Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a substrate on which an opening portion is formed; a vibration plate that is provided on the substrate so as to block the opening portion; and a piezoelectric element including a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode that are stacked on an opposite side of the opening portion of the vibration plate, in which when a direction in which the first electrode, the piezoelectric layer, and the second electrode are stacked is set to be a Z direction, and a portion that is completely overlapped by the first electrode, the piezoelectric layer, and the second electrode in the Z direction is set to be an active portion, the plural active portions are provided so as to face the one opening portion, and a suppressing portion (column portion) that suppresses vibrations of the vibration plate is provided between the adjacent active portions.

Abstract: A drive circuit includes a circuit for feedback oscillation connected to a vibrator to form a feedback oscillation circuit and including a high-pass filter, an oscillation circuit that outputs a periodic signal, and a control circuit that controls whether or not the periodic signal output by the oscillation circuit is supplied to the circuit for feedback oscillation under a condition that the feedback oscillation circuit operates, and controls to bring a state between a first node as an output node and a second node grounded of the high-pass filter into a non-conduction state when the periodic signal is supplied to the circuit for feedback oscillation and bring the state between the first node and the second node into a conduction state when the periodic signal is not supplied to the circuit for feedback oscillation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly for an ultrasonic motor, comprising an actuator body, an actuator retainer that accommodates the actuator body, an actuator bearing, and a friction element driven by the actuator body, wherein there is planar frictional contact between the actuator body and the friction element and the assembly has an optimized tilt axis, about which the actuator retainer and/or the friction element can be pivoted and which is arranged at a distance from the center of gravity of the actuator body and is shifted in the direction of the section of the friction element touched by the actuator body.

Abstract: A piezoelectric driving device includes a piezoelectric body; an electrode provided on the piezoelectric body; and a driving circuit which applies a driving voltage to the electrode, wherein the piezoelectric body has a thickness of 0.05 ?m to 20 ?m, and the driving voltage is a voltage obtained by adding an offset voltage to a fluctuating voltage.

Abstract: Mechanical resonators including doped piezoelectric active layers are described. The piezoelectric active layer(s) of the mechanical resonator may be doped with a dopant type and concentration suitable to increase the electromechanical coupling coefficient of the active layer. The increase in electromechanical coupling coefficient may all for improved performance and smaller size mechanical resonators than feasible without using the doping.

Abstract: An electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducer may include (a) one or more EMP layers each having a first operating characteristic; and (b) one or more EMP layers each having a second operating characteristic different from the first operating characteristic. The EMP transducer may include at least two EMP layers that are activated independently, and one or more EMP layers being configured to be a sensing layer. The sensing layer may sensitive to one or both of the operating characteristics (e.g., temperature, strain, pressure and their respective rates of change). Other operating characteristic may include resin type, modulus, film thicknesses, degrees of deformations, operating temperature ranges, a stretching ratio of the EMP layers, metallization patterns of electrodes, arrangements of active and inactive EMP layers, arrangements of irradiated EMP layers, arrangements of EMP layers acting as sensors, and arrangements of inactive layers of various degrees of stiffness.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film comprising aluminum nitride containing magnesium and hafnium, wherein a content of the hafnium based on 100 atomic % of the magnesium is 8 atomic % or more and less than 100 atomic %, and a total content of the magnesium and hafnium based on a sum of a content of the magnesium, hafnium, and aluminum is in a range of 47 atomic % or less.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a vehicle electronic power system. In one exemplary embodiment an energy harvesting device is configured to generate electricity in response to vibration of the vehicle occurring during normal vehicle operation. The energy harvesting device may be tuned to a frequency that falls within a peak energy region in a vibration profile of the vehicle. The power system may further include a charging circuit connecting the energy harvesting device to a rechargeable battery provides electrical power to an electro-mechanical vehicle component or system.

Abstract: Provided is a light activated piezoelectric converter comprising a cantilever vane coupled to a foundation. The vane comprises a first surface and a second surface. The first and second surfaces are generally co-planer and adjacent to a common boundary and have differing emissivities. A piezoelectric material is additionally coupled to the vane, arranged such that a deflection of the free end of the vane generates stress acting on the piezoelectric material. When the piezoelectric converter is illuminated with a radiant flux, the differing emissivities of the first and second surfaces produce a temperature gradient across the vane and a thermal creep force across the planar surface generates a deflection of the vane, and a subsequent voltage induced by the stress on the piezoelectric material generates a voltage between a first electrode and second electrode in electrical contact with the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: A magnetic piezoelectric composite adjusts magnetic anisotropy strength in a bimetallic member and includes: a piezoelectric layer to produce a strain in response to receipt of a strain voltage; and the bimetallic member disposed on the piezoelectric layer, the bimetallic member including: a plurality of metal layers, such that a second metal layer is interposed between a pair of first metal layers, the bimetallic member being ferromagnetic; and a magnetic anisotropy strength that changes in response to receipt of the strain from the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vibrator which includes a method of manufacturing a wiring board includes disposing one granular conductor within each of through holes of a ceramic substrate having the through holes formed therein, supplying a glass paste into the through holes, baking the glass paste, forming an electrode, and disposing a vibrator element and a lid. When a maximum diameter of the granular conductor is set to d1 and a minimum diameter of each of the through holes is set to d2, d1/d2 is preferably equal to or greater than 0.8 and equal to or less than 1.

