Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes an exterior case; an electronic module housed in the exterior case; a winding stem projecting from the electronic module to the exterior case; and a conductive earth member having a plate-like portion and an elastic portion extending from the plate-like portion to a winding stem side, in which the winding stem has a flange disposed between the electronic module and the exterior case, and the elastic portion is brought into contact with a surface of the flange on an electronic module side in a state where the winding stem is pushed into the electronic module.

Abstract: Provided is a timepiece that improves the ease of unwinding a spring. The timepiece has a bridge disposed between the rotor and the main plate when seen in a side view; a pawl lever that is disposed between the rotor and bridge in side view, moves bidirectionally in a direction toward and a direction away from the transmission wheel in conjunction with the rotor, and causes the transmission wheel to turn in one direction; a release mechanism that is disposed to the bridge, and can change between an engaged state in which the pawl lever and the transmission wheel are engaged, and a released state in which the pawl lever and the transmission wheel are not engaged; and a train bridge disposed in side view between the pawl lever and the rotor, and having a first hole disposed to a position superimposed with the release mechanism when seen in a plan view.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a dial, a solar battery on a rear surface side of the dial, and an antenna on a rear surface side of the solar battery so as to receive a radio wave. The solar battery includes a solar cell for generating power and a first non-power generating section which transmits the radio wave to the antenna. The solar cell includes a metal electrode, a semiconductor layer on the dial side of the metal electrode, and a transparent electrode on the dial side of the semiconductor layer. The metal electrode and the transparent electrode are excluded from the first non-power generating section, and the semiconductor layer is included within at least a portion of the first non-power generating section. The solar battery further includes a non-conductive member which regulates light transmittance on the dial side of the semiconductor layer in the first non-power generating section.

Abstract: Provided is a timepiece that improves the ease of unwinding a spring. The timepiece has a bridge disposed between the rotor and the main plate when seen in a side view; a pawl lever that is disposed between the rotor and bridge in side view, moves bidirectionally in a direction toward and a direction away from the transmission wheel in conjunction with the rotor, and causes the transmission wheel to turn in one direction; a release mechanism that is disposed to the bridge, and can change between an engaged state in which the pawl lever and the transmission wheel are engaged, and a released state in which the pawl lever and the transmission wheel are not engaged; and a train bridge disposed in side view between the pawl lever and the rotor, and having a first hole disposed to a position superimposed with the release mechanism when seen in a plan view.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes an exterior case; an electronic module housed in the exterior case; a winding stem projecting from the electronic module to the exterior case; and a conductive earth member having a plate-like portion and an elastic portion extending from the plate-like portion to a winding stem side, in which the winding stem has a flange disposed between the electronic module and the exterior case, and the elastic portion is brought into contact with a surface of the flange on an electronic module side in a state where the winding stem is pushed into the electronic module.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a dial, a solar battery on a rear surface side of the dial, and an antenna on a rear surface side of the solar battery so as to receive a radio wave. The solar battery includes a solar cell for generating power and a first non-power generating section which transmits the radio wave to the antenna. The solar cell includes a metal electrode, a semiconductor layer on the dial side of the metal electrode, and a transparent electrode on the dial side of the semiconductor layer. The metal electrode and the transparent electrode are excluded from the first non-power generating section, and the semiconductor layer is included within at least a portion of the first non-power generating section. The solar battery further includes a non-conductive member which regulates light transmittance on the dial side of the semiconductor layer in the first non-power generating section.

Abstract: An electronic device is equipped with power generating means (unit), a secondary battery, a device, charging detection means (unit), battery voltage detection means (unit), and a time display control means (unit). The time display control means (unit) is equipped with an operation suspension portion, an operation resumption portion, a timer, a persistence display control portion and a timer updating portion. The timer updating portion updates the remaining time of the timer to the persistence time according to the detected voltage detected by the battery voltage detection means (unit) is longer than the remaining time, and operates the timer in operation as it is when the persistence time according to the detected voltage is equal to or less than the remaining time of the timer in operation.

Abstract: An electronic device is equipped with power generating means (unit), a secondary battery, a device, charging detection means (unit), battery voltage detection means (unit), and a time display control means (unit). The time display control means (unit) is equipped with an operation suspension portion, an operation resumption portion, a timer, a persistence display control portion and a timer updating portion. The timer updating portion updates the remaining time of the timer to the persistence time according to the detected voltage detected by the battery voltage detection means (unit) is longer than the remaining time, and operates the timer in operation as it is when the persistence time according to the detected voltage is equal to or less than the remaining time of the timer in operation.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing an electrostatic actuator that comprises electrode members having opposing surfaces with a gap disposed therebetween. In an ink jet head, a bottom surface of a diaphragm may be one of the electrodes (common electrode) of an eletrostatic actuator, the diaphragm forming a wall of an ink chamber in the ink jet head that is displaced relatively by an electrostatic force. A hydrophobic film, preferably hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), is formed on at least one of the opposing electrode surfaces to improve the durability of the electrostatic actuator so that electrostatic attraction between opposing electrode members does not decrease and the opposing electrode members do not stick together. HMDS molecules are smaller than PFDA molecules, and a uniform, variation-free hydrophobic film can therefore be formed even when the gap between opposing electrodes is narrow. Durability and film stability of a HMDS hydrophobic film are also high.

