Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition includes: a composite oxide, as a main component thereof, represented by the composition formula, Pba[(Zn1/3Nb2/3)xTiyZrz]O3, wherein a, x, y and z satisfy the following relations, 0.96?a?1.03, 0.005?x?0.047, 0.42?y?0.53, 0.45?z?0.56, and x+y+z=1; and the following additives in the indicated percentages by mass in relation to the main component, Cu as a first additive, in a content ?, in terms of Cu2O, falling within a range 0<??0.5%; at least one of Dy, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho and Er, as a second additive, in a content ?, in terms of oxide, falling within a range 0<??0.3%; and at least one of Ta, Nb, W and Sb, as a third additive, in a content ?, in terms of oxide, falling within a range 0<??0.6%.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piezoactuator for miniaturized pumps, atomizers, valves or the like. The piezoactuator comprises a piezoceramic disk (1) and a pressure disk (2) coupled to the piezoceramic disk. Said pressure disk is linked on its rim (18) with a substrate (3) in a fluid-tight manner and can be deflected by the piezoceramic disk (1) while modifying the volume of a cavity (4) formed between the pressure disk (2) and the substrate (3). According to the invention, a weak point (6, 9) is provided which extends along the linked rim (18) of the pressure disk (2) and forms a joint when the pressure disk is deflected.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a piezoelectric element, a method of manufacturing the same, a liquid-jet head, a method of manufacturing the same, and a liquid-jet apparatus, all of which prevent an inter-layer detachment in a lower electrode.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator 3 includes a metallic vibration plate 30, an insulating layer 31, a plurality of individual electrodes 32, a piezoelectric layer 33 and a common electrode 34. The insulating layer 31 is formed on the top surface of the vibration plate 30. The individual electrodes 32 are formed on the top surface of the insulating layer 31. The piezoelectric layer 33 is formed on the top surfaces of the individual electrodes 32. The common electrode 34 is formed on the top surface of the piezoelectric layer 33 over the individual electrodes 32. A plurality of terminals 36 and a plurality of wirings 35 are formed on the top surface of the insulating layer 31. Each of the terminals 36 is associated with one of the individual electrodes 32. Each of the wirings 35 connects one of the individual electrodes 32 and the associated terminal 36.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive porcelain composition which exhibits superior piezoelectric/electrostrictive characteristics without containing lead (Pb) is provided. A main component of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive composition is a binary solid solution represented by the general formula (1): (1?n)(Ag1?a?b?cLiaNabKc)(Nb1?x?y?zTaxSbyVz)O3+nM1M2O3; wherein 0?a?0.2, 0?b?0.95, 0?c?0.95, 0<(1?a?b ?c)?1, 0?x?0.5, 0?y?0.2, 0?z?0.2, 0?(y+z)?0.3, 0?n?0.2, and wherein M1 and M2 are combinations of metal which satisfy pretermined conditions.

Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator element and method of manufacturing same are provided. The piezoelectric resonator element having a lower electrode, a piezoelectric substance layer, and an upper electrode disposed in this order on a substrate with an air layer between the substrate and the lower electrode, and having a laminated structure of the lower electrode, the piezoelectric substance layer, and the upper electrode in at least a part of the piezoelectric resonator element, wherein internal stress of the piezoelectric substance layer is ?300 MPa to 90 MPa.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device, comprising a lithium-tantalate substrate and an IDT electrode that excites a pseudo-longitudinal wave type leaky surface acoustic wave in the surface of the lithium-tantalate substrate, wherein a normalized substrate thickness t/?, which is a thickness t of the lithium-tantalate substrate normalized by an IDT wavelength ?, is in a range of 1?t/??22.

Abstract: In a driving device for a piezoelectric actuator, when a driving signal is input, a charging switch is repetitively turned on/off to charge and expand the piezoelectric actuator under the state that a discharging switch is turned off. Thereafter, when the input of the driving signal is stopped, the discharging switch is repetitively turned on/off under the state that the charging switch is turned off, thereby discharging and contracting the piezoelectric actuator. Particularly, during the charging period, the charging switch is turned on at a fixed period, and the charging switch is turned off when an integration value of current flowing in a charging circuit at the ON-time of the charging switch reaches a target charge amount.

Abstract: Thickness of a piezoelectric layer 31 is measured and widths of individual electrodes 32 are determined based on an amount of deviation of the measured thickness of the piezoelectric layer 31 from a predetermined reference thickness set in advance for the piezoelectric layer 31. Individual electrodes 32 of the determined widths are then formed on a side opposite to pressure chambers 14 of the piezoelectric layer 31. It is therefore possible to easily compensate for fluctuation in the thickness of the piezoelectric layer 31 with the widths of individual electrodes 32. As a result, it is possible to provide a piezoelectric actuator for liquid transporting apparatus, and a method for manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator or the like which is capable of compensating for the fluctuation in thickness of the piezoelectric layer with electrode width.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device which may be permanently attached or removably attached to a material, such as a vehicular glass window. This device may comprise of a converter sub-unit or vibrator and a coupler. These elements may be arranged to propagate mechanical motion generated by the converter sub-unit through the coupler and optionally into the edge of the attached material. The resulting vibration motion in the material, which could take the form of a longitudinal compression/rarefaction wave, transverse wave, or a combination of the two waveforms, may be of a sufficient magnitude so as to cause the adhesive bond between the material's surface and other solid debris, such as ice, to be broken. This allows the debris to fall away while not damaging the material. The vibration motion in the material may be also of sufficient magnitude to remove a liquid such as water from the material surface.

