Abstract: A ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic body, a first external electrode, and a second external electrode. The first and second external electrodes are disposed on a principal surface, which is directed to the mounting surface side, of the ceramic body so as to face each other with a predetermined gap region therebetween. The external electrodes each include a base layer and a Cu plating layer which covers the base layer. In each of the first and second external electrodes, an expression 0.1?t/d?0.5 is satisfied, where t is a thickness of the Cu plating layer at an end of the base layer on a gap region side, and d is a distance from the end of the base layer on the gap region side to an end of the Cu plating layer on the gap region side.

Abstract: In a laminated ceramic electronic component, external terminal electrodes include plating films directly covering exposed portions of internal electrodes on end surfaces of a ceramic element assembly. On the boundaries between the end surfaces and principal surfaces of the ceramic element assembly, substantially rounded corners are provided, and the plating films are arranged such that the ends of the plating films stop at the corners and do not project from the principal surfaces.

Abstract: A multilayer ceramic electronic component including thin external terminal electrodes each having a superior bonding force to a ceramic base body is provided. In order to form the external terminal electrodes, after Cu plating films are deposited on exposed portions of internal electrodes by direct plating on a ceramic base body, a Cu liquid phase, an O2-containing liquid phase, and a Cu solid phase are generated between the Cu plating film and the ceramic base body by a heat treatment, so that Cu oxides are dispersed in the Cu plating film, at least near an interface with the ceramic base body. Since the Cu oxides function as an adhesive, a bonding force of the Cu plating film to the ceramic base body can be increased, and hence the external terminal electrode having a superior bonding force to the ceramic base body can be obtained.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a laminate type electronic component, when a heat treatment is carried out after plating films, which at least partially define external electrodes, are formed by growing plated depositions deposited on exposed ends of a plurality of internal electrodes in a component main body, the presence of the plating films may not only interfere with moisture release, but may also cause blisters or bulge defects in the plating films, while moisture such as a plating solution in the component main body is removed by evaporation. To avoid such problems, cuts to divide exposed ends into multiple sections are formed in extending sections of internal electrodes. Thus, plating films include slits extending in the stacking direction at locations corresponding to positions of the cuts.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a laminate type electronic component, while the distance between adjacent exposed ends of a plurality of internal electrodes is adjusted preferably to be about 50 ?m or less, a plurality of conductive particles composed of Pd, Pt, Cu, Au, or Ag are provided on the surface of a component main body. The conductive particles have an average particle size of about 0.1 nm to about 100 nm, which are distributed in island-shaped configurations over the entire surface of the component main body, while the average distance between the respective conductive particles is adjusted to fall within the range of about 10 nm to about 100 nm. The component main body is subjected to electrolytic plating such that plating growth develops in and around a region including the respective exposed ends of the plurality of internal electrodes.

Abstract: A laminated electronic component includes outer terminal electrodes including lower plating films including metal particles having an average size of 0.5 ?m or less, the lower plating films being formed by directly plating an outer surface of an electronic component body such that the lower plating films are electrically connected to exposed portions of inner conductors. The outer terminal electrodes may further include upper plating films formed on the lower plating films, the upper plating films being defined by one or more layers. Metal particles defining the upper plating films may have an average size of 0.5 ?m or less. The metal particles defining the lower plating films may be Cu particles.

Abstract: A method for decoding encoded data. The method includes receiving data encoded by replacing each of a plurality of characters with bit strings. The method also includes recording, on the basis of definition information, at least one of the characters as corresponding to each of the bit lengths, and generating decode information based on the number of characters, wherein the decode information includes bit string information for sorting the bit strings in a bit length order that is a predetermined order associated with bit lengths. The method also includes, in response to receiving a particular bit length, generating character information in which the characters are sorted in the bit length order by inserting a character corresponding to the particular bit length into a position corresponding to the particular bit length in an array in which at least one of the bit lengths.

Abstract: A multilayer ceramic electronic component including thin external terminal electrodes each having a superior bonding force to a ceramic base body is provided. In order to form the external terminal electrodes, after Cu plating films are deposited on exposed portions of internal electrodes by direct plating on a ceramic base body, a Cu liquid phase, an O2-containing liquid phase, and a Cu solid phase are generated between the Cu plating film and the ceramic base body by a heat treatment, so that Cu oxides are dispersed in the Cu plating film, at least near an interface with the ceramic base body. Since the Cu oxides function as an adhesive, a bonding force of the Cu plating film to the ceramic base body can be increased, and hence the external terminal electrode having a superior bonding force to the ceramic base body can be obtained.

Abstract: A multilayer electronic component includes a laminate including insulating layers that are laminated to each other and internal electrodes provided along interfaces between the insulating layers, edges of the internal electrodes being exposed at a predetermined surface of the laminate and an external electrode provided on the predetermined surface. The external electrode includes a plated film which is directly provided on the predetermined surface of the laminate so as to electrically connect edges of the internal electrodes exposed at the predetermined surface of the laminate, and at a boundary portion between each of the internal electrodes and the plated film, a counter diffusion layer is provided, in which a metal component in the plated film and a metal component in the internal electrodes are both detectable, and extend to both sides of the internal electrodes and the plated film, and, at a side of the internal electrodes.

