Slitting tool for slitting open a catheter shaft, including a housing, a blade fastened on the housing, a pushbutton, which is mounted so it is displaceable on the housing, and clamping forceps, which are mounted so they are movable on the housing. The clamping forceps are partially located inside the housing, and include two clamping legs, which are connected to one another at their base located in the housing and have a mutual pre-tension, and which cause the fixation of an electrode line on their periphery located outside the housing, such that the pushbutton, which is mounted so that it is displaceable, and the clamping forceps, which are mounted so that they are movable, act together with one another in such a manner that an actuation of the pushbutton causes an opening of the fixation in the periphery of the clamping forceps.

During the implantation of electrode lines, insertion catheters are used, in which the electrode line to be implanted is located. The internal diameter of the insertion catheter is adapted to the external diameter of the electrode line. The insertion catheter is first guided into the affected vessel, and the electrode line is subsequently implanted in the vessel through the insertion catheter.
The electrode line has an electrode, or electric, plug on the proximal end thereof, which is used for the electrical connection to an electro-medical implant. This plug typically has an external diameter which is larger than the internal diameter of the insertion catheter. However, since the insertion catheter—as indicated by the name—is only used for inserting the electrode line, it must be removed again. Simple pulling of the insertion catheter in the proximal direction is not possible because of the electrode plug.
Slitter tools are used to open up the insertion catheter, in order to remove it over the electrode plug when it is no longer needed. The insertion catheter is slit along the length with the aid of a blade located on the slitter tool and then removed. It is problematic, in this procedure, that the electrode line which was just implanted can also slip. In order to prevent this, manifold clamping mechanisms are known. An example of this can be inferred from U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,469 or U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,481, in which the electrode line is manually fixed using a finger of the operator on the slitting tool and the insertion catheter is pulled away over it. It is disadvantageous, in this case, that the manual fixation is very unreliable, and slipping of the electrode line which is already implanted can unintentionally occur. Furthermore, in this solution, the electrode line can be damaged by buckling. In addition, the solutions are typically not suitable for different electrode line diameters, because the clamp guide in which the electrode line is fixed by means of the pressure of the thumb, for example, is only dimensioned for specific diameters. This can result in slipping, in particular in the case of excessively small diameters.
The semi-manual fixation mechanism from U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,681, which is based on clamping forceps, by means of which the electrode line is fixed, is also susceptible to interference. For this purpose, the operator must actively press together the clamping forceps, in order to thus fix the electrode line between the clamping forceps legs. Unintentional opening can also occur here; however, the problem of buckling of the electrode line has been minimized.
A further proposed solution is known from U.S. Publication No. 2009/0049698, in which the fixation of the electrode line is performed by means of a fastening arm on the housing of the slitter tool. The fixation is caused by the actuation of a pushbutton, so that the operator must exert a constant finger pressure on this pushbutton during the slitting procedure. This solution is not practical for the operator, since it is very strenuous. This can, in turn, result in incorrect behavior which damages the electrode.
In view of the background of the mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, there is a need for a slitter tool which offers reliable, slip-proof fixation of electrode lines having different diameters with simultaneously simplified handling and avoidance of electrode line damage.
The present inventive disclosure is directed toward overcoming one or more of the above-identified problems.


A facet joint is exposed at one side of the spine during surgery. An inclinometer is mounted on an elongated probe, and a pin is fixed on a spinous process near the exposed joint. The probe is swivelled about the pin so that a distal end of the probe contacts the joint and the inclinometer indicates a corresponding first trajectory. A second trajectory from the pin to an unexposed facet joint on the opposite side of the spine is defined as being symmetrical with the first trajectory about the spine axis. The inclinometer is mounted on a guide sleeve, and the sleeve is swivelled about the pin into the second trajectory. A wire is inserted through the sleeve until a tip of the wire penetrates the unexposed joint percutaneously. A facet screw is advanced over the wire and threaded percutaneously into the unexposed facet joint after the sleeve is withdrawn.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to spinal implant procedures and tools, and particularly to a procedure and tools for implanting facet joint screws percutaneously.
Discussion of the Known Art
U.S. Pat. No. 7,717,919 discloses a mechanical alignment jig (see FIGS. 17-20) for aligning the axis of an external cannula guide block to coincide with, or run parallel to, a determined internal target path along which a screw is to be delivered percutaneously to either one of two facet joints at a given level of a patient's spine. Each internal guide path is initially determined by a surgeon using conventional imaging means and by inserting markers.
Further, U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2010/0023018 describes a bilateral drilling guide (see FIG. 1) that is fixed by a clamp on the spinous process of a vertebral body in a patient's spine. An extension is mounted to extend laterally from the spinous process, and to rotate 180 degrees between either side of the vertebral body. A pointing device, a protractor, and a drill bushing are mounted on the extension to enable a number of drilling axes to be defined toward the body.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,577 discloses a transpedicle drill jig having a pair of drill guiding sleeves (see FIGS. 3-6) the distal ends of which can be placed at desired positions on either side of a vertebral body of a patient's spine. In use, the jig is held against but is not fixed to the vertebral body.
New products for facet fixation have been offered to complement the use of unilateral pedicle screws or stand-alone cages in spinal surgery. Many of these products do not fixate rigidly, and/or they are cumbersome to implant properly. Problems have been encountered mainly in the process of targeting and placing the screws in the patient's spine, rather than in fixation where conventional facet screws have proven to achieve the best results.
To achieve a minimally invasive spinal fusion procedure, surgeons may implant pedicle screws unilaterally by exposing the spine only at the side in which the screws are to be inserted, and provide contralateral facet joint fixation by use of facet screws inserted percutaneously with the aid of X-ray imaging and/or other navigation equipment. Notwithstanding the known art, there is a need for tool or system that will enable a surgeon to determine a first drilling axis along which a facet screw can be inserted percutaneously and accurately into a given side of a patient's spine, based only on the geometry of a second drilling axis determined at the opposite side of the spine, and without a need for X-ray or other navigation techniques. Such a tool could substantially reduce the time required to implant facet screws or other devices percutaneously at the given side of the spine.

Implanting facet joint screws percutaneously


The present invention relates generally to adjustable headwear in the form of caps or visors which are adjustable to fit wearers with a range of head sizes. In particular, the cap or visor is constructed of a uni-axially stretchable material with a sweatband around the inside periphery of the cap or visor constructed of a bi-axially stretchable material. Attached to the front of the headwear is a bill, a rigid structure that shields the wearer""s eyes and is arched in the preferred embodiment.

