Abstract: A light guide plate according to an embodiment of the present invention is one in which light scattering dots are formed on at least one surface 12c of a light guide substrate 12. A plurality of light scattering dots 24 are formed in each of individual areas A1-A10 resulting from division of the at least one surface 12c of the light guide substrate 12 into a plurality of areas. In each of individual areas A1-A5 where a contrast ratio by the light scattering dots 24 is not more than 50%, the light scattering dots 24 include light scattering dots 24a, 24b of two or more sizes and the light scattering dots 24a, 24b of two or more sizes are arranged in an irregular order.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes piezoelectric material layers, individual electrodes corresponding to pressure chambers, a first common constant electric potential electrode corresponding to outer peripheral portions of the pressure chambers, and a second common constant electric potential electrode corresponding to central portions of the individual electrodes. A plurality of first active portions is formed in areas of the piezoelectric material layers sandwiched between the individual electrodes and the second common constant electric potential electrode, and a plurality of second active portions is formed in areas of the piezoelectric material layers sandwiched between the individual electrodes and the first common constant electric potential electrode. Since the second common constant electric potential electrode has a mesh-shaped form, it is possible to reduce an impedance thereof.

Abstract: A recess is formed on an upper surface of a vibration plate at a position corresponding to a pressure chamber. Next, a low-elasticity material having a lower modulus of elasticity than the vibration plate is filled in the recess. Then, aerosol including a piezoelectric material particles and carrier gas is sprayed on the upper surface of the vibration plate to form a piezoelectric layer. At this time, the particles of the piezoelectric material do not adhere to a surface of the low-elasticity material filled in the recess, and hence the piezoelectric layer can be formed only in an area excluding the surface of the low-elasticity material. Thus, there is provided a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator, the method capable of easily preventing, when forming the piezoelectric layer by an aerosol deposition method, formation of the piezoelectric layer on a surface of the recess.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes first active portions corresponding to center portions in a row direction of pressure chambers and second active portions corresponding to left and right portions on outer peripheral sides which are more outside than the center portions of the pressure chambers. When applying voltage to the first active portions, the first active portions deform to project toward pressure chambers. At this time, the second active portions do not deform and the influence of deformation of the first active portions does not reach the adjacent pressure chambers. Accordingly, effect of suppressing crosstalk is exhibited.

Abstract: In an ink-jet printer, as a liquid-droplet jetting apparatus, when a predetermined condition is satisfied during an printing operation, a non-jetting drive pulse is applied to an actuator to impart vibration to an ink meniscus of an ink in the vicinity of nozzles without jetting the ink from the nozzles, while a carriage is moving along a width direction of a recording paper. This makes it possible to prevent the drying of the ink in the nozzles without performing flushing operation frequently. Accordingly, the occurrence of printing failure can be lowered and the printing time can be shortened.

Abstract: A liquid transporting apparatus includes a piezoelectric actuator which applies a pressure to liquid in a pressure chamber and which has a vibration plate covering the pressure chamber; a piezoelectric layer formed on a surface, of the vibration plate, not facing the pressure chamber; an electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric layer not facing the vibration plate at a portion facing the pressure chamber; a contact point formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer not facing the vibration plate; and a connecting portion formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer not facing the vibration plate and connecting the electrode and the contact point; and the connecting portion extends from the contact point and is connected to a portion, of the electrode, which is different from a nearest portion nearest to the contact point.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a liquid crystal display capable of providing natural color display not tinged with red when viewed from an oblique front direction as well as when seen from a direct front direction. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a light diffusing optical member (3), a light source (2) arranged on a rear surface side of the optical member (3), and a VA type liquid crystal panel (30) arranged on a front surface side of the optical member (3). The light diffusing optical member (3) is made of a transparent material in which light diffusing particles are dispersed. A relational expression of 0.01??n×D50?0.25 is satisfied, where ?n is an absolute value of a difference between a refraction index of the transparent material and a refraction index of the light diffusing particles, and D50 (?m) is an accumulative 50% particle diameter of the light diffusing particles.

