Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer includes a case, a piezoelectric element, a wiring member, a foaming member, and a vibration damping material. The case includes a bottom wall. The piezoelectric element is disposed on the bottom wall inside the case. The wiring member is electrically connected to the piezoelectric element. The foaming member is disposed on the piezoelectric element. The vibration damping material is disposed between the piezoelectric element and the foaming member. The foaming member has a bottom surface opposing the piezoelectric element in a thickness direction of the piezoelectric element. A plurality of depressions is formed on the bottom surface. The vibration damping material bonds the piezoelectric element and the bottom surface.

Abstract: A piezoelectric drive device including: laminated piezoelectric element including a first end face and a second end face opposed to the first end face; a weight member attached to the first end face; and a shaft attached to the second end face, in which a moving member, engaged to the shaft movable in an axial direction, is moved by activating the laminated piezoelectric element. Inside the laminated piezoelectric element, a first internal electrode and a second internal electrode, respectively having a plane surface approximately perpendicular to the first end face and the second end face, are laminated in Y axial direction, approximately perpendicular to the first internal electrode and the second internal electrode with a piezoelectric layer in-between. The piezoelectric drive device, in which the laminated piezoelectric element is difficult to bend, even when the load is applied to the shaft from a lateral direction, is provided.

Abstract: A lens drive unit that prevents an actuator from being inclined is provided. In the lens drive unit, when a lens frame is displaced in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the actuator extends and contracts with respect to a base member by, for example, impact from an outside of the lens drive unit, a drive shaft of the actuator abuts on a first lateral wall and a column, so that the actuator is prevented from being inclined with respect to the base member.

Abstract: A lens drive unit that offers enhanced reliability in connection between an actuator electrode and an electric wire is provided. In the lens drive unit, an actuator has a weight housed in an holding portion of a base member and is thereby fixed in the base member. Electrodes on a lateral surface of the weight directly contact respective terminal electrodes on an inner lateral surface of the holding portion, so that an electrical connection is established therebetween. The arrangement enhances reliability in connection between the actuator electrodes and the terminal electrodes.

Abstract: A piezoelectric drive device including: laminated piezoelectric element including a first end face and a second end face opposed to the first end face; a weight member attached to the first end face; and a shaft attached to the second end face, in which a moving member, engaged to the shaft movable in an axial direction, is moved by activating the laminated piezoelectric element. Inside the laminated piezoelectric element, a first internal electrode and a second internal electrode, respectively having a plane surface approximately perpendicular to the first end face and the second end face, are laminated in Y axial direction, approximately perpendicular to the first internal electrode and the second internal electrode with a piezoelectric layer in-between. The piezoelectric drive device, in which the laminated piezoelectric element is difficult to bend, even when the load is applied to the shaft from a lateral direction, is provided.

Abstract: A lens drive unit that offers enhanced reliability in connection between an actuator electrode and an electric wire is provided. In the lens drive unit, an actuator has a weight housed in an holding portion of a base member and is thereby fixed in the base member. Electrodes on a lateral surface of the weight directly contact respective terminal electrodes on an inner lateral surface of the holding portion, so that an electrical connection is established therebetween. The arrangement enhances reliability in connection between the actuator electrodes and the terminal electrodes.

Abstract: A lens drive unit that prevents an actuator from being inclined is provided. In the lens drive unit, when a lens frame is displaced in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the actuator extends and contracts with respect to a base member by, for example, impact from an outside of the lens drive unit, a drive shaft of the actuator abuts on a first lateral wall and a column, so that the actuator is prevented from being inclined with respect to the base member.

Abstract: In a piezoelectric device, an identification pattern provided on a main face of a piezoelectric body is covered with an electrode, so as to inhibit the identification pattern from generating particles, while the identification pattern makes the polarity of the piezoelectric device discernible by the appearance thereof.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element is provided with an element body, which has a pair of principal faces opposed to each other and an end face extending in a direction in which the pair of principal faces are opposed to each other, so as to connect the pair of principal faces, and which is comprised of a piezoelectric ceramic material; a pair of electrodes arranged respectively on the pair of principal faces; and a resin covering an entire area of the end face and arranged so as to make contact with the pair of electrodes. The resin has two edges in the aforementioned direction projecting outward in the aforementioned direction from the respective electrodes.