The present invention relates generally to an adjustable headwear in the form of a cap or a visor which is adjustable to fit a range of head sizes. In particular, the cap or visor is constructed of a uni-axially stretchable material with a bi-axially stretchable sweatband around the inside periphery of the cap or visor. Attached to the front of the headwear is a bill, a rigid structure that shields the wearer""s eyes and is preferably arched.
In the past, attempts have been made to provide a cap, such as a baseball cap, which can fit different wearers in a range of head sizes. A common way for adjusting the size of the cap employs an adjustable strap disposed at the back of the cap for adjustment by the wearer. Typically, attached to one side of the rear of the cap is a variable-length strap with holes for receiving a projecting snap fastener element provided on another portion of the cap, for example on another strap also attached to the other side of the rear of the cap. This arrangement is referred to as a snap back arrangement, referring to the location of the snap in the back of the cap. An open area is disposed above the portion of the cap having the adjustable-length strap, to permit the adjustment to be made without significantly distorting the shape of the cap. Such caps are in widespread use today, and such adjustable size caps are also referred to hereafter as multi-size caps.
Typically, such multi-size caps are created through the use of the above-mentioned variable-length snap arrangement, to accommodate head or hat sizes ranging from 7 inches to 7 xc2xeinches in xe2x85x9inch increments. However, in case of someone with the head size between 7 and 7 xe2x85x9, the fit is not exact. An improper adjustment in size lacks comfort and with time causes the shape of the cap to change. A further disadvantage is that the opening in the back and the snap arrangement itself detracts from the aesthetics of the cap. Using a mating hook-and-loop fastener (e.g., VELCRO(copyright) fasteners) for the size adjustment does not solve the above problems associated with the known multi-size caps. The use of such fasteners often becomes inadvertently undone causing the cap to fall off the wearer""s head. Moreover, the hook-and-loop fasteners are rather stiff and are uncomfortable. Furthermore, where the adjustment is improper, it causes the cap body to wrinkle and be distorted.
Single size caps do not have t he aforementioned defects, but they are costly to manufacture and require a manufacturer and a retailer to carry a very substantial inventory so as to have available a sufficient number of caps in each specific size. For example, to stock 10 caps in each of 10 sizes, for 10 different cap styles, and in 10 different colors, would already require stocking 10,000 caps. Even then, the single size cap, not being custom fitted, only approximates the wearer""s head size, and therefore does not fit exactly and can be uncomfortable.
Multi-size caps have been described to overcome the problems associated with the single size caps and the snap back arrangement. U.S. Pat. No 4,274,157 describes a ventilated cap having an adjustable sweatband secured to the front of the cap with VELCRO(copyright) fasteners. The degree of adjustment is limited by the short VELCRO(copyright) fasteners. The insertion of the band with the VELCRO(copyright) fasteners forces the cap forward on the head distorting the shape and making the cap less comfortable and less aesthetically appealing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,007 describes a cap with an elongated band to serve as ear flaps. The size of the cap is adjusted by the use of a stretchable fabric for the crown of the cap and having the ear flap band folded into the cap. However, the amount of stretch in a single direction provided by the crown is limited and the fit can be a problem when the ear flap band is unfolded for use in cold weather.
A segmented cap is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,524 wherein the size is adjusted by the use of a sweatband with a rigid portion, a VELCRO(copyright) strip in the front and an elastic at the back. The sweatband is then attached to a bill portion and a crown portion by corresponding VELCRO(copyright) strips.
Another example of a known multi-size cap is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,939 to Howe. This reference teaches a hat structure formed of a knit fabric body and having a removable headband. The headband is attached to a body via hook-and-loop fasteners mounted on the headband and the hat body.
The hat of the Howe patent is constructed by using weft yam in combination with elastic yam and non-elastic warp yam. The material is 20% uni-axially stretchable. It also includes an ear flap made of weft knitted fabric located along the crown beginning and ending in the bill portion. The ear flaps are provided for the comfort of the wearer during cold weather. The ear flaps in the Howe reference are folded up when not in use and may be used as a sweatband. However, due to the width and thickness of the ear flaps, in instances when a wearer""s head exactly fits the cap when the ear flaps are down, the cap will not fit properly once the flaps are folded up because the thickness of the ear flaps cannot be accommodated by the cap body, which is not stretchable.
A headband is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,106,075 to Tabley. This reference specifically teaches a sweatband made of an inflexible material such as silk, silk and cotton, or rayon silk. It does not teach a structure composed of a stretchable material.
Another cap is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,514 to Woehl. This reference teaches constructions of a cap having a rear gore in the crown of a stretchable material to provide size adjustment. It also teaches a cap spanned by a tab which may be an elastic band, a mating hook-and-loop fastener, or a snap fastener adjustable to variable lengths to fit a variety of head sizes. The Woehl reference does not disclose a headpiece and sweatband that is bi-axially stretchable.
A free-size cap is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,540 to Cho. In this patent, a sweatband made of a uni-axially stretchable fabric is sewn into the interior lower periphery of a multi-gored cap. In addition, a conventional flat bill is attached to the crown. The Cho reference attempts to address increased manufacturing costs associated with single-size caps, lost aesthetic appeal, and decreased comfort associated with multi-size caps. However, it only partially addresses some of the problems. The Cho reference does not disclose or teach the use of a sweatband made of bi-axially stretchable fabric to provide greater comfort and fit. Further, Cho does not describe the use of an arched bill to coach with the stretchable sweatband to provide improved fit.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a baseball-style cap or a visor having a structure which is capable of multi-size use and which is comfortable, functional and attractive in its use and appearance.
Other and further objectives of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a study of the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings. The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to an embodiment which is illustrated in the drawings.
The present invention is directed to an adjustable headwear having an appearance of being fitted comprising a headpiece, made of uni-axially stretchable material stretchable in a chordial direction around the head, formed to fit around the head and fixably attached to a front portion of the headpiece, a bill for shading the eyes from sunlight also made of uni-axially stretchable material stretchable across the width of the bill, and stretchably stitched to the interior peripheral edge of the headpiece is a sweatband made of bi-axially stretchable material stretchable chordially and in a direction perpendicular thereto.
The adjustable headwear may be in the form of a cap with a multi-gore shell forming a crown and attached to the crown portion, a bill portion for shading the eyes. The adjustable headwear of the present invention may also be a visor with a headband and a bill portion attached to the headband. The adjustable headwear according to the present invention is preferably formed in two sizes, one size to get a standard range of head sizes from S to M (small to medium), and another to fit L to XL (large to extra-large).
The structure of the present invention permits a cap to be designed which is attractive in use, comfortable for the wearer, and further provides the advantageous feature of multiple size capability without requiring an open back portion or adjustment of an adjustable strap member or the like.
Another significant advantage of the adjustable headwear according to the present invention is that it has the aesthetic appeal of a fixed-size headwear, being capable of custom fitting all wearers within a predetermined range of head sizes, without the use of an unsightly adjustable fastener portion and/or opening on the back of the cap or visor.
A further significant advantage of the adjustable headwear according to the present invention is that it is capable of comfortably fitting all wearers within a predetermined range of head sizes like a custom fitted headwear, without the unsightly distortion in shape or the discomfort due to differences in head size.


The present disclosure relates to noninvasive methods for detecting liver fibrosis. Disclosed herein are noninvasive liver fibrosis detection methods that use Doppler Ultrasound devices and a physics-based machine learning method. Further disclosed herein are methods for detecting liver fibrosis in a subject by detecting and measuring the presence of a shift in the frequency of blood flow in the hepatic vein as compared to the frequency of blood flow in the portal vein.

Liver fibrosis results from chronic damage to the liver, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C, alcoholic liver diseases, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and autoimmune hepatitis. As liver fibrosis progresses, the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins results in increased liver stiffness, leading liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cirrhosis and chronic liver disease are a major cause of death for men and women in the United States, killing approximately 38,000 people each year. In the United States, ˜3.2 million are chronically infected with hepatitis C, with an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 deaths annually; 19,000 annual deaths from alcohol related liver diseases. In addition, China has a high-risk population of 300 million for liver fibrosis, including more than 100 million hepatitis B and C virus carriers and 200 million fatty liver patients. A conservative estimate of the number of new liver fibrosis patients in China is 4 to 8 million per year.
Liver fibrosis is serious, with a five-year transition rate of liver cirrhosis (Stage 4 liver fibrosis) to liver cancer of 6-15%, and the five-year mortality rate of liver cancer is greater than 90%. Liver cirrhosis is non-reversible, and thus it is extremely important to detect liver fibrosis when it is in the early stage. However, early stage liver fibrosis is asymptomatic. Therefore, in most cases, it is often too late for a patient with a liver disease (hepatitis and fatty liver) to even realize they have a liver fibrosis problem. In addition, current technologies only allow patients to do the test in large hospitals.
The current gold standard for detecting liver fibrosis is using an invasive needle biopsy, and relying on a pathologist's visual examination of the tissue images. Problems with needle biopsy include 1) low accuracy, which is due to both the large sampling error and the variability of pathologist's reading, and 2) pain and the potential medical risks (e.g. excessive bleeding) associated with the invasive procedure. A noninvasive technology also exists, which is an ultrasound device to measure the stiffness of liver based on elastography. This competing technology is in the form of a bulky and expensive device that are found in limited hospitals, with limited accuracy. The methods disclosed herein address these and other needs.

Noninvasive methods for detecting liver fibrosis

Georgia State University Research Foundation, Inc.


