Abstract: A first heat flux sensor, which outputs a first sensor signal according to a heat flux passing therethrough, a second heat flux sensor, which outputs a second sensor signal according to a heat flux passing therethrough, a thermal buffer body, which has a predetermined heat capacity, and a heat releasing body, which has a predetermined heat capacity, are provided, and the first heat flux sensor, the thermal buffer body, the second heat flux sensor and the heat releasing body are arranged in this order from a sensing subject side. The first sensor signal, which corresponds to the heat flux between the sensing subject and the thermal buffer body, is outputted from the first heat flux sensor, and the second sensor signal, which corresponds to the heat flux between the thermal buffer body and the heat releasing body, is outputted from the second heat flux sensor.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric converter includes filling each of a plurality of through-holes in each of a plurality of resin films with fillers containing a plurality of thermoelectric material particles. At this time, a part of the filler is extruded from each through-hole. In this state, the plurality of resin films are stacked together. A top-surface protection member having top-surface conductor patterns is stacked on one side of the plurality of resin films. A back-surface protection member having back-surface conductor patterns is stacked on the other side of the plurality of resin films. Thus, an integrated stacked body is formed. The integrated stacked body is then heated and pressurized. A plurality of thermoelectric material particles are thereby sintered to form the first and second thermoelectric members.

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: A heat flux sensor module includes: a first film including a first surface; a plurality of sensor chips which are disposed spaced apart from each other on the first surface and detect heat flux; a second film stacked on the first surface of the first film so that the plurality of sensor chips are sandwiched between the first film and the second film; and a heat conducting member which is disposed between adjacent sensor chips and has higher heat conductivity than air. The heat conducting member is in contact with both the first film and the second film.

Abstract: A heat flux sensor is provided with a main body which detects heat flux, and filling members. The main body has a first surface. The first surface has an uneven shape, with a plurality of concave portions and a plurality of convex portions. The filling members are filled in the plurality of concave portions. Surfaces of the filling members constitutes a part of an outer surface of the heat flux sensor. The degree of flatness of the outer surface is higher than the degree of flatness of the first surface of the main body.

Abstract: A wind direction meter has the following plurality of sensors and a control unit. Each sensor has a first surface and has first and second interlayer connection members made of different metals or semiconductors. Further, the wind direction meter includes a thermoelectric conversion element which generates an electrical output when a temperature difference occurs between first ends and second ends of the respective first and second interlayer connection members. The sensor generates an electric output when the surrounding air, whose temperature has been changed by a heater, is moved by the wind to produce a temperature difference between the first ends and the second ends of the first and second interlayer connection members. The control unit calculates the direction of the wind on the basis of the difference in output. Thus, the wind direction of a weak wind can be detected with the wind direction meter.

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: A support device comprises a piston rod and a fixed member arranged so that a target object is placed therebetween, and an elastic member is provided to the target object side of the fixed member. A monitoring device includes a heat flux sensor and a detection part. When the target object is supported between the piston rod and the fixed member due to force applied by the piston rod, the heat flux sensor outputs a signal corresponding to the heat flux flowing between the elastic member, which is compressed by the load applied from the piston rod, and the fixed member. Based on the signal output by the heat flux sensor, the detection part detects the support state of the target object supported by the support device, or the size of the target object.

Abstract: A heat flux meter includes a heat flux sensor and a radiation unit. The heat flux sensor has a first surface and a second surface on the opposite side to the first surface. The heat flux sensor is configured to output a sensor signal corresponding to a temperature difference between the first surface side and the second surface side. A radiation unit is configured to release heat from a heat generation source of a target to an external space. The heat flux sensor is arranged on a heat transfer path between the heat generation source and the radiation unit. The heat flux sensor is arranged such that the first surface side thereof is on the heat generation source side of the heat transfer path. The heat flux sensor is arranged such that the second surface side thereof is on the radiation unit side of the heat transfer path.

