Abstract: Techniques are described for reducing the number of angles needed in structured illumination imaging of biological samples through the use of patterned flowcells, where nanowells of the patterned flowcells are arranged in, e.g., a square array, or an asymmetrical array. Accordingly, the number of images needed to resolve details of the biological samples is reduced. Techniques are also described for combining structured illumination imaging with line scanning using the patterned flowcells.

Abstract: A method of controlling a gas furnace system includes controlling a motor of a draft inducer coupled to a conduit to increase a speed of the motor from a stopped condition in response to a call for heat, and receiving pressure signals output by a pressure transducer responsive to pressure in the conduit. Signals indicating whether a pressure switch responsive to pressure in the conduit is in a first state or a second state are received. A first status of the pressure transducer is determined based on the received pressure signals from the pressure transducer and the signals indicating whether the pressure switch is in the first state or the second state. The method includes continuing to operate the motor when the first status does not indicate that the pressure transducer is unreliable, and stopping the motor when the first status indicates that the pressure transducer is unreliable.

Abstract: The air conditioner includes a thermal image acquirer that acquires a thermal image indicating a temperature distribution inside the air-conditioned space, and a thermal sensation estimator that estimates the thermal sensation of a person in the air-conditioned space based on the thermal image obtained from the thermal image acquirer and a parameter set in the air conditioner, the parameter prescribing at least one of a wind direction, a wind speed, and a wind temperature of wind emitted from the air conditioner.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a non-contact infrared thermometer, which includes at least three infrared sensors, an indicating unit and a microprocessor. The at least three infrared sensors are arranged in serial to receive an infrared ray at a target area. The indicating unit is configured to emit visible light on the target area to indicate a received infrared region. The microprocessor is configured to receive and process the infrared ray measured by the at least three infrared sensors to provide at least three temperature values, thereby determining that the object to be measured is an organism.

Abstract: A power system includes a control circuit, a power conversion circuit, a current detection circuit and a overheat detection circuit. The control circuit is for generating one or more pulse signal. The power conversion circuit is electrically coupled to the control circuit, for generating an output current according to the pulse signal. The current detection circuit is electrically coupled to the power conversion circuit, for generating a sensing current according to the output current. The overheat detection circuit is electrically coupled to the current detection circuit and the control circuit, for generating the correction current according to a temperature of the power conversion circuit. The control circuit adjusts a duty ratio of the pulse signal according to a correction sensing current to adjust the output current, and the correction sensing current is a sum of the value of the sensing current and the correction current.

Abstract: A system for producing articles from glass tube includes a converter having a base with a plurality of processing stations and a turret moveable relative to the base. The turret indexes a plurality of holders for holding the glass tubes successively through the processing stations. The system further includes a thermal imaging system that includes a thermal imager coupled to the turret for movement with the turret. The thermal imaging system may also include a mirror coupled to the thermal imager and positioned to reflect infrared light from one of the plurality of holders to the thermal imager. The thermal imaging system may measure one or more characteristics of the glass tube during the conversion process. Processes for controlling the converter using the thermal imaging system to measure one or more process variables are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hoseless sensor system for a refrigerant unit includes a plurality of hoseless sensors for sensing system parameters of the refrigerant unit, and a portable electronic device configured to receive the system parameters from the hoseless sensors and to calculate system conditions for the refrigerant based on the system parameters. The plurality of hoseless sensors includes a hoseless first pressure sensor and a hoseless second pressure sensor, and a hoseless first temperature sensor and a hoseless second temperature sensor. The temperature sensors may be temperature sensor clamps. Each temperature sensor clamp includes a clamping portion configured to clamp on a tube of the refrigerant unit, the clamping portion including a sensor element to measure temperature about the tube. The clamping portion further includes a plurality of clamping teeth, and adjacent clamping teeth interlock in an overlapping configuration when the clamp closes inward beyond a threshold point.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for determining the combustive behavior of a specimen. The apparatus comprises a housing, a burner disposed within the housing, a specimen holder for holding a specimen disposed within the housing such that, the specimen is exposed to the flame for a predetermined time. During and upon the completion of the predetermined time, the apparatus is configured to determine the combustive properties of the specimen including the ignition time, glowing time, fire endurance time, length, width and area of the burnt surface, mass loss rate incurred by the specimen from the combustion and amount of heat and smoke released from the combustion.

