Abstract: A piezoelectric thin-film multilayer body includes a substrate, an adhesive layer on the substrate, a lower electrode layer on the adhesive layer, and a lead-free piezoelectric thin-film layer on the lower electrode layer. The lead-free piezoelectric thin-film layer is composed of lithium potassium sodium niobate (composition formula (NaxKyLiz)NbO3, 0<x<1, 0<y<1, 0?z?1, x+y+z=1). The maximum height Rz of a roughness of an adhesive-layer-facing surface of the substrate is 2 nm or less. The adhesive layer is composed of a non-crystalline oxide of a Group 4 element or a non-crystalline oxide of a Group 5 element. The adhesive layer has a thickness of 1 nm or more and 2 nm or less and is equal to or more than the maximum height Rz of the roughness of the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator that includes a piezoelectric substrate, first and second electrodes, and a conductive layer. The first and second electrodes are configured to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric substrate. The conductive layer is formed on the first electrode. The conductive layer is made of a metal or an alloy different in color from the second electrode.

Abstract: The inventive concept discloses a piezoelectric energy harvesting array and a method of manufacturing the same. The manufacturing method may include forming a plurality of piezoelectric energy harvesting devices; connecting masses to one side of the piezoelectric energy harvesting devices and connecting the other side of the piezoelectric energy harvesting devices facing the masses to a base; and individually tuning a resonant frequency of each of the piezoelectric energy harvesting devices to prevent mismatch of resonant frequency when the masses vibrate.

Abstract: In some embodiments, circuits for ultrasonic transducer element arrays are provided. In some embodiments, a circuit described herein comprises a first layer for receiving a transducer element array, a ground layer comprising at least one ground disposed over the first layer and a plurality of first vias corresponding to transducer elements of the array, the first vias extending through the first layer to the at least one ground and comprising first ends for receiving ground electrodes of the transducer elements and second ends electrically connected to the ground.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator having a sensor layer by which a temperature can be detected, and to a method for producing the same.

Abstract: A piezoelectric multiplexer includes an actuator and multiple piezo-morph beams. The actuator includes an actuator conducting head and an actuator stem, and each piezo-morph beam includes a conducting beam contact head and a beam stem manufactured out of piezo-morph material. A control voltage is selectively applied to electrical contacts coupled to the beam stems to create a piezoelectric effect that bends the selected piezo-morph beam and creates an electrical connection between its contact head and the conducting head of the actuator. A control circuit with a controller signals which piezo-morph beam to connect to the actuator. This multi-piezo-morph-beam piezoelectric multiplexer can be affixed to the electrical terminals of different electrical components (e.g., a transistor) to create an electrical cell that can be manufactured on a semiconductor chip or in a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device.

Abstract: There are provided a piezoelectric vibration module and a vibration generating apparatus including the same. The piezoelectric vibration module includes: a piezoelectric actuator including a piezoelectric element deformed in both a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction through the application of electrical power thereto; at least one first rod transferring deformation force of the piezoelectric actuator in the first direction; at least one second rod converting deformation force of the piezoelectric actuator in the second direction into deformation force in the first direction and transferring the converted deformation force; and a mass body connected to the first and second rods and disposed on the piezoelectric actuator so that displacement is generated in the first direction.

Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric ceramic having a high and stable piezoelectric constant and a high and stable mechanical quality factor in a wide operating temperature range, and a piezoelectric element according to the present invention includes a main component containing a perovskite type metal oxide having the following general formula (1) or (2); and Mn as a first auxiliary component, (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-y-zSnyZrz)O3??(1) (0.08?x?0.20, 0.01?y?0.04, 0<z?0.04) (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-ySny)O3??(2) (0.08?x?0.20, 0.01?y?0.04) wherein the amount b (mol) of Mn per mole of the metal oxide is in the range of 0.0048?b?0.0400, and the value a of the general formula (1) or (2) is in the range of 0.9925+b?a?1.0025+b.

Abstract: A micromachined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) array includes a printed circuit board, an alignment plate formed on the printed circuit board, the alignment plate having a plurality of cavities formed therein and a plurality of protruding portions respectively formed between neighboring cavities of the plurality of cavities, and a plurality of MUT modules formed on the plurality of the cavities and the plurality of the protruding portions of the alignment plate. In the MUT array, each of the plurality of MUT modules includes an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) arranged on the alignment plate and an MUT arranged on the ASIC.

Abstract: A gel actuator includes: a gel having a projected part made of an inductive high-polymer material; a positive electrode disposed so as to be in contact with a top of the projected part; and a negative electrode disposed in a position sandwiching the projected part in a height direction in cooperation with the positive electrode. When voltage is applied between the positive and negative electrodes, creep deformation occurs so that the projected parts adhere to the positive electrode side, and the gel contracts in the thickness direction.

