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: The present invention provides a piezo-electric/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 piezo-electric/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 includes a stationary portion; a thin-plate portion supported by the stationary portion; and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element including a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers arranged alternatingly in layers. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is manufactured by the steps of forming a piezoelectric/electrostrictive laminate by alternatingly laminating laminar electrodes and piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers on a plane of a thin-plate member adapted to form the thin-plate portion, and cutting the thin-plate member and the piezoelectric/electrostrictive laminate. The cutting step is performed by advancing a wire member (wire saw) reciprocating in a direction parallel to the direction of lamination of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive laminate while holding the wire member substantially parallel to the direction of lamination.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device 10 includes a stationary portion 11; a thin-plate portion 12 supported by the stationary portion; and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element 14 including a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers arranged alternatingly In layers. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device 10 is manufactured by the steps of forming a piezoelectric/electrostrictive laminate by alternatingly laminating laminar electrodes and piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers on a plane of a thin-plate member adapted to form the thin-plate portion 12, and cutting the thin-plate member and the piezoelectric/electrostrictive laminate. The cutting step is performed by advancing a wire member (wire saw) reciprocating in a direction parallel to the direction of lamination of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive laminate while holding the wire member substantially parallel to the direction of lamination.

Abstract: A laminate-type piezoelectric device includes: a piezoelectric layer (2); and an internal electrode layer (3) which is laminated on the piezoelectric layer (2), has a lower surface flat along a surface of the piezoelectric layer (2) and has an edge sidewall in its tip portion having an inclined surface (3A) making an acute angle with respect to the surface of the underlying piezoelectric layer (2). The piezoelectric layers (2) and the internal electrode layers (3) are alternately laminated on each other.

Abstract: A method of producing a piezoelectric/electrostrictive device having a base including a pair of movable parts opposing each other, a fixing part that connects the movable parts with each other at one end thereof, and mounting parts that extend for a predetermined length while holding slit-shaped gaps of a predetermined width along inside surfaces of said movable parts by being turned around at the other end of said movable parts, said piezoelectric/electrostrictive device having a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element disposed on at least one outside surface of said movable parts of said base, wherein a base block obtained by laminating and calcining a large number of ceramic green sheets is adopted as a material for forming said base, and the base including said movable parts, said fixing part, and said mounting parts is formed by cutting said base block at a predetermined site along a lamination direction of said ceramic green sheets.

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.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a record medium. One of reproduce modes of reproducing information recorded on a record medium is selected. A reproduce program for selecting pieces of information recorded on the record medium on a random basis without duplication based on the selected reproduce mode and indicating the reproduce order of the selected pieces of information is prepared. The pieces of information recorded on the record medium are reproduced according to the reproduce order of the prepared reproduce program.

Abstract: A laminate-type piezoelectric device includes: a piezoelectric layer (2); and an internal electrode layer (3) which is laminated on the piezoelectric layer (2), has a lower surface flat along a surface of the piezoelectric layer (2) and has an edge sidewall in its tip portion having an inclined surface (3A) making an acute angle with respect to the surface of the underlying piezoelectric layer (2). The piezoelectric layers (2) and the internal electrode layers (3) are alternately laminated on each other.

Abstract: A mathod of manufacturing a piezoelectric/electrostrictive divice includes an additional member that is provided at a border between an inner wall surface of a thin plate section formed by a long ceramic plate and a side surface (cutout surface) formed by a short ceramic plate. Assuming that a surface of the additional member forms a curve C as viewed in vertical cross section, the curve C is a free curve having one inflection point. The additional member has a portion C2 which extends along the inner wall surface of the thin plate section with its surface extending substantially in parallel toward the border, and a curved portion C3 which is disposed at a part corresponding to the border.

Abstract: A method of producing a ceramic stack is provided, including the steps of providing at least a first ceramic green sheet to be formed into a long ceramic plate and having a principal surface, providing at least a second ceramic green sheet to be formed into a short ceramic plate and having a length that is less than a length of the principal surface of the first ceramic green sheet, and laminating the second ceramic green sheet to the principal surface of the first ceramic green sheet to form a ceramic green sheet laminate having a lamination border defined between at least a side surface of the second ceramic green sheet and the principal surface of the first ceramic green sheet. The method also includes the steps of forming a member having a curved surface at the lamination border by applying a paste to the lamination border such that the curved surface includes at least one inflection point when viewed in cross-section, and sintering the laminate into an integral unit to form the ceramic stack.

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 device 10 includes a stationary portion 11; a thin-plate portion 12 supported by the stationary portion; and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element 14 including a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers which are laminated alternately. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device 10 is manufactured as follows: firstly, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive laminate composed of laminar electrodes and piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers is formed on the surface of a thin-plate body which is to become the thin-plate portion 12; subsequently, the thin-plate body and the piezoelectric/electrostrictive laminate are cut; and the resultant cut surface (lateral end surface) is finished through polishing, so as to attain an arithmetic average surface roughness of 0.05 ?m or less.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device includes a base having a pair of right and left movable parts and a fixing part disposed at one end thereof, and piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements disposed on the sides of the movable parts of the base. Accordingly, the piezoelectric/electrostrictive device 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 having an integral structure formed by bending an original plate stamped into a shape that delineates a plane development of the base.

Abstract: There is disclosed a piezoelectric/electrostrictive device which has large vibration isolation properties and which copes with high-rate access and densification of data and which is capable of inhibiting off-track from being caused and which comprises: a substrate including a support portion constituted of a thick member and two arm portions constituted of thin-plate members extended from the support portion; and a driving member disposed on at least one arm portion and in which a plurality of grooves is formed in at least a surface positioned on an extending-direction side of the at least one arm portion in the support portion.

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: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device includes a pair of thin plates confronting each other, a fixing member supporting the thin plates thereon, and movable portions disposed on end portions of the pair of thin plates. Protrusions are formed on principal surfaces of first ceramic green sheets according to at least a single thick film forming process. The protrusions will subsequently serve as the movable portions, and the first ceramic green sheets will subsequently serve as the thin plates. The first ceramic green sheets and a second ceramic green sheet which will subsequently serve as the fixing member are stacked into a ceramic green laminated body. The ceramic green laminated body is baked into an integral ceramic laminated body. Piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are formed on the ceramic laminated body.

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 includes 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 at ends of the pair of thin plate sections. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device has a portion of each movable section opposed to the fixed section, the portion being formed in a stepped form so that respective attachment surfaces are provided with steps. Cutouts (cutaways) are formed at portions of an inner wall of the fixed section near the thin plate sections. Further, steps are provided on inner walls of the cutouts disposed on the sides of the thin plate sections.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device includes a pair of thin plates confronting each other, a fixing member supporting the thin plates thereon, and movable portions disposed on end portions of the pair of thin plates. Protrusions are formed on principal surfaces of first ceramic green sheets according to at least a single thick film forming process. The protrusions will subsequently serve as the movable portions, and the first ceramic green sheets will subsequently serve as the thin plates. The first ceramic green sheets and a second ceramic green sheet which will subsequently serve as the fixing member are stacked into a ceramic green laminated body. The ceramic green laminated body is baked into an integral ceramic laminated body. Piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are formed on the ceramic laminated body.