Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer element 1 is supported by a plurality of contact pins 5b provided on a printed wiring board 6. The contact pins are directly contacted to lower electrodes of the piezoelectric transformer element at its nodal points. An insulating case 4 accommodating the piezoelectric transformer element 1 is provided with a plurality of leads 3 which contact upper electrodes of the piezoelectric transformer element 1 at its nodal points. The insulating case 4 and the printed wiring board are combined together to provide electrical connection between the leads and wirings of the printed wiring board.

Abstract: A driving section applied with an input a.c. voltage and a generator section for generating an output potential are incorporated in a piezoelectric ceramic transformer, and the generator section is polarized through a two-step polarizing technique where an electric field is created in the generator section in high temperature atmosphere and, thereafter, the temperature is decreased without changing the electric field, thereby saturating the polarization without a crack.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic transformer has a rectangular parallelopiped piezoelectric ceramic plate divided into a generator section and driving sections on both sides of the generator section, and first ring-shaped input electrodes and second ring-shaped input electrodes are alternately put on the rectangular parallelopiped piezoelectric ceramic plate at intervals so as to create electric field perfectly oriented in the longitudinal direction of the ceramic plate.

Abstract: An electrostrictive effect element has a laminated-structure formed by a plurality of electrostrictive ceramic members and a plurality of internal electrode conductive layers which are stacked alternatingly. The electrostrictive effect element has, on each of the opposite side surfaces of the laminated-structure, an external electrode conductive layer which is formed by a plurality of land conductors made of sintered-type conductive paste for interconnecting the exposed internal electrode conductive layers not covered by glass insulation layers, and a belt-like conductor made of resin hardening-type conductive paste for interconnecting the plurality of land conductors. Silver diffusion into the glass insulation layers can be avoided while maintaining low contact resistance between the external electrode conductive layer and the internal electrode conductive layers.

Abstract: Strain gages (81, 82, 83) are adhered to protective layers (31, 32) and an active portion (2) of a laminated-structure (10) of the piezoelectric actuator, respectively. Since it is possible to measure a total amount of displacement of the protective layers (31, 32) and the active portion (2), the measured amount of displacement of the laminated structure (10) is accurate even if there are difference in strain due to temperature and stress between them. The same effect can be obtained for such actuator whose laminated structure (10) further includes any member such as temperature compensating member (19) of metal whose elastic modulus is different from that of the laminated structure.

Abstract: An electrostrictive effect element is enclosed by a hermetic terminal, a thin-film metallic case, and a metallic member so as to weld the terminal onto the case and the case onto the member. The obtained unit is installed in a thick-film metallic case with sliding members such as O-shaped rings disposed between the unit and the case, thereby forming an electrostrictive effect device. Moreover, to facilitate installation of the device in an apparatus, a screw groove is disposed on a side surface at least at a location near an end surface of the thick-film case. The structure removes the disadvantage that a leakage occurs in the hermetic state due to a flaw caused on the thin-film case, for example, by a blow. Moreover, when installing the device in an apparatus, the user may grasp the device on the side surface thereof, which improves operability of the device in the installation thereof.