Abstract: A ceramic compact having a patterned conductor is obtained by coating the patterned conductor with a slurry and then by hardening the slurry. The slurry is prepared by mixing a thermosetting resin precursor, a ceramic powder, and a medium. In the ceramic compact, an isocyanate- or isothiocyanate-containing gelling agent and a hydroxyl-containing polymer are reacted and hardened to produce a thermosetting resin. The hydroxyl-containing polymer is preferably a butyral resin, an ethylcellulose-based resin, a polyethyleneglycol-based resin, or a polyether-based resin.

Abstract: A ceramic compact having a patterned conductor is obtained by coating the patterned conductor with a slurry and then by hardening the slurry. The slurry is prepared by mixing a thermosetting resin precursor, a ceramic powder, and a medium. In the ceramic compact, an isocyanate- or isothiocyanate-containing gelling agent and a hydroxyl-containing polymer are reacted and hardened to produce a thermosetting resin. The hydroxyl-containing polymer is preferably a butyral resin, an ethylcellulose-based resin, a polyethyleneglycol-based resin, or a polyether-based resin.

Abstract: A method for controlling the shrinkage of ceramic formed bodies is provided, including performing a preliminary test to determine an average shrinkage of ceramic formed bodies made from test lots of a ceramic powder, and determining a linear correlation between the average shrinkage and measured amounts of the ground test lots removed from a ball mill during a specific milling time interval. A batch of the ceramic powder is then ground, an amount of the ground ceramic powder removed from the ball mill during the specific time interval is measured, and the linear correlation is used to estimate the shrinkage of a ceramic body made therefrom. The difference between a target shrinkage and the estimated shrinkage is determined, and one or more of the processing conditions used to form the ceramic body are changed to offset the difference.

Abstract: A micro reactor comprising: a first substrate comprising a predetermined number each of micro channels, reactors connected to micro channels at respective connection points, injection ports for feeding/receiving a sample solution, and discharge ports for recovering a sample solution after reaction from respective reactors; and a second substrate in which at least one micro pump is disposed so as to be faced to the injection ports and the discharge ports, the at least one micro pump being provided with a substrate including a cavity made of a ceramic in the inner surface thereof; a piezoelectric/electrostrictive operation section formed on the outer surface of the substrate, and at least two connection ports for feeding/receiving a sample solution in the cavity; and the micro reactor being formed integrally by laminating the first substrate and the second substrate.

Abstract: A ceramic compact having a patterned conductor is obtained by coating the patterned conductor with a slurry and then by hardening the slurry. The slurry is prepared by mixing a thermosetting resin precursor, a ceramic powder, and a medium. In the ceramic compact, an isocyanate- or isothiocyanate-containing gelling agent and a hydroxyl-containing polymer are reacted and hardened to produce a thermosetting resin. The hydroxyl-containing polymer is preferably a butyral resin, an ethylcellulose-based resin, a polyethyleneglycol-based resin, or a polyether-based resin.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is provided, including a rotor substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. The rotor has a pair of opposed surfaces, a first movable section fixed to a first end of one of the surfaces, a first piezoelectric/electrostrictive element for actuating the first movable section, and a second movable section fixed to a second end of the other one of the surfaces. The second end is diametrically opposed to the first end. A second piezoelectric/electrostrictive element for actuating the second movable section is also included.

Abstract: A light source has a light emission section comprising a two-dimensional array of electron emitters and a drive circuit for applying a drive voltage to each of the electron emitters of the light emission section. The drive circuit applies the drive voltage between upper and lower electrodes of each of the electron emitters based on a control signal representative of turn-on/turn-off from an external source (a turn-on/turn-off switch or the like), for thereby controlling each of the electron emitters. Each of the electron emitters has a plate-like emitter, an upper electrode disposed on a face side of the emitter, and a lower electrode disposed on a reverse side of the emitter.

Abstract: The water droplet generating system includes a vessel, an opening/closing valve, a moisture absorbent member, and a condenser portion. The vessel has an opening portion. The opening/closing valve opens and closes the opening portion. The water absorbent member absorbs and releases water vapor depending on a change of humidity. The condenser portion is communicated with the inside of the vessel and cools water vapor released from the moisture absorbent member to be at a dew point of water vapor or less. When the opening portion is opened, the moisture absorbent member absorbs water vapor in atmosphere. When the opening portion is closed, the moisture absorbent member releases water vapor, and the condenser portion condenses water vapor, which is released from the moisture absorbent member, to generate a water droplet.

Abstract: A novel chip capable of reducing a reaction period, applying wide-ranging target substance, preventing a mismatch binding efficiently and enabling a highly accurate detection is provided. Thus, an inventive reactive chip has the capture probe (60) fixed on each of three or more vibration areas (50) arranged on the support (30), the capture probes being able to binding to a target substance, wherein each vibration area has the vibration-generating part (40) having the first electrode (11) and the second electrode (12) between which the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element (20) is sandwiched.

