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Multilayer capacitors, and/or circuit structures are formed from monolithic, sintered, ceramic matrices that have a plurality of dielectric or insulating ceramic strata or layers with intervening open-structured areas therebetween, by injecting into said areas molten metal to form internal electrodes or conductors, a penetrable barrier being provided if desired over the entrances to said areas before such injection.
1. A sintered, unitary ceramic body comprising: a plurality of strata of a dense dielectric or insulating ceramic composition, said strata alternating with open-structured areas substantially parallel with said strata and extending to edges of said body, each of said open-structured areas containing at least some solid material and alternate ones of said open-structured areas extending to different edge regions of said body; and a penetrable barrier over each of said edge regions, said barriers permitting molten metal to be forced by pressure into said areas.
2. A body as set forth in claim 1 in which said areas are in the form of strata of ceramic material having a network of interconnected pores.
3. A body as set forth in claim 1 in which said penetrable barriers are end termination electrodes.
4. A body as set forth in claim 1 in which said penetrable barriers are end termination electrodes. pg,34
5. A sintered, unitary ceramic body comprising: a plurality of strata of a dense dielectric or insulating ceramic composition, said strata alternating with open-structured areas substantially parallel with said strata and extending to edges of said body, alternate ones of said open-structured areas extending to different edge regions of said body; and a penetrable ceramic barrier over each of said edge regions, said barriers permitting molten metal to be forced by pressure into said areas.
6. A body as set forth in claim 5 in which said areas are in the form of strata of ceramic material having a network of interconnected pores.
7. A body as set forth in claim 5 in which said areas are substantially void and planar.
8. A body as set forth in claim 5 in which adjacent ones of said strata have at least one distinct inorganic pillar between them and wherein, when there are a plurality of pillars, substantially all of said pillars are distinct and separated.
This application is in part a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 274,668, filed July 24, 1972 now abandoned, which was in part a continuation of application Ser. No. 134,689, filed Apr. 16, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,679,950.
In the present application and in both the prior applications referred to above, the invention relates to the formation of electrodes and/or conductors in monolithic, sintered, ceramic, dielectric or insulating bodies and is particularly concerned with the provision of such electrodes and/or conductors by a procedure which obviates the necessity of firing them at the same time that the ceramic bodies, with which they are associated, are fired. Examples of products which may be produced in accordance with the invention are monolithic, multilayer, capacitors and multilayer circuit structures such as are used for hybrid integrated circuits.
Ceramic capacitors have been in use for many years and for many purposes have replaced paper, mica, and other types of capacitors because of the relatively high dielectric constant of barium titanate and certain other available ceramic materials. This has permitted the production of high-capacitance, miniaturized bodies; and high-speed pressing procedures have been developed to reduce production costs. However, there has still been a demand for even higher capacities in very small bodies. Multilayer, monolithic, ceramic capacitors have been produced to meet this demand.
While there are many variant processes in use for the production of such monolithic ceramic capacitors, in a typical process a doctor blade is used to cast on a smooth, non-absorbent surface, a thin layer of a suitable ceramic dielectric composition mixed with a solution of an organic binder. After the layer dries, the resultant sheet is cut into small pieces of rectangular shape to which an electroding paste of a noble metal such as platinum or palladium is applied by a silk-screening procedure in such a way that an uncoated margin is left round three sides of the metal coating, but the electroding paste extends to one edge of the small sheet. A plurality of the small sheets with electroding paste thereon are then stacked in such a way that on successive sheets the electroding paste coating extends to opposite edges of the stack. The stack of coated sheets is then consolidated and heated to drive off or decompose the organic binders of the sheets and the electroding paste and to sinter the dielectric composition into a unitary, monolithic body having electrodes alternately exposed on opposite edge faces. Those electrodes exposed at each edge face are then connected together electrically by metallizing the edge faces of the body where the electrodes are exposed. Thus, there is obtained a monolithic capacitor which may have from a few to a great number, 50 or more being common, of very thin (often 0.05 mm or less) ceramic dielectric layers. Such capacitors have very high capacitance densities and thus the use of extremely small units is permitted in many circuits.
It may be seen from the foregoing description that considerable expense is involved in such production of monolithic ceramic capacitors because of the necessity for using noble metal electrodes. Silver electrodes, such as are commonly used with other ceramic capacitors, are generally unsuitable for monolithic capacitors where such electrodes, applied as an electroding paste, are fired at the same time as the ceramic layers since such electrodes are deleteriously affected by such temperatures.
It is, accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention to provide a process by which the cost of monolithic, ceramic capacitors may be reduced by eliminating the use of noble metal electrodes.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a procedure for making ceramic articles having conductive areas therein which does not require the firing of the conductive material at the same time the ceramic article is formed by firing.
It is also an object of the present invention to produce multilayer circuit structures for hybrid integrated circuits in which conductors for attachment of components are provided at various levels in a ceramic substrate or matrix.
The first two of the above-stated objects are achieved, in accordance with the teaching of U.S. Pat. No. 3,679,950, by forming a sintered, monolithic, ceramic body which comprises a plurality of thin strata. The strata are of two types, strata of one type being dense and impervious and being formed of ceramic dielectric material with a relatively high dielectric constant, and strata of the other type being of ceramic material having an open, porous structure characterized by interconnected voids. Strata of one type alternate with strata of the other type through the thickness of the body. This structure can be achieved by introducing between sheets of a powdered, ceramic dielectric composition bonded with a temporary bond, a deposit of a temporarily bonded, powdered, ceramic material that on firing develops the desired open structure, consolidating a plurality of such sheets with intervening deposits, as described, and firing the consolidated mass to sinter it. Such deposits may be formed in situ, for example by screen printing or painting, or may be preformed leaves or films, and are arranged so that alternate ones of such open-structured strata extend to a pair of different edge regions of the sintered body. Since the deposits of the second-mentioned ceramic material, and thus the open-structured strata, are smaller in area then the dense dielectric strata, the other edge regions of the fired body and the interior thereof immediately adjacent the latter-mentioned regions are composed exclusively of the dielectric material. The monolithic ceramic body, after being sintered by firing, is converted to a capacitor by introducing, e.g. injecting, a molten metal into the open-structured strata within the body to form internal electrodes.
The molten metal may be introduced into the open-structured strata and termination electrodes may then be applied in conventional or desired manner on the edge faces of the body having exposed internal electrodes. Alternatively and usually preferably, a penetrable barrier, which may be a termination electrode, can be applied to each edge face having one or more openings for injection of molten metal, prior to introducing such metal into the open-structured strata of said body and the metal can then be forced through said penetrable barriers into the said open-structures strata. If said barriers are not termination electrodes, such electrodes can then be applied after, if necessary or desired, removing all or parts of the barriers. In any event, the present invention provides a simple, relatively inexpensive and efficient method for forming monolithic capacitors having a very high volume capacitance which do not require noble metal internal electrodes and which do not require cofiring of metal and ceramic.
A very similar technique can be employed in producing multilayer circuit structures. For example, thin sheets of a powdered, ceramic, insulating material temporarily bonded with a fugitive, temporary bond are provided, by a suitable procedure such as printing, with a desired pattern of lines, pads, and the like of a ceramic composition (which may be termed a pseudo-conductor) that on firing develops an open structure having interconnected voids as with the above-described bodies. The sheets are then stacked, compacted, and fired to produce monolithic sintered bodies with predetermined open-structured areas, corresponding to the applied patterns of the pseudo-conductor, which are then impregnated with a molten metal to provide conductors in place of the pseudo-conductor.
The term "metal" as used in this specification and the appended claims is employed broadly to include not only pure and substantially pure metals, but also alloys.
FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a finished, monolithic, ceramic capacitor in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the plane of the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a bonded sheet of a ceramic dielectric composition having deposited thereon, in a pattern, a ceramic composition suitable for formation of an open-structured stratum;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of two sheets of a bonded ceramic, dielectric composition, each sheet having an area thereon coated with a ceramic composition suitable for formation of an open-structured stratum;
FIG. 5 is a further enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of a ceramic body according to the present invention after assembly and sintering of a plurality of sheets such as shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged, sectional view of a multilayer ceramic circuit structure according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged, exploded view showing the several ceramic sheets forming the structure shown in FIG. 6 with pseudoconductors thereon;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, enlarged, sectional view similar to FIG. 5 of a ceramic body according to the present invention with a permeable end termination thereon;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view similar to FIG. 5 in which instead of a porous strata the planar areas between the dielectric strata are substantially void;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view similar to FIGS. 5 and 9 in which the dielectric strata have distinct pillars therebetween;
FIG. 11 is a greatly enlarged view of a bonded, composite, ceramic granule suitable for use as a pillar;
FIG. 12 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, plan view of a bonded leaf or sheet of ceramic, dielectric composition having thereon a patterned layer of thermally-fugitive material adapted for use in a modified process according to the invention; and
FIG. 13 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of a sintered ceramic matrix formed from a plurality of leaves such as shown in FIG. 12.