Organically soluble intrinsically conductive polymer compositions having enhanced electrical conductivity are produced by adding a hygroscopic, water-insoluble plasticizer to an organically soluble intrinsically conductive polymer salt. Polymer blends containing such compositions are also produced by blending a matrix polymer with the plasticizer/ICP salt compositions. Methods for enhancing the electrical conductivity of an organically soluble intrinsically conductive polymer salt provide for the addition of a hygroscopic, water-insoluble plasticizer to an organically soluble intrinsically conductive polymer salt.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to intrinsically electrically conductive polymers and polymer blends and to methods for producing intrinsically electrically conductive polymers and polymer blends, and more particularly to such intrinsically conductive polymers and polymer blends having enhanced electrical conductivity, and to methods for producing such polymers and polymer blends having enhanced electrical conductivity.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Electrically conductive polymers are potentially extremely useful because of the combined properties of polymer processiblity coupled with electrical conductivity. It has been known for a long time that polymers can be made conductive by adding conducting additives like carbon black and metal particles but such additives are often highly colored, or opaque, and can also decrease the strength of the polymer.
More recently, it has been found that some polymers have appreciable electrical conductivity as an intrinsic property and can act as electrical conductors without the addition of conducting additives. Such polymers have been termed intrinsically conductive polymers (ICP's). Although many polymers have now been identified which act as ICP's, such polymers as polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyacetylene, and derivatives thereof, are characteristic. As used herein, the terms intrinsically conductive polymer, and ICP, will be understood to mean an organic polymer that contains polyconjugated bond systems and which can be doped with electron donor dopants or electron acceptor dopants to form a charge transfer complex that has an electrical conductivity of at least about 10.sup.-8 S/cm. Such doped ICP's will be referred to herein as the salts of intrinsically conductive polymers, or ICP salts. It will be understood that whenever an electrically conductive ICP is referred to herein, it is meant that the material is an ICP salt. Comprehensive reviews of ICP technology can be found in Synthetic Metals, vols. 17-19, 1987; vols. 28-30, 1989; and vols. 40-42, 1991.
Polyaniline has been of special interest due to its low cost, high stability under ambient conditions and capacity for being easily rendered conductive. Polyaniline occurs in at least four oxidation states: leuco-emeraldine, emeraldine salt, nigraniline and pernigraniline. Of these, the emeraldine salt form is the only electrically conductive state. In polyaniline, the presence or absence of a protonic acid dopant (counterion) can change the state of the polymer, respectively, from emeraldine salt to emeraldine base. Thus, the presence or absence of such a dopant can reversibly render the polymer conductive, or non-conductive. The use of protonic acids as dopants for ICP's such as polyaniline is well known and simple protonic acids such as HCl and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, or with functionalized organic acids such as para-toluenesulfonic acid (pTSA) or dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) results in the formation of conductive polyaniline.
Kahol et al., in Synth. Met., 84:691-694, 1997, reported that it is well known that the electrical conductivity of protonated polyaniline is enhanced due to the presence of moisture. Although several theories have been proposed to explain this effect, the mechanism is not known. See, e.g., Chiang, J.-C. and A. G. MacDiarmid, Synth. Met., 13:193, 1986; Angelopoulos, M. et al., Synth. Met., 21:21, 1987; Nechtschein, M., and C. Santier, J. Phys., 47:935, 1986; Focke, W. W., and G. E. Wnek, J. Electroanal. Chem. 256:343, 1988; Javadi, H. H. S. et al., Synth. Met., 26:1, 1988; Timofeeva, O. N. et al., Synth. Met., 40:111, 1991 and Shacklette, L. W., Synth. Met., 65:123, 1994.
Although electrical conductivity is often a key property of the final product of an ICP, one drawback has been that ICP's in their conductive forms are often difficult to process. Earlier, for example, it was felt that polyaniline, in doped, or salt, form was insoluble in all organic solvents and in neutral form, was soluble only in highly polar solvents, such as N-methyl pyrrolidone. More recently it has been found that certain methods of synthesis, and the use of certain functionalized organic acid dopants, render electrically conductive polyaniline salt more soluble in non-polar organic solvents. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,356, (use of hydrophobic counterions in emulsion polymerization with polar organic liquids) and WO 92/22911 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,324,453 and 5,232,631, (use of counterions having surfactant properties in emulsion polymerization with non-polar organic liquids). One potential drawback of polyaniline salts with high organic solubility can be the difficulty of providing sufficient moisture to the polyaniline to retain the desirably high electrical conductivity in highly organic systems.
In addition to solubility limitations of ICP's, melt processing of ICP's has also been difficult due to their tendency to destruct thermally prior to melting. Polymer blending has been tried, but conductivity is not always preserved, or may decrease to unacceptably low levels. Various additives such as surfactants, compatibilizers and/or plasticizers have been added to ICP's and blends to improve processibility and other mechanical properties, but many of these additives reduce the electrical conductivity. Consequently, recent experimentation has focused on ways to improve various processibility and mechanical properties of ICP's, while maintaining or improving the electrical conductivity.
For example, it is well known to use plasticizers in thermoset and thermoplastic polymers to improve the workability, flexibility, distensibility and/or impact resistance of the polymer during forming or in the final product. Plasticizers have also been added to ICP's to improve processibility. For example, Laska, J. et al., J. Appl. Poly. Sci., 61:1339-1343, 1996, investigated the rheological behavior of polyaniline plasticized with diisooctyl phosphate. Chen, S.-A., and Lee, H.-T., Macromolecules, 26:3254-3261, 1993, reported the structure and doping behavior of polyaniline plasticized with 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Later, the same group, Lee, H.-T. et al., Macromolecules, 28:7645-7652, 1995, reported the effect of NMP doping of polyaniline on the conductivity relaxation of films cast from the material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,478, to Han, disclosed a method for increasing the molecular weight of polyaniline by a controlled heating process. It was reported that shorter heating times could be employed by including a plasticizer with the polyaniline. It was believed that the plasticizer increased intrachain mobility of the polyaniline and facilitated chain coupling reactions resulting in polyanilines of higher molecular weight. An extensive list of possible plasticizing agents was provided, including several organic acids well known as dopants for polyaniline, but the effect of such plasticizers on electrical conductivity was not reported.
European Patent Application Publ. No. 0582 919 A2 reported the use of metals complexed with protonic acids as compositions useful for neutralizing, plasticizing, lowering the percolation threshold of, and/or stabilizing polyanilines, or derivatives thereof, which had been doped with a protonic acid. The preferred composition, a zinc oxide--dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (ZnO-DBSA) complex, was added to polyaniline doped with DBSA. Improved melt-processing properties and increased electrical conductivity were reported for such materials and for blends with thermoplastics. However, large amounts of organic acids were used to form the subject compositions, since high levels of acids were used in both the acid-doped polyaniline and in the metal-acid complex.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,649 and EP 497 514 A1, Kulkarni et al., reported the formation of conductive polymer blends containing an ICP and a thermoplastic polymer along with an acidic surfactant and from about 1% wt/wt to about 40% wt/wt of a highly polar, ester-free plasticizer such as a sulfonamide. In blends with polyvinylchloride and a sulfonamide plasticizer, polyaniline added from about 5% wt/wt to about 50% wt/wt of the blend resulted in a concommitant increase in electrical conductivity of the blend. A maximum conductivity of about 10 S/cm was reached at a polyaniline level of about 33% and a sulfonamide level of about 17%. The reference did not mention the moisture level of the compositions or the organic solubility of the polyaniline.
Later, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,483, the same group of investigators disclosed a process for producing a conductive polymer article. In one example, a sulfonamide plasticizer was used as an additive to polyaniline along with carbon black, chlorinated polyethylene, an organic surfactant and a stabilizer. As before, however, the moisture level of the compositions was not mentioned.
More recently, Kulkarni et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,689, taught the production of conductive ICP blends that contained non-polymeric polar additives such as sulfonamides in general and N-butylbenzene sulfonamide in particular. All ICP blends were produced with the highly polar polyaniline, VERSICON.RTM., that is known to have low solubility in non-polar organic liquids. No examples indicate the processibility of the products in organic solvents and no mention was made of methods to retain moisture in the processed materials.
The addition of surfactants, plasticizers and other processing aids to ICP blends with thermoplastic and thermosetting resins was mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,609, but the purpose of such additives was to improve the dispersion and film forming properties of the polymer dispersions rather than to modify the conductivity. Highly polar plasticizers such as sulfonamides, phosphate and benzoate esters were reported to be preferred for use with ICP blends with thermoplastics, but with the purpose of producing optimum film forming quality. However, Pron, A. et al., J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 63:971-977, 1997, disclosed that a mixture of phthalic and phosphoric acid esters improved the flexibility and also the conductivity of films cast from protonated polyaniline blends with cellulose acetate in m-cresol solutions. The addition of plasticizers significantly lowered the percolation threshold of the polyaniline/cellulose acetate blends. The polyaniline used in the study had been synthesized by standard aqueous oxidative polymerization and the emeraldine base was subsequently doped with such protonating agents as, camphor sulfonic acid, phenyl-phosphonic acid, dibutyl phosphate, dioctyl phosphate and diphenyl phosphate. However, the resulting polyaniline salt demonstrated a maximum solubility in m-cresol of less than 0.5% and solubility in such non-polar solvents as xylene would probably have been significantly lower.
Laska, J. et al., Materials Science Forum, 122:177-184, 1993, reported that the solubilization and plastification of polyaniline in the protonated state was improved by the addition of di-alkyl phosphate esters. Esters such as diisoctyl hydrogen phosphate and diisobutyl hydrogen phosphate served to protonate the polyaniline as well as to serve as plasticizers. Although the plasticized compounds were termed soluble in common solvents, the highest solubility in toluene or decalin was apparently under 10% wt/wt. Polyanilines complexed with such aliphatic esters, however, did not include any acid salts.
Later, the same group, Laska, J., et al., J. Polym. Sci.: Part A: Polym. Chem., 33:1437-1445, 1995, expanded the types of phosphoric acid diesters studied. Again it was reported that the diesters protonated the polyaniline base as well as served to plasticize the complex. But, again none of the aliphatic phosphate diester-plasticized compounds were the acid salts of ICP's. It was stated that the phosphoric acid diesters act as efficient polyaniline solubilizing agents and that diester protonated polyanilines readily dissolved in solvents such as toluene and xylene, but no level of solubility was given for these materials.
Ikkala et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,852, found that non-functional acids, such as hydrochloric acid and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, can be used as counter-ions for polyaniline complexes and polymer blends if certain organic cyclic compounds are also present. They disclosed that such organic cyclic compounds work as solvent-plasticizers in doped polyanilines where the doping counter-ion is not functionalized, and as compatibilizers where polyaniline is blended with another polymer. The organic cyclic compounds are disclosed to be sulfonamides or molecular recognition compounds capable of bonding with the six-membered rings of the polyaniline salt complexes. Since the purpose of the organic cyclic compounds was to facilitate the use of non-functional, protonic acids, such compounds were not added to polyanilines having functional organic acid dopants. No mention was made of the desirability or effect of moisture level in the compositions.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,038, to Kirmanen et al., a method was disclosed for preparing an electrically conductive doped polyaniline compound which contained the polyaniline, a doping acid such as DBSA, a metal compound such as zinc oxide, a base such as calcium carbonate and a plasticizing agent such as water, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alcohols and mixtures thereof. Such compound was reported to have low acidity, be easily processible at elevated temperatures and to be electrically conductive. Despite the addition of water, or low boiling alcohols, at the initial stage of forming the mixture, the final composition as manufactured would not contain a significant amount of such volatile plasticizing component because high temperatures employed during a subsequent melt-mixing step cause them to be driven off. The moisture level in the final composition was not disclosed to be important to the properties of the composition.
Although it is known that the electrical conductivity of ICP's, and especially polyaniline, can be enhanced by increasing the moisture level in the composition, no method is available to obtain enhanced levels of conductivity in ICP compositions having high organic solubility and to retain the enhanced level of conductivity under conditions that leach out water soluble components. Methods to maintain such enhanced conductivity, while at the same time enhancing the processibility and mechanical properties of such organically soluble ICP's, would be extremely useful for the production of ICP's and polymer blends containing ICP's having high organic solubility, improved mechanical properties and enhanced electrical conductivity.