Abstract: An air conditioning device is provided. The air conditioning device includes: a sensor configured to sense a driving state of the air conditioning device and ambient air information of the air conditioning device; a processor configured to calculate temperature and humidity information of discharged air on the basis of the information sensed by the sensor, and calculate an amount of dehumidification on the basis of the calculated temperature and humidity information; and a display configured to provide the calculated amount of dehumidification.

Abstract: A resettable sensor assembly includes a body having a axis and defining a cavity therein. The body includes a first plurality of threads disposed about the axis. The assembly includes a housing mated to the body and including at least one electrical contact. The assembly further includes a plate. The assembly also includes an actuator element configured for translating the plate along the axis between a first position in which the plate contacts the at least one electrical contact and a second position in which the plate is spaced apart from the at least one electrical contact. The element is formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to a thermal activation signal to thereby translate the plate between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A power feeding device includes a cover, a primary coil covered with the cover, and a plurality of temperature-sensitive detectors provided in the cover, which detect the temperature of an object on the cover. When the distance between adjacent temperature-sensitive detectors is denoted by W [m], the temperature of the object to be subjected to thermometry by the temperature-sensitive detectors is denoted by T0 [K], the temperature to be detected by the temperature-sensitive detectors is denoted by T1 [K], and the thermal conductivity of the cover is denoted by ? [W/(m·K)], W satisfies the following equation W ? 25 × 10 - 3 - 17.2 × ? ln ? ( 20 T 0 - T 1 ) × 10 - 3 . ( 1 ) This allows the power feeding device to accurately detect the temperature of the object on the cover.

Abstract: A temperature emulator may include a stack assembly having a pair of end plates positioned at an uppermost and lowermost location of the stack assembly, a plurality of heat sink plates disposed between the pair of end plates, each of the heat sink plates having a plurality of heat sink cutouts, a plurality of shim plates separating adjacent pairs of the end plates and the heat sink plates, each of the shim plates having a shim cutout, an open cavity formed by a plurality of adjacent heat sink cutouts and shim cutouts, thermal insulation disposed within the cavity, and at least one temperature sensor coupled to at least one of the plurality of heat sink plates.

Abstract: The present invention includes a temperature probe and use thereof. The temperature probe is configured to obtain a temperature of a blow molding preform, especially a temperature of an inside surface of the blow molding preform. In this manner, effectiveness of heating the preform can be evaluated, the presence of one or more temperature gradients ascertained, and the blow molding process can be optimized for a given preform.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the temperature of small volumes such as yoctoliter volumes, are described. The systems include one or more plasmonic nanostructures attached at or near a nanopore. Upon excitation of the plasmonic nanostructures, such as for example by exposure to laser light, the nanoparticles are rapidly heated thereby causing a change in the ionic conductance along the nanopore. The temperature change is determined from the ionic conductance. These temperature changes can be used to control rapid thermodynamic changes in molecular analytes as they interact with the nanopore.

Abstract: The inventive concept relates to a thermal conductivity measuring device and a method of measuring the thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity measuring device may include a first structure which is connected to one side end of a sample and receives heat from a heat source; a second structure connected to the other side end of the sample; a first stage connected to the first structure while supporting the first structure; a second stage connected to the second structure while supporting the second structure; a connection unit connected between the first stage and the second stage; and a measuring unit measuring temperatures of the first and second structures and the first and second stages. Since the thermal conductivity measuring of the inventive concept correct a temperature change of a stage due to heat transmission emitted from the stage considering a measurement environment, reliability of measurement may be improved.

Abstract: The inventive concept relates to a thermal conductivity measuring device. The thermal conductivity measuring device may include a first structure which is connected to one side end of a sample and receives heat from a heat source; a second structure connected to the other side end of the sample; a first stage connected to the first structure while supporting the first structure; a second stage connected to the second structure while supporting the second structure; a connection unit connected between the first stage and the second stage; and a measuring unit measuring temperatures of the first and second structures and the first and second stages. Since the thermal conductivity measuring of the inventive concept correct a temperature change of a stage due to heat transmission emitted from the stage considering a measurement environment, reliability of measurement may be improved.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a flexing arrangement with a wide range of applications. The arrangement has at least one leaf spring structure having a plurality of reusable leaf springs connected together. At least one of the leaf springs is made of essentially of an alloy of nickel and titanium, and the alloy has a nickel content of substantially 50.1-55 at % and a titanium content of substantially 45-49.9 at %.

