Abstract: A deterioration detecting apparatus for an exhaust gas sensor of an internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas sensor including a sensor element and a heater that heats the sensor element, computes a first sensor characteristic parameter, which is related to a characteristic of the sensor element, by estimating an interchange state of thermal energy between the sensor element and a periphery of the sensor element. The deterioration detecting apparatus senses impedance of the sensor element. The deterioration detecting apparatus computes a second sensor characteristic parameter, which is related to the characteristic of the sensor element, based on the sensed impedance. The deterioration detecting apparatus determines a degree of deterioration of the exhaust gas sensor by comparing the first sensor characteristic parameter and the second sensor characteristic parameter.

Abstract: The planographic printing plate precursor of the present invention comprises a support, and a hydrophilic layer disposed on the support and having a hydrophilic graft chain and a crosslinked structure formed by hydrolyzing or polycondensing an alkoxide of an element selected from Si, Ti, Zr and Al, wherein the hydrophilic layer comprises a photothermal conversion agent (A) and a compound (B) capable of forming a hydrophobic surface area by being heated or irradiated with radiation, and the photothermal conversion compound (A) is not included in the compound (B). This planographic printing plate precursor can be set, without being developed, onto a printer after images are formed, so as to perform printing. In addition, the precursor has remarkably improved printing stain resistance and printing resistance.

Abstract: A deterioration detecting apparatus for an exhaust gas sensor of an internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas sensor including a sensor element and a heater that heats the sensor element, computes a first sensor characteristic parameter, which is related to a characteristic of the sensor element, by estimating an interchange state of thermal energy between the sensor element and a periphery of the sensor element. The deterioration detecting apparatus senses impedance of the sensor element. The deterioration detecting apparatus computes a second sensor characteristic parameter, which is related to the characteristic of the sensor element, based on the sensed impedance. The deterioration detecting apparatus determines a degree of deterioration of the exhaust gas sensor by comparing the first sensor characteristic parameter and the second sensor characteristic parameter.

Abstract: A planographic printing plate precursor of the present invention comprises: a support and a positive recording layer arranged on the support. the positive recording layer containing resin and an infrared absorber and being constituted of two or more sub-layers, wherein the solubility of the positive recording layer to an aqueous alkali solution is increased by exposure to infrared laser light, and for the positive recording sub-layer of the two or more positive recording sub-layers that is nearest to the support (the lower layer), the ratio of the dissolution speed to an aqueous alkali solution in the lateral direction to the dissolution speed in the depth direction is less than 1. Such a ratio of the dissolution speeds can be achieved by forming a dispersed phase in the lower layer and/or high-temperature drying when forming the lower layer.

Abstract: A planographic printing plate precursor comprises a support and two or more positive recording layers which are formed on the support, contain a resin and an infrared absorbing agent and exhibit an increase in solubility in an aqueous alkali solution by exposure to infrared laser light, wherein the positive recording layer closest to the support among these two or more positive recording layers contains at least two types of resins among which at least one type forms a dispersion phase. It is preferable that the dispersion phase be formed of (1) a high-polymer compound incompatible with a high-polymer matrix or (2) a granular polymer selected from a microcapsule and a latex, and contains an infrared absorbing agent and an acid generator.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor of the present invention comprises a water-resistant support, a hydrophilic layer and an image-forming layer, in this order, said hydrophilic layer comprising a fine particulate hydrophobicizing precursor and a hydrophilic binder polymer, and said image forming layer comprising a light-heat converting substance and a microcapsule encapsulating a hydrophobic substance, wherein the hydrophilic binder polymer is a composite material of a hydrophilic organic polymer and a polymer having a group including: at least one atom selected from a metal atom and semimetal atom; and an oxygen atom connecting with the at least one atom selected from a metal atom and semimetal atom.