Intrinsically conductive polymer/plasticizer blends with enhanced conductivity


A steering control system comprises a steering component, a turning component, and a backup mechanism for alternately mechanically separating and linking steering and turning components. A steer-by-wire control unit is provided for executing steer-by-wire control of a turning actuator to a turning angle corresponding to a steering condition and control of a steering reaction force actuator for imparting steering reaction force corresponding to the turning condition. A steering assistance control unit is selectively linked to the backup mechanism to executing steering assistance control for at least one of the steering reaction force actuator and the turning actuator. A control switching unit is provided for controlling a shift, under predetermined conditions, between control by the steer-by-wire control unit and control by the steering assistance control unit.

Recently vehicle steering devices have been proposed that provide so-called steer-by-wire (hereafter, "SBW") systems and disengage the mechanical link between the steering wheel and the vehicle turning wheels to activate a steering system employing an electronic route. With these types of SBW mechanisms, it is important to provide a fail-safe countermeasure to deal with instances in which, for example, an irregularity arises in the actuator used for steering reaction force. In this regard, in instances of irregularity, system check, failure diagnosis, or maximum turning angle execution, configurations have been proposed that function as a regular electromotive power steering device (hereafter, "EPS"), which suspends control by a reaction force controller, engages a backup mechanism for mechanically linking the steering members and the vehicle turning wheels, switches control in order to provide steering assistance to the steering control component, and controls the turning actuator. See, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2004-090783, published Mar. 25, 2004 (filed Aug. 30, 2002).


A mobile terminal includes a battery; a power supply block which supplies power of the battery; and a radio communication block which communicates with a base station when the power is supplied from the battery through the power supply block. The mobile terminal further includes a first switch which is interposed between the power supply block and the radio communication block; and a key operation section to which the power is always supplied from the battery through the power supply block. A control unit controls the first switch to stop the power supply from the battery to the radio communication block in response to a manual operation of the key operation section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile phone, and more particularly to a mobile phone with a power saving function.
2. Description of the Related Art
A recent mobile phone has various functions in addition to an original communication function. For example, a mobile phone is used widely which has application functions such as a schedule managing function, a calculator function, a musical reproducing function, a game function, an alarm (awaking) function, and a digital camera function. In such a mobile phone, a call waiting function is operating while any application function other than the communication function is used.
There is a case that the mobile phone is carried in a travel, because the above-mentioned application functions are provided for the mobile phone. However, when any base station does not exist for the mobile phone, the mobile phone always tries to communicate with the base station at the maximum transmission power. As a result, there is a possibility that a battery is consumed and the time period during which the application function of the mobile phone can be used becomes short extremely. The power consumption of the battery can be avoided, even if the power is turned on only for the use of the application function and the power is turned off after the use. However, during the use of the alarm (awaking) function, the power supply cannot be switched off.
As the power saving function of the mobile phone, a method is known in which the power supply is switched off while a call signal to a mobile phone other than the mobile phone of a user is received, as disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Showa 57-54442). According to this method, the call signal to the mobile phone of the user is used as a trigger and the power supply of the mobile phone is switched off until the reception of call signal. Also, a method is known in which all the reception operations are stopped for a predetermined time when input electric field becomes continuously lower than a predetermined level in the receiving operation, as disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei 4-355524).
In the above-mentioned conventional techniques, it is necessary to carry out the reception of the call signal intermittently. Therefore, it is impossible to switch off the power supply continuously. Also, in the above-mentioned conventional techniques, there is no description about the mobile phone with the application functions other than the communication function. The measure to the above-mentioned situation is not considered.
In conjunction with the above description, a cordless telephone apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei 6-69854). The codeless telephone apparatus of this conventional example consists of a parent apparatus connected with a telephone line in a wire, and a child apparatus connected with the telephone line through the parent apparatus to which is connected in a radio channel. The child apparatus has a battery, and receives a control signal from the parent apparatus intermittently such that the connection and disconnection of the battery is controlled. The child apparatus contains a plurality of period generation sections generating a plurality of intermittent reception periods. A period selection section selects one of the period generation sections for a necessary intermittent reception period. A microcomputer controls all kinds of operations of the child apparatus. The child apparatus further contains a switch to inform the stop of the reception from the parent apparatus to the microcomputer, and a timer as a 24-hour timer. A switching time storage section stores a time for the period generation section to be switched, a time for the operation to be switched from the intermittent reception from the parent apparatus to the receiving operation stop, or a time for the operation to be switched from the receiving operation stop to the intermittent reception from the parent apparatus. In the child apparatus, in case that the reception is not stopped, the period selection section selects one of the period generation sections based on a time measured by the timer and the switching time stored in the switching time memory to switch into the intermittent reception period. In case that the reception is stopped, the period selection section selects one of the period generation sections based on a time measured by the timer and the switching time stored in the switching time memory to switch from the intermittent reception operation into the reception stop operation.
Also, a cordless telephone apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei 6-112889). This conventional example is composed of a plurality of parent apparatuses and child apparatuses. While the child apparatus is in a call waiting state, a control unit does not carry out confirmation of an area of the child apparatus through the parent apparatuses. While the child apparatus is in a communication state, the control unit changes the parent apparatuses from one into another in accordance with a reception level of a communication channel.
Also, a variable intermittent reception system in a mobile communication is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei 7-131404). A mobile terminal of this conventional example is composed of a radio receiving section, a timing generating section which generating a timing signal for the receiving operation of the radio receiving section, a memory which stores a scheduled time, a timer, and a control unit. When the timer indicates the scheduled time, the control unit controls the timing generating section such that an intermittent reception ratio is increased.
Also, a mobile communication system with an emergency signal transmitting and receiving function is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-P2002-9686A). This conventional example is relates to a mobile communication system of a mobile phone of a PDC method, various CDMA methods and a mobile terminal of PHS. The mobile terminal has an emergency signal transmission section which sends an emergency signal through an operation of the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is in a communication area of a base station and is not in the communication area thereof. The base station has an emergency signal response processor which receives the emergency signal from the mobile terminal and notifies to a center which has an urgent time mobile terminal situation display section which receives the emergency signal from the base station and displays the contents of the emergency signal and specifies the position of the mobile terminal. A moving base station has a center having a terminal situation display mechanical section which receives the emergency signal, and displays the contents of the emergency signal and specifies the position of the mobile terminal.
Also, a method of switching to a power saving mode in a radio communication system is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-P2002-158609A). In this conventional example, a TDMA radio communication system is composed of a base station and a plurality of terminal stations. The base station transmits a power saving mode switching instruction to the plurality of terminal stations. Each of the terminal stations receives the power saving mode switching instruction and changes into an intermittent reception operation, after transmitting the state of the terminal station and confirmation of the reception of the switching instruction to the base station. When receiving the state of the terminal station and confirmation of the reception of the switching instruction from each of the terminal stations, the base station changes from a continuation transmission operation of information into an intermittent transmission operation and into an intermittent reception operation.


Lighting devices include multiple emitters (e.g., LEDs, optionally in combination with one or more lumiphors) arranged to be operated in multiple operating states arranged to produce different gamut area index (GAI) or relative gamut (Qg) values, preferably in conjunction with a small or imperceptible change in luminous flux and/or color point. A first emitter or emitter group and a second emitter or emitter group may be separately arranged to produce white light with different gamut areas. Adjustment of operation of emitters may be responsive to a user input element or sensor.