Abstract: Temperatures in microelectronic integrated circuit packages and components may be measured in situ using carbon nanotube networks. An array of carbon nanotubes strung between upstanding structures may be used to measure local temperature. Because of the carbon nanotubes, a highly accurate temperature measurement may be achieved. In some cases, the carbon nanotubes and the upstanding structures may be secured to a substrate that is subsequently attached to a microelectronic package.

Abstract: A component in a processing chamber of a substrate processing apparatus, where a temperature may be accurately measured by using a temperature measuring apparatus using an interference of a low-coherence light, even when a front surface and a rear surface are not parallel due to abrasion, or the like. A focus ring used in a vacuum atmosphere and of which a temperature is measured includes an abrasive surface exposed to an abrasive atmosphere according to plasma, a nonabrasive surface not exposed to the abrasive atmosphere, a thin-walled portion including a top surface and a bottom surface that are parallel to each other, and a coating member coating the top surface of the thin-walled portion, wherein a mirror-like finishing is performed on each of the top and bottom surfaces of the thin-walled portion.

Abstract: A method for monitoring at least two temperature sensors of a turbomachine that is aligned along a reference plane, the two temperature sensors being located in the same transverse plane of the turbomachine, the method including detecting the stoppage of the turbomachine; waiting for a period at least equal to a predetermined threshold period; measuring the temperature with each of the two temperature sensors; comparing the two temperatures measured.

Abstract: A method of sorting mined material, such as mined ore, is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of mined material to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation and heating particles depending on the minerals present in the particles and then thermally analyzing particles exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation to detect temperature differences between particles which indicate differences in the minerals in the particles. The method also comprises sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis.

Abstract: An electronic device that determines an external temperature is described. During operation, the electronic device uses a sensor mechanism (such as an integrated temperature sensor) to determine an internal temperature of the electronic device. Then, a thermoelectric device (which may be based on the Peltier effect and/or the Seeback effect) determines the relative temperature difference between the internal temperature and the external temperature. Next, the external temperature may be determined based on the internal temperature and the temperature difference. For example, the external temperature may be determined relative to a threshold value. Furthermore, an electrical signal (such as a voltage or a current) output by the thermoelectric device may be used to recharge a battery and, more generally, a power source in the electronic device.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be programmed to monitor a current delta T of an HVAC system and to determine a performance level of the HVAC system based, at least in part, on one or more delta T limits stored in the memory of the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller may be further programmed to display or provide a user alert if the performance level falls outside of a normal operating range for the HVAC system.

Abstract: The specification discloses brewing apparatus and a method for testing for end of fermentation of a fermenting brew. It has been determined that, once fermentation is complete, the temperature of a brew (such as beer) shows a tendency to stratify in horizontal layers. However, the activity of fermentation disrupts the tendency of the brew to stratify. Accordingly, the brewing apparatus comprises at least two temperature sensors positioned to measure a temperature difference between the temperature at a first height of the brew and the temperature at a second height of the brew. End of fermentation is identified if the temperature difference is greater than a threshold difference.

Abstract: The invention relates to a zero heat flux temperature sensing device (100) for sensing a core body temperature of an object (113). The zero heat flux temperature sensing device (100) comprises a layer (107), a first temperature gradient sensor (105), a first heat flux modulator (103) and a heat flux modulator controller (102). The layer (107) has an opposing first side (112) and second side (108). In use the first side (112) is nearest to the object (113). The layer (107) is for obtaining a first temperature difference over the layer (107) in response to a first heat flux in a first direction from the first side (112) to the second side (108). The first temperature gradient sensor (105) senses at the first side (112) of the layer (107) a second temperature difference in a second direction. The second direction extends from a first border of the first side (112) towards a second border of the first side (112).

Abstract: A diverse and redundant resistance temperature detector (“D&R RTD”) is provided. The D&R RTD is utilized in obtaining temperature readings in environments, such as fluids and gasses, by measuring electrical characteristics of the D&R RTD that are influenced by the temperature. Furthermore, the D&R RTD's are arranged such that a plurality of measurements can be obtained, which provides sufficient diversity and redundancy of the measurements for enhanced diagnostics to be performed, such as optimization for fast dynamic response, calibration stability, in-situ response time testability, and in-situ calibration testability.