Abstract: The planographic printing plate precursor of the present invention comprises a support, and a hydrophilic layer disposed on the support and having a hydrophilic graft chain and a crosslinked structure formed by hydrolyzing or polycondensing an alkoxide of an element selected from Si, Ti, Zr and Al, wherein the hydrophilic layer comprises a photothermal conversion agent (A) and a compound (B) capable of forming a hydrophobic surface area by being heated or irradiated with radiation, and the photothermal conversion compound (A) is not included in the compound (B). This planographic printing plate precursor can be set, without being developed, onto a printer after images are formed, so as to perform printing. In addition, the precursor has remarkably improved printing stain resistance and printing resistance.

Abstract: A direct drawing type lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a water-resistant support having provided thereon, an image-receiving layer comprising inorganic particles and a binder resin. The combination of an inorganic particles is made up of at least one kind of metal sulfide particle having an average particle size of sum 0.01 to 5 &mgr;m and at least one kind of particle which may be a metal oxide particle having an average particle size of sum 0.01 to 5 &mgr;m or a metal oxide hydrate having an average particle size of 0.01 to 5 &mgr;m. The binder resin is a complex composed of a resin containing a siloxane bond.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor of the present invention comprises a water-resistant support, a hydrophilic layer and an image-forming layer, in this order, said hydrophilic layer comprising a fine particulate hydrophobicizing precursor and a hydrophilic binder polymer, and said image forming layer comprising a light-heat converting substance and a microcapsule encapsulating a hydrophobic substance, wherein the hydrophilic binder polymer is a composite material of a hydrophilic organic polymer and a polymer having a group including: at least one atom selected from a metal atom and semimetal atom; and an oxygen atom connecting with the at least one atom selected from a metal atom and semimetal atom.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising at least an inter layer and an image-receiving layer provided in order on a water-resistant support, wherein the inter layer has a surface exhibiting a centerline average roughness (Ra) of from 0.05 to 2.0 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate in which the occurrence of stains in printing can be prevented without increasing the exposure of a laser, comprising a support having provided thereon a hydrophilic layer having a crosslinked structure, and a layer containing a polymer having on a side chain a group in which the solubility in water can be changed by heat, the layer being provided on the hydrophilic layer.

Abstract: A direct drawing type lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a water-resistant support having provided thereon an image receiving layer, wherein the image receiving layer comprises particles having rough surface composed of core particles having on the surfaces thereof fine particles adhered, and a binder resin comprising a complex composed of a resin containing a siloxane bond in which a silicon atom is connected with an oxygen atom and an organic polymer containing a group capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the resin containing a siloxane bond. According to the use of the direct drawing type lithographic printing plate precursor of the present invention, images free from not only background stain over an entire surface but also dot-like stain can be formed thereon. Also, the direct drawing type lithographic printing plate precursor can prepare a lithographic printing plate providing a great number of printed matter having clear images free from disappearance or distortion of image.

Abstract: A direct drawing type lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a water-resistant support having provided thereon an image-receiving layer, the image-receiving layer containing: at least one metal oxide hydrate having an average particle size of from 0.01 to 5 pm and comprising a metal atom selected from Mg, Al, Zn, Ge, Ti, Co, Zr, Sn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Pd, Cd, Mo, Cr, Ga, Mn, V, Ce and La; and a binder resin containing a complex comprising: a resin containing a siloxane bond in which a silicon atom is connected with an oxygen atom; and an organic polymer containing a group capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the resin containing a siloxane bond.

Abstract: A direct drawing type lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a water-resistant support having provided thereon an image-receiving layer comprising inorganic particles and a binder resin, wherein the inorganic particles comprise at least one kind of particles selected from: (i) metal oxide hydrate particles having an average particle size of from 0.01 to 5 &mgr;m and comprising a metal atom selected from Mg, Al, Zn, Ge, Ti, Co, Zr, Sn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Pd, Cd, Cr, Ga, Mn, V, Mo, Ce and La, and (ii) metal hydroxide particles having an average particle size of from 0.