Abstract: An Al—AlN composite material, a heat exchanger and a related manufacturing method are disclosed. The Al—AlN composite material aluminum is manufactured by melting aluminum to allow a layer of melted aluminum to flow in an area over one surface of an AlN plate under an inactive gas atmosphere after which the layer of melted aluminum is solidified to form an Al plate bonded to the AlN plate. The heat exchanger includes the Al—AlN composite material forming at least part of a cooling medium flow passage with the AlN plate held in thermal contact with a heating body. The manufacturing method comprises melting aluminum to allow a layer of melted aluminum to flow in an area over one surface of an AlN plate under inactive gas atmosphere, and solidifying the layer of melted aluminum to form the Al plate bonded to the AlN plate.

Abstract: A display device includes an illuminating device having an optical waveguide plate for introducing light thereinto, a drive assembly having a planar array of actuators disposed in facing relation to the optical waveguide plate, a displacement transmitter assembly disposed between the optical waveguide plate and the drive assembly, and a light scattering layer disposed on the displacement transmitter assembly. The actuators are selectively displaceable to bring the light scattering layer into and out of contact with the optical waveguide plate, for controlling light that leaks from the optical waveguide plate as emitted light. The display device also includes an optical modulator for modulating the emitted light from the illuminating device to display an image. The illuminating device has a light reflecting layer disposed on at least a portion of the displacement transmitter assembly that confronts the optical waveguide plate.

Abstract: In a method for producing a biochip comprising a large number of spots based on captures, the spots are arranged on a base plate 10 by supplying, onto the base plate 10, a plurality of types of the captures to be used to specifically react with a specimen in order to obtain information on a structure or a function of the specimen, an immobilization-reinforcing solution 16 is supplied onto the base plate 10 (first supply step). Subsequently, a sample 14, which is obtained in a sample preparation step, is supplied onto the immobilization-reinforcing solution 16 having been supplied onto the base plate 10 to produce the biochip thereby (second supply step).

Abstract: One image is displayed in a period as one frame, which includes one charge accumulation period and one light emission period. In the charge accumulation period, all electron emitters are scanned, and voltages depending on the luminance levels of corresponding pixels are applied to the electron emitters which correspond to pixels to be turned on (to emit light), to accumulate charges (electrons) in amounts depending on the luminance levels of corresponding pixels in the electron emitters which correspond to pixels to be turned on. In the next light emission period, a constant voltage is applied to all the electron emitters to emit electrons in amounts depending on the luminance levels of corresponding pixels from the electron emitters which correspond to pixels to be turned on, thereby emitting light from the pixels to be turned on.

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: Means for a thermally conductive and electrically insulating material 1 containing an AlN crystal 150 mainly comprising AlN, and a production method thereof. In production, a molten aluminum layer is formed on an AlN substrate 11 with at least its surface comprising AlN in an atmosphere of a non-oxidizing gas, and the molten aluminum layer is then heated in an atmosphere of N2 gas to form an AlN crystal 150 which mainly comprises an AlN layer 125. The means are also a thermally conductive and electrically insulating material having an AlN crystal and an Al gradient layer, and a production method thereof. In production, a heating step of forming a molten aluminum layer 15 on the AlN layer 125 and heating it in an atmosphere of N2 gas is repeated at least twice or more. At this time, the amount of the N2 gas dissolved in the molten aluminum layer is decreased as the heating step is repeated.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive including a pair of mutually opposing vibration plates, each having a first portion and a second portion, a fixation section joined to the first portion of each of the vibration plates, and at least one piezoelectric/electrostrictive element arranged on at least one of the vibration plates. A surface of the device between the fixation section and the second portion of at least one of the vibration plates is curved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric/electrostrictive device including a pair of thin plate sections in an opposed relation to each other, a fixing section for supporting the thin plate sections, and at least one pair of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are provided to the pair of thin plate sections. The thin plate sections include movable sections having end surfaces in an opposed relation. Recesses are formed between the thin plate sections and the fixing section and/or the movable sections.

Abstract: A reaction cell is provided with a vessel-like cell main body and a circular piezoelectric/electrostrictive oscillator fixed to an outside of a bottom surface of the cell main body. The cell main body includes a circular bottom plate portion and a circumferential wall portion which rises from a circumferential edge of the bottom plate portion so as to thereby surround the bottom plate portion. The bottom plate portion and the circumferential wall portion are integrally formed from ceramics. A solution accommodation space is formed above the bottom plate portion and is partially enclosed by the circumferential wall portion. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive oscillator is concentrically adhered to the outside of the bottom surface of the cell main body.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is provided, including a pair of mutually opposing thin plate sections and a fixation section for supporting the thin plate sections. A piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is arranged on each of the thin plate sections. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device also includes movable sections defined by at least first end portions of the thin plate sections and a material which is different from that of the thin plate section.

Abstract: One selection period S and display cycles Td of a number corresponding to a maximum gradation level are allotted in one field, and the display cycle Td is composed of an unselection period U and a reset period R to perform the following control. A row electrode-driving circuit is used to output a selection pulse Ps during the selection period S, output an unselection signal Su during the unselection period U in the display cycle Td, and output a reset pulse Pr during the reset period R. A column electrode-driving circuit is used to output an ON signal during a light emission maintenance period, and output an OFF signal at least at an end timing of the light emission maintenance period, of the period other than the light emission maintenance period. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively reduce the electric power consumption, and it is possible to achieve the high brightness.