Abstract: A heat flow distribution measurement device includes a sensor module having one multilayer substrate and a plurality of heat flow sensor portions arranged inside of the multilayer substrate. The multilayer substrate has one surface and another surface opposite to the one surface and includes a plurality of stacked insulating layers each formed of a thermoplastic resin. The heat flow sensor portions are each formed of thermoelectric conversion elements and are thermoelectrically independent. An arithmetic portion arithmetically determines a heat flow distribution based on an electromotive force generated in each of the heat flow sensor portions. The thermoelectric conversion elements are formed in the multilayer substrate and therefore manufactured by the same manufacturing process for manufacturing the multilayer substrate. This can minimize the performance difference between the individual thermoelectric conversion elements and allow the heat flow distribution to be measured with high precision.

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: In a step of pressing a laminate, the laminate is first pressed while being heated to a temperature lower than a melting point of a thermoplastic resin so as to elastically deform the thermoplastic resin and apply a pressure in a direction perpendicular to a laminating direction to thereby allow first and second conductive pastes to tightly adhere to front and rear surface patterns. Next, the laminate is pressed while being heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the thermoplastic resin so as to fluidize the thermoplastic resin while allowing the thermoplastic resin to flow out from the laminate and apply a pressure in the direction perpendicular to the laminating direction to thereby allow the first and second conductive pastes are solid-sintered.

Abstract: A heat flux sensor is installed in such a way that heat flux emanating from a biological object present at a predetermined position is detectable. It is determined whether or not a biological object is present at the predetermined position by comparing sensing results of the heat flux sensor with determination criteria. The determination criteria is preset according to heat flux that can be sensed when a biological object is present at the predetermined position. When the sensing results of the heat flux sensor satisfy the determination criteria, in other words, when the heat flux sensed by the heat flux sensor is the heat flux emanating from a biological object, it is determined that a biological object is present at the predetermined position. Consequently, it is possible to realize accurate detection of a biological object.

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: An abnormality diagnosis apparatus includes a sensor unit configured to detect a heat flux which flows from a target apparatus toward outside, and a determining unit configured to determine an abnormality of the target apparatus. The sensor unit includes a first heat flux sensor, a second heat flux sensor, and a thermal buffer which is disposed between the first heat flux sensor and the second heat flux sensor and which has predetermined heat capacity. The first heat flux sensor outputs a first sensor signal in accordance with a heat flux which passes through the first heat flux sensor from the target apparatus side toward the thermal buffer side. The second heat flux sensor outputs a second sensor signal in accordance with a heat flux which passes through the second heat flux sensor from the thermal buffer side toward a side farther from the target apparatus.

Abstract: A heater plate includes a sheet-like heating member that generates heat upon being energized, a protective film provided on the side of one major surface of the sheet-like heating member to protect the sheet-like heating member, an output circuit section provided on a surface of the protective film on the opposite side to the sheet-like heating member, and a protruding portion forming film provided between the protective film and the sheet-like heating member. The output circuit section has protruding portions formed to be capable of respectively abutting terminals of a heat flux sensor which is an inspection object. The protruding portion forming film has protrusions at positions corresponding to the protruding portions. The sheet-like heating member, the protective film, the output circuit section and the protruding portion forming film are integrally formed into one piece.

Abstract: A diagnosis apparatus diagnoses an assembly state of an assembled component having a sliding portion. The diagnosis apparatus includes a sensor unit that detects a heat flux flowing from the sliding portion toward an outside, and a control apparatus that determines whether an assembly state of the assembled component is correct or not based on a detection result detected by the sensor unit. A magnitude of a heat flux from the sliding portion is different between when the assembly state of the assembled component having the sliding portion is correct and when it is incorrect. Hence, according to the diagnosis apparatus, it is possible to diagnose whether an assembly state of the assembled component is correct or not.

Abstract: A non-contact power supply control system includes: an electric transmission pad connected to a power source unit; a control unit controlling current supply to the electric transmission pad; a living body detecting means detecting a living body present around the electric transmission pad; a power receiving pad magnetically coupled to the electric transmission pad to excite power, when current is supplied from the power source unit to the electric transmission pad; and a power storage unit storing power excited by the power receiving pad. The living body detecting means are arranged on the road surface side, and the control unit, when determining that no living body is present around the electric transmission pad on the basis of a result from the living body detecting means, controls the power supply unit to supply power to the power storage unit.