Abstract: A liquid transport apparatus includes: a channel unit; a piezoelectric actuator which applies a pressure to a liquid in a pressure chamber and which has a first and a second piezoelectric layers, a first, a second, and a third electrodes, the first piezoelectric layer covering the pressure chamber and polarized in a thickness direction, the second piezoelectric layer being joined to a surface of the first piezoelectric layer and polarized in a thickness direction, the first electrode being formed on a surface of the first piezoelectric layer, the second electrode being formed on a surface of the second piezoelectric layer, the third electrode being formed between the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer; a driving mechanism which drives the piezoelectric actuator and which has a potential applying mechanism applying potentials to the first, second, and third electrode respectively, and a controller controlling the potential applying mechanism.

Abstract: A method for producing a liquid transport apparatus comprises positioning and joining a vibration plate formed with recesses and a flow passage unit formed with pressure chambers, detecting a positional deviation amount of the recess from a reference position in a predetermined direction, and forming an electrode having a length adjusted on the basis of the detected positional deviation amount. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the decrease in the pressure to be applied in the pressure chamber. Further, it is possible to appropriately discharge a liquid such as an ink or the like from a discharge port.

Abstract: A display device includes: an operation display part having a touch panel part displaying on a screen a plurality of input keys and accepting key operation, the operation display part displaying a list with an array of a plurality of items; a key operation detection part detecting operation on the input key; and a control part specifying the operated input key based on information from the key operation detection part, and displaying, at the operation display part in two rows or two columns, an array of: a plurality of first input keys arrayed for narrowing down the items to be displayed on the list; and a plurality of second input keys displayed as a result of operation of the first input key and arrayed for further narrowing down the items to be displayed on the list.

Abstract: A droplet ejecting apparatus, including: a head having a cavity unit with pressure chambers and a piezoelectric actuator; and a voltage application device, the actuator including: first and second active portions; a first potential electrode; a second potential electrode including a second trunk portion; and individual electrodes each having a connection portion, wherein the connection portion is disposed to overlap the second trunk portion as seen in a superposition direction of the cavity unit and the actuator, wherein the individual electrodes are arranged in rows to correspond to rows of the pressure chambers, and all connecting portions belonging to any one row are disposed on the same side in a direction of arrangement of the rows, and wherein the connecting portions of the individual electrodes that belong to one and the other of any adjacent two rows are disposed on mutually opposite sides with respect to the corresponding pressure chambers.

Abstract: In a liquid droplet jetting mode of jetting liquid droplets, a controller controls a piezoelectric actuator to perform a liquid droplet jetting operation in which volume of a pressure chamber is decreased to a decreased volume smaller than a predetermined volume, and then the volume of the pressure chamber is increased to an increased volume greater than the predetermined volume, and the volume of the pressure chamber is again decreased to the decreased volume. On the other hand, in a warm-up mode of heating the liquid in the pressure chamber, the controller controls the piezoelectric actuator to perform at least one of a first warm-up operation in which the volume of the pressure chamber is changed repeatedly between the predetermined volume and the increased volume, and a second warm-up operation in which the volume of the pressure chamber is changed repeatedly between the predetermined volume and the decreased volume.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing liquid transporting apparatus including: providing a channel unit; providing a piezoelectric actuator having a first and second active portion corresponding to a central portion and an outer periphery portion of the pressure chamber, respectively. The first and second active portions are sandwiched between an upper electrode and an intermediate electrode, and between the upper electrode and a lower electrode, respectively. The method further includes joining the channel unit and the piezoelectric actuator by positioning such that the intermediate electrode overlaps the central portion of the pressure chamber. Accordingly, since it is possible to make the first active portion overlap the central portion of the pressure chamber, it is possible to apply a appropriate pressure to the liquid in the pressure chamber without excessively small deformation of the first active portion.