Abstract: Embodiments of a Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) device including a high conductivity electrode are disclosed. In some embodiments, a BAW device includes a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode on a first surface of the piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode on a second surface of the piezoelectric layer opposite the first electrode. The second electrode includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The second metal layer is on the second surface of the piezoelectric layer, and the first metal layer is over a surface of the second metal layer opposite the piezoelectric layer, where the first metal layer is separated from the second metal layer by an air gap. By including the air gap, the thickness of the first metal layer (e.g., a high conductivity layer) can be increased to thereby increase the electrical conductivity of the second electrode while maintaining the performance of the BAW device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymeric actuator which has excellent flexibility and elongation rate; low temperature dependability of physical properties such as an elastic modulus and high dielectric breakdown strength, and which can drive in a low electric field. The present invention relates to a polymeric actuator, wherein the polymeric dielectric has a storage elastic modulus at 20° C. [E?(20° C.)] determined by a dynamic viscoelastic measurement at a frequency of 1 Hz of not more than 0.5 MPa, a ratio [E?(?20° C.)/E?(20° C.)] of a storage elastic modulus at ?20° C. [E?(?20° C.)] determined by a dynamic viscoelastic measurement at a frequency of 1 Hz to the [E?(20° C.)] of not more than 5.0, and a ratio [E?(40° C.)/E?(20° C.)] of a storage elastic modulus at 40° C. [E?(40° C.)] determined by a dynamic viscoelastic measurement at a frequency of 1 Hz to the [E?(20° C.)] of not less than 0.5.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a sealing plate including a first surface connected to a pressure chamber formation substrate, and a second surface having a drive IC provided thereon. The sealing plate includes a first region in which a plurality of individual connection terminals are arranged, and a second region in a position different from the first region. A plurality of bump electrodes are arranged at a pitch different from a pitch of an individual connection terminals, in a region overlapping a second region, and a wiring group connecting the individual connection terminal and a bump electrode includes a first wiring of which a position of a pass-through wiring relaying the first surface and the second surface is within the first region. A second wiring of which a position of a pass-through wiring connecting the first surface and the second surface is within the second region.

Abstract: A micro inchworm-type piezoelectric-driven rotating joint mechanism includes a U-shaped base, bearing pedestals, bearing brackets, bearing rings, piezoelectric ceramic plates, a rotating shaft, a rotating sleeve and end caps. Every bearing ring is divided into two half-rings which are coupled to the bearing pedestals via two bearing brackets. One end of every piezoelectric ceramic plate is fixed to one bearing pedestal, and the other end thereof is coupled to one bearing ring, so that every piezoelectric ceramic plate stretches and deforms under the driving of voltage for driving the bearing ring to achieve micro motions. Two bearing driving modules are respectively symmetrically mounted at two sides of the U-shaped base, and the rotating shaft is supported on the two bearing rings, so that the stepping motion of the rotating shaft is implemented by controlling the timing sequence of clamping, release and rotation of the two bearing driving modules.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor includes a rotating body, a piezoelectric actuator including a protruding section having contact with the rotating body, and adapted to rotate the rotating body due to a motion of the protruding section when driving a piezoelectric element, and a drive circuit adapted to drive the piezoelectric element, and the drive circuit includes a drive signal generation section adapted to output a drive signal with a predetermined frequency, and an LC filter adapted to block a frequency higher than the predetermined frequency, and applies the drive signal to the piezoelectric element via the LC filter.

Abstract: An inkjet printing head includes a pressure chamber, a vibrating film formation layer including a vibrating film defining the pressure chamber, and a piezoelectric element disposed on the vibrating film. The piezoelectric element includes a lower electrode formed on the vibrating film formation layer, a piezoelectric film formed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the piezoelectric film. The lower electrode includes a crossover region crossing over a peripheral edge of the top surface portion of the pressure chamber in a plan view. In the lower electrode, a thickness of the crossover region and a portion, excluding the crossover region, of an inner electrode region, disposed at an inner side of peripheral edges of the top surface portion of the pressure chamber in a plan view, is defined to be thinner than a thickness of other portions of the lower electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piezoelectric vibrator having a piezoelectric laminate in which oriented film layers made of a polylactic acid and conductive layers are laminated alternately and grippers gripping both ends of the piezoelectric laminate, wherein one of two conductive layers neighboring via an oriented film layer is short-circuited to a negative electrode and the other conductive layer is short-circuited to a positive electrode, the oriented film layers interposed between the respective conductive layers are laminated such that the oriented film layers expand and contract in the same direction when a current is applied, the piezoelectric laminate has two parallel surfaces which are parallel to the plane direction of the oriented film layers and two end faces A and B which are between the parallel surfaces and parallel to each other, and the gripped ends respectively include the end face A and the end face B.

Abstract: A vibrator includes a piezoelectric element deformed when power is applied thereto, an installation member having the piezoelectric element installed thereon, and a plurality of elastic members connected to the installation member and changing a displacement direction through deformation of the installation member. The plurality of elastic members are disposed to oppose each other.

Abstract: A ceramic electronic component includes a laminated body including ceramic layers and conductor layers stacked alternately; and first and second external electrodes provided on portions of the laminated body. Each of the first and second external electrodes includes a sintered metal layer provided on the laminated body, a conductive resin layer covering the sintered metal layer, and a plated layer covering the conductive resin layer. The maximum length of the sintered metal layer provided on the second principal surface is shorter than the maximum length of the sintered metal layer provided on each of the first and second side surfaces.