Abstract: A wavelength converter is provided with a light-transmitting substrate and with a thin film that is formed on a surface of the light-transmitting substrate and that contains a phosphor. A sintered body that constitutes the light-transmitting substrate has an average particle size of 5-40 ?m. The light-transmitting substrate contains at least 10-500 ppm by mass of MgO. The principal component of the phosphor is an ?-sialon that is indicated by the general formula (Ca?,Eu?) (Si,Al)12(O,N)16 (provided that 1.5<?+?<2.2, 0<?<0.2, and O/N?0.04).

Abstract: A piezoelectric element is a laminated type piezoelectric element including a plurality of piezoelectric layers laminated on each other; and an internal electrode layer disposed between adjacent piezoelectric layers. In the piezoelectric element, coating layers are disposed on a side surface of the piezoelectric element so as to cover at least an effective portion of the internal electrode layer that is exposed at the side surface. The coating layers contiguously extend from the side surface of the piezoelectric element to at least one of upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric element. A step is formed at the at least one of upper and lower surface of the piezoelectric element by the coating layers formed at an edge region.

Abstract: A laminated body is provided that exhibits impact resistance, wear resistance and scratch resistance, and which enables a reduction in weight together with a reduction in the dielectric constant. The laminated body 100 includes a first tabular member 10 configured from a ceramic material and having a first thickness t1, and a second tabular member 20 configured from a polymer material and having a second thickness t2. The laminated body 100 withstands a falling-ball impact breaking test from a height that is higher than that exhibited by a single layer body that is configured from the ceramic material and of a thickness t3 that is the sum of the first thickness t1 and the second thickness t2.

Abstract: An optical component contains a translucent substrate and a glass layer disposed in contact with the translucent substrate. The glass layer has a refractive index equal to or less than that of the translucent substrate.

Abstract: An optical component has a ceramic member and a dichroic film. The ceramic member is provided with a first main surface and a second main surface that is opposed to the first main surface. The ceramic member has translucency. The ceramic member has a plurality of crystal grains that are mutually bonded to one another through grain boundary portions. The dichroic film is formed on the first main surface of the ceramic member.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element 10 is a laminated type piezoelectric element including a plurality of piezoelectric layers laminated on each other; and an internal electrode layer disposed between adjacent piezoelectric layers. In the piezoelectric element 10, coating layers 12, 14 are disposed on a side surface of the piezoelectric element so as to cover at least an effective portion of the internal electrode layer that is exposed at the side surface. The coating layers 12, 14 contiguously extend from the side surface of the piezoelectric element to at least one of upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric element. A step is formed at the at least one of upper and lower surface of the piezoelectric element by the coating layers formed at an edge region.

Abstract: A laminated body is provided that exhibits impact resistance, wear resistance and scratch resistance, and which enables a reduction in weight together with a reduction in the dielectric constant. The laminated body 100 includes a first tabular member 10 configured from a ceramic material and having a first thickness t1, and a second tabular member 20 configured from a polymer material and having a second thickness t2. The laminated body 100 withstands a falling-ball impact breaking test from a height that is higher than that exhibited by a single layer body that is configured from the ceramic material and of a thickness t3 that is the sum of the first thickness t1 and the second thickness t2.

Abstract: A ceramic compact having a patterned conductor is obtained by coating the patterned conductor with a slurry and then by hardening the slurry. The slurry is prepared by mixing a thermosetting resin precursor, a ceramic powder, and a medium. In the ceramic compact, an isocyanate- or isothiocyanate-containing gelling agent and a hydroxyl-containing polymer are reacted and hardened to produce a thermosetting resin. The hydroxyl-containing polymer is preferably a butyral resin, an ethylcellulose-based resin, a polyethyleneglycol-based resin, or a polyether-based resin.

Abstract: A ceramic compact is provided having a patterned conductor is obtained by coating the patterned conductor with a slurry and then hardening the slurry. The slurry is prepared by mixing a thermosetting resin precursor, a ceramic powder, and a medium. In the ceramic compact, an isocyanate- or isothiocyanate-containing gelling agent and a hydroxyl-containing polymer are reacted and hardened to produce a thermosetting resin. The hydroxyl-containing polymer is preferably a butyral resin, an ethylcellulose-based resin, a polyethyleneglycol-based resin, or a polyether-based resin.

Abstract: A ceramic compact having a patterned conductor is obtained by coating the patterned conductor with a slurry and then by hardening the slurry. The slurry is prepared by mixing a thermosetting resin precursor, a ceramic powder, and a medium. In the ceramic compact, an isocyanate- or isothiocyanate-containing gelling agent and a hydroxyl-containing polymer are reacted and hardened to produce a thermosetting resin. The hydroxyl-containing polymer is preferably a butyral resin, an ethylcellulose-based resin, a polyethyleneglycol-based resin, or a polyether-based resin.