Solid state emitters such as LEDs or lasers may be used to provide white light (e.g., perceived as being white or near-white), and are increasingly attractive as potential replacements for white incandescent lamps. Solid state emitters may include lumiphoric materials (also known as lumiphors) that absorb a portion of emissions having a first peak wavelength emitted by the emitter and re-emit light having a second peak wavelength that differs from the first peak wavelength. Phosphors, scintillators, and lumiphoric inks are common lumiphoric materials. Light perceived as white or near-white may be generated by a combination of red, green, and blue ("RGB") emitters, or, alternatively, by combined emissions of a blue light emitting diode ("LED") and a lumiphor such as a yellow phosphor (e.g., YAG:Ce or Ce:YAG). In the latter case, a portion of the blue LED emissions pass through the phosphor, while another portion of the blue emissions is downconverted to yellow, and the blue and yellow light in combination are perceived as white. White light may also be produced by stimulating phosphors or dyes of multiple colors with a violet or ultraviolet (UV) LED source.
It is known to enclose an LED chip in a package to provide environmental and/or mechanical protection, color selection, light focusing and other functions. A LED package also includes electrical leads, contacts, and/or traces for electrically connecting the LED package to an external circuit. A conventional LED package 20 is illustrated in FIG. 1, including one or more LED chips 22 mounted over a carrier such as a printed circuit board (PCB) carrier, substrate or submount 23, which may include ceramic material. The package 20 may include one or more LED chips 22 of any suitable spectral output (e.g., ultraviolet, blue, green, red, white (e.g., blue LED chip arranged to stimulate emissions of phosphor material) and/or other colors). A reflector 24 may be mounted on the submount 23 (e.g., with solder or epoxy) to surround the LED chip(s) 22, reflect light emitted by the LED chips 22 away from the package 20, and also provide mechanical protection to the LED chips 22. One or more wirebond connections 21 may be made between ohmic contacts on the LED chips 22 and electrical traces 25A, 25B on the submount 23. The LED chips 22 are covered with a transparent encapsulant 26, which may provide environmental and mechanical protection to the chips while also acting as a lens.
Emissions of a blue LED in combination with a yellow or green lumiphoric material may be near-white in character and referred to as "blue-shifted yellow" ("BSY") light or "blue-shifted green" ("BSG") light. Addition of red spectral output from a red-emitting LED (to yield a "BSY+R" device) or from a red lumiphoric material (to yield a "BS(Y+R)" device) may be used to increase the warmth of the aggregated light output and better approximate light produced by incandescent lamps.
Quality artificial lighting generally attempts to emulate the characteristics of natural light. Natural light sources include daylight with a relatively high color temperature (e.g., ˜5000K) and incandescent lamps with a lower color temperature (e.g., ˜2800K).
Color reproduction is commonly measured using Color Rendering Index (CRI) or average Color Rendering Index (CRI Ra). To calculate CRI, the color appearance of 14 reflective samples is simulated when illuminated by a reference radiator (illuminant) and the test source. The general or average color rendering index CRI Ra is a modified average utilizing the first eight indices, all of which have low to moderate chromatic saturation. (R9 is one of six saturated test colors not used in calculating CRI, with R9 embodying a large red content.) CRI and CRI Ra are used to determine how closely an artificial light source matches the color rendering of a natural light source at the same correlated color temperature. Daylight has a high CRI Ra (approximately 100), with incandescent bulbs also being relatively close (CRI Ra greater than 95), and fluorescent lighting being less accurate (with typical CRI Ra values of approximately 70-80).
CRI Ra (or CRI) alone is not a satisfactory measure of the benefit of a light source, since it confers little ability to predict color discrimination (i.e., to perceive subtle difference in hue) or color preference. There appears to be a natural human attraction to brighter color. Daylight provides a spectrum of light that allows the human eye to perceive bright and vivid colors, which allows objects to be distinguished even with subtle color shade differences. Accordingly, it is generally recognized that daylight is the "best" light for emphasizing and distinguishing color. The ability of human vision to differentiate color is different under correlated color temperature conditions providing the same CRI Ra. Such differentiation is proportional to the gamut of the illuminating light.
Gamut area of a light source can be calculated as the area enclosed within a polygon defined by the chromaticities in CIE 1976 u′v′ color space of the eight color chips used to calculate CRI Ra when illuminated by a test light source. Gamut area index (GAI) is a convenient way of characterizing in chromaticity space how saturated the illumination makes objects appear—with a larger GAI making object colors appear more saturated. GAI is a relative number whereby an imaginary equal-energy spectrum (wherein radiant power is equal at all wavelengths) is scored as 100. GAI for a test source is determined by comparing color space area of the light being tested to the color space area produced by the imaginary or theoretical equal-energy spectrum (EES) source. Unlike CRI Ra (or CRI), which has a maximum value of 100, GAI can exceed 100, meaning that some sources saturate colors more than an equal-energy source serves to saturate color.
It is found that typical blackbody-like light sources and typical daylight-like light sources have different gamut areas. Low correlated color temperature (CCT) sources (e.g., incandescent emitters) have a gamut area index of approximately 50% (i.e., about half the gamut area of the EES source). Sources with higher CCT values have a larger GAI. For example, a very bluish light with a CCT of 10,000K may have a GAI of 140%.
Another way of characterizing how saturated an illuminant makes objects appear is relative gamut area, or Qg, which is the area formed by the (a*, b*) coordinates of the 15 test-color samples in CIELAB normalized by the gamut area of a reference illuminant at the same CCT and multiplied by 100. Like GAI, Qg values can exceed 100. Because of chromatic adaptation, and because CCT is selected to set the overall color tone of an environment as part of the lighting design process, variable-reference measures such as Qg may be especially relevant to applied lighting design. If the relative gamut is greater than that of the reference, and illuminance is lower than that provided by daylight, then an increase in preference and discrimination might be expected relative to the reference at that same CCT. Conversely, if the relative gamut is smaller than that of the reference, then a decrease in preference and discrimination might be expected relative to the reference at the same CCT.
The reference spectra used in color rendering index calculations were chosen as ideal illumination sources defined in terms of their color temperature. As a heated object becomes incandescent, it first glows reddish, then yellowish, then white, and finally bluish. Thus, apparent colors of incandescing materials are directly related to their actual temperature (in Kelvin (K). Practical materials that incandesce are said to have correlated color temperature (CCT) values that are directly related to color temperatures of blackbody sources. CCT is intended to characterize the apparent "tint" of the illumination (e.g., warm or cool) produced by an electric light source. Certain implicit assumptions are embedded in this CCT designation—such as the assumption that chromaticities along the line of blackbody radiation are perceived as 'white', and that a CCT designation for a manufactured light source implies consistency in chromaticities of all sources having that designation. Recent research suggests, however, that most sources with chromaticities along the line of blackbody radiation do not appear "white"; rather, such sources provide illumination with discernible tint. An empirically established line of minimum tint in CIE 1931 (x,y) chromaticity space for CCTs between 2700K and 6500K is shown in FIG. 2 Researchers have determined that a majority of people prefer sources of illumination on this "white body line" (i.e., line of minimum tint) more than those of the same CCT line of blackbody radiation. (See, e.g., Rea, M. S. and Freyssinier, J. P.: White lighting for residential applications, Light Res. Tech., 45(3), pp. 331-344 (2013).) As shown in FIG. 2, at CCT values below about 4000K, the "white body line" (WBL) is below the blackbody curve, whereas at higher CCT values, the WBL is above the blackbody curve.
Rea and Freyssinier have proposed that lighting could be generally improved by ensuring that its CRI Ra value is at least 80 while its GAI is in a range of from 80 to 100 (i.e., from 80% to 100% of an equal energy spectrum).
Characteristics including CCT, CRI Ra, GAI, CIE 1931 (x,y) coordinates, luminous efficacy (Im/W), and scotopic/photopic (S/P) ratios for eighteen different light sources are tabulated in FIG. 3A, and chromaticities for selected sources of the foregoing eighteen light sources are plotted in FIG. 3B together with the blackbody curve and the WBL (line of minimum tint). (Source: "Value Metrics for Better Lighting," Rea, Mark S., et al., 2013, pp. 54 & 63, SPIE Press (Bellingham, Wash., US), ISBN 978-0-8194-9322-4.) As indicated in FIG. 3A, the ability of artificial lights to accurately illuminate color objects varies enormously by type. Solid state emitters such as LEDs in combination with lumiphors create white light by mixing relatively narrow wavelength bands together with spectral gaps between peaks of LEDs and/or lumiphors. The resulting light may be under-saturated with certain colors of the spectrum or oversaturated with certain colors. One way to alleviate oversaturation with respect to certain portions of the visible spectrum and thereby improve CRI includes notch filtering of LED lighting systems with an optical element (e.g., incorporating a rare earth compound such as neodymium oxide, or a color pigment) that filters light emissions so that light passing through or reflected by the optical element exhibits a spectral notch, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0170199 A2 entitled "LED lighting using spectral notching" (which is hereby incorporated by reference herein). Such publication discloses that CRI and GAI values of LED light sources can be improved through use of notch filtering, such as to increase CRI from 84 to 90, and to increase GAI from 50 to 58. Alternatively, careful selection of materials used in LED lighting devices may permit attainment of CRI Ra values of 90 to 95 or more—see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,213,940, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Usage of notch filtered light sources (such as widely available General Electric Reveal® incandescent light bulbs) or unfiltered light sources may be a matter of personal preference. Although a majority of viewers may subjectively prefer notch filtered light sources over unfiltered sources for general interior illumination, a minority of viewers may not. Additionally, such preference may depend on the object(s) or surfaces to be illuminated, and/or the presence or absence of natural light such as may enter an interior space through one or more windows at certain times of day. It can be challenging to accommodate viewer-dependent and/or context-dependent preferences when selecting artificial light sources.
The art continues to seek improved solid state lighting devices providing desirable illumination characteristics and capable of overcome challenges associated with conventional lighting devices.


