Abstract: The X-ray fluorescence holography apparatus includes the X-ray converging element that can irradiate monochrome X-rays onto a sample O set on the rotation table, by which a predetermined count number of the X-ray fluorescence to be collected for the X-ray detector can be achieved in a short period of time.

Abstract: A laminate type piezoelectric element having an improved piezoelectric property is provided. Vibration electrodes are arranged in a piezoelectric body, and high-order vibration of the thickness vibration is excited. The piezoelectric ceramic includes two ceramic piezoelectric layers which are laminated, and are integrally formed. Each of the ceramic piezoelectric layers contains ceramic crystal grains having shape anisotropy and spontaneous polarization preferentially oriented in one plane. The in-plane direction of this plane is perpendicular to the principal surfaces of the ceramic piezoelectric layers. The ceramic piezoelectric layers are polarized in the same thickness direction.

Abstract: A sanitary ware comprises a sanitary ware body and a surface glaze layer provided on the sanitary ware body. The surface glaze layer has a center line average roughness Ra of less than 0.07 &mgr;m as measured with a stylus type surface roughness tester according to JIS B 0651-1996.

Abstract: A feedback circuit and amplifiers using a vibrator comprising a piezoelectric body having a bismuth layered compound as the main ingredient thereof are provided so as to generate oscillation. Load capacitors comprising the feedback circuit together with the vibrator are formed. These load capacitors each have, as the main ingredient thereof, a dielectric body which decreases in the relative dielectric constant with the increase in temperature in the region not less than one half the temperature range from −20 to 80° C., and in which the &egr;-TC is not less than 5000 ppm/° C., wherein the &egr;-TC is an average change rate of the relative dielectric constant in the above-described temperature range and is represented by (Cmax−Cmin)/(C20·100), where Cmax is the maximum value of capacitance in the above-described temperature range, Cmin is the minimum value of capacitance in the above-described temperature range, and C20 is the capacitance at 20° C.

Abstract: Sanitary wares having a controlled surface are disclosed which are less likely to be stained or soiled and/or possess excellent gloss. The first sanitary ware comprises a sanitary ware body and a surface glaze layer provided on the sanitary ware body, wherein the surface glaze layer has a center line average roughness Ra of less than 0.07 &mgr;m. This sanitary ware is advantageous in that stains or soils are much less likely to be adhered to the surface thereof and, even when adhered to the surface thereof, can be removed by a weak water stream. The second sanitary ware comprises a sanitary ware body and a surface glaze layer provided on the sanitary ware body, wherein the surface glaze layer has a kurtosis Rku of less than 2.70. This sanitary ware advantageously possesses excellent surface gloss.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sanitary ware which has a self-cleaning function for releasing carboxyl-containing greasy stains or soils, such as fatty acids, fatty esters, metallic soaps (scum of soaps), proteins, amino acids, bacteria, and fungi, and deposited stains or soils, such as water scale and urinary calculi. This sanitary ware comprises at least a sanitary ware body and a glaze layer as an outermost layer of the sanitary ware, a monovalent metal component and/or a metal component having a measure of the electronegativity based on Pouling's rule of not more than 1 being provided so as to be releasable evenly and continuously, over the whole surface of the glaze layer as the outermost layer, in such an amount large enough to impart a self-cleaning function for releasing stains or soils to the surface of the glaze layer as the outermost layer, the metal component being suppliable from the glaze layer as the outermost layer and/or the sanitary ware body to the whole surface of the outermost layer.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element contains a piezoelectric ceramic body having a layered perovskite structure, and has the C axis selected and oriented in the thickness direction. In the piezoelectric ceramic body, line shaped electrodes are formed perpendicular to the C axis selected and oriented. The electrodes exposed at both of the end faces of the piezoelectric ceramic body are covered with conductive materials and insulation materials. The piezoelectric ceramic body is polarized in the opposite directions on both of the sides of electrodes arranged in the width direction. Moreover, external electrodes are formed on the faces where the conductive materials and the insulation materials are formed, whereby two groups of the electrodes are arranged in an interdigital electrode form.

