Abstract: To provide a stacked piezoelectric device which is inexpensive and excellent in bonding strength between a piezoelectric layer and an internal electrode layer, the piezoelectric device comprises piezoelectric layers and internal electrode layers containing not less than 50 percent by weight of Cu stacked alternately. Between the internal electrode layer and the piezoelectric layer, there is a diffusion region formed by mutual diffusion of components of the internal electrode layer and the piezoelectric layer to the other layer and comprising at least one component of the piezoelectric material and Cu. The diffusion region occupies not less than 90 percent of area of interface between the internal electrode layer and the piezoelectric layer, and a thickness of the diffusion region is not more than 10 percent of a thickness of the internal electrode layer.

Abstract: A stacked piezoelectric device, which is inexpensive and excellent in electric transmission efficiency and little deterioration of strength of an internal electrode layer, is provided by having an internal electrode layer containing not less than 50 percent by weight of Cu element, and not more than 5 percent of a pore occurrence expressed by (B/A)×100 (%) wherein A is an area of an interface between the internal electrode layer and the piezoelectric layer and B is a sum of areas of pores which appear in the interface and have a diameter of not less than 0.1 micrometers. Preferably, a surface roughness Ra of the interface of the piezoelectric layer contacting the internal electrode layer is not more than 0.5 C (?m) wherein C is a thickness of the internal electrode layer in micrometers. The piezoelectric material constituting the piezoelectric layer preferably comprises PZT which is a Pb(Zr,Ti)O3-based oxide having a perovskite structure.

Abstract: To provide a stacked piezoelectric device which is inexpensive and excellent in bonding strength between a piezoelectric layer and an internal electrode layer, the piezoelectric device comprises piezoelectric layers and internal electrode layers containing not less than 50 percent by weight of Cu stacked alternately. Between the internal electrode layer and the piezoelectric layer, there is a diffusion region formed by mutual diffusion of components of the internal electrode layer and the piezoelectric layer to the other layer and comprising at least one component of the piezoelectric material and Cu. The diffusion region occupies not less than 90 percent of area of interface between the internal electrode layer and the piezoelectric layer, and a thickness of the diffusion region is not more than 10 percent of a thickness of the internal electrode layer.

Abstract: A stacked piezoelectric device, which is inexpensive and excellent in electric transmission efficiency and little deterioration of strength of an internal electrode layer, is provided by having an internal electrode layer containing not less than 50 percent by weight of Cu element, and not more than 5 percent of a pore occurrence expressed by (B/A)×100 (%) wherein A is an area of an interface between the internal electrode layer and the piezoelectric layer and B is a sum of areas of pores which appear in the interface and have a diameter of not less than 0.1 micrometers. Preferably, a surface roughness Ra of the interface of the piezoelectric layer contacting the internal electrode layer is not more than 0.5C (&mgr;m) wherein C is a thickness of the internal electrode layer in micrometers. The piezoelectric material constituting the piezoelectric layer preferably comprises PZT which is a Pb(Zr,Ti)O3-based oxide having a perovskite structure.

Abstract: A stacked piezoelectric device and a method of fabrication thereof includes a piezoelectric stack having a first side electrode and a second side electrode, piezoelectric layers and internal electrode layers. The piezoelectric layers and internal electrode layers have substantially the same area. The internal electrode layers have ends thereof exposed to one side of the stack. The first side electrode includes first insulative portions formed at the ends of alternate ones of the internal electrode layers and a first conductive portion formed over the first insulative portions. The second side electrode is similarly configured to form insulative portions at the other ends. The first and second insulative portions are formed of an insulative resin, while the first and second conductive portions are formed of a conductive resin. The first and second conductive portions are also formed to directly cover the ends of the internal electrode layers.

Abstract: A stacked piezoelectric device having high durability and a method of fabrication thereof facilitating easy control of the process of fabrication, comprising a piezoelectric stack (10) having a first side electrode (11) and a second side electrode (12), piezoelectric layers (131, 132) and internal electrode layers (141, 142) having substantially the same area, internal electrode layers (141, 142) having ends thereof exposed to the side (101) of the stack (10), the first side electrode (11) including first insulative portions (111) formed at the ends of alternate ones of the internal electrode layers (141) and a first conductive portion (121) formed over the first insulative portions (111), a second side electrode (12) being similarly configured to form insulative portions (112) at the other ends, the first and second insulative portions (111, 112) being formed of an insulative resin, while the first and second conductive portions (112, 122) being formed of a conductive resin.

Abstract: For superfinishing an elongate cutting tool which has been rough-ground by a separate machine, a pair of grinding wheels are first urged against the opposite sides of the work via respective fluid-actuated cylinders, until sufficient fluid energy builds up in the cylinders to enable the grinding wheels to grind the work to any desired depths. Being mounted on a common carriage, the grinding wheels are then reciprocated longitudinally of the work while being held in constant rotation and being urged against the work under the fluid pressure. On reaching either end of the work during such reciprocation, the grinding wheels are relieved of the fluid pressure until they restart traveling toward the other end, in order to avoid overgrinding the opposite ends of the work. The reciprocation of the grinding wheels is terminated when the opposite sides of the work are ground to required degrees. The complete operation can be automated.

Abstract: For superfinishing an elongate cutting tool which has been rough-ground by a separate machine, a pair of grinding wheels are first urged against the opposite sides of the work via respective fluid-actuated cylinders, until sufficient fluid energy builds up in the cylinders to enable the grinding wheels to grind the work to any desired depths. Being mounted on a common carriage, the grinding wheels are then reciprocated longitudinally of the work while being held in constant rotation and being urged against the work under the fluid pressure. On reaching either end of the work during such reciprocation, the grinding wheels are relieved of the fluid pressure until they restart traveling toward the other end, in order to avoid overgrinding the opposite ends of the work. The reciprocation of the grinding wheels is terminated when the opposite sides of the work are ground to required degrees. The complete operation can be automated.

Abstract: An image formation method wherein a thin film of a dyestuff liable to sublime or gasify is formed on a gas permeable film, and a heating element adjacent the back of the gas permeable film is heated in response to an image signal to generate from the dyestuff thin film a dyestuff gas flow which is representative of an image and which permeates through the gas permeable film so that the dyestuff deposits on acceptor paper adjacent the gas permeable film to form the image on the back of the acceptor paper.