Abstract: In an ink-jet head as a liquid-droplet jetting apparatus, a manifold channel which supplies an ink to pressure chambers has a first area communicating with the pressure chambers and a second area communicating with a dummy nozzle formed therein, with the first and second areas sandwiching a projection therebetween. Air exists at an upper portion of the second area, and the air is in contact with the ink in the manifold channel. When a pressure is applied to the ink in the pressure chambers by a piezoelectric actuator so as to jet the ink from nozzles, a pressure wave is generated in the pressure chambers and is propagated to the manifold channel. The pressure wave propagated to the manifold channel is attenuated in the second area by the air which is in contact with the ink in the manifold channel.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a communication portion; an operation display portion that displays at least an address book screen on which a plurality of first input keys for narrowing transmission destination information are displayed, on which the first input key is operated such that a plurality of second input keys for further narrowing the transmission destination information are displayed and on which the displayed second input key is operated such that the transmission destination information is narrowed and the resulting information is displayed along with names; a display control portion that controls a display on the operation display portion; a key operation detection portion that detects a key operation on the input keys including the first input keys and the second input keys; and a storage portion that stores a plurality of pieces of transmission destination information displayed on the address book screen such that the plurality of pieces of transmission destination information correspon

Abstract: A retardation film includes a plurality of unit areas in a direction parallel to a light-incident plane of the optical element, and the unit areas includes a plurality of unit areas 2 whose retardation with respect to light of a certain wavelength is different by 10 nm or more from retardation of adjacent unit areas with respect to light of the certain wavelength. The retardation film utilizes a difference in wavelength dependence between retardation r(n, ?) of each of the unit areas and synthetic retardation R(?) of a whole area including all of the unit areas. This realizes an optical element capable of easily controlling wavelength dispersion of retardation, without being constrained by a material.

Abstract: An ink-jet head includes pressure chambers arranged in a row in a row-direction, and a manifold flow passage communicated with the pressure chambers and extending in the row-direction. An ink inflow port is formed at one end of the manifold flow passage. The manifold flow passage has a main portion, a connecting portion, and an extended portion which are arranged in this order from a side close to the ink inflow port. The manifold flow passage is communicated with the pressure chambers at the main portion. The main portion has a constant cross-sectional area greater than that of the connecting portion. A cross-sectional area of the extended portion is greater than that of the connecting portion. The pressure wave, generated in the pressure chamber and propagated to the manifold flow passage, can be efficiently attenuated by the manifold flow passage constructed as described above.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink-droplet ejecting apparatus including: ink passages each including a pressure chamber filled with ink; actuators each operated to change, upon receiving a drive signal, an inner volume of one of the chambers to generate a pressure wave in the ink in the chamber which propagates along the passage to eject a droplet of the ink onto a recording medium; and a control unit connected to the actuators and supplying the signal to the actuators such that the signal is in one of at least one waveform including a waveform which is for forming a single dot on the medium and includes a main pulse for ejecting the droplet, a preceding pulse outputted before the main pulse, and a stabilizing pulse outputted after the main pulse. A pulse width of the main pulse is not coincident with a one-way propagation time AL which is a time taken by the pressure wave to propagate one way along the passage. The preceding pulse is outputted in a manner not to eject the droplet.

Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus comprises: (a) a recording head including a nozzle from which a droplet of a liquid is ejected, (b) a pressure chamber which is filled with the liquid and whose volume is changeable for ejecting the droplet from the nozzle, and (c) an actuator which changes the volume of the pressure chamber by a drive pulse inputted thereto; and an operating device which outputs the drive pulse to the actuator and which is capable of performing a restoring operation for restoring a droplet ejection performance of the recording head. The restoring operation includes: a first operation for outputting, a plurality of times, an ejection drive pulse as the drive pulse by which the droplet can be ejected; and a second operation for outputting, a plurality of times, a non-ejection drive pulse as the drive pulse by which the droplet can not be ejected, the second operation being performed following the first operation.

Abstract: In a liquid droplet jetting mode of jetting liquid droplets, a controller controls a piezoelectric actuator to perform a liquid droplet jetting operation in which volume of a pressure chamber is decreased to a decreased volume smaller than a predetermined volume, and then the volume of the pressure chamber is increased to an increased volume greater than the predetermined volume, and the volume of the pressure chamber is again decreased to the decreased volume. On the other hand, in a warm-up mode of heating the liquid in the pressure chamber, the controller controls the piezoelectric actuator to perform at least one of a first warm-up operation in which the volume of the pressure chamber is changed repeatedly between the predetermined volume and the increased volume, and a second warm-up operation in which the volume of the pressure chamber is changed repeatedly between the predetermined volume and the decreased volume.