Abstract: An ink jet print head having a vibrating plate, a chamber element with plural ink pressure chambers, piezoelectric vibrating elements for vibrating the vibrating plate to expand and contract the ink pressure chambers, drive electrodes contacting one surface of each vibrating element, and a common electrode contacting another surface of each vibrating element, wherein the common electrode is connected to a lead electrode at a region remote from the vibrating elements and the drive electrodes. Also, an ink jet print head in which a central portion of a piezoelectric vibrating element is thicker than its peripheral portion, so that a vibrating plate is bent towards an interior of an ink pressure chamber in an inoperative condition of the piezoelectric vibrating element.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprising opposing electrode members displaced relatively by an electrostatic force is provided with improved durability so that electrostatic attraction between opposing members does not drop and the opposing electrode members do not stick together. Hydrophobic films of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) are formed on a surface of segment electrode and a bottom surface of a diaphragm (common electrode) of an eletrostatic actuator wherein the diaphragm forms a wall of an ink chamber in an ink jet head. HMDS molecules are smaller than PFDA molecules, and a uniform, variation-free hydrophobic film can therefore be formed even when the gap between opposing electrodes is narrow. Durability and film stability of a HMDS hydrophobic film are also high. An electrostatic actuator with high durability and operating stability can thus be achieved.

Abstract: A high reliability ink jet head for an ink jet recording apparatus enabling consistent ink ejecting with no nozzle clogging. The ink jet head therefor comprises a substrate comprising plural ink passages, each comprising a nozzle, pressure generator continuous to the nozzle, and an orifice, and an ink supply member common to the plural ink passages. The substrate comprising an anisotropic crystalline material such as silicon, and a filter channel formed integrally to the ink supply member by anisotropic etching.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprising opposing electrode members displaced relatively by an electrostatic force is provided with improved durability so that electrostatic attraction between opposing members does not drop and the opposing electrode members do not stick together. Hydrophobic films of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) are formed on a surface of segment electrode and a bottom surface of a diaphragm (common electrode) of an eletrostatic actuator wherein the diaphragm forms a wall of an ink chamber in an ink jet head. HMDS molecules are smaller than PFDA molecules, and a uniform, variation-free hydrophobic film can therefore be formed even when the gap between opposing electrodes is narrow. Durability and film stability of a HMDS hydrophobic film are also high. An electrostatic actuator with high durability and operating stability can thus be achieved.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a device having an electrostatic actuator for example inkjet head, whereby warping of the diaphragms does not occur as a result of anodic bonding is provided. The method comprises the steps of etching a first substrate on the first surface thereof to form a concave portion and a diaphragm provided in bottom walls of the concave portion, forming an electrode on a second substrate, and anodically bonding the second substrate to a second surface of the first substrate, opposite the first surface, such that the electrode is aligned adjacent to the diaphragm with a gap therebetween. The bonding temperature of the anodically bonding step is set within a temperature range whereby the contraction of the first substrate after bonding is equal to or greater than the contraction of the second substrate.

Abstract: An aqueous ink composition containing urea, an azo dye colorant, and water, with dissolved ammonium ion and nitrogen contents lower than 200 ppm and 5 ppm, respectively. The composition is highly stable to elevated temperatures and extended storage times, and gives excellent printing quality. Methods for making the inventive ink compositions, and methods of using the compositions in ink jet recording are also disclosed.

Abstract: A high reliability ink jet head for an ink jet recording apparatus enabling consistent ink ejecting with no nozzle clogging. The ink jet head therefor comprises a substrate comprising plural ink passages, each comprising a nozzle, pressure generator continuous to the nozzle, and an orifice, and an ink supply member common to the plural ink passages. The substrate comprising an anisotropic crystalline material such as silicon, and a filter channel formed integrally to the ink supply member by anisotropic etching.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head including a vibrating plate made of ceramic, a pressure producing chamber forming member, made of ceramic, for forming a plurality of pressure producing chambers in rows, and drive electrodes formed on a surface of the vibrating plate so as to confront the pressure producing chambers. A width W2 of each drive electrode is smaller than a width W1 of each pressure producing chamber. A width W3 of a piezoelectric vibrating element is larger than the width W2 of each drive electrode and smaller than the width W1 of each pressure producing chamber, so that an operation region of the piezoelectric vibrating element is regulated by the width W2 of the drive electrode, and peripheral portions of the piezoelectric vibrating element are reliably bonded to peripheral portions of the drive electrode.

Abstract: An inkjet head comprising a nozzle, an ink passage in communication with the nozzle, a diaphragm provided at one part of the ink passage, and an electrode provided in opposition to the diaphragm whereby an electrical pulse is applied between the diaphragm and electrode to deform the diaphragm by means of electrostatic force, thereby ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle. The actuator contains at least a vibration chamber formed by the diaphragm and electrode, and is sealed or made airtight with the volume V so that the ratio between the actuator volume V and the volume .DELTA.V eliminated by a distortion of the diaphragm during ink-jet head drive is within the range 2.ltoreq.V/.DELTA.V.ltoreq.8.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head including: a vibrating plate made of ceramic; a pressure producing chamber forming member, made of ceramic, for forming a plurality of pressure producing chambers in rows; and drive electrodes formed on a surface of the vibrating plate so as to confront the pressure producing chambers. A width of the drive electrode is smaller than a width of the pressure producing chamber. A width of a piezoelectric vibrating element is larger than the width W2 of the drive electrode and smaller than the width of the pressure producing chamber, so that the operation region of the piezoelectric vibrating element is regulated by the width of the drive electrode and the peripheral portions of the piezoelectric vibrating element are bonded to the peripheral portions of the drive electrode reliably.

Abstract: An inkjet printer provided with an ink jet print head having a nozzle, an ink channel that is connected to the nozzle, and an electrostatic actuator that is composed of a diaphragm that is provided in a part of the ink channel and an electrode placed outside of the ink channel opposite to the diaphragm. The diaphragm is distorted by means of an electrostatic force generated by applying a first voltage to the electrostatic actuator. A second voltage, different than the first voltage, is applied to the actuator to relax the diaphragm and to discharge ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle.