base body portion, and adapted to diffuse a reference gas within the gas diffusion layer. The gas diffusion layer is formed to have a porosity indicating a limit current value ranging between 60 ?A and 200 ?A.

Abstract: An oxygen concentration detecting element including a base member made of an electrically insulating material, a heater disposed on an outer surface of the base member, the heater being adapted to generate heat upon being energized, and an oxygen detecting unit disposed in an offset position on the outer surface of the base member in which the oxygen detecting unit is prevented from overlapping with the heater, the oxygen detecting unit including a solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrodes between which the solid electrolyte layer is disposed.

Abstract: The invention provides an air-fuel ratio control system in which high precision can be applied to the air-fuel ratio feedback control of an engine by using a gas sensor mainly configured by an oxygen sensor that prevents the deterioration of the holding power of sealing material which enables high density filling with a small compressive load or the deterioration of the sealing material. The gas sensor such as the oxygen sensor is based upon a gas content detecting sensor that includes a gas content detecting element and a holder holding the gas content detecting element and that seals a measuring part of the gas content detecting element in the holder by a sealing part in which the sealing material is compressively filled, and has a characteristic that the sealing material is molded by mixed powder including plural species of forms of particles.

Abstract: There is provided an inspection method of an oxygen sensor, which includes a sensing portion having a reference electrode, a sensing electrode and an oxygen ion conducting solid electrolyte layer arranged between the reference electrode and the sensing electrode. The inspection method contains the steps of reading a first output value of the oxygen sensor under a condition that the sensing portion of the oxygen sensor is subjected to a first inspection gas and then a second output value of the oxygen sensor under a condition that the sensing portion of the oxygen sensor is subjected to a second inspection gas different in oxygen concentration from the first inspection gas and judging the oxygen sensor to be defective or nondefective based on the first and second output values.

Abstract: A bent front wall 2a of a roof panel 2 is not bent at least inwardly of a press-worked direction of the roof panel 2, so that a front end of the roof panel 2 is free from undercut formation. This eliminates the necessity to further machine the front wall 2a of the press-worked roof panel 2, using for example a cam. Thus, manufacturing cost may be reduced without increasing man-hour.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor includes a tubular casing; an oxygen detecting element installed in a leading end of the tubular casing; lead wires each extending from the oxygen detecting element to the outside of the tubular casing through an open base end of the tubular casing, each lead wire including a core wire of metal; a rubber bush plugged in the open base end of the tubular casing, the rubber bush having the lead wires passed therethrough; and a heat resisting structure for protecting the rubber bush from a high temperature. The heat resisting structure is constructed to satisfy the following inequality: 10%?Al/Ar?50%, wherein: Al: The sectional area in total of the lead wires; and Ar: The sectional area of the rubber bush.

Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor has a sensing element having a sensing area that detects certain components in exhaust gas, a holder that supports a base end portion of the sensing element and has a sensor-mounting structure for sensor installation, and a protector that is fixed to the holder and protects the sensing area of the sensing element. To support the sensing element, a sensing element insertion hole for receiving the base end portion of the sensing element is formed at the holder. Then, a clearance between an inner surface of the sensing element insertion hole and a surface of the sensing area is set to be smaller than a clearance between an inner surface of the protector and the surface of the sensing area.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor includes a base body portion; and a plurality of function layers laminated on a surface of the base body portion. The function layers includes a solid electrolyte layer adapted to conduct oxygen ions; a reference electrode layer located on a base body portion side of the solid electrolyte layer; a sensing electrode layer located on the opposite side of the solid electrolyte layer to the reference electrode layer; a heater portion adapted to activate the solid electrolyte layer by heating; and a gas diffusion layer formed between the reference electrode layer and the base body portion, and adapted to diffuse a reference gas within the gas diffusion layer. The gas diffusion layer is formed to have a porosity indicating a limit current value ranging between 60 ?A and 200 ?A.