A process for preparing monolithic ceramic capacitors according to the present invention is broadly as follows:
A suitable, finely divided, ceramic, dielectric material is formed into a thin film with the aid of a suitable, fugitive, heat-removable, film-forming agent. After drying, the film is cut into sheets of suitable size. On these sheets is then applied a thin layer, film, or coating, in a desired pattern, of a suitable paste or the like containing a fugitive or heat-removable binder and a powdered ceramic composition which when fired at sintering temperatures will, instead of becoming dense and compact, form an open structure, i.e. a structure, a substantial portion of the volume of which is composed of interconnected voids. A plurality of the thus-coated ceramic sheets is assembled in stacked relation, consolidated into a block, and cut into smaller blocks or chips. The latter are heated to remove the film-forming, temporary binding agents and are then further heated to a high temperature in air to produce small, coherent, sintered bodies with dense, ceramic dielectric strata alternating with open-structured strata. In each of the chips the latter strata extend to an edge face and thus, according to the present invention, may be infiltrated or impregnated with a conductive material such as a metal or alloy. Upon suitable infiltration or impregnation, there is obtained a structure in which there are alternate layers of dielectric material and metal which, when an end or termination electrode is provided on each end to electrically connect the metal layers exposed thereon, forms a monolithic capacitor.
The drawings depict such a structure, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating on an enlarged and exaggerated scale a monolithic capacitor 11 having thin layers 13 of dielectric material with thinner layers 15 of conductive material such as a metal or alloy, interposed between the layers 13. As will be seen in FIG. 1, the layers 15 are so formed that alternate ones extend to the opposite end faces of the capacitor and are there connected together electrically by metallizing the ends in a suitable, known, manner to provide the end or termination electrodes 17 and 19. Where, as shown at 21, there is no intervening conductive material, the dielectric layers 13 are united.
In FIG. 3 there is shown a film or sheet 25 of temporarily bonded dielectric material on which a paste or the like, containing a fugitive binder and a ceramic composition which on firing to sintering temperatures will form an open structure, has been printed in small areas 27 to form a pattern.
In FIG. 4 there are shown, enlarged, two small thin sheets 35 of dielectric material bonded with a fugitive bond, each of the sheets 35 having thereon a layer, film, or coating 37 of a temporarily bonded, ceramic composition that on firing will form a sintered open structure. The sheets 35, which may be formed individually or by appropriate cutting of larger sheets such as the sheet 25 (FIG. 3), are arranged so that when superimposed or stacked the ends of the layers 37 that entend to the edges of the sheets will be at opposite ends of the stack. When a plurality of such sheets are stacked and fired at sintering temperatures a structure like that shown in FIG. 5 is obtained.
In FIG. 5 there is shown, further enlarged, a partial sectional view of a sintered body in accordance with the present invention with alternating dielectric strata 41 and open-structured strata 43, the latter being adapted to receive a conductive material.
FIGS. 6-13, inclusive, will be hereinafter described in connection with the description of the structure involved.
The following five examples set forth details of the production of monolithic, sintered ceramic matrices suitable for forming ceramic capacitors according to the present invention.
An uncalcined ceramic dielectric composition consisting of 93% of barium titanate (BaTiO3) and 7% of bismuth zirconate (Bi2 O3 .sup.. 3ZrO2) is employed. A mix of 100 g of the dielectric composition in finely divided form (approximately 1.5 μm particle size) with 65 ml of toluene, 3 g butyl benzyl phthalate, 10 ml dichlorethane, and 2 ml acetic acid is ball milled for 4 hours. To the ball milled product there is then slowly added with stirring, an additional 20 ml of dichlorethane and 4 g of ethyl cellulose. If necessary to eliminate bubbles, the stirring may be slowly continued for several hours. A film of the mixture approximately 610 mm by 102 mm in area by 0.051 mm thick is formed with a doctor blade on a sheet of smooth plate glass. When the film dries, the sheet thus formed is removed and small rectangular sheets or leaves approximately 102 mm by 51 mm are cut therefrom.
The composition for the open-structured, porous strata is formed from a second ceramic composition consisting of 66.94% barium carbonate (BaCO3), 27.1% titanium dioxide (TiO2), 3.32% bismuth oxide (Bi2 O3), and 2.64% zirconium oxide (ZrO2), all in powdered form, blended in a 1:1 weight ratio with a vehicle of the type known as squeegee media which is composed of 80 ml pine oil, 14 g acrylic resin, and 1.5 g lecithin dispersing agent to which 1.3% (based on the total weight of all other ingredients of the composition) of ethyl cellulose is added to increase the viscosity. The average particle size of the TiO2 in the composition is preferably from about 5 to 10 μm and the particle sizes of the other ceramic ingredients used preferably average from about 1 to 2μm. This composition is screen printed approximately 0.038 mm thick in a recurring pattern, such as shown in FIG. 3, on the small leaves of dielectric composition formed as described above. The printed leaves are then indexed and stacked in groups of 10 so that the printed patterns on alternate leaves are offset. The broken lines 29 in FIG. 3 indicate the placement of the printed pattern on the sheets above and/or below the sheet 25 when the sheets are stacked. The stacked sheets are pressed at about 85� C. and 28 kg/cm2 to form blocks. The blocks are then cut, by suitable means such as knives, to form smaller blocks or chips, the cutting being done along such lines as the broken lines 31 and 32, so that in each of the smaller blocks the alternate strata of screen printed composition are exposed on opposite ends but are not exposed on the sides.
The smaller blocks are then heated quite slowly in air to drive off and/or decompose the temporary binding material in the ceramic layers and are thereafter fired at a high temperature, also in air, to form small, coherent, sintered chips or bodies.
A suitable heating schedule for removal of the temporary binding material is as follows:
______________________________________100� C. - 16 hours 295� C. - 2 hours150� C. - 16 hours 325� C. - 1.5 hours175� C. - 8 hours 355� C. - 1 hour210� C. - 16 hours 385� C. - 1 hour225� C. - 8 hours 420� C. - 0.5 hour250� C. - 16 hours 815� C. - 0.5 hour______________________________________
The temperature is then raised to 1260� C. and maintaind for 2 hours to sinter the chips.
The sintered chips obtained, after cooling, may be provided with a metal or alloy in the porous strata and provided with termination electrodes on their opposite ends to obtain efficient monolithic capacitors.
In the foregoing example the porous, open-structured strata of the monolithic ceramic capacitors are essentially the same chemically as the dense dielectric layers, the porosity of the porous strata being produced as a result of the decreased volume occupied by the ceramic material used after the reaction thereof which occurs during heating. In the following two examples the porous strata are chemically different from the dielectric strata.
A finely divided (approximately 1.5 μm particle size) ceramic dielectric composition consisting of 98% BaTiO3 and 2% niobium oxide (Nb2 O5) is employed. A mix consisting of 480 g of the powdered dielectric composition, 4.8 g of a lecithin dispersing agent, 12.6 g of dibutyl phthalate, and 75 ml of toluene is ball milled for 4 hours. There is then added 156 g of a 40% acrylic resin-- 60% toluene solution. The mixture is slowly stirred for a period of time sufficient to increase the viscosity by evaporation of solvent and to remove entrapped air. It is then cast on a smooth glass plate in a sheet about 610 mm square and allowed to dry. The air-dried cast sheets are about 0.07 mm thick and are cut into smaller sheets or leaves approximately 102 mm by 51 mm.
The composition for the porous strata is formed from a second mixture consisting of barium oxalate (BaC2 O4) and TiO2 in a 1:1 mol ratio. The TiO2, which comprises 26.17% of the mixture, preferably has an average particle size of about 2-5μm. The mixture is blended in A 1:1 weight ratio with the squeegee medium described in Example 1 and screen printed in a predetermined recurring pattern on the small leaves of dielectric material. The printed leaves are then indexed, stacked 15 high, and compacted. The thus formed blocks are cut, as in Example 1, to form a plurality of smaller blocks or chips, in each of which alternate layers of the screened-on composition extend to opposite end faces of the chips, but are otherwise inaccessible.
The chips are heated in accordance with a suitable schedule, which may be the one set forth in Example 1, to eliminate the fugitive binders and are then fired for about 2 hours at about 1325� C. to sinter them. As in Example 1, the strata between the dense dielectric strata have an open structure comprising a network of interconnected pores and, as a result of the relatively greater shrinkage when the barium oxalate and TiO2 react to form BaTiO3, the major portion, by volume, of such strata is void. After cooling, the fired chips may be, as hereinafter described, provided with electrodes in the porous areas or strata formed between the dielectric strata and with termination electrodes by suitable procedure, thereby forming monolithic capacitors.
Even more widely different ceramic materials in the dielectric layers and porous layers respectively, are used in the following example.
A mixture is made of 472.8 g TiO2 (average particle size about 1.5 μm), 7.2 g kaolin, 4.8 g leciithin dispersing agent, 13.6 g dibutyl phthalate, and 75 ml toluene and this mixture is ball milled for 4 hours. It is then mixed with 124.9 g of a 1:1 acrylic resin-toluene solution and, after de-airing, is cast on a smooth glass plate with a doctor blade to a thickness of 0.2 mm to produce on drying a sheet about 0.08 mm thick which is cut into smaller sheets approximately 102 mm by 51 mm.
