Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device that comprises a plug including an upper portion, a lower portion and a side surface and comprising tungsten, a barrier metal comprising tungsten nitride and covering the side surface and the lower portion of the contact plug, a conductive layer, and a barrier layer comprising titanium and intervening between the barrier metal and the first conductive layer.

Abstract: For the purpose of improving rolling resistance and durability, the present invention provides a rubber composition for insulation of a tire comprising 0.2 to 4 parts by mass of (B) an alkylphenol-sulfur chloride condensate, and 20 to 59 parts by mass of (C) carbon black having a BET specific surface area of 25 to 50 m2/g based on 100 parts by mass of (A) a rubber component comprising 30 to 85% by mass of (a1) a natural rubber and/or an isoprene rubber, 0 to 70% by mass of (a2) at least one styrene butadiene rubber selected from the group consisting of an emulsion-polymerized styrene butadiene rubber, a solution-polymerized styrene butadiene rubber and a modified styrene butadiene rubber, and 0 to 60% by mass of (a3) a butadiene rubber, and a tire having insulation prepared from the rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition for tires capable of improving handling stability, fuel economy, wet grip performance, elongation at break, and abrasion resistance together while maintaining the balance between them. The present invention also provides a pneumatic tire including the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for tires containing a diene rubber, silica having a BET specific surface area of 170 to 270 m2/g, sulfur, and a liquid resin having a softening point of ?20 to 45° C., wherein the amount of the liquid resin is 0.5 to 20 parts by mass, and the amount of the silica is 40 to 120 parts by mass, each per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component of the rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pneumatic tire having excellent durability. Provided is a pneumatic tire including a sidewall and a carcass, the sidewall being produced from a rubber composition for a sidewall which has a specific sulfur content, the carcass being produced from a carcass cord covered with a rubber composition for a carcass topping, and the sulfur contents of the rubber composition for a sidewall and the rubber composition for a carcass topping satisfying a specific relationship. Provided is a pneumatic tire including a clinch and a carcass, the clinch being produced from a rubber composition for a clinch which has a specific sulfur content, the carcass being produced from a carcass cord covered with a rubber composition for a carcass topping, and the sulfur contents of the rubber composition for a clinch and the rubber composition for a carcass topping satisfying a specific relationship.

Abstract: A rubber composition for a tire includes a rubber component, aluminum hydroxide particles having an average particle diameter in a range of 1.5 ?m or smaller and a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area of 3˜60 m2/g, and wet silica. The aluminum hydroxide particles are in an amount of 1˜60 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, and the rubber composition is obtained by a process including kneading at least the rubber component and the aluminum hydroxide particles at a discharge temperature in a range of 150° C. or higher.

Abstract: The invention provides rubber compositions for tire inner layers, capable of providing excellent ozone resistance over a wide environmental temperature range and of preventing discoloration well, as well as pneumatic tires including such compositions. The invention relates to a rubber composition for tire inner layers, containing C20-C32 normal alkanes. Preferably, the combined amount of the C20-C32 normal alkanes is 0.1-2.5 parts by mass, and the combined amount of phenylenediamine and quinone antioxidants is 0-4 parts by mass, each per 100 parts by mass of the diene rubber component. The rubber composition for tire inner layers preferably contains C48 and higher normal alkanes in a combined amount of not more than 0.1 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the diene rubber component. The rubber composition preferably contains not more than 15 parts by mass of process oil per 100 parts by mass of the diene rubber component.

