Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive including a pair of mutually opposing vibration plates, each having a first portion and a second portion, a fixation section joined to the first portion of each of the vibration plates, and at least one piezoelectric/electrostrictive element arranged on at least one of the vibration plates. A surface of the device between the fixation section and the second portion of at least one of the vibration plates is curved.

Abstract: In piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements, electrode layers have respective ends projecting outwardly from an end face of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer on a side surface where the laminated state of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer and the electrode layers is exposed. The distance by which the ends project outwardly from the end face is equal to or smaller than one half of the thickness of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer between the electrode layers. The distance is preferably in a range from 0.5 ?m to 2 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric/electrostrictive device including a pair of thin plate sections in an opposed relation to each other, a fixing section for supporting the thin plate sections, and at least one pair of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are provided to the pair of thin plate sections. The thin plate sections include movable sections having end surfaces in an opposed relation. Recesses are formed between the thin plate sections and the fixing section and/or the movable sections.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device that includes a base 11 having a pair of right and left movable parts 11a, 11b and a fixing part 11c disposed at one end thereof as well as piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements 12a, 12b disposed on the sides of the movable parts 11a, 11b of the base 11 is fabricated to have a construction with fewer components. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device having a construction with fewer components is provided by adopting a base 11 having an integral structure formed by bending an original plate stamped into a shape that delineates a plane development of the base, as the base of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive device. In addition, in this piezoelectric/electrostrictive device, piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are arranged on inner sides of a pair of left and right movable parts. Accordingly, destruction of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element can hardly occur and high reliability of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is achieved.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is provided, including a pair of mutually opposing thin plate sections and a fixation section for supporting the thin plate sections. A piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is arranged on each of the thin plate sections. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device also includes movable sections defined by at least first end portions of the thin plate sections and a material which is different from that of the thin plate section.

Abstract: A pair of opposing thin plate sections, movable sections, and fixed sections for supporting the thin plate sections and the movable sections are provided on a ceramic substrate. After a wiring pattern and a gap or an insulating layer of cermet layer for filling the gap are formed on a ceramic substrate, these are sintered. After that, piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers and cermet electrode layers including a piezoelectric/electrostrictive material and a conductive material are alternately stacked in a comb like structure on the ceramic substrate. Accordingly, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive device having the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element in multilayer structure is obtained.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive (P/E) device includes at least one actuator section secured to thin plate sections with an adhesive. The actuator section includes a multilayered member including at least three actuator films, each of which include a P/E layer and electrode films. One or more holes or recesses are formed in portions of the thin plate sections on which the P/E elements are formed. The electrode films contact upper and lower surfaces of respective P/E layers and alternately extend to opposite surfaces thereof. End surface electrodes electrically connect an electrode film that contacts one of the P/E layers and an electrode film that contacts another one of the P/E layers. The end surface electrodes are electrically connected to terminals which are provided on a surface of an outermost layer of the P/E layers, and which are separated from one another by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is provided, including a pair of mutually opposing thin plate sections and a fixation section for supporting the thin plate sections. A piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is arranged on each of the thin plate sections. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device also includes movable sections defined by at least first end portions of the thin plate sections and a material which is different from that of the thin plate section.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive including a pair of mutually opposing vibration plates, each having a first portion and a second portion, a fixation section joined to the first portion of each of the vibration plates, and at least one piezoelectric/electrostrictive element arranged on at least one of the vibration plates. A surface of the device between the fixation section and the second portion of at least one of the vibration plates is curved.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive element including a substantially trapezoidal laminate having narrower and wider surfaces lying substantially in parallel to each other and first and second surfaces opposed to each other between the narrower and wider surfaces. The first and second surfaces are inclined at given angles to one of the narrower and wider surfaces. The laminate includes piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers and interposed internal electrodes, the internal electrodes being broken up into a first and a second group, each of the first group internal electrodes lying over one of the second group internal electrodes through one of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers. A first external electrode is formed on the first surface of the laminate and is coupled to the first group internal electrodes. A second external electrode is formed on the second surface of the laminate and is coupled to the second group internal electrodes.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is provided with a stationary portion, a thin-plate portion supported by the stationary portion, and piezoelectric/electrostrictive element formed by alternately laminating a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is produced by cutting a thin-plate body that composes the thin-plate portion afterward and a laminated body comprising the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers and thereafter applying prescribed specific processing (for example, heat treatment) to the cut plane (the lateral end surfaces).