Abstract: A calibration apparatus for temperature probes comprising an elongate calibration chamber (1) with an opening (2) for receiving an insert (3) that has passages (4) for receiving temperature probes (6), and wherein the chamber (1) has several heat energy elements (-11) that are controlled by temperature probes (12-14). In the insert as such one or more external probes (7) are provided, each of which has one or more temperature sensors to the effect that at least two sensors (19, 20 or 15, 17) are provided at respective dissimilar distances to an end of the insert (3). The latter sensors are connected to electronic regulation (20, 23) and measurement units (21, 24) for regulating the supply of power to the heat energy elements.

Abstract: A portable temperature sensing probe having a plurality of thermocouples is inserted into a tank mounted on a truck or other receptacle at the time of loading a hot liquid, e.g., molten sulfur. The probe and at least a portion of the associated wiring or leads are attached to the loading pipe and/or discharge nozzle, and the probe is inserted into the interior of the tank before the molten sulfur is discharged. The signals from the plurality of thermocouples are amplified and the corresponding temperature information is transmitted to a display and control device. Due to the significant differential between the temperature of the rising molten sulfur and the vapors in the tank overhead space, the signals generated indicate which of the thermocouple are in contact with molten sulfur or the vapor zone. The generated signals adjust the shut-off valve that controls the flow of molten sulfur into the tank.

Abstract: A method of measuring local temperature variations at an interface between hot combustion gases in a turbine hot gas path and cooler purge air in a turbine rotor wheelspace includes applying a pressure- or temperature-sensitive paint to a rotatable turbine component where the hot combustion gas interacts with the purge air; locating at least one illumination device and at least one image-detecting device on a stationary component located proximate to the pressure sensitive paint; and, during operation of the turbine, imaging color changes in the pressure sensitive paint caused by local variations in partial pressure of oxygen which changes with temperature.

Abstract: A clutch unit (47) comprises a wet friction clutch for controllable transmission of a torque from an input element (41) to an output element (45), housing that contains the friction clutch and oil for cooling the friction clutch, and an actuator (51) for actuating the friction clutch. The actuator is attached to the housing in a thermally conductive way and has a temperature sensor (108) for sensing a temperature of the actuator. In order to computationally determine the oil temperature (TÖl) in the clutch unit (47), a thermal input power to the clutch unit is determined as a function of at least a speed of the input element and/or of the output element. The difference between the thermal input power and the thermal output power is determined, and the oil temperature is determined as a function of the difference that was determined.

Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus includes: a furnace body including a heating part; a processing vessel wherein a space having a plurality of regions is formed between the furnace body and the processing vessel; an in-furnace temperature sensor disposed corresponding to each of the plurality of regions in the space; an in-furnace temperature calculating unit configured to calculate an in-furnace temperature based on signals from each of the in-furnace temperature sensors; and a control unit configured to control the heating part based on the in-furnace temperature calculated by the in-furnace temperature calculating unit. The in-furnace temperature sensor disposed in the reference region includes: a first thermocouple formed of an R thermocouple or an S thermocouple; and a second thermocouple formed of a thermocouple other than the R thermocouple or the S thermocouple. The in-furnace temperature sensor disposed in the other region includes the second thermocouple.

Abstract: Techniques for determining one or more heat transfer characteristic values of a structure, such as an electronic device, are disclosed. A heat flux vector magnitude and a temperature gradient vector magnitude for a portion of the structure are determined, and a product of the heat flux vector magnitude with the temperature gradient vector magnitude is obtained. More particularly, the dot product of the heat flux vector magnitude with the temperature gradient vector magnitude may be obtained to provide a bottleneck heat transfer characteristic value. Alternately or additionally, a cross product (or related operation) of the heat flux vector magnitude with the temperature gradient vector magnitude is obtained to produce a shortcut heat transfer characteristic value.

Abstract: An outside air temperature (OAT) diagnostic system includes an ambient temperature monitoring module that receives (i) an OAT signal from an OAT sensor and (ii) an intake air temperature (IAT) signal from an IAT sensor of an engine. The ambient temperature monitoring module compares the OAT signal to an IAT signal and generates a first difference signal. A performance reporting module determines whether the OAT sensor is exhibiting a fault and generates an OAT performance signal based on the first difference signal.