Abstract: A hands-free conversation vehicular apparatus coupling with a communication terminal includes: a communication device; a sound output device; a sound input device inputting a transmission speech sound; a vehicle information acquisition device; a first sound extraction device setting a first direction for a directionality of the sound input device, and extracting a first sound along the first direction; a sound recognition device; a second sound extraction device specifying a second direction for the transmission speech sound recognized by the sound recognition device, and extracting a second sound along the second direction; a sound quality comparison unit comparing a sound quality of the first and second sounds; a changeover device for selecting one of the first and second sounds as the transmission speed sound; and a control device for allowing the changeover device to perform a changeover when a determination condition is fulfilled.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pneumatic tire having excellent durability. Provided is a pneumatic tire including a sidewall and a carcass, the sidewall being produced from a rubber composition for a sidewall which has a specific sulfur content, the carcass being produced from a carcass cord covered with a rubber composition for a carcass topping, and the sulfur contents of the rubber composition for a sidewall and the rubber composition for a carcass topping satisfying a specific relationship. Provided is a pneumatic tire including a clinch and a carcass, the clinch being produced from a rubber composition for a clinch which has a specific sulfur content, the carcass being produced from a carcass cord covered with a rubber composition for a carcass topping, and the sulfur contents of the rubber composition for a clinch and the rubber composition for a carcass topping satisfying a specific relationship.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition for a tire, containing an isoprene-based rubber and a compound represented by formula (1) below, wherein an amount of the isoprene-based rubber is at least 70% by mass; and an amount of the compound represented by formula (1) is 0.5-6 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component. The invention also relates to a rubber composition for a tire, containing an alkylphenol-sulfur chloride condensate and a compound represented by formula (1) below, wherein an amount of the alkylphenol-sulfur chloride condensate is 0.4-6 parts by mass, and an amount of the compound represented by formula (1) is 0.5-6 parts by mass, each per 100 parts by mass of a rubber component of the rubber composition: wherein R1 represents a C2-C16 alkyl group; and R2 represents a C3-C16 alkyl, benzothiazolyl-sulfide, or cycloalkyl group.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to the following processes. A first hole is formed in an insulating film. A seed layer, which covers an upper surface of the insulating film and an inner surface of the first hole, is formed. A first plating film is formed over the seed layer at a first growth rate. A second plating film is formed over the first plating film at a second growth rate that is higher than the first growth rate. A third plating film is formed over the second plating film at a third growth rate that is higher than the second growth rate.

Abstract: Provided is a rubber composition for base tread which can improve steering stability, rolling resistance and durability without deteriorating extrusion processability, comprising 1.8 to 3.5 parts by mass of sulfur and 36 to 60 parts by mass of filler for reinforcement comprising not less than 7 parts by mass of silica based on 100 parts by mass of a rubber component comprising: (a) not less than 0% by mass and not more than 20% by mass of (a1) a polybutadiene rubber comprising 2.5 to 20% by mass of 1,2-syndiotactic polybutadiene crystal and/or (a2) a butadiene rubber synthesized with a rare earth containing catalyst; (b) more than 5% by mass and not more than 60% by mass of (b1) a predetermined tin-modified polybutadiene rubber and/or (b2) a modified butadiene rubber modified with a predetermined compound; and (c) 40 to 75% by mass of a diene rubber other than (a) and (b).

Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition for tires which provides both adhesion to fiber cords and conductivity even when an inexpensive conductive carbon black is used, and thus achieves a balanced improvement in conductivity, handling stability, fuel economy, elongation at break, adhesion to fiber cords, processability, and tire durability; and a pneumatic tire including the composition. The composition includes, per 100 parts by mass of a rubber component: 1.0-3.5 parts by mass of sulfur with an iron content of 30 ppm or less, calculated as the net sulfur content in the sulfur; and 0.5-15 parts by mass of conductive carbon black having a DBP of 300 ml/100 g or more and an iron content of 60 ppm or more, the composition having a total net sulfur content of 1.0-6.0 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, and a volume resistivity of 1.0×108 ?·cm or less.

Abstract: A multidirectional input device includes a case; a slider slidable in a first direction and mounted to the case; a movable member mounted on an upper surface of the slider so as to be slidable in a second direction; a first reflection portion provided on any one of the movable member, the case, and the slider; a first light-emitting device arranged to be opposite to the first reflection portion; and a first light-receiving device arranged to be opposite to the first reflection portion, wherein the first reflection portion has a plurality of steps confronting the side facing the first light-emitting device, and a distance between the first reflection portion and the first light-emitting device in a third direction varies according to an area.