A noise resistant static memory device is presented which is capable of reading correct data from the memory cells even in the presence of a sharp pulse noise. This is achieved by providing a signal change detection circuit which detects that a extraneous signal having a very short pulse width has been included in the read out data. In the conventional design based on auto power-down system, this type of sharp pulse will result in the destruction of the latched data because of automatic resetting of the memory read out circuit. In the invented device, resetting is nullified simultaneously with the detection of the noise signal, thereby enabling the data read out circuit to read the data again, thereby enabling to repeat the reading step. The device thus provides noise-resistant reliable memory read out performance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to static semiconductor memory devices, such as static RAM, and relates in particular to a memory device which performs stably even if noise is superimposed on the readout control signal.
2. Technical Background of the Invention
Semiconductor memory devices, such as static RAM, are known to utilize internal synchronization method to reduce the power consumption for its operation. The internal synchronization method is a method in which the peripheral circuits of the memory cells are operated, for each change in the address memory, only during a fixed interval of time based on a base pulse signal. This method requires an address change detection circuit ATD which detects a change in the address signal and generates the above mentioned base pulse signal.
Another technique belonging to the internal synchronization method aiming to further reduce the power consumption is known as a pulse drive method. This method is based on pulse driving of the circuits for a fixed time interval, such as word line connected to the memory circuit and the sense amplifier circuit connected to the word line for detecting the data read from the memory cells, in accordance with the base pulse signal generated by the address change detection circuit ATD. This method is referred to as the word line pulse driving method, or the auto power-down method, and is effective for reducing the power consumption of static RAM devices, for example.
FIG. 9 is a schematic circuit diagram for an example of the control circuit 10 using the auto power-down method for devices such as static RAM . This control circuit 10 is provided with pulse width amplifiers 30 and 40. The pulse width amplifier 30 receives the signal via a buffer 102, and outputs signals of pulse widths governed by the delay capacitances C1-C3. The pulse width amplifier 40 receives the signal via a buffer 123, and outputs signals of pulse widths governed by the delay capacitance C4.
The operation of the control circuit 10 for memory readout will be explained with reference to FIG. 10. When there is a change in the externally supplied address signal ADDRESS, then address change detection circuit ATD (not shown) generates a address change signal ATP.sub.1 -ATP.sub.n in accordance with this change. The address change signals ATP.sub.1 -ATP.sub.n are synthesized through the switching elements 1-13 shown in FIG. 9, and inputted into the control circuit 10. The signals are inputted into the pulse width amplifier 30 or 40, through the respective buffer 102 or 123, which generate control signals APD', ATDS' having amplified signal widths as illustrated in FIG. 10.
The control signals APD', ATDS' are used to control various signals which control the overall operations of the static RAM device. For example, the control signals APD', ATDS' along with write enable signals WE', WE and chip select signals CS', CS are inputted into the signal generation circuit shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, and generate signals SAON, DOC, LAT and LAT'. The signal generation circuit shown in FIG. 4 consists of a NAND gate 400 and a buffer 401, and generates a control signal SAON for controlling the ON-OFF actions of sense amplifier circuit 50 (to be explained later) in accordance with the signals WE', ATDS' and CS supplied thereto. The signal generation circuit shown in FIG. 5 consists of buffers 500, 503 and NAND gates 501, 502, and generates a signal DOC. The signal generation circuit shown in FIG. 6 consists of NAND gates 600, 601 and buffers 602, 603, and generate signal LAT, LAT'. The signals DOC, LAT, LAT' are used to control the operation of the data output circuit 60 (to be explained later) shown in FIG. 7. When reading out data from the memory cells, the signals WE' and CS are at the high level "H" while the signals WE, CS' are at the low level "L".
As shown in FIG. 10, when the address signal ADDRESS changes, the control signal APD' changes from the low level (henceforth referred to as the L level) to the high level (henceforth referred to as the H level) while the control signal ATDS' changes from the H level to the L level. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the signals SAON, DOC, LAT' change respectively to the L level, and the signal LAT changes to the H level.
At this time, the sense amplifier circuit 50 (refer to FIG. 7) becomes off state in response to signal SAON, and the P-channel pullup transistors 300, 301 both become on state, causing both output signals SO, SO' from the sense amplifier circuit 50 to be charged to the H level. Here, the clocked inverter 302, 303 supplied with the signals SO, SO' become non-transmitting in response to signal LAT' while the clocked inverter 306, 307 becomes transmitting in response to signal LAT. At this time further because the signal DOC is at the L level, the input signals GP, GN to the data outputting circuit 60 are both set to the L level. Accordingly, the P-channel transistor 350 and the N-channel transistor 351, which constitute the output driver of the data outputting circuit 60, both become off state, and the output terminal OUT becomes high impedance state.
Next, when the above mentioned signal ATDS' changes from the L level to the H level, the signals SAON, DOC and LAT' change from the respective L level to the H level, and the signal LAT changes from the H level to the L level. In this case, the sense amplifier circuit 50 (refer to FIG. 7) becomes on state because the signal SAON is at the H level, and the P-channel pullup transistors 300, 301 both become off state. Therefore, the output signals SO, SO' of the circuit 50 are supplied with the data read out from the memory cells. At this time, the clocked inverter 302, 303 become transmitting, and the clocked inverter 306, 307 become non-transmitting. Here, because the signal DOC is at the H level, one of either the signals GP or GN changes from the L level to the H level in accordance with the data read out from the memory cells. As a result, one of the P-channel transistor 350 or the N-channel transistor 351 becomes on state, and the data from the memory cells are outputted to the output terminal OUT.
Next, after the address signal ADDRESS changes as described above and a given time interval has elapsed, and suppose that the control signal APD' changes from the H level to the L level, and the signal ATDS' changes from the H level to the L level. Accordingly, both control signals SAON, LAT' change from the H level to the L level, and the signal LAT changes from the L level to the H level. When such changes take place, the sense amplifier circuit 50 shown in FIG. 7 becomes off state, and the P-channel pullup transistor 300, 301 becomes on state. Therefore, the output signals SO, SO' are again set to the H level. This means that the power consumption in the sense amplifier circuit 50 is shut down.
Further, in such a condition of the circuit, the clocked inverter 302, 303 are non-transmitting, and the clocked inverter 306, 307 are transmitting. The signal DOC maintains the H level state, the input signals GP, GN in the data outputting circuit 60 remain in latched with the data from the memory cells. Therefore, one of either the P-channel transistor 350 or the N-channel transistor 351 maintains the on state, and the data from the memory cells continue to be outputted to output terminal OUT.
In the memory devices based on the above described conventional auto power-down system, the pulse widths of the control signals APD', ATDS' are determined by the pulse width amplifier 30, 40 (refer to FIG. 9). It is essential that these signals APD', ATDS' be structured such that the memory cell data can be read out correctly even when a false data, for example noise, represented by A' in FIG. 10 is generated during a change in the address signal ADDRESS. To cope with such problems, the control circuit 10 shown in FIG. 9 rapidly switches the control signal APD' from the L level to the H level, by utilizing a number of transistors 108-110 to charge or discharge the nodes of the pulse width amplifier 30. Accordingly, the auto power-down system is rapidly reset to enable repeated reading out of the correct data in accordance with the correct address signal A which follows the false address signal A' caused by the noise. The series of events are illustrated in the latter half of FIG. 10.
However, delay capacitances C1, C2 and C3 are connected to the nodes of the pulse width amplifier 30 for controlling the pulse width of the control signal APD. Therefore, to completely reset the auto power-down mode, it is necessary to completely charge or discharge all of the nodes. In other words, in the node B shown in FIG. 10, it becomes necessary to have a pulse signal of a pulse width which maintains the H level for a specific time interval or duration (designated by T1).
For example, if a noise A' such as the one shown in FIG. 11 appears in the address signal ADDRESS a pulse signal having a pulse width less than T1 is created in the node B (shown in amplifier 30 circuit in FIG. 9). This phenomenon prevents complete charging or discharging of each node in the pulse width amplifier 30, thus generating a control signal APD of a short width. When such a control signal APD having a short pulse width is generated, the control signal ATDS' outputted from the pulse width amplifier 40 (refer to FIG. 9) maintains the L level. In response to such changes in the control signals APD', ATDS', the output signals from each of the signal generating circuits shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, behave as illustrated in FIG. 11. That is, signals SAON, LAT' maintains the L level and the signal LAT maintains the H level, and only the signal DOC becomes the L level signal having a short pulse duration.
In such a condition, the sense amplifier circuit 50 and the data outputting circuit 60 behave as follows. Because the signal SAON becomes the L level, the sense amplifier circuit 50 retains the off state. The signal LAT' and the signal LAT remain at the L level, therefore, the clocked inverter 302, 303 become non-transmitting while the clocked inverter 306, 307 remains transmitting. At this time, the data outputting circuit 60 is inputted with the latched data read out from the memory cells, and one of either the P-channel transistor 350 or the N-channel transistor 351 is retained in the on state. As a result, the data read out from the memory cells are continued to be outputted to the output terminal OUT.
In this condition, if an L level signal is generated only in the signal DOC, the latched data in the signals GP, GN to be inputted to the data outputting circuit 60 are destroyed, and both signals GP, GN are reset to the L level. Therefore, the P-channel transistor 350 and the N-channel transistor 351 both become off state, and this created the problem that ultimately the readout data could not be outputted from the output terminal OUT.
The static semiconductor memory device of the present invention was developed in view of the problems of the existing memory devices as described above, and the objective is to present a highly reliable memory device which is unaffected by external as well as internal noises.


A coffee pod storage device to hold a pod of beverage may include a base to support the pod holder, a spacer to connect to the base, a disk to rotate with respect to the spacer, and a pad chair connected to the disk to pivot as the disk is rotated and to hold a beverage pod.

1. Field of the Invention
Examples of the present disclosure are related to systems and methods for a coffee pod storage device. More particularly, embodiments relate to a rotatable coffee pod storage device that is configured to hold coffee pod in different orientations.
2. Background
Single serving coffee makers, such as Keurig, have become prevalent in the marketplace. These single serving coffee makers have a variety of configurations, such as single-serve coffee pods, packets, etc. A single-serve coffee pod typically includes pre-ground coffee secured within a relatively small disposable container.
When using coffee pods, users are required to purchase an ample amount of the coffee pods. However, storing the coffee pods may require an excessive amount of space. The quantity of stored and readily accessible coffee pods makes effectively and efficiently storing coffee pods arduous.
Conventionally, coffee pods are stored in racks with a plurality of rows and columns. However, these racks require valuable shelf or cabinet space.
Accordingly, needs exist for more effective and efficient systems and methods storing coffee pods.


