Abstract: A water-treating ceramic filter unit comprising a filter having pluralities of flow paths partitioned by porous ceramic cell walls and plugs alternately sealing the one-side or other-side ends of the flow paths; a housing containing the filter such that water to be treated is supplied from one end of the filter, and that the treated water is discharged from the other end of the filter; and seal members disposed on the outer edge portions of both end surfaces of the filter for longitudinally sandwiching and fixing the filter to the housing; the maximum of a gap between a side surface of the filter and the housing being equal to or less than the equivalent diameter of the flow paths.

Abstract: A water-treating ceramic filter module comprising a filter unit, and a housing containing the filter unit; the filter unit comprising pluralities of cylindrical honeycomb structures each having pluralities of flow paths partitioned by porous ceramic cell walls and extending in one direction, and sheet-shaped connecting members connecting the honeycomb structures in series in the flow path direction; each connecting member having pluralities of penetrating holes for achieving the communication of the corresponding flow paths of adjacent honeycomb structures, to constitute pluralities of communicating flow paths; the communicating flow paths being composed of first communicating flow paths plugged only at one-side end, and second communicating flow paths plugged only at the other-side end; and the housing has an inlet on the side of the one-side end for receiving the water to be treated from outside, and an outlet on the side of the other-side end for discharging the treated water.

Abstract: An adsorption structure unit prevents water leakage from an adsorption structure and improves the durability of the adsorption structure and the durability of the adsorption structure unit. An adsorption structure has a filter portion having a plurality of flow paths divided by a plurality of partition walls and a plugged portion shutting a feed water inflow or outflow end of the plurality of flow paths, a water-impermeable outer tube accommodating the filter portion, and a seal material blocking a gap between the filter portion and the outer tube in at least one end portion of the filter portion. An adsorption structure unit has the adsorption structure, a housing supplying feed water from one end of the adsorption structure, and discharging the feed water from the other end, and a ring member disposed between end portions on both sides of the outer tube and an inner surface of the housing.

Abstract: A water-treating ceramic filter unit comprising a filter having pluralities of flow paths partitioned by porous ceramic cell walls and plugs alternately sealing the one-side or other-side ends of the flow paths; a housing containing the filter such that water to be treated is supplied from one end of the filter, and that the treated water is discharged from the other end of the filter; and seal members disposed on the outer edge portions of both end surfaces of the filter for longitudinally sandwiching and fixing the filter to the housing; the maximum of a gap between a side surface of the filter and the housing being equal to or less than the equivalent diameter of the flow paths.

Abstract: A water-treating ceramic filter module comprising a filter unit, and a housing containing the filter unit; the filter unit comprising pluralities of cylindrical honeycomb structures each having pluralities of flow paths partitioned by porous ceramic cell walls and extending in one direction, and sheet-shaped connecting members connecting the honeycomb structures in series in the flow path direction; each connecting member having pluralities of penetrating holes for achieving the communication of the corresponding flow paths of adjacent honeycomb structures, to constitute pluralities of communicating flow paths; the communicating flow paths being composed of first communicating flow paths plugged only at one-side end, and second communicating flow paths plugged only at the other-side end; and the housing has an inlet on the side of the one-side end for receiving the water to be treated from outside, and an outlet on the side of the other-side end for discharging the treated water.

Abstract: An adsorption structure unit prevents water leakage from an adsorption structure and improves the durability of the adsorption structure and the durability of the adsorption structure unit. An adsorption structure has a filter portion having a plurality of flow paths divided by a plurality of partition walls and a plugged portion shutting a feed water inflow or outflow end of the plurality of flow paths, a water-impermeable outer tube accommodating the filter portion, and a seal material blocking a gap between the filter portion and the outer tube in at least one end portion of the filter portion. An adsorption structure unit has the adsorption structure, a housing supplying feed water from one end of the adsorption structure, and discharging the feed water from the other end, and a ring member disposed between end portions on both sides of the outer tube and an inner surface of the housing.

Abstract: Mass flow sensors, mass flow meters, and methods of making the same are disclosed. A flow sensor may include one sensor tube, a pair of sensor wires wound around the sensor tube, and a covering layer disposed in the surroundings of the sensor tube and the sensor wires. The covering layer includes a first covering layer disposed in contact with the surface of the sensor tube, a second covering layer disposed in contact with the surface of the sensor wires, a third covering layer disposed in a space surrounded by the first covering layer and the second covering layer, and a fourth covering layer disposed so as to cover the whole of the sensor wires wound around the sensor tube. In variations, the covering layer includes one or two organic materials chosen from polyamide-imide and polyimide, and the film thickness of the first covering layer is 10 micrometers or more.

Abstract: Among covering layers constituting a covering layer 4 of a flow sensor 1, a second covering layer 42 disposed in contact with the surface of a sensor wire 3 has a configuration in which an inorganic material finely dispersed in a base material consisting of an organic material and the film thickness of a first covering layer 41 disposed in contact with the surface of a sensor tube 2 is 10 micrometers or more. An interval d between the adjacent second covering layers 42 is preferably 10 micrometers or less. Thereby, a flow sensor which can be used longer than a flow sensor according to a conventional technology even when it is used at a high temperature in order to prevent the condensation of condensable gas is provided. Furthermore, a reduction of the electrical resistance of the sensor wire associated with the use in an elevated temperature is suppressed by an annealing treatment under an inert gas atmosphere and a predetermined condition, after a formation of a mass flow sensor.

Abstract: An interconnector includes a strip-shaped and electrically conductive member electrically connecting respective electrodes of adjacent solar cells, the conductive member includes a plurality of planar stress relief parts and the stress relief parts are formed at equal pitches. With this structure, a stress due to a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the interconnector and the solar cell is uniformly alleviated, so that the warp occurring to the solar cell is reduced and the reliability of the connection between the interconnector and the solar cell is improved.

Abstract: Management of a manufacturing process also in assembling a solar battery module is facilitated. A solar battery module evaluation apparatus includes a power supply unit, a camera, and a processing unit. The power supply unit supplies electric power. The processing unit outputs pattern information indicating whether a solar battery module is defective or not, based on data of an image picked up by the camera, the image being an optical image that appears as a result of supply of electric power to the solar battery module for light emission through electroluminescence phenomenon.

Abstract: A vehicle attitude control device derives a stability factor during turning of a vehicle based on the behavior of the vehicle to take the derivation result as an estimated stability factor (step 112), compares the estimated stability factor with a reference stability factor (steps 114 and 116), varies an attitude control necessary-or-not judgment sensitivity based on the comparison result (steps 118, 130 and 134), and executes the attitude control for the vehicle (step 126).

Abstract: An interconnector includes a strip-shaped and electrically conductive member for electrically connecting respective electrodes to each other of solar cells adjacent to each other. The conductive member includes a stress relief part that is planer and has a notch forming an obtuse angle at a lateral end or has a linear lateral end. This structure remarkably alleviates a stress due to a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the interconnector and the solar cells, so that a warp occurring to the solar cells is reduced and the reliability of connection between the interconnector and the solar cells is improved.

Abstract: A headlight optical axis control unit of a vehicle capable of reducing cost, improving accuracy and ensuring safety is provided. An inclination angle detecting sensor placed in the front of a vehicle is connected to a control unit, and includes two transceivers of ultrasonic sensors. The two transceivers obtain the levels at their locations from the phase differences between the emitted waves and the reflected waves from a road surface, and measure the inclination angle from the level differences. The inclination angle is continuously detected during running of the vehicle. The measured values of the inclination angle are subjected to the cumulative sum and cumulative averaging. According to the average value, the control unit adjusts the angle of the optical axis of the headlights via headlight optical axis control sections.

Abstract: In order to arrange a heater effectively in a case containing ultrasonic sensors to melt frozen snow attached to the case assuredly to ensure the performance of the ultrasonic sensors, an ultrasonic sensor unit comprises ultrasonic sensors (9, 10), a case (11, 12) for containing the ultrasonic sensors, and a sheet component (20) arranged on an inner side of a bottom (12c) of the case to cover the bottom, and having a heater (22) buried in or mounted on it.

Abstract: A vehicle attitude control device derives a stability factor during turning of a vehicle based on the behavior of the vehicle to take the derivation result as an estimated stability factor (step 112), compares the estimated stability factor with a reference stability factor (steps 114 and 116), varies an attitude control necessary-or-not judgment sensitivity based on the comparison result (steps 118, 130 and 134), and executes the attitude control for the vehicle (step 126).

Abstract: An inclination angle measurement apparatus includes a first ultrasonic sensor (3) for sending an ultrasonic wave toward a reflective object (2), second and third ultrasonic sensors (4 and 5) each for receiving an ultrasonic wave reflected from the reflective object (2), and a calculation control circuit (14) for calculating an angle of inclination of a moving object with respect to the reflective object (2) based on a phase difference between ultrasonic waves received by the second and third ultrasonic sensors (4 and 5). Thus the inclination angle measurement apparatus can accurately measure the angle of inclination of the moving object with respect to the reflective object (2).

Abstract: In order to arrange a heater effectively in a case containing ultrasonic sensors to melt frozen snow attached to the case assuredly to ensure the performance of the ultrasonic sensors, an ultrasonic sensor unit comprises ultrasonic sensors (9, 10), a case (11, 12) for containing the ultrasonic sensors, and a sheet component (20) arranged on an inner side of a bottom (12c) of the case to cover the bottom, and having a heater (22) buried in or mounted on it.

Abstract: A sensor harness fixing structure comprises a case having a protrusion on the outer surface thereof, and another case having a notch to be fitted with the protrusion, and disposed outside the case. A curved portion is provided at the bottom of the notch, and another curved portion is provided in a portion of the protrusion opposed to the curved portion. A harness from ultrasonic sensors disposed inside the case is interposed and held between the curved portion and the other curved portion via an elastic material such as rubber. The harness is fixed reliably with high waterproofness.

Abstract: A headlight optical axis control unit of a vehicle capable of reducing cost, improving accuracy and ensuring safety is provided. An inclination angle detecting sensor placed in the front of a vehicle is connected to a control unit, and includes two transceivers of ultrasonic sensors. The two transceivers obtain the levels at their locations from the phase differences between the emitted waves and the reflected waves from a road surface, and measure the inclination angle from the level differences. The inclination angle is continuously detected during running of the vehicle. The measured values of the inclination angle are subjected to the cumulative sum and cumulative averaging. According to the average value, the control unit adjusts the angle of the optical axis of the headlights via headlight optical axis control sections.

Abstract: A brake system is provided with a brake pressure control device which is light in weight and low in cost and which is capable of selectively performing a brake assist control and a slope starting control. An electromagnetic pressure control valve for generating a control differential pressure is connected between a master cylinder and wheel cylinders, and the control differential pressure is set to an assist increase pressure under the brake assist control. A brake fluid supply device such as a motor-driven pump is operated in the brake pressure control device to supply brake fluid between the electromagnetic pressure control valve and each of the wheel cylinders. The fluid pressure applied to the wheel cylinders is increased by the assist increase pressure than the fluid pressure delivered from the master cylinder, so that a large brake force is applied to road wheels. On the other hand, the brake fluid supply device is also operated under the brake assist control.