Abstract: A dielectric ceramic is made of a sintered body of a complex oxide including at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ti and Mn, at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Zn and Co, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb and Ta, wherein, the complex oxide is represented by a formula xZrO2-yTiO2-zA(1+w)/3B(2−w)/3O2 where ‘A’ in the formula denotes at least one element selected from the group (A) consisting of Mg, Zn and Co, ‘B’ denotes at one element selected from the group (B) consisting of Nb and Ta; x, y, z and w denote values in the respective ranges of 0.20≦x≦0.55, 0.40≦y≦0.55, 0.05≦z≦0.25, and 0≦w≦0.30, and x, y and z have a relationship represented as x+y+z=1; MnO is present in a range of 0.1 mol % to 1.

Abstract: The piezoelectric transformer of the present invention has a piezoelectric element 109 mainly formed of a piezoelectric material, primary electrodes 101U and 101D which are formed on the piezoelectric element 109 and to which a voltage is applied, a secondary electrode 102 which is formed on the piezoelectric element 109 and from which a voltage higher than the voltage applied to the primary electrode is output, and a sensor electrode 103 which is formed on the piezoelectric element 109 and from which a voltage lower than the output voltage of the secondary electrode is output.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of driving a piezoelectric transformer and a power source apparatus using the same. For a circuit for driving a piezoelectric transformer which steps up a voltage input from a primary electrode by a piezoelectric effect to output the stepped up voltage from a secondary electrode, the gradient (linear differential value) of a step-up ratio at the piezoelectric transformer is detected, and the detected gradient is used to control the driving frequency for the piezoelectric transformer so that the driving frequency approaches to the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric transformer.

Abstract: A dielectric resonator of the present invention becomes excited in the TM mode and is provided with a dielectric material, a shielding cavity surrounding the above-described dielectric material and coupling antennas attached to the above-described shielding cavity so as to penetrate from the outside to the inside of the above-described shielding cavity, wherein it is preferable for the above-described dielectric material to be formed in a pillar form extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein it is preferable for the above-described shielding cavity to be formed so as to be hollow and so as to extend in the longitudinal direction and wherein it is preferable for the above-described dielectric material to be secured to the inside of the above-described shielding. cavity in a manner such that the longitudinal direction of the dielectric material is the same as the longitudinal direction of the above-described shielding cavity.

Abstract: A compact and high-power piezoelectric transformer is realized by using higher order longitudinal extensional mode vibrations and increasing an effective electromechanical coupling factor by a primary electrode which consists of plural electrodes.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic is made of a sintered body of a complex oxide including at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ti and Mn, at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Zn and Co, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb and Ta, wherein, the complex oxide is represented by a formula xZrO2-yTiO2-zA(1+w)/3B(2−w)/3O2 where ‘A’ in the formula denotes at least one element selected from the group (A) consisting of Mg, Zn and Co, ‘B’ denotes at one element selected from the group (B) consisting of Nb and Ta; x, y, z and w denote values in the respective ranges of 0.20≦x≦0.55, 0.40≦y≦0.55, 0.05≦z≦0.25, and 0≦w≦0.30, and x, y and z have a relationship represented as x+y+z=1; MnO is present in a range of 0.1 mol % to 1.

Abstract: The piezoelectric transformer of the present invention has a piezoelectric element 109 mainly formed of a piezoelectric material, primary electrodes 101U and 101D which are formed on the piezoelectric element 109 and to which a voltage is applied, a secondary electrode 102 which is formed on the piezoelectric element 109 and from which a voltage higher than the voltage applied to the primary electrode is output, and a sensor electrode 103 which is formed on the piezoelectric element 109 and from which a voltage lower than the output voltage of the secondary electrode is output.

Abstract: The piezoelectric transformer of the present invention has a piezoelectric element 109 mainly formed of a piezoelectric material, primary electrodes 101U and 101D which are formed on the piezoelectric element 109 and to which a voltage is applied, a secondary electrode 102 which is formed on the piezoelectric element 109 and from which a voltage higher than the voltage applied to the primary electrode is output, and a sensor electrode 103 which is formed on the piezoelectric element 109 and from which a voltage lower than the output voltage of the secondary electrode is output.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric ceramic composition that can be manufactured easily by an ordinary sintering method, is free from lead, and has a large frequency constant, a small grain size, and a high mechanical Q. This composition is expressed by a formula of (1-v-w)[(Li1-x-yNaxKy)zRO3].vLMnO3.wBi1/2Na1/2TiO3. The present invention also provides a piezoelectric ceramic composition, including at least one selected from Mn, Cr, and Co that is added to a composition expressed by a formula of (Li1-x-yNaxKy)zRO3 so as to have a ratio thereof to the whole of 0.01 to 1 wt % in terms of MnO2, Cr2O3, and CoO, respectively. In the above-mentioned formulae, 0≦v≦0.05, 0≦0.2, v+w>0, 0.2≦x≦0.97, 0≦y≦0.8, x+y≧0.8, 0.98≦z≦1, L indicates at least one element selected from the rare earth elements, and R denotes at least one element selected from Nb, Ta, and Sb.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and a method for driving a cathode discharge tube such that the discharge starting voltage can be lowered by simple construction. At the start of lighting a cathode discharge tube light, AC voltage applied to the cathode discharge tube is raised at a speed slower than a rise speed of the cathode discharge tube. By lighting the cathode discharge tube in this way, the lighting start voltage can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric ceramic composition that is free from lead and has a small grain size, a high coupling coefficient, a high mechanical Q, and a large frequency constant. This composition is characterized by being expressed by a formula of (LixNa1−x−yKy)z−2wMa2wNb1−wMbwO3, wherein 0.03≦x≦0.2, 0≦y≦0.2, 0.98≦z≦1, 0<w≦0.05, Ma indicates at least one element selected from the alkaline-earth metals, and Mb denotes at least one element selected from Bi, Sb, and the rare earth elements.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition containing a first component and a second component (25 to 80 wt %) is used. The first component is a complex oxide represented by Formula: xZrO2—yTiO2—zL(1+u)/3M(2−u)/3O2 (L is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Zn, Co, and Mn, and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb and Tb. x, y, z, and u are numerical values represented by x+y+z=1, 0.10≦x≦0.60, 0.20≦y≦0.60, 0.01≦z≦0.70, 0≦u≦1.90). The second component is a glass composition containing an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, B, Al, Ba, Ca, Sr, Zn, Ti, La, and Nd.