Using the procedure of Example 2, the smaller sheets are screen printed in a predetermined recurring pattern with a composition formed by mixing 27.58% powdered alumina (Al2 O3) having an average particle size of 2.5 μm, 14.14% carbon black, and 58.27% of the squeegee medium described in Example 1. The printed sheets are then indexed, stacked 10 high, compacted, and cut to form a plurality of blocks or chips in each of which alternate layers of the screened-on composition extend to opposite end faces of the chips, but are otherwise inaccessible.
The chips are heated and then fired in substantially the same way as the chips in Example 1, a final firing for 2 hours at about 1320� C. being employed. As in Example 1, the open-structured strata between the dense, dielectric, TiO2 strata have a network of interconnecting pores. These result from the combustion of the carbon black and the larger particle size of the Al2 O3. The porous strata can be impregnated with a metal, by one of the procedures hereinafter disclosed, and provided with suitably termination electrodes, thereby forming monolithic capacitors.
In the following example another procedure for obtaining bodies with alternate dielectric and open-structured strata is illustrated.
Small sheets or leaves of a resin-bonded dielectric ceramic composition are prepared in the manner set forth in Example 2. A screen printing composition is made by blending 16 g of the squeegee medium described in Example 1 with 12 g BaTiO3 (approximatey 4 μm particle size) and 4 g carbon black, Stoddard solvent being added as necessary to obtain the desired viscosity. This composition is then screened on the leaves in the same manner as in Example 2 and allowed to dry. Blocks and smaller cut blocks or chips are formed from the printed leaves in the same way as in Example 2 and the chips are heated and fired, also in the same way. In the course of the firing the carbon black burns out leaving an open-structure comprising a network of interconnected pores in the areas between the dense dielectric strata. The use of the relatively coarse BaTiO3 in the printing composition increases the porosity. These porous areas can be filled with a metal in one of the ways described and provided with end elecrodes to form monolithic capacitors.
Still another way of forming monolithic ceramic capacitors according to the principles of the present invention is illustrated in the following example.
A sheet about 0.08 mm thick of a ceramic dielectric material such as the one produced in Example 2 is cut into smaller sheets or leaves approximately 20 mm by 20 mm. Another sheet of slightly less thickness, for providing porous strata, is formed by casting a composition formed from 351 g BaTiO.sub. 3, 7 g Nb2 O5, and 115 g carbon black, these ingredients being ball milled for several hours with toluene and dibutyl phthalate and then, after admixture with a 1:1 acrylic resin-toluene solution, de-aired before casting. The second sheet is cut into leaves approximately 13 mm by 16 mm. The leaves of dielectric material and of the other ceramic material are then stacked 11 high. The second-mentioned leaves are alternated with the leaves of dielectric material and have their long side edges aligned and equally spaced from the edges of the larger leaves. Alternate leaves of the second composition are laid in place so that the ends thereof extend to opposite edges of the dielectric material leaves. The stack is then consolidated by pressing at about 7 kg/cm2 and a temperature of about 40� C. and the consolidated block is heated to burn out the temporary binders and the carbon black and to sinter the ceramic materials into a structure in which open-structured, porous, ceramic strata alternate with dense, ceramic, dielectric strata. A heating schedule like that specified in Example 1 is used, the final heating, however, being at 1370� C. for 2 hours firing being in the air. The fired block may be impregnated with a metal in the porous strata, thereby forming internal electrodes, by any of the procedures described hereinafter. Suitable termination electrodes can also be provided.
Although in Examples 1- 2, the dielectric materials used are modified barium titanate compositions, it will be clear that others of the large number of ceramic dielectric compositions known may also be used. For example, TiO2 (note Example 3), glass, steatite, and barius strontium niobate, as well as barium titanate alone can be used, suitable changes well known in the art being made as required in firing conditions and the like to achieve proper sintering. Obviously, the capacitance of the resulting capacitors will vary as a result of using materials with higher or lower dielectric constants.
It will also be understood that the composition of the open-structured strata in ceramic chips according to the invention may vary widely. Not only may the open-structure be achieved by use of a composition which is identical with or similar to the composition of the dielectric strata, although having a greater shrinkage on firing, but also the composition may be quite different, as for example, in Example 3. An open-structure may also be produced or the void volume of such structure be increased by other means, for example by employing a combustible material in the mix as illustrated in Examples 3 and 5. It is important, however, to employ materials which, at the temperatues reached during heating and sintering, do not deleteriously affect the dielectric properties of the dielectric composition used by reacting therewith. Those skilled in the art are familiar with the effects of various materials and can readily make proper choices thereof. It should be mentioned here that, e.g. by choice of one or more of the several means discussed above, the open-structured areas of ceramic chips can be varied not only in toto, but that different areas and portions of areas may be more or less porous than others. This enables the production of chips in which the portions of the porous strata adjacent the exposed end faces thereof are less porous or have finer pores than the portions lying nearer the center of the chips.
Further, it will be understood that there are available commercially many media or vehicles which can be used for forming films and/or making screen printing compositions from fine particles according to the present invention and that many more such vehicles are known to those skilled in the art. Essentially, the purpose of such a medium or vehicle is to suspend the particles and provide a temporary or fugitive bond therefor during formation of leaves and/or layers and the consolidation of a plurality thereof into green bodies prior to sintering. In the sintered bodies the temporary or fugitive bond, as well as any combustible particulate material used, has disappeared. Accordingly, the medium or vehicle used is a matter of choice or convenience and in most instances any change in the composition bonded thereby will require some change or modification, e.g. adjustment of viscosity, in any medium or vehicle employed.
Firing of small ceramic units or chips to sinter them into unitary bodies is preferably carried out in a kiln. An electrically heated tunnel kiln or furnace is preferred but other kilns or other heating means may be employed. Ordinarily an oxidizing atmosphere is used but, when convenient, other atmospheres can be employed. The temperature, atmosphere, and the time of firing will depend on the ceramic compositions employed. Those skilled in the art are familiar with such details, as pointed out above, and with the fact that in general the sintering time necessary varies inversely with the temperature and vice versa. As indicated above a prolonged period of heating at relatively low temperatues is preferred for removal of the temporary bonds used in the leaves and printed areas and any burn-out particles employed. If too rapid heating is employed, expansion of gases formed in the decomposition or burning of these materials may rupture the chips.
In FIG. 6 there is illustrated a typical ceramic multilayer circuit structure 50 such as is used for hybrid integrated circuits. The structure 50 has a ceramic matrix 52 and a plurality of conductors 54 extending into and through the matrix. The thickness of both conductors and matrix is exaggerated in FIG. 6 for convenience in viewing. Hitherto, such structures have been expensive to produce and normally would be made by screen printing a metallic paste containing a noble metal such as palladium or platinum in the desired conductor patterns on sheets of desired thickness of a temporary bonded, electrically insulating, ceramic material such as alumina powder, consolidating the several sheets, and sintering the alumina sheets into a unitary body.
As mentioned above, such ceramic multilayer circuit structures may also be produced by techniques essentially similar to the processes disclosed above for producing monolithic capacitors. The necessity for using expensive noble metals as conductors is thus avoided since firing of metal and sintering the ceramic concurrently is not necessary. One method for producing such a structure as that shown in FIG. 6 by the technique of the present invention will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 7.
The sheets or films A, B, and C shown in FIG. 7 are formed in the desired size, shape, and thickness by casting, molding, or the like, a desired electrical insulating, ceramic composition, for example, finely divided alumina, using a resin, ethyl cellulose, or the like as a temporary bond therefor. Pseudoconductors following the paths of the desired conductors in and/or on the structure as shown at 60 are then screen printed on the sheets or films using, for example, a ceramic material in a suitable vehicle or squeegee medium, the ceramic material being one, e.g. coarser alumina powder, which upon firing to sintering temperature will develop an open structure. The sheets are assembled, consolidated, and heated to sinter them into a unitary body, all in the same manner as described above in connection with the production of monolithic capacitors. As with the latter, the unitary or monolithic body produced by heating comprises a dense matrix of the ceramic insulating composition having therein open-structured areas of ceramic material, which may be the same or different in composition, a substantial portion of the volume of such areas comprising interconnected voids. Each of said areas extends to at least one region on an outer face, e.g. an edge face, of said body.
Conductors in and through said bodies may be formed by introducing into the open-structured areas a suitable conductive metal in accordance with one of the procedures described below. After such impregnation, leads may be attached, by suitable known means, to exposed conductors where desired and small components such as transistors, diodes, etc., may be soldered at predetermined points, leads therefrom extending if desired, to underlying conductors 54 through holes 62 provided originally in one or more of the ceramic sheets. If desired, one or more of the holes 62 may be filled with the material employed to form the pseudoconductors when such material is applied to the faces of the sheets.
Although other procedures may be employed, a convenient and efficient way to provide conductive metal in the open-structured areas of small, sintered, ceramic bodies or chips or ceramic, multilayer, circuit structures produced as described above is to inject the metal therein. Typical infiltration or injection procedures are set forth in the following examples.
