Abstract: As the first conductive paste, a paste is used which is made by adding an organic solvent to powder of alloy in which a plurality of atoms keep a given crystal structure constant. As the second conductive paste, a paste is used which is made by adding an organic solvent to powder of metal different in kind from the alloy. In a step of making the stack body, cavities are formed in the stack body. In a uniting step, the cavities work to facilitate flow of thermoplastic resin to absorb pressure acting in a direction different from a direction in which pressure exerted on the first conductive paste to unite the stack body, thereby resulting in an increase in pressure for the uniting to solid-state sinter the first conductive paste to make the first layer-to-layer connecting member.

Abstract: As the first conductive paste, a paste is used which is made by adding an organic solvent to powder of alloy in which a plurality of atoms keep a given crystal structure constant. As the second conductive paste, a paste is used which is made by adding an organic solvent to powder of metal different in kind from the alloy. In a step of making the stack body, cavities are formed in the stack body. In a uniting step, the cavities work to facilitate flow of thermoplastic resin to absorb pressure acting in a direction different from a direction in which pressure exerted on the first conductive paste to unite the stack body, thereby resulting in an increase in pressure for the uniting to solid-state sinter the first conductive paste to make the first layer-to-layer connecting member.

Abstract: There is provided a heat flux sensor with first and second interlayer connection members composed of different metals from each other of which metal atoms maintain a predetermined crystal structure embedded in first and second via holes of a thermoplastic resin made insulating substrate, the first and the second interlayer connection members are connected in series alternately, and a control unit that performs abnormality determination of a heating element disposed in a vehicle. The heat flux sensor is provided to the heating element and outputs a sensor signal corresponding to heat flux between the heating element and an outside air, and the control unit determines based on the sensor signal that there is abnormality in the heating element when the heat flux between the heating element and the outside air is out of a predetermined range.

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: An insulating substrate is prepared. In this substrate, plural via holes penetrating in a thickness direction are filled with a conductive paste. This paste is produced by adding an organic solvent to a powder of an, and by processing the power of the alloy to a paste. The substrate is then pressed from a front surface and a back surface of the substrate, while being heated. The conductive paste is solid-phase sintered and interlayer connecting members are formed. A front surface protective member is disposed on a front surface of the substrate and a back surface protective member is disposed on a back surface of the substrate, and a laminate is formed. The laminate is integrated by a lower pressure being applied while heating at a lower temperature, compared to the temperature and pressure in the process of forming the interlayer connecting members.

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: An insulating substrate to which intermediate portions or conductive pastes constituting the intermediate portions are disposed, a front surface protective member to which front surface patterns are formed, and a back surface protective member to which back surface patterns are formed are prepared. A laminated body, to which first end portions or conductive pastes constituting the first end portions are disposed between the intermediate portions or the conductive pastes constituting the intermediate portions and the front surface patterns, and second end portions or conductive pastes constituting the second end portions are disposed between the intermediate portions or the conductive pastes constituting the intermediate portions and the back surface patterns, is constituted. Then, thermoelectric conversion elements are formed by integrating the laminated body.

Abstract: An insulating substrate is prepared. In this substrate, plural via holes penetrating in a thickness direction are filled with a conductive paste. This paste is produced by adding an organic solvent to a powder of an alloy, and by processing the power of the alloy to a paste. The substrate is then pressed from a front surface and a back surface of the substrate, while being heated. The conductive paste is solid-phase sintered and interlayer connecting members are formed. A front surface protective member is disposed on a front surface of the substrate and a back surface protective member is disposed on a back surface of the substrate and a laminate is formed. The laminate is integrated by a lower pressure being applied while heating at a lower temperature, compared to the temperature and pressure in the process of forming the interlayer connecting members.

Abstract: A liquid level detector includes: a detecting element having one surface and the other surface opposite to the one surface, the one surface being opposed to a liquid, while being parallel to a height direction of liquid level; a Peltier element provided on the other surface side of the detecting element; and a control unit performing a detection processing for a liquid level of the liquid. The Peltier element forms a heat flow passing through the detecting element from the other surface to the one surface, toward the liquid or a gas. The control unit calculates a liquid level on the basis of an output value of an electrical signal outputted according to the heat flow passing through the detecting element, and a relationship between an output value of the detecting element and a liquid level.

Abstract: An insulating substrate 10 to which intermediate portions 40c, 50c or conductive pastes 41, 51 constituting the intermediate portions are disposed, a front surface protective member 20 to which front surface patterns 21 are formed, and a back surface protective member 30 to which back surface patterns 31 are formed are prepared. A laminated body 90, to which first end portions 40a, 50a or conductive pastes 41, 51 constituting the first end portions 40a, 50a are disposed between the intermediate portions 40c, 50c or the conductive pastes 41, 51 constituting the intermediate portions 40c, 50c and the front surface patterns 21, and second end portions 40b, 50b or conductive pastes 41, 51 constituting the second end portions 40b, 50b are disposed between the intermediate portions 40c, 50c or the conductive pastes 41, 51 constituting the intermediate portions 40c, 50c and the back surface patterns 31, is constituted. Then, thermoelectric conversion elements 40, 50 are formed by integrating the laminated body 90.