Abstract: A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a laminate including a stack of a plurality of ceramic layers and a plurality of internal electrodes extending along interfaces between the ceramic layers, and a plurality of external electrodes electrically connecting the internal electrodes exposed at surfaces of the laminate. Each external electrode includes a plating layer at least at the portion directly connected to the internal electrodes. The plating layer has a compressive film stress of about 100 MPa or less or a tensile film stress of about 100 MPa or less.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a laminated electronic component includes the steps of preparing a component main body having a laminated structure, the component main body including a plurality of internal electrodes formed therein, and each of the internal electrodes being partially exposed on an external surface of the component main body, and forming an external terminal electrode on the external surface of the component main body such that the external terminal electrode is electrically connected to the internal electrodes. The step of forming the external terminal electrode includes the steps of forming a first plating layer on exposed surfaces of the internal electrodes of the component main body, applying a water repellant at least on a surface of the first plating layer and on a section in the external surface of the component main body at which an end edge of the first plating layer is located, and then forming a second plating layer on the first plating layer having the water repellant applied thereon.

Abstract: Provided are an airbag, an airbag device, and a method for sewing a lid member of an airbag that can make it easier to maintain the internal pressure until inflation and deployment of the airbag are completed and to quickly release gas after an occupant contacts the airbag. An airbag includes a vent hole for releasing gas supplied in the airbag, a lid member for making the vent hole openable and closable, and a tether for applying tension to the lid member. A seam formed by sewing the lid member to the airbag is disposed in a sewing region defined by a straight line shape spaced a predetermined distance from the vent hole, and a curved shape (most curved shape) formed by bringing both ends of the straight line shape close to a center line of the vent hole parallel to the straight line shape. The curvature of the seam can be regulated in view of the lap width between the lid member and the outer edge of the vent hole.

Abstract: A laminated electronic component is configured to include substrate plating films disposed on outer surfaces of an electronic component main body through direct plating such that external terminal electrodes are connected to exposed portions of internal conductors (internal electrodes), and the average particle diameter of metal particles defining the substrate plating film is at least about 1.0 ?m. The external terminal electrode includes at least one layer of an upper plating film disposed on the substrate plating film. The metal particles defining the substrate plating film are Cu particles.

Abstract: A laminated electronic component is configured to include substrate plating films disposed on outer surfaces of an electronic component main body through direct plating such that external terminal electrodes are connected to exposed portions of internal conductors (internal electrodes), and the average particle diameter of metal particles defining the substrate plating film is at least about 1.0 ?m. The external terminal electrode includes at least one layer of an upper plating film disposed on the substrate plating film. The metal particles defining the substrate plating film are Cu particles.

Abstract: When external electrodes of a multilayer ceramic capacitor are formed by performing direct plating on surfaces at which internal electrodes are exposed without forming paste electrode layers, bonding forces of plating layers are relatively weak, and in addition, when glass particles are included in the plating layers, blisters are often generated. To overcome these problems, a multilayer ceramic capacitor is formed by performing electrolytic plating using a plating bath including glass particles, electrolytic plating layers including glass particles dispersed therein are formed as the external electrodes.

Abstract: A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes external terminal electrodes that are formed by depositing metal plating films on exposed portions of internal conductors embedded in a ceramic body, depositing a copper plating films that cover the metal plating films and make contact with the ceramic body around the metal plating films, and heat-treating the ceramic body to generate a copper liquid phase, an oxygen liquid phase, and a copper solid phase between the copper plating films and the ceramic body. The mixed phase including these phases forms a region at which a copper oxide is present in a discontinuous manner inside the copper plating film at least at the interfaces between the ceramic body and the copper plating films. The copper oxide securely attaches the copper plating films to the ceramic body and enhances the bonding force of the external terminal electrodes.

Abstract: In a laminate type ceramic electronic component, when an external electrode for a laminated ceramic capacitor is formed directly by plating onto a surface of a component main body, the film that is directly plated may have a low fixing strength with respect to the component main body. As the external electrode, a first plating layer composed of a Ni—P plating film with a P content rate of about 9 weight % or more is first formed such that a plating deposition deposited with the exposed ends of respective internal electrodes as starting points is grown on at least an end surface of a component main body. Then, a second plating layer composed of a Ni plating film containing substantially no P is formed on the first plating layer. Preferably, the first plating layer is formed by electroless plating, whereas the second plating layer is formed by electrolytic plating.

Abstract: In a laminate type ceramic electronic component, when an external electrode is formed directly by plating onto a surface of a component main body, the plating film that is to serve as the external electrode may have a low fixing strength with respect to the component main body. In order to prevent this problem, an external electrode includes a first plating layer composed of a Ni—B plating film and is first formed such that a plating deposition deposited with the exposed ends of respective internal electrodes as starting points is grown on at least an end surface of a component main body. Then, a second plating layer composed of a Ni plating film containing substantially no B is formed on the first plating layer. Preferably, the B content of the Ni—B plating film constituting the first plating layer is about 0.1 wt % to about 6 wt %.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a laminated ceramic electronic component, when a plating film to define an external terminal electrode is formed by plating exposed ends of a plurality of internal electrodes at a WT surface of a component main body, ingress of a plating solution may be caused from a gap between an end edge of the plating film and the component main body to decrease the reliability of a laminated electronic component obtained. An internal dummy electrode is provided around a region where the exposed ends of the plurality of internal electrodes are distributed in the WT surface of the component main body. The internal dummy electrode includes two LW-direction sections extending parallel or substantially parallel to each other in a direction along the LW surface, and two LT-direction sections extending parallel or substantially parallel to each other in a direction along the LT surface. The plating film is formed at least over the exposed end of the internal dummy electrode.

Abstract: A monolithic ceramic electronic component includes a laminate including a plurality of stacked ceramic layers and a plurality of internal electrodes extending between the ceramic layers and also includes external electrodes disposed on the laminate. The internal electrodes are partly exposed at surfaces of the laminate and are electrically connected to each other with the external electrodes. The external electrodes include first plating layers and second plating layers. The first plating layers are in direct contact with the internal electrodes. The second plating layers are located outside the first plating layers and contain glass particles dispersed therein.