A plurality of sintered chips made in accordance with Example 1 are placed in a bath of a molten metal alloy consisting of 50% Bi, 25% Pb, 12.5% Sn and 12.5% Cd. The molten metal is held at a temperature from about 100� C. to about 125� C. in a suitable closed vessel. After introduction of the chips, the pressure in the vessel is reduced to evacuate the open-structured strata of the chips and the pressure is then raised to about 14 kg/cm2 to force the molten metal into the interconnecting pores of such strata. The chips after removal from the bath contain electrodes formed by deposit of the alloy in the open-structured strata between the dense dielectric strata and, after the provision of termination electrodes in any desired manner, are satisfactory monolithic capacitors.
It will be understood that other molten metals can be used for impregnation of the open-structured areas or strata of ceramic chips of the types described above or of multilayer circuit structures as above described. For example, there may conveniently be used instead of the alloy specified in Example 6) the metals lead, aluminum, copper, zinc, tin and cadmium and alloys containing one or more of these metals. Other metals are also usable but because of their higher cost, higher resistivity, greater ease of oxidation and/or high melting points, they are not as desirable for forming electrodes. Examples of the many other alloys that can be conveniently used are: Pb 25%, Sn 10%, Bi 63%, In 2%; Al 4%, Cu 1%, balance Zn; Cu 28%, Ag 72%, and various brasses and bronzes. As with the relatively pure metals, however, the cost, resistivity, ease of oxidation, and melting point of an alloy affect greatly its desirability for carrying out the present invention.
In general, it has been found desirable to employ as internal electrodes or conductors, metals which do not easily wet the ceramic chips and/or circuit boards into which they are injected. By avoiding combinations in which the ceramic is readily wet by the metal, it is possible to prevent or minimize undesirable surface deposits of the metal which would require removal to preclude possible shorting.
In the conventional manufacture of monolithic capacitors, there is no problem in providing a termination electrode on each end of the capacitor units to electrically connect the exposed internal metal electrodes thereon since the metal electroding pastes commonly employed for this purpose do not require heating to a temperature higher than the melting point of the internal electrodes. The same is true of monolithic capacitors produced by deposition of metal in open-structured strata of fired ceramic chips by any of the procedures described in the said copending application when the melting point of the metal so deposited is higher than the temperature required to supply the termination electrodes. When, however, as may occur in carrying out the present process, the metal deposited in the open-structured areas or strata of ceramic chips or circuit boards is liquid at a temperature equal to or lower than the temperature employed in applying the termination electrodes, the provision of the latter may present problems.
In the manufacture of monolithic capacitors by the process of the present invention, it has been found useful in many cases to provide penetrable barriers at the ends of the ceramic chips before injecting molten metal into the open-structured strata of the chips. Such barriers should be easily provided, should be of material having a melting point higher than the temperature at which the metal internal electrodes are injected, and should be resistant to attack or dissolution in the bath of molten metal used for the internal electrodes. They allow evacuation of air from the open-structured areas of strata of fired ceramic chips such as those produced in accordance with any of Examples 1-5 and the injection therein of molten metal to form interior electrodes. They also serve to restrict flow from such areas or strata when the pressure in the vessel is released. Similar results are obtained by the use of such barriers on the desired faces of multilayer circuit structures according to the invention.
Suitable penetrable barriers can be formed in several ways. For example, when low-melting metals are used for infiltration of the unitary ceramic bodies, a coating of a commercial palladium-silver or palladium-gold electroding paste can be applied to the surfaces of sintered chips at which porous strata are exposed and fired in the conventional manner. The coherent end electrode thus formed is penetrable to the molten metal.
When higher temperatures are required for infiltration of metal into the porous areas or strata of ceramic bodies, it has been found feasible to apply over such areas or strata on faces of the bodies a coating of a ceramic material which is fired to form a penetrable, porous, ceramic barrier. The ceramic material may be applied to the green ceramic chips and fired at the same time as the latter or may be applied to the already sintered chips and then fired.
The use of an end or termination electrode as a penetrable barrier is described in the following example:
Porous end termination electrodes are applied to a plurality of sintered ceramic chips substantially like those produced in accordance with Example 1 by coating the end faces (i.e. the faces on which the porous strata are exposed) of the chips with a commercial palladium-silver electroding paste (DuPont No. 8198) and firing the thus-coated chips at about 880� C. the firing cycle being about 1 hour.
Using apparatus similar to that used in Example 6, the chips are placed in a heated pressure vessel above a bath of molten tin held at about 315� C. The vessel is closed and through a suitable connection the interior of the vessel is evacuated to a pressure of about 60 mm of mercury to remove air from the porous strata of the chips. The chips, which have now been sufficiently heated so that no substantial thermal shock will result, are then lowered into the tin bath and the pressure in the vessel is raised, by supplying a compressed gas, such as nitrogen, thereto, to about 17.5 kg/cm2. The chips are then removed from the melt and, after cooling in the vessel to below the melting point of tin, the gas pressure in the vessel is released and the chips are withdrawn from the vessel, adhering tin being removed if necessary. Microscopic inspection of broken chips reveals that tin has been forced into the porous strata thereof and the impregnated chips are very satisfactory monolithic capacitors.
As indicated above, the penetrable barriers employed in injecting or impregnating open-structured areas need not be electrically conductive, termination electrodes. The following three examples illustrate this.
Unfired ceramic blocks or chips such as ones prepared in accordance with Example 4 are employed. The end faces of a plurality of the chips, i.e. the surfaces at which the alternate layers of screened-on composition are exposed, are coated, conveniently by painting, with the same screen printing composition as is applied to the leaves of the resin-bonded, dielectric, ceramic composition. The coated chips are then subjected to heating in air to eliminate the combustible materials and fired in air at about 1325� C. to sinter the ceramic. The resulting fired ceramic chips have alternate dielectric strata and open-structured strata and end barriers which are permeable to molten metal.
The fired chips are impregnated with molten tin in the manner described in Example 7. After removal of the metal-impregnated chips from the pressure vessel and cooling, the ceramic barriers and any undesired metal adhering to the surfaces of the chips are removed, for example, by sandblasting, and electrically conducting termination electrodes are applied in accordance with any desired procedure. The resultant monolithic capacitors are very satisfactory.
Unfired ceramic blocks or chips such as ones produced in accordance with Example 5 are used. In procedure similar to that in Example 8, the end faces of a plurality of the chips are coated, by painting or dipping, with the liquid composition used in Example 5 for casting the sheets employed in forming the porous strata in the chips. The coated chips are then heated in air to burn out the combustible materials and sintered in the manner described in Example 5 to obtain small ceramic bodies with porous strata that can be injected with metal through the porous, open-structured, ceramic barriers formed during sintering.
The fired chips are impregnated with a molten metal alloy consisting of 72% Ag and 28% Cu using essentially the procedure described in Example 7. The temperature of the alloy during impregnation is preferably about 880� C. When the chips are impregnated and cooled, and after sandblasting to remove the ceramic barriers if this is necessary to obtain good electrical contact with the internal electrodes, conductive end terminations are applied to form monolithic capacitors.
In the two immediately preceding examples, the ceramic barriers are applied to the end surfaces of the ceramic chips before the latter are sintered and are thus sintered at the same time. In the following example a penetrable ceramic barrier is applied to the chips subsequent to sintering them.
A readily spreadable paste is prepared by blending finely divided borosilicate glass having a melting point of about 1080� C. in about 1:2 weight ratio with a liquid vehicle formed from 80 ml pine oil, 14 g acrylic resin, 1.5 g lecithin dispersing agent and sufficient, about 1 to 2 g ethyl cellulose to impart the desired viscosity. This paste is applied by spreading it on the end faces (where the porous strata are exposed) of sintered ceramic chips such as are produced by Example 5. The coated chips are then heated to about 790� C. to burn off the vehicle of the applied paste and provide a porous, sintered glass barrier on the chip end faces.
The thus-prepared chips are impregnated with molten lead by the same procedure employed in the metal impregnation of chips described in Example 7 the temperature of the lead bath during impregnation being about 450� C. After sandblasting or otherwise removing the glass barriers and any undesired surface metal deposits the chips may be formed into satisfactory monolithic capacitors by providing end termination electrodes by any known or desired procedure.
Extensive experiments have shown that by the process of the present invention monolithic capacitors with internal electrodes of infiltrated base metal can be produced with capacitances substantially the same as those of monolithic capacitors of the same size and number of layers produced by conventional processes with noble metal internal electrodes. This has been demonstrated with dielectric compositions having relatively high dielectric constants as well as ones with relatively low dielectric constants.
The structure obtained when a permeable barrier is provided on an end face of a ceramic chip preparatory to forming a monolithic capacitor is illustrated in FIG. 8 of the accompanying drawings. In this figure, which is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view, the strata 70 represent sintered ceramic dielectric material, the numeral 71 designates the open-structured strata, alternating with the first-mentioned strata, into which molten metal is injected to form internal electrodes, and the numeral 72 designates the open-structured, penetrable barrier through which the molten metal is injected. The showing in FIG. 8 is somewhat diagrammatic since when a ceramic penetrable barrier is used, it is so sintered to the ceramic chip as to unitary and frequently there is no clear line of demarcation between the barrier and the chip.