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.

Abstract: A converter includes a first insulating substrate having a first surface on which a wiring pattern is formed, a second insulating substrate integrated with the first insulating substrate, and a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements of the same conductivity type arranged between the first and second insulating substrates and connected in series via the wiring pattern. The wiring pattern includes a plurality of first connecting portions formed in a first region of the first insulating substrate, a plurality of second connecting portions formed in a second region thereof, and a plurality of coupling portions coupling the first connecting portions to the second connecting portions, to connect a set of first and second connecting portions to thermoelectric conversion elements.

Abstract: A heater apparatus includes a main body, a detecting unit, and a control part. The main body has a power supply part to which electric power is supplied and a heating portion connected to the power supply part to generate heat by electric power supplied from the power supply part. The detecting unit detects an object around the main body. The control part controls supply amount of the electric power to the power supply part. The control part controls the supply amount of electric power to the power supply part to be reduced compared with a normal state when the detecting unit detects that the object is within a predetermined range of the main body.

Abstract: A heat quantity control device has a heat flux sensor arranged between first and second heating elements arranged adjacently to each other, and a control section for controlling a heat quantity of the first and second heating elements. The heat flux sensor has an insulation board made of thermoplastic resin, first and second via holes formed in the insulation board penetrating in a thickness direction thereof. First and second layer connection members are embedded in the first and second via holes, respectively. The first and second layer connection members are made of different metals and alternately connected in series. The control section controls a heat quantity generated in the first and second heating elements based on the electromotive force generated in the heat flux sensors so that a heat flux flowing between the first and second heating elements becomes not more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A comfortable temperature control apparatus for a vehicle includes a temperature-change element that changes a temperature by being energized; a heat flux sensor outputting a sensor signal corresponding to a heat flux; a heat diffusion layer disposed on the heat flux sensor; and a control unit that energizes the temperature-change element so as to adjust its temperature. In a seat provided in the vehicle cabin, a cover surface side contacting a passenger, the heat diffusion layer, the heat flux sensor and the temperature-change element are arranged in this order. The heat flux sensor outputs the sensor signal to the control unit, the sensor signal corresponding to the heat flux between the cover surface and the temperature-change element. The control unit adjusts an energization of the temperature-change element, based on the sensor signal, such that the heat flux between the cover surface and the temperature-change element is a predetermined value.

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: There is provided a heat flux sensor with first and second interlayer connection members composed of different metals from each other of which metal atoms maintain a predetermined crystal structure embedded in first and second via holes of a thermoplastic resin made insulating substrate, the first and the second interlayer connection members are connected in series alternately, and a control unit that performs abnormality determination of a heating element disposed in a vehicle. The heat flux sensor is provided to the heating element and outputs a sensor signal corresponding to heat flux between the heating element and an outside air, and the control unit determines based on the sensor signal that there is abnormality in the heating element when the heat flux between the heating element and the outside air is out of a predetermined range.

Abstract: A vibration detector has a structure including a heat generation member which generates heat when subjected to at least one of deformation and friction by external vibration and a detection element for detecting a heat flux from the heat generation member, and configured to detect data regarding vibration based on a detection result of the detection element. The detection element has a structure in which an insulation base material made of thermoplastic resin is formed with first and second via holes penetrating therethrough in a thickness direction, first and second inter-layer connection members formed of different metals are embedded in the first and second via holes, and the first and second inter-layer connection members are connected in series alternately, the metals forming the first and second inter-layer connection members being sintered alloys sintered in a state in which metal atoms maintain a crystal structure thereof.

Abstract: A heater apparatus includes a main body, a detecting unit, and a control part. The main body has a power supply part to which electric power is supplied and a heating portion connected to the power supply part to generate heat by electric power supplied from the power supply part. The detecting unit detects an object around the main body. The control part controls supply amount of the electric power to the power supply part. The control part controls the supply amount of electric power to the power supply part to be reduced compared with a normal state when the detecting unit detects that the object is within a predetermined range of the main body.

Abstract: Respective thermoelectric elements and respective front surface patterns have an interface therebetween in which metal atoms configuring the thermoelectric elements and metal atoms configuring the front surface pattern are diffused to form an alloy layer. The respective thermoelectric elements and respective back surface patterns have an interface therebetween in which metal atoms configuring the thermoelectric elements and metal atoms configuring the back surface pattern are diffused to form an alloy layer. The respective thermoelectric elements, the respective front surface patterns and the respective back surface patterns are electrically and mechanically connected to each other via the alloy layers.