Apparatus for performing ultraviolet laser ablation of a surface, eg. an eye surface, including a laser delivery system (7) having a laser source (1) for generating a laser beam (2) and optics for applying the laser beam to the surface to be ablated, means (20, 20′) for providing a compatible liquid (32) in contact with the surface (4a) to be ablated, in a position whereby said laser beam (2) is applied to said surface through the liquid, wherein the laser beam is of a wavelength that substantially is not absorbed by the liquid.

A number of refractive surgery operations involve the removal of small amounts of corneal tissue to effect a refractive change. In earlier developed laser operations such as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), the epithelial layer is manually removed and then Bowman's membrane and part of the stroma are ablated by laser energy. This operation can lead to unwanted side effects, such as corneal haze, and is not suitable for higher refractive errors.
A more recently developed refractive operation called laser in situ keratomiluesis (LASIK) maintains the integrity of the epithelial layer and Bowman's membrane. A flap of tissue is displaced from the anterior cornea and a minute amount of tissue in the shape of a lens is removed from the stromal bed or from the underside of the lenticule, by way of laser ablation. The corneal lenticule or "flap" is then replaced to its original position creating an optical correction.
The LASIK refractive surgery procedure produces fewer side effects and quicker healing relative to PRK, as the epithelium and Bowman's membrane are left intact. Because the epithelium is generally not touched in LASIK, there is also less pain for the patient and the healing process is enhanced with LASIK, presumably because the healing region is protected: there is moreover only one type of tissue involved in the healing process instead of two. It is thought that about 80% of laser eye surgery is now LASIK rather than PRK.
Notwithstanding these advantages, a known problem with LASIK is that the corneal surface formed by the microkeratome cut is relatively rough and this reduces the patient's vision for watching the fixation light, important for maintaining the pupil correctly aligned, and furthermore reduces the vision of the eye tracker device used to guide the laser delivery system. It is thought that these two issues contribute to the known outcome that the statistical success rate of LASIK is similar to PRK despite the enhanced healing process.
It is therefore an object of the invention, in a preferred application, to address the aforementioned problems with LASIK in an effort to more consistently achieve the outcome expected of LASIK relative to PRK. It is a more general object to provide an improved ultraviolet laser ablation procedure.

Apparatus and procedure for ultraviolet laser ablation


A method of configuring a logging utility includes generating, by a computer system, at least one message based on a model of logs from at least two software components of a multi-component application and sending, by the computer system, the message to at least one of the two software components for configuring a logging utility of the corresponding software component.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to log files, and more particularly to configuring log files of a distributed application.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Computer data logging is a process of recording events, with an automated computer program, in a certain scope to provide an audit trail that can be used to understand the activity of a system and to diagnose problems.
A distributed application is a software system with at least two distinct and interrelated software components that are capable of running on two or more computers and communicating across a computer network. These software components may also reside on a single computer and communicate with each other using internal communications mechanisms.
Each software component can provide its own tool for managing the creation of its log files. However, since there may be a multitude of software components each with their own interface, it can be difficult for a single user to manage all of them. Further, the logs generated by these components may provide information that is redundant or less than useful. Thus, the log files may use up valuable disk space, which may affect the performance of the system.
Accordingly, there is a need for methods and systems for managing log files.

Log configuration of distributed applications

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A camera-mounted VTR having a grip part for holding a main unit of the VTR at one side surface of the main unit of the VTR. A view finder is provided at the main unit of the VTR in such a way as it may be raised or inclined in respect to the main unit of the VTR and at the same time a recording button is arranged at a location hidden by the view finder when the main unit of the VTR is inclined.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a camera-mounted VTR which can be used while a view finder is set at a low angle under its raised state.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An 8-mm camera-mounted VTR is well known in the art. This prior art will be described more practically in reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, wherein reference numeral 100 denotes a camera-mounted VTR, a right side of a main unit 101 of the VTR is a grip part 102 for holding the main unit 101 of the VTR, and its opposite side is a VTR deck 103 composed of a well-known cassette holder, a tape loading mechanism and a rotary head drum or the like. At the front surface of the front part 101a of the main unit 101 of the VTR is provided with a camera lens 104 and a microphone 105, and a view finder 106 is arranged from the upper part of the grip part 102 of the main unit 101 of the VTR to its rear part.
The aforesaid view finder 106 is substantially composed of a view finder main body 107 comprised of a pair of upper and lower cases, a CRT (a cathode ray tube) (CRT) (not shown) stored in the view finder main body 107 and an eye lens barrel 110 having a visibility adjusting means 108 and an eye cap 109 or the like. As shown in FIG. 17, a start/stop push type recording button 111 is arranged at a position where a thumb of a user may abut against a rear surface 102a of the grip part 102 of the main unit 101 of the VTR. This recording button 111 is seen or hidden under a sliding movement of a sliding button 112 acting as an operating button, sliding in a vertical direction of a longitudinal recess part 102b formed at the rear surface 102a of the grip part 102. The recording button 111 is covered by the sliding button 112 to enable a non-required recording to be prevented from being carried out. In FIG. 17, reference numeral 113 denotes a grip belt arranged at a side surface of the grip part 102.


A temperature regulator main body is connected to a cooling hole formed in a temperature regulating part under a hopper through a tube and comprises a tank for a cooling medium, a pump, a radiator, and a fan facing the radiator to send cold air and driven by a motor. By driving of the pump, the cooling medium circulates between the temperature regulating part under the hopper and the temperature regulator main body. A temperature sensor is provided to the temperature regulating part under the hopper. A controller for controlling an injection molding machine cools the circulating cooling medium by the fan and feedback controls the temperature of the temperature regulating part under the hopper when a temperature detected by the temperature sensor is higher than a preset temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an injection molding machine and particularly to a temperature regulator of a temperature regulating part under a hopper.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an injection molding machine, resin as molding material is charged into a heating cylinder from a hopper, the resin as the molding material is heated and melted by rotation of a screw disposed in the heating cylinder and a heater disposed at an outer periphery of the heating cylinder, and the molten resin is injected into a mold. Because the resin as the molding material is charged into the heated heating cylinder, the resin as the molding material is partially melted in a charging portion from the hopper and the molten resin parts are coupled to each other to form bridges and, as a result, obstructs entrance of the resin into the heating cylinder. To solve this problem, a part under the hopper is conventionally treated as a temperature regulating part under the hopper (water jacket) a temperature of which should be regulated.
For example, there is art in which a radiator is disposed to face a fan of an air-cooling mechanism for an injection motor, a pump circulates cooling water between a temperature regulating part under a hopper and a radiator, the cooling water is heat-exchanged with cold air sent by the fan in the radiator, and the temperature regulating part under the hopper is cooled with the cooling water as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 62-284715.
There is also art in which a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature in a heating cylinder and a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of abase block (a temperature regulating part under a hopper) are provided, a temperature controller sends a water temperature control signal and a water flow rate control signal to a drive unit of a water supplying device based on signals from the two temperature sensors, the drive unit drives a temperature regulator based on the water temperature control signal to adjust a temperature of water circulating among the base block (the temperature regulating part under the hopper), the temperature regulator, and a pump and to control a water flow rate of the pump based on the water flow rate control signal as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-179416.
There is a temperature controller including a pump for circulating a cooling medium between a temperature regulating part under a hopper and a cooling medium tank, a heater for heating a cooling medium cooling part and the cooling medium in the tank, and a temperature control unit for detecting a temperature of the cooling medium to perform an ON/OFF control of the heater as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-137271.
Moreover, there is a controller which includes a temperature regulator having a heat exchanger, a refrigerant heater, a refrigerant refrigerator, a temperature detector, a refrigerant circulating pump, an industrial water circulating pump, and the like and in which the refrigerant and the industrial water are heat-exchanged with each other by the heat exchanger to control the temperature of the refrigerant at a predetermined temperature to control the temperature of a cylinder flange (temperature regulating part under the hopper) as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-172667.
Although the various devices have been developed as a temperature regulator of a temperature regulating part under the hopper as described above, they require a heater or a refrigerator. Moreover, they require the specific controller for controlling the temperature. For example, in the above art described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 62-284715, temperature control is not carried out. The above art described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-179416 requires a cooling medium refrigerating portion and a heater and also requires the specific temperature control portion for controlling the temperature. Furthermore, the above art pieces described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-137271 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-172667 include the means for heating and cooling the refrigerant and the controller for controlling the means and are expensive.