As will be clear to those skilled in the art, the permeability of the penetrable barriers employed may be adjusted as desired. This can be done, for example, by the inclusion of greater or lesser amounts of burn-out material, such as carbon black, in the compositions used for providing such barriers and/or by adjustment of the particle size of the solid materials in such compositions. Other procedures for such adjustment may be used if desired. It will be understood that in some instances termination electrodes may be applied to bodies, by any desired method, over penetrable ceramic barriers subsequent to the injection of metal therethrough into open-structured areas of the body. However, to ensure good electrical contact of such electrodes with the infiltrated internal electrodes, it is frequently desirable to remove the barriers before applying termination electrodes. This can be, as pointed out above, readily accomplished by sand blasting.
Although Examples 6-10 are directed to the production of monolithic capacitors by the injection of metal into the open-structured strata of sintered ceramic chips, it is evident that similar techniques, including the use of penetrable barriers, if desired, may be used in providing conductors in multilayer circuit structures such as are described herein.
It will also be evident that certain other sintered ceramic chips or matrix structures can have metal injected into them through, if desired, penetrable barriers. Such matrix structures include structures such as are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 400,242, filed Sept. 24, 1973, wherein substantially void, planar areas intervene between adjacent dielectric or insulating strata, and such as are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 400,243, filed Sept. 24, 1973, wherein the adjacent dielectric or insulating strata in the matrix have at least one distinct inorganic pillar between them and wherein, when there are a plurality of pillars, substantially all of said pillars are distinct and separated. Although such void planar areas and pillars are not, by strict definition, strata, they are of such an open-structured character that when the terms "open-structure" and "open-structured" are employed in the claims the terms should be interpreted as including such structures.
The production of such matrix structures and the production of capacitors and multilayer circuit structures from such matrices is clearly and fully described in the patent applications referred to, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. However, to give a general idea of the disclosures in said former applications certain drawing figures from said application have been incorporated in the present application and described.
FIG. 9 shows a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view through a sintered ceramic matrix, such as is used in forming a monolithic capacitor, obtained in accordance with the teaching of application Ser. No. 400,242. In this view the sintered, ceramic, dielectric strata 75 have substantially void, planar areas 77 intervening therebetween and available for injection thereinto of molten metal to form internal electrodes. The void areas 77 can be formed by heating a composite containing alternating strata of temporarily bonded, finely divided, ceramic dielectric material and pseudo-conductive layers of a material that will volatilize or burn out when the composite is heated to remove the latter and to sinter the dielectric material.
FIGS. 10-13 are substantially copied from application Ser. No. 400,243. FIG. 10 shows a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view through a sintered ceramic matrix such as is used in forming a monolithic capacitor. In this figure, the ceramic dielectric strata 78 are separated by relatively void spaces 79 which contain pillars 81. FIG. 11 is a very greatly enlarged view of a bonded ceramic aggregate. Such aggregates have been used satisfactorily as pillars.
As shown in FIG. 11, before firing the fine ceramic particles 82 are bonded with a thermally-fugitive bond 83. Such aggregates can be readily made, for example, by forming a mixture of finely divided ceramic dielectric material of the kind used for the dielectric leaves and a temporary bond such as employed therefor and allowing the mixture to dry. The mass is then broken up and bonded aggregates of the desired size are obtained by selective sieving. The aggregates may be fired under proper conditions to sinter together the individual ceramic particles therein. However, it will be seen that by using for granules, unfired aggregates such as described, sintering of the ceramic particles in the aggregates will take place contemporaneously with the sintering of the dielectric layers, and no problems are likely to arise from the unequal shrinkage that may occur when different materials are employed. Whether the aggregates used are fired or unfired, there is, of course, no danger of deleterious reaction between the granules and the dielectric material. While it should not be soluble in the solvent employed in depositing the pseudo-conductive layers, the nature of the temporary, thermally fugitive bond used in forming such aggregates is not particularly critical, a number of suitable materials being usable, e.g. those usable in forming the dielectric ceramic sheets.
Another possible procedure for obtaining pillars in a ceramic matrix is to deposit, e.g. by screen printing, a layer consisting of heat-fugitive material on each of a plurality of sheets of finely divided ceramic material bonded with a heat-fugitive bond, but leaving in said layer one or more spaced-apart areas that form holes through said layer. When a plurality of sheets having such layers are consolidated and fired to remove the thermally-fugitive materials and to sinter the ceramic material, the sheets above and/or below the open areas or holes will deform sufficiently to produce ceramic pillars in said holes. After completion of the firing, of course, such pillars stand in the cavity resulting from the disappearance of the thermally-fugitive material constituting the layer.
FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate diagrammatically the last-mentioned procedure. FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan view, greatly enlarged, which shows two sheets 84 of finely divided ceramic material bonded with a suitable thermally-fugitive bond, between which has been provided a layer 86 consisting of thermally-fugitive material. A plurality of spaced holes 85 have been left in the layer 86. FIG. 13 is a further enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, taken along the line 13--13 of FIG. 12. It shows a portion of the body illustrated in FIG. 12 after the body has been consolidated and fired in suitable manner to remove the thermally-fugitive materials and to sinter the ceramic material. The numeral 97 designates a ceramic pillar in the planar space 99 that results from removal of the thermally-fugitive layer 86. Such pillar has been formed by deformation of the ceramic sheets 91 above and below and extrusion of ceramic material therefrom into the hole 95. It will be understood that, although FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrated only two sheets of ceramic and an intervening layer of thermally-fugitive material, in forming a monolithic capacitor many such sheets would be superposed with such intervening layers and that similar pillars would be formed in others of the holes 95 during the consolidation and firing of the stack of sheets and layers. The shape of the holes 95 is not critical and any convenient shape can be used. Because of the difficulty encountered in providing very small holes in the layers of thermally-fugitive material, the smallest horizontal dimensions of such holes will ordinarily be several times the thickness of the thermally-fugitive layer in which they are formed. In any case, however, the smallest horizontal dimension should be at least as great as the thickness of such layer. The number and arrangement of the holes may vary in accordance with the number and placement of the pillars desired. Pillars of the type here described can be used in forming capacitors and also, in some cases, in forming multilayer circuit structure matrices where the size of the channels for the conductors permits.
It should be understood that the function of the pillars is to provide some support in the cavities or channels of fired bodies according to the invention, whereby the compressive strength of the bodies will be increased sufficiently to reduce possibility of breakage in handling. Obviously the number of pillars necessary to give the desired strength will vary with the size and shape of the cavities or channels. To maintain an open structure in the cavities or channels the pillars should not exceed in volume 40% of the volume of the cavity or channel and in most cases 10% by volume or even less will be desirable. Indeed, where the cavity or channel is very small only a single pillar may be desired. When the pillars are formed by ceramic or metallic granules in a pseudo-conductive layer they will, of course be randomly located. However, as mentioned above, they should be separated so as to provide no substantial impediment to entry of conductive material into the cavities and therefore the concentration of granules in the pseudo-conductor should be no greater than required to obtain the desired strength. Preferably the pillars are of a diameter approximating the thickness of the pseudo-conductor in which they are held.
The pressure required for the impregnation of open-structured areas of ceramic chips or ceramic multilayer circuit structures with molten metal according to the invention will vary with the type, configuration, and dimensions of such areas. Also affecting the required pressure are the viscosity of the molten metal and the surface energy thereof relative to that of the contents, if any, of the open-structure areas. In some cases, it may be necessary to make preliminary experiments to discover the optimum pressure to use. However, it has been found that in the use of metals of medium and low melting points, pressures greater than about 17.5 kg/cm2 are not necessary. It should be understood that the pore or void size in a penetrable barrier may, if desired, be less than that in the open-structured areas of the body on which the barrier is applied.
End or termination electrodes can be formed not only with metallic electroding pastes of conventional types, but also, when suitable, by applying to faces of bodies coatings of air-drying conductive metal paints, electroless nickel, indium-gallium alloy, and sprayed metal. It may be noted that flameor arc-sprayed metal is usually deposited in a rather porous layer. Hence, such deposits can be used, if desired, as conductive penetrable barriers.
It will be understood that where bodies having open-structured areas having a structure such as shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10 are covered with an end termination, the resultant bodies will resemble the structure illustrated in FIG. 8 except that the open-structured areas will be as shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10.
Monolithic capacitors according to the present invention may vary widely in size. Not only may the dimensions of the capacitor be varied, but the number and thickness of the strata therein may also vary. Although in most cases it is preferred to make the dielectric strata thicker than the conductive layers, this is subject to variation as desired. Capacitors as small as 2.0 mm� 3.0 mm�0.9 mm with 20 dielectric strata as thin as about 0.03 mm and 19 porous strata as thin as about 0.015 mm can be readily made, and larger ones are, of course, possible. Capacitors of any desired capacitance may be obtained according to the invention by proper choice of dielectric material and the size, thickness, and number of the strata and conductive layers. It will be understood that one or more extra or additional dielectric leaves or sheets may be placed at the bottom and/or top of a stack of alternated dielectric leaves or sheets and leaves or sheets containing a composition adapted to form open-structured areas. This is often done to give additional mechanical strength to the capacitors and/or to adjust their thickness. An unprinted leaf or leaves of a dielectric ceramic composition can be used. However, the presence of a painted ceramic film on the top dielectric film or leaf of such a stack will ordinarily not be detrimental since after sintering the resultant exposed porous deposit will either not hold an electrode material or such material can be easily removed, for example by sanding.