Abstract: A crystal oscillator used as a clock source and further having an angular velocity detection capability is provided with: a tuning fork type crystal unit provided with excitation electrodes for exciting tuning fork vibration and sensing electrodes for detecting electric charge generated by the Coriolis force; an oscillation circuit connected to the excitation electrodes for both exciting the tuning fork vibration and for supplying a clock signal as output based on the tuning fork vibration; and a detection circuit connected to the sensing electrodes for supplying an angular velocity signal in accordance with the electric charge. The tuning fork crystal unit has first and second tuning fork arms for realizing the tuning fork vibration. The excitation electrodes are provided on the side surfaces of the first tuning fork arm and the sensing electrodes are provided on the side surfaces of the second tuning fork arm.

Abstract: Ultrasonic probe comprising an elongate body having a first end and a second end, an ultrasonic transducer attached to the probe at or adjacent the first end, and an enlarged support section intermediate the ultrasonic transducer and the second end, wherein the enlarged support section has an equivalent diameter greater than an equivalent diameter of the body at any location between the enlarged support section and the ultrasonic transducer. The probe may be used to introduce ultrasonic energy into ultrasonic cleaning systems.

Abstract: A vibration detector for determining and/or monitoring a predetermined fill level in a container. The detector includes an oscillatable unit, a driver/receiver unit and an evaluation unit. The vibration detector can, additionally, be used as a viscosity sensor or as a density sensor. For providing a multivariable sensor, a microprocessor is provided in the oscillation circuit formed of oscillatable unit and feedback electronics. The microprocessor corrects the phase of the feedback electronics over a predetermined frequency bandwidth in such a way that the sum of the phases of the feedback electronics and the microprocessor follows a predetermined function f(v).

Abstract: A composite electronic component provided is one with sufficient impact resistance. In this resonator 1, a capacitive element 3 has a projection 37 projecting outside a piezoelectric element 2, from a portion of the capacitive element 3 coinciding with a vibration region 2a. The projection 37 is provided on each of two sides of the capacitive element 3 in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the capacitive element 3. This causes the projections 37 of the capacitive element 3 to be buried in a mold resin 5, whereby the capacitive element 3 is sufficiently fixed to the mold resin 5 even if the mold resin 5 is provided with a vibration space 5a containing the vibration region 2a of the piezoelectric element 2. Therefore, an improvement is made in impact resistance of the resonator 1.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator having a frame portion includes a drive shaft for frictional engagement with an engageable barrel arm of a lens unit. First and second piezoelectric elements are supported on the frame portion, and provided with first and second ends of respectively the drive shaft. A drive pulse generator supplies the piezoelectric elements with a drive signal to expand or contract the piezoelectric elements, and moves the engageable barrel arm in an axial direction by an alternately repeating sequence of shifting the drive shaft at low and high speeds in the axial direction. In the shifting at the high speed, the piezoelectric elements shift the drive shaft in a backward direction quickly, to move the drive shaft in the backward direction relative to the engageable barrel arm being stationary with inertial force.

Abstract: A drive unit for the movement of an active element with respect to a passive element, wherein the active element includes a resonator and at least one excitation device for exciting oscillations of the resonator. The resonator includes contact regions for exerting forces onto the passive element. The active element may be driven with respect to the passive element by way of oscillating movements. The resonator includes at least two arms, preferably a pair of arms. The at least two arms of an arm pair, proceeding from a connection region of the resonator, are formed on the same side of the resonator. In each case the contact regions are formed at the outer ends of the arms, wherein the contact regions may be moved to and away from one another by way of oscillating movements of the arm pair. Thereby, a relative movement of the passive element with respect to the active element may be effected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to piezoelectric vibrators such as a resonator used as a timing element, discriminator, filter or the like, and fabricating methods thereof. The piezoelectric vibrators of the present invention may be fabricated by forming a piezoelectric body of piezoelectric sheets, of which the thickness is controlled, and simultaneously sintering the sheets along with cover layers, on which grooves are formed. Also, the piezoelectric vibrator of the present invention is fabricated by laminating the piezoelectric sheets, of which the thickness is controlled, providing internal electrodes between the sheets, and forming external electrodes insulated from the internal electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a target environmental variable (TEV) that employs a film-bulk acoustic resonator with motion plate. The film-bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) includes an acoustic reflector formed in an FBAR wafer and a surface. A first electrode is formed on the surface of the acoustic reflector and has a surface. A piezoelectric layer is formed on the surface of the first electrode and has a surface. A second electrode is formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer. A motion plate is suspended in space at a predetermined distance relative to the surface of the second electrode and is capacitively coupled to the FBAR.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film device includes an amorphous metal film disposed on a substrate and a piezoelectric film disposed on the amorphous metal. One of crystal axis of the piezoelectric film is aligned in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the amorphous metal.

Abstract: An actuator unit suitable for actuating a fuel injection valve of an injection system for internal combustion engines is comprised of a piezoelectric actuator and a hollow body embodied in the form of a spring. Embodying the hollow body according to the present invention can extend the service life of the actuator unit.