Abstract: In an oxygen sensor that measures a limiting current of when a voltage is applied between pumping electrodes, and also performs a rich/lean judgment based on an electromotive force generated between one of the pumping electrodes and a reference electrode, an oxygen supply voltage for supplying oxygen to the reference electrode is applied, and the reference electrode is covered with a dense layer.

Abstract: A bent front wall 2a of a roof panel 2 is not bent at least inwardly of a press-worked direction of the roof panel 2, so that a front end of the roof panel 2 is free from undercut formation. This eliminates the necessity to further machine the front wall 2a of the press-worked roof panel 2, using for example a cam. Thus, manufacturing cost may be reduced without increasing man-hour.

Abstract: In an oxygen sensor, a basic body is provided and a plurality of function layers are laminated on a surface of the basic body, the function layers including at least a solid electrolyte layer having an oxygen ion conductivity and a pair of electrode layers between which the solid electrolyte layer is inserted, a firing being carried out after the function layers are laminated on the surface of the basic body and, during the firing, a sintering of the basic body and the function layers being sequentially progressed toward an outer surface of the function layers from the basic body.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor including an oxygen concentration sensing unit including a pair of electrodes and a solid electrolyte layer which is disposed between the pair of electrodes and has an oxygen ion conductivity. A porous protective coat is disposed on an outer surface of the oxygen concentration sensing unit. A protector covers the oxygen concentration sensing unit via a space between the protector and the porous protective coat and has a plurality of inlet holes through which a gas to be measured is introduced into the space. A ratio of a thickness of the porous protective coat to a diameter of each of the plurality of inlet holes is in a range of from 5% to 50%.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor comprises a tubular casing; an oxygen detecting element installed in a leading end of the tubular casing; lead wires each extending from the oxygen detecting element to the outside of the tubular casing through an open base end of the tubular casing, each lead wire including a core wire of metal; a rubber bush plugged in the open base end of the tubular casing, the rubber bush having the lead wires passed therethrough; and a heat resisting structure for protecting the rubber bush from a high temperature. The heat resisting structure is constructed to satisfy the following inequality: 10%?Al/Ar?50% wherein: Al: The sectional area in total of the lead wires. Ar: The sectional area of the rubber bush.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygen-concentration detecting element including (a) a base member of a first insulating material; (b) an electric heater layer formed on the base member to generate a heat when electrically energized; and (c) an oxygen-detecting laminated unit formed on the base member, the unit including a solid electrolyte layer and inner and outer electrodes interposing the solid electrolyte layer therebetween. The inner electrode may be constructed of a noble metal material and voids that are dispersed in the noble metal material and are derived from a void forming agent. The oxygen-concentration detecting element may include a penetration layer for allowing penetration of oxygen therethrough, between the outer surface of the base member and the oxygen-detecting laminated unit. The penetration layer is extended in the axial direction of the base member from the position of the unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygen-concentration detecting element including (a) a base member constructed of a first insulating material; (b) an electric heater layer formed on the base member to generate a heat when electrically energized; (c) an oxygen-detecting laminated unit formed on the base member, the unit including a solid electrolyte layer activated by the heat; (d) a printed protecting layer covering the base member, the electric heater layer and the oxygen-detecting laminated unit, being constructed of a mixture of a second insulating material and a solid electrolyte material, and having a porous structure provided with voids derived from a void forming agent contained in an amount of 10-80 volume %, based on a total volume of the second insulating material and the void forming agent, prior to a baking for producing the oxygen concentration detecting element; and (e) a porous protecting layer covering the printed protecting layer.

Abstract: An oxygen concentration detecting element comprises a base member constructed of an insulating material; an electric heater layer attached to the base member, which generates a heat when electrically energized; and an oxygen detecting laminated unit attached to the base member. The oxygen detecting laminated unit includes a solid electrolyte layer and reference and detecting electrode layers between which the solid electrolyte layer is operatively sandwiched. The thickness of the oxygen detecting laminated unit is equal to or smaller than 11% of the thickness of the base member.