Abstract: A direct drawing type lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a water-resistant support having provided thereon an image-receiving layer comprising inorganic particles and a binder resin, wherein the inorganic particles comprise at least one kind of particles selected from: (i) metal oxide particles having an average particle size of from 0.01 to 5 &mgr;m and comprising a metal atom selected from Mg, Ba, Ge, Sn, Zn, Pb, La, Zr, V, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Co, Ni and Cu; and (ii) double oxide particles having an average particle size of from 0.01 to 5 &mgr;m and comprising at least one metal atom selected from Mg, Al, Si, Ti, Zr, Cr, V, Mo, Sn, W and Nb, and wherein the binder resin comprises a complex comprising: a resin containing a bond in which a metal atom is connected with an oxygen atom; and an organic polymer containing a group capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the resin and at least one polar functional group selected from a carboxy group, a sulfo group and a phosphono group.

Abstract: A direct drawing type lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a water-resistant support having provided thereon an image-receiving layer comprising inorganic particles and a binder resin, wherein the inorganic particles comprise at least one kind of particles selected from: (i) metal oxide particles having an average particle size of from 0.01 to 5 &mgr;m and comprising a metal atom selected from Mg, Ba, Ge, Sn, Zn, Pb, La, Zr, V, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Co, Ni and Cu; (ii) metal hydroxide particles having an average particle size of from 0.01 to 5 &mgr;m, the metal hydroxide being represented by the formula (I): M(OH)x  (I) wherein M represents a metal atom selected from Mg, Ba, Al, Ti, Zn, Cu, Ni, Sn, Co, Ge, Fe and La, and x represents a valence of the metal M; and (iii) double oxide particles having an average particle size of from 0.

Abstract: A direct drawing lithographic printing plate precursor, which includes a water-resisting support having provided thereon an image-receiving layer, an image being formed on the image-receiving layer with an oil-based ink by an electrostatic ink jet system, wherein the water-resisting support has at least a resin coating layer on the side opposite to the side on which the image-receiving layer is provided, wherein the resin coating layer includes a mixture containing from 10 to 90 wt % of a low density polyethylene having a density of from 0.915 to 0.930 g/ml and a melt index of from 1.0 to 30.0 g/10 min., wherein the surface of the resin coating layer has a Bekk's smoothness of from 5 to 2,000 sec/10 ml, and wherein the water-resisting support has a conductive layer having a specific electric resistance value of 1010 &OHgr; cm or less on the image-receiving layer side surface thereof and on at least one end face thereof.

Abstract: A direct drawing type lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a water-resistant support having provided thereon an image-receiving layer comprising inorganic particles and a binder resin, wherein the inorganic particles comprise at least one kind of particles selected from: (i) metal oxide hydrate particles having an average particle size of from 0.01 to 5 &mgr;m and comprising a metal atom selected from Mg, Al, Zn, Ge, Ti, Co, Zr, Sn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Pd, Cd, Cr, Ga, Mn, V, Mo, Ce and La, and (ii) metal hydroxide particles having an average particle size of from 0.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide excellent in terms of durability wherein development with water, or direct production of the plate from digital data through infrared laser recording in particular such that a special process is not necessary, is possible, by forming on a support a photosensitive layer containing a reaction product of a compound having in a molecule thereof a functional group X and a functional group Y and a compound represented by a formula (1) stated below, or alternatively, containing a polymerization product of a compound having the functional group X and a compound represented by the formula (1) stated below. Further by incorporating water-insoluble particles in this photosensitive layer, many voids are formed in the photosensitive layer, further improving sensitivity and discrimination.

Abstract: A direct drawing type lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a water-resistant support having provided thereon an image-receiving layer, the image-receiving layer being formed from a dispersion comprising: an inorganic pigment comprising silica particles having an average particle diameter of from 1 to 6 &mgr;m and ultra-fine particles of inorganic pigment having an average particle diameter of from 5 to 50 nm, at a weight ratio thereof of from 40:60 to 70:30; and a hydrophilic binder resin comprising at least one modified hydrophilic binder resin which is modified with a silyl functional group represented by the following formula (I): —Si(R)n(OX)3-n  (I) wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; X represents an aliphatic group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and n represents 0, 1 or 2. Also disclosed are methods of preparing a lithographic printing plate using the direct drawing type lithographic printing plate precursor.