Abstract: A method and unit for driving a small high-efficiency piezoelectric transformer allowing a cold-cathode tube to have stable luminance by detecting only an active current flowing in the cold-cathode tube based on a phase difference between an output current and voltage of the piezoelectric transformer, removing a reactive current caused by stray capacitance formed between the cold-cathode tube and a reflector, and accurately controlling driving of the piezoelectric transformer so that a constant active current is detected.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and a method for driving a cathode discharge tube such that the discharge starting voltage can be lowered by simple construction. At the start of lighting a cathode discharge tube light, AC voltage applied to the cathode discharge tube is raised at a speed slower than a rise speed of the cathode discharge tube. By lighting the cathode discharge tube in this way, the lighting start voltage can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric ceramic composition that can be manufactured easily by an ordinary sintering method, is free from lead, and has a large frequency constant, a small grain size, and a high mechanical Q. This composition is expressed by a formula of (1−v−w)[(Li1-x-yNaxKy)zRO3].vLMnO3.wBi½Na½TiO3. The present invention also provides a piezoelectric ceramic composition, including at least one selected from Mn, Cr, and Co that is added to a composition expressed by a formula of (Li1-x-yNaxKy)zRO3 so as to have a ratio thereof to the whole of 0.01 to 1 wt % in terms of MnO2, Cr2O3, and CoO, respectively. In the above-mentioned formulae, 0≦v≦0.05, 0≦w≦0.2, v+w>0, 0.2≦x≦0.97, 0≦y≦0.8, x+y≧0.8, 0.98≦z≦1, L indicates at least one element selected from the rare earth elements, and R denotes at least one element selected from Nb, Ta, and Sb.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric ceramic composition that is free from lead and has a small grain size, a high coupling coefficient, a high mechanical Q, and a large frequency constant. This composition is characterized by being expressed by a formula of (LixNa1−x−yKy)z−2wMa2wNb1−2MbwO3, wherein 0.03≦x≦0.2, 0≦y≦0.2, 0.98≦z≦1, 0<w≦0.05, Ma indicates at least one element selected from the alkaline-earth metals, and Mb denotes at least one element selected from Bi, Sb, and the rare earth elements.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of driving a piezoelectric transformer and a power source apparatus using the same. For a circuit for driving a piezoelectric transformer which steps up a voltage input from a primary electrode by a piezoelectric effect to output the stepped up voltage from a secondary electrode, the gradient (linear differential value) of a step-up ratio at the piezoelectric transformer is detected, and the detected gradient is used to control the driving frequency for the piezoelectric transformer so that the driving frequency approaches to the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric transformer.

Abstract: The piezoelectric transformer of the present invention has a piezoelectric element 109 mainly formed of a piezoelectric material, primary electrodes 101U and 101D which are formed on the piezoelectric element 109 and to which a voltage is applied, a secondary electrode 102 which is formed on the piezoelectric element 109 and from which a voltage higher than the voltage applied to the primary electrode is output, and a sensor electrode 103 which is formed on the piezoelectric element 109 and from which a voltage lower than the output voltage of the secondary electrode is output.

Abstract: A method and unit for driving a small high-efficiency piezoelectric transformer allowing a cold-cathode tube to have stable luminance by detecting only an active current flowing in the cold-cathode tube based on a phase difference between an output current and voltage of the piezoelectric transformer, removing a reactive current caused by stray capacitance formed between the cold-cathode tube and a reflector, and accurately controlling driving of the piezoelectric transformer so that a constant active current is detected.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition represents a composition formula, (Pb.sub.u A.sub.1-u).sub.v {(Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.w (Sn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.x Ti.sub.y Zr.sub.z }.sub.2-v O.sub.3, where the symbol A is at least one component selected from a group consisting of La, Nd, Pr, and Bi, and u, v, w, x, y, and z are within ranges represented by the following Equations, characterized in that 0.1 to 3 mole percent of a Mn compound calculated in terms of MnO.sub.2 is added to said piezoelectric ceramic composition.w+x+y+z=1 [Equation 1]0.85.ltoreq.u.ltoreq.0.990.97.ltoreq.v.ltoreq.1.030.01.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.200.01.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.150.35.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.480.30.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.