A , short for , is a published, unexamined Japanese patent application, in contrast to the kokoku or tokkyo kà Âhà Â, the examined and approved Japanese patent application. Kà Âkai means "open to the public", or "laid-open". Kà Âkai are published eighteen months after the earliest priority date.
is another shorthand for kà Âkai tokkyo kà Âhà Â, taken from the first character of tokkyo (patent) and the second of kà Âkai.