In the foregoing description and the examples, the leaves of dielectric and/or pseudo-conductive material and the capacitors formed therefrom are rectangular. However, the present invention comprehends capacitors of other shapes. Thus, if desired, monolithic capacitors according to the invention may be triangularly shaped. In such case, obviously, pseudo-electrodes, alternate open-structured areas, and the electrodes formed therein can not be exposed on opposite edge faces. Consequently, it will be understood that in the appended claims the term "edge region" is used comprehensively to indicate an area on an edge face of a body regardles of the geometry of the body and whether it has one or a plurality of edges.
As used herein, a "thermally-fugitive" or "heat-fugitive" material is one which, under the conditions of one of the processes herein described, volatilizes as such or is wholely converted, with or without oxidation, into products that volatilize. Also, as used herein the term "dense" means that the material absorbs substantially no water when immersed therein.
The terms of position or direction, such as upper, lower, left, right, etc., used herein are with reference to the accompanying drawings and should not be interpreted as limiting the invention or requiring any specific positioning of the capacitors in use.
Except as otherwise indicated, ratios, percentages, and parts referred to herein are ratios, percentages, and parts by weight.
It will be evident from the foregoing description that many variations and modifications of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, instead of using leaves of temporarily bonded, powdered dielectric or insulating ceramic material which are formed as distinct entities, sheet-like films of such material in a suitable medium or vehicle may be formed by screen printing on underlying sheets or layers. Also, for example, instead of screen printing the compositions which develop an open structure on firing, such compositions can be painted on or applied in other ways. Further, although a self-sustaining body is desired for firing, the stack of leaves or of leaves and the layers thereon need not be pressed to consolidate the stack. In some cases, for example, rolling of the stack as it is built up, will provide sufficient consolidation. Also, if desired, the open-structured areas or strata can be partially filled with metal by one of the procedures described in the abovementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,679,950 and additional metal may be injected into the partially filled areas or strata by the process of the present invention. In such case, the metal injected or infiltrated may be the same as that first introduced or a different metal can be used.
Patent Citations
Referenced by
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- Product Information
Product Description
Serve up some cold beverages at your next baseball theme party in our great looking Rawling's Baseball 9oz paper Cups. These classic Americana inspired Rawling's Baseball 9oz Cups go perfectly with all of our Rawling's Baseball paper goods and also make a classic looking accent to your favorite baseball team's color scheme. Each value pack of our Rawling's Baseball 9oz Cups comes with 18 cups. Please order in increments of one value pack.
- Questions & Answers
- Reviews
How to Host a Summer Movie Night in Your Backyard
Do something different for your weekly movie night by watching it in your backyard on a big screen, and inviting friends and family to join in on the fun! Follow these party ideas to assist you in putting together a successful summer movie night.
Minnie Mouse Birthday Party Ideas
Her birthday party will be a huge hit with a Minnie Mouse theme! Use these decorating ideas to help your put together the most adorable Minnie Mouse party.
1950s Sock Hop Party Ideas
Invite friends over for a rockin' good time when you throw a fifties theme party! Use these party tips to assist you in putting together the best sock hop anyone's ever seen.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Publications Search Results Users may wish to consult What's Included in the Bibliography. Results 1 - 2 Results per page: 25 50 100 Sort by: Pub Date (newest) Title Recent Additions Author Clear All Pub. Year Citation 2004 Schneider, Robert James, Ryznar, Rhonda M., Khattak, Asad J. An accident wainting to happen: A spatial approach to proactive pedestrian planning. Accident Analysis and Prevention. 36, (2), 193-211. Full Text Options: DOI Worldcat Google Scholar Export Options: RIS EndNote XML 2001 Schneider, Robert James . Development of a Proactive Approach to Pedestrian Safety Planning. Thesis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Full Text Options: PDF Export Options: RIS EndNote XML [1]


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In this week's blog, Phil Foggitt discusses the dangers of prioritising modern "progress" over long-term sustainability in an increasingly unstable world. —— *Photo courtesy of Kiril Havezov* In every aspect of life we find it easier to continue repeating previous patterns of activity than to rethink our purpose and create new ways of doing things. However, over time, …VIEW POST
This week, conservation biologist and explorer James Borrell talks about the rise of Citizen Science, and how the growth of the 'mobile continent' provides unprecedented opportunity to support conservation and development in Africa. —– It's estimated that there are now more than 650 million mobile telephones in Africa, that's more than either the U.S. or Europe. …VIEW POST
Picking up on the themes of E.F. Schumacher's 'Small is Beautiful', Professor Eric Walker encourages us to be mindful of the important links between people, planet and health. —– * photo courtesy of Prof. Eric Walker I was prompted to reflect on the links between people and planet while I was looking out of the living room …VIEW POST


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a disturbing fact is that nazi iconograpy and propaganda and has no par in recent history, sort of like a facebook for its time ? by the way, what is wikileaks ? facebook for politicians (-; (-;
If selected for publication, it will appear as soon as possible on Haaretz.com.


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twinn Photography Photographer
Lily LeBeauModel Female Jacksonville, Florida, US My MM URL: http://www.modelmayhem.com/lilylebeau
Mayhem # 2560651
About MeI am a native Floridian, raised in Jacksonville Beach. I like being outside, especially in the water. I camp regularly, my favorite place is Goldhead State Park. I am a total geek, into comic books, cheesy sci-fi, RPG gaming, anime and Cosplay. I attend Dragoncon in Atlanta annually. I also love Murder Mystery parties. I write my own scripts from scratch. I also draw, paint and sew.
I enjoy being in front of the camera. And I am not shy so I don't mind being naked either. I am currently looking to build a portfolio that involves some pin up and fetish stuff as well as some cosplay. I like being silly, doing wild hair and crazy make up. I enjoy working with wigs, corsets, steampunk looks, whatever is fun. I have a Dropbox portfolio, if you are interested send me a message.
CreditsSome of the awesome photographers I have worked with!
#1819597 Retrorama Photography
#717296 David_T
#1178583 M Bar E Photography
#2203749 Michelle T Jacksonville
#123934 Johnny's Eye Photography
twinn Photography Photographer
Valerie Place Photographer
C E Wiley Studios Photographer
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Rachel Maddow StoriesRSS
Week in Geek - Mousetronaut edition
It looks like Stuart Little might make a terrible astronaut.
In 2009, NASA sent six mice to the International Space Station (on purpose, yes). Researchers in Belgium and Italy were looking to study how prolonged exposure to micro-gravity might affect the skin and physiology of the mice. Along with the six mice in space, six identical mice were kept on the ground in similar conditions as a control group. Both groups of mice were kept in the specially designed Mice Drawer System containment unit.
This Week in God, 5.30.15
Denny Burk, professor of Biblical Studies at Boyce College in Louisville, Kentucky, most certainly isn't the first to make the claim that the "least of these" is actually a reference to Christians who face struggles in sharing their faith, but his stated view on the matter is the most recent proclamation to spark interpretive discussion."This text is not about poor people generally. It's about Christians getting the door slammed in their face while sharing the gospel with a neighbor," Burk wrote. "It's about the baker/florist/photographer who is being mistreated for bearing faithful witness to Christ. It's about disciples of Jesus having their heads cut off by Islamic radicals."
So happy. Just got married! To @MaryKForrest . My longtime love and girlfriend.— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) May 30, 2015
Citations for the May 29, 2015 TRMS
Tonight's guests:
- Jeffrey Cramer, former federal prosecutor, Senior managing director of Kroll Investigations in Chicago
- Alison Sanford, attentive news viewer
Tonight's links:
"I was just so pissed off, I thought, 'When they put the cuffs on me, I'll stop.'" http://t.co/dw5UAevnsR— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) May 29, 2015
Friday's Mini-Report, 5.29.15
NBC News: Hastert paid man to conceal a sexual relationship
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert paid a man to conceal a sexual relationship they had while the man was a student at the high school where Hastert taught, a federal law enforcement official told NBC News on Friday.The official spoke on condition of anonymity. [The Tribune Company] reported Friday that two unnamed federal law enforcement officials said that Hastert paid a man from his past to conceal sexual misconduct.
Nation continues to move left on social issues
Half of Americans consider themselves "pro-choice" on abortion, surpassing the 44% who identify as "pro-life." This is the first time since 2008 that the pro-choice position has had a statistically significant lead in Americans' abortion views. [...]While support for the pro-choice position has yet to return to the 53% to 56% level seen [during the mid-to-late 1990s], the trend has been moving in that direction since the 2012 reading.
Friday's Campaign Round-Up, 5.29.15
From 'con man' to governor?
After Thursday's recanvass of votes cast in the Republican primary for governor, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes said that there were "no substantial changes" and that she thought Matt Bevin would be the GOP nominee when the vote is certified June 8.
