摘要:
An apparatus for diagnosing the characteristic of an acceleration sensor and a method for diagnosis thereof are disclosed. The acceleration sensor includes a movable electrode (or mass part) displaced in accordance with an acceleration and a fixed electrode disposed opposite to the movable electrode. In a diagnosis mode, a signal for diagnosis is applied to the fixed electrode so that an electrostatic force as a force corresponding to a predetermined acceleration is generated between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode. In the case where the acceleration sensor is sound, the movable electrode or mass part is normally displaced. A failure of the acceleration sensor, the deterioration thereof in performance, a change in characteristic thereof caused from the lapse of time, or the like is self-diagnosed by detecting a change in capacitance between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode upon generation of the diagnosis signal. The force corresponding to the predetermined acceleration may be an electromagnetic force or a mechanical oscillation based on a piezoelectric element.
摘要:
A capacitance detector comprises switches for charging and discharging a sensing part, an integrator constituted by a condenser and an operational amplifier for integrating a charging current or a discharging current which is generated according to the charging and discharging the sensing part, a switch for charging an output voltage of the operational amplifier and for feedbacking an electric charge to the integrator, and a condenser. The capacitance detector can be provided by the operational amplifier having a low response performance and a small output current and no hold sample circuit, thereby a circuit scale of the capacitance type sensor can be made small.
摘要:
An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal type flow rate sensor that offers high sensitivity and improved reliability. A sensor element according to the present invention includes a semiconductor substrate, a cavity portion formed on the semiconductor substrate, a heating resistor formed on the cavity portion via an electrically insulating film, a heating temperature sensor for detecting heating temperature of the heating resistor, and a driving circuit for controlling the heating temperature of the heating resistor using the temperature detected by the heating temperature sensor. The heating temperature sensor comprises temperature-sensitive resistors having resistance values varying according to temperature and disposed upstream and downstream of a direction of flow of a fluid to be measured relative to the heating resistor and on upper and lower sides in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow of the fluid to be measured relative to the heating resistor.
摘要:
An intake air temperature sensor capable of detecting an intake air temperature highly accurately and at high speed. The intake air temperature sensor of the present invention includes: a secondary passage 7 taking in an intake airflow; a flow rate detecting element 13 disposed in the secondary passage 7; an intake air temperature detecting element 4 provided outside the secondary passage; a temperature sensor 9 detecting a temperature of a fitting section of the intake air temperature detecting element 4; a circuit board 11 disposed in a casing; and an integrated circuit 10 applying a correction process to an output of the intake air temperature detecting element 4 on the basis of signals output from the temperature sensor 9 and a flow rate detecting element 13.
摘要:
The present invention provides a highly-sensitive thermal-type flow-rate sensor with enhanced reliability. Provided is a thermal-type flow-rate sensor including: a passage into which a measurement-target fluid is introduced; and a sensor element which is provided in the passage and which measures the flow rate of the measurement-target fluid. The sensor element 1 includes: a semiconductor substrate; a hollow portion formed in the semiconductor substrate; and a heating resistor formed on an electric insulating film above the hollow portion. The sensor element measures the flow rate of the measurement-target fluid by radiating heat from the heating resistor to the measurement-target fluid. When Lh is the length of the heating resistor in a direction perpendicular to a flowing direction of the measurement-target fluid and Wd is the shortest distance to an upstream-side edge of the heating resistor from an edge of the hollow portion (an outer peripheral edge of a diaphragm) in the flowing direction of the measurement-target fluid, Wd≧0.4×Lh is satisfied in a relation between Lh and Wd.
摘要:
To reduce power consumption by a thermal flowmeter while good flow-rate detection sensitivity is maintained, it is only necessary to reduce power consumption by a heat resistor under predetermined conditions. Specifically, provided that a width Wh of the heat resistor is between 100 micrometers and 400 micrometers inclusive (100≦Wh≦400), it is only necessary that a relationship among the length Lh of the heat resistor, a temperature increase ΔTh for the heat resistor, and a maximum permissible power Phmax to be supplied to the heat resistor be set so as to satisfy a formula 1.4≦ΔTh·Lh/Ph max≦2.8 in order to maintain good flow-rate detection sensitivity. Accordingly, the length of the heat resistor and the temperature increase in the heat resistor are set so that the maximum power consumption can be reduced within a range in which the formula is satisfied.
摘要:
Conventional thermal flow measurement devices lack consideration for automobiles in severe environments. A detection element of the thermal flow measurement device according to the present invention is structured by the provision of a planar substrate made of a material having good thermal conductivity, such as silicon or ceramic, with a thin-walled portion (diaphragm). On the surface of the thin-walled portion, the detection element comprises a heat element as a heater heated to a temperature being different to a predetermined extent from the temperature of the air flow to be measured, temperature-detecting resistors as temperature-detecting means on both sides of the heat element, wiring portions formed of electrical conductors that draw signal lines from the heat element and the temperature-detecting resistors and that have a melting point of 2000° C. or higher, and pads.
摘要:
In the thermal type flowmeter for measuring the flow rate by a measuring element with an exothermic resistor and a temperature measuring resistor being shaped in the side of the surface of a substrate, a facing wall facing the surface of the measuring element is arranged, cantilever plate parts protruding from the facing wall toward the measuring element side are arranged, a gap is provided between the tip of the cantilever plate parts and the measuring element, and the cantilever plate parts are extended from the upper stream to the down stream of the measuring element.
摘要:
The coupling capacitance of the wiring portions of a thermal type flow rate measuring apparatus is reduced so as to prevent a drop in the response characteristics. A detection element of the thermal type flow rate measuring apparatus includes a planar substrate made of silicon, ceramic, or the like, in which a diaphragm is formed. On the surface of the diaphragm, there are disposed a heat-generating resistor as a heat-generating element that is heated to a predetermined temperature difference from the temperature of air flow to be measured, a heat-generating element temperature-detecting resistor for detecting the temperature of the heat-generating resistor, and temperature-detecting resistors disposed on both sides of the heat-generating resistor. The detection element also includes wiring portions which have connecting terminals electrically connected to the heat-generating resistor and a wiring pattern electrically connected with the surface of the planar substrate.
摘要:
IN a thermal type flow measurement apparatus, a heating element is disposed in a fluid passage and generates heat by a passage of a current through itself. A first thermal sensitive element is disposed adjacent upstream of the heating element in a direction of fluid flow to be measured. A second thermal sensitive element is disposed adjacent downstream of the heating element in the direction of fluid flow to be measured. The fluid passage is provided with the heating element, the first thermal sensitive element, and the second thermal sensitive element. The fluid passage has an asymmetric structure with respect to the direction of fluid flow.Means for measuring a difference of temperatures is sensed by the first and the second thermal sensitive elements to produce a voltage according to a fluid flow rate. Heat control means for controlling the passage of the current through the heating element so that a sum with weights of respective temperatures sensed by the first and the second thermal sensitive elements reaches a preset value.