The flow rate measuring apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is a flow rate measuring apparatus that intermittently measures the flow rate of a fluid, comprising a heating unit for heating the fluid; a control unit that controls a drive voltage for driving the heating unit, or the interval at which the drive voltage is applied, to the desired value; a temperature sensing unit that senses information about the temperature of the heated fluid; and a flow rate measurement unit that measures the flow rate of the fluid on the basis of the sensing signal outputted from the temperature sensing unit, wherein, in intermittently measuring the flow rate, the control unit varies the heating amount of the heating unit in each measurement by varying the interval at which the drive voltage is applied.

With respect to a vehicle mass air-flow sensor that includes a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of a sensor element of the mass air-flow sensor, a method for controlling a heating element for heating the sensor element of a mass air-flow sensor includes identifying a dew formation on the sensor element by evaluating a temperature profile that is recorded during an operation of the vehicle using the temperature sensor, and generating a switch-on signal for switching on the heating element in response to the identification of the dew formation.

With respect to a vehicle mass air-flow sensor that includes a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of a sensor element of the mass air-flow sensor, a method for controlling a heating element for heating the sensor element of a mass air-flow sensor includes identifying a dew formation on the sensor element by evaluating a temperature profile that is recorded during an operation of the vehicle using the temperature sensor, and generating a switch-on signal for switching on the heating element in response to the identification of the dew formation.

A thermal sensor device capable of maintaining measurement accuracy for a long period by suppressing plastic deformation due to thermal expansion of the heat generating resistor and reducing resistance change of the heat generating resistor, includes: a substrate having an opening; and a diaphragm having a structure in which a lower film, a heat generating resistor, and an upper film are stacked so as to bridge the opening, in which a film thickness of the lower film is larger than a film thickness of the upper film, an average thermal expansion coefficient of the lower film is larger than an average thermal expansion coefficient of the upper film, the lower film includes a plurality of films having different thermal expansion coefficients, and a film having a largest thermal expansion coefficient among the plurality of films is formed below a thickness center of the lower film.

A thermal flow sensor is provide for beverage metering using a heater in physical and thermal communication the beverage dispensing conduit. A temperature sensing element is positioned distant from and downstream from said heater along said direction of fluid flow. A computing device controls the heater and the temperature sensing element and computes a cumulative total volume during a metering cycle. The computing of a cumulative total volume during a metering cycle may be adapted or approximated to account for residual changes in temperature of the conduit or thermal sensing element metering cycles. Flow measurement is thereby without direct physical contact with the beverage itself, thereby providing cleanable fluid paths within the beverage conduit that limits or eliminate voids or trapped volumes. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

A thermal flow sensor is provide for beverage metering using a heater in physical and thermal communication the beverage dispensing conduit. A temperature sensing element is positioned distant from and downstream from said heater along said direction of fluid flow. A computing device controls the heater and the temperature sensing element and computes a cumulative total volume during a metering cycle. The computing of a cumulative total volume during a metering cycle may be adapted or approximated to account for residual changes in temperature of the conduit or thermal sensing element metering cycles. Flow measurement is thereby without direct physical contact with the beverage itself, thereby providing cleanable fluid paths within the beverage conduit that limits or eliminate voids or trapped volumes. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

A mass flowmeter employing thermal dispersion technology, and method for determining mass flow of a fluid throughout a range beyond that which possible for a constant ΔT instrument at increasing power, and below that with which a constant power instrument can provide rapid ΔT readings.

A mass flowmeter employing thermal dispersion technology, and method for determining mass flow of a fluid throughout a range beyond that which possible for a constant ΔT instrument at increasing power, and below that with which a constant power instrument can provide rapid ΔT readings.

The flow rate measuring apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is a flow rate measuring apparatus that intermittently measures the flow rate of a fluid, comprising a heating unit for heating the fluid; a control unit that controls a drive voltage for driving the heating unit, or the interval at which the drive voltage is applied, to the desired value; a temperature sensing unit that senses information about the temperature of the heated fluid; and a flow rate measurement unit that measures the flow rate of the fluid on the basis of the sensing signal outputted from the temperature sensing unit, wherein, in intermittently measuring the flow rate, the control unit varies the heating amount of the heating unit in each measurement by varying the interval at which the drive voltage is applied.

A wind speed measuring device includes a constant temperature heat generating device that generates heat at a predetermined set temperature. The constant temperature heat generating device includes a power source, a heat generating element, a switching element, a comparator element, a first negative characteristic thermistor element, and a plurality of resistance elements. The heat generating element and the first negative characteristic thermistor element define a wind speed sensor. The switching element repeats turning on and off to make the heat generating element generate heat at a predetermined set temperature. A pulse voltage is applied from the power source to the heat generating element. A wind speed of a wind contacted with the wind speed sensor is calculated based on a wave form of the applied pulse voltage.