Walker can't stop celebrating medically unnecessary ultrasounds
"Who's opposed to an ultrasound? They tried to claim there were certain types. Now, our law says that before someone has that procedure, they have to be given access to an ultrasound. It doesn't designate which type. Most people will do the traditional one that people think of all the time. If they haven't seen it themselves, certainly most people have seen it on TV or in movies."
Christie's flip-flops start to pile up
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie – who once supported the controversial, national Common Core education standards, unpopular among many conservative Republicans -- declared on Thursday that the program is "simply not working." [...]Christie called on Department of Education Commissioner David Hespe to assemble a group of parents, teachers and educators to develop new education standards for consideration in New Jersey and "not 200 miles away on the banks of the Potomac River." Critics contend the set of academic guidelines adopted by 46 states since being introduced in 2010 by the National Governors Association, amounts to too much federal government interference on what should be a local issue.
About The Rachel Maddow Show
Launched in 2008, "The Rachel Maddow Show" follows the machinations of policy making in America, from local political activism to international diplomacy. Rachel Maddow looks past the distractions of political theater and stunts and focuses on the legislative proposals and policies that shape American life - as well as the people making and influencing those policies and their ultimate outcome, intended or otherwise.
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Philosophy, Ethics & Religion
Philosophy, Ethics and Religion
Updated: 6 hours 48 min ago
Nobody owns the moon :
Milligan, Tony.
Provincial Hinduism :
Gold, Daniel, 1947- author.
Reading the historical books :
Dutcher-Walls, Patricia.
Sexual virtue :
McCarty, Richard W., 1975- author.
Understanding Exodus :
Greenberg, Moshe, author.
The western Karo Bataks lost creation myth
Barbier-Mueller, Jean Paul, 1930- author.
What does it mean to "do this"? :
When the clouds part :
Rationality, democracy, and justice :
Seeing things as they are :
Searle, John R
How we are
Deary, Vincent
Election, atonement, and the Holy Spirit :
Grebe, Matthias


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This is a logotype for a dancing school in my town.
It represents a crown because swank word means something very classy or cool.
It's not done yet, the lines are gonna be probably thicker.
What do you think guys? Any suggestions?
oh I almost forgot, thanks for the invite @Nik Pletikos
More Martin Kenjic
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Amazing experience. I want to do a cooking class in every foreign country I go to - and I hope they are all like this. My wife and I learned so much. Getting to go to the souks...
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3 Days in Marrakech
Shopping Guide for Marrakech
Cool Places & Food in Marrakech
Amazing experience. I want to do a cooking class in every foreign country I go to - and I hope they are all like this. My wife and I learned so much. Getting to go to the souks first to buy all our stuff was so much fun and so helpful and educational. Gemma was the perfect host. It was...
The difference between this cooking course and many others, is that Gemma starts you in the market. She has her list of ingredients and bags, and leads you to the different markets to purchase each of the ingredients. She has a great relationship with a lot of the shopkeepers who are excited to chat with us and educate us on...
An fun and informative day in the market and in the kitchen with Gemma. We started in the market buying all the ingredients for our recipes for the day (don't forget - the uglier the lemons, the better) - if you want a true Moroccan cooking experience then you should definitely start by shopping for the ingredients, and it was...
Really fantastic day out with my boyfriend. I cook a lot and thought the recipes we perfect for a novice or experienced cook.
Starts in the morning with the group meeting in the square. The fantastic Gemma leads you around the souk to the local food vendors in a fun and educational venture. You then go back to her lovely...
We had a fantastic time in Marrakech and this was one of the most memorable bits.
From buying the ingredients to learning how to cook with them we found it all interesting , relaxed and very tasty.
It was a really enjoyable day. After meeting in the main square Gemma took us to the souks to buy the ingredients. It was really worthwhile experience and we learnt a lot especially about the spices and their medicinal uses and the trip to the bakery was fun. We then went to Gemma's house where we cooked up 7 different...
A great experience and mini adventure, starting with the market trip. I met Gemma outside the café with a group that included a couple from Portugal and a lovely group of ladies from Florida and Alaska!
Gemma was really fantastic and incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. You will find out about some of the secrets of the Souks which you would...
Myself my husband and our 13 year old daughter went on this course in April 2015, when I booked I felt quite guilty as I was using a day of my families holiday doing something I want to do instead of riding the water slides in our hotel / water park but it ended up being our daughters highlight !!...
If you are interested in food and finding out how the locals live in Marrakesh, then this is for you! If you do it at the start of your trip you will also get some great tips on where to eat for the rest of your visit.
It was the best things we did in Marrakesh. We loved it!
Really enjoyed this experience, starting with the market trip. It was great to get to meet some of Gemma's favorite vendors, gather our ingredients, and end up at her kitchen to make so many wonderful dishes. We had a fun and enthusiastic group, and we chopped our way to a fabulous lunch of Moroccan salads, two tajines, and cookies that...
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I was just wondering the price for the cooking? Including a trip to the marked, cookingclasses and so on - full day. Does anyone know/remember? We are a couple that would love to go!
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Baseball - Page 11
St. Louis Cardinals and McDonald's Offer Ticket Deal
ST. LOUIS (Aug. 18, 2014) –The St. Louis Cardinals are teaming up with McDonald's of St. Louis and the Metro East to offer fans $8 tickets as they race for the pennant. During the special ticket sale, fans can purchase $8 Pavilion and Terrace level seats to the upcoming three-game series with Pittsburgh on September 1 – 3rd and Milwaukee on September 16 – 18th
Miss Texas Throws Out Hilarious, Godawful First Pitch
Kansas City Royals Plan Retro Night
Baseball Team's Red Infield Is Unlike Anything You've Ever Seen [PHOTO]
Mickey Rourke Accepts ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Casually Calls Out Derek Jeter
Looks like Mickey Rourke is down with the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, because Seth Meyers did not skimp on the ice, the water, or the "bucket" on last night's 'Late Night.' Rourke appeared on the show to chat about next week's 'Sin City: A Dame to Kill For,' but things soon turned to more pressing
Lucky Astros Fan Catches Two HRs…From the Same Player [VIDEO]
Miami Marlins Pitcher Dan Jennings Clobbered by Screaming Line Drive Off Head [VIDEO]
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Sedalia Bombers Eliminated From NBC World Series
The Sedalia Bombers lost to the Fairbanks (Alaska) Goldpanners today 8-3 and were eliminated for the 80th National Baseball Congress World Series.
Tylor Megill picked up the win for the Fairbanks (Alaska) Goldpanners. Megill allowed


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Steve Ballmer Loves Fergie and Doesn't Care Who Knows
During the Los Angeles Clippers game Wednesday night, Fergie performed. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was excited about it. Seriously, he was really excited about it. In this vine video, courtesy of Arash Markazi, you can watch Ballmer going crazy
Dare We Say The Wicked Wretch Is Finally Gone?
Is it finally safe to continue our lives? Are we finished with the daily swarm of Donald Sterling madness that jerked our minds in directions not thought possible, even through decades of sporting scandals? Can we at last sing
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Clippers May Have Sold but Sterling Still Owes $662M in Taxes
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The Los Angeles Clippers sold for a whopping $2 billion and that is more than enough cha-ching to make NFL owners ecstatic. It was former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer who purchased the NBA franchise from Donald Sterling. Don't worry, it's


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Changing demography: Is India's baby boom going bust?
Top Stories
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The country's demography is witnessing some new trends. While the working age group (15-64 years) has predictably seen an increase in the number of youths, the curtains may have begun falling over the baby boom years that fuelled this bulge in the first place. These have been indicated by the latest 'Single Year Age Data' released by the Census of India from its 2011 census numbers. Must Read: The Baby Boom Town
While the increase in the proportion of working age group in the country's population from 59.61 per cent in 2001 to 63 per cent in 2011 is obvious, the proportion of children (0-14 years) has declined drastically from 35.35 per cent in 2001 to about 31 per cent in 2011. In other words, those born 15 or more years ago (before 1996) have given rise to the bulge in the working age group, while the proportion of children (born after 1997) in the total population have declined in 2011 as against 2001. In fact, the 2011 census data show a drop in the proportion of population in the lower age groups as compared to 2001 census figures. However, all other age categories have witnessed a jump in their share in the country's population. (See box: Children's declining share a telltale sign)
Laishram Ladu Singh, population expert and Head of the Department of Mathematical Demography & Statistics at Mumbai's International Institute for Population Sciences, suggests that the decline in proportion of children is a consequence of declining fertility rates. "The fertility rate has declined and hence the children's population has declined, thus reducing that age group's share in the total population. At the same time, since earlier fertility rates were higher, the greater number of children born in earlier decades have now accumulated and entered the youth bracket, thus leading to a youth bulge," Singh adds.
