Abstract: An acoustic matching layer 1 according to the present invention includes a first acoustic matching layer 2, which has a low density and a low sonic velocity, and a second acoustic matching layer 3, which has a higher density and a higher sonic velocity. The first acoustic matching layer 2, of which the acoustic impedance is matched to that of a medium into an ultrasonic wave is radiated, is provided closer to the medium, while the second acoustic matching layer 3 is provided closer to a piezoelectric layer, thereby increasing the sensitivity of an ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: A composite piezoelectric transducer of the present invention includes a plurality of arranged piezoelectric elements, and dielectric portions positioned between the plurality of piezoelectric elements. In the composite piezoelectric transducer, an area of a cross-section perpendicular to an ultrasonic emitting direction in at least one piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements varies along the ultrasonic emitting direction.

Abstract: An acoustic matching layer according to the present invention includes a powder of a dry gel. The dry gel preferably has a density of 500 kg/m3 or less and an average pore diameter of 100 nm or less. By using the dry gel powder, a variation in the property of the acoustic matching layer can be reduced.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention includes a piezoelectric body 2 for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave and acoustic matching layers 3a and 3b made of a dry gel. The acoustic matching layers 3a and 3b are multiple dry gel layers with mutually different acoustic impedances.

Abstract: A composite sheet unit in which a plurality of sintered piezoelectric thin wires are arranged in a uniform direction on a surface of a resin layer is prepared, and a plurality of the same are laminated and integrated so that the sintered piezoelectric thin wires are positioned between the resin layers. Here, a curing resin may be impregnated therein so as to form resin-impregnated-cured portions. Then, the lamination is cut in a direction crossing a lengthwise direction of the sintered piezoelectric thin wires, so that a piezocomposite is obtained. Cut surfaces may be ground. By so doing, it is possible to provide a highly reliable piezocomposite having a fine structure at low cost, and to provide an ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, as well as ultrasonic diagnostic equipment using the same.

Abstract: A composite piezoelectric element has a layered configuration of a plurality of unit composite sheets. Each of the unit composite sheets includes a resin layer and a plurality of columnar piezoelectric elements arranged on the resin layer.

Abstract: There are provided an ultrasonic transducer that performs transmission and/or reception of an ultrasonic wave and a propagation medium portion that forms a propagation path of the ultrasonic wave. A density ?1 and an acoustic velocity C1 of the propagation medium portion and a density ?2 and a sound velocity C2 of a fluid that stuffs a circumjacent space are appropriately set, and a propagation loss of the ultrasonic wave into the fluid is reduced to almost zero by refracting the ultrasonic wave at an appropriate angle.

Abstract: A composite sheet unit in which a plurality of sintered piezoelectric thin wires are arranged in a uniform direction on a surface of a resin layer is prepared, and a plurality of the same are laminated and integrated so that the sintered piezoelectric thin wires are positioned between the resin layers. Here, a curing resin may be impregnated therein so as to form resin-impregnated-cured portions. Then, the lamination is cut in a direction crossing a lengthwise direction of the sintered piezoelectric thin wires, so that a piezocomposite is obtained. Cut surfaces may be ground. By so doing, it is possible to provide a highly reliable piezocomposite having a fine structure at low cost, and to provide an ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, as well as ultrasonic diagnostic equipment using the same.

Abstract: An acoustic matching member that is incorporated into an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, includes: at least two layers including a first layer and a second layer that have different acoustic impedance values from each other. The first layer is made of a composite material of a porous member and a filing material supported by void portions of the porous member, the second layer is made of the filling material or the porous member, and the first layer and the second layer are present in this stated order. A piezoelectric member is disposed on a side of the first layer of the acoustic matching member to form an ultrasonic transducer or an ultrasonic flowmeter. The acoustic matching member does not have independent intermediate layers between the layers, so that delamination hardly occurs and the difficulty in the designing associated with the presence of intermediate layers can be avoided.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording head has nozzles capable of independent ejection and being arranged in high density, in which strength is high, fabricating yield is high, a cost is reduced, ejection efficiency is high, and ejection repeating frequency is high. In this ink-jet recording head, there are two-dimensionally arranged units, in each of which an ink pressure chamber, a partition wall serving as a driving portion, a pressure buffer chamber and a fixed wall are arranged in the same direction.