Abstract: A measuring device for a heat exchanger includes a pressure pipe arrangement that is spaced using webs and that has a heating side and an isolation side and that is implemented with at least one heat flow sensor. A heat flow sensor is arranged on the heating side in such a way that at least two temperatures T1 and T2 and the temperature difference thereof can be detected there, and additionally at least one temperature sensor for measuring a temperature T3 is arranged on the isolation side and at a distance to the heat flow sensor.

Abstract: A line is deployed along a landing string or along a marine riser of a subsea well. The line has sensors, such as temperature sensors, distributed along its length. In one embodiment, the line comprises a fiber optic line that includes fiber optic temperature sensors distributed along its length. In another embodiment, the line comprises a fiber optic line used to transmit light, wherein the returned back-scatter light is analyzed to provide a temperature profile along the length of the fiber line. The fiber optic line can be deployed by connecting it to the landing string, pumping it down a pre-existing conduit (such as a hydraulic or chemical injection conduit), or pumping it down a dedicated fiber optic specific conduit.

Abstract: Provided is a temperature measuring device capable of continuously measuring a body temperature without imposing a load on a subject or a measurer. The temperature measuring device includes: a temperature measuring unit (10, 210) to be attached to an object to be measured, including a temperature measuring unit-side temperature sensing element (21, 221) and a first coil (11, 211); and a power supplying unit (30, 230) including a second coil (31, 231), for supplying power to the temperature measuring unit (10, 210), in which the temperature measuring unit (10, 210) and the power supplying unit (30, 230) are formed integrally with each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement for measuring at least one physical magnitude, such as temperature, flow or pressure of the cooling fluid flowing in an individual cooling element cycle (3) of a cooling element (1) in a metallurgical furnace. The arrangement includes a supply header (2) for distributing the cooling fluid and for feeding it to the cooling element cycles (3) of the cooling elements (1), and a collection header (4) for collecting and receiving cooling fluid from the cooling element cycles (3) of the cooling elements (1). The arrangement includes a survey line (5) that is by intermediation of a valve arrangement (6) in fluid connection with at least one cooling element cycle (3), so that the cooling fluid is conducted alternatively through the survey line (5) to the collection header (4) or past the survey line (5) to the collection header (4).

Abstract: Systems for analyzing effects of cargo fire on primary aircraft structure are provided. A particular system includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to access a thermal profile of a suppressed fire in a physical model of a cargo compartment of an aircraft. The instructions are also executable to analyze heat transfer resulting from applying the thermal profile of the suppressed fire to a structure of the aircraft surrounding the cargo compartment to determine a predicted temperature reached by one or more parts of the structure surrounding the cargo compartment as a result of the suppressed fire. The instructions are also executable to generate an output including the predicted temperature reached by the one or more parts of the structure surrounding the cargo compartment.

Abstract: A method of using a temperature sensor to determine the temperature of an object is described. The method comprises bringing the temperature sensor into thermal contact with the object to be measured. The temperature sensor is then used to acquire a plurality of temperature readings, the plurality of temperature readings being acquired prior to the temperature sensor reaching thermal equilibrium with the object. At least some of the plurality of temperature readings are then used to determine a pseudo-stable temperature at which the rate of change of temperature readings with time is less than a predetermined rate. The actual temperature of the object may then be predicted from the pseudo-stable temperature.

Abstract: A device for analyzing a beam profile of a laser beam includes a carrier plate, a plurality of first temperature-sensitive measuring elements, in particular diodes, which are arranged in a preferably matrix-like arrangement on a first side of the carrier plate at a plurality of measuring locations, and a plurality of second temperature-sensitive measuring elements, in particular diodes, which are arranged in another preferably matrix-like arrangement on a second side of the carrier plate. One of the first measuring elements is arranged in each case opposite one of the second measuring elements and is thermally coupled to the first measuring element using strip conductors which extend through the carrier plate. Such a device can be included in a laser processing machine and used in an associated method for analyzing a beam profile of a laser beam.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, an electro-magnetic radiation detector includes a sensor coupled to multiple nanostructures and an electro-magnetic radiation indicating device. The nanostructures are adapted to absorb electro-magnetic energy and generate heat according to the absorbed electro-magnetic energy. The sensor is adapted to measure the heat generated by the plurality of nanostructures and to generate a first signal according to the measured heat. The electro-magnetic radiation indicating device is operable to receive the signal from the sensor and indicate a level of electro-magnetic energy absorbed by the plurality of nanostructures according to the received signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for temperature measurement that includes performing a first ?Vbe measurement of a first temperature of a diode circuit comprising a transistor and, subsequently, performing a first Vbe measurement of a second temperature of the diode circuit. A temperature difference is calculated between the second temperature and the first temperature. If the temperature difference is not greater than a predetermined amount, a second Vbe measurement of a third temperature of the diode circuit is subsequently performed. If the temperature difference is greater than the predetermined amount, a second ?Vbe measurement of the second temperature of the diode circuit is performed.