Abstract: Aluminum alloy comprising an anodic oxidation coating and a ceramic coating formed on a surface of the anodic oxidation coating, wherein the anodic oxidation coating contains one or more elements selected from the group consisting of C, N, P, F, B and S at a content of each element in an amount of 0.1 mass % or more, and wherein the ceramic coating comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of oxide, nitride, carbonitride, boride and silicide, wherein when the anodic oxidation coating contains S only, the surface of the aluminum alloy or of the anodic oxidation coating has an average roughness Ra of 0.3 &mgr;m or more.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic for producing a piezoelectric element having sufficient strength and hardness in spite of compactness is provided. The piezoelectric ceramic contains lead titanate as a primary component and about 0.1 to 5% by weight of tungsten in terms of WO3 relative to the primary component, and about 75% or more of crystal particles constituting the piezoelectric ceramic have particle diameters distributed in the range of about 0.2 &mgr;m to 0.8 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition capable of obtaining a piezoelectric member that can provide a sufficient sintering density even by firing at a low temperature besides only allowing small amount of Pb to be evaporated by firing to reduce deterioration of electrical characteristics, wherein the piezoelectric member comprises a perovskite structure oxide of the piezoelectric ceramic composition containing Pb, Ti, Zr, Ma (Ma represents at least one of Cr, Mn, Fe and Co) and Md (Md represents at least one of Nb, Sb, Ta and W), and wherein a represents the total content (in mole) of Ma, and b, c, d and e (in mole) represent the contents of Sb, Nb, Ta and W, respectively, and 0.50<a/(b+c+d+2e).

Abstract: A piezoelectric element contains a piezoelectric ceramic body having a layered perovskite structure, and has the C axis selected and oriented in the thickness direction. In the piezoelectric ceramic body, line shaped electrodes are formed perpendicular to the C axis selected and oriented. The electrodes exposed at both of the end faces of the piezoelectric ceramic body are covered with conductive materials and insulation materials. The piezoelectric ceramic body is polarized in the opposite directions on both of the sides of electrodes arranged in the width direction. Moreover, external electrodes are formed on the faces where the conductive materials and the insulation materials are formed, whereby two groups of the electrodes are arranged in an interdigital electrode form.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition mainly contains a component of the formula SrBi2Nb2O9 and includes at least a trivalent metallic element other than Bi constituting the main component in a proportion of more than 0 mol and equal to or less than about 0.15 mol relative to 1 mol of Bi in the main component. This piezoelectric ceramic composition mainly containing SrBi2Nb2O9 is useful as a material for a piezoelectric ceramic device having an improved temperature-dependent factor of resonant frequency. Such a satisfactory piezoelectric ceramic device is also provided using this piezoelectric ceramic composition.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element contains a piezoelectric ceramic body having a layered perovskite structure, and has the C axis selected and oriented in the thickness direction. In the piezoelectric ceramic body, line shaped electrodes are formed perpendicular to the C axis selected and oriented. The electrodes exposed at both of the end faces of the piezoelectric ceramic body are covered with conductive materials and insulation materials. The piezoelectric ceramic body is polarized in the opposite directions on both of the sides of electrodes arranged in the width direction. Moreover, external electrodes are formed on the faces where the conductive materials and the insulation materials are formed, whereby two groups of the electrodes are arranged in an interdigital electrode form.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition that can yield a piezoelectric ceramic capable of being fired at a temperature as low as 1100° C. or below and exhibiting an electromechanical coupling coefficient sufficient for providing a piezoelectric ceramic element for practical use, and a piezoelectric ceramic element using the same, wherein the piezoelectric ceramic composition comprises a principal component represented by a general formula of CaBi4(Ti1−ySiy)4O15 with y within the range of 0<y≦0.5, possibly containing other divalent or trivalent elements, and wherein a piezoelectric ceramic element, in which electrodes are formed on both principal faces of the piezoelectric ceramic while forming an inner electrode within the piezoelectric ceramic, can be formed using the piezoelectric ceramic composition.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition mainly contains a component of the formula SrBi2Nb2O9 and includes Si in a proportion of more than 0 mol and equal to or less than about 0.3 mol relative to 1 mol of Bi in the main component of the formula. This piezoelectric ceramic composition can be fired at lower temperatures, exhibits a practicable electromechanical coefficient kt even when fired at firing temperatures of 1100 ° C. or less, and is useful as materials for piezoelectric ceramic filters, piezoelectric ceramic oscillators, piezoelectric ceramic resonators, and other piezoelectric ceramic devices. By using the piezoelectric ceramic composition, satisfactory piezoelectric ceramics can be obtained.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic material which can suppress segregation of a W compound or a W oxide in W-containing sintered PbTiO3 and a piezoelectric transducer employing the ceramic material. The ceramic material contains lead titanate as a primary component; an Mn-containing oxide or an Mn-containing compound and a W-containing compound or a W-containing oxide as secondary components; and an Si-containing oxide or an Si-containing compound as an additional component. Alternatively, the piezoelectric ceramic material contains a primary component containing PbTiO3 and Pb(MnyW(1−y))O3 and additionally SiO2 or PbSiO3.

