Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spark plug includes the step of adjusting a spark gap in the spark plug. In the step, a ground electrode is repeatedly pressed, by a hammer, toward a center electrode. The hammer operates in a first mode when the size of the spark gap falls in a rough-process range which is above a predetermined value, and in a second mode when the size of the spark gap falls in a finish-process range which is between the predetermined value and a target value less than the predetermined value. The amount of pressing the ground electrode in any press stroke of the hammer in the second mode is less than that in any press stroke of the hammer in the first mode. The amount of pressing the ground electrode in every press stroke of the hammer in the second mode is equal to a fixed value.

Abstract: A variable filter element and a variable filter module suitable for decreasing the drive voltage are provided. The variable filter element includes a substrate, two ground lines and a signal line between the ground lines, where these lines are disposed to extend in parallel on the substrate. The filter element further includes movable capacitor electrodes which bridge between the ground lines and have portions facing the signal line, drive electrodes which are located between the signal line and the ground lines and generate electrostatic attraction with the movable capacitor electrodes, and a ground line, which is disposed in the substrate, has a portion facing the signal line, and is electrically connected with the ground. The variable capacitor electrodes and the ground line constitute ground interconnection portions, and the signal line and ground interconnection portion constitute a distributed constant transmission line.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a surface acoustic device that has a surface acoustic wave filter including comb-like electrodes, electrode pads, and wiring patterns formed on a joined substrate produced by joining a piezoelectric substrate and a supporting substrate to each other. This method includes the steps of: activating at least one of the joining surfaces of the piezoelectric substrate and the supporting substrate; and joining the piezoelectric substrate and the supporting substrate in such a manner that the activated joining surfaces face each other.

Abstract: A plurality of excitation elements, each including an IDT and a piezoelectric film, for exciting, respectively, surface acoustic waves, each having a unique center frequency, are formed on one end of a non-piezoelectric substrate, a plurality of receiving elements, each including an IDT and a piezoelectric film, for receiving, respectively, surface acoustic waves, each having a unique center frequency, are formed on the other end of the non-piezoelectric substrate to face the excitation elements, respectively, the center frequencies of the IDTs of the facing excitation element and receiving element are equal, the center frequencies of the IDTs of the excitation elements next to each other are different, and surface acoustic waves are propagated across the non-piezoelectric substrate, between the facing excitation elements and receiving elements so as to detect the position of an object in contact with the non-piezoelectric substrate, based on received results in the receiving elements.

Abstract: A film bulk acoustic resonator includes: a piezoelectric thin film that is formed on a principal surface of a substrate; and a lower electrode and an upper electrode that are arranged to sandwich the piezoelectric thin film. In this film bulk acoustic resonator, the piezoelectric thin film is made of aluminum nitride, and at least one of the lower electrode and the upper electrode contains a ruthenium or ruthenium-alloy layer.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device includes: a piezoelectric substrate that has two or more resonators formed on a surface; and a supporting substrate that is joined to another surface of the piezoelectric substrate. In this surface acoustic wave device, at least two of the resonators have exciting portions that overlap each other in the direction of propagating surface acoustic waves, and at least a part of the piezoelectric substrate is removed or modified to have different properties between at least one pair of overlapping resonators among the resonators having the overlapping portions.

Abstract: An angular velocity sensor is provided that includes a frame, an oscillator and torsion bars that connect the oscillator to the frame. The frame, the oscillator and the torsion bar are formed integral with each other by etching a material substrate in the thickness direction of the substrate. The oscillator, configured in the form of an H, includes a support, two first arms and two second arms. These arms extend from the support in an arm-extending direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the substrate. The oscillator includes a mounting surface that is provided with a piezoelectric driver for generating in-plane oscillation of the oscillator, and with a piezoelectric detector for detecting out-of-plane oscillation of the oscillator.

Abstract: Efficient transverse energy confinement, and provision of a surface acoustic wave filter having preferable characteristics of both insertion loss and shape factor are obtained. In the surface acoustic wave filter, electrode fingers of one comb electrode are laid in a state of being inserted to the electrode fingers of the other comb electrode, and a thick film thicker than each plurality of electrode fingers is produced in a partial area of the bus bar, and a tip gap is provided between the top of each plurality of electrode fingers and the end face of the opposed bus bar, with a distance therebetween set not greater than 0.2? (where, ? is one period of the comb electrode).

Abstract: An electrical contact device (X1) includes a first contactor with contact portions (C1, C2) and a second contactor with contact portions (C3, C4). The device (X1) also includes an electrical circuit having a branch path (YA) provided by the contact portions (C1, C3) and a branch path (YB) provided by the contact portions (C2, C4). When closed, the branch path (YA) has a smaller resistance, and the branch path (YB) a greater resistance. In a closing operation, the first and second contactors approach each other. Then the contact portion (C1) and the contact portion (C3) contact with each other after the contact portion (C2) and the contact portion (C4) contact with each other. In an opening operation, the first and second contactors separate from each other. Then the contact portion (C1) and the contact portion (C3) separate after the contact portion (C2) and the contact portion (C4) separate.