Abstract: A ceramic compact having a patterned conductor is obtained by coating the patterned conductor with a slurry and then by hardening the slurry. The slurry is prepared by mixing a thermosetting resin precursor, a ceramic powder, and a medium. In the ceramic compact, an isocyanate- or isothiocyanate-containing gelling agent and a hydroxyl-containing polymer are reacted and hardened to produce a thermosetting resin. The hydroxyl-containing polymer is preferably a butyral resin, an ethylcellulose-based resin, a polyethyleneglycol-based resin, or a polyether-based resin.

Abstract: A ceramic compact having a patterned conductor is obtained by coating the patterned conductor with a slurry and then by hardening the slurry. The slurry is prepared by mixing a thermosetting resin precursor, a ceramic powder, and a medium. In the ceramic compact, an isocyanate- or isothiocyanate-containing gelling agent and a hydroxyl-containing polymer are reacted and hardened to produce a thermosetting resin. The hydroxyl-containing polymer is preferably a butyral resin, an ethylcellulose-based resin, a polyethyleneglycol-based resin, or a polyether-based resin.

Abstract: There is provided a perpendicular magnetic recording medium which causes low media noise and achieves preferable read/write performance. A perpendicular magnetic layer is constructed such that first magnetic layers formed of Co or Co containing an oxide and second magnetic layers formed of Pt or Pd containing an oxide are layered. The perpendicular magnetic layer is provided on a non-magnetic substrate via a Ru underlayer containing oxygen. An alignment control layer formed of a Ni—Fe alloy is provided between the non-magnetic substrate and the underlayer to control the crystal alignment of the underlayer. A soft magnetic backing layer is provided between the substrate and the alignment control layer.

Abstract: A ceramic compact having a patterned conductor is obtained by coating the patterned conductor with a slurry and then by hardening the slurry. The slurry is prepared by mixing a thermosetting resin precursor, a ceramic powder, and a medium. In the ceramic compact, an isocyanate- or isothiocyanate-containing gelling agent and a hydroxyl-containing polymer are reacted and hardened to produce a thermosetting resin. The hydroxyl-containing polymer is preferably a butyral resin, an ethylcellulose-based resin, a polyethyleneglycol-based resin, or a polyether-based resin.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is provided, including a rotor substantially in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. The rotor has a pair of opposed surfaces, a first movable section fixed to a first end of one of the surfaces, a first piezoelectric/electrostrictive element for actuating the first movable section, and a second movable section fixed to a second end of the other one of the surfaces. The second end is diametrically opposed to the first end. A second piezoelectric/electrostrictive element for actuating the second movable section is also included.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is provided with a stationary portion, a thin-plate portion supported by the stationary portion, and piezoelectric/electrostrictive element formed by alternately laminating a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is produced by cutting a thin-plate body that composes the thin-plate portion afterward and a laminated body comprising the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers and thereafter applying prescribed specific processing (for example, heat treatment) to the cut plane (the lateral end surfaces).

Abstract: A target for sputtering includes a sputtering material layer having tilt surfaces. Sputtering material particles are emitted from the tilt surfaces in directions of their normals. Consequently, even though the target and a substrate are arranged approximately parallel and the axes of the two are coincident with each other, the particles are injected onto the substrate from oblique directions.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is provided with a stationary portion, a thin-plate portion supported by the stationary portion, and piezoelectric/electrostrictive element formed by alternately laminating a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is produced by cutting a thin-plate body that composes the thin-plate portion afterward and a laminated body comprising the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers and thereafter applying prescribed specific processing (for example, heat treatment) to the cut plane (the lateral end surfaces).

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device includes a base 11 having a pair of movable parts 11a, 11b opposing each other and a connecting part 11c that connects movable parts 11a, 11b with each other at one end thereof as well as piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements 12a, 12b disposed on the side surfaces of movable parts 11a, 11b of base 11. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device is constructed in a simple structure with fewer components. Base 11 is integrally formed in an open-box shape or in a horseshoe shape by bending one sheet of band-shaped flat plate. Movable parts 11a, 11b extend for a predetermined length from respective ends of connecting part 11c to the other ends. The other ends of movable parts 11a, 11b constitute a mounting site for mounting a component to be controlled or a component to be tested.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive including a pair of mutually opposing vibration plates, each having a first portion and a second portion, a fixation section joined to the first portion of each of the vibration plates, and at least one piezoelectric/electrostrictive element arranged on at least one of the vibration plates. A surface of the device between the fixation section and the second portion of at least one of the vibration plates is curved.