Temperature regulator of temperature regulating part under hopper of injection molding machine


An exhaust-gas purifying apparatus includes an outer cylinder, a plurality of cylinder-shaped supports, and a catalytic layer. The cylinder-shaped supports are disposed in the outer cylinder, and have an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface. At least two of the neighboring cylinder-shaped supports contact with each other with the outer peripheral surfaces. The catalytic layer is loaded on at least one of the outer peripheral surface and inner peripheral surface of the cylinder-shaped supports. At least one of the cylinder-shaped supports has a ring-shaped cross-section with a cut-off, and is disposed in the outer cylinder in such an elastically deformed state that it expands in the centrifugal direction. Thus, the exhaust-gas purifying apparatus not only shows a high exhaust-gas purifying ability, but also is good in terms of the assemblage easiness. Moreover, the exhaust-gas purifying apparatus exhibits improved misfire resistance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust-gas purifying apparatus. In particular, it relates to an exhaust-gas purifying apparatus which can be manufactured with ease.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to purify exhaust gases emitted from automobiles and motorcycles, exhaust-gas purifying apparatuses have been used. There are many types of exhaust-gas purifying apparatuses such as thermal reactor-system, lean burning-system, engine modification-system, and catalyst-system exhaust-gas purifying apparatuses. Among them, catalyst-system exhaust-gas purifying apparatuses have been used extensively.
Catalyst-system exhaust-gas purifying apparatuses purify exhaust gases by using catalytic noble metals such as Pt, Rh and Pd. In catalyst-system exhaust-gas purifying apparatuses, exhaust-gas purifying catalysts are used which are made in the following manner. A loading layer is formed on a surface of a catalyst support with activated alumina such as γ-alumina. Then, one or more catalytic noble metals are loaded on the loading layer.
As for the materials of catalyst supports, heat-resistant materials are used because catalyst supports are exposed to high-temperature exhaust gases. As such materials, it is possible to name ceramics, such as cordierite, heat-resistant metals, such as stainless steels.
Catalyst supports made of ceramics suffer from such disadvantages that they are susceptible to mechanical shocks and exhibit large emission resistance. Accordingly, catalyst supports made of metals have come to be used due to the reasons that the pressure loss of exhaust systems should be reduced or the heat resistance of catalyst supports should be improved.
An exhaust-gas purifying apparatus provided with a metallic catalyst support can be manufactured in the following manner, for example. A steel stock is rolled as a foil-shaped or sheet-shaped workpiece. The steel stock can be SUS304 (as per Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS), i.e., 18Cr—8Ni austenic stainless steel), or SUS430 (as per JIS, i.e., 16Cr ferritic stainless steel). The resulting foil-shaped or sheet-shaped workpiece is processed into a metallic catalyst support. Then, a loading layer is formed on a surface of the resultant metallic catalyst support. Finally, one or more catalytic noble metals are loaded on the loading layer. Thus, an exhaust-gas purifying apparatus provided with a metallic catalyst support is completed.
Depending on the shapes of catalyst supports, exhaust-gas purifying apparatuses can be divided into monolithic, granular, honeycomb-shaped and pipe-shaped exhaust-gas purifying apparatuses.
In honeycomb-shaped exhaust-gas purifying apparatuses, there is a problem in that metallic catalyst supports might be melted by misfires which are transmitted from internal combustion engines. Specifically, when metallic catalyst supports are melted, the effective loading amount of catalytic noble metals might be decreased, or honeycomb-shaped cells might be clogged to lower the exhaust-gas purifying ability of honeycomb-shaped exhaust-gas purifying apparatuses.
Moreover, in pipe-shaped exhaust-gas purifying apparatuses, the axial length should be prolonged in order to secure a desirable exhaust-gas purifying ability. Accordingly, the boardability problem might associate with pipe-shaped exhaust-gas purifying apparatuses. In addition, when the axial length of pipe-shaped exhaust-purifying apparatuses is prolonged, the exhaust-gas temperature might be dropped to lower the exhaust-gas purifying ability of pipe-shaped exhaust-gas purifying apparatuses.
Consequently, pipe-shaped exhaust-gas purifying apparatuses have been developed whose axial length is shortened. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 9-228,832 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 9-317,452 propose such a pipe-shaped exhaust-gas purifying apparatus.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 9-228,832 discloses a catalytic converter in which a metallic support, manufactured by winding a corrugated metallic plate, is fitted into an outer cylinder.
However, the catalytic converter disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 9-228,832 suffers from a problem of the bondability between the metallic support and outer cylinder. Specifically, the metallic support is manufactured by winding a corrugated metallic plate. However, at the contacts where the outer peripheral surface of the metallic support contacts with the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder, it is difficult to match the curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the metallic support with the curved inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder. Accordingly, when the metallic support is fitted into the outer cylinder, the metallic support contacts with the outer cylinder by means of point contact. As a result, no sufficient bonding area can be secured between the metallic support and outer cylinder. Thus, there arises the bondability problem.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 9-317,452 discloses an exhaust-gas purifying apparatus in which a plurality of minor-diameter pipes are disposed in a major-diameter pipe.
The exhaust-gas purifying apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 9-317,452 has a problem in terms the assemblage easiness of the minor-diameter pipes. To put it concretely, the minor-diameter pipes are bonded to the major-diameter pipe by using brazing. However, it has been known that no space is allowed at the bonds between the major-diameter pipe and minor-diameter pipes in the brazing. Accordingly, it is required to manufacture the major-diameter pipe and minor-diameter pipes with high dimensional accuracy. The requirement indicates that it is not possible to use ordinary electrically-seamed pipes. Consequently, in the manufacture of the major-diameter pipe and minor-diameter pipes, it is required to carry out secondary working such as reducing or expanding the major-diameter pipe and minor-diameter pipes diametrically. As a result, the cost of manufacturing the exhaust-gas purifying apparatus disclosed in the publication has gone up.


A method of production of a ceramic electronic device such as a multilayer ceramic capacitor, comprising forming a first ceramic coating layer on the surface of a substrate, forming an internal electrode on the surface of the first ceramic coating layer, then forming a second ceramic coating layer on the surface of the first ceramic coating layer so as to cover the internal electrode. In this case, when a mean particle size of ceramic particles of the first ceramic coating layer is α1, a thickness of the first ceramic coating layer is T1, a mean particle size of ceramic particles of the second ceramic coating layer is α2, and a thickness of the second ceramic coating layer is T2, the conditions of α1≦α2, 0.05<α1≦0.35 μm, T1<T2, and 0<T1<1.5 μm are satisfied. As a result, it is possible to provide a ceramic electronic device, in particular a multilayer ceramic capacitor, resistant to short-circuit defects, withstand voltage defects, and other structural defects.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ceramic electronic device and a method of production of the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As one method for producing a capacitor, piezoelectric device, or other ceramic electronic device, there is known the method of forming a ceramic coating in a sheet on a substrate by the doctor blade method to obtain a green sheet and forming electrode paste on top of this by screen printing. In this case, the ceramic coating includes ceramic powder, an organic binder, a plasticizer, a solvent, etc., while the electrode paste includes palladium, silver, nickel, or other conductive particles.
When desiring to obtain a multilayer structure, green sheets formed with the electrode paste layers are stacked to the desired multilayer structure and then cut by a press to obtain ceramic green chips. The thus obtained ceramic green chips are processed to remove the binder, then fired at 1000° C. to 1400° C. Silver, silver-palladium, nickel, copper, or other terminal electrodes are then formed on the obtained fired bodies to obtain the ceramic electronic devices.
In the above method of production, when producing for example a multilayer ceramic capacitor, to reduce the size and increase the capacity, the technique is adopted of reducing the thickness of each ceramic coating layer and increasing the number of layers. For example, multilayer ceramic capacitors are being developed having over 800 ceramic coating layers with thicknesses of about 3 μm.
In producing a ceramic electronic device such as a multilayer ceramic capacitor, however, when forming an internal electrode, the general practice in the past has been to coat a ceramic coating on the surface of a tape-like substrate having flexibility to form the ceramic coating layer, then print an internal electrode paste. The substrate has been made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film etc.
The ceramic coating used is obtained by mixing an acrylic resin or butyral resin or other organic binder, an organic solvent, a plasticizer, and a ceramic powder.
The internal electrode paste is prepared using a resin serving as an organic binder dissolved in an organic solvent as a vehicle, dispersing in the vehicle an Ag, Pd, Ni, Cu, or other conductive metal powder, and, in some cases, adding a diluent for adjusting the viscosity.
As the organic solvent in the vehicle, terpineol, methyl ethyl ketone, etc. is used. As the binder, ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, or another cellulose-based resin or butyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, or another acrylic-based resin is used. Further, as the diluent, an aromatic hydrocarbon, a fatty acid hydrocarbon, etc. is used.
When printing an internal electrode paste of such a composition on a ceramic coating layer coated on a substrate in accordance with the conventional method of production, however, the terpineol, methyl ethyl ketone, or other organic solvent contained in the internal electrode paste ends up dissolving the acrylic resin, butyral resin, or other organic binder contained in the ceramic coating layer. This phenomenon is called "sheet attack".
If sheet attack occurs, it becomes difficult to peel off the ceramic coating layer from the substrate. Further, sometimes holes or wrinkles occur in the ceramic coating layer. If using such a ceramic coating layer to produce a multilayer ceramic capacitor, short-circuit defects where internal electrodes become connected will arise, withstand voltage defects will arise, the targeted electrostatic capacity will no longer be able to be obtained, or other critical defects are liable to occur.
As a means to avoid this problem, there is the method of printing an internal electrode directly on the substrate, coating a ceramic paste over this to form a ceramic coating layer, then peeling off the ceramic coating layer together with the internal electrode from the surface of the substrate (for example, see Japanese Patent No. 2136761).
With this method, however, the adhesion of the internal electrode and ceramic coating layer with respect to the substrate becomes stronger, so it becomes extremely difficult to peel off the ceramic coating layer without damage (holes, wrinkles, tears, etc.)
It may also be considered to coat the surface of a substrate with an agent for facilitating peeling (hereinafter called a "peeling agent") in advance and form the internal electrode and ceramic coating layer on the surface of the peeling agent. In this case, the difficulty of peeling can probably be avoided.
When printing an internal electrode on the surface; of a peeling agent, however, since the affinity between the two is low, the internal electrode is subjected to an agglomerating action due to the surface tension, the shape of the pattern of internal electrode ends up being ruined, and the desired characteristics can no longer be obtained.

Ceramic electronic device and method of production of same