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device has a rotor substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, and a rotary actuator for angularly displacing the rotor 12. The rotary actuator includes a stationary member, a first vibratory plate and a second vibratory plate extending in one direction from opposite sides of the stationary member, a first piezoelectric/electrostrictive element for actuating the first vibratory plate, and a second piezoelectric/electrostrictive element for actuating the second vibratory plate. The rotor includes a pair of opposite surfaces, one of the surfaces having a first end secured to an end of the first vibratory plate and a second end, which is diagonally opposite to the first end, and which is secured to an end of the second vibratory plate.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive including a pair of mutually opposing vibration plates, each having a first portion and a second portion, a fixation section joined to the first portion of each of the vibration plates, and at least one piezoelectric/electrostrictive element arranged on at least one of the vibration plates. A surface of the device between the fixation section and the second portion of at least one of the vibration plates is curved.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device has a rotor substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, the rotor having a pair of opposite surfaces, a first movable section fixed to a first end of one of the surfaces, a first piezoelectric/electrostrictive element for actuating the first movable section, a second movable section fixed to a second end of the other one of the surfaces, the second end being diametrically opposite to the first end, and a second piezoelectric/electrostrictive element for actuating the second movable section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric/electrostrictive device including a pair of thin plate sections in an opposed relation to each other, a fixing section for supporting the thin plate sections, and at least one pair of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are provided to the pair of thin plate sections. The thin plate sections include movable sections having end surfaces in an opposed relation. Recesses are formed between the thin plate sections and the fixing section and/or the movable sections.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device including a ceramic substrate having a pair of mutually opposing thin plate sections, a fixed section for supporting the thin plate sections, and movable sections disposed proximate to ends of the pair of thin plate sections. Each of the movable sections includes a projection spaced a predetermined distance away from tip surfaces of each of the thin plate sections toward the fixed section. The projection includes cermet.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive (P/E) device includes at least one actuator section secured to thin plate sections with an adhesive. The actuator section includes a multilayered member including at least three actuator films, each of which include a P/E layer and electrode films. One or more holes or recesses are formed in portions of the thin plate sections on which the P/E elements are formed. The electrode films contact upper and lower surfaces of respective P/E layers and alternately extend to opposite surfaces thereof. End surface electrodes electrically connect an electrode film that contacts one of the P/E layers and an electrode film that contacts another one of the P/E layers. The end surface electrodes are electrically connected to terminals which are provided on a surface of an outermost layer of the P/E layers, and which are separated from one another by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive (P/E) device includes at least one actuator section secured to thin plate sections with an adhesive. The actuator section includes a multilayered member including at least three actuator films, each of which include a P/E layer and electrode films. One or more holes or recesses are formed in portions of the thin plate sections on which the P/E elements are formed. The electrode films contact upper and lower surfaces of respective P/E layers and alternatively extend to opposite surfaces thereof. End surface electrodes electrically connect an electrode film that contacts one of the P/E layers and an electrode film that contacts another one of the P/E layers. The end surface electrodes are electrically connected to terminals which are provided on a surface of an outermost layer of the P/E layers, and which are separated from one another by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device includes a base 11 having a pair of movable parts 11a, 11b opposing each other and a connecting part 11c that connects movable parts 11a, 11b with each other at one end thereof as well as piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements 12a, 12b disposed on the side surfaces of movable parts 11a, 11b of base 11. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is constructed in a simple structure with fewer components. Base 11 is integrally formed in an open-box shape or in a horseshoe shape by bending one sheet of band-shaped flat plate. Movable parts 11a, 11b extend for a predetermined length from respective ends of connecting part 11c to the other ends. The other ends of movable parts 11a, 11b constitute a mounting site for mounting a component to be controlled or a component to be tested.

Abstract: A ceramic stack including a plurality of stacked ceramic plates having different lengths, the ceramic stack including an additional member having a curved surface, the additional member being disposed at a border between a first principal surface of the ceramic plate which is long and a side surface of the ceramic plate which is short. The short ceramic plate is stacked on the first principal surface, and the additional member has one or more inflection points on a surface thereof as viewed in a cross-sectional direction.