Abstract: In a lens actuator according to an exemplary embodiment, wires that connect a holder and a base of a movable unit have diameters of 30 ?m or more and less than 70 ?m, and the wires have longitudinal elastic moduli of 100 GPa or more and less than 500 GPa. The wire is flexible even if a small amount of currents are passed through a plurality of OIS coils, and the lens actuator suitable to electric power saving can be provided.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a production method of a pneumatic tire in which a generation of a tread groove crack is prevented while maintaining productivity and tire performance, and a pneumatic tire produced by this production method. The production method of a pneumatic tire having a tread composed of a predetermined rubber composition for a tread comprises: step A of molding an unvulcanized rubber composition for a tread to obtain a tread shape unvulcanized rubber composition provided with a concave profile, a step B of laminating the tread shape unvulcanized rubber composition obtained in the step A with other unvulcanized rubber compositions for tire member to obtain an unvulcanized tire, and a step C of vulcanizing the unvulcanized tire obtained in the step B in a vulcanization mold.

Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition for a tire cord topping, a breaker edge strip, a breaker cushion, or a strip adjacent to cords, which achieves a balanced improvement in handling stability, fuel economy, durability, ride quality, and adhesion; and pneumatic tires including the same. The rubber composition includes: an isoprene-based rubber; a phenol resin and/or an alkylphenol resin; and a partial condensate of HMMM and/or a partial condensate of HMMPME, wherein an amount of the isoprene-based rubber is 60% by mass or higher per 100% by mass of the rubber component; and a combined amount of the phenol resin and the alkylphenol resin is 2-3.9 parts by mass, a combined amount of the partial condensate of HMMM and the partial condensate of HMMPME is 0.5-5 parts by mass, and an amount of silica is at most 15 parts by mass, each per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.

Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a rubber composition excellent in low-exothermic property, breaking strength, and crack growth resistance, and a pneumatic tire including at least one of a base tread, a cushion, a carcass and a tie gum that are prepared using the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition including: a rubber component which contains (a) 10 to 30% by mass of at least one of a butadiene rubber modified by a compound represented by the formula (1): and a tin-modified polybutadiene rubber resulting from polymerization with a lithium initiator (b) 10 to 40% by mass of a modified styrene-butadiene rubber having a bound-styrene content of 21% by mass or less; and (c) 20 to 80% by mass of a diene rubber other than (a) and (b), and (d) 7 to 50 parts by mass of silica per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.

Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition in which microfibrillated plant fibers are sufficiently uniformly dispersed to improve tire performance requirements in a balanced manner, and a pneumatic tire formed from the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition formed from a masterbatch containing a rubber latex and microfibrillated plant fibers, the masterbatch being obtained by stirring the microfibrillated plant fibers in a solvent with a circulation type or continuous homogenizer and mixing the resulting microfibrillated plant fiber solution with the rubber latex and a cationic polymer, the microfibrillated plant fibers having a mean fiber length of 10 to 150 ?m, the microfibrillated plant fiber solution containing 0.1 to 2.0% by mass of the microfibrillated plant fibers, and the amount of the cationic polymer being 0.01 to 5 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component of the rubber latex.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a rubber composition for a sidewall having excellent conductivity, anti-spew cutting property and extrusion processability in good balance and assuring low production cost. The present invention provides a rubber composition for a sidewall comprising 2 to 15 parts by mass of a wet processed silica having a BET specific surface area of 70 to 250 m2/g and 40 to 62 parts by mass of a carbon black having a BET specific surface area of 37 to 125 m2/g based on 100 parts by mass of a diene rubber component, wherein the rubber composition does not contain a silane coupling agent, and has a volume resistivity of not more than 1×108 ?·cm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber composition for a fiber cord topping which is capable of improving handling stability, fuel economy, elongation at break, adhesion to fiber cords, processability, and tire durability in a balanced manner, and also provides a pneumatic tire formed from the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for a fiber cord topping, having an amount of insoluble sulfur with an iron content of not more than 30 ppm, calculated as net sulfur in the insoluble sulfur, of 1.0 to 3.5 parts by mass; a total net sulfur content of 2.0 to 3.5 parts by mass; and a zinc oxide content of 1.5 to 6.0 parts by mass, each per 100 parts by mass of a rubber component of the rubber composition.