Abstract: Surface acoustic waves are transmitted from a respective plurality of excitation elements to a non-piezoelectric substrate, and the surface acoustic waves propagating in the non-piezoelectric substrate are received by a respective receiving elements, thus a position of an object in contact with the non-piezoelectric substrate is detected based on received results in the receiving elements. An indicated direction is detected based on a reception level of surface acoustic waves in the receiving elements. A direction of a vector starting at the center of a range (contact range) in which a reception level is not higher than a predetermined level and ending at a position obtained based on the reception level is detected as a direction indicated by a user. The indicated direction can be detected even when the object stays at a position.

Abstract: A plurality of excitation elements are disposed on two facing sides of a quadrilateral detection range in a non-piezoelectric substrate, and a plurality of receiving elements are disposed on the other two sides of the detection range so as to face the excitation elements respectively. Surface acoustic waves are transmitted from the respective plurality of excitation elements in two diagonal directions of the detection range respectively, and the surface acoustic waves from the two diagonal directions are received by the respective receiving elements, so that a position of an object in contact with the substrate is detected based on received results in the receiving elements.

Abstract: A variable inductor includes an insulating substrate (1), a thermally softenable spiral coil (2) provided on the insulating substrate (1), and a pair of input/output terminals (3, 4) each connected electrically to a respective end of the coil (2). Preferably, the coil (2) is made from a non-crystalline thin film metallic glass which softens in a supercooled liquid phase.

Abstract: An electrical contact device (X1) includes a first contactor with contact portions (C1, C2) and a second contactor with contact portions (C3, C4). The device (X1) also includes an electrical circuit having a branch path (YA) provided by the contact portions (C1, C3) and a branch path (YB) provided by the contact portions (C2, C4). When closed, the branch path (YA) has a smaller resistance, and the branch path (YB) a greater resistance. In a closing operation, the first and second contactors approach each other. Then the contact portion (C1) and the contact portion (C3) contact with each other after the contact portion (C2) and the contact portion (C4) contact with each other. In an opening operation, the first and second contactors separate from each other. Then the contact portion (C1) and the contact portion (C3) separate after the contact portion (C2) and the contact portion (C4) separate.

Abstract: An electrical contacting device includes a plurality of current paths connected in parallel to each other, and a plurality of electrical contact points each having a first contact and a second contact that are mechanically opened and closed. Each current path is provided with a corresponding one of the contact points. For prevention of the occurrence of arc discharge at the contact points, each current path has its electrical characteristics adjusted in order not to allow the passage of the minimum discharge current.

Abstract: A magnetic head supporting mechanism includes a fixing member, a piezoelectric element supported by the fixing member, and a head supporting member provided on the piezoelectric element, a magnetic head being supported by the head supporting member. An acceleration sensor is formed by the head supporting member and the piezoelectric element so as to be incorporated into the mechanism.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave filter includes series-arm resonators and parallel-arm resonators that are connected in a ladder-like fashion. This surface acoustic wave filter satisfies conditions expressed as: 1×106?4?2f02R2CopCos?3.1×106 where Cop is the electrostatic capacitance of the parallel-arm resonators, Cos is the electrostatic capacitance of the series-arm resonators, f0 is the center frequency, and R is the nominal impedance.

Abstract: A filter device includes a filter element that has piezoelectric thin-film resonators arranged in series arms and parallel arms, and a package that houses the filter element in a face-down state. In this filter device, the filter element and the package are electrically connected to each other through bumps. The package includes first pad parts on which the bumps are placed, and transmission paths that electrically connect the first pad parts to the outside. The filter element includes second pad parts that are electrically connected to the first pad parts through the bumps, and wiring parts that electrically connect the second pads to the piezoelectric thin-film resonators and electrically connect the piezoelectric thin-film resonators to one another. In this structure, inductances formed with the transmission paths are connected in series to the piezoelectric thin-film resonators.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate having a first surface on which comb-like electrodes are formed, and a second surface, and a support substrate joined to the second surface of the piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate is made of lithium, tantalate, and the support substrate is made of sapphire. The following expressions being satisfied: T/t<???(1) T/?>10??(2) where T is a thickness of the piezoelectric substrate, t is a thickness of the support substrate, and ? is a wavelength of a surface acoustic filter, propagated along the first surface of the piezoelectric substrate.

Abstract: A film bulk acoustic resonator is fabricated in the following manner. First, a base layer is formed on an insulating substrate. Then, a resonator assembly is formed on the base layer. The resonator assembly includes a first electrode held in contact with the base layer, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric layer held between the first and the second electrodes. Then, a resist layer is formed to cover the resonator assembly and the base layer. Then, a through-hole is formed in the resist layer so that the base layer is exposed via the through-hole. Then, etchant is supplied via the through-hole to make a space in the base layer under the resonator assembly. Finally, the resist layer is removed.

Abstract: A SAW filter includes a first SAW resonator having a pair of terminals and a predetermined resonance frequency (frp), the first SAW resonator being provided in a parallel arm of the SAW filter. A second SAW resonator has a pair of terminals and a predetermined resonance frequency (frs) approximately equal to a predetermined antiresonance frequency of the first SAW resonator (fap). The second SAW resonator is provided in a series arm of the SAW filter. An inductance element is connected in series to the first SAW resonator.