Abstract: An acoustic communication terminal apparatus for performing data communication over a telephone line by using an acoustic coupler has an error number counter for counting the number of errors occurring during communication. With a control signal based on the result of this counting performed by the error number counter, the gain of an amplifier circuit provided in an acoustic output section of a transmitter portion of the apparatus is switched, and also the gain of an amplifier circuit provided in an acoustic input section of a receiver portion of the apparatus is switched. Alternatively, with the above control signal, the frequency filtering characteristics of an input filter circuit provided in the acoustic input circuit is switched.

Abstract: To provide a piezoelectric ceramic composition predominantly comprising CaBi4Ti4O15, which composition can be fired at 1100° C. or lower, which exhibits an electromechanical coupling coefficient (kt) of a sufficient level for practical use, and which serves as a useful material for producing ceramic piezoelectric devices such as piezoelectric filters, piezoelectric oscillators and piezoelectric transducers, and to provide a ceramic piezoelectric device employing the composition, the piezoelectric ceramic composition comprises a component represented by the formula CaBi4Ti4O15, wherein the composition contains W in an amount of about 0.5 mol or less per mol of Bi.

Abstract: In a discharge lamp sealing apparatus 30, luminescent substances are charged into an arc tube 11 through an opening 13b thereof, and an electrode member 15 is then inserted into the arc tube 11 through the opening 13b. A lower end of the arc tube 11 is supported by a support jig 57 in a state that a glass ring 16c is placed around the circumference of the opening 13b. The arc tube 11 is set in an air-tight condition by a feeding conduit 51 and inserted into a heating unit 40. The heating unit 40 fuses the glass ring 16c with heat of an infrared lamp and thereby seals the opening 13b. During the sealing process, one end of the arc tube 11 is supported by the support jig 57. The support jig 57 is mainly made of a material having a greater thermal conductivity than that of the material of the arc tube 11, for example, a metal material like Al or Cu. This arrangement enables heat to be readily conducted from the arc tube 11 to the support jig 57 and accordingly prevents a temperature rise in the arc tube 11.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element contains a piezoelectric ceramic body having a layered perovskite structure, and has the C axis selected and oriented in the thickness direction. In the piezoelectric ceramic body, line shaped electrodes are formed perpendicular to the C axis selected and oriented. The electrodes exposed at both of the end faces of the piezoelectric ceramic body are covered with conductive materials and insulation materials. The piezoelectric ceramic body is polarized in the opposite directions on both of the sides of electrodes arranged in the width direction. Moreover, external electrodes are formed on the faces where the conductive materials and the insulation materials are formed, whereby two groups of the electrodes are arranged in an interdigital electrode form.