Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator includes a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements arranged in comb teeth-like alignment on a base plate. The actuator is driven by means of dislocation of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements. The cell driving type actuator is characterized in that each of the cells is formed independently from adjacent cells by positioning cover plates between two adjacent piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements. Thus, there is provided a piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator wherein a heating process at a high temperature can be applied and mass production at low cost is possible. The actuator includes cells with slit portions having a width of 60 ?m or less and a high aspect ratio and can be activated with high electric field strength, and great displacement can be obtained with small electric field strength.

Abstract: A matrix type piezoelectric/electrostrictive (P/E) actuator includes a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements, each including a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body and at least one pair of electrodes formed on a ceramic substrate. The matrix type P/E actuator is activated by the displacement of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive bodies. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are joined to the ceramic substrate as respective unified bodies, and are two-dimensionally arranged independently from each other. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator provides a greater displacement with a lower voltage, a high responsive speed, and a greater generating force, as well as enhancing the mounting ability and the integration. A method for manufacturing such a matrix type P/E actuator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A micropipette constructed for dispensing sequential, different sample solutions, including a substrate, an inlet port formed in or on the substrate, a cavity into which the sample solutions are poured through the inlet port and which is filled sequentially with the sample solutions, an introduction hole between each inlet port and cavity, an injection port for sequentially expelling the sample solutions formed in communication with each cavity, and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element provided on at least one wall of the substrate adjacent each cavity.

Abstract: A matrix type piezoelectric/electrostrictive (PIE) actuator includes a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements, each including a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body and at least one pair of electrodes formed on a ceramic substrate. The matrix type P/E actuator is activated by displacement of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive bodies. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are joined to the ceramic substrate as respective unified bodies, and are two-dimensionally arranged independently from each other. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator provides a greater displacement with a lower voltage, a high responsive speed, and a greater generating force, as well as enhancing the mounting ability and the integration. A method for manufacturing such a matrix type P/E actuator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A micropipette is provided including at least one substrate, an inlet port through which a sample is delivered from the outside, a cavity to be poured and filled with the sample, an introduction hole, and an injection port for expelling the sample are formed on the at least one substrate. The substrate for forming the cavity is made of ceramics, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is provided for at least one wall surface of the substrate, and the sample moves as a laminar flow in the cavity. The volume of the cavity is changed by driving the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element to expell a certain amount of the sample in the cavity from the injection port. According to the micropipette, it is possible to form microspots with high accuracy and high speed. According to a dispenser including the micropipette, it is possible to efficiently dispense hundreds to ten thousands of different samples at one time and form microspots. Therefore, productivity is remarkably improved.

Abstract: A fingerprint input apparatus is provided that specifies the cause when a failure in fingerprint reading occurs and then notifies a user of the content of the cause and/or the countermeasure against it. The fingerprint input apparatus comprises a fingerprint sensor (1) for reading a fingerprint and then outputting fingerprint image data corresponding to the fingerprint, a fingerprint analyzer (3) for analyzing the quality of a fingerprint image represented by fingerprint image data and creating an evaluation result representing the cause of the quality failure and/or a countermeasure against it when the analysis result indicates a quality failure, and an evaluation result display (2) for displaying the evaluation result.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive film-type actuator has a ceramic base and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element, which has piezoelectric/electrostrictive films and electrode films and which is disposed on the ceramic base, and is driven in accordance with a dislocation of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is formed such that the piezoelectric/electrostrictive films and the electrode films are alternately laminated so as to construct the uppermost layer and the lowermost layer with the electrode films. Also, the piezoelectric/electrostrictive films have two layers and no pores, containing a different phase formed by a decomposed material thereof, in the boundary sandwiched therebetween. In addition, the upper layer of the two-layered piezoelectric/electrostrictive films is thicker than the lower layer.

Abstract: A micro pump having at least one pump member for conveying a fluid by action of pressure includes a pump unit formed by at least one actuator member for generating a pressure fluctuation and a fluid channel in which the fluid flows. The actuator member is provided with a cell formed by disposing two side walls made of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements or antiferrodielectric elements on a connecting plate, and covering a surface facing the connecting plate between the side walls with a cover plate. The actuator member selectively forms the fluid channel and generates pressure fluctuation in the fluid channel member due to displacement of the cell caused by expansion/contraction of the side walls. The micro pump is small and thin in size, while attaining increasing fluid ejection amounts, and a high speed in response.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive film-type actuator has a ceramic base and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element, which has piezoelectric/electrostrictive films and electrode films and which is disposed on the ceramic base, and is driven in accordance with a dislocation of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is formed such that the piezoelectric/electrostrictive films and the electrode films are alternately laminated so as to construct the uppermost layer and the lowermost layer with the electrode films. Also, the piezoelectric/electrostrictive films have two layers and no pores, containing a different phase formed by a decomposed material thereof, in the boundary sandwiched therebetween. In addition, the upper layer of the two-layered piezoelectric/electrostrictive films is thicker than the lower layer.

