Abstract: In an electronic component, each of a distance between a first outer electrode and a third outer electrode along a length direction and a distance between a second outer electrode and the third outer electrode along a length direction is about 8% to about 13% of a dimension of the electronic component along the length direction.

Abstract: A raw ceramic portion is formed on each of first and second lateral surfaces of a raw ceramic body. The raw ceramic portions contain ceramic particles and more of at least one constituent selected from Ba, Mg, Mn, and a rare-earth element between the ceramic particles than the ceramic section of the raw ceramic body in terms of total amount. The raw ceramic body is fired with the raw ceramic portions thereon. In this way, a ceramic electronic component is obtained that has a main body left after the raw ceramic body is fired with the raw ceramic portions thereon.

Abstract: A first terminal electrode extends from a second principal surface onto first and second side surfaces and a first end surface such as not to reach a first principal surface. A second terminal electrode extends from the second principal surface onto the first and second side surfaces and a second end surface such as not to reach the first principal surface. A third terminal electrode extends from the second principal surface onto the first and second side surfaces such as not to reach the first principal surface.

Abstract: A first terminal electrode extends from a second principal surface onto first and second side surfaces and a first end surface such as not to reach a first principal surface. A second terminal electrode extends from the second principal surface onto the first and second side surfaces and a second end surface such as not to reach the first principal surface. A third terminal electrode extends from the second principal surface onto the first and second side surfaces such as not to reach the first principal surface.

Abstract: In an electronic component, each of a distance between a first outer electrode and a third outer electrode along a length direction and a distance between a second outer electrode and the third outer electrode along a length direction is about 8% to about 13% of a dimension of the electronic component along the length direction.

Abstract: A method is provided which includes a reaction step of reacting at least titanium oxide, a calcium compound, and barium hydroxide in a slurry solution so as to produce a perovskite-type composite oxide. The perovskite-type composite oxide is represented by (Ba1-xCax)mTiO3, and x is within a range of 0<x?0.125. In addition, the method provides a perovskite-type composite oxide in which a water-soluble calcium compound is used as the calcium compound, and when the perovskite-type composite oxide is represented by (Ba1-xCax)mTiO3, x is within a range of 0<x?0.20.

Abstract: A raw ceramic portion is formed on each of first and second lateral surfaces of a raw ceramic body. The raw ceramic portions contain ceramic particles and more of at least one constituent selected from Ba, Mg, Mn, and a rare-earth element between the ceramic particles than the ceramic section of the raw ceramic body in terms of total amount. The raw ceramic body is fired with the raw ceramic portions thereon. In this way, a ceramic electronic component is obtained that has a main body left after the raw ceramic body is fired with the raw ceramic portions thereon.

Abstract: A particulate subcomponent for a barium titanate dielectric is obtained from a sol in which a rare earth metal compound is dispersed in water. The rare earth metal compound includes a carboxylic acid having at least three carbonyl groups and at least one rare earth metal which can be Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu so that the molar ratio (carbonyl group/rare earth metal) is in the range of 1.2 to 3. A method of making the sol and a method of using the sol to make a ceramic powder is described.

Abstract: A method is provided which includes a reaction step of reacting at least titanium oxide, a calcium compound, and barium hydroxide in a slurry solution so as to produce a perovskite-type composite oxide. The perovskite-type composite oxide is represented by (Ba1-xCax)mTiO3, and x is within a range of 0<x?0.125. In addition, the method provides a perovskite-type composite oxide in which a water-soluble calcium compound is used as the calcium compound, and when the perovskite-type composite oxide is represented by (Ba1-xCax)mTiO3, x is within a range of 0<x?0.20.

Abstract: A particulate subcomponent for a barium titanate dielectric is obtained from a sol in which a rare earth metal compound is dispersed in water. The rare earth metal compound includes a carboxylic acid having at least three carbonyl groups and at least one rare earth metal which can be Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu so that the molar ratio (carbonyl group/rare earth metal) is in the range of 1.2 to 3. A method of making the sol and a method of using the sol to make a ceramic powder is described.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an automotive vehicle including an engine and an automatic transmission. The apparatus is operable upon generation of an engine-output control command requiring an output of the engine during a shift-up action of the transmission initiated in the absence of the engine-output control command, and includes a shifting-progress calculating portion operable to calculate a degree of progress of the shift-up action of the transmission after a moment of generation of the engine-output control command, on the basis of a change of a rotating speed of a rotary element which changes with the progress of the shift-up action, and a gradual-engine-torque-increase control portion operable to control the engine on the basis of the degree of progress of the shift-up action calculated by the shifting-progress calculating portion, so as to gradually increase an output torque of the engine with the progress of the shift-up action.

