A novel thermopile having high sensitivity and reliability at the time of measuring a flow rate of gas in a thermopile sensor is provided. A thermopile sensor includes a thermopile in which pairings of PolySi and a metal film are connected in series on an insulating film, the metal film is connected so as to overlap on the PolySi in each pair, the metal film crosses a gap between the PolySi and the PolySi in a connection portion between pairings, and a gap between the PolySis in a portion where the metal film crosses is wider than a gap between the PolySis in the remaining portion.

A thermal flow sensor chip has a heater part, and a pair of thermopiles provided so as to be opposite each other across the heater part. The heater part is famed by doping silicon with an impurity that reduces the electrical resistance. In each of the thermopiles: a silicon region is formed by doping silicon with an impurity that reduces the electrical resistance; the concentration of the impurity in a heater main part, including the lengthwise center of the heater part extending in the first direction, is lower than the concentration of the impurity in a heater outer peripheral part, the heater outer peripheral part being different from the heater main part and including a lengthwise end part of the heater part; and the concentration of the impurity in the heater main part is the same as the concentration of the impurity in at least part of the silicon region of the thermopile.

An anemometer and method for analyzing fluid flow is described. In one embodiment, a transistor sensor is heated by applying power to cause its base-emitter junction to rise from an ambient first temperature to a second temperature. The power is removed, and the Vbe is measured at intervals as the junction cools. The Vbe equates to a temperature of the junction. The temperature exponentially decreases, and the time constant of the decay corresponds to the fluid flow velocity. A best fit curve analysis is performed on the temperature decay curve, and the time constant of the exponential decay is derived by a data processor. A transfer function correlates the time constant to the fluid flow velocity. The transistor is thermally coupled to a metal rod heat sink extending from the package, and the characteristics of the rod are controlled to adjust the performance of the anemometer.

An anemometer and method for analyzing fluid flow is described. In one embodiment, a transistor sensor is heated by applying power to cause its base-emitter junction to rise from an ambient first temperature to a second temperature. The power is removed, and the Vbe is measured at intervals as the junction cools. The Vbe equates to a temperature of the junction. The temperature exponentially decreases, and the time constant of the decay corresponds to the fluid flow velocity. A best fit curve analysis is performed on the temperature decay curve, and the time constant of the exponential decay is derived by a data processor. A transfer function correlates the time constant to the fluid flow velocity. The transistor is thermally coupled to a metal rod heat sink extending from the package, and the characteristics of the rod are controlled to adjust the performance of the anemometer.

A control circuit for a sensor provided in a long member which can be inserted into a lumen to measure the flow velocity of a fluid in the lumen and a measurement device. The control circuit includes a drive circuit supplying a drive current to the sensor. A leakage current detection circuit detects a leakage current and performs an output corresponding to the detected leakage current. The leakage current detection circuit outputs a detection signal in response to detection of a leakage current exceeding a threshold value. A stop circuit stopping supply of the drive current to the sensor by the detection signal is further provided.

A control circuit for a sensor provided in a long member which can be inserted into a lumen to measure the flow velocity of a fluid in the lumen and a measurement device. The control circuit includes a drive circuit supplying a drive current to the sensor. A leakage current detection circuit detects a leakage current and performs an output corresponding to the detected leakage current. The leakage current detection circuit outputs a detection signal in response to detection of a leakage current exceeding a threshold value. A stop circuit stopping supply of the drive current to the sensor by the detection signal is further provided.

Systems, methods, and computer program products for identifying hostile fire. A characteristic of a fired projectile is detected using an optical system and the projectile's travel path in relation to a vehicle is determined. If the determined travel path of the projectile is within a predetermined distance from the vehicle, it is determined that the projectile is hostile towards the vehicle and a warning is output.

Systems, methods, and computer program products for identifying hostile fire. A characteristic of a fired projectile is detected using an optical system and the projectile's travel path in relation to a vehicle is determined. If the determined travel path of the projectile is within a predetermined distance from the vehicle, it is determined that the projectile is hostile towards the vehicle and a warning is output.

A sensor includes a heater, a thermal insulator between two thermometer layers, the heater generating a thermal gradient within the thermal insulator. The thermometers give an indirect measurement of fluid flow around the sensor, based on their temperature readings. The thermometers are flexible layers including gels.

A sensor includes a heater, a thermal insulator between two thermometer layers, the heater generating a thermal gradient within the thermal insulator. The thermometers give an indirect measurement of fluid flow around the sensor, based on their temperature readings. The thermometers are flexible layers including gels.