Abstract: An array element for a temperature sensor array circuit. The array element includes a switch transistor; and a temperature sensor element having an impedance which varies as a function of temperature, the temperature sensor element being connected in parallel with a source and drain of the switch transistor.

Abstract: A method for measuring the temperature at various locations in a furnace adapted to heat-treat a metal part commences by placing one or more devices at various location within the furnace. Each device is an inorganic/metallic skeletal structure residual from firing a mixture of binder and one or more of inorganic or metallic particles at a temperature that chars the binder to form the inorganic/metallic skeletal structure of a determined shape. A physical parameter of the skeletal structure determined shape is monitored after firing of the furnace. Then, the monitored physical parameter is compared to a plot of temperature versus the physical parameter to determine the temperature of the furnace at the various locations.

Abstract: An assembly for sensing temperature in a gas turbine engine includes a first array of RTDs connected in parallel, a second array of RTDs connected in parallel, and a circuit electrically connected to the first and second arrays. The circuit determines an approximate temperature of a medium as a function of resistance of the first and second arrays.

Abstract: Various methods for testing spiral wound modules by thermal imaging are described. In a preferred embodiment, the method(s) includes flowing a gas between a scroll face and permeate collection tube of a spiral wound module and detecting temperature differences on the scroll face. Temperature differentials on the scroll face may be captured as a thermal image. The location(s) of temperature differentials on the scroll face can be correlated to defects in the module. In preferred embodiments, the subject test methods are non-destructive and can be applied to spiral wound modules in either a dry or wet condition.

Abstract: There is provided a lighting apparatus that is capable of accurately measuring the temperature of an optical member that transmits therethrough light emitted from a light source without blocking the optical path of the light.

Abstract: Feature points (41, 42, 43) in the heat image (10) of a casting die (1) are extracted and a predetermined geometrical conversion processing is performed on the heat image (10) such that the feature points are superimposed on the reference feature points (61, 62, 63) set in a reference heat image (30) picked up previously to generate a corrected heat image (20). A difference image (40) is generated by superimposing the corrected heat image (20) and the reference heat image (30) such that the corrected feature points (51, 52, 53) in the corrected heat image (20) is superimposed on the corresponding reference feature points (61, 62, 63). With such an arrangement, a highly reliable difference image can be generated even when the imaging field of vision slips off among a plurality of heat images.

Abstract: An apparatus for distinguishing a liquid reducing agent which judges empty with a higher precision than heretofore is provided. The apparatus for distinguishing a liquid reducing agent is provided with a concentration sensor and a liquid-level sensor in storage tank of liquid reducing agent, and is characterized in that empty is judged by utilizing the liquid-level based on the liquid-level sensor in addition to the concentration based on the concentration sensor (step 3 and step 5). Even if a bubble is adhering to the concentration sensor and an erroneous signal indicative of empty is output although the residual quantity of liquid reducing agent is sufficient, the liquid-level sensor does not output a signal indicative of empty. Consequently, erroneous judgment is prevented and accurate judgment can be made as compared to heretofore.

Abstract: When the driving wind and the cooling wind are generated, based on the phenomenon in which the temperature difference is generated between the front surface and the rear surface of the radiator (14), the temperature difference between the detection value of the rear temperature sensor (22) and the detection value of the front temperature sensor (21) is compared with the abnormality determination value so that it is determined whether the front temperature sensor (21) and the rear temperature sensor (22) are properly fixed on the radiator (14), whereby it is determined whether the abnormality (unauthorized alteration) exists. By setting the abnormality determination value according to the ambient temperature and the vehicle speed, corresponding to a variation in temperature difference between the front surface and the rear surface of the radiator (14), the abnormality determination value is varied to be set at a proper value.