Abstract: A laminated piezoelectric element includes a base part that is configured from a piezoelectric layer, and a laminate configured by a first internal electrode and a second internal electrode, which are alternately laminated with the piezoelectric layer interposed therebetween, and that includes a displacement part extending from the base part in a laminating direction of the first internal electrode and the second internal electrode.

Abstract: In a piezoelectric device, an identification pattern provided on a main face of a piezoelectric body is covered with an electrode, so as to inhibit the identification pattern from generating particles, while the identification pattern makes the polarity of the piezoelectric device discernible by the appearance thereof.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element is provided with an element body, which has a pair of principal faces opposed to each other and an end face extending in a direction in which the pair of principal faces are opposed to each other, so as to connect the pair of principal faces, and which is comprised of a piezoelectric ceramic material; a pair of electrodes arranged respectively on the pair of principal faces; and a resin covering an entire area of the end face and arranged so as to make contact with the pair of electrodes. The resin has two edges in the aforementioned direction projecting outward in the aforementioned direction from the respective electrodes.

Abstract: A laminated piezoelectric element includes a base part that is configured from a piezoelectric layer, and a laminate configured by a first internal electrode and a second internal electrode, which are alternately laminated with the piezoelectric layer interposed therebetween, and that includes a displacement part extending from the base part in a laminating direction of the first internal electrode and the second internal electrode.

Abstract: A multilayer piezoelectric element is provided with a multilayer body in which internal electrodes are arranged between stacked piezoelectric layers. The multilayer body has an active part piezoelectrically active, and nonactive parts piezoelectrically nonactive. The nonactive parts are located so as to interpose the active part in between in a direction intersecting with a displacement direction of the active part. The nonactive parts are provided with a release portion for releasing restraint on displacement of the active part.

Abstract: An electronic component comprises a substrate having a through hole formed in a thickness direction thereof; and a conductor, disposed in the through hole, for electrically connecting one side of the substrate to the other side thereof. The through hole has a major axis diameter and a minor axis diameter on at least one of one side and the other side of the substrate.

Abstract: The actuator in accordance with the present invention is provided with a pair of arms and a connecting part for connecting them to each other. The arms and connecting part are integrally formed from single-crystal silicon. Respective piezoelectric devices are attached to the arms.

Abstract: An actuator to which leads are easily attachable, and a method of making the same are provided. In the actuator in accordance with the present invention, a pair of silicon arms have their resistances lowered by being doped with impurities and are connected to each other by way of a glass substrate. A predetermined surface of each silicon arm is formed with a piezoelectric part, whereas a predetermined surface of the piezoelectric part is formed with a thin-film electrode. Therefore, the piezoelectric part is driven when a voltage is applied between a bonding wire attached to the thin-film electrode and a bonding wire attached to the silicon arm. Since the bonding wire can be attached to the silicon arm at any position thereon, wire bonding can be carried out while appropriately selecting positions and surfaces where the bonding wire is easily attachable.

Abstract: A multilayer piezoelectric element is provided with a multilayer body in which internal electrodes are arranged between stacked piezoelectric layers. The multilayer body has an active part piezoelectrically active, and nonactive parts piezoelectrically nonactive. The nonactive parts are located so as to interpose the active part in between in a direction intersecting with a displacement direction of the active part. The nonactive parts are provided with a release portion for releasing restraint on displacement of the active part.

Abstract: The actuator in accordance with the present invention is provided with a pair of arms and a connecting part for connecting them to each other. The arms and connecting part are integrally formed from single-crystal silicon. Respective piezoelectric devices are attached to the arms.

Abstract: An actuator to which leads are easily attachable, and a method of making the same are provided. In the actuator in accordance with the present invention, a pair of silicon arms having lowered their resistance by doping with impurities are connected to each other by way of a glass substrate. A predetermined surface of each silicon arm is formed with a piezoelectric part, whereas a predetermined surface of the piezoelectric part is formed with a thin-film electrode. Therefore, the piezoelectric part is driven when a voltage is applied between a bonding wire attached to the thin-film electrode and a bonding wire attached to the silicon arm. Since the bonding wire can be attached to the silicon arm at any position thereon, wire bonding can be carried out while appropriately selecting positions and surfaces where the bonding wire is easily attachable.