Abstract: A particulate subcomponent for a barium titanate dielectric is obtained from a sol in which a rare earth metal compound is dispersed in water. The rare earth metal compound includes a carboxylic acid having at least three carbonyl groups and at least one rare earth metal selected which can be Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and/or Lu in which the molar ratio (carbonyl group/rare earth metal) is in the range of 1.2 to 3. A method of making the sol and a method of using the sol to make a ceramic power is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an automotive vehicle including an engine, and an automatic transmission including frictional coupling devices and having a plurality of operating positions having respective different speed ratios, which are selectively established by selective engaging and releasing actions of the frictional coupling devices, to transmit a rotary motion of the engine to drive wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for making a raw dielectric ceramic powder having a composition represented by the general formula ABO3 includes the steps of allowing a carbonate powder of the element A to adsorb an organic polymer compound to produce an organic carbonate powder containing the adsorbed organic polymer compound, mixing the organic carbonate powder and an oxide powder of the element B to prepare a mixed powder, and calcining the mixed powder. Also disclosed are a dielectric ceramic produced by molding and firing the raw dielectric ceramic powder produced by the method and a monolithic ceramic capacitor fabricated using the dielectric ceramic.

Abstract: A solid-phase method for making a barium titanate powder involves the steps of compounding powdered barium carbonate and powdered titanium oxide and calcining the mixture. The powdered barium carbonate used is needle particles having an aspect ratio of the length of the long axis to the length of the short axis of at least about 2. The powdered barium carbonate preferably has a specific surface area of about 5 m2/g or more. The resulting barium titanate powder is finer and homogeneous.

Abstract: A method for making a dielectric ceramic material powder containing a basic component powder including particles of a basic component for making a dielectric ceramic, a first additive component and a second additive component is provided. The first additive component has an effect of preventing the second additive component from forming a solid solution with the basic component powder. The method includes the steps of diffusing the first additive component into a surface region of each particle of the basic component powder, and adding the second additive component to the resulting basic component powder. After the dielectric ceramic material is sintered, each of the particles of the sintered compact can reliably have a core-shell structure that includes a core containing no second additive component and a shell containing diffused second additive component.

Abstract: A barium carbonate powder having a specific surface area of at least about 20 m2/g is mixed with a titanium oxide powder to form a powder mixture. The titanium oxide powder has such a specific surface area that the specific surface area ratio of the titanium oxide powder to the barium carbonate powder is at least about 1. The powder mixture is calcined and thus results in a fine barium titanate powder having a high content of tetragonal crystals and a small range of compositional variation.

Abstract: A solid-phase method for making a barium titanate powder involves the steps of compounding powdered barium carbonate and powdered titanium oxide and calcining the mixture. The powdered barium carbonate used is needle particles having an aspect ratio of the length of the long axis to the length of the short axis of at least about 2. The powdered barium carbonate preferably has a specific surface area of about 5 m2/g or more. The resulting barium titanate powder is finer and homogeneous.

Abstract: Vehicle control apparatus for effecting cooperative control of an automatic transmission and a drive power source which produces an output to drive the vehicle through the automatic transmission, the automatic transmission incorporating a frictional coupling device which is engaged to place the automatic transmission in a power transmitting state, during power driving of the vehicle with the output of the drive power source, and is released to place the automatic transmission in a power disconnecting state, during coasting of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a vehicle automatic transmission, wherein a moment at which the supply of a pressurized fluid to a hydraulic cylinder for engagement of a frictional coupling device to effect an upshift of the transmission during running of the vehicle in a power-off state is initiated is determined by comparing an estimated synchronizing time required for the transmission input speed to reach a synchronizing speed of a higher-gear position to which the transmission is shifted, with a stored predetermined stroking time required for the piston of the hydraulic cylinder to reach its engaging stroke end.