Abstract: An acoustic matching member that is incorporated into an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, includes: at least two layers including a first layer and a second layer that have different acoustic impedance values from each other. The first layer is made of a composite material of a porous member and a filling material supported by void portions of the porous member, the second layer is made of the filling material or the porous member, and the first layer and the second layer are present in this stated order. A piezoelectric member is disposed on a side of the first layer of the acoustic matching member to form an ultrasonic transducer or an ultrasonic flowmeter. The acoustic matching member does not have independent intermediate layers between the layers, so that delamination hardly occurs and the difficulty in the designing associated with the presence of intermediate layers can be avoided.

Abstract: An acoustic matching layer 1 according to the present invention includes a first acoustic matching layer 2, which has a low density and a low sonic velocity, and a second acoustic matching layer 3, which has a higher density and a higher sonic velocity. The first acoustic matching layer 2, of which the acoustic impedance is matched to that of a medium into an ultrasonic wave is radiated, is provided closer to the medium, while the second acoustic matching layer 3 is provided closer to a piezoelectric layer, thereby increasing the sensitivity of an ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: An acoustic matching layer according to the present invention includes a powder of a dry gel. The dry gel preferably has a density of 500 kg/m3 or less and an average pore diameter of 100 nm or less. By using the dry gel powder, a variation in the property of the acoustic matching layer can be reduced.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention includes: a piezoelectric body 4 to set up ultrasonic vibrations; an acoustic matching layer 3 made of a material with a density of 50 kg/m3 to 1,000 kg/m3 and an acoustic impedance of 2.5×103 kg/m2/s to 1.0×106 kg/m2/s; a lower acoustic matching layer 9 provided between the piezoelectric body 4 and the acoustic matching layer 3; and a structure supporting member 6 that supports the lower acoustic matching layer 9 and the piezoelectric body 4 thereon and shields the piezoelectric body 4 from a fluid that propagates the ultrasonic vibrations. The ultrasonic transducer includes a protective portion, which contacts with at least a portion of a side surface of the acoustic matching layer 4. This protective portion is defined by a portion of the lower acoustic matching layer 9 and forms an integral part of the lower acoustic matching layer 9.

Abstract: An acoustic matching member that is incorporated into an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, includes: at least two layers including a first layer and a second layer that have different acoustic impedance values from each other. The first layer is made of a composite material of a porous member and a filling material supported by void portions of the porous member, the second layer is made of the filling material or the porous member, and the first layer and the second layer are present in this stated order. A piezoelectric member is disposed on a side of the first layer of the acoustic matching member to form an ultrasonic transducer or an ultrasonic flowmeter. The acoustic matching member does not have independent intermediate layers between the layers, so that delamination hardly occurs and the difficulty in the designing associated with the presence of intermediate layers can be avoided.

Abstract: A composite piezoelectric element has a layered configuration of a plurality of unit composite sheets. Each of the unit composite sheets includes a rein layer and a plurality of columnar piezoelectric elements arranged on the resin layer.

Abstract: A piezoelectric composite is formed from a piezoelectric precursor prepared by mixing a powder containing piezoelectric material with a binder material and a gap forming material filling a gap formed to the piezoelectric precursor. The gap forming material is then removed from the thus formed piezoelectric composite, thereby forming a piezoelectric element.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording head has nozzles capable of independent ejection and being arranged in high density, in which strength is high, fabricating yield is high, a cost is reduced, ejection efficiency is high, and ejection repeating frequency is high. In this ink-jet recording head, there are two-dimensionally arranged units, in each of which an ink pressure chamber, a partition wall serving as a driving portion, a pressure buffer chamber and a fixed wall are arranged in the same direction.

Abstract: A composite sheet unit in which a plurality of sintered piezoelectric thin wires are arranged in a uniform direction on a surface of a resin layer is prepared, and a plurality of the same are laminated and integrated so that the sintered piezoelectric thin wires are positioned between the resin layers. Here, a curing resin may be impregnated therein so as to form resin-impregnated-cured portions. Then, the lamination is cut in a direction crossing a lengthwise direction of the sintered piezoelectric thin wires, so that a piezocomposite is obtained. Cut surfaces may be ground. By so doing, it is possible to provide a highly reliable piezocomposite having a fine structure at low cost, and to provide an ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, as well as ultrasonic diagnostic equipment using the same.

Abstract: A piezoelectric composite is formed from a piezoelectric precursor prepared by mixing a powder containing piezoelectric material with a binder material and a gap forming material filling a gap formed to the piezoelectric precursor. The gap forming material is then removed from the thus formed piezoelectric composite, thereby forming a piezoelectric element.