Abstract: There in provided a circuit board including a substrate on which a plurality of screen-printed patterns are formed. Each of the screen-printed includes at least one of a passive device and an active device. A gap disposed between the plurality of screen-printed patterns is not more than 40 &mgr;m.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method comprising a pretreatment step of forming a poly-L-lysine layer on a surface of a base plate, a sample preparation step of preparing a sample containing a DNA fragment, a dilution step of diluting the concentration of the obtained sample, and a supply step of supplying a diluted sample solution onto the base plate to produce a DNA chip. The sample preparation step includes an amplification step of PCR-amplifying the DNA fragment to prepare a PCR product, a powder formation step of drying the obtained PCR product to form DNA powder, and a mixing step of dissolving the obtained DNA powder in a buffer solution.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a micro pump member, in which a plurality of cells formed in a base part are used as pressurizing chambers, and side walls forming the pressurizing chambers are constructed by piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements. The micro pump member is formed by using a punch and die to form slits through green sheets that are laminated to one another.

Abstract: A drive device includes ceramic pumps which alternately pressurize and depressurize fluid within a fluid chamber on opposite sides of a movable body, to thereby move the movable body within the flow chamber. The flow chamber is connected via micro flow passages to an internal-pressure buffering chamber, which accommodates a compressible gas. When the pressure of the fluid is increased and decreased at high speed by the ceramic pumps, the micro flow passages exhibit a high passage resistance, so that the pressure within the channel does not escape to the internal-pressure buffering chamber, and the movable body moves freely. When the pressure of the fluid increases slowly due to the expansion of the fluid, the micro flow passages exhibit a low passage resistance, so that the fluid is led to the internal-pressure buffering chamber, and the pressure increase of the fluid is suppressed.

Abstract: In a multiprocessor exchange having a floating function, a signal distribution control processor is provided between a plurality of call control processors and a plurality of line controllers, and lines or highways are allocated to the call control processors on the basis of the line allocation information which is input from a terminal apparatus. The signal distribution control processor distributes the call control information on a predetermined line which is input from a line controller to the call control processor corresponding to the line by reference to the line allocation information, and distributes the call control information input from a call control processor to the corresponding line controller.

Abstract: This is a method for manufacturing a multislit actuator in which cleaning to drying process is unnecessary, and even slits other than in a linear shape or slits having a width of 50 &mgr;m or less can be formed. A predetermined number of piezoelectric material green sheets 1 are prepared, a first piezoelectric material green sheet 1a is formed with slit apertures by a punch 8 and a die 9 disposed with a stripper 10 therearound. Then the piezoelectric material green sheet 1a is pulled up by the stripper 10 without removing the punch 8 from the piezoelectric material green sheet 1a. Then, a second piezoelectric material green sheet 1b is formed with slit apertures by the punch 8, the punched two piezoelectric material green sheets 1a and 1b are similarly pulled up by the stripper 10 without removing the punch 8 from the piezoelectric material green sheet 1b. After this the piezoelectric material green sheets are laminated at the same time when punched.

Abstract: A micro pump having at least one pump member for conveying a fluid by action of pressure includes a pump unit formed by at least one actuator member for generating a pressure fluctuation and a fluid channel in which the fluid flows. The actuator member provided with a cell formed by disposing two side walls made of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements or antiferrodielectric elements on a connecting plate, and covering a surface facing the connecting plate between the side walls with a cover plate. The actuator member selectively forms the fluid channel and generates pressure fluctuation in the fluid channel member due to displacement of the cell caused by expansion/contraction of the side walls. The micro pump is small and thin in size, while attaining increasing fluid ejection amounts, and a thigh speed in response.

Abstract: This is a method for manufacturing a comb teeth type piezoelectric actuator in which interlayer separation is hard to occur and even in case of comb teeth with slit width of 70 &mgr;m and below, and also in case of comb teeth with slits of three-dimensional shape, it is easily manufactured.

Abstract: A circuit changeover switch 60, which includes a drive device 10, includes ceramic pumps 18a and 18b, which alternately pressurize and depressurize operation fluid 100 within a fluid chamber 13a on opposite sides of an electrically conductive movable body 110, to thereby move the movable body 110 within the flow chamber 13a, whereby one of changeover electrodes 62a and 62b is electrically connected to a common electrode 61. When the pressure of the operation fluid is increased and decreased at high speed by the ceramic pumps, micro channels 16a and 16b exhibit a high passage resistance, so that the pressure within the channel does not escape to an internal-pressure buffering chamber 15a, and the movable body moves without fail.

Abstract: There is disclosed a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type actuator (11) which comprises a ceramic substrate (44), and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive device (78) disposed on the ceramic substrate (44) and being provide with a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film (79) and electrode film (73, 75, 77); the device being driven by displacement of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive device (78); and the piezoelectric/electrostrictive device (78) wherein the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film (79) and electrode film (73, 75, 77) are alternately laminated to form the electrode from a uppermost layer and a lowermost layer possesses a plurality of layers of piezoelectric/electrostrictive films (79). The piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type actuator is superior in that it can easily highly be integrated without including a structure laminated using an adhesive, and attain a larger displacement with the same driving voltage, a fast response speed and a large generation force.

Abstract: A micro pump member is provided, in which a plurality of cells formed in a base part are used as pressurizing chambers, and side walls forming the pressurizing chambers are constructed by piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements. The volume of the pressurizing chambers is changed by the displacement of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements to produce a pressure in the pressurizing chambers. The pressurizing chambers are formed independent of adjacent pressurizing chambers. Activation can be carried out by applying a driving electric field having a high field strength to the pressurizing chambers, so that a greater displacement and a higher response can be obtained with a smaller field strength.