Abstract: A ZnSnO3/ZnO nanowire, a method of forming a ZnSnO3/ZnO nanowire, a nanogenerator including a ZnSnO3/ZnO nanowire, a method of forming a ZnSnO3 nanowire, and a nanogenerator including a ZnSnO3 nanowire are provided. The ZnSnO3/ZnO nanowire includes a core and a shell that surrounds the core, wherein the core includes ZnSnO3 and the shell includes ZnO.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator of a multilayer design has a stack of piezoelectric layers and electrode layers arranged in between. The electrode layers are contacted by way of two outer electrodes, which have a multiplicity of wires. The outer electrodes are fastened in fastening regions on first side faces of the stack and are led around the edge of the stack that is closest to the respective fastening region.

Abstract: Provided are embodiments of piezoelectric motors which comprise at least one piezo-electrically active part and one passive part which are mounted with the ability of relative movement with respect to each other and which interact with each other by friction. The piezo-electrically active part includes at least one oscillator of acoustic vibrations with one or more piezoelectric elements in the form of a planar ring with acoustically attached flat pushers made from materials such as steel or ceramic. The flat pushers are pressed to a flat surface of the piezoelectric element, either directly or through an elastic element.

Abstract: A resonator includes an interdigital transducer electrode, a resonance part, a supporting part, and two beam parts. The interdigital transducer electrode is disposed on a piezoelectric thin film. The resonance part is held on a substrate through an air gap. The supporting part supports the resonance part. The two beam parts connect the resonance part to the supporting part at both ends of the resonance part. The air gap forms a level difference at the supporting part or level differences at the respective two beam parts.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes a member to be driven including a contact surface; a vibrator including at least one contact part and a piezoelectric element, the vibrator driving the member to be driven by an ultrasonic vibration excited by the piezoelectric element; a retention part for retaining the vibrator; and a pressurization unit including an elastic member so as to apply an impressing force on the at least one contact part against the member to be driven. The retention part includes an abutting part including a line contact part that receives the impressing force from the elastic member and comes into line contact with the pressurization unit; the abutting part has a shape formed of a part of a cylinder; and a center axis of the cylinder is parallel to the at least one contact part and perpendicular to a driving direction of the member to be driven.

Abstract: Provided is piezoelectric/electrostrictive body generating large electric-field-induced strain, and having high durability with respect to an electric field having a direction opposite to a polarization direction. A composition of piezoelectric/electrostrictive ceramics is represented by a general formula Pba{ZnbSbc(ZrdTi1-d)1-b-c}O3. As for a, b, c, and d, 0.985?a?0.998, 0.010?b?0.040, 0.025?c?0.090, 0.460?d?0.510, and 2.125?c/b?3.000 are satisfied. An accessory component containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Cr, Fe, and a rare-earth element may be added to a main component. An additive amount of the at least one element relative to 100 parts by weight of the main component is 0.3 parts by weight or less in terms of an oxide.

Abstract: A compact micromanipulator system has a micromanipulator element that cause movement of a tool attached to the micromanipulator element. The micromanipulator element is attached to a support structure, which in turn is attached to a sliding base in a hinged manner to allow sliding and/or tipping of the micromanipulator element away from the normal operating position of the micromanipulator element.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave component contains two fan-shaped interdigital transducers disposed on a piezoelectric substrate, the prongs and gaps of which transducers forming groups having the same length, called cells, between them, and narrow in the averaged prong direction. The cells are structured like cells of unidirectional transducers, and at least one of the fan-shaped interdigital transducers is composed of partial transducers. The partial transducers are disposed one behind the other, perpendicular to the averaged prong direction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric component includes at least one planned fracture layer for generating and guiding cracks in the component in a controlled manner. The planned fracture layer is disposed between two electrode layers adjacent to each other in the direction of the stack. The distance d2 of the two electrode layers is greater than the distance dl of two adjacent electrode layers between which no planned fracture layer is provided.

Abstract: A vibration device includes a semiconductor device, a first electrode and a second electrode located in a first surface of the semiconductor device, a vibration element, a third electrode and a fourth electrode located in a first surface of the vibration element, a first connection section that connects the first electrode and the third electrode, and a second connection section that connects the second electrode and the fourth electrode. The semiconductor device and the vibration element have mutually different thermal expansion coefficients. The vibration element has a coupling section located between the third electrode and the fourth electrode, and the coupling section has at least one bend section located between the third electrode and the fourth electrode.