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Original publish date: Dec. 14, 2014 at 12:38 a.m. It was a small, but spectacular, field of homes and streets decked out in holiday finery that greeted the KHTS 2014 Holiday Light Tour judges Friday evening in the Santa Clarita Valley. For additional holiday light locations visit the map on the hometownstation.com website. To be included in the list of ...Read More »
Home » Tag Archives: SCV Christmas Lights
SCV Christmas Lights
KHTS AM 1220 Seeks Entries For Second Annual Holiday Light Tour
KHTS AM 1220, your Hometown Station, is searching for the most amazing holiday lights in the Santa Clarita Valley. The jolly jitney of judges will tour the SCV from 5-11 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12. Best Santa Clarita Holiday Light Streets The judging crew always welcomes a "bribe" …or two… of holiday cookies, candy and hot coco, or other libations. ...Read More »
KHTS Holiday Light Tour Announces Street And Individual Home Winners
Is there a better way to celebrate the holiday season with family and friends then touring the many beautiful Christmas light displays throughout the Santa Clarita Valley? The KHTS inaugural Holiday Light Tour took to the streets of the SCV on Saturday night to track down the "Best and the Brightest" holiday lights with a jolly jitney of judges that ...Read More »


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The Covington City Council continued working on its 2015 fiscal year budget Thursday, and among the topics was a 3 percent increase in insurance.
The Headless Horseman will soon join vampires on Conyers film sets, as Fox's popular supernatural TV series "Sleepy Hollow" moves its production here.
The Board of Commissioners began discussing ways to rein in legal fees at Wednesday night's budget meeting, hearing recommendations from County Manager Tom Garrett and a proposal for in house legal services from Commissioner Nancy Schulz.
The first draft of the proposed FY16 budget sees an increase of $11,998,261 to $59,722,158, which the Board of Commissioners will start hammering back down in the coming weeks.
State Representatives Dave Belton (R-Buckhead) and Pam Dickerson (D-Conyers) announced that Governor Nathan Deal signed Kelsey's Law, or SB 160, into law at the State Capitol on Tuesday, May 5, 2015. Rep. Belton attended the bill signing ceremony for Kelsey's Law, which aims to protect minors from cyberbullying.
Chairman Keith Ellis announced Tuesday that the county had received $48,000 from the state to help cover the cost of repairing three roads damaged by the recent heavy rains.
Newton County's landfill manager James Peters resigned suddenly this week following months of speculation and debate over the future of the landfill.
Josephine Kelly has agreed to become Porterdale's second Main Street Director, filling the slot vacated by Teri Haler, who took a position as Tourism Director for the City of Conyers.
Conyers Middle School in on lockdown after a gun was reported to have been fired inside the school.
The Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to move forward with the purchase of the Cousins Community Center for $1.5 million pending appraisals of the property, buildings, environment and utility consumption over the coming months.
ATLANTA - A Georgia law that cleared the way for a surge in new charter schools was struck down by the state's top court in a high-profile decision that will affect thousands of students and could reshape how the state's public school system is funded.
Laid-off workers in Newton County may be able to get a temporary job cleaning and repairing public property damaged by the late April storms.
Down on the farm: The Square in Downtown Covington was covered with antique tractors and other old farm equipment Saturday afternoon when the Agriculture Celebration rolled into town. Dozens of vendors also showed up to show off their wares. The event was presented by the Center for Community Preservation and The Newton County Farm Bureau. Local elected officials also took their annual tour of three local farms.
Packing snacks and drinks for when you're on the go is frugal and fabulous, but rethink that bottled water. Bottled water is not only expensive, it's not environmentally friendly and its quality is largely unregulated.
The threat of rain didn't stop the 15th annual JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) Day from continuing at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center Saturday.
Antique farm equipment will be showcased at an Agricultural Celebration on the Square from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in downtown Covington.
Porterdale Elementary School students will be putting on a production of "The Wizard of Oz" at 6 p.m. Saturday Tickets cost $5 and will be available at the door. The performance will be held at the Newton High School auditorium. Concessions will be available.
Lessons on the outdoors are combined with play at the annual JAKES Day event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield.
ATHENS - University of Georgia researchers are tracking an outbreak of caterpillars that pose a threat to the health of oak trees in the state.
ATLANTA - His eyes red and voice wavering, Roger McDowell returned as the Braves' pitching coach Friday and apologized for his crude conduct that led to a suspension. He spent a "very humbling" two weeks away from the game and promised there will be no repeat of such actions.
ATLANTA - Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, calling it "a rather historic moment," on Friday signed a bill that cracks down on illegal immigration in the state by increasing some enforcement powers and requiring many employers to check the immigration status of new hires.
"While I believe immigration is an issue that can ideally be identified and addressed - and should be addressed- at the federal level, this legislation I believe is a responsible step forward in the absence of federal action," Deal told reporters who crowded elbow-to-elbow into his office for the signing.
Newton County's special athletes are losing an advocate and a friend to retirement, Pam Dew.
After taking the Eagles to the second round of the Class AAA baseball playoffs the past three years, Eastside head coach Michael Poor is stepping aside.
Newton's finest players: T.K. Adams conducted the Newton County Honor Band during the concert Thursday on the square. Made up of students from Newton, Eastside and Alcovy High schools, the honor band was conducted by all three schools' band directors as well as Adams.
General Mills was the winner in the Covington Family YMCA's Corporate Cup division of the 2011 Cheerios Challenge.
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Orange for Animal Cruelty Awareness wants to
STOP the cruelty of Greyhound Racing
Greyhound Racing kills!
Greyhound Racing kills!
Join the worldwide call to protect our oceans from destructive fishing
The CARERS Act is the first-ever bill in the U.S. Senate to legalize marijuana for medical use.
It's time for fast food giants to grant their employees the raise and rights that they deserve.
Forced arbitration clauses pre-emptively block consumers from going to court if the bank does something wrong.
An innocent family dog was brutally tortured over a break up. We must not forget Moon's pain and fight for her justice.


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National organization Students for Life of America (SFL) said that vandalism of crosses and offensive statements are commonplace at recent pro-life rallies, with pro-life students at Indiana University catching such actions on tape.
The pro-choice movement has "lost the upper hand in that argument and this is what they've resorted to," Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, told The Christian Post in an interview on Wednesday. Hawins said that activists engaged in the organization's new "Planned Parenthood Project," a tour across 41 different college campuses, witness vandalism and verbal abuse twice a week.
In the video, an unnamed man proclaims, "You're in conflict with the world that I want, which is a world where all your churches burn." Elisha Frick, SFL's Great Lakes regional coordinator and an eyewitness to the event, emphasized that SFL is not a faith-based organization. more >>
A university in Indiana has sent a letter to a Washington state-based intelligent design group stating that it will be reviewing certain courses that are allegedly anti-religious in nature.
Ball State University sent the letter to the Discovery Institute of Seattle in response to a letter sent last month by the group protesting the university's stance on intelligent design and the content of certain courses.
Jo Ann Gora, president of Ball State, wrote on Monday that the Discovery Institute's arguments against the university's stance against intelligent design will not be changed and that the courses they took issue with are being investigated. more >>
It took more than a year of planning, talking and listening but the people of Elkhart County, Ind., finally have a blueprint on how they will spend the $150 million fortune willed to them by reclusive hometown businessman David Gundlach.
Gundlach, who died of a heart attack in October 2011, registered among the top 50 Americans who gave away the most money last year when it was announced that the Elkhart County Community Foundation was bequeathed $150 million from his estate.
On Friday, about a year since the gift became public knowledge, the foundation's president, Peter McCown shared how life has been evolving. more >>
"Porter Ridge," a new Discovery Channel reality sitcom about backwoods men with long beards, sometimes talking about Jesus, may seem at first glance like a spin-off from A&E's hit show "Duck Dynasty," but the producer behind both shows asserts that "Porter Ridge" is completely different than "Duck Dynasty."
"Porter Ridge is more about freedom verses family," Scott Gurney, executive producer for both shows, explain to The Christian Post in a Thursday interview. While he said both shows aim to be family-friendly, Gurney contrasted the neighborhood focus of the new show to the Robertson family starring in "Duck Dynasty."
"It's more about the good old days of being good to your neighbor, doing your job, and having great friendships," Gurney said. more >>
An Evansville, Ind., area church filed an appeal Wednesday in an ACLU lawsuit over the display of up to 31 temporary crosses at the city's popular riverfront. A federal district court issued an injunction last month saying that the crosses cannot be displayed in the same manner as other community group displays, according to allied attorneys representing the congregation.
Judge Sarah Evans Barker ruled last month that the proposed display at Evansville would be a government endorsement of Christianity, thus violating the First Amendment.
However, Alliance Defending Freedom lawyers say it is government officials who are in violation of the Constitution for singling out the crosses display. more >>
Planned Parenthood filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Indiana's new law upping the standards for non-surgical abortion clinics. The lawsuit argues that the law unfairly discriminates against a Planned Parenthood clinic in Lafayette, while supporters of the law argue it improves women's healthcare in the state.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday by the state's American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Planned Parenthood against the Indiana State Department of Health and the Tippecanoe County prosecutor. The lawsuit argues that Indiana's new law, which went into effect July 1 "is not only unreasonable, it is utterly irrational," and violates the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The law, entitled Act 371, requires clinics administering the two-pill abortion medication RU-486 to meet surgery center standards, including having separate recovery, procedure, and scrub rooms, as well as wider hallways. The bill was approved by the state's legislature in April and then signed into law by Republican Governor Mike Pence, being praised by supporters as a move to significantly improve healthcare for women. more >>